By REYNALD MAGALLON
Rain or Shine got the explosive reinforcement it needed when it came to terms with returning import Michael Qualls to bolster the squad’s bid to end a five-year playoff drought in the season-ending conference in the 2022 PBA Governors’ Cup.
In their hopes to keep the momentum going after making the playoffs in the Commissioner’s Cup, the Elasto Painters tapped the tried-and-tested Qualls who is already no stranger to the PBA after playing for the NorthPort Batang Pier in 2019.
The 6-foot-4 winger was a vital cog for NorthPort, helping the team reach its second semifinals appearance in its franchise history.
Qualls, who is fresh off a stint with Al Riyadi Beirut, averaged 32 points, 12.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.8 rebounds during his first tour of duty in the PBA.
Qualls, an athletic forward deadly in transition, is expected to complement well to the fast-paced offense of Yeng Guiao, anchored on Rain or Shine’s young core that featured the likes of Rey Nambatac, Gian Mamuyac, Santi Santillan, Anton Asistio and Andrei Caracut.
His explosive scoring is also seen to boost the Elasto Painters offense – something that the team seemingly lacked during the mid-season conference when it first tapped Steve Taylor Jr. before making the change with Ryan Pearson for the rest of the conference.
