MANILA – Aiming to revive its title-retention bid in the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup, San Miguel Beermen has tapped Alab Pilipinas forward Renaldo Balkman as import.
Balkman’s agent Sheryl Sanchez Reyes confirmed that the former NBA forward is set to replace Troy Gillenwater, who was unimpressive in his first two matches with Beermen which they both lost.
“Despite having offers in China, Renaldo chose to come back to the PBA and finish what he started,” Reyes said in a Facebook post. “Balkman will be San Miguel’s new import. He will start his practice on Wednesday.”
Balkman is good to go for a PBA return with Beermen after Commissioner Willie Marcial recently lifting his lifetime ban, which was imposed by former PBA commissioner Angelico Salud.
Salud issued the ban on Balkman five years ago over an incident where the latter grabbed teammate Arwind Santos around the neck. Balkman was also slapped with a P250,000 fine for flagrant misconduct.
The Puerto Rican forward is coming from a successful stint with Alab Pilipinas in the 2017-2018 ASEAN Basketball League. He will make his PBA return when Beermen takes on Alaska Aces on Saturday in Dumaguete City.
Elsewhere, Star Hotshots will have to find another import as its current reinforcement Vernon Macklin decided to accept a lucrative offer in China.
Macklin will still be present when Hotshots plays Meralco Bolts on Friday.
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings is also looking to replace Charles Garcia with Justin Brownlee while TNT KaTropa is still in talks with former import Joshua Smith to replace former NBA big man Jeremy Tyler./PN
