Phoenix Fuel masters with import Kenny Adeleke. Photo by Randolph Leongson
Kenny Adeleke is tasked to be the bastion of hope as Phoenix begins its PBA journey in the 2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Standing at 6-foot-9, the Nigerian big man is expected to compliment the bevy of playmakers and wing guys
for the Fuel Masters.
And this early, Adeleke is optimistic with what he’s seeing from his squad.
“I think we have a good team,” he said. “We have a lot of three-point shooting. JC Intal is a great athlete. When he had a couple of dunks in practice, I thought it was just fool’s gold. But he kept doing it, so I knew he was a really good athlete.”
The well-travelled 33-year-old knows the cards he can bring to the table for the league newcomers, saying he can provide solid output down low among other things.
“I can help in rebounding, toughness, scoring inside the paint. I just bring a lot of heart. I think the guys will feed off me, just playing hard so we could win.”
Adeleke has also made it clear that he is gunning for one prize only: the championship.
“Any place I go, my goal is to win the championship whether that’s realistic or not,” he said. “I also want to dominate, to be the best rebounder, the best inside player. Ultimately, that ends up being the goal: to be the best player.”
But he knows that pulling that off would not be easy amid a list of talented reinforcements, but he’s taking the first step forward by getting accustomed to the rigors of the PBA since practicing last Saturday.
“I think every league is different. I’ll just find a way to get adjusted quickly whatever the situation is,” he said.