NLEX eyes Bowles to replace Thornton

Games Friday (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

4:15 p.m. – Talk n Text vs Barako Bull

7 p.m. – Kia vs Ginebra

MANILA, Philippines – The NLEX Road Warriors are looking at one-time PBA Best Import awardee Denzel Bowles as possible replacement to Al Thornton with Bowles’ tour of duty in the Chinese league now over.

Bowles, a prized player leading Purefoods to the 2012 Commissioner’s Cup championship, is now ready to fly to Manila as his team the Jilin Northeast Tigers have been eliminated by the Stephon Marbury-led Beijing Ducks.

The former Texas A&M and James Madison stalwart is free to join the Road Warriors as Purefoods had lost its rights on the player by playing another import James Mays in the same tournament last year.

Purefoods had actually thought of bringing back Bowles this conference before fielding Marqus Blakely then Daniel Orton, but the 25-year-old player was measured a little above 6-foot-9.

NLEX is free to sign up Bowles, being one of four teams allowed to enlist import with an unlimited height.

The Batang Pier are now looking to shore up their frontcourt, having gone 0-3 with the 6-foot-7 Thornton.

Meanwhile, Barako Bull seeks to keep its blazing 3-0 start in going up against Talk n Text at the resumption of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum today.

The Energy, in their strongest start in a tourney in memory, and the Tropang Texters, upset the last time out by the Meralco Bolts, clash at 4:15 p.m. then Barangay Ginebra and Kia collide at 7 p.m.

“You can’t relax and lose focus if you’re up against a team like Talk n Text,” said Barako coach Koy Banal, adding the Texters are extra tough coming off a loss.

“Talk n Text is very capable of playing high level of basketball. Our goal is just to keep the game close,” Banal also said.

The Ginebra-Kia match is also interesting especially as Manny Pacquiao is thinking of plunging back into action after his short stint in the season opener versus the Blackwater Elite.

The Carnival are in high spirits with their 88-78 upset of the San Miguel Beermen then a close game that they lost to the Energy, 86-95.

Kia can’t ask for more from import Peter John Ramos who averages 36.3 points, 20.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 blocks.

Having just led the Kings to a first win in the tourney versus the San Miguel Beermen, Mike Dunigan is up for another tough matchup versus the 7-foot-3 Kia reinforcement.

The Kings dropped their first two assignments opposite the Meralco Bolts and the Barako Bull Energy before breaking through with a 95-82 win over the Beermen.