
Struggling teams Blackwater and NorthPort parade their new imports when they take on separate opponents Saturday, Feb. 12 in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Blackwater hopes to end a 24-game skid with the debuting Shawn Glover against Terrafirma in the 4 p.m. opener before Jamel Artis try to make a good impression as NorthPort battles Rain or Shine at 6:45 p.m.
Both squads couldn’t pull off wins during the first three weeks of the eliminations last December, prompting Blackwater to part ways with Jaylen Bond and NorthPort to find a replacement for Cameron Forte.
But the Bossing and the Batang Pier have to wait for more than a month after the conference was postponed due to last month’s COVID-19 surge.
Glover is coming off a stint in Iceland with the task of giving Blackwater, on a 0-5 start, its first victory since October 2020.
The Bossing are also eager to see rookie Rey Suerte, who is expected to play for the first time after inking a two-year deal earlier this week.
Terrafirma will also parade its own former Gilas Pilipinas pool member Isaac Go in the matchup, so is fellow neophyte Joshua Munzon who is back after being out since July.
At 0-4, NorthPort has high hopes that Artis, who had a short stint in the NBA in 2018, can help turn the fortunes of the team that will also play without stars Robert Bolick and Greg Slaughter.
Bolick and Slaughter are still in negotiations for a new deal after their contracts expired last Jan. 31.
Nico Elorde is also out for the same reason which led to the signings of Roi Sumang, Alvin Abundo and Cris Dumapig.
Rain or Shine is gunning for a third win in six outings with import Henry Walker, Javee Mocon and Rey Nambatac.