SHABAZZ Muhammad is eager to go all the way this time with a different San Miguel Corp. team as he makes his PBA comeback with Magnolia on Thursday night against Terrafirma at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Playing just four games and missing out even on a semifinal spot with San Miguel in the 2022 Governors’ Cup, the six-year NBA veteran hopes to lead the Hotshots to their first championship since 2018.
“That’s the goal. That’s why I came down here,” Muhammad said after practice on the eve of the game against the Dyip. “I fell short last time with San Miguel, so I’m really coming with vengeance and I have the supporting cast to do it, so I’m really excited to start.”
READ Magnolia crisis averted as Shabazz Muhammad gets Fiba clearance
“Yes, sir, unfinished business,” he was quick to add. “I’m in great shape right now, so I’m ready to go. And coach believes in us and believes in the team, so I’m going to give it my all and my strength, and try to carry us to win it all.”
Hotshots coach Chito Victolero confirmed Muhammad secured his Fiba clearance on Monday and original import Glenn Robinson III already flew out of Manila on Tuesday.
“Very thankful and na-appreciate namin si Glenn sa lahat ng tulong niya. In terms of attitude, character, hats off ako sa kanya. Wala akong masabi kasi he’s very professional.”
“But, again, we need to move forward. We need to kumbaga mag-work yung decision namin to get Shabazz,” he added.
Victolero expects the 31-year-old lefty forward to be their go-to guy when they need him to be at crucial points of games.
“He’s still in the adjustment period, but we saw a lot of potential from this guy,” the Hotshots coach said. “You know naman how he plays. I think he can help us a lot down the stretch. Hopefully in these last four games in the eliminations, makuha namin yung chemistry with him.”
Shabazz in the eyes of Victolero
“And hopefully na makapasok kami sa playoffs. And in the playoffs, it’s a different story. That’s why we want him to be here because we know pagdating doon, we need a guy we can rely on especially yung mga crunch time,” he added.
As a replacement for Orlando Johnson in 2022, Muhammad wasted no time to show his offensive brilliance, averaging 39 points and 19 boards, highlighted by a 57-point outburst in a come-from-behind win from 26 points down against Meralco. It was the same Bolts team, however, that booted the Beermen out in the quarterfinals.
Expect the 14th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft to be the same offensive juggernaut.
“That’s what I do. That’s what I signed up for,” Muhammad said. “I’m a guy who likes to score the ball and is really good in transition, rebound the ball, get my teammates involved. My teammates are really good, so really try to get those guys involved.”
“I think we really have a dangerous team and like he said, down the stretch when he calls my number to deliver, I’m going to do that,” he added.
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