PETRON Blaze found a temporary import replacement in Marcus Faison just in time for the defending champion's semifinal campaign in the PBA Governors Cup on Friday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The 34-year-old Belgian-American swingman will fill in for the injured Eddie Basden, who has been solid for the Boosters during the eliminations but had to be temporarily sidelined with a left knee injury he suffered in the team's final game against Air21 Express last week.
The 6-foot-5 Faison, who will arrive Thursday morning, last played in Belgium for Telenet Oostende. He also played 10 games for another team, Verviers-Pep., and averaged 10.9 points, three boards, 1.8 assists, and 1.6 steals.
In college, he played NCAA Division I ball for Siena College.
Anthony Grundy, the Boosters’ import when they won the Governors’ Cup title last year, was initially floated as a possible replacement for Basden but at 6-foot-2, his height obviously was a clear disadvantage for the team's campaign in a conference that has a height limit of 6-foot-5 for imports.
Basden had his worst outing as a Booster last June 29 against the Express, scoring just seven points in 31 minutes.
He can be reactivated by the team once his injury completely heals.