TNT KaTropa hopes to get an immediate boost from Glen Rice Jr. as it takes on Rain or Shine in the PBA Governors’ Cup on Sunday night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The Texters parade the son and namesake of the former NBA star gunner, in their 6:45 p.m. matchup against the Elasto Painters.
The younger Rice, who replaced Michael Craig Jr., is a former Georgia Tech standout who made it to the NBA like his father, although only playing sparingly for two seasons for the Washington Wizards, before settling in the NBA D-League.
“We’re hoping he’ll be a better fit,” TNT coach Nash Racela said in a text message hours before tipoff. We can only see in the actual games.”
Rice, who measured a shade under 6’5”, already had more than two weeks to practice with the Texters, who last saw action August 4 when they squeaked past Alaska, 107-106.
Now they try to score their third victory in four games.
The Texters are not just rusty, but also undermanned without Jayson Castro, Roger Pogoy, and Troy Rosario, out on international duty with Gilas Pilipinas.
The Texters are also facing an Elasto Painters side that has seen action more recently, last Sunday when they held off Kia, 94-86.
The E-Painters are hoping to start their first win streak this conference and their third win in five games as they bank on J’Nathan Bullock, who tries to continue playing above his height as he’s the tournament’s shortest import at 6’3” 3/4.
Kia aims to snap a six-game skid and finally barge into the win column as it takes on GlobalPort (1-2) in the 4:30 p.m. game.
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