PBA back in business

It’s a brand new conference in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and picking up from the huge success of the Samsung Governors Cup Finals, league officials are confident of riding the momentum to a peak.

There’s reason to be high on the Samsung Commissioner’s Cup which opens with a Father’s Day doubleheader at the Big Dome today.

First, the national team is playing as a unit. Fans are wondering how much coach Joseph Uichico and his boys learned from their recent Italian campaign. Unlike in the First Conference where Uichico rotated 27 players split into two squads, the lineup is down to a fighting 15. There will still be some experimentation, particularly as Uichico tries out which combinations click and which don’t.

But the indication is the team is out to win using the international style that was the norm in Italy and will be the norm in Busan. That means a low priority in doubling the post – regardless of how big the opposing imports are, an accent on passing and screening, pushing the ball at every opportunity, subbing continuously to keep fresh legs on the floor, dizzying movement on both ends and a stress on the basics.

It’s not sure if Andy Seigle and Danny Ildefonso will be cleared to play when the team makes its debut against Ginebra San Miguel at the Ynares Center in Antipolo this Friday. What’s certain is during the conference, they will be. Noy Castillo, too.

Second, the import format makes for intriguing competition. The combined height limit is 13 feet and six inches. So, theoretically, a team could enlist two imports standing 6-9 each or a 7-footer combining with a 6-6er. Too bad FedEx had to send home 7-3 Priest Lauderdale, who played for Atlanta and Denver in the National Basketball Association (NBA). His teammate Jermaine Walker was measured at 6-4 3/8 so their total height shot up to 13 feet and 7 3/8 inches. If both Lauderdale and Walker were only an inch shorter apiece, Dr. Ben Salud would’ve given the green light for them to suit up together.

Third, the players released from the national pool are back with their mother clubs and they’re itching for payback. Did they deserve to be cut? Are they smarting from the snob? Marlou Aquino, for instance, is expected to shake things up at Sta. Lucia Realty. So with DaVonn Harp at Red Bull. Other returnees from Uichico’s boot camp are Poch Juinio, Rafi Reavis, Patrick Fran, RenRen Ritualo, Chris Calaguio, Don Camaso, Ali Peek (when he’s recovered from his injury) and Johnny Abarrientos.

Fourth, player trades are delivering a message that nobody’s job is secure. If you don’t put out, you might just get shipped out. So players are more determined than ever to prove their worth. Jherome Ejercito is now playing beautiful music at Sta. Lucia. Felix Belano has joined Talk ‘N Text’s backcourt. Rob Duat and E. J. Feihl are Alaska’s latest recruits. Bryan Gahol has moved to San Miguel Beer. James Wallkvist finds himself in the thick of things with Mark (The Spark) Caguiao, Jun Limpot, Bal David, Vergel Meneses, and Ronald Magtulis at Ginebra. Are there more trades in the offing? Bet on it?

Fifth, the import cast is star-studded. Seven are NBA veterans–Ginebra’s Ben Davis, FedEx’ Art Long, Red Bull’s Tony Lang and Julius Nwosu, Shell’s Askia Jones, Sta. Lucia’s Stephen Howard, and Talk ‘N Text’s Jerald Honeycutt. There are 10 newcomers, excluding Shell’s Sedric Webber who played only a game in the Governors Cup – Davis, Coca-Cola’s Bryant Basemore, Long, Purefoods’ Gabe Muoneke, San Miguel Beer’s Jermaine Tate and Damon Flint, Sta. Lucia’s Willie Farley, Talk ‘N Text’s Danny Johnson, and Alaska’s Ajani Williams and Chris Carrawell.

Davis, 29, played for Phoenix and New York in the NBA. The 6-7, 240-pound power player sat on the Knicks bench during the 1998-99 Finals.

Basemore, 32, played for Fort Hays State, the school that produced former PBA import Ronnie Thompkins. The 6-6 veteran has suited up in Belgium, Venezuela, the United States Basketball League (USBL), and the International Basketball Association (IBA) where in the 2000 playoffs, he hit 40 points to lift the Magic City Snowbears to a 98-95 win over the Dakota Wizards whose star, ex-Ginebra import Brian Green, shot 32.

Long, 28, played for the Sacramento Kings two seasons back. He’s from the University of Cincinnati which also produced San Miguel imports Tate and Flint. A teammate at Cincinnati was New Jersey Nets forward Kenyon Martin.

Muoneke, whose parents are Nigerian, played for the visiting Champions for Christ squad a few weeks ago and decided to stay. The 250-pound bruiser has a roughhouser’s reputation. At the University of Texas, Muoneke was even suspended by his own coach Rick Barnes for punching Kansas’ T. J. Pugh twice – it was vividly captured on the TV monitor–during a game. Muoneke, whose real name Nnadubem means "God guide me," was also accused of punching Purdue’s Brian Cardinal, knocking down football player Earl Campbell at a Midnight Madness scrimmage, and figuring in fisticuffs in a game against Wisconsin. The word is Muoneke has received counseling for his anger outbursts and is now a reformed, born-again Christian.

Farley, 26, is from Chicago’s Farragut Academy, the high school that produced Kevin Garnett and former Tanduay import Ronnie Fields. He led the Adelaide 36ers to the Aussie title and emerged the league’s No. 2 scorer at 24.9 points a game last season.

Johnson was the International Basketball League (IBL) Rookie of the Year in 1999-2000. He hit at a 20.7 clip for the St. Louis Swarm which took back-to-back IBL titles under his stewardship. The 6-1 3/4 guard is the shortest import in town. Talk ‘N Text coach Bill Bayno will use Johnson and Honeycutt in tandem to spark the Phone Pals’ outside-inside attack.

Williams, a 6-8 Jamaican, polished his skills at the National Basketball Development League (NBDL) this past season like Muoneke and Tate. Carrawell comes from Duke University whose products include Lang, Grant Hill, and Chip Engelland. He also played in the NBDL. As a Duke senior, he averaged 16.9 points and was named Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year. Carrawell was the San Antonio Spurs second round pick in the 2000 NBA draft.

Finally, the PBA is bringing back the international rules which are more dynamic and exciting than the boring isolations in the "old" pro game. To everyone’s relief, there will be no illegal defense violation. Any kind of defense may be used. The three-point line is only 20 1/2 feet from the rim. Five fouls and you’re done. Each quarter is up to 10 minutes and you cross the timeline in eight seconds.

So hold on to your seats for another thrilling extravaganza of hoops in Asia’s first play-for-pay league.