Rakocevic gets green light

Nick Rakocevic will be allowed to see action when the Philippine Basketball Association unwraps its Commissioner's Cup on 15 October.

PBA deputy commissioner Eric Castro told Daily Tribune that Rakocevic and other players who will be measured 6-foot-9 below will be given the green light to compete in the season-opening conference.

Fears of being barred from seeing action were raise after Rakocevic measured exactly 6-foot-9 during the previous Commissioner's Cup.

With the league reducing the height limit from 6-foot-10 to 6-foot-9, speculations were ripe that the explosive American-Serbian forward will be barred to play.

"We adjusted for this coming Commissioner's Cup, so we'll have imports who are 6-foot-9 and below," Castro said.

But seeing Rakocevic back in action for the Hotshots is not yet cast in stone.

Magnolia coach Chito Victolero admitted that they are still exploring their options following the arrival of Abu Tratter and David Murrell as well as the vast improvement of 6-foot-9 James Laput.

"There are now changes in the dynamics of the squad following the inclusion of Tratter and Murrell and the improvement we saw on James Laput," Victolero said.

"We intend to give them significant minutes, so we're now headed on a different direction."

Victolero, however, clarified that their door remains open for Rakocevic, who led them to the semifinals with averages of 21.7 points, 17 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 1.8 steals per game.

"But of course, Nick will be one of our prospects as well. We're not closing out the possibilities of bringing him back."