EYES ON NEW IMPORTS IN KINGS-BOLTS TUSSLE
Meralco and Barangay Ginebra are finally playing with new imports in tow as they meet in a crucial match entering the homestretch of the PLDT Home TVolution PBA Commissioner’s Cup elimination round at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday.
Both teams are hoping their highly touted import replacements provide them the needed boost that could land them a spot in the best-of-three quarterfinals.
After waiting for quite sometime, three-year NBA veteran Darnell Jackson is finally taking over from Brian Butch as Meralco import.
Meanwhile, two-time NBA champion Josh Powell, after making Barangay Ginebra San Miguel wait for a while, is finally in the country to replace Leon Rodgers.
The Jackson-led Bolts and the Powell-powered Kings clash at 8 p.m. with Meralco looking to raise its win-loss record to 4-3 and Ginebra hoping to improve to 3-4.
Both teams eye a finish inside the Top Six to avoid early elimination or a quarterfinal pairing with a team with a twice-to-beat advantage.
“Big game. We need to bounce back strong to solidify our standing,” said Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio.
“Ginebra, in spite of its struggles, is always a dangerous team. We are both fighting for playoffs position, that makes the game very interesting,” Gregorio also said.
Needless to say, both teams hope that their new imports fit in right away.
Powell, with two NBA championship rings won with the Los Angeles Lakers, flew in Tuesday morning and went straight to the Ginebra practice.
He promised to bring Kobe Bryant’s fighting attitude to his Ginebra stint.
The 31-year-old South Carolina native carries NBA career norms of 3.9 points and 2.9 rebounds in an average of 12.5 minutes in 315 games in six seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, the Indiana Pacers, the Golden State Warriors, the LA Clippers, the LA Lakers and the Atlanta Hawks.
He last played in the NBA with the Hawks in 2011 before drifting to pro leagues outside of the US.
He was waiting for a call from the NBA that’s why he took a while to sign up with Ginebra.
Jackson, on the other, has long been in the country. His supposed debut as a Meralco import last Wednesday was put on hold, though, as Brian Butch erupted with 40 points and 31 rebounds in his supposed farewell game three days earlier.
Jackson is also a legit ex-NBA player with stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Sacramento Kings. (SB)
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