GEORGE King will pick up from where he left off with Blackwater.
The talented import is set to comeback for the Bossing in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup following his impressive debut with the franchise in first ever foray in Asia’s first ever play-for-pay league.
King sat down with management a day after the team capped its campaign in the Governors’ Cup, where it almost made the playoffs until NLEX beat Barangay Ginebra in overtime in the penultimate day of the group stage to bow out of contention.
Still that didn’t deter the former NBA player to close out his campaign in flourish after scoring a new franchise high of 64 points in the Bossing’s 139-118 demolition of San Miguel.
The chemistry coupled with King’s talent and right attitude on and off the court were more than enough to convince management to bring him back for the mid-season conference where unlimited height for imports will be the norm.
“We’re sacrificing height for the King,” quipped team owner Dioceldo Sy when asked to confirm about plans of bringing back the 30-year-old King for the second straight conference.
Sy personally met with the import on Tuesday at Makati Shangri-la along with coach Jeff Cariaso, eldest son Donway, and close friend and business partner former world champion Gerry Penalosa.
On Wednesday, King personally visited the Ever Billena office in Kalookan City and mingled with its employees.
The North Carolina native is set to leave for the US on Thursday.
But the plan is for King to return to the country late in October or early November for the Commissioner’s Cup.
Of course, the feeling is mutual for King.
“It just makes me emotional inside, honestly, because at this point of my career, I just appreciate it so much. I’m really enjoying my time here in the Philippines, playing for Blackwater, being around the guys and learning from them not only on the games on the court, but as men as well,” said the import.
“Those are the things that you can take with you when you decide to walk away from the game and retire. This has been a memorable one for me.”
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