Just another McClary?

With original import Artemus (Tee) McClary gone for supposedly "personal" reasons, Alaska found a replacement who’s a carbon copy of the former University of Texas at El Paso guard in terms of playing style.

Odell Bradley has stepped into McClary’s shoes and while there’s no question he’s talented, the jury is still out on whether he can take the Aces all the way to the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Fiesta Conference championship.

McClary clearly outlived his usefulness at Alaska and in his last five games, seemed to have lost his desire to win. It was no accident that the Aces lost those five outings by an average margin of 12.6 points.

Was McClary injured? Did he receive an offer he couldn’t refuse to return to Korea–where he has a huge fan base and played listlessly to force his termination? Had he gotten too predictable and defenders found it increasingly easy to stop him? At 32, was McClary too old to keep in step with young thoroughbreds like Marquin Chandler and Quemont Greer?

Whatever the reason, McClary was no longer welcome at Alaska. The Aces needed a change to break the losing spell.

La Salle’s Victor Thomas was initially tapped to replace McClary but alas, measured a fraction of an inch over the 6-6 limit. As a result, Alaska played importless in a game against Sta. Lucia Realty yet managed to score an 87-82 win.

Finally in came Bradley. Like Greer and Chandler, Bradley is young and hungry. He played two years at IUPUI (Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis), an NCAA Division I school, and wound up his varsity eligibility in 2003-04. Before landing here, Bradley saw action for the Hunter Pirates in Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL).

Bradley averaged 9.5 points and 3.8 rebounds for the Pirates. He was cut after a few games because the Pirates needed a dominant big man, not a small import pretending to play big. Bradley is just as tall as McClary, about 6-2, and as wide. In the NBL, he tried to play power forward but just couldn’t cut it.

At IUPUI, Bradley gained a reputation as a scorer. As a junior in 2002-03, he averaged 14.7 points and 4.9 rebounds to lead the Jaguars to a 20-14 record. The next season, he averaged 23.1 points and 8.5 rebounds as the varsity finished at 21-11. Bradley became IUPUI’s first-ever Mid-Continent Conference Player of the Year. He shot 41 points in each of two overtime games against Oral Roberts University.

Playing with a perpetual scowl in his face, Bradley almost singlehandedly towed Alaska to victory over Barangay Ginebra in a Christmas Day showdown at the Cuneta Astrodome.

His forehead crumpled into multiple crinkles, Bradley was held to six points in the first half then promised broadcaster Richard del Rosario he would try to be more aggressive in the final half. Bradley kept his word. He erupted for 21 points in the third period and finished with 34. Alaska, however, failed to capitalize on his heroics and Ginebra won, 96-89.

Bradley showed exceptional range on his jumper during the Ginebra contest. Kings coach Siot Tanquingcen sent an army of defenders to stop Bradley in the third period but he just wouldn’t be denied. Not even a hand on his face could shatter his focus. Bradley buried five triples in an unconscious display of radar marksmanship.

But the question remains–can Bradley lead Alaska to the championship?

Bradley, 24, takes minutes away from Tony de la Cruz at the two and three spots. He’s not a power player and because he doesn’t post up, he won’t invite the double at the low block.

Alaska coach Tim Cone’s system is entrenched on the triangle offense which, in turn, is anchored on movement, cuts, screens, penetrations and freeing up space for an open shot. When Michael Jordan played for the Chicago Bulls, coach Phil Jackson didn’t need a dominant big man for the opposing team to double at the post. Jackson used the triangle system and the Bulls turned it into an art form with Jordan the key figure in the five-man play.

Theoretically, Bradley should fit into Cone’s system. The problem is his size. Bradley can be defended by a local and won’t be doubled if he just plays around the perimeter. His presence also keeps reliables like De la Cruz and Brandon Cablay on the bench for extended minutes.

Perhaps, the solution is to find an import who plays three or four and maybe, a bit of five. That way, Cone can play Mike Cortez at point guard, Cablay or Jeffrey Cariaso at the two spot, De la Cruz at three, the import at four with Reynel Hugnatan as reliever and Don Allado or Sonny Thoss at five. The reality is it’s not easy to find a player of that mold.

Alaska doesn’t need another import like McClary. Bradley is as tough as nail but as he showed in the Ginebra game, he won’t be able to bail out Alaska from the two or three spot.