GETTING lost in all the talk on the concluded All-Star Weekend was the drastic import change that Star made in the 2016 Governors’ Cup of the Philippine Basketball Association.
With a heavy heart, the Hotshots decided to part ways with resident import for four years, Marqus Blakely, who led the team to two championships (2013 and 2014) in this conference and won himself a Best Import award in his run as well.
In his place, NBA D-League veteran Joel Wright steps in to try and salvage the Hotshots’ campaign in this season-ending tournament.
This is after Star, despite a talented-loaded line-up, continues to play sub-par, only toting a 1-3 card thus far and is way below in the team standings.
Known as of one of the best imports in the league in the last couple of years, Blakely wasn’t able to get going this time around as his numbers went noticeably down compared to his previous stints and Star’s record and lethargic start to the conference forced the team management to look elsewhere for a different direction.
With Blakely gone now, this will mark a new chapter for Star, who for the first time, will not have its longtime import around for this third conference since he started playing for the team in 2012.
It wasn’t exactly the easiest decision for Star’s management as Blakely has been a member of the team’s stable.
Moreover, parting ways with the import that they’re used to playing and bonding was quite emotional for the Hotshots, who had a get-together in Blakely’s last night in Manila to show each other moral support.
Wright is well aware that his team has a lot of catching up to do if it wants to make the top eight and enter the quarterfinals.
He already went to work right away and practiced with Star over the weekend. He will have a couple more days to accustom himself and his play to the team’s system.
The fresh reinforcement was also in attendance in the All-Star Game last Sunday to observe and lend support to his teammates, James Yap, Marc Pingris and Mark Barroca, who participated.
Wright will make his debut for Star this Friday when his new team plays another struggling team in NLEX.