MANILA, Philippines - Hangad ni Blackwater team owner Dioceldo Sy na masundan ang magandang kampanya ng koponan sa nakaraang 42nd Philippine Cup kaya kinuha niya ang NBA veteran na si Greg Smith bilang import sa darating na Commissioner’s Cup na magbubukas na sa Marso 17.
Ang 26-anyos na si Smith ay darating sa susunod na linggo galing sa Turkish League para pumirma ng kontrata sa Blackwater Elites. Sa height na 6’10, siya ay dating naglaro sa Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mave-ricks at Minnesota Timberwolves sa NBA.
“Hopefully, Greg Smith would fit into the system and can help the team,” sabi ni Sy na nag-birthday noong Sabado.
Samantala, ayon kay Ginebra coach Tim Cone, gumaling na at posible nang maglaro ang 7’0 center na si Greg Slaughter sa playoffs ng Commissioner’s Cup.
“Right now, Greg’s mindset is he’ll be back starting in the Governor’s cup. But from the way things look, he could be back as early as the beginning of the Commissioner’s Cup playoffs. Menally, he’s getting himself ready,” sabi ni Cone sa interview nito kay Philippine Star columnist Joaquin Henson.
Pinili pa rin ni Cone si 6’5 Justin Brownlee bilang import sa susunod na import-laden conference dahil sa kanyang kabayanihan noong nakaraang taon kung saan tumira siya ng buzzer-beater triple sa Game 6 ng Finals laban sa Meralco.
“If we didn’t sign Justin (Brownlee) for the second conference, we could lose him to Israel for the Governor’s Cup so we decided to bring him back for both the Commissioner’s Cup at Governor’s Cup. He’ll probably be the smallest import in the second conference but that’s not necessarily a mismatch. Justin can hit the outside shot and force other imports to extend their defense out of the paint. Hr’d quick and he can put the ball on the floor so those are things that he can do better than bigger imports,” pahayag ni Cone.
Habang sinusulat ang balitang ito, kasaluku-yang naglalaban ang Barangay Ginebra at San Miguel sa Game-5 ng kanilang titular showdown kung saan ang panalo ng Beermen ang tuluyang magkakaloob sa kanila ng PBA Philippine Cup title.