Rain or Shine coach feels import McLean fits the bill for 'Extra Rice' frontline
From: Richard Dy
February 12, 2014, 06:39 pm
RAIN or Shine still has one more major job to take care of yet the team already started working out with import Alex McLean for its coming PBA Commissioner’s Cup campaign.
McLean, who played two years for the Liberty University Flames during the 2007 and 2008 college seasons, arrived on Saturday, according to coach Yeng Guiao.
“Alex arrived last Saturday and he has been practicing with the team for the last two days,” Guiao told Spin.ph on Wednesday just as the Elasto Painters wrapped up their practice session while waiting who between San Mig and Ginebra will be their opponent in the PLDT myDSL-Philippine Cup Finals.
The fiery Elasto Painters mentor said McLean was highly recommended by Arizona Reid, the team’s import in two of the last three editions of the Governors Cup.
“May mga video clips din kami na napanood after siyang i-recommend sa amin ni AZ (Reid’s nickname) and mukhang okay naman siya, saka importante eh pumasok sa budget ng team,” Guiao said in jest.
But on a serious note, Guiao noted the 28-year-old native of Bayshore, New York has a good perimeter jumper and is quick for his size - much like his 'Extra Rice' pair of Beau Belga and JR Quinahan.
“Gusto kasi namin sa mga bigs eh yung may tira sa labas. And si Alex may tira naman sa labas, marunong pumoste saka masipag din sa takbuhan. Mobile siya,” he added.
McLean, who is listed at 6-foot-8 in Liberty’s official web page, averaged 15.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assist during his two-year, 63-game stint in college.
After college, McLean played overseas in Iraq, Lebanon, China, Qatar, and Egypt.
Follow the writer on Twitter: @richava
Rough reception for import Howell as Talk 'N Text practice cancelled due to Ateneo bomb threat
From: Richard Dy
February 12, 2014, 02:53 pm
RICHARD Howell's first day of practice with Talk 'N Text didn't go exactly as planned.
The NBA D-League veteran's first day on the court with his new teammates had to wait after the Tropang Texters' early afternoon practice at the Moro Lorenzo gym was cancelled due to a bomb threat at the Ateneo campus in Katipunan, Quezon City.
The Tropang Texters were supposed to welcome their import for the mid-season PBA Commissioner's Cup, who arrived in Manila late Tuesday night. But he had to be hurriedly sent home, along with the rest of the team, after the campus was evacuated due to the bomb threat.
Ateneo’s university president Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin immediately disseminated through the campus’ official website http://www.admu.edu.ph an official announcement suspending classes and office work university-wide.
The cancellation deprived Talk ‘N Text coach Norman Black the chance to assess his new import, but he said he hopes that Howell could bring to the team his impressive performance in the NBA Developmental League with the Idaho Stampede in the 2013-14 season.
Listed at 6-8 in the NBA D-League’s website, Howell, who played for North Carolina State in college, submitted solid numbers of 18.0 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 34.6 minutes of play for the Stampede recently.
“I haven’t seen him play but looking at his stats, he looks productive in the D-League, 18 points and 11 rebounds. Hopefully, he could be able to transfer that production here,” Black said just as the rest of the Tropang Texters started to evacuate the gym.
Black hopes they won’t encounter the same import woes they had in last season’s Commissioner’s Cup where they switched imports twice, before eventually losing to the Vernon Macklin-powered Barangay Ginebra in the semifinals.
“Hopefully, we won’t have to change him (Howell) because a lot of times, the team that wins the championship is the team that keeps the import. I hope he’ll be productive and be able to stay,” said Black.
The Tropang Texters began the Commissioner’s Cup last season with Keith Benson, who was replaced by old hand Donnel Harvey before the team went for seven-foot former NBA center Jerome Jordan. Eventually, the team settled for high-scoring 6-4 import Tony Mitchell.
Follow the writer on Twitter: @richava
Air21 counting on Ivorian national player Lamizana to change team's fortunes
From: Richard Dy
February 10, 2014, 04:35 pm
AIR21 is looking forward to redeeming itself from a poor Philippine Cup showing after tapping Ivorian veteran big man Herve Lamizana as import for the upcoming PBA Commissioner’s Cup set to kick off early next month.
Listed at 6 feet 10 inches, Lamizana, who went undrafted in the NBA in 2004, is coming off a stint with the Sichuan Blue Whales in the Chinese Basketball Association where he averaged 13.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.3 assists.
A product of Rutgers in the NCAA, the 33-year-old power forward hopes to bring in an inside presence as he teams up with the 40-year-old Asi Taulava at front court.
“Mr. Lito Alvarez was excited in hiring him and believes Herve’s energy and work ethic will help and inspire Air 21. He is unselfish, I think he is the perfect fit for the team,” said player agent Sheryl Reyes of Lamazina, one of several imports under her stable for the upcoming midseason conference.
