PBA meets Asia... sort of.

Mahdi Kamrani in the PBA would be awesome
(Photo credits to the owner)

For the season-ending PBA Governor's Cup, the league will allow teams to field not one but two imports-- the first being a "traditional" or American/ European/ etc. import (6"5 ceiling for the top 8 teams, while the bottom 4 enjoy an unlimited height ceiling) and the second, which is optional, an Asian import no more than 6"3.

Which, in today's day and age, makes that Asian import a shooting guard/ small forward at the very least and no more.

The idea, approved by PBA chairman Patrick Gregorio, is quite intriguing and novel. It was done in good taste, with the best of intentions to help spice up the 3rd and final conference as well as expose our players and the fans to other Asian stars.

Our only concern here is that, why put a (such a low) height restriction on the Asian imports?

For the uninitiated, Asian guards and wings are no better than the ones that we already have in the PBA-- with our guys even being slightly better as our training is more to the likings of NBA players while other Asian countries develop their players to suit the FIBA style of basketball (which is, unfortunately, considered as "amateur-ish").

These Asian stars thrive on team play and execution, none better than those of Iran, Korea, China and Chinese Taipei. Even if you try to Google most of them, they're more known for their outside shooting and posting-up-- fundamental basketball skills. Not the entertaining, flashy crossover stuff that we are accustomed to.

Definitely not a lot of the physicality Pinoys are used to (well, for the East Asians at least).

It's quite intriguing to see how well the Asian import will do with a local team. Ginebra is opting for Mongolian superstar Sanchr Tungalag who led his team in scoring in the 2014 Asian Games with 16 points 5 rebounds. Tungalag will have an easier time fitting in, since he's a known scorer who will probably split minutes with Joseph Yeo and former PBA MVP Mark Caguioa.

For Meralco, they are reportedly eyeing Iran's Mahdi Kamrani. Basically, Meralco is looking to add the Iranian Jimmy Alapag in hopes of him running their offense.

This one's going to be tricky.

How will the team respond to a one conference-and-done point guard? Will he be able to run head coach Norman Black's sets to a "T?" Where does that put starter Mike Cortez (on the bench we presume).

It's not the same case with Ginebra, who is bringing in a specialist in Tungalag, no. Meralco is bringing in a point guard who traditionally shapes the look and identity of the whole team on the basketball court. Plus how good will the slow-footed Kamrani be, minus Iran's system basketball and giant Hamed Haddadi to pass to?

That's basically our argument. With Asian imports, the best way to go is to get specialists so that they can fill a need right away. Otherwise, they'll be reduced to role players which wouldn't really help anyone and look more like a glorified internship.

This definitely opened a door, but perhaps the PBA could look into making the 3rd conference an Asian Invitational meet.

Now THAT, would be something worth watching.