Board basher makes debut

The Philsports Arena management has put a collapsible rim on standby after being tipped off a monster-jammer is to play in the Pasig sports venue today.

And for good reason. Another backboard may be smashed by Alvin Jefferson with the former Harlem Globetrotter needing to impress the FedEx management and coaching staff to be able to keep his job in the team.

Jefferson and the Express take on the San Miguel Beermen in the Gran Matador PBA Fiesta Conference’s first stop at the Philsports Arena today.

The Clyde Drexler look-alike has been given three games to shape up, according to FedEx team manager Lito Alvarez.

Though among the early birds for the tourney, Jefferson is still struggling in his game. He only made news when he smashed the Araneta Coliseum backboard in a tune-up game with the Alaska Aces last Feb. 20.

FedEx management has already contacted old import Franz Pierre Louis who’s currently in Spain. He is not free to fly to the Philippines until the last week of April.

Red Bull Barako has replaced Carlos Wheeler with Bingo Merriex who makes his debut with the Thunder Wednesday against the Sta. Lucia Realtors.

In his first game in the local pro league, Jefferson will be up against NBA veteran and PBA returning import Art Long.

The Beermen had five wins in seven meetings with the Express last year.

Meanwhile, for the third straight conference, Alaska Milk and Sta. Lucia Realty start their campaign paired with one another, squaring off in what could be another fierce showdown after knocking each other out in last year’s PBA Reinforced Conference quarterfinals.

The Aces and the Realtors play at 4 p.m. before the Express and the Beermen square off at 6:15 p.m.

Sta. Lucia beat Alaska, 2-1, in their best-of-three quarterfinals match-up in the 2003 Reinforced Cup. The Realtors, however, failed to make it past the succeeding round, being swept by the Beermen in their best-of-five semis playoff.

Alaska starts its campaign in the Fiesta Cup minus ace wingman John Arigo, who is nursing a recurring knee injury.

The Aces field in import Galen Young versus the Realtors’ Lamayn Wilson. Alaska has three rookies in Joachim Thoss, Bernzon Franco and Willie Wilson as against Sta. Lucia’s Nelbert Omolon and Ronald Cuan.

Coach Tim Cone and his Aces won six of their 10 matches with coach Alfrancis Chua and his Realtors last season.