Tried, tested... and waiting

AZ and Black Sakuragi
(Photo credit: GMAnetwork.com)

Welcome to PBA fandom limbo.

While we cannot fault the PBA for taking an extended break between conferences to help turn the spotlight on Gilas Pilipinas' FIBA Olympic Qualifiers' journey, we often catch ourselves wondering why the league couldn't just proceed with the Governor's Cup and maybe take a two-week break come FIBA time?

Pardon our selfishness, but isn't that why the imports (plus Asian imports) are there? To cover for the locals-- specially the ones on loan to Gilas?

Okay, okay. Sorry. Moving on.

PBA head coaches have opted to bring in old names to reinforce their teams, though only Marques Blakely (Star) and Arizona Reid (SMB) will suit up for their original teams.


The imports are as follows:

Ginebra - Paul Harris, 6"5 (TNT; 44mpg 28ppg 13rpg 3apg)
A hard-working, do-it-all import who pretty much mirrors last conference's import Othyus Jeffers. We are not too sure about this, but Harris might be a bit more mobile than Jeffers out in the perimeter.

Black W ater - Eric Dawson 6"8 (Meralco; 42mpg 30ppg 16rpg 3apg)
Coach Leo Isaac got a beast of an import in Dawson. If this guy could work a Pick and Roll with budding star Carlo Lastimosa (and even new addition Roi Sumang), BW should be able to make some Playoff noise.

Globalport - Dominique Sutton 6"4 (Air21; 42mpg 26ppg 15rpg 3apg) 
Did GP really need another scorer? Sutton is a natural shooting guard/ small forward who likes to rebound a lot. Could play the 4 spot in lieu of Jay Washington.

Meralco - Allen Durham 6"6 (Barako; 43mpg 26ppg 23rpg 6apg)
Following their success in the 2nd conference with low post banger Arinze Onuaku, the Bolts opted for another low-post monster in Durham who last played for the now defunct Barako Bull. He should fit in nicely in the middle which will allow the rest of the rag-tag Bolts to run the floor.

NLEX - Henry Walker 6"6 (Alaska; 37mpg 21ppg 9rpg 6apg)
This guy made everything look so easy the first time around. Just a natural basketball talent who, unfortunately, doesn't appear to play with the same motor and drive as his former teammate Calvin Abueva. Still, legit NBA player.

Rain or Shine - Dior Lowhorn 6"5 (GlobalPort; 28ppg 11rpg)
Wait, what? RoS is actually going for an import who has a history of being able to score? But they just won a title with a 6"9 chunky who averaged 12 points and 10 board! Seriously though, Lowhorn should be able to provide some inside scoring to balance RoS' guard play.

SMB - AZ Reid 6"3 (40mpg 30 ppg 10 rpg 5apg)
Still a G. From A to Z. But age did appear to catch up in that one playoff game versus RoS last conference (which they lost). That, or he just let himself go thinking he'd have enough time to trim down by July instead of being asked to report for duty in May.

Star - Marqus Blakely 6"5 (39mpg 22ppg 13rpg 4apg)
Wonder if Blakely will be happy to learn that Tim Cone's no longer around.

As for the new imports, here they are and our "hot takes:"

Alaska - Ladontae Henton 6"6
From what we've gathered, he's a decent scorer who kept improving his stats in college. Natural small forward.

Mahindra - James White 6"7
Not sure about this one, mostly unimpressive numbers in college for UALR and even for that one year he played for Georgia Tech. Still, his size and athleticism could be of use in the PBA.

PHX - DeAndre Liggins 6"6
Still under negotiation. Legit NBA talent who suited up for the Oklahoma Thunder before off court issues got the best of him. Chicago bred and born, which is always big.

TNT - Jason Maxiell 6"5
We honestly pray that Beau Belga, Calvin Abueva or even Mark Yee do not, we repeat, DO NOT get chippy with Maxiell. Sure he looks kinda chunkier now than when he was in the NBA, but he still averaged 19 points and 11 rebounds in the CBA minus legit bigs both local and foreign.

Who do you think will flourish in the PBA? Who leads his team into the Finals?

Also, can we have Michael Beasley on speed dial, just in case?