The well-traveled Lamizana is expected to arrive on Monday to join the team’s practice as the Express try to improve on their eighth-place finish in the Commissioner’s Cup last season.
Lamizana, who was born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, played for the Ivorian national team in the 2010 Fiba World Cup in Istanbul, Turkey, before suiting up in the 2011 and 2013 Fiba Africa men’s championships, where they placed fourth in both editions.
Noted for his defense, Lamizana averaged 10.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.4 blocks for Ivory Coast during last year’s Fiba Africa championships.
Early bird San Mig import James Mays surprised by physicality of play in PBA
From: Richard Dy
January 27, 2014, 04:01 pm
ONE interested spectator during the San Mig Coffee-Talk `N Text do-or-die match on Sunday night was James Mays, who happens to be the Mixers’ import in the coming PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
And while the Mixers remain very much in the hunt for the PLDT myDSL-Philippine Cup title after making the semifinals, Mays also made it clear that he came over to Manila to help the franchise win the championship of the mid-season conference that kicks off on March 7.
The 6-foot-9 Mays arrived in the country over the weekend to get acquainted with his new team early.
“That’s the goal (to win a PBA championship with San Mig). I didn’t come here to lose. I came here for us to compete in the championship,” Mays said when Spin.ph caught up with him after watching the Mixers’ 90-82 win over the Tropang Texters in the deciding Game Three at the Astrodome.
Mays, a US-born Central African player, was proud to see San Mig overcame the three-time All-Filipino champion.
“It’s (Game Three) really competitive and very physical too. More physical than I thought it would be,” he said of his impression of plays in Asia’s pioneering pro league.
The import said there is no substitute for hard work especially in the team’s quest for the championship of the season-opening conference.
“One thing I can say, they (Mixers) played really hard. They played their guts out, playing as if it’s their last game,” he said.
“Everybody’s cool. I just met them (Mixers) today and I think it’s gonna be fun,” added the former standout from Clemson.
The 230-pound Mays said he’s no stranger to overseas basketball, having played for the Beijing Ducks in China followed by stints in Puerto Rico and Turkey.
Mays played for the Springfield Armor in the NBA Developmental League in the 2012-13 season where he was eventually named to the Prospects All-Star roster for the 2013 D-League All-Star Game.
He also had stops with the Maine Red Claws before being traded to the Sioux Falls Skyforce in exchange for Gabe Pruitt.
Only last year, Mays joined the San Antonio Spurs for the 2013 NBA Summer League.
Trillo thrilled as Dozier signs for another tour of duty in Alaska's title defense
From: Richard Dy
January 17, 2014, 02:33 pm
ALASKA hopes news of do-it-all import Robert Dozier’s return for another tour of duty in the Commissioner’s Cup could bring the much-needed confidence boost for a team that has struggled all throughout the Philippine Cup.
Dozier, the 6-9 former Memphis Tiger forward, played a key role in Alaska’s first PBA title outside the Tim Cone era when the Aces swept the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 3-0 in the Commissioner’s Cup Finals last season.
The Lithonia, Georgia native finished the mid-season conference last year with impressive numbers of 20.1 points, 17 rebounds, 2.9 blocks and 2.5 assists en route to bagging the very first Bobby Parks-Best Import trophy.
“We’ve got Robert Dozier coming back. He’s signed up,” a beaming Alaska coach Luigi Trillo, whose team is struggling just to make the playoffs in the ongoing all-Filipino tournament, shared to Spin.ph.
“I’m happy to have Robert. He’s an awesome fine young man. I feel blessed he’s coming back again in the first week of February so we’ll have time (to prepare),” he added.
Trillo looked back fondly at the franchise’s first PBA championship since the 2010 Fiesta Conference under Cone, which he said makes the decision to bring back Dozier a no-brainer.
“We were like 18-4 (win-loss record). That year was the second-best winning percentage ever in the 27 years of Alaska (in the PBA),” recalled Trillo, who also earned Coach of the Year honors last season.
“We steamrolled Ginebra and swept our way in the Finals, so it’s very hard not to bring back a guy like that.”
However, Trillo said Dozier’s role may have to change a little bit from last year since he’ll have to play with imports of his size compared to last season when the Commissioner’s Cup allowed reinforcements with unlimited height.
“The dynamics are different now. It’s always different. The hunger factor is a question and how he will compete against smaller imports,” he said.
“Remember, the imports before were seven-footers, so his versatility worked to our advantage. Now, you want to see how he does against 6-8 (imports), who are his size.”
This season, the top eight finishers for the Philippine Cup will be allowed to recruit as tall as 6-9, while the ninth and 10th-placed squads will have an import celing of 6-11.
