MANILA, Philippines — Magnolia is bringing in American big man Clint Chapman in lieu of South Sudanese Nuni Omot in a bid to arrest its three-game losing streak to start the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup.
Listed at 6-10, Chapman is fresh off a stint with club team Antonine in the Lebanon’s DLBL, the top tier league of the West Asian country where he averaged 17.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.4 blocks in 19 games.
Magnolia coach LA Tenorio confirmed the change of import to the Manila Times.
The Hotshots stayed winless in the mid-season conference following their 91-97 loss to the Blackwater Bossing last Sunday.
Omot averaged 32.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists, while shooting 43.8 percent from downtown.
Unfortunately, the all-around effort of the South Sudanese forward is not enough to give the Hotshots the Ws under rookie coach LA Tenorio.
Omot in fact, scored 38 points on an efficient 15-of-22 shooting from the field, along with seven rebounds and nine assists in their loss to the Bossing.
With the 37-year-old Chapman’s entry, the Hotshots hope to someone who can provide a reliable inside presence as they battle PBA squads who are taking advantage of the unlimited height for foreign reinforcements.
Chapman, a former Texas Longhorn, has extensive professional stints dating back to 2012 that saw him play in Switzerland, Turkey, Japan, Germany, Italy, and Lebanon.
Chapman is expected to make his PBA debut this Saturday when Magnolia clashes with foreign guest team Macau Black Knights in the battle between two winless squads at the Araneta Coliseum.