Souped-up Petron battles Powerade

ANTIPOLO—Rashad McCants, who is potentially the finest import in the lot, struts his stuff for Powerade today as the Tigers clash with Petron Blaze and what could be the most fearsome local roster in the PBA Governors’ Cup.

Tip-off is at 6:30 p.m. at the Ynares Center here with the attention expected to be divided on the former University of North Carolina star McCants and the Boosters’ local lineup beefed up by the return of Jay Washington and the arrival of Marcio Lassiter.

McCants, who also saw action for several years in the NBA, is the most recognizable import in the field, having been picked 14th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2005 Draft.

Rain or Shine and Alaska take the lid off the tournament in a 4:15 p.m. contest. The Elasto Painters parade Jamine Cornley and the Aces welcome the returning Jason Forte back.

Luigi Trillo calls the shots in his first PBA game after being appointed the interim head coach of the Aces following the resignation of Joel Banal near the end of the Commissioner’s Cup.

Cornley is reportedly just filling in for Arizona Reid, who could be available in the next few days after fulfilling a commitment in the German pro league.

McCants teams up with Gary David and JV Casio in forming the Tigers’ Big Three, which Lassiter used to be a part of before the deal that sent him to the Boosters was finally approved.

Lassiter adds more teeth to the already talent-laden Petron side,  as he joins the likes of fellow super rookie Chris Lutz and resident superstars Arwind Santos, Danny Ildefonso and Alex Cabagnot.

Add the returning Washington to the mix and the Boosters look formidable.

Washington sat it out for more than a year because of a foot injury and his return has surprised even Petron coach Ato Agustin.

“Having Jay and Marcio has made my job easy because they’ve so far fit perfectly,” Agustin said. “Especially Jay, who will surprise everyone because he will play No. 3 (shooting forward) which he is so familiar with.”

Eddie Basden will be Petron’s reinforcement and he isn’t expected to have as much pressure to deliver considering the talent he is surrounded with.