Games today (Astrodome) 5:15 p.m. – Meralco vs Alaska 7:30 p.m. – Barako vs Powerade
Powerade tries to keep pace with Talk n Text, going for a third straight win against a Barako Bull team fielding another NBA top draftee in Rodney Charles White today in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Alaska Milk and Meralco meet in the other game at 5:15 featuring the clash between prized former Red Bull imports Earl Barron and Adam Parada.
“As of now, the only justification we have for our team’s existence is to keep on winning. We intend to do that no matter what,” said Powerade coach Bo Perasol.
The Tigers, the surprised second placers in the Philippine Cup, hope to get going, looking to sustain the momentum of their 2-0 win-loss start in the mid-season tourney.
But Barako Bull is out to stop the Tigers with coach Junel Baculi focusing on how to neutralize Powerade’s Big Three of Gary David, Marcio Lassiter and Jvee Casio.
“If we can limit their production, then we have a good chance,” said Baculi who also believes how White debuts will also be a key factor in the contest.
Barako was forced to look for an import sub after Dermarr Johnson sustained a groin injury in their game versus Rain or Shine in Dubai Thursday. Johnson was put in the injured list.
White, the Detroit Pistons’ ninth pick in the 2001 NBA draft, came in Wednesday fresh from the Chinese league.
“He’s bigger at 240 pounds so we’ve improved our inside presence. He also has a good touch from the outside,” said Baculi of their new import who’s a five-year NBA veteran also with stints with the Denver Nuggets and the Golden State Warriors.
Baculi hopes White perks up the team as they have lost their last three games after a rousing 20-point win over the Alaska Milk Aces in the tournament opener.
White, 31, and listed as a 6-foot-9 forward, starred for North Carolina-charlotte in the college ball before graduating to the NBA where he averaged 7.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 218 games from 2001-2005.
He enjoyed a career-best average of 9.0 points with the Nuggets in 2002-03 while playing 21.7 minutes an outing.
The Nuggets, however, had a bad season enabling them to pick Carmelo Anthony in the 2003 NBA draft.
With Anthony on board, the Nuggets packaged White with Nikoloz Tskitishvili in a trade to the Warriors for Eduardo Najera, Luis Flores and a future pick.