Intal seeks treatment in KL; Simmons, Little complete imports roster

MANILA, Philippines – FIBA Asia veteran and Phoenix Petroleum main man JC Intal is to fly to Malaysia Wednesday to try a non-surgical treatment on bone spurs on his right ankle.

Intal is in search of other forms of treatment to avoid surgery that will cause him to sit out the first few weeks of the PBA Governors Cup that is tentatively set to start July 15.

“His injury is common among football players. We’re sending him to our doctor in my former team in Kuala Lumpur. They have a machine there that deals with bone spurs. We don’t have that machine in Manila,” said new Fuel Masters coach Ariel Vanguardia.

“We’ve formed a team which responds to our system. It’s unfortunate that this setback happened,” Vanguardia also said.

He mentioned Intal, Josh Urbiztondo, Willy Wilson, John Wilson, Mark Borboran and Mick Pennisi among his core players to be reinforced by regular import Marcus Simmons and Asian reinforcement Lee Kwan Hee.

Simmons, an NBA D-League mainstay in the last two years recommended to Vanguardia by former Talk n Text coach Bill Bayno, was to arrive in the country last night completing the roster of imports to see action in the season-ending Governors Cup.

On Sunday morning, the Tropang TNT Texters welcomed former Kansas Jayhawks star Mario Little who flew in to take over from Jason Maxiel, who was measured over the 6-foot-5 height cap.

Other imports set to play in the Governors Cup are AZ Reid for titleholder San Miguel Beer, Dior Lowhorn for Commissioner’s Cup champion Rain or Shine, Paul Harris for Barangay Ginebra, James White for Mahindra, Eric Dawson for Blackwater, Marqus Blakely for Star, Dominic Sutton for Globalport, Allen Durham for Meralco, Bill Walker for NLEX and LaDontae Henton for Alaska.

“Simmons is a defensive player while Lee, who is a small forward, provides us added scoring sock,” said Vanguardia, bringing assistant coaches Tino Pinat, Cesar Polhen and Nic Belasco in his entry to the Phoenix ball club.

In its initial conference in the pro league, the Phoenix Fuel Masters collected only three wins against eight losses under coach Koy Banal.