FINALLY cleared to play, Deon Thompson showed what exactly he could bring to the table for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
The veteran import debuted for 21 points and 15 rebounds in the Elasto Painters' 99-81 rout of guest team Eastern for their first win in the PBA Commissioner's Cup.
Coach Yeng Guiao was obviously ecstatic at how the former North Carolina Tar Heel played in his first game with the franchise after previously skipping the team's first outing against Meralco which it lost, 121-111.
Thompson. 36, had yet secured his playing clearance during the Meralco game, forcing the Elasto Painters to sit him out.
"We're happy with the way he performed, he was late coming in. We had a change of import. So wala pa siyang isang lingo actually," said Guiao of his 6-foot-8 reinforcement, who replaced Kenneth Kadji prior to the Elasto Painters' debut game.
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"So he changes the chemistry for the better. Mas maganda yung ikot ng bola, tapos ang galing niyang dumipensa," added the Rain or Shine mentor. "He's also giving us the rebounds that we needed. Yung Meralco game namin yun ang kulang na kulang namin, wala kaming rebounding."
Against Eastern, Thompson provided the inside presence Rain or Shine was looking for.
The former member of the Ivory Coast national team shot 7-of-18 in the perimeter, while adding three assists, three steals, and two block shots.
And Guiao said Thompson who's coming off a stint with the Busan KCC Egis in the Korean Basketball Legaue (KBL), could only get better.
"He's got an inside game, he's got an outside game, medyo malas pa nga siya sa labas pero tingin ko pag lumabas na yung tunay na laro niya mas magiging problema siya ng ibang teams kasi maganda talaga yung three-point shooting niya," said Guiao of Thompson after Rain or Shine dealt Eastern its first loss in the league following back-to-back wins.
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Thompson's biggest test comes this coming Tuesday when the Elasto Painters face defending champion San Miguel Beermen.(RG)
