Coke tests new import against Shell

The Gran Matador PBA Fiesta Cup resumes after a 10-day break today with Coca-Cola hoping to make a turnaround from a poor start as it introduces new import Bakari Hendrix versus Shell in the main game at the Araneta Coliseum.

Purefoods seeks a share of the lead with San Miguel as the Hotdogs tangle with the Ginebra Kings in the day’s other game.

Coach Eric Altamirano and his Tigers are now looking forward to be highly competitive with Hendrix, a former Utah Jazz, replacing the ineffective Jaja Richards with whom the team got off to a scrambling start in the season-ending tourney.

"I think he’s really the import we need in our team," said Altamirano of Hendrix, a 255-pound, 6-foot-8 banger who became available for a stint in the local pro league after his Yakima Sun Kings team bowed out of contention early in the CBA.

Hendrix averaged just under 20 points per game in his senior year in 1997-98 and was among the top 20 nationally in points per minutes played.