Kings looking for new import

Kings looking for new import

By: Zean Macamay Source: www.journal.com.ph

BACOLOD CITY – For the second time in the Smart-PBA Fiesta Conference, Ginebra has decided to change its import. Ernest Brown, the error-prone, seven-foot reinforcement of the Gin Kings, may no longer see action when the league’s most popular team tries to avoid suffering its worst start in eight years this weekend. Coach Jong Uichico yesterday confirmed that they are currently negotiating with an American player but has refused to reveal his identity. He added that he would like his new import to arrive as soon as possible before the Gin Kings battle sister-team Purefoods on Friday. “Yes, we are looking for an import,” said Uichico. “And I hope that he could plane in before our next game.” Like the player he replaced in Rahshon Turner, Brown has never led Ginebra to victory. Brown played for three games for the Gin Kings and normed 19 points and 10 rebounds. But the former second round pick of the Miami Heat in the 2001-2002 NBA season has also been careless with the ball, averaging 6.4 turnovers. He had eight errors in his debut game against Sta. Lucia Realty in Tacloban City. Once a dominant team in the past, Ginebra has been struggling to find its old deadly form. The Gin Kings are only a defeat away from going down to their worst start since losing their first five games in the 2000 Commissioner’s Cup. The Gin Kings lost their last three games with Brown by an average margin of close to three points. They went down to Magnolia in their last outing, 92-95 and absorbed a heart-ripping 81-82 loss to Coca-Cola before that. They are the only team in the ongoing conference that has yet to taste a victory. Welcoat, the league’s perennial cellar-dweller, scored a breakthrough win against Purefoods (110-103) last April 20 – a victory that snapped a 15-game losing streak dating back to the last Philippine Cup. In related developments: *Rommel Adducul’s recovery may not take that too long after all. Purefoods team manager Rene Pardo bared this yesterday after being informed that the Giants’ starting center’s lump on his neck is already palpable. Adducul has been diagnosed last month with nasopharyngeal cancer. When the news of Adducul’s condition erupted, it was revealed that he could be out for the remainder of the season, at least. Pardo said that if Adducul’s swift recovery continues, he could start gradual training in three weeks. “Wala nang nakakapa at nakikita na bukol sa leeg niya,” said Pardo. “He could start training soon, but it would still need clearances from the doctors.” *The PBA Board is leaning towards choosing ABS-CBN as its TV coveror for the next three years.