NLEX head coach Frankie Lim admitted that he actually asked Jonathon Simmons if he can still play at least one more game before leaving for China, but his prized import is all set to fly out before the week ends.
That match, you wonder, is against reigning Governors’ Cup champion Barangay Ginebra on February 8 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“I was asking him to stay one more game so he gets to play against Ginebra, but they want him to leave right away,” the veteran mentor shared shortly after the Road Warriors’ 110-108 victory over TNT, Wednesday night.
Lim can’t really be blamed for requesting as much, for the former NBA cager is exactly what the doctor ordered for the ball club.
Versus the Tropang Giga alone, the 33-year-old forward lit it up with 45 points and 12 rebounds as he powered their comeback from as much as 15 down en route to extending their unbeaten run to three.
After Wednesday night, Simmons is now averaging 36.7 points on 47.4-percent shooting from the field, 9.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 2.0 steals.
It would be intriguing to see what more can the 10-year pro do had he not been playing on borrowed time but it is what it is, as they say, and he only aims to make the most out of his stint with the Road Warriors.
His final game will be on Saturday against Phoenix Super LPG at the Ynares Center in Antipolo and he vowed one thing.
“A win,” he said. “Nothing less but winning.”
And before he leaves the club, Simmons said that he’ll discuss some things with the incoming Wayne Selden, who will take his place in the lineup.
Selden, like him, boasts of a rich NBA pedigree, which had seen him play in New Orleans, Memphis, Chicago, and New York.
“He was a young guy then .. had guys like Tony Allen and Michael Conley, he had a lot of guys in front of him so he really didn’t play as much,” said Simmons of the former Grizzlies player. “But I heard he’s been doing well overseas. “
“So, just looking out for him to come in and be impactful to the team. I’ll probably have a couple words with him, just to give him a feel of the guys and coach. I think he’ll be a good fit,” he added.
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