WHILE his massive body is certainly a huge advantage for Blackwater in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, the team still wants import Robert Upshaw III to lose weight and be more agile during games.
Blackwater team owner Dioceldo Sy has instructed the team’s strength and physical condition coaches to monitor the weight of the 7-foot Upshaw, who weighs more than 350 lbs.
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Sy believes shedding at least 20 kilograms off Upshaw’s current weight will make him an even deadlier threat for the Bossing.
“I told him if he loses at least 20 kilos, he’ll be unstoppable,” said the team owner of Upshaw, who replaced the injured Daniel Ochefu.
The weight loss program has already began for the 32-year-old product of Fresno State and University of Washington.
“I instructed the team to monitor his weight. Let’s see if he can lose one kilogram every other day,” said Sy.
But even with his current weight, Upshaw showed he can keep up with the rest of the Bossing by dropping 35 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, and three block shots in his debut game, a 97-91 win over the Magnolia Hotshots.
The burly import even shot 3-of-6 from four-point range.
Sy said the import can do more than that should he lose weight.
“I saw some old clips of him noong payat pa siya. Maliksi siyang gumalaw,” he added.
Upshaw and the 1-2 Bossing return to the court on Tuesday to face undefeated leader Rain or Shine (3-0) at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
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