The Phoenix Fuel Masters paraded a new foreign reinforcement in Jameel McKay Wednesday night in lieu of Eugene Phelps, but what was expected to be a victorious welcome for the American turned out to be a rude one.
The 24-year-old paced the Fuel Masters with monster numbers of 34 points on 16-of-29 shooting and 20 rebounds along with four blocked shots, but his effort was not enough as his team bowed by 19 to Star Hotshots, 101-82.
Aside from the rude welcome, the loss also served as Phoenix’s fourth straight defeat to Star, dating back from the last Philippine Cup. But for McKay, positives still reigned more for him despite the 19-point drubbing they received.
“I think, overall, we [just made] a few collective errors,” remarked McKay on Phoenix’s 14 turnovers. “The final scoreboard says 19 but it was closer than that throughout the game.
“I think, at a certain point in the game, if we made a couple of big shots, a couple of big threes, it wouldn’t been a 19-point game. We’re probably be talking about a win right now.”
Regardless of the defeat, McKay still had a stellar debut with the dominant stat line he collected. Asked if there is even a bit of pressure on him as he tries to fill the void left by Phelps, who scored 53 points in his only game this conference, the Iowa State product thinks otherwise.
“I don’t look at it as pressure. I just go out there and play my game, show them what I can do, and let the numbers decide,” McKay said.
“I ain’t gotta fill the void — the shoes — of no one. I’ll just be Jameel McKay and that’s me — the best player I can be.”
McKay has been with the team for a couple of days now, and just i that limited span, he believes that getting accustomed with his new team, his second team overseas, is not much of a problem.
“I’m adjusting well. I just go out there and play my game, and they look for me, and play with confidence. Gotta go out there and rebound, defend a little better [next time] and we’ll be alright,” he added.
And he thanks his coaches at Phoenix for making him feel fit quickly to the the squad.
“The things you do in any league, it just comes from the confidence from you coach. If your coaches are confident by saying you can go out there and play basketball, that’s the biggest thing for me,” said the 2017 National Basketball League champion with the Perth Wildcats.
As his first game is now in the books, McKay promises to display his brand of basketball as the Commissioner’s Cup goes along. And, he also hopes that his stint with Phoenix will conclude with a championship.
“I’m just one of those guys who accepts the role that has been given. If you ask me to score the ball, I will score. If you ask me to defend, I will defend. I’m just one of those guys. I’m a winner,” he said.
“Yeah, I had a good night tonight, but I still can’t think of times that I should have made the shot and we lost. Points don’t really matter to me. I came here to win the championship.”
