THE injury to import Trevis Simpson may yet prove to be a blessing in disguise for Blackwater.
That is, if replacement Henry Walker flashes his old fiery form and leads the winless Elite when they take on fellow struggler Phoenix in their PBA Governors Cup collision Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
"With the arrival of our new import our team has new hope in this conference and we look forward to getting our first win tomorrow," said Blackwater coach Leo Isaac, whose team hasn't won in three games, on the eve of the match.
Walker, who saw action for NLEX in the same tourney last year, arrived last Wednesday and has had sufficient time to practice with his new team.
The 29-year-old former NBA campaigner averaged 30.9 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists for the Road Warriors last year, leading them to the quarterfinals where, as the seventh-seed, they lost in one game to second-ranked San Miguel Beer.
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For sure, Walker is more experienced and a far dangerous threat, often from deep, than Simpson, who averaged 24.5 points and 8.0 rebounds before suffering a groin muscle injury aggravated in a 93-118 loss to San Miguel Beer two Saturdays ago.
That should add to the concerns of Phoenix, which won its first two games but dropped its next two, the last a 91-95 loss to NLEX two Sundays ago when the Road Warriors fought back from a 10-point fourth quarter deficit.
His Fuel Masters avoiding such an endgame meltdown is what nags at coach Airle Vanguardia most.
"We cannot allow that to happen again," said Vanguardia, adding another loss would be a big blow to his squad.
"For us, rebounding, making stops and executing on the offensive end would be the biggest factors," added Vanguardia.
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Eugene Phelps has been steady for Phoenix, but the locals must also step up big-time, more so now that Gilas player Matthew Wright would not be with them.
Isaac, on the other hand, expects Mike Digregorio, JP Erram and Mac Belo to provide Walker the much-needed support.
