Dandrige was NCAA slam-dunk champion in 2009. With his impressive credentials, Gregorio believes the former University of New Mexico standout is their man.

“He complements the game of our guards. His quickness and ability to finish fast-break situations are some of his assets that could help our team,” observed Gregorio.

“Overall, his athleticism is out of this world. I have not seen a player who has incredible flare when finishing fast-break attacks. If I were a fan, I would definitely watch him play just to get a good glimpse of his highlight reels.”

Meralco’s upcoming encounter against Barangay Ginebra should be a good indicator if the high-flying Dandridge is indeed the right fit for the Bolts.

The matchup between the two teams officially marks the start of hostilities in the 2011 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioners Cup which gets going on February 18.

The Kings will be reinforced by Nathan Brumfield, a six-foot-three combo forward with explosive moves to the basket, great speed and leaping ability

“This matchup is a certified thriller. I’m sure the fans will enjoy this game,” said PBA commissioner Chito Salud of the lone encounter that will be held at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena in Laoag City.

Salud said the entire elimination-round schedule is guaranteed to be exciting because all games are “must-wins.” He also pointed out the short format of the conference that features imports with a height ceiling of six-foot-four and the participation of Smart-Gilas Pilipinas would add spice to the competition.

“Our format for the second conference makes every game counts. That means there will be no boring play date in the elimination round,” Salud said.

Under the format, each of the 10 teams will play a single round robin for a total of nine games, with the bottom four teams crashing out. The top two teams of the elimination round earn outright passage into the semifinals while the third, fourth, fifth and sixth placed teams advance to the best-of-three quarterfinals.

The winners of the two quarterfinal match-ups move to the Final 4 which feature best-of-five tiffs. The winners then face each other in a best-of-seven championship showdown.

Dave Corros, Business Mirror