Gins test new man today vs Beermen

Ginebra tests the mettle of new import Isaac Spencer when it meets sister-team San Miguel Beer today with both squads hoping to boost their respective quarterfinal hopes in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Astrodome.

Spencer, a product of Murray State University in Division I of the NCAA, quietly slipped into the country last Saturday to replace Silas Mills, who was fired as Ginebra import for his roguish, uncontrollable conduct on and off the court.

Chris Porter, a former member of the Golden State Warriors, was Ginebra’s original choice as replacement but couldn’t come to terms with the PBA ballclub. This paved the way for Spencer, a 6-foot-5 who is fresh from a stint in the USBL.

Mills, who helped Mobiline win the 1998 Centennial Cup, was fired after Ginebra lost to Coca-Cola last July 4. At one point in that game, he got off the bench, reported to the scorer’s table, and re-entered the game without the coach’s permission.

Ginebra has lost three of its last four games, and two of six overall while San Miguel, with three key players and its head coach on loan to the Asian Games-bound national team, split its last four games for a 2-3 slate halfway through the elimination round.