CORNLEY OUT, REID IN FOR ELASTO PAINTERS’ TITLE DEFENSE
Rain or Shine ditched Jamelle Cornley in favor of another old import Arizona Reid for the PBA Governors Cup where the Elasto Painters hope to duplicate their breakthrough title run versus the San Mig Coffee Mixers last year.
“After we decided not to get Cornley, Arizona (Reid) was on top of our mind. Atty. (Mert) Mondragon has had an agreement with Arizona. We’re flying him by July 1,” said Rain or Shine co-owner Raymond Yu.
“He failed to bring us to the Finals (in the 2010-11 Governors Cup), but we had a different set of local players then. We have a more experienced team now. With Arizona as import, I do believe we’ll be there fighting to defend the title,” Yu also said.
Though giving the Elasto Painters just a fifth-place finish in the 2010-11 third conference, Reid won the Best Import race in runaway fashion.
Twice winner of the US NCAA Big South Conference Player of the Year, the 6-foot-3 player was a dominant import until he sustained a foot injury during the semifinals.
The former High Point U stalwart averaged a conference-best 28.67 points and second conference best 15.5 rebounds in his initial tour of duty in the local pro league.
Yu expects Alaska, Petron Blaze and Talk n Text to be their toughest challengers.
“I feel it’s Petron’s turn to make a good run but Alaska will be there coming off a championship and also Talk n Text which will bounce back from a semis loss to Ginebra (in the recent Commissioner’s Cup),” said Yu.
“Hopefully, we’ll be the fourth team to make the Final Four,” Yu added.
“But of course, you can’t count out the other San Miguel Corp. teams. We experienced first hand how Ginebra defies odds,” Yu also said.
The amiable Asian Coatings Inc. boss is hopeful their sad experience against Ginebra in the Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals makes his team a better team.
The Elasto Painters placed a strong second to the Alaska Aces in the elims only to end up fifth place after being upset by the Kings in the quarters.
Other imports confirmed coming to play in the third conference are Wendell McKines for Alaska, Tony Mitchell for Talk n Text, Marqus Blakely for San Mig Coffee, Mike Singletary for Barako Bull, Dior Lowhorn for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Zach Graham for Air21.
Being considered are Cornley by GlobalPort and Mario West by Meralco. (SB)
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