By Rey Joble

PUREFOODS coach Ryan Gregorio isn’t easily convinced by agents boosting the stocks of their players.

But to hear great comments from National Basketball Association legend Jerry Lucas and former Philippine Basketball Association import Michael Young proved enough to prod him that Jahmar Thorpe is the player they need.

Thorpe, a 6’6” standout from University of Houston, the same school that produced two of the NBA’s greatest players like Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, was supposed to arrive last night in time for Purefoods’ next game against Rain or Shine in Victoria City tomorrow.

“I’m not a firm believer of what agents say,” Gregorio told Standard Today. “They just keep on saying how good their wards are even if they’re not, so I asked for several, more credible people.”

Thorpe was in the camp of Lucas and made a good impression. He has a good outside range and can play both forward spots, something which former import Brian Hamilton lacks.

“We did a great job the first two games, but we lost our last two matches mainly because teams knew exactly what to do against Hamilton,” said Gregorio. “Some say they are two or three steps away when defending him. I would say they are two or three cars away. Ganun kalayo when they’re defending him. They just give him the outside shot and that’s it.”