Eugene Phelps was totally unrecognizable in his return to the PBA on Sunday night — some people inside the SMART Araneta Coliseum didn’t even realize that it was him until he put on his Phoenix Fuel Masters jersey.
Gone is his iconic man bun that he had been identified with the last time he was here in the Philippines. Gone is his hulking, body builder-esque physique in his six-foot-five frame. Phelps had been a changed man — physically.
The 28-year-old is now sporting a clean, semi-bald look. Furthermore, Phelps appeared leaner than before. Asked about such, the American explained that it’s all brought upon by the new diet he has been taking since having injuries.
“Last year I had a foot injury and I had a surgery on my hand so I just had to switch everything up,” he explained.
“I lost like fourteen pounds. I have a new diet — salad and food and everything — so I feel pretty good.”
Phelps indeed felt good in his return to the Fuel Masters. El Destructor played as if he never left, pouring 25 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists to lead Phoenix past Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 103-98, in two extra periods.
All that effort despite getting cramps at the midway mark of the fourth quarter.
“It feels good, we won, that’s all that matters,” shared Phelps. “I started cramping up in the fourth quarter and then when double OT came, I tried to push it but I can’t even walk or anything.
“Thank God my team came through.”
Phelps has been known to many as the one who scores 50 points in his first games — he dropped 52 in 2016, and 53 just last year. Obviously he wasn’t able to do so this time around, but for Phelps, that’s the least of his concern.
“I’m just here to help the team win. If I score ten points and the team wins, that’s all I care about,” declared the cager from Los Angeles, California.
“I get bonuses for winning, not dropping fifty points. That’s all I care about.”
There has been some changes within Phoenix in Phelps’ return, and one of them is new head coach Louie Alas. Phelps though doesn’t have any issues with the way the veteran bench strategist runs things in the team.
“It’s pretty good, I like the way coach runs the plays, a lot of pick and rolls. If I get a roll, I get double teamed, kick out to the open man. I like the system, I like the plays and everything,” said Phelps, who’s now in his third stint with Phoenix.
Phelps is clearly undersized compared to the other team’s imports, who stand around 6-foot-9 to 6-foot-10. But Phelps doesn’t see such as an issue, expressing confidence that most of his counterparts will find it hard to contain him.
“I don’t care about none of that. In college, I play center so like I’m used to it. In Mexico — I just came back from Mexico — I was playing center, you know. The thing is a lot of them can’t guard me so it’s a mismatch in the offense.
“I’m not scared of nobody or no height or anything,” he closed.