Follow the writer on Twitter: @richava
From: Richard Dy
February 12, 2014, 06:39 pm
RAIN or Shine still has one more major job to take care of yet the team already started working out with import Alex McLean for its coming PBA Commissioner’s Cup campaign.
McLean, who played two years for the Liberty University Flames during the 2007 and 2008 college seasons, arrived on Saturday, according to coach Yeng Guiao.
“Alex arrived last Saturday and he has been practicing with the team for the last two days,” Guiao told Spin.ph on Wednesday just as the Elasto Painters wrapped up their practice session while waiting who between San Mig and Ginebra will be their opponent in the PLDT myDSL-Philippine Cup Finals.
The fiery Elasto Painters mentor said McLean was highly recommended by Arizona Reid, the team’s import in two of the last three editions of the Governors Cup.
“May mga video clips din kami na napanood after siyang i-recommend sa amin ni AZ (Reid’s nickname) and mukhang okay naman siya, saka importante eh pumasok sa budget ng team,” Guiao said in jest.
But on a serious note, Guiao noted the 28-year-old native of Bayshore, New York has a good perimeter jumper and is quick for his size - much like his 'Extra Rice' pair of Beau Belga and JR Quinahan.
“Gusto kasi namin sa mga bigs eh yung may tira sa labas. And si Alex may tira naman sa labas, marunong pumoste saka masipag din sa takbuhan. Mobile siya,” he added.
McLean, who is listed at 6-foot-8 in Liberty’s official web page, averaged 15.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assist during his two-year, 63-game stint in college.
After college, McLean played overseas in Iraq, Lebanon, China, Qatar, and Egypt.
Follow the writer on Twitter: @richava
Rough reception for import Howell as Talk 'N Text practice cancelled due to Ateneo bomb threat
From: Richard Dy
February 12, 2014, 02:53 pm
RICHARD Howell's first day of practice with Talk 'N Text didn't go exactly as planned.
The NBA D-League veteran's first day on the court with his new teammates had to wait after the Tropang Texters' early afternoon practice at the Moro Lorenzo gym was cancelled due to a bomb threat at the Ateneo campus in Katipunan, Quezon City.
The Tropang Texters were supposed to welcome their import for the mid-season PBA Commissioner's Cup, who arrived in Manila late Tuesday night. But he had to be hurriedly sent home, along with the rest of the team, after the campus was evacuated due to the bomb threat.
Ateneo’s university president Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin immediately disseminated through the campus’ official website http://www.admu.edu.ph an official announcement suspending classes and office work university-wide.
The cancellation deprived Talk ‘N Text coach Norman Black the chance to assess his new import, but he said he hopes that Howell could bring to the team his impressive performance in the NBA Developmental League with the Idaho Stampede in the 2013-14 season.
Listed at 6-8 in the NBA D-League’s website, Howell, who played for North Carolina State in college, submitted solid numbers of 18.0 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 34.6 minutes of play for the Stampede recently.
“I haven’t seen him play but looking at his stats, he looks productive in the D-League, 18 points and 11 rebounds. Hopefully, he could be able to transfer that production here,” Black said just as the rest of the Tropang Texters started to evacuate the gym.
Black hopes they won’t encounter the same import woes they had in last season’s Commissioner’s Cup where they switched imports twice, before eventually losing to the Vernon Macklin-powered Barangay Ginebra in the semifinals.
“Hopefully, we won’t have to change him (Howell) because a lot of times, the team that wins the championship is the team that keeps the import. I hope he’ll be productive and be able to stay,” said Black.
The Tropang Texters began the Commissioner’s Cup last season with Keith Benson, who was replaced by old hand Donnel Harvey before the team went for seven-foot former NBA center Jerome Jordan. Eventually, the team settled for high-scoring 6-4 import Tony Mitchell.
Follow the writer on Twitter: @richava
Air21 counting on Ivorian national player Lamizana to change team's fortunes
From: Richard Dy
February 10, 2014, 04:35 pm
AIR21 is looking forward to redeeming itself from a poor Philippine Cup showing after tapping Ivorian veteran big man Herve Lamizana as import for the upcoming PBA Commissioner’s Cup set to kick off early next month.
Listed at 6 feet 10 inches, Lamizana, who went undrafted in the NBA in 2004, is coming off a stint with the Sichuan Blue Whales in the Chinese Basketball Association where he averaged 13.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.3 assists.
A product of Rutgers in the NCAA, the 33-year-old power forward hopes to bring in an inside presence as he teams up with the 40-year-old Asi Taulava at front court.
“Mr. Lito Alvarez was excited in hiring him and believes Herve’s energy and work ethic will help and inspire Air 21. He is unselfish, I think he is the perfect fit for the team,” said player agent Sheryl Reyes of Lamazina, one of several imports under her stable for the upcoming midseason conference.
