Chandler suits up for Giants

MANILA, Philippines - One-time Best Import awardee Marquin Chandler rejoins Purefoods, taking over from Jahmar Thorpe as the Giants tangle with the Coca-Cola Tigers at the resumption of the 2009 Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum today.

San Miguel Beer and Talk n Text mix it up in the day’s other game with both teams looking to sustain their searing charge.

The Beermen pace the tourney with a perfect 7-0 win-loss card, followed by the Sta. Lucia Realtors at 6-3, the Talk n Text Tropang Texters at 5-3, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at 5-5 then the Giants at 4-4, making up the upper half of the chart.

“It’s a big game for us versus the best team. We’ll find out if we can compete with the big boys,” said Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes as they attempt to deal the Beermen their first loss in the tourney.

“Finally, Marquin is back. He will definitely help us get better on both ends of the court. Our aim to be at the upper half of the standings remain attainable. A victory against Coke will draw us closer to our goal,” said Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio on his thoughts on their own game.

“It is a very critical game for both teams. With Marquin, we are confident that we will be more competitive,” Gregorio added.

Curiously, Chandler is facing old rival James Penny in another return in the local pro league. The two imports figured in the Purefoods-Red Bull finals in the same conference in 2006. Chandler emerged as the tournament’s Best Import but Penny won the championship with the Barakos.

“Chandler will be an added firepower for Purefoods. His entry will lessen the load for James Yap, Kerby Raymundo and PJ Simon. We now have four offensive players to contend with,” said Coca-Cola coach Kenneth Duremdes.

Duremdes, however, said he will let assistant coach Bo Perasol to call the shots for the team in this game since it was the former who handled the Tigers’ practices while he’s with the national team during the All-Star Week. Secondly, Duremdes is now nursing sore eyes.

The Giants struggled with four wins against the same number of losses while awaiting for the arrival of Chandler. While the former San Jose Spartan was away, the team settled for the services of Brian Hamilton then Thorpe.

The Tigers also played with an interim import in JJ Sullinger while Penny was still hooked up in Mexico. Penny arrived only last March 25, and the Tigers split their first two games with the former Texas Christian U hitman.

Penny suffered a mild hamstring injury in their last game, prompting him to skip the All-Star Festivities where he was supposed to reinforce the South team versus the RP squad in the Panabo showdown Friday.