He's back! Denzel Bowles returns to Purefoods for Manila Clasico
A familiar face is returning to help rescue the 2015 Commissioner’s Cup campaign of the Purefoods Star Hotshots.
After Daniel Orton was sent home after only three games following a 6-point, 3-rebound performance in a loss to the KIA Carnival, Purefoods tapped Denzel Bowles to return and salvage their bid to retain the title they won last season with James Mays.
Originally measured by the PBA office at 6-10 and ½, Bowles’ height was measured again Saturday afternoon. He made the 6-foot-9 limit as he was officially tabbed at 6-foot-8 and 13/16.
6'8 and 13/16! 👍🏀 pic.twitter.com/bcxP2VWSnt
— Richard del Rosario (@charddelrosario) February 21, 2015
Bowles, a two-time Purefoods import, led the team then known as the B-Meg Llamados to the title in 2012. He normed 26.25 points, 12.46 rebounds, 2.96 assists, and 1.88 blocks in 24 games. Bowles nailed two game-saving free throws at the tail end of Game 7 and caught fire in the overtime period to sink the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters.
He returned in 2013 but the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers where he averaged 22.74 points, 15.16 rebounds, 2.58 assists, and 2.05 blocks in 19 games but they lost to Rob Dozier and the Alaska Aces in the semifinals.
Bowles and Orton were Purefoods head coach Tim Cone’s only choices for the PBA’s second conference with Marqus Blakely as a stopgap measure. Cone went with Orton because his CBA team was eliminated before Bowles’ team did.
Bowles and the rest of the Hotshots will not have a lot of time to reacquaint themselves with each other as they take on Mike Dunigan and the rest of the Barangay Ginebra Kings for Manila Clasico on Sunday.
