OF all the imports coming in for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, Petron’s Renaldo Balkman probably has the most impressive credential.
Yet the former New York Knick has vowed to be a good soldier when he joins the Boosters.
“My job is to play basketball and to listen (to my coach)”, said Balkman, who was once compared by NBA legend and former Knicks coach Isiah Thomas to blue-collar workers Dennis Rodman and Metta World Peace.
The six-year NBA veteran said he will accept whatever role the coach will give him.
“Whatever the coach tells me to do, that’s my job. If the coach tells me I have poor shots and tell to just play defense, I will just play defense," he added in an interview with Spin.ph.
“That is what a player should be. If there is a leader on the team, don’t take that (respect) away from him.”
The six-year NBA veteran, at 6-8 most likely the shortest among the batch of imports for the mid-season tournament, arrived in the country on Sunday morning and will be joining Petron's practice on Monday.
If he proves true to his word, Balkman should be a welcome addition to a Petron team which has had problems meshing together the games of its star-studded lineup this season.
Well-known import agent Sheryl Reyes said she is happy to have convinced the double-double machine to take his act to the local pro league.
“I am so proud to have brought him (Balkman) here. He is one of the most humble and hardworking imports I know," said Reyes, who has brought in a long list of top-caliber reinforcements to the league.
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