PHOENIX is out to reprise what Blackwater did–score a breakthrough win with a replacement import.
Whether the same ploy will work wonders will be known when the Bossing take on the winless Fuel Masters today in Group B of the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Weather permitting, the match is set at 5 p.m. before NLEX seeks a second straight victory when it faces Ginebra in the nightcap also in Group B at 7:30.
Blackwater handed original choice Ricky Ledo the pink slip after a 0-2 start in the season-opening tourney. The Bossing opted for former Road Warriors and San Miguel Beermen reinforcement Cameron Clark as their new import, but he backed out due to family emergency.
Blackwater then chose former NBA player George King, and the Bossing notched a maiden 95-88 triumph over the Kings last Friday night.
“Things happen for a reason, right? Sometimes, things don’t work out with other people, and it becomes a blessing for someone else,” Bossing coach Jeff Cariaso said. “The person that is supposed to be meant for us will be the guy who is here and so far, so good for us.
“We maintained our optimism despite the need to replace our first import. How George got here, I really don’t care. I’m just happy that he’s here,” he added.
Apart from King, Cariaso will also lean on Sedrick Barefield, Troy Rosario, Christian David and James Kwekuteye.
With a 0-3 slate, Phoenix will field Brandone Francis.
Le’Bryan Nash was initially tapped to replace Fuel Masters’ first reinforcement Jayveous McKinnis but was found to be just a tad over the 6-foot-6 height limit for imports, forcing Phoenix to play all-Filipino in a 99-116 loss to Rain or Shine four days back.
Fuel Masters strategist Jamike Jarin maintained his locals are doing just fine–they need an import who can take the cudgels.
“Iyon lang talaga ang problema ko, import,” Jarin said. “In the three games na talo natin, panay OKay naman ang laro ng locals.”
The likes of Tyler Tio, Jason Perkins, Kenneth Tuffin, and rookie Kai Ballungay are expected to team up with the 6-foot-5 Francis.
An NLEX win will raise the Road Warriors’ mark to 4-1 after it stunned the Beermen in overtime 112-108 in Cagayan de Oro City last Saturday.
To do it, reinforcement Myke Henry, Robert Bolick, Michael Miranda, Jonnel Policarpio, Jhan Nermal, and Robbie Herndon need to deliver anew.
Ginebra, holding a 2-2 card, will bank on resident import Justin Brownlee, former MVP Scottie Thomson, Japeth Aguilar, RJ Abarrientos, and Maverick Ahanmisi.
All squads seeing action today–except for the Road Warriors–are still yearning for consistency and chemistry that will be key in their respective bids as the tilt progresses.
