NLEX faces 'dangerous' Ginebra in Commissioner's Cup debut

Games tomorrow (Smart Araneta Coliseum):

4:15 p.m. – Mahindra vs Globalport

7 p.m. – Ginebra vs NLEX

MANILA, Philippines – Barangay Ginebra and NLEX collide in matches pitting imports Williams versus Augustus Gilchrist and Othyus Jeffers against Al Thornton.

The game, set at 7 p.m., is a duel between two teams eliminated in the quarterfinals last conference.

NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez considers his team the underdog versus the Ginebra side that could be very dangerous now in its second conference under coach Tim Cone.

“Facing Ginebra in our first game will be tough. Knowing how coach Tim prepares his team, we have our hands full,” said Fernandez. “Plus with Jeffers as their import, it will be a long night if we will not commit ourselves to playing defense.”

Jeffers, an NBA veteran with stints with Utah, San Antonio, Washington and Minnesota, took the PBA by storm in one game with TNT in the 2014 Governors Cup. He was limited to one game then, though, due to a contractual problem with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The 6-foot-5 slasher/gunner sizzled with 38 points, 13 rebounds and two steals as the Texters pulled off a 105-99 win over the Meralco Bolts.

Before hooking up with the Timberwolves, Jeffers earned co-MVP honors in the NBA D-League by posting averages of 20.9 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.2 steals.

At Ginebra, Jeffers could well complement big men Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar.