FINALLY, IT'S MIKE TAYLOR FOR PETRON BLAZE

After failing to sign up their first two import choices, Will Conroy and Ricky Harris, the Petron Blaze Boosters is bringing in a one-time NBA 35-point game scorer in Michael (Mike) Taylor as its reinforcement in the PBA Governor's Cup. The 6-2, 25 year-old native of Milwaukee, played his first two years of college ball for Chipola College before transferring to Iowa State during 2006-07 season, where he averaged a team-high 16.0 points per game. However, Taylor was dismissed by his team prior to the start of the 2007-08 season due to academic problem. He went on to see action in the NBA D-League during ’07-’08 season, averaging 14.5 ppg in 39 games for the Idaho Stampede. His D-League showing made the Portland Trail Blazers to select him as the 55^th pick (2^nd round) over-all in the 2008 draft. Taylor was eventually traded by the Blazers to the Los Angeles Clippers for a future second round pick. He went on to see action for 51 games for the Clippers during the 2008-09 season, submitting norms of 5.7 ppg and 2.1 apg. Taylor’s defining moment as an NBA player came on the night of March 25, 2009, when he scored 35 big points in a game against the New York Knicks at the fabled Madison Square Garden. After his lone NBA campaign, Taylor went overseas and saw action for Serbian club  KK Crvena Zvezda Beograd during the 2009-10 season. This past season, Taylor played four games for Tezenis Verona in the Italian League and submitted norms of 7.3 ppg and 4.0 rpg. Later in the season, he was back in the NBA D-League. Taylor averaged 10.2 ppg and 2.9 rpg in 13 outings with the Iowa Energy. Taylor is reportedly an exciting player, who thrives in transition and has a great leaping ability, according to Draft Express.

“Offensively, Taylor excels in transition, where he is always looking to push the ball, and was the quickest player up and down the floor. In the half-court, he displayed an incredibly quick first step and an explosive vertical leap that will allow him to finish effectively at the rim against bigger players in the NBA, despite his lack of bulk. His jumper falls quite effectively at times, and he shows range out to beyond the NBA three point line.”