MANILA – TNT KaTropa will pin their hopes on veteran PBA import Marqus Austin Blakely as they aim to resuscitate their dwindling campaign in the 2018 Governors’ Cup.
The 6-foot-5 American will make his debut with KaTropa when they face Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in an out-of-town game on Sept. 22 at the Passi City Arena in Passi City, Iloilo province.
Blakely, a native of Metuchen, New Jersey, will become KaTropa’s third reinforcement in the season-ending conference after failing to find success with previous imports Mike Glover and Stacy Davis.
The 29-year-old Blakely, who also played as import in Germany and South Korea, arrived on Sunday. He will join KaTropa’s practice starting today, according to team manager Virgil Villavicencio.
Prior to suiting up for KaTropa, Blakely had five stints with Magnolia franchise where he won two championships in 2013 and 2014, and was named Best Import of the Conference once.
But Blakely’s final stint with Hotshots was cut short in 2016 when he was unceremoniously dismissed by the team in lieu of Joel Wright with the squad struggling to stash up wins.
Overall the Vermont product averaged 22.63 points, 14.97 rebounds, 3.88 assists, 2.12 steals, and 2.38 blocks in almost 40.73 minutes of play with Hotshots.
Blakely also had a one-game stint with Houston Rockets in the NBA on 2011 and was part of Los Angeles Clippers’ preseason lineup several times. He also played for several years in the NBA D-League./PN
