Carl Montgomery made a good account of himself in his debut for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, Wednesday.
The 6-foot-8 cager from Chicago finished with 20 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks in nearly 36 minutes to help the Elasto Painters defeat the Magnolia Hotshots, 86-82.
The win improved Rain or Shine to 5-5 and boosted their playoff bid in the 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
For Montgomery, his outing became possible thanks to Denzel Bowles, whom he replaced after the former Best Import suffered a knee injury that ruled him out of the mid-season joust.
“Yeah, Denzel just told me to play my game and play free.
“Don’t think too much because it’s my first game, just give as much effort as I can on both ends,” said the eight-year pro after the win.
The 30-year-old, who last played in Malaysia, really gave as much effort in the win, most especially on defense inside the final minute — he defended Ian Sangalang’s point-blank shot before blocking Jio Jalalon’s lay-up.
Had those shots went in, the Hotshots could have completed the comeback from 11 down with 6:28 to play.
Montgomery, though, gave Magnolia a bit of an opening when he missed his freebies with 18 ticks left, but luckily Gabe Norwood hit his foul shots and the Hotshots failed to convert afterward.
“I felt like I played to the best of my abilities and my team picked me up. I wasn’t doing so well in the fourth and they picked me up and we were able to get the much-needed win,” he said.
Now, Montgomery — who had just arrived in the country mere days ago — is looking to adjust to almost everything in the league. And he vowed that he’ll get better as the conference progresses.
“I’m adjusting to the physicality. I have to get used to it, it’s a shock to my body but I’ve only been here what? Three days? I’ll keep getting better and I’ll be okay.”
