Powell and Jackson, two imports with ties to Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, face off in Ginebra-Meralco showdown

by garrett_jax Wed Apr 02, 2014 10:59 am

Josh Powell, best remembered as one of Kobe Bryant's teammates in the Lakers teams that won the NBA championship in 2009 and 2010, plays his first game for Ginebra against Darnell Jackson, who was LeBron James' teammate in his final two seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

TWO imports with links to two of the best players in the NBA today - Kobe Bryant and LeBron James - face off right on their PBA debut in the Ginebra-Meralco game on Wednesday night.

Josh Powell, best remembered as one of Bryant's teammates in the Lakers teams that won the NBA championship in 2009 and 2010, plays his first game for Ginebra against Darnell Jackson, who was James' teammate in his final two seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The coincidence is striking, more so since the 6-8 Jackson was also a draft pick of James' current team, the Miami Heat, at 52nd overall in 2008 and played for one season in Cleveland with Shaquille O'Neal - Bryant's former teammate turned arch-enemy.

Of the two, however, it is Powell who has stirred excitement among PBA fans, not only because he has joined the league's most popular team but also because of the impressive credentials he has logged in his career, most recently with the Guangdong Southern Tigers in China's pro league.

The 31-year-old forward, who has vowed to bring a "kill mentality" which he said he has learned from Bryant to Ginebra, has also made quite a first impression on his teammates in his first practice on Tuesday.

“The thing with him (Powell), he’s a veteran in the NBA so I expect a lot,” said Ginebra's high-flying big man Japeth Aguilar. “Sa first practice niya, he did great actually. Nakuha niya kaagad yung play kahit na isang beses lang tinuro sa kanya.

“Pati defense, tinuro sa kanya. Lumabas yung pagiging beterano niya saka in my observation, yung IQ niya ang taas. He reads the play well,” added the 26-year-old forward.

Chris Ellis said Powell's mere arrival gave the Kings a confidence boost as they move on after a 2-4 (win-loss) campaign with Leon Rodgers.

Interestingly, Jackson, a 6-foot-8 forward who played for the Cavaliers, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Sacramento Kings in a three-year NBA stint, said he has also learned a lot from the time he spent with both James and O'Neal in Cleveland.

Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio said Jackson is a completely different player from Brian Butch, the Bolts’ erstwhile import.

“He’s (Jackson) highly skilled and a thinking player. Hopefully, he will fit in. He’s totally different from the other import because Brian is a floor spacer, but Darnell can attract attention in the paint,” said Gregorio shortly after the Bolts' practice at the Meralco gym.

Gregorio said with Jackson expected to command the double team due to his strong inside plays, he has already tasked shooters like Gary David and John Wilson to be ready any time for the kick-out pass.

“I told the shooters to get themselves ready, get primed for open looks because he (Jackson) has the ability to make a good decision on the post,” he added.

The two imports also know each other very well, having played against each other no less than five times in the 2013-14 Chinese Basketball Association season.

Jackson’s Shanghai Sharks are 1-4 against Powell’s Guangdong Southern Tigers in their combined CBA regular season and playoffs head-to-head.

He has nothing but kind words for Powell, who he describes as a “great friend” and someone he respects.

“He’s (Powell) a great athlete. He runs the floor hard, plays defense and he’s a solid defender,” said Jackson, who averaged 19.6 points and 11.2 rebounds in 37 games with the Sharks in the Chinese league.

“He’s a solid offensive player. He’s an all-around player and he’s a great friend of mine. Every time I see him, there’s just always respect between me and him.

“You gotta remember he won two NBA championships with the Lakers.”

Follow the writer on Twitter: @richava

source: spin.ph

by raqui2101 Wed Apr 02, 2014 3:07 pm

sana naman manalo na tayo mamaya....

by **MR. FAST** Wed Apr 02, 2014 3:13 pm

Tignan naten kung inspirado silang maglaro..

by wnc19 Wed Apr 02, 2014 4:27 pm

Sana nga ipakita na lalong-lalo na ng mga locals yung "Kill Mentality"...think positive! NSD!

by **MR. FAST** Wed Apr 02, 2014 6:19 pm

Isang talo nalang talaga, HELLO BORACAY nanaman.hehehe

by mambobola Thu Apr 03, 2014 12:43 am

MR. FAST wrote:Isang talo nalang talaga, HELLO BORACAY nanaman.hehehe

buti kung boracay, eh kung manila bay lang! hahaha. sa wakas! nanalo Ginebra but its because of the locals, MC47, josh, and ellis putting the dagger in the last few minutes at a close fight. beauty na lang ! hahaha pero im still not satisfied with the way powell played the game, cguro dahil bago pa lang cya naglaro. mejo malamya, nakakita ako ng iilang passes, no dunks, no strong penetration kahit sa rebound sa ilalim naiisahan pa ng mga locals, takot mangalabaw (cguro takot ma-injury) sana na-brief ng mgt na pisikal ang PBA. eto lang masasabi ko WALANG TENACITY! sana lang maka-survive cla sa 2 laro. kung ganito papakita ng import malamang kangkungan na talaga to. kudos to MC47, he's really a leader, doing whats best for the team and not for his name, di tulad ng iba dyan, may mga artista na nagsusuot pa ng jersey na may name nya na inde naman BGSM jersey, pogi na kc. Ginebra ito hinde Gilas mga ungas. tama sinabi ni MC47, dapat ikaw bumabangga inde ikaw ang tinutulak palabas. kung pwede kayo magkapalit ng mukha sa girian at tulakan, eh dapat kayanin mo. at kung magpapapogi ka lang daw sabi ng mga announcer, eh di ka nababagay sa PBA kundi sa pageant o kaya mag-artista ka na lang! hahahaha, sapul na sapul! again, rebounds should be dominated for more chances to score, still a big problem with them even though they have twin towers. magandang ang gabi ko mga kabs (ka-baranggay? sabi ng pamangkin ko ka-badingan daw, hahaha, joke lang daw), makakatulog na cguro ako ng mahimbing na may ngiti saken mga labi. still, worrying for the next game April 13. mejo malas na numero. wag naman sana!

by garrett_jax Thu Apr 03, 2014 9:07 am

think positive na lang kabs, first game pa lang nun import, at nakikiramdam lang,hindi xia offensive player, pero xia ang kailangan ng ginebra, ang may presence sa depensa at rebounding............

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Powell and Jackson, two imports with ties to Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, face off in Ginebra-Meralco showdown

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Re: Powell and Jackson, two imports with ties to Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, face off in Ginebra-Meralco showdown

Re: Powell and Jackson, two imports with ties to Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, face off in Ginebra-Meralco showdown

Re: Powell and Jackson, two imports with ties to Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, face off in Ginebra-Meralco showdown

Re: Powell and Jackson, two imports with ties to Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, face off in Ginebra-Meralco showdown

Re: Powell and Jackson, two imports with ties to Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, face off in Ginebra-Meralco showdown

Re: Powell and Jackson, two imports with ties to Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, face off in Ginebra-Meralco showdown