The well-traveled Lamizana is expected to arrive on Monday to join the team’s practice as the Express try to improve on their eighth-place finish in the Commissioner’s Cup last season.
Lamizana, who was born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, played for the Ivorian national team in the 2010 Fiba World Cup in Istanbul, Turkey, before suiting up in the 2011 and 2013 Fiba Africa men’s championships, where they placed fourth in both editions.
Noted for his defense, Lamizana averaged 10.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.4 blocks for Ivory Coast during last year’s Fiba Africa championships.
Early bird San Mig import James Mays surprised by physicality of play in PBA
From: Richard Dy
January 27, 2014, 04:01 pm
ONE interested spectator during the San Mig Coffee-Talk `N Text do-or-die match on Sunday night was James Mays, who happens to be the Mixers’ import in the coming PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
And while the Mixers remain very much in the hunt for the PLDT myDSL-Philippine Cup title after making the semifinals, Mays also made it clear that he came over to Manila to help the franchise win the championship of the mid-season conference that kicks off on March 7.
The 6-foot-9 Mays arrived in the country over the weekend to get acquainted with his new team early.
“That’s the goal (to win a PBA championship with San Mig). I didn’t come here to lose. I came here for us to compete in the championship,” Mays said when Spin.ph caught up with him after watching the Mixers’ 90-82 win over the Tropang Texters in the deciding Game Three at the Astrodome.
Mays, a US-born Central African player, was proud to see San Mig overcame the three-time All-Filipino champion.
“It’s (Game Three) really competitive and very physical too. More physical than I thought it would be,” he said of his impression of plays in Asia’s pioneering pro league.
The import said there is no substitute for hard work especially in the team’s quest for the championship of the season-opening conference.
“One thing I can say, they (Mixers) played really hard. They played their guts out, playing as if it’s their last game,” he said.
“Everybody’s cool. I just met them (Mixers) today and I think it’s gonna be fun,” added the former standout from Clemson.
The 230-pound Mays said he’s no stranger to overseas basketball, having played for the Beijing Ducks in China followed by stints in Puerto Rico and Turkey.
Mays played for the Springfield Armor in the NBA Developmental League in the 2012-13 season where he was eventually named to the Prospects All-Star roster for the 2013 D-League All-Star Game.
He also had stops with the Maine Red Claws before being traded to the Sioux Falls Skyforce in exchange for Gabe Pruitt.
Only last year, Mays joined the San Antonio Spurs for the 2013 NBA Summer League.
Trillo thrilled as Dozier signs for another tour of duty in Alaska's title defense
From: Richard Dy
January 17, 2014, 02:33 pm
ALASKA hopes news of do-it-all import Robert Dozier’s return for another tour of duty in the Commissioner’s Cup could bring the much-needed confidence boost for a team that has struggled all throughout the Philippine Cup.
Dozier, the 6-9 former Memphis Tiger forward, played a key role in Alaska’s first PBA title outside the Tim Cone era when the Aces swept the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 3-0 in the Commissioner’s Cup Finals last season.
The Lithonia, Georgia native finished the mid-season conference last year with impressive numbers of 20.1 points, 17 rebounds, 2.9 blocks and 2.5 assists en route to bagging the very first Bobby Parks-Best Import trophy.
“We’ve got Robert Dozier coming back. He’s signed up,” a beaming Alaska coach Luigi Trillo, whose team is struggling just to make the playoffs in the ongoing all-Filipino tournament, shared to Spin.ph.
“I’m happy to have Robert. He’s an awesome fine young man. I feel blessed he’s coming back again in the first week of February so we’ll have time (to prepare),” he added.
Trillo looked back fondly at the franchise’s first PBA championship since the 2010 Fiesta Conference under Cone, which he said makes the decision to bring back Dozier a no-brainer.
“We were like 18-4 (win-loss record). That year was the second-best winning percentage ever in the 27 years of Alaska (in the PBA),” recalled Trillo, who also earned Coach of the Year honors last season.
“We steamrolled Ginebra and swept our way in the Finals, so it’s very hard not to bring back a guy like that.”
However, Trillo said Dozier’s role may have to change a little bit from last year since he’ll have to play with imports of his size compared to last season when the Commissioner’s Cup allowed reinforcements with unlimited height.
“The dynamics are different now. It’s always different. The hunger factor is a question and how he will compete against smaller imports,” he said.
“Remember, the imports before were seven-footers, so his versatility worked to our advantage. Now, you want to see how he does against 6-8 (imports), who are his size.”
This season, the top eight finishers for the Philippine Cup will be allowed to recruit as tall as 6-9, while the ninth and 10th-placed squads will have an import celing of 6-11.
Follow the writer on Twitter: @richava