Air21 to replace import Lamizana with Witherspoon

By: Mark Giongco - 11 years ago

AIR21 import Herve Lamizana (right) INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Air21 showed import Herve Lamizana the door Wednesday with former Memphis slotman Wesley Witherspoon as his replacement.

Lamizana averaged 20 points, 12 rebounds and 3.8 blocks in four games for the Express, who went 2-2.

The Ivorian national player Lamizana is solid at the defensive end with his length but Air21 coach Franz Pumaren cites his lack of offensive production as “partly” the reason why he was let go.

“If you look at our four games, in our two losses the locals were solid. Import lang kulang (our import was the missing link),” Pumaren told INQUIRER.net over the phone.

“We’re playing in an import-laced conference and sabi ko nga kay (what I told) Lamizana, you have to outplay the other imports or at least compete with them,” added Pumaren.

In the Express’ two defeats, Lamizana scored just under 20 points including a 16-point outing in a 78-88 setback in the hands of the Alaska Aces last Monday, where he shot four-of-14 from the field.

Pumaren on the other hand described Witherspoon, who is listed at six-foot-nine, as a scorer.

Witherspoon is set to arrive in Manila Wednesday night.