Reid, ROS Painters get going vs Air21 Express

Arizona Reid of Rain or Shine PBA IMAGES / Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines — With its former best import back, Rain or Shine opens its bid for a higher finish in the PBA PLDT Home Telpad Governors Cup against Air21 Tuesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

Arizona Reid, the Best Import of the 2011 Governors Cup, will go up against Dominique Sutton, who played in the NBA D-League’s Tulsa 66ers and recently with Ikaros Kallitheas in Greece, when the Elasto Painters face the Express at 5:45 p.m.

Jeffrey Cariaso debuts as full-time coach when Barangay Ginebra collides with Globalport in the 8 p.m. mainer.

The Gin Kings will parade Zaccheus Mason, fresh from a college stint with the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga where he averaged 15.2 points, 9.7 rebounds and three blocks in his final year.

His main rival is Leroy Hickerson, a returning import like Reid, who will bring his scoring act to Globalport after playing for the Express in 2010 and Barako Bull two years later.

The University of Cumberlands alum averaged 32.8 points in six games with the Express and 25.3 for Barako Bull in seven games with a conference-best of 38 in one match.

Although the Express came within a win of reaching the finals of the recent Commissioner’s Cup, the Painters remain a slight favorite with a solid local crew featuring Jeff Chan, Paul Lee, Gabe Norwood, Ryan Araña, Chris Tiu and bangers Beau Belga and JR Quiñahan.

Air21 coach Franz Pumaren will again rely on Asi Taulava, Joseph Yeo, Aldrech Ramos, Mark Cardona, Jonas Villanueva and Sean Anthony to back up Sutton.

Cariaso, who was elevated as head coach after serving as Tim Cone’s assistant with San Mig Coffee, is bringing Cone’s triangle system to the Gin Kings, who didn’t get past the quarterfinals despite a tall, star-studded lineup.

“We’re slowly getting used to it (triangle system), but there are still more small things that we need to correct,” said Cariaso, who replaced Ato Agustin.

The Kings tested the triangle in a tuneup against the San Miguel Beermen but lost, 83-89.