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| Rayvonte Rice is joining Magnolia for a crucial clash with Converge. USA Today (file photo) |
MANDALUYONG--With a chance at avoiding the top seed of Group B ahead of the PBA Governors' Cup quarterfinals on the line, Magnolia decided to bring in another import.
Following an injury to Shabazz Muhammad, the team recruited Rayvonte Rice to backstop them ahead of a crucial showdown against Converge on Monday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
The 32-year-old guard is expected to easily make the six-foot-six import height limit as he is only listed at six-foot-four.
Rice, who went undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft, was just bouncing around in Asia for the past two seasons, playing for Taiwanese teams Taichung Suns and Kaohsiung Steelers and Chinese club Liaoning Flying Leopards.
Muhammad, who came on to replace opening night import Tre Robinson, suffered a swollen knee during the Hotshots' loss to the TNT Tropang Giga, and Magnolia opted not to risk Muhammad and play all-Filipino against NorthPort the following game.
The winner of the showdown between the Hotshots and the FiberXers will finish third in Group A and will face the second seed in Group B in the crossover quarterfinals beginning Wednesday, while the loser drops to fourth and will play Group B's top seed next.
However, whichever among Rain Or Shine and Ginebra will finish one and two in Group B will depend on the Gin Kings' game against the NLEX Road Warriors on Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
San Miguel can even finish second in Group B if Ginebra falls to NLEX.
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