ROB Dozier is playing down his friendly rivalry with Shane Edwards for Alaska’s import spot in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
The Aces’ original reinforcement has yet to suit up since suffering a foot injury prior to the start of the conference and he lauded his replacement for towing the squad to the top of the leaderboard with five wins in six outings.
“He’s been playing great,” Dozier said in a chat with Spin.ph after practice on Tuesday. “He’s got us off to a great start.”
“He’s definitely opened up the market here for himself whether he stays here with Alaska or anyone else,” the former Best Import added of Edwards, who’s averaging 27.6 points on 52.2-percent shooting, 13.8 rebounds, three assists, 2.2 blocks, and 1.8 steals in 37.6 minutes through five games.
While he sees him as competition, Dozier doesn’t mind if Edwards ends up keeping his spot.
“That’s part of the job: every year, you’re in competition with somebody, so that’s nothing new,” Dozier said. “I wish him well either way. No matter what happens in this situation, I appreciate him coming. He’s a good person. I have much respect for him.”
“He’s a great player and he’s definitely a good person too, more than anything,” he added.
[See Compton sure Alaska eager to prove a point in grudge match vs SMB]
After all, the Aces are doing fine without him.
“They don’t need much of my help right now,” the 6-foot-8 American said ahead of Alaska’s anticipated rematch against San Miguel Beer on Wednesday. “They’re rolling.”
Still, Dozier is itching to play.
“I’ve been sitting for two months doing nothing, so I’m bored out of my mind,” he said. “Hopefully, it (return) will be sooner than later.”
Dozier has been cleared to practice since last week.
“I’m just trying to take it slow and make sure that it’s completely healed and see how it reacts with me practicing.”
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
