Games Today
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4:15 p.m. – Blackwater vs Alaska
7 p.m. – Phoenix vs Star
The Phoenix Fuel Masters shoot for their second win in the debut of their permanent import as they face the Star Hotshots, the team that always had their numbers, tonight in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Phoenix is banking on Jameel McKay as the one who can equal or even exceed the contributions provided by Eugene Phelps in the 7 p.m. match with the Hotshots, who opening their campaign in the midseason tournament bannered by former NBA player Tony Mitchell.
McKay is listed at 6-foot-9 and played college ball at Iowa State in the US NCAA. He is coming off a stint in Australia where he helped the Perth Wildcats capture the National Basketball League title.
Coach Ariel Vanguardia had described McKay as having a 7’4’’ wingspan and a defensive presence, contrary to what Phelps had done last Saturday when he produced a career-high 53 points and 21 rebounds in the Fuel Masters’ 118-116 overtime victory over the Blackwater Elite last Saturday at the Cuneta Astrodome.
The Fuel Masters can only hope that Phelps can provide all the help needed as they seek to finally score a win against the Hotshots this season.
Phoenix lost all three games to Star in the Philippine Cup, two of which came in the quarterfinals. The Hotshots won by an average of nearly 32 points per game.
“We are looking forward to that game, because they always had our number last conference. We weren’t able to stop them,” said Vanguardia, who hopes to have rookie guard Matthew Wright back after missing the opener because of an ankle injury.
Star, out for a better finish after pushing Philippine Cup finalist Barangay Ginebra San Miguel to the limit in the seven-game semifinals, will be parading Mitchell, who seems to be the most explosive among the batch of imports this conference.
Mitchell will try to blend in with the Hotshots team that boasted an impressive offensive arsenal last conference led by Paul Lee and Allein Maliksi coupled with a relentless defensive gameplan under coach Chito Victolero.
Meanwhile, Alaska is also eyeing its second victory as it plays Blackwater in the 4:15 p.m. curtain raiser.
The Aces made a good impression with import Cory Jefferson also last Saturday when they pummeled the Terrence Romeo-less GlobalPort Batang Pier, 107-79.
But Alaska coach Alex Compton admitted the team may have a hard time stopping Blackwater import Greg Smith, who produced 37 points and 30 rebounds in the loss to Phoenix.
“They beat us last conference and we know we need to play exceptionally sharp,” Compton said. “Stopping Smith is not likely, though. Hopefully we can contain him a little and still limit their local guys somehow.”
