TNT KaTropa ibabandera ang NBA journeyman na import
Mga Laro Ngayon
(Araneta Coliseum)
4:15 p.m. NLEX vs Mahindra
7 p.m. TNT KaTropa vs Meralco
Team Standings: Rain or Shine (2-0); Meralco (2-0); Alaska (2-0); Star (1-0); Phoenix (1-1); Globalport (0-1); Blackwater (0-2); NLEX (0-2); Mahindra (0-2); San Miguel Beer (0-0); Ginebra (0-0); TNT (0-0)
MASUSUBOK ang kakayahan ng 10-year NBA journeyman na si Lou Amundson na tinapik ng TNT KaTropa Texters para maging import nito sa 2017 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Makikilatis ngayon ang beteranong power forward ng NBA sa unang laro ng TNT Ka Tropa kontra sa kapatid na koponang Meralco Bolts umpisa alas-7 ng gabi sa Smart Araneta Coliseum sa Cubao, Quezon City.
Una munang magsasagupa ang kapwa wala pang panalo na NLEX Road Warriors at Mahindra Floodbuster ganap na alas-4:15 ng hapon bago ang salpukan ng Texters at Bolts.
Ang 34-anyos at 6-foot-9 na dating UNLV Runnin’ Rebels forward na si Amundson na last minute replacement import ng KaTropa ay dumating noong Martes ng gabi upang palitan ang naging 2012 PBA Best Import na si Denzel Bowles.
Sumali si Amundson sa 2006 NBA draft pero hindi siya napili kaya napunta siya sa NBA D-League kung saan ito ang naging 2006-07 Rookie of the Year habang naglalaro sa Colorado 49ers bago kinuha ng Utah Jazz.
Nakapaglaro siya sa siyam na NBA teams sa loob ng 10 taon na kinabibilangan ng Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Pelicans, Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks.
Makakatapat ni Amundson ang import ng Meralco na si Alex Stepheson na nagawang itulak ang Meralco sa dalawang sunod na panalo.
Ikinababahala naman ito ni Meralco coach Norman Black dahil hindi pa nasisilip ang kalibre ni Amundson.
“It will be a difficult game because we are going up against one of the best teams in the league,” sabi ni Black. “It also doesn’t help that we have not seen their import play. We will just continue to focus in on playing sound defense in trying to get a win.”
Unang tinalo ng Meralco ang NLEX, 91-84, bago humirit ng panalo kontra Mahindra, 94-86.
Kapwa naman iiwas ang Mahindra at NLEX na malubog sa ikatlong sunod na kabiguan at hulihang puwesto.
“I have been telling our guys that as long as we commit to our identity of playing defensive effort, team work and great deal of toughness we can always put ourselves in a position to win,” sabi ni Mahindra head coach Chris Gavina.
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