JONATHAN SIMMONS aims to leave a mark in his last game on Saturday in an NLEX Road Warriors uniform before bringing his act to China.
“A win … nothing less but a win,” said Simmons, who had stints with the San Antonio Spurs and Orlando Magic prior to his campaign in Asia.
Simmons and the Road Warriors square off with the Phoenix Super lPG Fuel Masters at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
He scored 45 points in torching TNT Tropang Giga, 110-108, last Sunday that helped NLEX to a 3-0 win-loss start in the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup.
The 6-foot-5 Simmons, who averages 36.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists, is returning to the Chinese Basketball Association with the Shanxi Loongs.
“It’s very competitive and I didn’t know what to expect coming in,” said Simmons on his return to China.
Wayne Selden Jr., who played for the Memphis Grizzlies and New York Knicks only last National Basketball Association season, would arrive this week to replace Simmons.
Blackwater head coach Ariel Vanguardia, meanwhile, confirmed to BusinessMirror that Shawn Glover is out with a bruised left heel and would be replaced by former Memphis Grizzlies guard Troy Williams.
Vanguardia said Williams was due late night Thursday but would be avaible to play next week, forcing the Bossing (1-2) to play without an import on Saturday against the Meralco Bolts (2-1).
San Miguel Beer, on the other hand, guns for a 3-0 start when it battles Terrafirma (1-1) on Friday at 3 p.m. at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.
TNT Tropang Giga (2-1) meets Magnolia (0-1) in the second game at 5:45 p.m.
