MANILA, Philippines - Crowd darling Barangay Ginebra and a Powerade team that’s starting to attract its own followers collide in an exciting match, disputing solo second place in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo today.
The Kings finally unveil the highly touted Jackson Vroman as they clash with the Tigers at 4:15 p.m. with both teams chasing a third win in four starts.
Petron Blaze and Rain or Shine square off in the other game at 6:30 p.m. with the Boosters seeking a piece of third place at 3-2 and the Elasto Painters hoping to stay close to the frontrunners at 2-3.
Vroman, a four-year NBA veteran with stints with Phoenix and New Orleans, makes his much-awaited debut in the local pro league as he takes over from Chris Alexander who had led the Gin Kings to a 2-1 start in the mid-season tourney.
Ginebra’s import change despite the Kings’ decent start with Alexander underscored the team’s determination to make good in the tourney.
During the league break, the team beefed up its local lineup with its acquisition of Kerby Raymundo and Dylan Ababou.
“There’s no doubt, we have a better lineup now. All our players can play for any other team. The thing is how they jell with one another, and we hope we can work on that soon,” said Ginebra coach Siot Tanquingcen.
The Kings acquired Vroman to improve their scoring sock and versatility.
Ironically, the 6-foot-10 naturalized Lebanese sustained a nose injury in a collision with Rico Villanueva in practice the other day. Vroman wears a protective mask in his debut tonight.
Many consider Ginebra the team to beat with its beefed up local roster reinforced by Vroman.
Powerade coach Bo Perasol himself is impressed with the Ginebra squad but he expects his team to battle, especially coming off a loss to Barako Bull Friday.
Perasol insists they have to win games to justify their team’s continued existence in the league.
The Tigers suffered their first loss in the mid-season tourney Friday, bowing to the Energy and their new import Rodney White, 91-101. With Powerade’s defeat, Talk n Text is now the only team with an unblemished record at 3-0.
White debuted with 29 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and two steals with Willie Miller, Don Allado and Ronald Tubid providing big help as Barako checked a three-game slump and improved a rung up to seventh place in the team standings with a 2-3 record.
“White is solid. He’s got a good perimeter game. He’ll be ready for the bumps in the PBA, and he’ll be okay,” said Barako coach Junel Baculi. White, enlisted as a substitute import for Dermarr Johnson who sustained a groin injury versus Rain or Shine in Dubai a week ago, had piled up 16 points in the first half on 2-of-2 three-point
shooting plus three twinners and four charities.
He added another triple in the final half and curiously finished with a triple-double with 10 turnovers.
“We’ll wait and see,” said Baculi on whether the team is sticking all the way with White or later reactivating Johnson.