Five import durables

As the group stage comes close to ending in the PBA Governors’ Cup, teams on the bubble are scrambling to find better import fits with only five durables assured of their slots. It’s not surprising that the “untouchables” are previous campaigners familiar with the physicality, pressure and responsibility that imports take on.

Under PBA rules, teams may change imports at any time, even on the last day of the Finals. The condition is for the Governors’ Cup, they must measure up to 6-6 in height. A replacement notice must be filed by 12 noon the day before the game. Measurement is required in the afternoon up to close of office hours the eve of the game.

If replaced, an original import may be reactivated once but must have been previously placed on the injured/reserve list. A replacement import may not be reactivated. A team may play without an import up to two games but on the third game, the fine is P50,000, on the fourth game, P100,000 and on the fifth, P200,000.

The five original import durables are Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee (on his 11th conference), TNT’s Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (on his third conference), Rain or Shine’s Aaron Fuller (on his fifth conference) Meralco’s Allen Durham (on his fifth conference) and Terrafirma’s Antonio Hester (on his third conference). Brownlee has played his entire PBA career with Ginebra, winning six championships. Hollis-Jefferson has also been with TNT from the start of his PBA journey, winning one title. Fuller went from NLEX to Blackwater to TNT before signing with Rain or Shine. Durham has played with Meralco since breaking into the PBA in 2016, bagging three Best Import awards despite not claiming a championship. Hester started with Terrafirma, moved to Magnolia and is now back with the Dyip.

Original imports who’ve been replaced for whatever reason were Blackwater’s Ricky Ledo, NorthPort’s Taylor Johns, Converge’s Scotty Hopson, Magnolia’s Glenn Robinson III, Phoenix’ Jayveous McKinnis and NLEX’ Myke Henry. San Miguel Beer’s Jordan Adams played five games, was placed on the injured/reserve list, sat out one game where replacement Sheldon Mac saw action then was reactivated.

Robinson was replaced by Shabazz Muhammad who played four games for San Miguel in the 2021 Governors’ Cup. Ledo was released and George King took his place. Johns was changed by Venky Jois who suffered an Achilles injury during a game last Saturday and will be subbed. Hopson endured a hip injury for three games and has been replaced by Jalen Jones, a two-year NBA reliever with New Orleans, Dallas and Cleveland. McKinnis’ spot was taken by former Dominican Republic national player Brandone Francis while Henry was subbed by DeQuan Jones who played for the Orlando Magic in the 2012-13 NBA season.

The lowest-scoring durable is 34-year-old Hester who’s averaging 19.1 points. Durham, 36, is scoring 22.1 points an outing. Brownlee, 36, is often described as the import yardstick and he’s norming 25.7 points. Kabayan Justin is No. 1 in three-point field goal percentage (.559). Fuller, 34, leads the league in field goal percentage (.602), plus-minus (86) and rebounding (18.8). Hollis-Jefferson, 29, is hitting at a 27.4 clip and ranks No. 1 in blocked shots (2.25), No. 2 in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.5:1), No. 2 in minutes played (43:55) and No. 2 in plus-minus (81).