February 4th, 2016 09:59 PM
Phoenix Petroleum is providing a Nigerian flavor in the roster of imports for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, having tapped Lagos native Andrew Kehinde “Kenny” Adeleke as reinforcement for its PBA debut in the mid-season tourney that fires off Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Adeleke, listed as a 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward/center from University of Hartford, is to arrive in the country Friday, leaving Globalport as the only team still in search for import.
Already in town practicing with their respective teams are Ivan Johnson (TNT), Malcolm Rhett (Blackwater), Denzel Bowles (Star), Malcolm Thomas (Meralco), Augustus Gilchrist (Mahindra), Othyus Jeffers (Ginebra), Al Thornton (NLEX), Wayne Chism (Rain or Shine), Rob Dozier (Alaska) and Tyler Wilkerson.
Bowles, Chism and Dozier are former Best Import awardees, Johnson, Thornton and Jeffers have had their previous tours of duty in the local pro league while the rest are all newcomers.
Going with Adeleke, 32, is his rich experience playing overseas since the end of his collegiate years with Hartford in 2006.
Left undrafted in the 2006 NBA rookie draft, Adeleke has brought his stuffs in tough pro leagues in Israel, Turkey, Italy, Uruguay, Venezuela and Puerto Rico.
He also had his stints in the NBA Summer League with the New York Knicks and the Seattle SuperSonics.
Last year, he suited up with Trotamundos de Carabobo in Venezuela then with Atenienses de Manati in Puerto Rico.
As he arrives Friday, he’ll have 13 days to work out with his teammates before they open their campaign in the Commissioner’s Cup versus NLEX on Feb. 17 at the Big Dome.
With a competitive lineup acquired from Barako Bull, Phoenix is expected to have a decent showing in its PBA debut.
As expansion ball clubs, Blackwater and Mahindra (formerly Kia) struggled badly in each of the three conferences last season.
Blackwater finally made the playoff play in the 2015-16 Philippine Cup while Mahindra has yet to make it past the elims in all its first four conferences in the PBA.
No comments:
Post a Comment