Webber flying in today

It’s confirmed. Webber’s planing in late this morning on an Asiana Airlines flight from Los Angeles to play for Shell in its last Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Samsung Governors Cup game against Sta. Lucia Realty on Sunday.

Not Chris but Sedric. Chris is busy priming up for the National Basketball Association (NBA) playoffs. His team, the Sacramento Kings, is assured of the homecourt advantage throughout the postseason and Webber—Chris, not Sedric —hopes to go all the way. The two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, however, aren’t likely to give up their throne without a fight.

The Webber who’s coming just finished playing for the North Charleston Lowgators who lost in the inaugural finals of the National Basketball Development League (NBDL) last week. The Greenville Groove swept the Lowgators in the best-of-3 title series.

The NBDL is the NBA’s official farm league. Several ex-PBA imports saw action in the NBDL this past season—among them, league-leading scorer Isaac Fontaine, Tremaine Fowlkes (who was called up to play for the Los Angeles Clippers), John Strickland, Billy Thomas, Ansu Sesay (the NBDL’s MVP now playing for the Seattle SuperSonics), Nate Johnson, Ray Tutt, and Johnny Taylor.

Webber—Sedric, not Chris—averaged 13.4 points and 4.8 rebounds in 55 games, including 39 starts, for North Charleston. He shot 46.5 percent from the field and 75 percent from the line.

Shell coach Perry Ronquillo told The STAR yesterday his assistants Joey Guanio and Jig Mendoza flew to North Charleston last month to talk to Webber and Lowgators coach Alex English, the Hall of Famer who was once the International Basketball Association (IBA) Commissioner. The IBA merged with the International Basketball League (IBL) to revive the bankrupt Continental Basketball Association (CBA) this season.

Ronquillo said the scouting trip was an eye-opener. "Joey and Jig saw how competitive the NBDL is," noted Ronquillo. "NBA scouts watch all the games so the players go all out every night. The defense is fantastic. That’s why the scoring averages are hardly in the 20s. The quality of play is a lot better in the NBDL than in the CBA and the other minor leagues."

Guanio and Mendoza spent two weeks barnstorming the US to watch NBDL players in action. Ronquillo said Shell team manager Bobby Villarosa plans to invite English here to conduct clinics in the future. English, 48, averaged 21.5 points in 15 NBA seasons, once led the league in scoring, and is considered one of the best pure shooters of all time. He’s the first NBA player to score at least 2,000 points in eight straight seasons.

Ronquillo said Guanio and Mendoza watched Webber play in the flesh and on tape. They liked what they saw. They also found out his girlfriend is Filipina.

Webber is a 6-6, 185-pound forward. He played four years for the College of Charleston in South Carolina under coach John Kresse. During his varsity stint, Charleston posted an incredible overall record of 106-16. Writer Geof Cabe said Webber plays best in the open court and when slashing to the basket. "He has great leaping ability and works hard at the defensive end of the floor," added Cabe.

As a Charleston freshman in 1995-96, Webber started in 11 of 29 games, averaging 6.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 16.3 minutes. He shot 51 percent from the floor and 61.2 percent from the stripe. The next season, he hit at a 6.8 clip and grabbed 4.2 rebounds in 32 games, including a single start. The varsity posted a 29-3 mark and beat Maryland, 75-61, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. A teammate was ex-PBA import Thaddeous Delaney.

In 1997-98, Webber improved his scoring norm to 15.1 and hauled down 7.9 rebounds a game. He was the Trans Atlantic Athletic Conference Co-Player of the Year and tournament MVP. Webber led Charleston in scoring, rebounding, steals, and blocked shots. He shot 51 percent from the floor and 69.7 percent from the line. Critics marveled at Webber’s ability to play inside and outside. As a senior the next season, he averaged 13.8 points and 7.2 rebounds.

Ronquillo said the Second Conference import format will be decided at a PBA manager’s meeting tomorrow. In a two-import format, Ronquillo said he’ll suit up Askia Jones and Webber. In a one-import format, the choice will probably be Webber who’s taller than Jones.