Darius Rice
proCanes

Ex Basketball Canes File

Jul/02/08 05:51 PM
DariusRice
Ex-Canes file: The Heat spoke with ex-Clippers guard Guillermo Diaz, but he joined Charlotte's summer program instead. Miami rejected overtures from Darius Rice and Robert Hite, who both joined the Spurs' summer program.


(miamiherald.com)

Singapore Slingers Sign Darius Rice

Jun/01/08 05:34 PM
DariusRice
Darius Rice signs with the Slingers – The attached newsletter provides details on the Slingers key signing of American Darius Rice.  A 6’10” small forward formerly from the University of Miami, Darius is a scoring machine who has put up big numbers wherever he has played.  He holds the scoring record in the NBA development League, NDBL, where he scored 52 points in the final in April, 2007.  His size and sweet shooting touch will pose some match up difficulties with NBL teams and give the Slingers a solid scoring option.

(aplink.wordpress.com)

Purefoods needs more than Rice

Apr/29/08 12:23 AM
DariusRice
BACOLOD -- This is one type of rice Purefoods has apparently had enough of.

The Tender Juicy Giants are dead set in letting go of the prolific Darius Rice within the next few days in favor of an import who can maximize the potential of the local roster for the rest of the Fiesta Cup eliminations.

The bigger news obviously is the decision of Purefoods to ship Rice out even if the reed-thin import is leading all-comers in scoring. Rice scored 56 points in his debut and looked like the perfect import for the Giants.

"He (Rice) might be the No. 1 in scoring, but majority of the touches on our offense are his," said the team source after the All-Star Game Sunday night at the West Negros University gym here.

"The team doesn't need a scoring champion, what the team needs is a team player who can bring out the best in the locals."

The Purefoods coaching staff and management finally decided on Rice's fate after the Giants became the first victim of sophomore squad Welcoat, which pounded out a 110-103 win on April 20.

(surfshop.net)

RICE LIFTS PUREFOODS PAST MAGNOLIA AFTER 2 OTs

Apr/02/08 06:41 PM
DariusRice
NOT even the collective effort of Magnolia proved enough to negate the individual explosiveness of Purefoods import Darius Rice.

The nephew of football legend Jerry Rice knocked in 56 big points in his Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) debut, including a coast-to-coast drive to the basket that lifted the Giants to a pulsating 127-126 double OT victory over the Beverage Masters in a thrilling 2008 Smart Fiesta Conference game Wednesday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

The 6-foot-10 former University of Miami stalwart went 6-of-17 from three-point range, the last of which was a step-back trey in the final 1:40 of regulation play that tied the game at 101 and set the stage for the exciting finish.

The 56-point output of the 25-year-old Rice is the biggest individual score registered in a game in the league since former Best Import Derek Brown finished with 57 points for Sta. Lucia in a 99-120 losing cause to San Miguel Beer on April 25, 2004 in the inaugural Fiesta Conference.

“Darius Rice is as good as advertised,” were the first words uttered by a beaming Ryan Gregorio, the Purefoods coach, after the game that took 58 minutes to complete. “I’ve seen some amazing shots tonight, including a three-pointer that I think was a low percentage shot, but thank God, it went in.”

Rice already showed portent of things to come when he finished with 27 points at the half, though the Giants trailed, 45-54.

“That’s all?,” asked the sensational import when asked if he was aware of his final output, the second all-time highest output in the Fiesta Conference since Brown's 57 and the highest output by a debuting import since Jerod Ward had 61 for Mobiline in a 93-87 win over Barangay Ginebra in his first game in the 2001 Commissioner's Cup.

“Honestly, I was not thinking about my score. I’m just playing in there and trying to help the team win,” added the second cousin of former NBA hotshot Glenn Rice.

BUZZER-BEATER: Rice's 56 was also the first 50-point output in the league since Asi Taulava had a career-high 51 in a 131-105 win over Purefoods on May 16, 2004 also during the inaugural Fiesta Conference... No player has scored at least 60 points in a game since Askia Jones had that exact output for Shell on Nov. 4, 2001 in a 111-88 rout of Sta. Lucia in the Governors Cup. (FM)

(smb-mbm.blogspot.com)

Purefoods import struts wares versus Magnolia

Apr/01/08 09:57 PM
DariusRice
Darius Rice, the 6-foot-10 former University of Miami standout tipped to be the yardstick among imports, finally makes his debut with Purefoods Tender Juicy against Magnolia in the 2007-08 Smart PBA Fiesta Cup at the Araneta Coliseum today.

Reigning champion Alaska Milk and Philippine Cup titlist Sta. Lucia Realty clash in the other game both unveiling returning import like Magnolia.

Rice will be up against former Shell reinforcement Jameel Watkins while another ex-Shell import Wesley Wilson takes on former Talk n Text recruit Randy Holcomb.

Wilson, a 6-foot-11 behemoth out of Georgetown U, will strut his stuff with the Realtors chasing a double-championship in the season. He averaged 28.6 points and 13.9 rebounds in 10 games with Shell in the 2005 Fiesta Cup.

Holcomb, who is two inches shorter, played for Talk n Text in 2004, averaging 25.5 points, 13.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists in six games.

The Giants went a game short of winning the All-Filipino crown but are excited with the prospect of going all the way to win the Fiesta Cup with Rice on their side.

"He's very impressive. We're happy with what we've seen although we know the ultimate test is playing actual game," said Gregorio.

(thephilippinestar.com)

Scoring demon to reinforce Purefoods

Mar/12/08 07:41 AM
If there is one thing Darius Rice can do best on the basketball court, it’s putting the ball inside the hoop. The 6′10″ 222-lb Rice is known as a dangerous offensive player with a knack for hitting shots from way beyond the three-point arc.

In the championship game in the NBDL last year, Rice put on one of the best, if not the best, scoring performances in league history. He exploded for 52 big points, highlighted by 11 triples - including one that sent the game into overtime with four seconds left. The Dakota Wizards went on to win the title after dominating the overtime period. Rice copped the finals MVP trophy.

It’s the kind of performance the Purefoods TJ Giants hope to see when Rice puts on the team jersey in the 2008 PBA Fiesta Cup. The team is in the midst of finalizing contract details with the ex-Miami Hurricane standout and if the negotiations pull through, the Giants will have in their hands, a certified scorer who can shoot the lights out in any given day. It will not be surprising if Rice goes on to average 60 points a game because that’s what he do best. With James Yap, Peter June Simon, and Rice, Purefoods will have the best perimeter weapons in town. Click here to continue reading...