By REYNALD MAGALLON
Rain or Shine had a change of heart about its reinforcement for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
The Elasto Painters had decided to let go of the 6-foot-10 American-Nigerian center Daniel Ochefu and tapped the services of forward Steve Taylor Jr.
It was the latest move the franchise had done in the off-season that also saw Rain or Shine getting reunited with fiery mentor coach Yeng Guiao.
Ochefu, who was brought in to the team during the coaching reins of now assistant coach Chris Gavina, was deemed not fit under Guiao’s system prompting the management to move to a different direction with the acquisition of Taylor.
The 6-foot-9 Toledo product is expected to arrive in the country on Thursday, Sept. 15 giving him a week worth of practice before Rain or Shine kicks off its campaign against Guiao’s former team NLEX on Sept. 23.
Taylor went undrafted in the NBA 2017 rookie draft and has since traveled and played overseas leagues in France, Hungary, Turkey, Italy and most recently in Australia.
He had his best numbers during his stint in the Italian league averaging a double-double of 15.6 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 22 games.
Under Guiao, Taylor is expected to give the Elasto Painters an inside-outside threat on offense while also providing the rim protection and presence inside the paint on the defensive end which compliments Guiao’s slew of pesky, hard-nosed and young defenders in the likes of Gian Mamuyac, Santi Santillan, Andrei Caracut, and Rey Nambatac along with veterans Gabe Norwood, Jewel Ponferrada and Beau Belga.
