Euro veteran replaces Oliver as TNT import

With Cam Oliver hit by knee injury, the TNT Tropang Giga brought in European league veteran Matthew Warren Mobley in the final push for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs.

The 6-foot-3 Mobley, who last played for the Ratiopharm Ulm in Germany’s Basketball Bundesliga, will get his PBA baptism of fire when TNT faces Bay Area tomorrow and San Miguel on Saturday in must-win encounters.

The Tropang Giga found themselves sitting in ninth spot at 4-6 after losing to Ginebra with an all-Filipino crew, 89-85, last Sunday.

Oliver sat that one out after sustaining a sprain on his left knee during TNT’s 97-91 loss to Meralco last Wednesday. The slam-dunking reinforcement will be sidelined two weeks to a month and TNT decided to go with Mobley, who also had prior stints in France, Turkey and Belgium.

TNT activated Mobley yesterday while relegating Oliver to its injured/ reserve list. Undersized in the 6-foot-10 tournament, the former St. Bonaventure standout may go on to take the mantle in TNT’s Governors’ Cup campaign as well.

Even without Oliver and Jason Castro limping out in the second quarter, the Tropang Giga nearly pulled it off against full-strength Ginebra.

After chipping away the Gin Kings’ early 17-point lead, Mikey Williams and Co. wrested control with a big 26-15 assault in the third and even had several opportunities in the tight race to the finish.

“We did everything we wanted – we defended (Ginebra import Justin) Brownlee, we controlled Scottie (Thompson). But in the end, not having an import is such a huge handicap to overcome,” TNT coach Chot Reyes said. – Olmin Leyba