BARAKO Bull is not keen on tapping an Asian import in the coming PBA Governors Cup.
Coach Koy Banal said the 6-foot-3 height limit on all Asian reinforcements is a drawback for the team, which he admitted needs a ‘stretch-four’ player which the Energy badly missed since the departure of veteran Mick Pennisi for Purefoods.
“Right now, ang kulang namin is stretch four. Eh, kung limited ang height (of the Asian reinforcement), I don’t think it will be a great addition to our team,” said Banal, moments after the Energy vowed out of the Commissioner’s Cup playoffs following a 127-97 rout at the hands of Talk ‘N Text on Saturday.
The loss marked the third straight time the franchise Energy lost to the Tropang Texters in a conference quarterfinals.
So far, expansion franchises Blackwater and KIA Motors have signified their intentions to tap an Asian reinforcement to shore up their respective rosters for the season-ending conference.
The Energy though will be one of four teams which will have the privilege to get imports of unlimited height in the season’s final conference.
In line with this, Banal hopes to bring back NBA veteran Solomon Alabi for the third conference, saying the seven-foot Nigerian bring in size and defensive presence the Energy badly need.
“I’ll talk to him (Alabi) because I have a meeting with him tomorrow. I think he’s motivated though we do not know with our management kung ano ang plan,” he added.
Alabi, a former back-up big man for the Toronto Raptors, put up 23 points, 17 rebounds, and four rebounds in his farewell game with the Energy this conference.
The former Florida State University standout averaged 23.7 points, 19.4 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks in the mid-season tournament.
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