The Columbian Dyip may have lost their 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup opener at the hands of the Alaska Aces on Sunday night, but import Kyle Barone provided the silver lining.
A first-timer in the Filipino pro league, Barone posted 30 points and 22 rebounds, along with an assist, a steal, and a block each in the 41 minutes and six seconds he saw action.
But as impressive as he was in his first foray in the PBA, the 29-year-old said that there is still plenty of adjusting to do, particularly with the league’s longer minutes per quarter.
The PBA plays 12 minutes a frame – a bit more than the usual 10 minutes in the leagues Barone has played for, including the ASEAN Basketball League, where he recently suited up for Saigon Heat.
“It’s a long game here. It’s twelve-minute quarters, so just gotta stay with it.”
Barone isn’t new to Asian basketball, since he has been in the continent for about five years now. But he does have to get used to being the lone reinforcement on a team in the PBA.
The 29-year-old center is moreused to having fellow imports around him, like in his stint with the ABL, where a maximum of three imports is allowed per ball club.
“I’ve played in Asia for years now.
“It’s pretty similar, just a matter of how many imports. Here it’s only one, so they rely a lot on imports and stuff,” said the University of Idaho product.
But even as he becomes more familiar with his role as a major option, Barone said that it will not be all about him. He would still want to see a collective effort for better chances.
“We need everybody. It’s not just me. I like this team, I like the way we play. When we play well together we’re good.”
