CHICAGO - Glenn Robinson III averaged 24. 2 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in five games before Magnolia pulled the plug,
GR3 wasn't flashy. He was automatic.
Robinson's replacement, Shabazz Muhammad, was a first-round draft pick with 278 NBA games played under his belt. No thanks to a swollen right knee, he, too, was also replaced.
Six days later, the Hotshots paraded their third import - Rayvonte Rice - at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Unlike Blackwater's George King, who immediately began shooting as soon as he left the tarmac, Rice had a tepid PBA debut on Monday night when Magnolia bowed to Converge, 89-82.
READ: Converge went in to win, Magnolia put premium on health in battle for No. 3
Obviously, the third switch wasn't a charm. There was no magic, just tragic 2-of-14 shooting from Rice, who finished with only five points while going 0-for-3 from 4 and 0-for-3 from 3.
NO EXTRA RICE.
The 6-foot-4 Rice had an excellent US NCAA college career where he averaged 15.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 123 games. It would be imprudent to judge him after just one outing.
Since arriving in Manila last Saturday, Rice has had only one practice with the team, two Magnolia players told me.
"Legs deserted him. Could be jetlag," said a media source.
I get it, Rice is still captive to the whims of his circadian rhythm.
But even after he gathers his legs, Rice will find out that he was thrust into a less than ideal situation with the playoffs about to start, all while having scant time to gel with his teammates and adapt to PBA nuances.
On top of that, his output will always be measured against the standard GR3 and Shabazz had previously set.
DON'T FIX WHEN IT AIN'T BROKE.
With GR3 heating like a jet engine, Magnolia had a 3-2 slate until he was cut. They're 2-3 since and 5-5 overall.
Imagine the chemistry and easy flow of their offense had the Hotshots wisely stuck with Robinson, who was hitting field goals at a 50 percent rate while knocking down threes at a 43.7 percent clip.
Instead, they have a new, grim reality.
The No. 4 seed in Pool A, Magnolia will face No. 1-ranked Rain or Shine of Pool B in a best-of-five quarterfinals series.
Having played with import Aaron Fuller since August 20 and practicing with him some three weeks before that, the Elasto Painters, who wound up the group phase at 7-3, are melding like orchestra music.
Rain or Shine also has a brilliant coach in Yeng Guiao, one of the best the PBA has ever seen.
Magnolia, meanwhile, is groping, constantly looking for a spark after the bedlam of three import changes.
Clearly, the Hotshots have either forgotten, or foolishly ignored, the dictum that stability and continuity lead to success.
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