Fil-Am ahead of Wang - SPORTING CHANCE by Joaquin M. Henson

Chinese star Wang Zhizhi is being hailed as the first Asian to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA) but not too many fans know that a Fil-Am beat him to a job in the majors.

Raymond Marella Townsend played for the Golden State Warriors and Indiana Pacers in three NBA seasons. He was the Warriors’ first pick in the 1978 draft. The 6-3, 175-pound guard from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) averaged 14.7 points as a Bruins senior in 1977-78.

After two seasons at Golden State, Townsend was picked by Dallas in the 1980 expansion draft. He never saw action for the Mavericks and drifted to the Pacers in 1981-82. Curiously, Wang now wears the Dallas colors.

In his NBA career, Townsend averaged 4.8 points. His single-game highs included 24 points, six assists and four rebounds. Townsend also played in two Continental Basketball Association (CBA) campaigns, hitting at a 24.5 clip in 1980-81 and 26.7 the next season.

Townsend took his sneakers to Italy after offers to play in the US dried up. In 1984-85, he took Italy by storm, averaging 20.9 points for Banca Di Roma. He shot 58.6 percent from the field and 86.4 percent from the line to underscore his remarkable marksmanship.

At UCLA, Townsend learned the ropes from coaches John Wooden, Gene Bartow, and Garry Cunningham. Among his celebrated varsity teammates were Jamaal Wilkes, Marques Johnson, Richard Washington, David Greenwood, Andre McCarter, Dave Meyers, Kiki Vandeweghe, and former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) import Darrel Allums.

The Bruins advanced to the NCAA Tournament in the four years that Townsend played for UCLA. Twice, the varsity went to the Final Four, capturing the NCAA title in 1975 and placing third the next season.

In what was probably Townsend’s most memorable performance as a Bruin, he knocked in 8-of-12 from the floor and 6-of-6 from the line to finish with 22 points in a 40-minute, no-relief job in UCLA’s 83-76 decision over Kansas in the 1978 NCAA Tournament.

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In 1980, Townsend came to Manila with an assortment of NBA and collegiate stars to play in a series of exhibitions. He was accompanied by his father Raymond Sr., mother Virginia Marella of Balayan, Batangas, younger brother Kurtis, and three sisters. The Townsend All-Stars performed in a series called the Fil-American Friendship Hoopla in Manila, Olongapo and Cebu. His teammates included Wilkes, Cliff Ray, and Derrick Dickey — all NBA veterans.

In 1993, Townsend returned to Manila, begging to play in the PBA as a local. He was then 37. There were no takers. He hasn’t been heard of since. His brother Kurtis became a successful collegiate coach after graduating at Western Kentucky in 1994. Kurtis, who played briefly in the CBA, is now an assistant coach at the University of Michigan.

In April 1999, burly Chinese center Batere Menk played eight games at the Phoenix Desert Classic to hone his skills. He was brought to the US by agent Bill Duffy. Another Chinese behemoth Yao Ming trained at Nike camps in the US that year.

Two seasons back, two Koreans — Hee Seung Yang and Hun Keum Park — suited up for the Connecticut Skyhawks and Japanese forward Osamu Abe played for the New Hampshire Thunder Loons in the United States Basketball League (USBL). In the American Basketball Association (ABA) this year, Japanese guard Makoto Hasegawa is in the San Diego WildFire roster. Asi Taulava, who claims to be a Fil-Tongan, was in the San Diego lineup until he was cut after 22 games.

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The first NBA player with Asian roots was 5-7 Wat Misaka who played three games for the New York Knicks in 1947-48. A Jap-Am who played several years in the NBA was Rex Walters of Kansas.

The next Fil-Am tipped to break into the majors is 6-7 Jason Kapono who averaged 16 points as a UCLA freshman two seasons back. He applied for the NBA draft after his first year at UCLA then decided to return to the Bruins camp. Another Fil-Am highly regarded in NCAA circles is guard Denver Lopez who redshirted at Fullerton State last season.

When will a PBA player ever make it to the NBA? Charlotte scout Joe Betancourt once eyed Johnny Abarrientos for a 10-day contract but couldn’t convince the Hornets coaching staff to take a chance on the 5-7 point guard.

What about Danny Seigle or Erick Menk? They’re NBA material for sure. The funny thing is Menk can’t even play in the PBA.