PBA: NorthPort’s first choice Venky Jois solid in return

Venky Jois debuts for NorthPort in the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup. –PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—Northport coach Bonnie Tan explained on Friday why there was an immediate change in the Batang Pier’s import department.

After one game in Group A of the PBA Governors’ Cup, Taylor Johns was immediately replaced by Venky Jois, Batang Pier’s import in last season’s Commissioner’s Cup.

Tan said Jois was primarily the assigned import for the squad in the league’s first conference but “prior commitments” got in the way prompting Northport to deploy Taylor Johns.

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“Regarding our import, Venky is our resident import,” said Tan in Filipino after their 112-93 win over Terrafirma at Araneta Coliseum.

“In terms of familiarity with the locals, he’s there. He just didn’t get here in time for our first game but he’s here now. He just had some prior commitments so we had our backup import, Taylor Johns.”

In Jois’ victorious return with Northport, he dropped an efficient double-double to the tune of 16 points and 15 rebounds on a 66.7 percent shooting clip.

Jois replaced Johns, who finished just an assist shy of a triple-double with 36 points, 16 rebounds and nine dimes in his lone game for Northport where they lost 101-95 to TNT.

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Johns’ outing was a good surprise for the Batang Pier despite the loss but Jois and the squad already had an agreement to run it back for the PBA Governors’ Cup.

“We all know it’s hard to say that Johns is a ‘temporary’ import so we didn’t label him as that. It’s really all about the commitment of Venky to play here.”

“We just have a commitment with Venky based on our last conference with him. We just discussed our lapses during the latter part of that conference which he agreed to play again for us. There was a mutual understanding that he’d be the resident import for Northport.”