Lassiter makes Petron debut vs Powerade; Alaska, Rain or Shine clash

AKTV/Leslie Sy

Marcio Lassiter debuts for Petron Blaze against his old team Powerade as the PBA Governors’ Cup kicks off Sunday with a twinbill at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.

Lassiter was acquired in a multi-player trade with the Tigers during the break and faces his former team in the main game at 6:30 p.m.

In the opener, Luigi Trillo debuts for Alaska as interim coach as they take on Rain or Shine at 4:15 p.m.

Lassiter’s acquisition gives Petron another weapon and puts the Boosters in good position to defend their crown.

Anthony Washington and Chris Lutz are returning from injury for Petron while Dondon Hontiveros is also close to coming back to help the team’s cause.

Reinforcing the Boosters is former NBA campaigner Eddie Basden.

“We like our chances this conference. Kumpleto ang team unlike before na maraming injured,” said Petron coach Ato Agustin, who also acquired Dorian Pena in a separate trade with Barako Bull.

Powerade got last year’s Rookie of the Year Rabeh Al-Hussaini in the trade along with Rey Guevarra and Lordy Tugade, making the Tigers a deeper team.

“We are working in a fresh perspective this conference. A mindset that has ‘can do’ attitude,” said Powerade coach Bo Perasol.

“Rashad McCants will be a huge part of our campaign as well as our new acquisitions. But we need to live with the fact that we don’t really have much time to work on our cohesion,” he added.

Like Basden, McCants was a former NBA veteran and was selected No. 14 overall by Minnesota in the 2005 draft.

In the first game, Trillo eyes his first win as a PBA coach against the veteran Yeng Guiao of the Elasto Painters.

Trillo replaced Joel Banal, who resigned after the Commissioner’s Cup.

Jason Forte is coming back for Alaska while Rain or Shine is tapping Jamelle Cornley to reinforce the Elasto Painters.

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