WILL Devon Scott continue to deliver?
That’s the question in today’s San Miguel Beer (SMB)-NorthPort encounter in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Set at 5:45 p.m. after the 3 p.m. opener between Phoenix and Rain or Shine, the game will prove how well can Scott hold on in manning SMB’s crucial center position vacated by the injured June Mar Fajardo.
Fajardo is now recuperating from a throat procedure as a result of a wayward elbow he absorbed from Steve Taylor in an SMB win over Rain or Shine some two weeks or so ago. Doctors gave the 6-foot-10 Fajardo at least four weeks to recover.
The 6-foot-9 Scott, personally picked by SMB coach Leo Austria despite the import’s modest credentials that include Scott being an undrafted National Basketball Association (NBA) applicant, improved somewhat in his last game where he scored 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in SMB’s 124-116 victory over NLEX last weekend.
It was a mini rebound for Scott, who debuted rather unimpressively in a San Miguel loss to Converge prior to Sunday’s victory.
But patience is another of Austria’s several virtues that had helped him win a total of eight PBA crowns, including six All-Filipino plums.
“I noticed him (Scott) to be so respectful to his teammates, causing him at times to commit turnovers,” Austria said. “So, I told him to stop being nice and too unselfish and start playing aggressive because he has a shot most of the time.”
Scott has a knack for assisting, finishing with seven feeds against NLEX.
He has the moves, definitely, and all the bearded reinforcement has got to do, indeed, is to flaunt them at will to ensure his continued stint with the defending champions still precariously down below with a 2-3, win-loss card.
Fortunately for Scott during SMB’s Sunday surge, the team’s talented locals gave him a fiery back-up job by helping amass a 43-point first-quarter production leading to a 15-point bulge at one point.
Marcio Lassiter keyed the Beermen’s early revolt, firing 18 of his 22 points in the first frame on six-of-seven threes finding their target to help his team snap out of a two-game slide.
“We have each other’s back and, yes, we have to do it as a team,” said Lassiter, who got ample support from CJ Perez, Vic Manuel, Jericho Cruz and Mo Tautuaa, among others.
But Scott should sustain his momentum if he wishes to avoid being sent home like what happened to Diamond Stone.
THAT’S IT Reviewing referees’ calls is a step in the right direction for the PBA. For one, it will help lessen mistakes. For another, it will enhance genuine integrity of every game…With the Los Angeles Lakers at a dismal 0-3, win-loss start, do we see another disaster in the making for the NBA’s most glamorous team? Too early to tell.