MANILA, Philippines – It’s Rodney White after all.
After negotiations with former Cleveland Cavalier Samardo Samuels bogged down, the Petron Blaze Boosters went after its original back-up plan.
White, who played with Barako Bull last season, has already agreed to to replace the controversial Renaldo Balkman and will fly to the country today.
The Blaze Boosters, however, will have to play All-Filipino tomorrow when they meet Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in Panabo, Davao del Norte as White is scheduled to arrive on Sunday.
The 32-year old White, who was the ninth overall pick by the Detroit Pistons back in 2001, averaged 29.8 points on top of 13.2 rebounds and 5.8 assists in his short stint with Barako Bull last season.
He came in last year as a replacement to another former NBA player DerMarr Johnson. But White, who helped Barako Bull turn things around after a 1-3 start, left after only five games to attend to his ailing father and never returned.
White, who also played with the Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors, will debut in Petron jersey against Talk n Text next Friday.
White plays a lot with energy like Balkman, who will leave the country on Monday after getting banned from playing in the PBA. Balkman has led Petron to a 5-2 start in the conference featuring imports with unlimited height.
Below is a Youtube video of White in the Korean Basketball League prior to his stint with Barako Bull last season.
Below is White's 2001 NBA Rookie Draft video.