All about imports

With a week to go before the start of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Samsung Governors Cup, four more imports are booked to arrive today – Rodrick Rhodes for FedEx, Lamont Strothers for San Miguel Beer, Jarrod Gee for Barangay Ginebra, and Monte O’Quinn for Shell.

Jermaine Walker is scheduled to fly in Tuesday for FedEx to complete the foreign cast.

The two-import format is back with a vengeance after the 1998 Governors Cup where the combined ceiling was set at a maximum of 12 feet and 10 inches with an individual limit of 6-8. This time, the combined limit is 13 feet with no individual ceiling. Prior to 1998, the PBA hadn’t used the two-import format in eight years.

Two National Basketball Association (NBA) first round draft picks are in this year’s rosters – Rhodes and Sta. Lucia Realty’s Johnny Taylor. Rhodes was the Houston Rockets first round choice in 1997 while Taylor was the Orlando Magic’s pick the same year. It’s the first time that two first round picks are playing in the same season since Sherell Ford suited up for Pop Cola and Kenny Payne for Ginebra San Miguel in 1998.

There’s a white import in the group – Talk ’N Text’s Richie Frahm of Gonzaga University, the same NCAA Division I school that produced Utah Jazz guard John Stockton and legendary crooner Bing Crosby. Frahm hit over 40 percent from three-point range in his last three years at Gonzaga. As a sophomore in 1997-98, the 6-4 sharpshooter shot 44.5 percent from beyond the arc and 82.9 percent from the stripe. One thing defenders should keep in mind, don’t foul Frahm in the act of shooting.

Frahm will be the 20th white import to play here since Notre Dame’s Pete Crotty saw action for Crispa, Colorado’s Ron Wrigley for CFC Presto, Loyola’s Steve Smith for Royal Tru-Orange, and Colorado’s Lee Haven for U-Tex in 1975. The last three white PBA imports were Ginebra’s Ryan Fletcher (2000-01), Red Bull’s Jack Hartman (2000), and Purefoods’ David Wood (2001).

The most colorful import tandem is Purefoods’ Brown and White combination. The Hot Dogs are parading Derrick (Flight) Brown of Providence and Leonard White of Southern University. Brown is back in a Purefoods uniform for the fourth straight year. White, 30, was the Los Angeles Clippers second round pick in the 1993 NBA draft. The 6-6, 220-pound forward averaged 19.2 points and 9.6 rebounds for San Diego in the Continental league in 1995-96. If Norman Black coached Purefoods, imagine the color mix of Black, Brown and White.

The most glamorous pair is Ginebra’s Bubba Wells and Jarrod Gee. Why? Because if you combine Well’s first name and Jarrod’s surname, you’ll come up with Bubba Gee. Of course, you remember Viveka Babajee, the former Miss Mauritius who figured in the Ruffa Gutierrez "Take it, take it" scandal at the Manila Film Festival awards in 1994. Babajee is one of India’s most fashionable models today and looks as stunning as ever.

The oldest twosome is San Miguel Beer’s Strothers, 33, and Keith Hill, 31. But age seems to be an advantage, not a handicap, for the pair. Their experience will go a long way in the First Conference – at least that’s what San Miguel assistant coaches Siot Tanquingcen and Art de la Cruz hope. Other imports who are 30 or over are Shell’s Askia Jones, Purefoods’ White, and Red Bull’s Julius Nwosu.

An import to watch is Red Bull’s 6-4, 220-pound Joe Bunn who was described by US collegiate scouts as a relentless board worker. As a freshman at North Carolina A&T in the 1993-94 NCAA playoffs, Bunn compiled 20 points and 12 rebounds in the Aggies varsity’s 94-79 loss to eventual champion Arkansas. Two seasons later, he averaged 16.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 26.5 minutes as a sixth man for Old Dominion University and was named to the Colonial Athletic Association mythical first team. Bunn also shot 54.9 percent from the field and 76.3 percent from the line for the Monarchs.

Shell coach Perry Ronquillo saw Bunn in action a few days ago when Red Bull beat the Turbochargers in an exhibition game and gushed. "He’s a strong 6-4 and a natural post player," noted Ronquillo. "He’s a bit awkward in getting his shot off like (ex-Ginebra import) Dennis Edwards but he gets the job done. He’s active under the boards and he likes to play with his back to the basket."

An interesting matchup is Rhodes versus Gee. They squared off in the first round of the 1996-97 NCAA playoffs where Gee led No. 6 University of Illinois to a 90-77 win over Rhodes’ No. 11 University of Southern California. Despite the loss, Rhodes emerged a star from the game as he collected 19 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists in a courageous effort.

Of the Governors Cup’s 20 imports, only seven played in the NBA – Taylor, Wells, Jones, Strothers, Nwosu, Talk ’N Text’s Jerald Honeycutt, and Rhodes.