ACES BRINGING BACK ROB DOZIER
Best Import winner Robert Dozier is returning to spearhead Alaska Milk’s title-retention campaign in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup which fires off March 7.
“First week of February, he’ll already be here,” said Alaska coach Luigi Trillo of the prized import leading the Aces to a sweet sweep of the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the 2013 second conference finals.
“He took a vacation after his stint with us last year. He just finished then a two-year grind with stops in Greece, Spain, France and the Philippines. He’s out for months, but he has a body type that can get in shape in no time,” Trillo pointed out.
Trillo is hopeful they would be very competitive although Dozier is to find the PBA a virtual new environment.
“It was a different conference last year – imports with unlimited height. Though small, he competed with his versatility. Sonny Thoss was the one taking on our rival import then,” Trillo explained.
“This year, he plays import of his size. And he will find the likes of the returning Asi Taulava, Junmar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar and Greg Slaughter. Ibang PBA na ang babalikan niya,” Trillo further said.
It’s actually a handicapping tourney with the Top Eight in the Philippine Cup to play an import with a 6-foot-9 ceiling and the last two (Air21 and Meralco) 6-foot-11.
An early bird is James Mays for the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers.
The 6-foot-9 forward from Clemson U made a reputation as a power rebounder in the US collegiate and in the NBA Developmental League.
He applied for the 2008 NBA Draft but went undrafted, thus, drifting with the Colorado 14ers, the Springfield Armor, the Maine Red Claws, and the Sioux Falls Skyforce in the D-League.
Mays has had tours of duty in China, Puerto Rico and Turkey.
Several PBA teams tried to recruit Mays last year, but he opted to stick around in the D-League hoping to get a call from the major league.
Trillo vouched for Mays’ talent.
The youthful Alaska mentor, however, wouldn’t pass the chance to bring back Dozier.
With his quickness, athleticism and versatility, Dozier led Alaska’s superb post-elims run culminated by their three-game sweep of Vernon Macklin and the Gin Kings in the finals.
He was part of the Memphis Tigers team that reached the US NCAA finale in 2008.
In 2009, he was picked 60th overall by the Miami Heat in the NCAA Draft. He was signed to a contract in September but waived the following month. (SB)
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