Katropa fields Rice, try to catch up with leaders

Glen Rice Jr. AP FILE PHOTO

Going for more offense with the twice-to-beat privilege in the PBA Governors’ Cup playoffs as the main objective, TNT KaTropa unveils Glen Rice Jr. against Rain or Shine on Sunday in an effort to keep the elimination round leaders in sight at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

The Texters suit up the son of former NBA All-Star Glen Rice in the 6:45 p.m. contest, who will try to plug the holes created by the absence of Gilas Pilipinas stalwarts Jayson Castro and RR Pogoy as they shoot for a second straight victory to stay in the upper half of the standings.

TNT actually has a third player in Troy Rosario serving flag and country as he plays with a different Gilas crew that will be trying to retain the Southeast Asian Games gold medal in Kuala Lumpur.

The Gilas five, which Castro and Pogoy are part of, was to play Lebanon for fifth place in the classification phase of the Fiba Asia Cup in Beirut at press time.

“I hope so,” TNT coach Nash Racela said when it was pointed out that Rice has sparkling credentials as a scorer. “We will see in this [Rain or Shine] game. It will be a test for the whole team.”

Rice had a good collegiate career with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets before playing briefly for the Washington Wizards in the NBA.

He was MVP in the NBA

D-League in the 2013 season after averaging 25 points and almost 10 rebounds in the playoffs for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

The Texters will be coming off a 107-106 decision of Alaska more than a week ago.

Meanwhile, GlobalPort tries to add to KIA Picanto’s woes in the 4:30 p.m. contest and start getting back in the playoff hunt.

The Batang Pier will continue to be without the electrifying Terrence Romeo as they try to pin a sixth straight loss on the Picanto and push them closer to elimination.