More import changes?

Who are coming and who are going?

There’s no security of tenure among imports in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). An import is only as good as in his last game. He’s the convenient scapegoat when his team loses. If things aren’t working out, the import bears the brunt of the blame regardless of how the locals are performing.

That’s the way the cookie crumbles. The import’s the most vulnerable piece in the puzzle.

But if an import succeeds in taking his team to the next level, he’s hailed as the messiah and the rewards are generous.

So an import’s life is far from being a bed of roses. He’s constantly under pressure to deliver. His every move, on and off the court, is under close scrutiny.

From the grapevine, I hear a celebrated import is losing focus because of a girl he just met. She’s quite a looker, I’m told, and she comes from a good family living in an exclusive subdivision in the south of Manila.

This import is also beginning to make unreasonable demands from team management. If he’s not careful, he might find himself on a flight out of here in a jiffy–no matter how impressive his numbers are.

Another import is making a name for himself as a rugged rebounder and tenacious defender. But alas, he has little offense to speak of. Because he doesn’t invite double teams at the post, the defense is steady on his teammates. Is he on the way out, too?

What about this import who’s such a nice guy but unfortunately, isn’t talented enough to bring a championship to his team? But which is the better option–an import with limited skills and a positive attitude or an import with unlimited skills and a negative attitude?

Then, word has it that a veteran import is returning to try to lead his former team to the Promised Land. He’s finishing his contract in Lebanon. As soon as he’s cleared to leave, the burly National Basketball Association center is flying in or so a source claims.

Other import prospects are waiting in the wings, ready to take over jobs when the opportunity arises.

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New Zealand’s most popular cager Pero Cameron, 30, is finishing a degree in exercise science at Waikato University where he initially enrolled 10 years ago. The 6-7 power forward is determined to complete his education, something most pro athletes at his age don’t even dare to consider.

Cameron plays for the Waikato Titans in New Zealand’s basketball league. He suited up for the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian circuit last season. A two-time Olympian, Cameron was named to the Mythical First Team at the 2002 World Championships in Indianapolis where New Zealand reached the semifinals.

Cameron’s first sport was rugby but he was influenced to focus on hoops by his mother Mata, a Northland Suns assistant coach in 1996. Cameron was New Zealand’s Rookie of the Year in 1992 and has led his team to four league championships. He also played four seasons for the Chester Jets in the English league.

The 10 New Zealand first division clubs are the Titans, Otago Nuggets, Auckland Stars, Hawkes Bay Hawks, Poedium Harbour Heat, Nelson Giants, Canterbury Rams, Wellington Saints, Manawatu Jets and Taranaki Mountain Airs.

Among the imports in the Kiwi league are Ryan Prillman of Eastern Michigan, Casey Frank of Northern Arizona, Matt Lotich of Stanford, Russell Hinder of Augusta State and Mike Coleman of East New Mexico.

Former import and now naturalized citizen Terrence Lewis of Washington State has played in New Zealand since 1993 and averaged 24.5 points in 204 games. He is the ninth cager to surpass 5,000 points in the New Zealand league. New Zealand’s all-time leading scorer is Kenny McFadden with 8,828 points.

Several New Zealand cagers are playing in leagues overseas. Sean Marks is in the San Antonio Spurs lineup in the NBA. Kirk Penney of Wisconsin is with the Asheville Altitude of the NBDL. Mark Dickel of UNLV is in Turkey as is national coach Tab Baldwin who recently took his Banvitspor club to the European semifinals.

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