‘The guy’s a beast’: Meralco import Alex Stephenson a good fit for squad
IN two straight Philippine Cup tournaments, the Meralco Bolts had been ushered to the exit door early as the team has been missing that huge hole in the middle.
But when it comes to the importlaced conferences like the Commissioner’s Cup and the Governors’ Cup, the Bolts are ready to contend. Last season, they went a game away from reaching the finals of the Commissioner’s Cup, but made the championship round of the season-ending Governors’ Cup for the first time in franchise history.
In the ongoing Commissioner’s Cup, Meralco is once again having an electrifying start, winning the first two games in convincing fashion.
Head coach Norman Black and veteran player Jared Dillinger believe it has something to do with the acquisition of import Alex Stephenson, a burly reinforcement, who provides the size and inside presence the Bolts have been lacking in the Philippine Cup.
For Black, Stephenson is the type of import who will get the job done beyond statistics.
“I don’t think Alex is gonna be a 50-point scorer like Eugene Phelps or Cory Jefferson. Some of the other imports who are here right now are very talented,” Black told BusinessWorld. “What he brings to the table is defensive rebounding. He’s big. He’s an intimidating factor, so he anchors our defense. It’s something we didn’t have last conference and it’s something that Arinze (Onuaku) did for us last year. It’s like fitting the right piece for the team. We can’t get that piece in the all-Filipino, so we’re getting it in the import-laced conference.”
In the first two games the Bolts won, Stephenson worked silently but more effectively. He has averaged 14.5 points and 20.5 rebounds, but more importantly, the dirty work he’s been providing has made Meralco a solid team to contend this conference.
This spells bad news for the opposition as the NBA veteran is still not in tip-top shape yet he was able to get the job done.
“He’s getting better and better each week. You can see that he’s not fully in shape. His timing and rhythm isn’t fully there. I’m glad that we have him on our side. The guy’s a beast. He makes the game pretty simple for us. You don’t have to come up with too many plays. The guy’s a workhorse, he’s a team guy and we’re happy to have him,” added Dillinger.
One of the trademarks of Stephenson’s game is his intimidating presence. On Sunday’s win against NLEX, the import had a verbal tussle with head coach Yeng Guiao and Eric Camson, but the former D-League standout walked away and kept his composure.
“I really didn’t hear what he (Coach Guiao) said, so I walked away. Basketball is an aggressive sport, alpha males out there competing. But it’s over now and we have to play ball,” said Stephenson.
Stephenson said that he’s now close to regaining his old form and it will only be a matter of time.
“I’m just trying to do what Coach asked of me, to play strong inside, to rebound, play strong defense. I know they have the best import two times. I’m not trying to be the best import, that’s not my goal. I’m just trying to do the best I can and help this team win,” said Stephenson.
Over the last two import-laced conferences, the Bolts had two of the Best Imports to the past season — Asrinze Onuaku 9Commissioner’s Cup) and Allen Durham (Governors’ Cup). For Stephenson, making his teammates look good and helping them out in any which way he can are the things he need to do to continue their early success.
“I’m in there, probably another week or two, but I’m getting close. Working harder, I’ll be there. I’m around 80- 85%. The rebounds are coming in. That’s my job, to get the rebound and defend,” added Stephenson.