It’s been three years since the last time Rob Dozier played in the PBA.
After suiting up for the Alaska Aces — a team which he helped win the 2013 Commissioner’s Cup title — back in 2016, the former Memphis Tiger was not able to make his way back in the league.
Returning Alaska import Rob Dozier
“I’ve been trying to get back here in the past two years, but my schedule didn’t work out,” Dozier lamented.
But after a long time, Dozier has finally made his way back into Asia’s pioneering league. And on Friday evening, he set foot in the PBA hardwood again, by way of Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters.
Safe to say, he’s just glad to be back.
“Yea, man. It’s been a long time, man. It’s been three years. I’m finally here!” said the 33-year-old from Lithonia, Georgia.
“On a new team, on a new adventure, on a new challenge. I’m excited about it.”
In his first game back, Dozier produced 18 points on 7-of-19 shooting, along with 16 rebounds, four blocks, three assists, and a steal against five turnovers in 43 minutes and 27 seconds.
He may not have had a good night shooting the ball, but that was the least of Dozier. He felt like he didn’t have to score that much since his fellow Fuel Masters clicked on offense.
Four locals scored in double-digits in the win, led by Matthew Wright who had 22 points with seven boards and six dimes.
“I know y’all guys expect imports to come in and score big, big numbers or whatever but I think we as a team played good. I mean we got four, five guys score in double figures,” said Dozier.
“I don’t think I got to a point where I felt like I had to score the ball. But there will be times where I have to be that and I’ll be ready,” he added.
“Just today, I think it was a good game for us offensively.”
That, however, doesn’t mean Phoenix won’t have to fine-tune some aspects of their game. Dozier said that they still need to work on their defense, which somehow collapsed versus Blackwater.
The Fuel Masters built a high 19-point wall in the third quarter until the Elite fought back and made it just a two-point game, 100-98, after Mac Belo’s freebies with 11 seconds left in the match.
“We just gotta do a better job locking in on defense and keep on improving every game,” said the former Best Import.
“It’s our first game, we didn’t play nowhere near as perfect as I think we can play. We can only get better from here. We’ll just keep pushing forward every game, take it one game at a time.”
