Howell tests Beermen’s new import

MANILA, Philippines - A lot of pressure is on the shoulders of new San Miguel Beer import Kevin Jones as he makes his PBA debut against Talk ‘N’ Text at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight in place of predecessor Josh Boone who staked the team to a 2-0 start in the Commissioner’s Cup.

It was a calculated risk to replace Boone who led the Beermen to a 94-76 win over Meralco and a 112-96 blowout of Barangay Ginebra averaging 24 points and 18.5 rebounds. But the San Miguel coaching staff felt that looking forward, Jones would be more effective than Boone in leading the Beermen to the championship. Boone hadn’t played in over a year recovering from knee surgery and in a short conference, an import must be ready to go full throttle game in, game out with a low risk of injury.

Boone left Manila to return to New York City last Monday. Jones, 26, was measured to be 6-6 3/4 and is just as tall as Rain Or Shine’s Alex McLean. Boone is 6-8 9/16. San Miguel team manager Gee Abanilla said Jones is more of a complete player than Boone. “Kevin’s a great defender, aggressive, has a good motor, good rebounder, smart, decent perimeter game and has post moves,” said Abanilla. “We are just working on our chemistry so hopefully, we’re going to be OK against Talk ‘N’ Text.”

San Miguel coaching consultant Todd Purves said Jones has been impressive in practice. Jones flew in from the US last Saturday and reported for practice last Monday. “He’s very good defensively and versatile on offense,” said Purves. “The game against Talk ‘N’ Text should be a good one.”

Relieving Jones of some pressure is 6-10 JuneMar Fajardo who’s playing his first game of the conference tonight. Fajardo sat out the Meralco and Ginebra games due to an ankle sprain. He was named Best Player of the recently concluded Philippine Cup. Abanilla confirmed that Fajardo will make his first Commissioner’s Cup appearance tonight.

Out to test Jones is the Tropang Texters’ 6-7 1/16 blue-collar worker Richard Howell who compiled 15 points and 30 rebounds to power Talk ‘N’ Text to an 85-72 win over Alaska and collected 29 points and 12 rebounds in a 95-91 decision over Air21. Both Talk ‘N’ Text and San Miguel Beer are unbeaten with identical 2-0 records. The only other undefeated team in the conference is San Mig Coffee.

Howell, 23, is fresh from averaging 18 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 34 minutes in 20 games with the Idaho Stampede in the NBA D-League. The burly 260-pound power forward played four years at North Carolina State, the school that produced David Thompson, Spud Webb and Nate McMillan and former PBA imports Anthony Grundy and Rodney Monroe. As a senior with the Wolfpack in 2012-13, Howell averaged 12.7 points and 10.9 rebounds. After graduation, he played for Gravelines in the French league then joined the Portland Trail Blazers in the pre-season on a contract amounting to a reported $490,180.

Writer Brett Friedlander said the strength of Howell’s game lies in his hands. “His hands are large and soft and allow him to grab every ball that comes within an arm’s reach,” said Friedlander in Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook. “He’s also an effective passer out of the low post. Though most of Howell’s work offensively is done around the basket, he began to show a little range as a junior at North Carolina State by developing an effective mid-range jumper from both the baseline and elbow.”

Howell played a key role in leading the Wolfpack to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in 2011-12. Opening the NCAA Tournament, he went 10-of-12 from the floor in a win over San Diego State then two games later, pulled down 16 boards, including nine offensive, while scoring 16 points in a loss to eventual runner-up Kansas. Howell lost 20 pounds in between his sophomore and junior seasons to increase his mobility and delivered strong numbers. His weakness was foul management as he was disqualified in five games, four of which North Carolina State lost. He was hobbled with four fouls in 13 other contests, severely limiting the effectiveness of his physical presence inside, said Friedlander.

Wolfpack coach Mark Gottfried said Howell has to learn to play smarter on defense. “He’s as good as there is in the country at showing or hedging on ball screens but then he gets anxious and he wants to steal it and fouls at the top of the key,” said Gottfried.