James Hughes plans to become the anchor Alab Pilipinas has been lacking
In four games, Alab Pilipinas struggled to protect the paint and score easy baskets. During that time, the Manila-based club team averaged 38.5 rebounds per outing while allowing 43.25 in the same department. On the offensive end, Alab struggled to score in the paint, with 36.5 of their points coming from that distance but their opponents are scoring 39.0 from the paint.
Needing a defensive anchor to solve their woes, Alab’s management released reinforcements Lee Seung-jun and Lee Dong-jun during the holiday break. Replacing the Korean brothers are 6-foot-11 journeyman James Hughes and 6-foot-8 forward Sampson Carter.
Hughes got first taste of what it is like to be in Manila during the team’s first practice together last Thursday at the Enderun Gym in Taguig City. As a resident of Florida, Hughes was more than relieved about the tropical climate of the country as compared to Canada — the country where he last played.
“I’m just thankful for the opportunity to come out here. Glad it is warm out here because I was living in Florida so I went from one warm place to another warm place,” the towering big man shared. “I was in Canada early part of 2016, playing for Windsor Express in the NBL — right there in the border of Canada and the US.”
However, the fatigue Hughes felt brought by two days of being in transit from Miami to Manila was visible.
“I arrived yesterday at 4:30. I left miami, January 2 at 7:40 PM and I got here January 4 at 4:30 PM,” the product of Northern Illinois University shared.
“That has got to be the longest trip I have ever been on.
“But after a couple of practices under my belt and when I get this long trip that I had out of me, everything will start clicking,” he vowed.
Even if he was still jet-lagged, the 33-year-old caught a glimpse of the running game coach Mac Cuan has been implementing. And he feels that his game is a perfect fit for the system.
“I see that we have some youth. Coach wants to run and that plays well into my style, getting up and down the open court,” remarked Hughes, who was drafted 11th overall in the 2007 United States Basketball League’s draft.
“Like I said, I feel like it’s gonna be a smooth transition.”
Though not making any promises, he does guarantee that he will use all his might to give Alab what it’s lacking: a rim protector and an inside presence.
“I’ll come in and try to be the rim protector, a couple of blocks here and there. I still have my athleticism so just give a little spark of energy to the team, to the fans, to the crowd,” he stressed.
With the enthusiasm he is showing, Hughes might be the missing piece Alab lacked as they try to make the jump from being in the middle of the pack to the upper echelon of the ABL.
