Alpha Bangura
MANILA—Air21 and San Miguel has brought in new imports to reinforce their overhauled line up which showed a few kinks that are needed to be ironed as seen in their respective games last week.
Fresh from a jarring seven-player trade, the Express are trying their luck for the third time with another veteran in the 31-year old Alpha Bangura.
Bangura, a flexible inside operator of Sierra Leone-Libyan descent, officially measured 6-foot-3 and 15/16 inches earlier today at the PBA office in Libis.
Air21 team manager Allan Gregorio is confident that Bangura, a stand out of St. John's University in the US NCAA and has had stints with the Libyan National team Anibal Zahle in the Lebanese Basketball League, will do well with the Express.
“Hopefully (he's finally the one). We're keeping our fingers crosssed,” said Gregorio, whose squad has had troubles with the first two imports, Jajuan Smith and Jeremy Robinson.
Bangura is expected to suit up on Wednesday against Smart Gilas Pilipinas, and will have to reassert his mastery like that in the 22nd Dubai Invitationals last January where he dropped 28 points against the Nationals.
“That's one reason. I've already scouted him and I know what he's capable of doing. He's literally fresh from a game last night (Sunday),” said Greogorio.
San Miguel, who has been dead set in infusing youth to its roster, meanwhile, is going 'Young.'
The Beermen has tapped the services of American David Young, a 29-year-old and a 42nd overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft, to replace the one-dimensional Ira Brown.
“With the position of the team, we need an import who can create something,” said San Miguel head coach Ato Agustin after their 90-89 squeaker over Meralco last Friday courtesy of a buzzer beating putback by Brown.
A starter with the Jilin Northeast Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association until he was waived just this January, Young will again be tasked to carry most of the scoring cudgels with the Beermen.
Young, an explosive scorer, led the Greek League in scoring with 20.5 points per game in the 2009-2010 season and also put on a good show in his stay with the NBA D-League, norming 18.5 points per game.
“We've seen him play. Even his stats are good,” Agustin said.
After making it to the height limit today at 6-foot-3 and 9/16 inches, Young is ready help the Beermen also on Wednesday against Alaska.
Source: Celest R. Flores, INQUIRER.net
