THREE weeks after, a new reinforcement has come the way of NLEX in the PBA Governors’ Cup.
Former NBA player Deonte Burton arrived in the country over the weekend and went straight to meet his new teammates and reunite with coach Jimmy Alapag after showing up at the practice of the Road Warriors at the Epsilon Chi Center inside the UP Diliman campus.
Alapag, who worked with the 32-year-old Burton during their time together with the Stockton Kings in the G. League and subsequently, with the Sacramento Kings in the NBA, led the team in welcoming the replacement for the injured Dequan Jones.
The NLEX coach said his familiarity with the 6-foot-4 forward from Milwaukee definitely gives them the advantage of easily adjusting to each other.
“Obviously, having someone like DB (Deonte Burton) who has NBA experience, and the fact that we spent time together both in the G. League and the NBA, I have a lot of confidence in how he can help our team,” said Alapag, one of the 50 Greatest PBA players of all time.
“As great as a basketball player DB is, I think he’s just as good as a person. And I think that we’ll give us a great chance of getting ready for the second half of the conference.”
Good thing, Burton was available when the NLEX call up came after Jones went down with a severe right leg fracture and ankle dislocation in the Road Warriors’ game against defending champion TNT.
READ: DeQuan Jones wants to complete 'unfinished business' with NLEX
Jones has since been operated on both his right leg and ankle and is now just awaiting for his departure to the US where he will undergo recovery and rehabilitation.
But the injured import will be leaving the country with NLEX in good hands.
The Road Warriors are already assured of a playoffs berth as they currently share the lead with San Miguel both with a 7-2 record just before the league took a break to give way to Gilas Pilipinas’ campaign in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers and the 20th Asian Games.
Now it’s up to Burton to help flourish the seeds Jones implanted on the Road Warriors.
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