NLEX taps ex-NBA player Al Thornton as import

MANILA, Philippines – The NLEX Road Warriors have signed up former NBA All-Rookie First Team awardee Al Thornton as import in the coming PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

The Road Warriors will see Thornton up close ahead of the PBA second conference as they also play him as import in their stint in a Dubai international set Jan. 14-25.

Cancelled was Globalport’s participation in the same tourney.

As of posting time, Globalport and Purefoods Star are reportedly locked in a tug of war for the services of Derrick Caracter.

Kia and Blackwater have also signed up an import, with the former acquiring former Puerto Rican national player PJ Ramos and the latter enlisting former ABL standout reinforcement Chris Charles.

The Road Warriors are confident they have also found a gem of an import in Thornton, a legitimate NBA player with stints with the Los Angeles Clippers, the Washington Wizards and the Golden State Warriors.

“I’ve been watching his videos and reading his profiles, and he is quite a versatile player,” said NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez.

“He can shoot from the outside, he can attack the basket and can post up as well. I heard he can play defense and he could really be a big plus factor for our team,” Fernandez added.

Thornton, the 2007 NBA draft No. 14 pick, is a forward, so NLEX can still maximize the use of center Asi Taulava.

Putting up averages of 12.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists as a rookie, the Florida SU product made the All-Rookie First Team that year with Kevin Durant, Al Horford, Luis Scola and Jeff Green.

He also had an outstanding four-year collegiate career capped by a stellar senior year that saw him make the AP Third Team All-American, a unanimous selection to the First Team All-ACC team and was runner-up to Boston College’s Jared Dudley for the ACC Player of the Year.