Coca-Cola coach Chot Reyes said he’s satisfied with Sanford’s game but entertained Decker, a former Oklahoma City University player who’s fresh from a stint in the Japanese league, to be a possible import backup.
"I’m satisfied with Sanford’s game but I don’t want to be said I’m remiss in my duties that’s why I considered Decker to be our backup import. Anong malay natin baka ma-injure si Sanford o toyoin," said Reyes.
"That’s always been the case with me naman. Even during the time of Rossell Ellis and Tee McClary, I had a backup import. And even before Decker came, I told Sanford about that," Reyes added.
Reyes, however, said Decker failed to make the grade. "May laro din naman but not good enough to replace Sanford. He’s a typical white player, hindi athletic but thinking and hard-working player," said Reyes of Decker who also had stints with Missouri and Wake Forest before landing at Oklahoma City University.
Red Bull Barako (4-2) stakes its hold of second place in its game versus Coca-Cola (4-3) at 6:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, Shell, running sixth with a 3-5 win-loss card, seeks to get closer to the upper half of the chart as it takes on the sputtering Sta. Lucia Realty (1-7) in the other game at 4:10 p.m.
Coming off their first back-to-back victories in nearly a year, the Turbochargers hope to stretch their run further though they have doubtful starters in wingmen Chris Calaguio and Ronald Tubid.
Calaguio and Tubid each suffered a sprained ankle versus Ginebra last Sunday but the Turbochargers still found a way to win, giving coach Leo Austria–himself a former Turbocharger–a sweet homecoming in the team.