JUNEL Baculi said on Wednesday Globalport is putting its chips on an import straight out of college, Markeith Cummings, in the upcoming PBA Governors Cup.
Described as an energy guy on the floor by Baculi himself, Cummings will be coming fresh from a three-year collegiate stint with the Kennesaw State Owls, a US NCAA Division I school.
While Cummings has no prior overseas experience, Baculi believes the Birmingham, Alabama native is worth a shot because of his youthful zeal, low-post plays and decent outside shooting touch.
“I’ve seen his highlights and Sol (Mercado) actually was the first one who saw him live in the US. We need an energy guy like him,” Baculi told Spin.ph on Wednesday after the team’s practice.
Cummings, who went undrafted in the last NBA rookie draft, is set to plane in on Monday.
“Actually, it’s a consensus from management and the coaching staff. We’ve been looking for our import for about one month now,” he added.
“So we got him because of his energy, that’s No. 1, then, he can play 3 and play 4, so that’s versatility. Then he has a low post option, can play facing to the basket and he has range, too.”
The Batang Pier had to endure import problems during the Commissioner’s Cup, shuffling three reinforcements in a span of two months without success.
Their original choice, Justin Williams, actually led the tournament in shot blocks and rebounds, but management decided to change him due to his limited offensive skills.
Williams was replaced by Walter Sharpe, who lasted just a game before being sent home after being caught sleeping in a parking lot after a night out with teammates.
The team’s third and final choice, Sylvester Morgan, didn’t impress as well due to a knee injury as Globalport finished the conference with a 2-12 record that included 11 straight losses.
Baculi and management were very busy during the offseason after landing veteran forward Jay Washington, Yousef Taha, and a 2013 first-round draft pick while letting go of Japeth Aguilar and Jason Deutchman.
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