By REYNALD MAGALLON
While some teams decided to bring back tried-and-tested reinforcements for the upcoming PBA Governors’ Cup, the majority of the squads have decided to tap fresh talents – most of which with NBA pedigree – in hopes of bringing new fortunes to their teams.
Hoping to challenge the returning Justin Brownlee of Barangay Ginebra. Allen Durham of Meralco and Aaron Fuller of Rain or Shine – imports who have already proven themselves in the PBA, former NBA players Glenn Robinson III, Darius Days and Scotty Hopson are leading the pack of new reinforcements for the season-opening conference.
Among this year’s PBA first timers, Robinson III, which Magnolia tapped to backstop its team, boasts the most impressive resume, having played for six teams through a six-year career in the NBA.
He had his best days with the Golden State Warriors where he averaged 12.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 2019. He was a former slam dunk champion and last played in the NBA in 2021 with the Sacramento Kings.
“Excited for my first experience overseas! The Philippines, next stop,” said Robinson in a tweet.
Days, on the other hand, is set to reinforce TNT while Hopson will banner Converge.
Both players went to similar paths to the NBA, becoming undrafted but still found their ways to make it to the big league.
The 34-year-old Hopson went undrafted in the 2011 NBA draft but had stints with Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder. Days, on the other hand, was undrafted in 2022 but ended up playing for the Houston Rockets.
Blackwater’s Ricky Ledo and NLEX’s Myke Henry are the other reinforcements brimming with NBA level talent.
Both had brief stints in the NBA before becoming journeymen and taking their talents around the globe. Ledo played for Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks before his stints in Puerto Rico, Poland, China and Lebanon.
Henry, meanwhile, suited up for the Memphis Grizzlies before playing in Greece, Italy, Poland and Indonesia.
San Miguel, Phoenix, and Terrafirma, meanwhile, are the only teams tapping imports not coming from the NBA but nonetheless bringing in reinforcements with wealth of experience and talent.
The Fuel Masters have tapped Jayveous Mckinnis who played in Cyprus while the Beermen are hoping to get Lithuanian Tauras Jogela who had stints in Lithuania, Poland, and Latvia. The Dyip has Brandon Edwards who played in Spain, France, Finland and Israel.
