ROAD WARRIORS, ENERGY MIX IT UP
IT IS quite undeniable that NLEX has made huge strides in only its second conference in the league.
The Road Warriors are bent on treading new heights anew and a glimpse of that should be had when they collide with Barako Bull Wednesday at the start of their PBA Governors’ Cup campaign at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Gametime is at 4:15 p.m.
The Energy are themselves eager to pick up from where they left off after winding up seventh in the Commissioner’s Cup, their best finish in the last four conferences.
Far more impressive are the gains made by NLEX, which wound up fifth in the mid-season tournament, quite a jump from its 10th place finish in its league debut in the Philippine Cup.
As a consequence of those cumulative results, the Road Warriors were ranked eighth, limiting them to an import no taller than 6-5.
To realize its target of not only advancing to their second straight playoffs but going deeper this time, NLEX has availed of the option of enlisting the services of Quintin Alexander and Syrian star Michael Madanly.
It is Madanly who should grab the limelight once he flashes the form that netted him a tournament-best average of 33.1 points in the 2007 FIBA Asia championships.
The 34-year-old guard saw action with Purefoods’ Commissioners’ Cup import Denzel Bowles for the Jilin Northeast Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association and should beef up NLEX’s backcourt along with Jonas Villanueva, Mac Cardona, Wynne Arboleda and Rudy Lingganay.
Barako, a rung lower than NLEX after two conferences, had the luxury of fielding an import of unlimited height reserved for the lower four. It did not let the opportunity go to waste.
After original choice DeVon Hardin backed out, the Energy readily tapped Liam McMorrow, a 7-foot Canadian who, it is hoped, would help them overcome the other towering timbers in Blackwater’s Marcus Douthit, GlobalPort’s Patrick O’Bryant and Kia’s Hamady N’Diaye, the latter a temporary sub for 7-4 PJ Ramos.
Like McMorrow, also cramming to learn coach Koy Banal’s system are new acquisitions Rico Maierhofer and Joseph Yeo. (NC)
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