A player with a renowned lineage could well become Coca-Cola’s replacement for the injured Calvin Cage.
Gee Gervin, son of NBA Hall of Famer George “The Iceman,” is actually one of two players being looked at by the Tigers to take over from Cage.
The team had yet to make an official announcement at press time but PBA endorsement for Gervin’s immigration paper processing has been prepared.
The Tigers and the Welcoat Dragons, two teams allowed to field two imports, clash in the Smart PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum today.
While the Tigers seek a third straight win, the Dragons look to snap a two-game losing run, coming out with a new big import in 6-foot-9 Maquis Ganious replacing Jason Keep.
Purefoods and Air21, which both split their first two games in the tourney, play in the other game at 7:20 p.m.
Gervin has yet to show his real form although his past achievements tend to show he’s a reliable player.
He’s an all-conference USA member in the 1998-99 and 1999-00 seasons while playing with University of Houston under coach Clyde Drexler.
Picked No. 3 overall by the Detroit Dogs in the ABA rookie draft in 2000, he went on to lead the team to the 2000-01 championships, emerging as season and playoffs co-MVP.
“His fundamentals are better than mine ever were. His knowledge of the game is greater than mine at his age. What he lacks in size, he makes up with his quickness, ability to run an offense and make good things happen on the court,” said his father George on Gee’s website.
“A true leader on and off the court. Gee is the best player that I have ever coached. He’s one of the best players in the history of Conference USA and is a definite NBA prospect,” said Drexler on the same web site.
Gee was drafted in the ABA draft in 2000 ahead of former PBA imports Ryan Fletcher, Chris Porter, Harold Arceneaux, Ron Hale, Richie Frahm, Gaylon Young and Nate Johnson. Picked ahead of him was Eddie House at No. 1 and current Magnolia import Jameel Watkins at No. 2..
Meanwhile, Ganious is a former star player of Texas Christian University, the same school attended by Welcoat partner Corey Santee. – Nelson Beltran