MERALCO OPTS FOR BIG INSIDE OPERATOR
With Brian Butch still in sick bay, Meralco has tapped the services of Darnell Jackson.
The 6-foot-9 Jackson will debut for the Bolts on Wednesday as Meralco crosses paths with the struggling Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
“He’s massive, big, and has a totally different game (from Butch),” said Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio. “He has a very nice resume, but I still don’t know the kind of chemistry he will bring to the table.”
Team manager Butch Antonio added, “He brings a solid inside game and the coaches feel that he’s a better fit.”
Another high-ranking official who requested anonymity said that Jackson was originally the first-choice import for the Bolts, but the extended stint the 28-year-old had with the Shanghai Sharks in the Chinese Basketball Association delayed his debut in the PBA.
“After the semis ng CBA, bumalik siya ng States to get some stuff and he immediately flew to the country,” he said.
Jackson was the 52nd overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, and has suited up for Cleveland, Milwaukee, and Sacramento in the NBA, before finding himself bouncing from the D-League, Ukraine, and China.
Insiders said that in his one week of practice with the squad, Jackson has shown he can be an intimidating inside presence.
“He looks like a hustler. He’s aggressive, and malaki sya. He’s more of an inside operator,” he said. “In the past, kay Brian, ok naman kami. Pero nawala lang yung mga shooters namin kasi shooter din si Brian eh. Now we think we’re going to be able to set up our shooters for the next games.”
When asked if the door is still open for Butch to return to the squad, the official said that the option is still there, but said, “It’s more of a decision from the coaching staff itself.” (RL)
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