Injured Red Bull import ready for PBA semis Game 2

MANILA, Philippines – Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao doesn’t sound like the man whose team was badly beaten at the start of the Smart-Philippine Basketball Association Fiesta Cup semifinals last Sunday. Because an injury to import Adam Parada had a lot to do with the 26-point loss Guiao’s team endured. And now? “Okay na siya," said Guiao. “Muntik ng pumarada si Parada. Pero [sa Wednesday] labas na siya sa garahe. 100 percent na." Bothered by a pulled hamstring, the seven-foot former Mexican national-team member, a leading contender for the Best Import award, played his worst game of the conference, finishing with only six points and five rebounds in 24 minutes of play in Red Bull’s 108-82 loss to Barangay Ginebra in Game One of their best-of-seven semis encounter . Parada’s numbers paled in comparison to the 16-point, 17-rebound effort of Ginebra counterpart Chris Alexander who helped the Kings beat the team which swept them in two meetings during the elimination phase. Worse, Parada’s sub-par showing appeared to have rubbed on to the rest of the Barakos. Red Bull, which finished 11-7 and with the second-best record after the qualifying round, committed a total of 27 turnovers, which the Kings easily translated into 25 points. The Photokina franchise also shot a poor 36 percent from the floor, converting just 29 of their total 80 field goals. Ginebra coach Jong Uichico downplayed his team’s easy win in the series opener, well aware that Red Bull is capable of staging a comeback. “It’s a long series and we know what Red Bull is capable of doing," he said. – GMANews.TV