Nagustuhan ni Yeng Guiao ang galaw ng 6-foot-5 big man mula Ateneo.
Second round pick (16th overall) ng Road Warriors si Kris Porter. Ang dalawa pang newbies ay sina Kyles Lao na tinawag sa third round, at si Paul Varill na tinapik ng Rain or Shine sa second round (13th overall) pero hindi pinapirma ng kontrata ng Elasto Painters.
Impressed si Guiao sa tatlong rookies, pero higit kay Porter na tinawag pa niyang “steal” sa draft.
Pakitang-gilas ang tatlo sa tune-up game kontra TNT nitong Sabado nang puro second stringers ang gamitin ni Guiao sa 95-90 win ng NLEX.
“Kyles Lao was really helpful in our cause today. Paul Varilla is decent. Si Porter, I think is a pleasant surprise,” anang coach. “He could be the steal of the draft.”
Nagsumite si Porter ng 10 points, may 9 si Lao at 4 kay Varilla kontra Texters.
Hindi pa pinapapirma ng kontrata ang tatlo, bagama’t binigyan sila ng tender offers para manatili ang rights sa NLEX.
Maganda ang bitaw sa labas ni Porter, pang-ayuda sa bagong dati ring big man na si Poy Erram mula Blackwater.
Lahat ay naghanap ng bigs, pero natiyempuhan pa ng Road Warriors si Porter.
“I felt that he is a big man who could help any team,” paliwanag ni Guiao. “He played good defense, he made some shots, he made good decisions. And for us, he is the right type of big man because he has an outside shot. A natural outside shot.” (Vladi Eduarte)