New imports make debut in TNT-Alaska tiff
Titleholder Tropang TNT and 2013 champion Alaska Milk will both bring in a new import as they clash in the 2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday.
Playing with an import in a stretch of only 15 minutes over their three previous games, the Texters are finally playing with one in David Simon as they take on the Aces and their own debuting PBA import in Shane Edwards at 7 p.m.
Due to Ivan Johnson’s shenanigans, the TNT locals had to fend for themselves in their first three games, salvaging one against Blackwater and losing the next two versus Meralco then Globalport.
Alaska, meanwhile, lost its conference debut versus Blackwater where the Aces missed import Rob Dozier due to a foot injury (plantar fasciitis).
“It will be interesting to see how the import matchups effect the game since both of us will be featuring imports who just arrived,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton.”
“Hopefully, we can contain all of their threats but I don’t think that is an enviable task,” Compton also said.
Simon is a fixture in the Euro basketball fresh from a stint in the Korean league while Edwards has just completed a tour of duty in the German league.
TNT coach Jong Uichico hopes Simon gets along well with the Texters immediately as they anticipate a tough battle with the Aces.
Arriving in the country at noon Monday, Simon attended a light workout with Jayson Castro, Ryan Reyes, Ranidel de Ocampo, Mo Tautuaa and Troy Rosario Monday evening then a full practice with the team Tuesday.
“Binunot muna namin sa Gilas practice sila Jayson, Ryan, Ranidel, Mo at Troy to help David walk through our plays,” said TNT team manager Virgil Villavicencio
“I think there’s no problem as to his physical shape. He’s fresh from the Korean league. He became available as his team failed to make the playoffs there due to injuries to his teammates,” Villavicencio also said.
“Siksik ang muscle, parang Kelly Williams. Pero mas malapad ito,” said Villavicencio in describing their replacement to their sacked import.
Simon, 33, played college basketball with the Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne then spent most of his pro career in Europe.
Edwards is a 6-foot-7 forward with a brief stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014.
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