Barako tests White against Tigers

MANILA, Philippines - With DerMarr Johnson nursing a painful groin pull, Barako Bull Energy coach Junel Baculi will test import replacement Rodney (Wink) White against Powerade in a desperate bid to snap a three-game losing streak in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome tonight.

White, 31, flew in from China, where he played in three playoff games, last Wednesday. He’s confirmed to suit up for the Energy against the Tigers even as Johnson hasn’t been served the pink slip.

“We brought Rodney to practice a few hours after he landed,” said Baculi. “At first look, he wasn’t impressive. But as he started to perspire and warm up, we saw the real Rodney. We didn’t want to push him in his first practice. He came from an eight-hour trip and was really tired. From what we saw, he can post up or shoot facing the basket. He’s a legit 6-9, weighs about 240-245. We’ll play him three or four with our bigs Dorian (Pena), Mick (Pennisi) and Don (Allado) taking care of (Dwayne) Jones. We’ll give Jones different looks. I don’t think Dorian and our other bigs will get easily pushed around.”

Baculi said Johnson has been relegated to the injury list. “DerMarr’s still in town,” he said. “We’ll go with Rodney against Powerade then evaluate. At the moment, DerMarr is in pain so he’s not able to play. We know what Rodney can do. We’re hoping he’s able to deliver and give us some Ws.”

Allado said from what he saw in White’s first practice, the NBA veteran is as good as advertised. “I think he can help us a lot,” he said. “He’s got a soft touch from the outside. He was very tired from the plane ride so his actions were limited. White’s a vet and the size of our bigs should give teams a problem.”

White was signed to a short-term playoff contract by the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions to replace Wilson Chandler in the Chinese league and saw action in three quarterfinal games, averaging 16.7 points and 7.7 rebounds. The Lions, coached by Jim Cleamons, lost all three games to the Beijing Ducks whose star is Stephon Marbury. White fired seven points in his first outing then 23 and finally, 30. Before moving to China, he averaged 19.5 points and 7.7 rebounds in the Korean league.

White attended five high schools, winding up his pre-collegiate career by averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds at Newport Prep in Maryland in 1998-99. He was the MVP in the Kenner League for high school students in Washington, D.C., outshining future NBA cagers Keith Bogans and Joseph Forte. White was named among the top 50 prep prospects by analyst Bob Gibbons.

In 2000-01, White averaged 18.7 points for Charlotte University as a freshman, scoring in double figures in 26 of 28 games. Writer Mike DeCourcy described him as “magnificent” and “dynamic,” noting that opposing teams must respect not only his post and face-to-the-basket skills but also his passing ability because “he’s adept at delivering the ball to teammates.” He led the 49ers varsity to a 22-11 record under coach Bob Lutz and into the second round of the NCAA tournament. For his efforts, White was named to the All-Conference USA first team, only the third freshman to make it in history after Quentin Richardson and Larry Hughes. But after a year, White applied for the NBA draft where he was picked ninth overall by Detroit over players like Joe Johnson, Richard Jefferson, Zach Randolph, Gerald Wallace, Sam Dalembert and Gilbert Arenas.

White earned over $7 Million in a four-year NBA career with Detroit, Denver and Golden State. In 2002-03, he averaged nine points in 72 games for the Nuggets. Throughout his NBA career, he hit at a 7.1 clip in 218 total games. White has played in Spain, Italy and Puerto Rico aside from making stops in Asia.

Last year, White was arrested by police for operating a sophisticated marijuana growing lab in North Carolina. Former PBA imports Henry James and Sam Mack were also involved in drug busts. James, who played for Ginebra, was sentenced to five years in prison in 2007 after a conviction for selling crack cocaine. Mack was ordered to receive drug treatment after police found marijuana and cocaine in his car in 2000.

On a personal note, White enjoys bowling, watching movies (his favorites are “The Mack” and “Blow”), listening to music (he likes Jay-Z’s “Reasonable Doubt”) and tracking the Philadelphia Eagles.

Johnson is averaging 20 points in four games with Barako. He hit 19 in the Energy’s first and only win this conference, a 98-78 decision over Alaska. Johnson scored only three points in seven minutes in Barako’s 99-95 loss to Rain Or Shine in Dubai last week, leaving the game with a groin pull in the first period. In his most explosive showing, Johnson fired 37 points against Air 21 but the Express withstood the eruption to win, 97-88, last Feb. 19.