(From Business Mirror)
RARELY does a team lacking cohesion get a quick boost from one new addition, even if the player has the numbers on paper.
And so San Miguel Beer will is bringing back Gabe Freeman and three other squads are also recalling former imports for the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Fiesta Conference that starts on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Freeman, who flew in last year virtually unknown, led the Beermen to a title finish against Barangay Ginebra in a classic best-of-seven championship series that went the full route.
Freeman went on to win the Best Import plum, beating former National Basketball Association (NBA) player David Noel of the Kings. Freeman is coming off a successful stint with the Asean Basketball League champion Philippine Patriots.
Sta. Lucia Realty will bring back Anthony Johnson, Rain or Shine rehired Jai Lewis and Coca-Cola is again parading James Penny.
PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios stressed that if a team’s reinforcement blends well immediately with the locals, the team has a better chance to succeed in the season-ending tournament.
“Kahit malakas ang local lineup pero hindi angkop ang import, the team chemistry might suffer and that team might not fare well,” said Barrios in Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday at Shakey’s United Nations Avenue.
Talk ’N Text, meanwhile, has decided to send home Erick Hicks and tapped former Air21 import Shawn Daniels instead.
“Hicks’s knee is not 100 percent, while Daniels just got back from Puerto Rico,” said Tropang Texters head coach Chot Reyes, hinting that the burly import is in top condition. Daniels will arrive on Thursday.
“Iyon ang sinasabi kong positive side naman sa mga team. Hindi sila tumitigil hanggat hindi nila nakukuha ’yung import na sa tingin nila ay makakatulong sa kanila,” Barrios added.
The teams parading new imports are the Express (Leroy Hickerson), Alaska (Diamon Simpson), Purefoods Tender Juicy (Lorenzo Wade), Ginebra (Awvee Storey) and Barako Energy Coffee (Sammy Monroe).
The Fiesta Cup opens on Sunday with the Coffee Masters of new coach Junel Baculi taking on the Realtors at 4 p.m., while the Kings and the Tropang Texters square off in the 6:30 p.m. match.
The league has also lined up out-of-town games this coming conference in Cagayan de Oro City, Bacolod City, Tacloban City, Cebu City and Batangas.
The annual All-Star extravaganza will be held at the Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, from April 22 to 25. Giants head coach Ryan Gregorio will handle the North team while Aces’ Tim Cone will head the South squad.
Meanwhile, Simpson emerged as the tallest import in the height measurement on Tuesday at the league’s office in Libis, Quezon City.
The 22-year-old standout from St. Mary’s was measured six feet and five and 15/16 inches, barely making the height limit of six feet and six inches.
Coffee Masters’ Monroe was measured at six feet and five and 1/16 inches, while Storey was six feet and five and 3/16 inches. Air21’s Young was measured at an exact six feet and five inches.
Those who have previously played in PBA conferences using the same height limit were no longer measured.
RARELY does a team lacking cohesion get a quick boost from one new addition, even if the player has the numbers on paper.
And so San Miguel Beer will is bringing back Gabe Freeman and three other squads are also recalling former imports for the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Fiesta Conference that starts on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Freeman, who flew in last year virtually unknown, led the Beermen to a title finish against Barangay Ginebra in a classic best-of-seven championship series that went the full route.
Freeman went on to win the Best Import plum, beating former National Basketball Association (NBA) player David Noel of the Kings. Freeman is coming off a successful stint with the Asean Basketball League champion Philippine Patriots.
Sta. Lucia Realty will bring back Anthony Johnson, Rain or Shine rehired Jai Lewis and Coca-Cola is again parading James Penny.
PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios stressed that if a team’s reinforcement blends well immediately with the locals, the team has a better chance to succeed in the season-ending tournament.
“Kahit malakas ang local lineup pero hindi angkop ang import, the team chemistry might suffer and that team might not fare well,” said Barrios in Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday at Shakey’s United Nations Avenue.
Talk ’N Text, meanwhile, has decided to send home Erick Hicks and tapped former Air21 import Shawn Daniels instead.
“Hicks’s knee is not 100 percent, while Daniels just got back from Puerto Rico,” said Tropang Texters head coach Chot Reyes, hinting that the burly import is in top condition. Daniels will arrive on Thursday.
“Iyon ang sinasabi kong positive side naman sa mga team. Hindi sila tumitigil hanggat hindi nila nakukuha ’yung import na sa tingin nila ay makakatulong sa kanila,” Barrios added.
The teams parading new imports are the Express (Leroy Hickerson), Alaska (Diamon Simpson), Purefoods Tender Juicy (Lorenzo Wade), Ginebra (Awvee Storey) and Barako Energy Coffee (Sammy Monroe).
The Fiesta Cup opens on Sunday with the Coffee Masters of new coach Junel Baculi taking on the Realtors at 4 p.m., while the Kings and the Tropang Texters square off in the 6:30 p.m. match.
The league has also lined up out-of-town games this coming conference in Cagayan de Oro City, Bacolod City, Tacloban City, Cebu City and Batangas.
The annual All-Star extravaganza will be held at the Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, from April 22 to 25. Giants head coach Ryan Gregorio will handle the North team while Aces’ Tim Cone will head the South squad.
Meanwhile, Simpson emerged as the tallest import in the height measurement on Tuesday at the league’s office in Libis, Quezon City.
The 22-year-old standout from St. Mary’s was measured six feet and five and 15/16 inches, barely making the height limit of six feet and six inches.
Coffee Masters’ Monroe was measured at six feet and five and 1/16 inches, while Storey was six feet and five and 3/16 inches. Air21’s Young was measured at an exact six feet and five inches.
Those who have previously played in PBA conferences using the same height limit were no longer measured.
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