Former Barako reinforcement named new import of Petron

Game today:

Panabo, Davao del Norte

6:30 p.m.- Petron vs. Rain or Shine

Rain or Shine tries to pounce on a gaping hole in Petron Blaze’s frontline when the Elasto Painters and the Boosters collide today in an out-of-town game of the 38th PBA Commissioner’s Cup in Panabo, Davao del Norte.

The Boosters have tapped returning import Rodney White but the former Barako Bull reinforcement couldn’t arrive in time for tonight’s game.

White replaces Renaldo Balkman, who was banned from the league after his outburst in Petron’s last game against the Alaska Aces last week.

White played for Barako in the same tournament last season but only sutied up for five games as he had to rush home to attend to his ailing father.

White was a first round pick of the Detroit Pistons in the 2001 NBA Draft.

Petron’s biggest concern in the match will be Rain or Shine’s seven-foot-three import Bruno Sundrov.

In containing Sundov, Petron will heavily rely on Dorian Peña and Cebuano rookie June Mar Fajardo.

The two teams are looking to break a two-way logjam at second place as they both have 5-2 (win-loss) records.

Rain or Shine is coming a 76-86 loss to the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters, while the Boosters are fresh from that controversial 73-83 against the Aces.

MIXERS BEAT BOLTS

Meanwhile, the San Mig Coffee Mixers snapped the Meralco Bolts’ three-game wins streak with a 76-71 decision last night at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Coffee Mixers bounced back from an 88-96 defeat at the hands of the Barangay Ginebra Kings and evened their record to 4-4.

Denzel Bowles powered San Mig with 23 points, scoring 10 points in the tightly contested fourth period. James Yap added 19 markers.

But tThe win proved costly for the Coffee Mixers as they lost Joe De Vance in the third period after suffering what was suspected to be a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury which needs a considerable amount of time to heal.

Alex Mallari also failed to finish the game after injuring himself in the second half.

The Bolts tasted their fourth loss against the same number of victories.