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ninjasmile · #**2041** 15th Mar 2013 Fri, 12:08

New import White arrives Sunday, Petron fans optimistic

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After nearly a week of drama, the Petron Blaze Boosters finally get a new import.

The Blaze Boosters came to terms with former Barako Bull reinforcement Rodney White, who is set to arrive in the country on Sunday morning.

The development came exactly seven days after Petron’s original import, Renaldo Balkman, had a brush with PBA law when he confronted game officials before exhibiting tantrums against his teammates that led to the now infamous one-hand grapple on Arwind Santos’ neck.

Before the incident, Balkman was a perfect import for the Petroniverse fan base of the Blaze Boosters.

“Sayang, Renaldo was the import we exactly need,” said Petron fan Lorenz Sol who bared his respect for their incoming import’s skills too.

“White is a scorer, mamaw (monster) yan sa opensa, kaso hindi siya hustle player tulad ni Balkman,” added the Cebu-based fan. “Mas gusto sana namin (Petron) fans hustle player, yung glue guy na irerespeto ng players”.

“Pero wala na tayong magagawa dun, move on na lang”.

The ardent Petron fan also furnished Solar Sports Desk a copy of the last tournament White participated in wherein the former University of North Carolina Tar Heel showed a big dip in his stats.

From a 19.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game average with the Zhejiang Guangsha team in the Chinese Basketball Association, White’s numbers went down to 8.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists while playing for the Guaiqueries in Venezuela.

“The competition is different in China and in Venezuela, I just hope na maganda pa rin ilaro niya dito sa Pilipinas. Hoping for the best na lang,” added Sol.
Another longtime Petron supporter, Sharyll Kay Arroyo, looks at the bright spot of having a new import.

“Atleast makakapag move on na yung team. Pero saying lang kasi hindi siya (White) aabot sa Sabado, mabigat pa naman yung kalaban (Rain or Shine),” explained the lady fan.

While playing for the PBA last year, White chalked up 29.8 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.2 steals in five games

Macklin gives praise to Caguioa, admires teammate's veteran leadership

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Mark Caguioa is one of the PBA’s best players -- if not, the best.

This assessment did not come from throngs of Barangay Ginebra fans who exalt the charismatic guard. The praise came directly from import Vernon Macklin.

Speaking to Solar Sports Desk, Macklin gave his insights after Caguioa emerged as the top performing local in the just released PBA Best Player of the Conference statistical points race.

“Definitely he’s (Caguioa) the man for that. Mark is a great veteran, a great player and he’s a great scorer. He’s all over, so I agree on that (stats),” said Macklin.
“I think Mark is really good, the way he shoots the ball, the way he moves without the ball,” added Macklin while revealing how amazed he is at how their opposing teams devote a lot of energy defending Caguioa.

The hard-slamming former Detroit Pistons forward also revealed how he loves playing with veterans and “Caguioa is one of his favorites.”

Macklin even went on to share his popular teammate’s attitude especially in motivating fellow Kings to strive harder.

Back when Ginebra was on a 5-game losing skid, Macklin recalled how Caguioa approached him to discuss things that would share to the team in the pep talk that happened a day before the Kings notched their first win of the conference.

“I just gave my statement wherein I asked everybody to play aggressive and just not find me down, Mark came in and he tackled (our weaknesses on the court) one-by-one and we talked about it,” said Macklin, “That’s another example to show how much a leader he is”.

“That comment helped out the team, just little things he do, how he talks to players and how he speaks to coaches, this guy is real winner,” reiterated Macklin of his charismatic teammate.

In the first release of the BPC rankings for the conference, Caguioa, the reigning league MVP, topped the list with a total of 32.1 statistical points thru his 22.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

Three-time scoring champion Gary David is back to second with 23.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists norms, while a surprise third-placer is Meralco Bolts’ Chris Ross who only tallied 7.1 points per game but made up in registering career-highs in rebounds (6.1) and assists (9.4).

Reigning MVP Caguioa leads Commissioner's Cup Best Player derby

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REIGNING PBA MVP Mark Caguioa of Barangay Ginebra is making a strong case for another award in the ongoing Commissioner’s Cup after piling up a league-best 32.1 statistical points halfway through the elimination round.

The 6-1 guard nicknamed 'The Spark' has been doing it all in the import-spiced conference, leading the Kings with his 22.2 points per game average - second-best among locals - to go with his 4.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists in the team's first seven games to lead the race for the Best Player of the Conference award.

On the other hand, last season’s scoring champion Gary David is finally flashing his old, deadly form to come in second in the BPC derby with 28.5 statistical points. The former Lyceum Pirates gunner leads all locals in scoring this conference with his 23.1 points per game average.

A surprise third with 28.3 SPs is Meralco's Chris Ross, the Fil-Am who assumed the starting point guard chores after his close buddy Solomon Mercado was shipped to Globalport prior to the start of the Commissioner’s Cup in a multi-player, two-team deal.

The 28-year-old cat-quick Meralco guard is averaging 7.3 points and career-highs in rebounds (6.1 rpg.) as well as 9.4 assists this conference to help the Bolts to a share of fourth spot in the standings with their 4-3 record.

Mercado, on the other hand, occupies the fourth spot with 26.5 SPs behind his solid stats of 14.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 9.1 assists for the Batang Pier.

Rounding up the top 10 are Globalport’s Japeth Aguilar in fifth (25.9), Petron’s Arwind Santos sixth (25.4), Alaska’s flamboyant rookie Calvin Abueva seventh (25.3) and Cyrus Baguio eighth (25), Barako Bull playmaker Josh Urbiztondo ninth (24.6), while Philippine Cup Best Player of the Conference awardee Jason Castro of Talk ‘N Text and Barangay Ginebra’s LA Tenorio are tied for the 10th spot with similar 24.4 SPs.