Rhett thrives in team play
Blackwater import M. J. Rhett said the other day he’s not the type to score high numbers but what the former University of Mississippi forward promised was a commitment to team play, something that warms Elite coach Leo Isaac’s heart particularly as the second-year PBA franchise has just recorded its first back-to-back wins ever.
Rhett, 23, is the youngest import in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. He’s not as experienced as NBA veterans Othyus Jeffers of Barangay Ginebra and Al Thornton of NLEX but the upside is he’s willing to learn with no baggage to lug around.
After a lackluster debut against importless Talk ‘N’ Text last Feb. 10, Rhett was warned by Blackwater management to shape up or ship out. Rhett finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, one assist and five turnovers in the Elite’s 108-102 loss. “I knew my performance was horrible,” said Rhett who hit 6-of-17 from the floor. “I think I might have warmed up too much. I just wasn’t myself. I was nervous, too, because it was my first game in the PBA and I really wanted to put on a good show. I told coach to give me another chance because I know I can do better.”
From that shaky showing, Rhett has bounced back like he said he would. In his next game, Rhett compiled 19 points, 18 rebounds, three assists and three turnovers in 42:54 minutes as Blackwater beat Mahindra, 110-102 last Feb. 14. He played three less minutes than the last game but put up 11 more boards, three more points, two more assists and two less turnovers. But what put Rhett in the spotlight was his triple double in Blackwater’s 107- 101 decision over Alaska at the MOA Arena last Friday.
Rhett collected 18 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists as the Elite posted its first-ever victory over Alaska. It was the PBA’s first triple double since San Miguel Beer’s Arizona Reid had 39 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists in a 115-83 win over Blackwater in the Governors Cup last year. The last triple double by a local came from Joe De Vance who posted 11 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in San Mig Coffee’s 93-87 win over Talk ‘N’ Text in Game 5 of the Governors Cup semifinals in 2014.
“I don’t need to score in the 30s for us to win,” said Rhett. “I’ve got teammates who can score. Coach wants me to rebound, defend and be aggressive but I won’t force my shots. If I’m covered, I’m looking to pass. I’m happy at Blackwater, we work as a team. It’s still a long way to the playoffs but if we make it, I’m hoping to bring over my mom and dad and maybe, my younger sister.”
Rhett’s father Joe played at the University of South Carolina. He suited up for the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA Summer League in 1992 and was signed to a one-year contract by the Milwaukee Bucks for the 1992-93 season. His father, however, was cut by the Bucks before the season began then saw action in Sweden, Iceland and Finland before ending his basketball career because of a heart ailment. He fainted during a South Carolina varsity game against Mississippi State in 1992 because of an irregular heartbeat but was later cleared to try out in the NBA. Hakeem Olajuwon was afflicted with a similar problem. Rhett’s father now works at FedEx while his mother Stephanie was employed by the US Army.
The left-handed Rhett said he’s adjusting to his role in the PBA. “In college, we play a 40-minute game but in the PBA, it’s 48 minutes so I’ve never played so many minutes in a game before,” he said. The stat that stood out in Rhett’s credentials was his field goal percentage, an indication of shot selection and on-court maturity. As a senior at Mississippi in 2014-15, he shot 57.1 percent from the floor, averaging 7.3 points and 4.7 rebounds.
Rhett played his first three years of varsity eligibility at Tennessee State where he averaged 10.5 points and 9.1 rebounds as a junior in 201314. After graduating with a degree in Human Performance and Sports Science, Rhett transferred to Mississippi to play out his final year of NCAA eligibility. He chose to enrol at Mississippi over Connecticut, Miami and South Carolina and took up Master’s studies in Criminal Justice. Rhett has one semester left to earn his Master’s degree and plans to finish up this summer. As a senior, Rhett towed Mississippi to the NCAA Tournament where he shot a combined 15-of-20 from the floor in two games. He hit 12 points against Xavier and 20 against Brigham Young. Before the playoffs, Rhett went 8-of-9 against Vanderbilt and 8-of-11 against Arkansas.
“I was double-teamed in college so I’m used to that,” he said. “I wasn’t just a pure inside player. I took mid- range jumpers, too, but not threes. With Blackwater, I can be a threat but I’ve got four teammates on the floor who are also threats so we’ve got good balance.”
Blackwater team owner Dioceldo Sy, who was in China on a business trip during the win over Alaska, said Rhett is improving every game and will be huge for the Elite. Because of internet restrictions in China, Sy couldn’t watch the game on live streaming but monitored the progress through his Messenger app with three connections. Team manager Johnson Martinez said he talked to Rhett after the loss to TNT and was confident he would overcome his debut jitters. “I told him if that’s all he can do, we’ll take him out,” said Martinez. “But he promised to do better. He’s a perfect import for us, he’s coachable, talented, young and trusts his teammates.” Martinez reminded Rhett to take Blackwater’s battlecry of “Winners Never Quit” seriously. Rhett obviously heeded the call.
A teammate who has led Blackwater in scoring every game so far is Carlo Lastimosa who netted 39 against TNT, 26 against Mahindra and 24 against Alaska. Another player putting up big numbers is Reil Cervantes who had 15 against, 24 against Mahindra and 21 against Alaska. In the win over the Aces, six Blackwater players scored in twin digits – which is how Isaac and Rhett like it.
Blackwater hopes to extend its win streak to three when the Elite faces winless Star Hotshots at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.