Hotdogs enlist 7-foot-1 banger to replace Smith

Hoping to draw additional firepower and make the team highly competitive in the ongoing PBA Gran Matador Fiesta Cup, Purefoods yesterday tapped former Tennessee Tech standout Lorenzo Coleman vice Antonio Smith in time for the Hotdogs’ game against the Coca-Cola Tigers tomorrow.

The 7-foot-1 Coleman, a 300-lb banger who last played for Xinjiang in the Chinese Basketball League, hopes to fit into coach Ryan Gregorio’s system with his height and heft as the Hotdogs try to improve on its 5-6 (win-loss) slate.

The decision to replace Smith, an import noted more for rebounding than scoring, came right after the 6-foot-9 import got involved in a fracas with San Miguel Beer’s Nic Belasco in a night club at The Fort over the weekend although Gregorio clarified that Purefoods had been looking for a replacement as early as last week.

"We needed someone bigger and who can score more. Hopefully, he could (Coleman) help us in that department," Gregorio told The STAR in a phone interview.

"I don’t know about that," explained Gregorio when informed of Smith’s involvement in a fistfight with Belasco inside the comfort room of the Prince of Jaipur Club. "We started looking for a replacement a few weeks before it happened."

Coleman was signed to a non-guaranteed, rookie minimum contract by the then Charlotte Hornets — now named Charlotte Bobcats — in 2001 but was waived. A few months later, the Chicago Bulls picked him up from the free agency pool only to be released again.

He played in leagues in Hungary, Greece, IBL, CBA and NBA’s farm league USBDL before suiting up in the CBL where he averaged 11 rebounds and two shot blocks a game for Xinjiang.

At Tennessee Tech, Coleman normed 12.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.8 blocks in four seasons, including his best 17.4-point, 11.9-board and 4.8-block per game during his senior year.

"He arrived last Friday and he has been practicing with us for three days now. My main concern now is his stamina, medyo nawala kasi siya for a couple of weeks," said Gregorio.