Rise of the Collegiate Imports

College imports for hire

We're going to be blatantly honest here: we are not fans of having foreigners, plucked from whichever continent with little to no ties in the Philippines, play for amateur teams.

It just doesn't make any sense for the sport or the institution that they are associated with other than to simply boost the latter's chances of winning a certain tournament/s and holding on to annual bragging rights over their peers. Moreso, it doesn't help Philippine basketball per se since these young players who are being taken advantage of (and vice versa) aren't here to really "play for flag and country" but to simply make the most of their God-given gifts, make a little money before moving on to greener pastures.

If you don't believe us, tell me, whatever happened to NCAA Rookie of the Year-Most Valuable Player Sam Ekwe of the San Beda Red Lions? We never saw his name make any national team fantasy rosters-- hell, he never even made it to anybody's shortlist for would be naturalized reinforcements. Nothing against the guy, heard nothing but praises for him, but other than bringing a title to San Beda and re-igniting their collegiate basketball prowess after a decade or two, what has he contributed to the growth of the sport?

That these reinforcements provide more of a challenge to our players? Okay, sustained. But only because most of them are 6"5 and above, agile, athletic and beastly on the hardcourt. Anytime a team has one of these imports on their roster, chances are they're headed to the semifinals (or even Finals). Sadly, the ones who are actually in need of such help are the ones who cannot "afford" to entail of these imports' services (for lack of school funding/ sponsorship and having a "weak" educational program-- not that these guys are regulars on the Dean's List).

Next season, the UST Growling Tigers will be once again parading UAAP MVP runner-up Kareem Abdul who has vastly improved from a robot to a go-to-guy on the block. Then there's the rebuilding De La Salle Green Archers and their prized recruit Ben Mbala (who will have to sit out a season) who is bound to just destroy the competition alongside Jeron Teng. Mbala is arguably the "best" import we've seen so far in the last decade since he has legit basketball skills, can run the floor, play disciplined defense and score-at-will (the last "stud" being San Beda's Sudan Daniel, but he played mostly out of position at Center).

Now, we understand that basketball is an evolving sport and that borders are being crossed, nay, obliterated in the name of better competition-- but it should be high time that the country and its hopefuls get rewarded for having to battle with guys who are naturally superior. Our first suggestion to both the NCAA and UAAP (and all the other amateur leagues out there) is to bar these imports from winning pivotal and historic awards such as Rookie of the Year or Most Valuable Player. Put them in their right place: Best Import of the Year.

That's who they are, that's what they're here for.