NBA veteran, Bubba suit up for Ginebra

Four-year NBA veteran David Vaughn III, a former bruiser for Memphis in college ball, will team up with the returning James "Bubba" Wells as imports of Barangay Ginebra in the opening conference of the 2002 PBA season which kicks off Feb. 10.

Though likely to loan big men Eric Menk and EJ Feihl to the national team, the Ginebra Kings may well keep a formidable frontline with the 6-foot-9, 240-pound Vaughn to patrol the lane together with Jun Limpot, Banjo Calpito and Wilmer Ong.

Talk N Text likewise strengthened its frontcourt as the Piltel franchise matched the P13.3 million offer sheet Alaska Milk tendered on 6-foot-6 forward-center Mark Telan.

By matching the Alaska offer, Talk N Text will be obliged to pay Telan P335,000 a month this year, P375,000 next year and P400,000 in 2004.

Vaughn, 28, will be arriving from the United States today. He’s joining the Ginebra team with solid credentials, including an impressive three-year stint with Memphis in the US NCAA.

Son of David Vaughn, who played two years for the Virginia Squires in the American Basketball Association, David III averaged 14.2 points and 9.8 rebounds in 92 games for Memphis. He injured his ankle after only one game in his sophomore year in 1992 but was granted extra year of eligibility.

However, Vaughn opted to pass up his senior-year eligibility, applying in the NBA draft in 1995 when he was selected in the first round, 25th overall by the Orlando Magic.

Two other future PBA imports were drafted after Vaughn with Sherell Ford (Shell) selected 26th and Byron Houston (Pop Cola) chosen 27th by Chicago. They were selected ahead of former Utah starting slotman Greg Ostertag, Philadelphia’s Eric Snow and one-time CBA MVP awardee Jimmy King.

For the record, no other PBA import in the 90s was picked in the first round of the NBA draft.

After a two-year stint with the Magic, Vaughn figured in a trade deal involving Mark Price that sent him to the Golden State Warriors. In 1998, he was traded to Chicago for Jason Caffey. He made his last NBA appearance with the New Jersey Nets also in 1998.

Vaughn is fresh from a campaign in Greece before coming to the Philippines.

Ginebra is the only team so far to have enlisted two imports.

Earlier, Red Bull called in Nigerian players Julius Nwosu and Mohamad Acha. But team officials had sent home Acha.

Purefoods is still looking for a partner for Derrick Brown, San Miguel is shopping around for a player to pair with Lamont Strothers and Shell still scouting for a partner for Askia Jones.