A SLEW of returning imports and newcomers, including a foreign guest team, is sure to add spice to what is already seen as an exciting mid-season tourney.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson of newly-minted two-time Governors’ Cup champion TNT and Ginebra’s beloved reinforcement Justin Brownlee banner the field of comebacking imports in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup that comes off the wraps on Nov. 27 at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
Hollis-Jefferson and Brownlee clashed in a grueling Big Dance series in the season-opening meet where the Tropang Giga repeated over the Kings 4-2.
Also returning for another tour of duty in the pro league is prolific scorer George King for Blackwater, Ricardo Ratliffe for Magnolia, and Quincy Miller, should San Miguel opt to tap his services aside from playing for the squad in the ongoing East Asia Super League Home and Away Season 2.
Several newcomers are out to show they have what it takes in the meet that features unlimited height among imports.
Akil Mitchell already offered a peek of his strength when he led the Meralco Bolts past reigning Korean Basketball League champion Busan KCC Egis 81-80 last week.
The 6-foot-9 American-Panamanian turned in a game-high 33 points and 22 rebounds in the comeback win.
Northport will bring in 6-foot-11 Kavell Bigby-Williams, a former member of Great Britain men’s national team and cousin of former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, while Phoenix chose 6-foot-9 Donovan Smith.
Converge went for former NBA player Cheick Diallo. A second-round pick by the LA Clippers in the 2016 NBA Draft, the 6-foot-8 Diallo was a former teammate of former Phoenix main man Matthew Wright with the Kyoto Hannaryz in the Japan B.League.
Another former member of the Great Britain men’s national team, Ryan Richards, will backstop Terrafirma, while Rain or Shine linked up with former Cameroonian national team member Kenneth Kadji.
NLEX earlier announced NBA veteran Ed Davis would be its import, but a last-minute family emergency forced Davis to back out of a maiden stint in Asia’s pioneering pro league.
The FiberXers, with prized off-season acquisition Jordan Heading boosting the squad, take on the Dyip in the match kicking off the new conference at 5 o’clock.
Hong Kong-based team Eastern will debut when it faces the Fuel Masters in the nightcap at 7:30 p.m.
The ‘Manila Clasico’ pitting Ginebra and Magnolia will be played on Dec. 25, Christmas Day, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
