He replaced Ivan Aska, who led the Beermen in the win against TNT.
While Ivan Aska turned in a tour de force against the TNT Tropang Giga on Sunday, the San Miguel Beermen was firm in their decision to bring in Bennie Boatwright.
Boatwright will be the team’s third import in the ongoing PBA Commissioner’s Cup. San Miguel's original reinforcement, Tyler Stone, though, didn’t get the chance to play a single game owing to family matters.
The 27-year-old Boatwright is a USC Trojans alum in the US NCAA Division 1, where he played with former Magnolia Hotshots import Nick Rakocevic.
He played four years for the Trojans, posting career averages of 14.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 31 total games for USC, 28 as a starter. Boatwright was particularly prolific in his fourth and final year, norming 18.2 points, 6.6 boards, and 2.5 dimes on a scorching 43% clip from rainbow territory.
Yes, Boatwright's strength is three-point shooting, having once sunk a USC record 10 triples in a game back in 2019. That should bode well for the Beermen, who sure would welcome a floor-spacer to free up June Mar Fajardo on post-ups and Cjay Perez on drives to the basket.
Undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft, the ex-Trojan went on to join the Detroit Pistons’ Summer League team and later the Memphis Grizzlies NBA G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle.
While Aska had a wealth of experience in international competitions, Boatwright has little to nothing. And yet the 5-3 Beermen are leaving their fate in his hands.
He will be put to the test on Christmas Day, against red-hot Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters.
Game time is set at 4pm at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
(MDB)