Sporting Chance

While the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) untangles the legal mess that has delayed the start of the All-Filipino Cup Finals, coaches are burning the wires to check out available imports for the Second Conference starting June 23.

The hunt for imports is no joke. It's not easy finding a crack 6-8 player who's willing to forego a National Basketball Association (NBA) tryout for a PBA contract in the summer.

Mobiline alternate governor Debbie Tan said she once proposed to swap height limits in the Second and Third Conference because from June to August, the top 6-8 players are in NBA camps or seeing action in NBA-scouted summer leagues.

There's a lot more quality 6-4s than 6-8s so the pool of 6-4 talent is much larger in the summer because the 6-8 bluechips are looking at other options, explained Tan.

For instance, former Mobiline import Silas Mills will play in Boston, Golden State and San Antonio camps this summer so the PBA's not in his agenda, pointed out Tan. Mills led Yakima to the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) title last March and was named the playoffs MVP.

Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao and assistant team manager Andy Jao spent weeks in the US microscoping players in the United States Basketball League (USBL) and International Basketball League (IBL). They brought back former Washington Bullets forward Jeff Webster who signed a one-month guaranteed deal.

Webster, 29, averaged 23.7 points and 7.8 rebounds as a University of Oklahoma senior. The 6-8, 230-pound native of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, was the Miami Heat's second round pick in 1994. A major asset is his experience. Webster's campaigned in Australia, Japan, and Greece so he knows what the international game is all about.

Mobiline coach Louie Alas and team manager Frankie Lim toured the West and East Coasts to look at who's available. Alas returned yesterday. Lim is coming back probably Wednesday. There's no word on whom the Phone Pals will bring in but they're hot on either Jerald Honeycutt of Tulane or ex-Boston Celtic Junior Burrough of Virgina.

Honeycutt, 25, has suited up for Milwaukee and Philadelphia in the NBA. He was the Bucks second round pick in 1997. This past season, Honeycutt hit at an 18.6 clip for the Idaho Stampede in the CBA. Burrough, 27, shot 15.3 points for coach Ralph Sampson's Richmond Rhythm in the IBL which finished its inaugural campaign last Tuesday.

Sta. Lucia coach Norman Black left, too, to pick out his import. The talk is his first option is former Pop Cola import Tremaine Fowlkes of Fresno State. But if Fowlkes makes good his threat of attending an NBA camp, Black might settle for either J. R. Henderson of UCLA or Rodney Elliott of Maryland. Henderson was the Vancouver Grizzlies second round pick in 1998.

Pop Cola's choice is veteran forward Joe Courtney who has played for Chicago, Golden State, Phoenix, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Philadelphia and Sacramento in the NBA. He's expected to plane in next week. In case Courtney doesn't work out, the 800s' backup is Marcus Liberty who played three games for Pop Cola two years ago.

Shell is returning tried and tested John Best who led the Oilers to the Third Conference crown in 1998. Coach Perry Ronquillo isn't taking any chances after Shell missed the semis in the All-Filipino. Best will be out to show that he's still the Best of the best.

Tanduay isn't thinking of the Commissioner's Cup at the moment. The Gold Rhum Masters are still trying to wiggle out of the black hole they created in taking legal action to fight a PBA ruling on the Sonny Alvarado forfeiture case. But an insider intimated that coach Alfrancis Chua will likely rehire Ira (Superman) Clark who's raring to come back.

Alaska is too focused on the All-Filipino Finals to think of an import. Team manager Joaqui Trillo is lining up candidates and he's spread the word that Alaska is still undecided. Devin Davis is a leading choice but may pass up the chance for another stint here to try his luck in an NBA camp.

Purefoods is returning Nigerian Julius Nwosu although he failed to take the Tender Juicy Hot Dogs to the semis last season. At least, the adjustment period for jelling won't be long. Coach Derick Pumaren knows what Nwosu can do and what he can't do. For the Hot Dogs, chemistry is a priority.

San Miguel Beer has first crack on former DePaul University star Stephen Howard. Terquin Mott, who powered the Beermen to the Second Conference title last year, is testing the NBA waters and may not be back here. Howard is married to a Filipina Javin Mendigorin, a commercial model, and if he comes, she will, too. Javin's mother Jessica was a Sampaguita movie starlet and a TV teen dancer in the 60s.

On the Barangay Ginebra front, the word is mum. San Francisco-based agent Bobby Rius said according to the grapevine, Ginebra is considering Marques Bragg who has played for Alaska and Sunkist. Bragg, built like a tank, should strengthen Ginebra where it's weakest -- inside the paint. He's a ferocious rebounder and an intimidating presence under the boards.

Now, the question is: Will the Second Conference start as scheduled?