Last February 10, the 2012 PBA Commissioner’s Cup opened with a double-header right off the bat. Remember, this is one of the two reinforced conferences the PBA traditionally sets in its season. For this conference, reinforcements are allowed to have unlimited height, meaning any team can parade a seven-foot import. It’s been a full week since the conference opened. Wondering how the reinforcement for your favorite team fared? I was able to catch a glimpse of some of the memorable ones. Let’s check them out.
Denzel Bowles, C, B-Meg Llamados. When Tim Cone says you are a NBA material big guy, even just for a spell off the bench, you are a NBA material big guy. Why do I believe so easily? He’s Tim Cone, arguably one of the most credible coaches in the country, has an eye for talent, and knows how to aqueeze it out. From what I saw of his game so far, Denzel Bowles can put B-Meg over the top. For a big man, he finds cutters very well, JC Intal so far his favorite recipient. I was dazzled by all those pinpoint no-look lead bounce passes straight to the cup; the man has high basketball IQ. And when it is time to get his buckets, you just have to stand aside or else you’ll be left wondering what the plate number of the truck was. Oh yeah, he seems to have generated that chemistry with his point guard, Josh Urbiztondo, who has a knack for tracking a runaway truck.
Jarrid Famous, F-C, Meralco Bolts. Famous was out of it in the first half of his debut as a Meralco Bolt. Denzel Bowles repeatedly mowed down the 6’11” forward-center out of the NBA D-League in the paint. He seemed unable to track down Bowles on defense as he repeatedly got beat off the boards and got sealed for easy deuces. But in the second half, he showed off the form that seems unlikely for a 6’11” guy. With the mobility, athleticism, soft touch, he dominated when Bowles started tanking and gasping for air. Look out for famous, he might just make some noise as a Bolt running behind Mac Cardona and Sol Mercado.
Nick Fazekas, F, Petron Blaze Boosters. I knew of Fazekas even before he became Petron’s import. Fazekas is a forward with range. He played in Division 1 competition starring for University of Nevada in the West Atlantic Conference. Think of him as a Keith Van Horn type. That may not endear him to fans but here’s a guy who compliments the star-studded line up of Petron. While the Boosters have lost with him in tow, it’s just a matter of time before they hit off on his tendencies and driving home for the win.
Chris Alexander, C, Baranggay Ginebra Kings. We all know what Alexander the Great can do. He’s an automatic double-double. He’s a human windmill making the paint uninhabitable for layups. He’ll be the reason BGK will make it to the playoffs and possibly a seat in the finals. I mean, with a 7-footer who complements well your entire line up of savvy vets? That’s like a dream come true.
Duke Crews, F, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. Crews is a needed cog in Rain or Shine. They lack a reliable small forward who can put points on the board. Ryan Arana and Jireh Ibanez? Please, they’re better off defending. Jeff Chan? He’s a spot-up shooter not one who can create his own shot to score. Besides, RoS can really take a wing player since Beau Belga, Larry Rodriguez and sometimes, JR Quinahan are studs in the paint. Once they hit their stride, expect Paul Lee and Gabe Norwood to pad those assists numbers.
Adam Parada, C, Alaska. Parada came through with a 20-20 game last time, lighting up the scoreboard for 24 points and snagging 20 boards. I am still a skeptic though. They already have JR Reyes, Sonny Thoss and Sam Eman to man the paint. I don’t know what their management was thinking. JR Reyes obviously works better off as a power forward not a small forward. Last conference, he recorded his best rebounding numbers to date. When he played as a small forward back then, those numbers took a hit for the worse. I say maybe having Thoss as a back up to Parada or Reyes would bring back the swagger in the Aces’s legs.
DerMarr Johnson, G-F, Barako Bull Energy. I say this is a good pick up. Barako Bull needs a small forward to plug that gaping hole left by Dylan Ababou, whom they traded. Although I know Johnson as an NBA-er who helped the Atlanta Hawks in his last productive year, it’s funny to think that the talent this guy wasted was better suited for helping the Bulls. Oh wait, there goes my Chicago bias. Anyway, DerMarr is a great fit for the Energy since Dorian Pena and Don Allado can still pretty much bring it to the young bigs. Finally, Willie Miller will have that scoring help he sorely lacked when Danny Seigle went out.
I have yet to see the finalists of the Philippine Cup, Talk N Text and Powerade, and the Air21 Express, play. So as of this writing, these are the imports I have seen play. This bodes well for another competitive run for the PBA.