Opposing PBA imports raise the bar

MANILA, Philippines - Six teams didn’t change imports in the PBA Governors Cup and that’s an indication of the high quality of reinforcements brought in for the third conference this season. Of the imports who stuck, two clearly stood out for setting a lofty standard of performance – San Mig Coffee’s Marqus Blakely and Rain Or Shine’s Arizona Reid. It’s no wonder that their teams are now engaged in the Last Dance.

Blakely, 25, and Reid, 28, are men on a mission. They’re playing their guts out for a reason. Blakely wants to be a part of history as San Mig Coffee is just a jewel shy of claiming a Grand Slam. Reid wants to be a part of history, too, with the goal of winning his first championship after two previous also-ran finishes.

Both Blakely and Reid are third-termers. Blakely made his debut with San Mig Coffee, then known as B-Meg, in the 2012 Governors Cup and never forgave Rain Or Shine for the Llamados’ loss in the finals that went the distance. Jamelle Cornley was the Painters’ import in the conference. In Game 7, Blakely was held to 15 points while Cornley shot 20 to power Rain Or Shine’s 83-76 win.

Blakely returned to clear up unfinished business and promptly, led San Mig Coffee to the 2013 Governors Cup title, defeating Petron in the finals. In the process, he was named Best Import. Rain Or Shine, with Reid in harness, was eliminated by Petron in the semifinals. During the eliminations, Blakely and Reid faced off for the first time. Reid went one up on Blakely in that game as the Painters won, 79-75. But Blakely had the last laugh with the Mixers capturing the crown. That had to be motivation for Reid to exact payback in the Governors Cup this season.

Reid was unveiled by Rain Or Shine in the 2011 Governors Cup and took Best Import honors even as the Painters didn’t make it to the finals. He took the award despite sitting out the Painters’ last game, a 103-95 setback to Barangay Ginebra, with a foot injury. Reid rejoined Rain Or Shine in last year’s Governors Cup and again, came up short of advancing to the finals. On his third tour of duty, Reid is determined to finally win a title.  

What makes Blakely and Reid a perfect fit for their teams is a common trait – versatility. They play multiple positions and aren’t allergic to contact. If Blakely is called Mr. Everything, Reid is Mr. Do-It-All. The difference lies in how their coaches want them to play. Reid is an explosive scorer who can post up, shoot the three and slash. Blakely’s range isn’t as extended and he’s more of an inside operator, piling up points off put-backs and pick-and-rolls. San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone isn’t big on Blakely’s offense and would rather see him contribute on defense, board work and setting screens.

How they played in college is exactly how they’re stamping their class this conference. Reid played four years at High Point University in North Carolina and ended his varsity career as only the 97th player in US NCAA basketball history to compile at least 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. He’s in elite company with Tim Duncan, Pat Ewing, Jerry West, Larry Bird, David West and Oscar Robertson. As a senior in 2007-08, he averaged 23.9 points and 11 boards. High Point coach Bart Lundy brought out the best in Reid who was given the green light to score inside or outside. Aside from his impressive stats, Reid left school with another admirable achievement, a degree in Recreational Management.

Reid never made it to the NBA and instead, toured the world, playing in Italy, Switzerland, Finland, Australia, Lebanon, Germany, Ukraine and Saudi Arabia. Blakely signed contracts with the Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets but never got to play a game in the NBA. The only other country where he has played as an import is Germany.

At the University of Vermont, Blakely was a go-to guy like Reid was at High Point. He collected numerous awards including Defensive Player of the Year in the America East Conference. Blakely raised his scoring clip from 5.8 as a freshman to 19.0 as a sophomore then averaged 16.1 as a junior and 17.3 as a senior. Because of his enormous length, Blakely is a terror in protecting the rim. His 85-inch wingspan has been described as “freakish” and is as long if not longer than the reach of NBA players Joakim Noah, Drew Gooden, Al Horford and Charlie Villanueva.

Vermont coach Mike Lonegan called Blakely the varsity’s biggest strength. “We’ve got the best player in the league,” said Lonegan. “Blakely is a phenomenal athlete. He’s a great shot blocker and he can handle the ball better than people think. He’s capable of a dominant game on both ends and creating so many match-up problems.”

Entering the Governors Cup finals, the stats showed exactly where the imports are excelling. Reid averaged 29.4 points, 12.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.3 blocked shot and 37.1 minutes while Blakely normed 19.9 points, 15.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.1 steals, 2.6 blocked shots and 39.1 minutes. Reid shot 47.4 percent from the floor compared to Blakely’s 49.8 percent. Reid had the edge in free throw percentage, 74.5 to 55.1.

In Game 1 last Tuesday, Reid tallied 35 points, 14 in the fourth period, as he valiantly tried to tow Rain Or Shine to victory. Blakely wasn’t as overpowering with 13 points and 14 rebounds but Cone got solid numbers from six locals in double figures. Nine Mixers scored in the payoff quarter as Cone used a balanced attack to offset Reid’s one-man show. In the end, team play prevailed as San Mig Coffee escaped with a 104-101 decision.

Game 2 is expected to also go down to the wire tonight. Rain Or Shine coach Yeng Guiao will make adjustments for sure, particularly in the degree of physicality on defense, match-ups and rotations. In the middle of it all is the personal battle between Reid and Blakely.