Waiting for Orton

There are five games left in the Sichuan Blue Whales schedule in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) and Daniel Orton won’t be released to suit up for Purefoods in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup until he plays out his contract. It will take up to two weeks before Sichuan ends the season. At the moment, the Blue Whales are ranked No. 18 of 20 with an 8-29 record so they’re not bound for the playoffs.

Orton, 24, is averaging 14.6 points and 9.9 rebounds with Sichuan. Last December, he was signed up to replace Metta World Peace alongside other import Michael Efevberha of California State at Northridge. Orton is Purefoods coach Tim Cone’s choice as the Star Hotshots’ import for the second conference and while he’s still in China, Marqus Blakely was brought in on a temporary basis.

Blakely, 26, has played for Purefoods (formerly B-Meg and San Mig Coffee) in the last three editions of the Governors Cup so he’s familiar with Cone’s system. Blakely will again play for Purefoods in the third conference where the height limit for non-Asian imports is 6-5 (except for the last four placers of the Commissioner’s Cup with no limit). The Governors Cup will also feature Asian imports with a height limit of 6-3.

Purefoods is allowed an import with a ceiling of 6-9 for the Commissioner’s Cup and that’s why Cone prefers Orton, who is listed 6-9, to the 6-4 5/16 Blakely. Among the imports playing in the Commissioner’s Cup, Blakely is the shortest. Alaska’s D. J. Covington is the next shortest at 6-5 3/4. The tallest is Kia’s 7-2 3/4 Peter John Ramos.

Despite the height handicap, Blakely played much taller than his size when he powered the Hotshots to an 83-70 win over Globalport at the Cuneta Astrodome last Friday. Blakely compiled 26 points, 19 rebounds, four assists, three steals and seven blocked shots in 35:37 minutes to outshine Globalport’s 6-8 C. J. Leslie. Purefoods had 19 more rebounds, four less turnovers and 19 more field goal attempts to win convincingly.

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While Blakely was dominant against Globalport, Cone may need a bigger import to neutralize the likes of Ramos and Barako Bull’s 7-0 1/2 Solomon Alabi. In the next two weeks, Purefoods will play Alaska on Tuesday, Blackwater on Friday, NLEX on Feb. 11 and Rain Or Shine on Feb. 14. Orton, if he measures within the 6-9 limit, should be ready to play against Ramos and the Carnival on Feb. 18.

Orton played a year with the University of Kentucky varsity then was picked on the first round by the Orlando Magic in the NBA draft in 2010. He played for Orlando, Oklahoma City and Philadelphia in three NBA seasons, averaging 2.8 points in 51 games, including six starts. He posted a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds with the Sixers in a 106-98 loss to Indiana in 2013. Orton reportedly earned at least $3 Million in his NBA stint.

Orton was involved in an ugly brawl in the CBA last Dec. 21. With Sichuan up, 102-78, time down to 4:20 in the fourth period, Orton was kicked in the groin by Tianjin’s Liu Wei. Orton struck Liu in retaliation and it triggered a bench-clearing mess. Orton was pushed into the stands as spectators left their seats with players wildly throwing punches. Orton had 23 points and 12 boards in the game that Sichuan won, 112-89.

In his only season with the Kentucky varsity, Orton teamed with future NBA stars John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins under coach John Calipari. “Orton is in the same mold and has the same skill as DeMarcus has,” said Calipari. “He’s a big guy that can score around the goal and has a toughness about him. He can also shoot jump shots and has the skill to pass and has great hands.”

Orton survived a torn ACL as a senior high school star and after sitting out the regular season, came back to lead Bishop McGuiness to the Oklahoma state finals. Chris Dortch, editor of the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, wrote about Orton: “Anyone who doubts whether Orton is skilled – and powerful – would be advised to search YouTube for the video that shows Orton claiming a defensive rebound in a high school game, dribbling the length of the floor and throwing down a dunk that smashed the backboard. The rim nearly bludgeoned him to death as it fell to the floor and the crowd went berserk.” Orton was ranked the No. 4 center and No. 22 overall player in the US out of high school.

Orton wasn’t impressive at Kentucky, statistics-wise. He averaged 3.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.4 blocked shots and 13.2 minutes. But Dortch said Orlando didn’t mind and still chose him on the first round of the NBA draft. “It was his potential which he showed at times, especially in terms of his rebound and blocked shots per minutes played,” said Dortch.

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Meanwhile, Gilas naturalized player Marcus Douthit will make his Blackwater debut against Talk ‘N’ Text in a PBA game in Binan this afternoon. Douthit, 34, is replacing injured import Chris Charles, recovering from a hamstring strain. Blackwater has not won a single PBA game since joining the league as an expansion franchise in the Philippine Cup this season. The Elite has now lost 12 in a row, including a 92-70 decision to Barako Bull last Wednesday to open its Commissioner’s Cup campaign.

Charles was measured 6-11 9/16 by the PBA. Douthit will be measured in the PBA office tomorrow. A PBA source said Douthit will be allowed to play today even without being measured since Blackwater’s import is not subject to a height limit. Douthit will report for measurement only “for record purposes.”

“I’m extremely grateful to (PLDT chairman) MVP (Manny V. Pangilinan) when we approached him last Wednesday during the dinner in honor of the FIBA evaluation committee if SBP could lend Marcus to us since our import has an hamstring injury,” said Ever Bilena CEO and Blackwater team owner Dioceldo Sy. “MVP readily said yes and jokingly mentioned to release Marcus after Sunday since Blackwater is playing Talk ‘N’ Text.” In the true spirit of sportsmanship, Douthit was released by the SBP and will suit up against the Texters.

Douthit was welcomed to the Blackwater practice at the SGS Gym on Araneta Avenue by PBA alternate governor Wilbert Loa and coach Leo Isaac last Thursday. He reported for his first full practice the next day.

It was Loa who “ambushed” MVP as he stepped out of the elevator on the way to the Isabella Dining Hall of the Makati Shangri-La Hotel for the dinner to fete the FIBA guests last Wednesday. Loa broached the idea of “borrowing” Douthit to MVP. “Ang lakas ni Wilbert kay MVP,” beamed Sy. “If and when we host the FIBA World Cup in 2019, I will endorse Wilbert to work full-time with (SBP vice chairman) Ricky Vargas as MVP requested.”