SCHONNY Winston is proving to be a perfect fit for NLEX as the No. 2 scoring option after Robert Bolick.
It actually took one tournament in Davao eight months ago for the Road Warriors to take an interest in the shifty Fil-Am guard - and start tinkering with the idea of having him in their roster.
During the Kadayawan Invitational Basketball Tournament in Davao last year, the 27-year-old Winston's case drew the curiosity of NLEX as he sat out the annual cagefest, supposedly due to an injury, while negotiations for a new contract with Converge were dragging.
READ Schonny Winston on parting ways with Converge: 'It’s business'
NLEX and Converge were among the four PBA teams competing in the meet along with Phoenix and Blackwater.
Winston, the No. 9 overall pick in the Season 48 draft, joined the FiberXers in the Davao trip but didn’t play in all four games of the team - three of which it lost.
The Road Warriors took notice.
“Dun nagsimula yung interest ng NLEX kay Schonny,” a source privy to the matter related to SPIN.ph. “Ang tingin nila mas lalabas ang laro ni Schonny once makuha nila. And given na nagkaka-problema sila ng Converge, may chance na pwede nilang makuha.”
Converge went on to win the Kadayawan championship by beating Blackwater in the finals.
Two days after, Winston and Converge smoked the peace pipe as the 6-foot-2 former De La Salle star was signed to a two-year extension.
But the peace pact didn’t last.
After the season-opening Philippine Cup, NLEX finally got its hands on Winston following a three-team, five-player trade involving Converge and Meralco.
Winston and Kevin Racal were acquired by the Road Warriors for Jonnel Policarpio and JVee Mocon, before Mocon was sent to the Bolts for Kurt Reyson and a future second-round pick.
And true enough, Winston is turning out to be a gem of a talent for coach Jong Uichico.
Winston now averages 18.0 points per game for the Road Warriors, second among locals behind Bolick's 18.75 points. He’s also submitting 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists for NLEX, which currently stands No. 2 in the leaderboard at 6-2.
Likewise, Winston is in the running for the PBA Press Corps Player of the Week after averaging 21.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.0 assist in the Road Warriors’ three games last week, where they ended up with a 2-1 record, including that close 98-94 loss against San Miguel Sunday night. - Gerry Ramos
Spikers' Turf player facing breach of contract case
A Spikers’ Turf team is going after one of its players over an alleged breach of contract.
Details of the supposed violation remain under wraps, but the situation was described a “serious breach of trust” involving a decision that “puts the entire team at risk.”
SPIN.ph learned on Monday that the team is still weighing all possible legal options against the player, whose identity is not being disclosed at the moment.
Seeking a potential league ban is also on the table for the team, according to a source familiar with the situation.
“A possible request to ban this player from playing in the Spikers’ Turf [is being considered],” the source said. - John Mark Garcia
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