CHICAGO -- While our intrepid Olympians mine for precious metals at the ongoing Paris Games, Jared Brown has begun his journey as a pro and is working out with TNT.
No word yet if the 5-foot-10, 160-pound combo guard will eventually earn a coveted spot in time for the August 18 start of the Governor's Cup, but if toughness alone were the barometer, the former Ateneo starter easily made the grade.
After joining the Tropa's practices at the Moro Lorenzo gym beginning this past Monday, Brown took a nasty, inadvertent shot to the face last Thursday. The mishap resulted in some bleeding, and possibly, a "broken nose," a source told me.
Nasal fractures, if that indeed is the case here, are nothing to sneeze at. It could cause septal hematoma that would need draining. And while other instances may not require surgery to heal, some actually do.
No big deal.
Brown showed up at practice the next day. Talk about warrior mentality.
One of the challenges Fil-Ams face when they head over to play in the UAAP and the PBA is the physicality of both leagues. It looks like Jared can handle his business.
He may be undersized but Brown sure makes up for it with his toughness, intensity, and sweet shooting as shown by his 42.8 percent accuracy rate from downtown during his junior season at Westmont College in California.
If coach Chot Reyes gives the thumbs up. Brown will add depth to a TNT guards crew made up of Jayson Castro, Rey Nambatac and Brian Heruela.
THE ASIAN TOURNAMENT
With the grand finale of The Asian Tournament set to start this August 5, in Zamboanga City, the Zamboanga Valientes just brought in a former four-time NBA All-Star to help them win the coveted plum.
DeMarcus Cousins.
The 6-foot-10, 270-pound behemoth played 11 seasons in the NBA where he appeared in 654 regular season games. He averaged 19.6 points, 10.2 rebounds and 3 assists.
Now 33, Boogie last played for the Denver Nuggets in the NBA in the 2021-22 season. He then took his talents overseas and had just come off a title run with the Taiwan Mustangs where he was named Finals MVP.
So how much do the services of a big name, big talent cost?
Per sources, Cousins signed a 10-day, $200,000 deal with the Valientes. To put that in perspective, Cousins made $91.9 million in the NBA according the BasketballReference,com.
In previous campaigns, the Valientes have also signed former Miami Heat guard and two-time NBA champion Mario Chalmers. Last month, the team also brought in Dwight Howard for a visit.
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