AZ Reid back in San Miguel practice. Photo by Randolph B Leongson
The only thing that will not change for San Miguel’s import is the jersey no. 32 on the back.
Moving on from the Tyler Wilkerson drama, the Beermen hope to sustain their intensity and inch closer to another memorable comeback with the returning Arizona Reid in tow.
But the dreadlocked dynamo admitted that he’s not in the usual shape he is normally in.
“I’m not the AZ that you saw against Alaska in the Governors’ Cup,” he said. “No training camp, no practice, but I’m not making excuses and I’m right here. I will try to do what I do, and hopefully, come out with this win in Game 4. I will give what I have.”
To compound his woes, Reid had to endure a tough flight to Manila just two days before San Miguel’s do-or-die game 4 match against Rain or Shine.
“Unbelievable,” he sighed. “I was on the plane for 21 hours straight, with a total travel of 25 hours. It was very tiring.”
“From Florida, that’s five hours to New York, then we had a stopover in Vancouver and we had to stay on the plane for two hours and wait for people to come, and eventually, 13 hours and 27 minutes from Vancouver to Manila,” Reid said, as he made it in time to be measured anew at the PBA Office on Saturday noon.
Making things worse was losing his luggage en route to the country.
Ever the warrior, Reid is not letting those setbacks get in the way of the tough task at hand.
“I wasn’t expecting to be here, but tired or not, I’m here. This is what I signed up for. I didn’t have to come, but I took this opportunity, and I’ll take it 10 out of 10 times. No matter how long the plane ride is, I love to play basketball and I love to play for this organization,” he said. “After all San Miguel has done for me, the least I could do is come and give them effort, try to get them to the next round even though we’re playing a tough and feisty Rain or Shine team that is up, 2-1.”
Reid admits that compared to last season, where he also came in as a replacement import in the second conference for San Miguel, he’s in a “worse position to be in.”
“Last year, I came in and they were 0-4. One or two losses and they’re eliminated. Whatever I’ve done won’t really matter because it wasn’t my fault. Even this won’t be my fault, but I don’t plan on losing,” he said.
And Reid is just raring to take on his former team Rain or Shine and coach Yeng Guiao on Sunday.
“I don’t guarantee wins, but I guarantee you I’ll give everything I have. I’m not in that former shape to talk that talk yet, but I will guarantee I’ll give it all that I have,” he said. “I’m not backing down from nothing. I know Rain or Shine is going to go at it, and we’ll come with it too. We’ll be ready. Even though I’m in a crazy situation I’m in, I’m looking forward for tomorrow.”