Reyes in Florida to check import

MANILA, Philippines - Fresh from leading Talk ‘N’ Text to the PBA Philippine Cup crown last week, coach Chot Reyes is now in Florida to check out import candidate Tiras Jammal Wade.

“No time to rest,” said Reyes before leaving for the US last Sunday. “I’ll personally supervise Wade’s workouts and make sure he’ll make the height and he’s free of any injury.” The height limit for imports in the Fiesta Conference, opening Feb. 28, is 6-6.

If Wade passes the test, he’ll be on the same flight with Reyes to Manila tomorrow.

Reyes said the Texters resume practice on Feb. 23.

“There will be lots of time to rest after the second conference,” he added. “At the moment, no time for a trip (with the team). Also, there are no plans to tinker with our lineup except to add an import.”

Wade, 27, was known as a tireless workhorse and a big-time scorer during his college days at East Tennessee State and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. While listed at 6-7, he’s expected to slip inside the 6-6 bar as height measurements are usually exaggerated by scouts because recruiters put a premium on size.

Wade began his varsity career at East Tennessee State, averaging 11.8 points as a freshman in 2001-02 but after starting 18 games with a 16.3 scoring clip the next season, he was suspended indefinitely by coach Ed DeChellis. No reason was disclosed for the ban but DeChellis suggested anger management counselling for Wade.

From East Tennessee State, Wade moved to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette whose coach Robert Lee welcomed him with open arms. Wade was determined to bounce back with a vengeance and spent countless hours in the gym to sharpen his game.

“You really had to just kick him out of the gym,” recalled Lee, quoted by Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook.

When Wade gained eligibility to play for Lee in 2004-05, he was unstoppable. As a starter, he averaged 20.3 points and 6.1 rebounds in 31 games. Wade shot .464 from the field, .389 from three-point distance and .823 from the line to clinch Sun Belt Conference MVP honors.

Lee marvelled at Wade’s turnaround and said, “he made big shots all year.”

From the NCAA, Wade played for the Miami Heat in the Southern California Summer Pro League in 2005 then saw action in Italy, France, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico, Spain and Argentina. Wade had two tours of duty in Italy, averaging 17.3 points for Curtiriso Casale Monferrato in 2005-06 and 19.2 points for Ignis Castelletto Ticino in 2006-07. The hotshot from Tampa is coming off a stint with Pioneros de Quintana Roo-Cancun in the Mexican league where he hit at a 20.1 norm and shot .521 from the three-point arc and .851 from the stripe.

If Wade makes the grade, he’ll be one of five new imports to play in the Fiesta Conference. The others are Sta. Lucia Realty’s A. J. Jackson of Robert Morris University, Purefoods’ Reggie Larry of Boise State, Barako Bull’s Cornelius (Scooter) McFadgon of the University of Tennessee and San Miguel Beer’s Nate Carter of the University of Oklahoma.

Carter, 25, is expected to arrive from the US tomorrow. He just ended a contract with Saint-Etienne in the French league. Carter previously played as an import in Israel where he averaged 19 points and 10 rebounds in 23 games for Givat Shmuel.

Carter, described by Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel as his “most intense player, one of our hardest workers (and) very committed and very determined,” averaged 11.6 points in 31 games for the Sooners varsity as a senior in 2006-07. He shot .484 from the field, .357 from three-point range and .865 from the line.

Alaska is hoping to return Rosell Ellis who led the Aces to the 2007 Fiesta Conference crown. But Ellis, who turns 34 on Thursday, has a contract to play for Townsville in the Australian league until 2010. If it’s a non-exclusive contract, Ellis may be able to suit up for Alaska after the Australian season ends.

If Ellis rejoins Alaska, he’ll be one of five returning imports. The others are Burger King’s Shawn Daniels, Coca-Cola’s J. J. Sullinger, Barangay Ginebra’s Rod Nealy and Rain or Shine’s Chuck Clark.