KaTropa need new import
So TNT finally got a much better game from import Glen Rice, Jr. after the son of the NBA legend played with a sense of urgency last Friday night resulting to a KaTropa win. His stats line was pretty impressive — 38 points, nine rebounds, five assists and four blocks — while helping the KaTropa in notching their third win in five games via a 110-103 triumph over the struggling Phoenix Fuel Masters.
Although his performance was better than the first time he played, Glen Jr.’s spot as reinforcement of the KaTropa isn’t a sure thing yet, according to head coach Nash Racela, who is still studying his team’s options while they continue to make a push for a playoff berth.
Coaching the team in his third conference, Racela is still looking whether or not Rice could carry the team home.
Rice is the son of NBA legend Glen Rice, a former All- Star Game Most Valuable Player and member of the Los Angeles Lakers three championship teams during the Shaquille O’Neal-Kobe Bryant era.
But unlike his old man, the player who had a brief stint with the Washington Wizards, Glen Jr. could not live up to the hype.
Still, Racela gave the younger Rice a chance to prove his worth and on Friday night when Jayson Castro and Roger Pogoy, fresh from their stint with Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA Asia Cup, were still trying to blend in, Glen Jr. responded.
But Racela is still pondering his next move whether to stick with Rice or recall the services of Michael Craig, the first choice of an import who was put on the injury reserve list.
Craig played for three games and just like Rice, he was having difficulty playing with the rest of the KaTropa even though he’s been here as early as last conference.
There’s a big possibility that Racela is still waiting for the availability among the back up imports included in his short list.
Looking at Craig and Glen Jr., Racela appears to be leaning towards making an import change, but he needs to act fast. The sooner he could bring in a new import, the better chances for the KaTropa. If the team wants to make a gamble, it needs to do it the soonest possible time as TNT still has six games left in the elimination round and remains in solid contention for a playoff spot.
What the KaTropa need at this time is an import who can play inside and out — a wide-bodied reinforcement who can give the team the extra heft in hope of stopping big locals and imports.