THE Macau Giant Pandas have signed Kobey Lam for the PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup in a bid to be more competitive in its second conference in the league.
The 26-year-old Lam, a Chinese-Canadian born in Toronto, is a familiar name in the PBA, having played for the league's two previous guest teams, the Bay Area Dragons and Hong Kong Eastern.
Lam, who also has Laotian descent, played college for University of Denver and University of Charleston, both NCAA Division 1 schools.
Lam’s signing is part of the bid of Macau, previously known as Black Knights, for a better finish after placing 11th in the Commissioner's Cup with a 3-9 win-loss record.
“Kobey could bring us some experience,” said Macau coach Marcus Elliot after the team played a tune-up game against Rain or Shine on Tuesday.
“He played with Bay Area and with Eastern. So he is pretty familiar with the league. We just have to get him in shape quickly. Get him some chemistry with the guys,” Elliot said.
Lam played a big role in the Dragons’ campaign in the 2022-23 Commissioner’s Cup, even exploding for 30 points in Game 4 of the finals against Barangay Ginebra. Lam and the Dragons, however, lost in Game 7 to the Gin Kings.
Lam now joins a couple of holdovers from the Black Knights squad which includes Damian Chongqui and Ramon Cao.
Elliot revealed that the team will also bring back Jenning Leung for the upcoming conference, while Phoenix Shackleford, who was also part of the Macau team in the Commissioner’s Cup, is still in talks with the team.
“We’ll see about what’s going on with Phoenix and Jenning and the rest of the guys. We are missing Jenning, Phoenix, and some crucial local pieces,” Elliot said.
“We know for sure Jenning will report. We just don’t know when. He is dealing with something else right now. Phoenix is still conversing with management,” Elliot said.
Macau will parade Temple University product De’Vondre Perry for the Governors’ Cup.
The Giant Pandas will play in the Governors’ Cup opener on Friday night against NLEX at the Ynares Center-Antipolo.
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