‘Lob Quezon City’ could be regular PBA attraction
MANILA, Philippines—Lob City in the PBA?
Youthful B-Meg import Denzel Bowles and guard Josh Urbiztondo channeled some ‘Lobs Angeles’ Chris Paul-to-Blake Griffin connection Friday in the Llamados’ debut victory in the PBA Commissioners’ Cup and expect it to happen pretty often.
“I like to catch lobs, and Josh likes to throw them, and we work on that during practice a lot,” Bowles, the American reinforcement from James Madison University, told Inquirer.net.
Urbiztondo and Bowles ran the above-the-rim play twice in the 96-93 win over Meralco at the Araneta Coliseum—once in the first quarter and another over Mac Cardona in the third—which delighted the fans and prompted some to call it “Lob Quezon City.”
“I”m just trying to bring a little excitement to the game. I got to bring a lot of energy and bring the crowd into it,” added Bowles.
But Bowles isn’t just about the flash, flare and the rim-rattling dunks.
“I think Denzel was as good as advertised. A lot of people were talking about him for good reason,” said head mentor Tim Cone of Bowles. “He’s dominant guy and a great player.”
Bowles boasts a more-than decent perimeter shooting for a six-foot-10 center, and is efficent in dominating in the paint and cleaning up the glass—exactly what the Llamados need.
Bowles, actually the youngest in the team at 22, has had experience playing in Europre before he was tapped to play for B-Meg and Cone.
But having a young gun on your squad who’s used to playing amateur-length basketball games has its obvious drawbacks in a short and brutal pro-league.
Cone has played Bowles for an average of just 32.5 minutes in his first two outings. He lacked the stamina to play longer in his debut and was hampered by foul trouble in his next game.
“It was kind of tough on me [on my first game here],” said Bowles. “In the first quarter I felt that I could do this. But in the second half, I got tired because I’m used to playing 40 minute-games.”
Bowles finished with 27 points and 11 rebounds along with three dimes and two steals.
In the Llamados 88-86 squeaker over Barako Bull Wednesday, Bowles picked up four fouls in the first half alone, forcing Cone to rely on his local bigs to contain Demarr Johnson.
“That just goes along with his youth—he has to learn that there are certain fouls he can’t afford to give up because he’s too valuable to the team and he has to stay on the floor,” said Cone.
“I also hope he’ll improve on his defense, not only for us but for his future in the NBA. But he really impacts us, ” added cone.
Bowles, though, followed through for B-Meg and didn’t disappoint Cone down the stretch by making intelligent decisions which led to the squad’s second win—which is nothing but helpful in a short conference like this.
“He played more veteran-like down the stretch,,” said Cone of Bowles, who racked up 19 points and 13 rebounds in just 29 minutes.
Bowles is glad he’s getting help from his teammates in understanding Cone’s system.
“I got closer to the team and my teammates, and we are comfortable in the offense. It really gets us connected,” added Bowles, as he and his teammates bonded over white water rafting and other team building activities over the break.
“ I’m just trying to win as many games as I can and play hard every game,” said Bowles.
With the athleticism he has, don’t be surprised of the ‘Lob City’ nickname for B-Meg sticks with Bowles around—but racking up the victories will always be his, and the squad’s, top priority.
