For the fourth time this conference, the Magnolia Hotshots are changing imports.
The Hotshots started the conference with Vernon Macklin, going 3-1 with him. Macklin then signed up with a Chinese club team and was replaced by Curtis Kelly. With Kelly anchoring the defense, Magnolia went a horrid 0-2 – including a humiliating 84-86 loss to the Blackwater Elite last June 6.
Kelly’s replacement Justin Jackson didn’t fare much better, as the Hotshots were 1-2 with him but fell to 4-5.
And so Magnolia have tapped a familiar face for Paul Lee, as former Rain or Shine import Wayne Chism has been signed by the team.
However, it will be a new environment for the 31-year-old reinforcement, as he will no longer play under Yeng Guiao, who was his coach in Rain or Shine back in 2014-16 and NLEX last season.
“It’s gonna be very different. I got to get used to everybody, the coaches and the players,” said Chism as he watched Rain or Shine’s 106-99 win over the Meralco Bolts on Sunday evening. “I’m already good with Paul so that’s okay there but I’m getting comfortable with the rest of the team and it’s gonna be great.”
Together, they were able to lead Rain or Shine to the 2015 Commissioner’s Cup Finals, only to fall to TNT in an epic seven-game series.
Leading a new team this time around is a challenge the 2015 Best Import is embracing.
“It will be awesome so I’ll try my best to get us there,” the 6-foot-9 big man expressed.
And welcoming him back to the league is none other than Yeng Guiao, as the Hotshots face the Road Warriors on July 4. Chism can’t wait.
“It’s gonna be funny and it’s gonna be fun too at that. Playing against my old team and my old coach too, it’s gonna be great.”
