AFTER a deliberation among its coaching staff and management, Rain or Shine has decided to part ways with Alex McLean and bring in former Barako Bull prospect Wayne Chism as its import for the remainder of the team’s PBA Commissioner’s Cup campaign.
Chism, the 6-8 wide-bodied former University of Tennessee standout, arrived just before noon on Thursday and is set to join the team’s practice on Friday morning.
In explaining the change, Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said it's totally different from having a "good import" in McLean to having the "right one' with Chism.
“Sometimes, it’s totally different if you have a good import from having the right import,” Guiao said on Thursday after the team’s practice. “Alex is a good import but we feel Chism could be the right import for us.
"He’s bigger, he’s taller, which is what we need to plug the hole in the middle.”
With McLean as import in the first five games in the import-spiced conference, Rain or Shine posted a 2-3 win-loss record, in a tie for sixth to seventh spots in the standings with defending champion Alaska.
McLean played what turned out to be his farewell game on Wednesday night, logging in 23 points and 16 rebounds to help Rain or Shine snap a two-game skid with a convincing 96-79 rout of Meralco.
McLean, a product of the Liberty University Flames, wound up averaging 22.8 points and 15.4 rebounds for the Elasto Painters in his five-game PBA career.
Chism is not a stranger anymore to PBA fans, having played one preseason match with Barako Bull, helping the Energy score a 96-89 win over the Aces.
That dispute has since been sorted out, paving the way for his stint with Rain or Shine.
Chism led Kaposvari, a Division A team in the Hungary basketball league, with his 20.7 points per game average, along with 10.1 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in 16 games.
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