ILAGAN, Isabela – Giant player Sam Deguara crosses paths with Justin Brownlee again, as the two make their respective debuts in the EASL Home and Away Season 3 on Saturday.
The 7-foot-6 Maltese will reinforce the Macau Black Bears anew, while Brownlee joins the Meralco Bolts for the very first time when the two teams collide at the Capital Arena here.
Deguara, of course, is familiar with the Barangay Ginebra resident import, having played against him during their days in the ASEAN Basketball League where he suited up for Thailand's Mono Vampire, while Brownlee was with San Miguel-Alab Pilipinas.
The two also played against each other in a series of friendlies, as Gilas Pilipinas went up against Macau and the Taiwan Mustangs, where Deguara both played as import.
Taiwan faced Gilas for its send-off to the Olympic Qualifying Tournament last year, while the Black Bears met the Philippine national team last July prior to its departure for the FIBA Asia Cup.
“Brownlee was one of my opponents back in the days and I’m set to face him again. I know he’s a very famous and a good player in Asia,” said Deguara of the Filipinos' naturalized player.
But Deguara is well aware the stakes are higher in his latest meeting with the 37-year-old Brownlee.
Macau is eyeing payback against Meralco, which defeated the Black Bears in their first metting, 92-74, when both Brownlee and Deguara were still not playing with their respective teams.
READ: Nenad hopes chemistry won’t be Meralco's concern against Macau
Deguara hopes to help Macau turn around its campaign early, as the 6:10 p.m. game will only be its second this season.
“I’m excited to play for Macau, help the team in the coming games, help them with my strength and quickness. Anything that I can,” he said.
Aside from Deguara, the Black Bears will be parading three more new players against the Bolts.
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.
