The Reinforced Conference has begun. Spotlight is on the imports tasked to propel their respective teams to the top, and provide the much-needed boost for the league. There is no room for mediocrity.
We remember names like Billy Ray Bates, the "Black Superman" who led Crispa to back-to-back titles in 1983. Michael Hackett, who owns the second all-time best scoring record in the PBA, making an unbelievable 103 points for Ginebra to beat Great Taste (197-168) on November 2, 1985. He also grabbed 45 boards in the same game. Bobby Parks, 7-time Best Import awardee. Norman Black, known then as Mr. 100%, and eventually made a name for himself in coaching. Currently, he is also analyst for the NBN coverage of the PBA. Sean "The Man" Chambers was responsible for seven Alaska titles in the 90’s.
They are accomplished imports who earned, not only many titles in this side of town; but more importantly, the respect of colleagues and the veneration and loyalty of the discriminating Pinoy fans. They were perennial crowd-drawers who undoubtedly contributed to the league’s popularity and growth.
Now, more than ever, the PBA needs another hero or new heroes who could help bring back the public’s lust for the game. Who among this batch can rise up to the occasion? We encounter familiar names — Artemus McClary, Shea Seals, Chris Carawell and Cedric Webber and wonder if these balik-imports are as good as they were? And then of course, there are newbies who came with the promise to conquer Pinoy hoopdom — Terrence Shannon, Ricky Price, Damian Cantrell, Nate James, Ramel Lloyd and Harold Arceneaux.
After a week of tests, all-around sportscaster, Noel Zarate, (He’s done coverage as anchor and analyst for all televised leagues such as the PBA, the now-defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association, Philippine Basketball League, National Basketball League, and the National Colleges Athletic Association since he started in 1994. He is currently with the radio panel for the PBA and also alternates as barker for live games.) writes The Score:
Red Bull Barako’s Ramel Lloyd had the best opening game of all. Working with the advantage of being highly unregarded and very unscouted, this former Long Beach State 49er bombarded FedEx with 43 markers–which included six treys from either Kennon Road or corner shots that scared the daylights out of the lizards inhabiting the backboard–en route to a 100-92 thrashing of the Express. Lloyd was a former Syracuse recruit who went westward after his freshman year. His moniker, "The Rock," was given to him by his very own mother, Pamela Hutchinson at his birth after coming into this world weighing 10 pounds. Lloyd arrived here on a recommendation from former PBA import Glen McDonald, who coaches the girls’ team at Long Beach State. Analysts say giving him a two-foot gap between the defense is like giving him a sure basket. I just think he’s a giant Willie Miller.
Sta. Lucia’s Nate James is one of three Duke University alumni in this year’s edition. The Realtors’ tradition of acquiring an import with a deft touch from the outside i.e. Sean Green and Ansu Sesay, continues with this rifleman from Detroit. Nathaniel Drake James finished 36th on the all-time scoring list for the Blue Devils. He holds the rare record of being the only player in the history of his division, the ACC, to be part of five straight regular season titles. A former teammate of Lloyd at the Fayetteville Patriots in the NBDL, James has participated in numerous NBA summer camps but wound up playing in The Netherlands before suiting up for the Realtors. James netted 31 points in his impressive first sortie in giving Sta. Lucia the win over newly crowned Invitationals champs, Alaska. It’s ironic that analysts in the US gave him a mere passing grade for his outside shooting abilities, which actually made the difference in the victory over the Aces. I just think he’s Michael Finley in disguise.
Other imports, or their replacements, will be scored next week.
You may reach this writer at www.jannelleso.com, or through text. For Globe subscribers, key in <JANNELLE> send to 2978.