Rain or Shine hopes its replacement import Kayel Locke can address what the team lacked in its first three games – two of them resulted to defeats.
The 6-foot-5 Locke was tapped to replace Joel Wright in the ongoing PBA Governors’ Cup and the team owners – Raymund Yu and Terry Que – are hoping their new import will deliver right away.
“He has impressed his teammates, including James (Yap). Not only he has a good touch from afar, he can also defend,” said Que.
ROS coach Caloy Garcia confirmed that Locke has already joined the Elasto Painters practice in hopes of getting himself familiar with the team before Friday’s match against the Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok.
Locke, 25, is coming off a stint in the Malaysian Pro League, the same league where Rain or Shine discovered Commissioner’s Cup import Carl Montgomery.
Montgomery led the Elasto Painters to the semifinals despite being not having the credentials of some of the big-name imports that suited up last conference.
A product of University of North Carolina-Greensboro, Locke played in Kosovo, Latvia, Finland and Estonia before leading Farmco to the Malaysian Pro League title last July.
“He already knows how we play,” said Garcia. “He runs our offense smoothly, bring a different look and can play multiple position. Hopefully he would be able to adjust once he plays his first game.”
Wright, who played for the Star Hotshots during his initial PBA stint in 2016, averaged 24.0 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 block but struggled to find the consistency Rain or Shine wanted.
He likely cost himself a job in last Saturday’s 103-91 loss against TNT KaTropa by committing a Flagrant Foul 1 for tripping Troy Rosario with Rain or Shine down six late in the fourth quarter.
