|
Monday, February 14, 2005
Bigger, meaner imports as PBA scraps height limit
By Glenn C. Michelena
WHEN the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Reinforced Conference opens on March 6, don’t be surprised to see teams parading seven-footers in their line-ups.
Simply put, the PBA has scrapped the height limit for imports in the upcoming conference. PBA teams can now hire Manute Bol or Shawn Bradley if they want to.
“We have decided that a little change for this conference will be a positive step for the competition in the league,” PBA Commissioner Noli Eala told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday. “In fact, we are encouraging teams to not only go after the big guys, but also bring in guards and wingmen to spice up the competition.”
Eala added that the varied talents will go a long way in creating excitement among the PBA fans.
“We may see a high-leaping 6-6 slasher like Silas Mills in one team, a 6-foot-8 banger like (former Ginebra import) Torraye Braggs in another, or even a 7-foot pure center, which is something of a new thing, and should create excitement for the PBA fans.”
Currently, the Purefoods Hotdogs are reportedly eyeing 7-4, 345-pound Priest Lauderdale, a former second-round draft choice of the Atlanta Hawks in 1996 who now plays in Bulgaria.
FedEx, on the other hand, is trying to land NBA veteran Anthony “Pig” Miller, a 6-9, 255-pound banger who played with Nick Van Exel, Vlade Divac, Eddie Jones, and former San Miguel import Cedric Ceballos in the 1994-95 LA Lakers squad.
In case they don’t get Miller, the Hotdogs may bring in former LA Clippers backup center Keith Closs, a 7-3, 220-pound Central Connecticut State alum, who set the NCAA single-season record for blocks with 6.4 per game during the 1996-97 NCAA campaign, shattering David Robinson’s record of 5.9 per set in 1985.
Barangay Ginebra, meantime, is planning to bring back Braggs, who helped the team win the 2004 Fiesta Conference.
(February 14, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
