TNT is looking to tap towering Prince Ibeh as its other import in the team’s campaign in the East Asia Basketball League (EASL) Champions Week in March.
Coach Jojo Lastimosa said the Tropang Giga are now in negotiations with the former NorthPort import to team up with Jalen Hudson in the March 1 to 5 tournament in Japan.
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Ibeh, according to the TNT mentor, is just waiting to secure his clearance with current team TaiwanBeer in the T1League, before coming over to join the Tropang Giga.
“We’re trying to secure his letter of clearance, but more or less nag-OK na siya,” said Lastimosa. “So once nagsabi siya na OK na yung letter of clearance niya, good na kami.”
The 6-foot-10 Ibeh had his second tour of duty with NorthPort in the recent PBA Commissioner's Cup, leading the team to the playoffs where it was swept by eventual champion Barangay Ginebra in their best-of-three quarterfinals series.
The 28-year-old product of University of Texas averaged 15.5 points and 13.4 rebounds in the mid-season conference.
Shortly after his stint with the Batang Pier, Ibeh hooked up with the HeroBears in Taiwan.
A person close to Ibeh though, said the import has a clause in his contract that allows him to leave TaiwanBeer anytime.
The Tropang Giga are bunched in the tough Group B of the Champions Week with the Seoul SK Knights, Utsunomiya Brex, and Commissioner’s Cup guest team Bay Area Dragons.
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