IMPRESSIVE DEBUT FOR THIS LATE-BLOOMER
Barako Bull coach Koy Banal knew tapping Liam McMorrow would be a gamble.
A self-confessed late-bloomer in the sport of basketball, the 28-year-old Canadian slotman, however, believes that this inexperience could also work to his favor.
Wednesday night, Barako Bull won over NLEX 101-96 to open its Governors’ Cup campaign, with McMorrow accounting for 33 points and 22 rebounds in his PBA debut.
“I think what helps is that all of these imports have been playing since they’re young, and I have fresh legs so I can run harder,” McMorrow said. “With this team, we bring a lot of energy. We all play hard, play together because we have a lot of role players. We all just play as a team.”
A former hockey player in his collegiate days, McMorrow had a big growth spurt where he went from 6-foot-5 to 7-feet, so his mother and then-girlfriend pushed him to try out basketball.
“Everybody said I was athletic so I should try basketball. I gave it a try and fell in love with it,” he said.
At age 20, he made his professional cage journey from his native hometown in Toronto, to the NBA D-League, to Taiwan, and now the Philippines.
And in his first game in the PBA, McMorrow proved that as much as he’s still learning the sport, he has the presence of mind to make the right plays to get the win.
With the shot clock winding down for the Energy, Chico Lanete forced a three which fell short. But McMorrow was there to save the day, catching the ball in mid-air and dropping the ball in the basket to beat the shot clock, putting the game away for good with 13 seconds left.
But he doesn’t want to take the credit for himself.
“I think it was a good team win. Everyone contributed to that win,” McMorrow said. “Every game, I’m just going to get better because that’s experience. Every game, every practice, we’re just going up.”
Banal agrees, saying, “This guy is quick. I think he will be a force here in the PBA.” (RL)
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