Alaska signs up prolific scorer LaDontae Henton
LaDontae Henton #23 of the Providence Friars reacts after a foul was called against his team in the first half against the St. John’s Red Storm during a quarterfinal game of the Big East basketball tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 12, 2015 in New York City. Elsa/Getty Images/AFP
Spanish league mainstay LaDontae Henton is Alaska Milk’s choice as import in the PBA Governors Cup tentatively set to open on July 15.
Henton, a Big East All-Rookie Team awardee in 2012 and All Big East First Team member in 2015 while with the Providence Friars, is to arrive early morning on June 20, the same day the Aces start their training for the PBA season-ending tourney.
“We practice in the afternoon. It’s up to him if he already wants to join the practice. Depende kung may jetlag sya o wala. Most probably, he’ll be there just to watch from the sideline,” said Alaska assistant coach Louie Alas.
The Aces begin their buildup already a bit late as they underwent a one-week training under renowned American skills coach Ganon Baker right after the Commissioner’s Cup.
“It’s supposed to be a 14-day training. We cut it short to a week dahil nga galing sa championship. It’s
worth it. Coach Ganon Baker is really good,” said Alas.
Henton, a 6-foot-4 forward, is to reinforce an Alaska team with a full crew, including Jvee Casio and Vic Manuel who are back from their respective injuries.
Casio has fully recovered from a knee injury while Manuel is about 70 percent after a bout with a calf problem. The 6-foot-4 forward is expected to be back in tiptop shape at the start of the Governors Cup.
Coming from three straight second-place finishes, Alaska’s goal is to improve on that.
“Sabi ni coach Alex we must get better. Ibig sabihin kailangan mag-champion,” said Alas, tasked to run the Alaska training while head coach Alex Compton is serving duty with Gilas Pilipinas.
The Aces are confident they have got a blue-chip import recruit in Henton, a prolific scorer from his high school days with Eastern High in Lansing, Michigan.
Left undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft, Henton brought his act in Liga ACB in Spain, playing for Baloncesto Sevilla.
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