MANILA, Philippines – Rain or Shine has tapped former NBA draftee in Hassan Adams as its import in time for the PBA second conference slated next month.

The 6-foot-4 Adams hopes to give the Elasto Painters the added firepower after dealing top scorer Sol Mercado and JR Reyes to Meralco and Air21, respectively, in a three-team trade Thursday.

Team manager and incoming PBA Board chairman Mert Mondragon said Adams arrived Saturday.

“We hope that his versatility will help the team achieve its modest goal this conference,” said Mondragon.

The 26-year old native of Inglewood, California was a second round draft choice of the New Jersey Nets in the 2006 NBA draft but played just 73 games for the Nets and the Toronto Raptors where he averaged just 2.5 points per game.

He also played for Ignis Novara and Teramo Basket in Italy and recently with KK Vojvodina in Serbia before being tapped by Rain or Shine.

The Elasto Painters, whose best performance was a semifinal finish in the 2009 Fiesta Conference, are under transition after the trade of Mercado and the appointment of Yeng Guiao as its new coach.

Jonas Terrado, Manila Bulletin