The Photokina franchise is bringing back Sean Lampley to replace Lang plus a stand-by import in Corey Hightower in a big gamble which the team management hopes would perk up the sagging fortunes of the reigning champs in Game Four of the best-of-seven series with Talk N Text at the Astrodome today.
In a press statement yesterday, the Red Bull management said it had decided to terminate the services of Lang because his performance "is below its expectations and that he can no longer work harmoniously with the team’s coaching staff."
"Although it acknowledges the difficulty of replacing imports at this late stage of the conference, management feels it has no alternative if it expects to live up to its commitment to the PBA and the paying fans, " the Red Bull statement said. "It is therefore with regret that Red Bull management had decided to fly in Sean Lampley to replace Tony Lang for the remainder of the championship series."
It is the first time in league history that a team is replacing an import during the finals.
But the coaching staff and the management were convinced it’s the only way to deal with Lang who had been unpredictable in the series. In Game Three, Lang complained of severe pain in his right leg.
Team owner George Chua was quoted as saying: "Ayaw kong mamatay ang team na dilat ang mata."
The team management practically burned the lines up to the wee hours of Thursday to find an agent who could send an import on a short notice after Lang said his status as a starter for Game Four is doubtful because of a suspected hamstring injury.
Then, the 6-foot-8 Lang made a curious turnaround when he found out that Red Bull had closed a deal with Lampley, making frantic calls and text messages to the management, insisting he’s ready to play with or without pain.
But Chua ruled that Lang was out and Lampley would start tonight as the Thunder once again seek to equalize versus the Phone Pals after losing Game Three, 71-80, Wednesday.
Lampley, the all-time leading scorer of University of California who had a one-game stint with Red Bull in the Governors Cup earlier this year, is set to arrive from the United States this morning. He’s fresh from the Miami Heat camp.
"Galing sa NBA camp, so we hope he’s in good condition coming here," said Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao on Lampley who had a decent showing with 25 points, 13 rebounds and two assists in his lone game with the Thunder in the first conference. The Chicago Bull draftee played in the Red Bull-Purefoods quarterfinals duel which the Hotdogs won, 82-77.
"We’re not losing hope. Magaling din naman itong si Lampley who’s known as a scorer," said Guiao.
Hightower, a former Charlotte Hornet and LA Laker in the NBA, couldn’t come here in time for tonight’s Game Four. He’ll be put on standby while the team monitors how Julius Nwosu and Lampley would perform tonight.
The Thunder didn’t know what hit them in Game Three. After the match, Guiao said: "How can you play so bad after playing so well the previous game. That’s a complete reversal of form. Kung sa karera, ang kabayo dapat suspendido."
Lang, Nwosu and Davonn Harp played so bad, they had 13 turnovers together in the first half alone.
Talk N Text coach Bill Bayno credited their Game Three victory on "the 40 minutes of hell we dealt Red Bull."
"We pressed and moved the ball around so well and that’s the only reason why we won the game (Game Three) and now we enjoy the 2-1 lead in the series," Bayno said.