Baculi hopes new GlobalPort import Sharpe brings in points

MANILA, Philippines — A new import is flying for GlobalPort — which lost its fourth game straight on Friday — and head coach Junel Baculi is hoping he could bring in more points.

Walter Sharpe is replacing Justin Williams, whom Baculi thought wasn’t the right guy to bring the Batang Pier to a deep playoff run this PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

“If we’ll stick to Justin — he’s a good guy, no doubt — but we can’t go far. And our boss (Mikee Romero) wants us to be in the playoffs,” Baculi told INQUIRER.net.

Williams, who finished with just six points and 10 rebounds while riding the bench the entire fourth quarter, hasn’t been really explosive on the offense, but is efficient on the blocks and boards.

Williams’ best night was 23 points and 23 rebounds in Batang Pier’s 89-80 win over Ginebra, while he was limited to under 13 points four times.

“Six points finished double digits for us (tonight). I told my import (Williams) that if you can contribute 20 points, I think we have a chance of winning… And that’s a measly 20 points for an import.”

And that was really Baculi’s biggest concern — Williams wasn’t scoring enough.

“I think (he should’ve been scoring more) to open up everything for our shooters, especially Gary and Willie,” Baculi also said.

Baculi, though, is hopeful that Sharpe provides GlobalPort the lift it needs in the face of a losing skid and a subpar 2-5 card.

Sharpe, a former Detroit Piston in the NBA, is suiting up for the Batang Pier against Air21 on Sunday.

“Hopefully he can give us some points to help us kasi we have defensive guys naman eh,” said Baculi.