Phoenix Pulse is looking to build on its breakthrough semi-final appearance with the help of former Best Import Rob Dozier set to reinforce the Fuel Masters in next month's PBA Commissioner's Cup.
Coach Louie Alas is counting on Dozier to fill his team's weakness in the middle as the Fuel Masters hope continue its progress after frustrating 4-1 loss to the San Miguel Beermen in their best-of-seven Philippine Cup semis series.
"Kailangan ganito pa din ang goal namin kasi pag nagseset ka ng goal, dapat di bumababa, at least mapantayan mo or kung maaari, masurpass mo," offered Alas after Phoenix ended its semi-final stint with a 105-94 loss in Game 5 Thursday at the Astrodome.
"Si Rob sana matulungan kami sa weakness namin which is the paint. Hopefully siya magfill ng weakness namin," added Alas.
Dozier is due to arrive on May 9.
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It will be a reunion of sort for Dozier and Alas, who was an assistant coach at Alaska when the 6-foot-9 center played for Aces in the 2013 and 2016 Commissioner's Cup.
He won the Best Import award in 2013 while helping the Aces beat Ginebra for the title. Dozier and Alaska lost to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the 2016 Finals of the midseason tournament.
Phoenix's problem in the middle was exposed in the semis series as Justine Chua, Doug Kramer and Dave Marcelo struggled and failed to contain SMB's star center June Mar Fajardo.
It was Phoenix's first semi-final appearance since entering the league in 2016 and Alas admitted it was a learning experience.
"For us, lesson learned kasi this was our first time na naglaro sa semi-finals," Alas said. "Madami kaming natutunan so we're turning negative into positive." (JT)
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