When you’re an import in the PBA, you have a world out there to prove yourself to. Most — if not all — reinforcements are tasked to perform a huge load for their respective teams.
And in the league’s suck-and-you’ll-go-home nature during import-laden conferences, there is immense pressure, and hardly any room for errors.
But Alaska’s new import, 28-year-old Shane Edwards, doesn’t mind. The Aces brought Edwards in for the short-term, while original choice Rob Dozier is still recovering from an injury.
“It’s good that our team played well. We played team basketball and it was a good win for us,” Edwards said Wednesday after Alaska defeated TNT, 108-100 for their first win.
Edwards, who bounced around some NBA D-League teams over the years before last suiting up for a third-tier European league club, impressed in his debut, scoring a game-high 36 points to go along with 20 rebounds.
Photo by PBA Images
Perhaps he knows he will be playing only an interim role. The immediate future is uncertain for him, but the 6-foot-7 import is taking everything professionally.
“We had that talk before I flew out,” Edwards said, sharing he has spoken to head coach Alex Compton about the situation.
Edwards added he does not intend to rival Dozier, and he will just do his part while still a member of the team.
“I don’t know. As of right now I am just here to do my job. I hope Rob gets a speedy recovery. I will just try to do everything I can,” he said.
Having just trained twice with the Aces, the forward also came early to watch the first game and get accustomed to the environment as part of the adjustment process.
“Everywhere you go there is always going to be some adjustments, it is always going to be different for me. Luckily I was out there, able to adjust fast,” he said.
Compton himself was impressed with the import, saying “I hope Shane gives me a hard time (deciding).”
The mentor said both Dozier and Edwards are true professionals and intelligent players on the floor, and it will be up to them to decide who to stick with moving forward.
“Let me deal with that problem. I love them both,” Compton said.
Edwards, meanwhile, will just take it one day at a time and try to make the most out of the experience.
“They have a great program, great players, great coaches, just a great organization. I like (the country). The people are treating me really well. Everybody is nice and it is a great experience so far.”
