Return of the comeback

For most foreigners, it’s the weather, the nightlife, the sinigang and adobo or simply, the Filipino hospitality — these make them come back to the Philippines. For four of the present PBA reinforcements, it’s all that, and Pinoy hoops!

Coca Cola’s Artemus McClary (of Mobiline fame) said we Filipinos have a great basketball tradition. "Everyone is well-spoken about the game," he added. And this, among other things, was what lured him to reappear in the PBA after a five-year absence.

Being the most senior among the crop at 29 (he turns 30 on December 28), you would think that Tee would slow down with age. But no! He is, in fact, giving the best performance among the balik-imports, steering the Tigers to three straight victories and being awarded the Best Player of the game in all. When head coach Chot Reyes was asked before their debut in this Reinforced Conference, if Tee was as good as we remembered, he said this 225-lbs import only got better. And not long after, the fans saw for themselves.

This former Jacksonville guard has added the missing weapon to his arsenal — a perimeter game. Known primarily for his inside incursions in the shaded lane, McClary has spent the last three years honing his skills in the Korean Basketball League (KBL), where he made it to the KBL first team and was named Import of the Year in 2001 as he led Samsung Thunders to the national championship. As the saying goes: When in Korea, play like the Koreans. Learning from perhaps the best long-range shooting country in the world, McClary’s jump shot has not only improved in form, but also in accuracy.

For the Shell Turbochargers, head coach Perry Ronquillo has always dreamed of having a legitimate center. He went and got the tallest player in last year’s draft, 6’9" Erick Canlas. The rookie, however, continues to be a "project" for the Turbochargers organization. Losing Benjie Paras was no help to their cause either. So Shell went for the next best thing this conference: a 6’5" rebounder who can score. In reacquiring Webber, the Turbochargers lessened the boards chores of rebounding machine Chris Jackson.

Sportscaster Noel Zarate filed this scouting report: Webber, a former star at the College of Charleston, is double-double material for Shell and does not hesitate to take command of a game when he needs to. Lately though, his small forward mentality has started to emerge as he has been more enamored with shooting from the outside rather than mixing it up inside. Jackson has been less of an offensive option. Eddie Laure, Tony de la Cruz and Dale Singson have blended with Webber so much so that Webber has just become "one of the guys" instead of the "go-to guy." Last year he showed the abilities to score, rebound and dish off. We have yet to see that again this year. Maybe some Labuyo in his diet will get the fire back in him.

Chris Carrawell of the Alaska Aces is the second of the three former Duke University alumni in this batch. He showed his excellent adapting skills last year when he led the Aces to a fourth-place finish, alongside Ajani Williams. He wrapped up his collegiate career as the second player in Duke history to have collected more than 1,000 points, 600 rebounds, 300 assists and 100 shotblocks. The first player to achieve this was NBA star Grant Hill. NBA scouts compared Carrawell to Atlanta Hawks forward Jim Jackson, praising his perimeter game, smarts and leadership skills.

Up until now, however, the Aces import has not shown the same drive he exhibited last year; nor the explosive abilities his credentials claim he possesses. Carrawell has not been a factor at all, as the Aces continue to toil in this conference (with a 0-3 card) after winning the Invitational Championship just a few weeks ago. The team is understandably tired. While the other ballclubs were able to rest after the first conference, the Aces continued the play straight through the qualifying for Invitationals and the conference itself. The longest break they had this year was Holy Week.

Carrawell, however, did not play in the PBA Invitationals and should not be mentally and physically drained like his teammates. Although it’s not fair to blame it all on his performance, the Aces could do a lot better if he took control of the game when he is needed most. As Zarate observed, "He’s more content to passing off to Don Allado and Ali Peek, forcing them to take a fade away rather than him attacking the basket."

During breaks, coach Tim Cone always reminds Carrawell that the team needs him. In the game against the Coca-Cola Tigers where the Aces got clobbered, and their starters got benched due to lack of intensity and effort, Cone singled out Carrawell in the huddle and told him, "I need you. I need you to get the boards. I need you to score."

Though they have proven themselves last conference, the fact remains that the Aces are the youngest PBA team on paper. And especially now that the whole team is tired and struggling to get this conference started, some veteran direction by example could benefit them a lot. Fans continue to hope that Carrawell could provide them that.

While Carrawell continued to show a lackluster performance in Dagupan last Saturday, Talk n Text Phone Pals’ Damien Cantrell scored another double-double with 30 points and 15 rebounds. We’ll get to know him and the others as we continue scoring the imports next week.

You may reach this writer at www.jannelleso.com, or through text. For Globe subscribers, key in <JANNELLE> send to 2978.