New TNT import ready for game vs Blackwater; Alaska debuts with NBA import

The TNT KaTropa have shown they can survive even without an import. Now, everybody is expecting them to play better with Stacy Davis in the equation.

The Pepperdine University standout will be tested by the KaTropa on Friday when they tackle the Blackwater Elite in the PBA Governors’ Cup at Mall of Asia Arena.

Davis, who easily met the 6-foot-5 height limit upon arrival Thursday, took over the spot of Mike Glover, who got the boot from the TNT management after just one game “for failing to meet expectations.”

Without an immediate replacement, the KaTropa (1-1) surprisingly nipped the Meralco Bolts, 92-90, with an all-Filipino lineup.

“We knew we’ll be playing all-Filipino. This time, we don’t want to go to the game with a disadvantage,” said TNT head coach Nash Racela.

The Bolts (1-1) will aim to bounce back from the loss to TNT when last season’s losing finalists face the debuting Alaska Aces at 7 p.m.

Davis was a star at Pepperdine, where 1985 PBA MVP Ricardo Brown spent his collegiate ball, from 2012 to 2016.

After getting snubbed in the 2016 NBA Draft, Davis went overseas and played for SK Cherkasy Monkeys in the Superleague in Ukraine and for the STB Le Havre in the LNB Pro B in France.

He will bring in these credentials in a matchup with Blackwater’s Henry Walker, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard with sparkling NBA credentials after averaging double figures for the New York Knicks during the 2009-2010 season.

Walker has been credited for helping the Elite enter the playoffs for the first time in franchise history in the same conference last season.

But the prolific import, who posted 27.5 points and 16.8 rebounds per game in the previous tournament, will have to create more for the Elite since Poy Erram will be out in the first few games due to national team duties in the ongoing Asian Games.

Allen Durham, Meralco’s best import of the conference the past two seasons, will tangle with NBA veteran Mike Harris, who played for the Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards and Utah Jazz.