By Jonas Terrado
Games Today
(Mall of Asia Arena)
4:30 p.m. – Columbian vs TNT KaTropa
7 p.m. – Ginebra vs Meralco
Returning imports Justin Browlnee and Joshua Smith make their PBA Commissioner’s Cup debuts tonight as struggling Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and second-running TNT KaTropa face separate rivals at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Brownlee is expected to give Ginebra some new life in the 7 p.m. match with Meralco while Smith looks to put TNT into a share of the lead with idle Rain or Shine as it meets Columbian at 4:30 p.m.
The two returnees try to maintain the success they had when they saw action for their respective teams last season.
Brownlee played all of the two import-laden conferences which ended in a bang when Ginebra captured its second straight Governors’ Cup crown after a seven-game series win over Meralco.
Smith used his large size – he was listed at 330 lbs – into good use and helped TNT reach the finals of last season’s Commissioner’s Cup, losing in six games to eventual champion San Miguel.
TNT is currently tied with Alaska for second to third places at 4-1, and coach Nash Racela believes Smith’s return could further spark the KaTropa’s title drive in the midseason tourney.
Top locals Jayson Castro, Terrence Romeo, Troy Rosario, Roger Pogoy and Jericho Cruz are primed for productive outputs against Columbian, a team that sits in the middle of the standings at 3-3 despite a rollercoaster campaign.
NO PBA FOR KIEFER
Meantime, the PBA will abide by the FIBA decision to suspend Kiefer Ravena for 18 months after the world governing body formally clarified that the NLEX Road Warriors star rookie is prohibited from participating in all basketball-related activities during the ban.
PBA Chairman Ricky Vargas made the announcement after the Board of Governors held a special meeting yesterday at the league office in Libis, Quezon City to discuss, among other things, the suspension that came after Ravena tested positive for banned substances during Gilas Pilipinas’ campaign in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.
