Road Warriors eye ex-PBA top import

Games today (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 as they seek to snap their winless campaign in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Bowles, who powered Purefoods to the 2012 Commissioner’s Cup championship, has wrapped up his stint in the Chinese league and is now ready to fly to Manila after his team – the Jilin Northeast Tigers – was eased out 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 their former stalwart by tapping 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 Road Warriors are out to firm up their frontcourt rotation after dropping their first three games with the 6-foot-7 Thornton.

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

The Energy, enjoying their strongest start 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 also looks interesting with Manny Pacquiao hinting at suiting up after his short stint in the season opener versus the Blackwater Elite.