Jason Dixon, a regular fixture in the Chinese Basketball Association and part of three championship campaigns with the Guandong team, is bringing his act in the local pro league, suiting up with the Coca-Cola Tigers.
If Dixon can hold his ground against the likes Yao Ming, Wang Zhi Zhi, Yi Jianliang and Bater Menk, Coca-Cola coach Binky Favis is hopeful the 6-foot-9 banger can give the Tigers a tremendous boost in the PBA Fiesta Cup opening late this month.
The team is in search of another import since Favis’ other prospect Donald Copeland couldn’t get his release from his current engagement.
Copeland is a product of Seton Hall, putting in 16.1 points, 4.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.4 steals a game for the school in the 2005-06 campaign.
Coca-Cola and Air21 are allowed to field in two imports each in the coming tourney for placing ninth and 10th, respectively, in the Philippine Cup elimination round.
The Tigers have been working out for three weeks now, one week spent under the tutelage of renowned US coach Kevin Barbosa – the same mentor who handled the Sta. Lucia Realtors’ training in Boston before the start of the Philippine Cup.
Dixon joins the team’s training Wednesday, the day after he flies in from the United States. He’s fresh from another tour of duty with the Guandong Southern Tigers – his team in the Chinese Basketball Association since 1998 or three years after ending his varsity stint with Liberty University.
“What I like with the guy is the fact that he’s long been playing and winning championships for his team in China. He won’t last in the Chinese league if he’s a so-so player,” said Favis of Dixon.
At 35, the Aurora, Colorado native also has had tour of duties in Turkey, Israel, Argentina, Sweden and Cyprus.
Dixon averaged 13.1 points on .514 shooting plus 8.1 rebounds in 58 games with Liberty University in 1995. He was a transferee from Eastern Wyoming.
With Nic Belasco firming up the team’s local lineup, Coca-Cola is tipped this early to be one of the teams to figure prominently in the Finals race.
“It’s an opportunity we have to seize. Last conference, we were lacking in big men. Definitely, our lineup improved on the entry of Nic (Belasco),” said Favis.
“We’ll have an edge playing with two imports. The question is how will everybody sacrifice because it’s a given that the two imports will play at least 40 minutes each,” Favis added. (NC)
Source: http://www.pba.ph/content/view/2016/1/
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