DEARTH OF QUALITY AMONG PBA IMPORTS

Boston Celtics hero in the
1976 NBA finals Glenn
McDonald played 4
seasons in the PBA.

Highly respected sports columnist Quinito Henson wrote a very interesting article about PBA imports in his widely read “Sporting Chance” column in the PhilStar. Henson made mentioned of those former NBA first round draftees who displayed their wares since the inception of Asia’s first play-for-pay league. It is quite alarming to know that there were no NBA first round choices that saw action in the league for the last five years. It is now a fact that imports no longer dominate the local pro league as before. Reasons could be any of the following: lucrative offers from various Euro leagues, opting to play in the D-League with hopes of making the NBA someday and the salary cap implemented by the PBA in 2004. The league is returning to the 3-conference format this season, which includes two import-laced conferences. I wonder if we will ever see another foreign reinforcement in the mold of a Billy Ray Bates or a Tony Harris.

“Since the PBA opened shop in 1975, there have been 40 NBA first rounders to sign up as imports. The last 10 were Sherell Ford (Pop Cola, 1998), Kenny Payne (Ginebra, 1998), John Morton (Shell, 1999-2000), Mario Bennett (San Miguel Beer, 2002), Chris Morris (Purefoods, 2002), Johnny Taylor (Sta. Lucia Realty, 2002), Rodrick Rhodes (Fed-Ex, 2002), Scott Burrell (Red Bull, 2003), Cedric Ceballos (San Miguel Beer, 2003) and Simpkins (Alaska, 2004-05). 

“The first-ever NBA opening round pick to see action in the PBA was Dana Lewis (Presto, 1977). Other first rounders were Glenn McDonald (U-Tex, 1978-79-80), Manhattan, 1983), George Trapp (U-Tex, 1979), Otto Moore (Royal Tru-Orange, 1979-80), Glenn Mosley (Crispa, 1980), James Hardy (Crispa, 1981), Larry Demic (Crispa, 1983), Anthony Roberts (Gilbey’s Gin, 1983), Howard Carter (Shell, 1985), Stewart Granger (Shell, 1986), Rob Williams (Tanduay, 1986), Don Collins (Magnolia, 1986), Michael Young (Manila Beer, 1986, Great Taste, 1987), David Thirdkill (Tanduay, 1987, Purefoods, 1988), Freeman Williams (Tanduay, 1987), Kenny Fields (Presto, 1988), Ennis Whatley (San Miguel Beer, 1989, Presto, 1990), Alfrederick Hughes (Sarsi, 1990), Wes Matthews (Ginebra, 1991), Bernard Thompson (Swift, 1991, 1994), Derrick Chievous (San Miguel Beer, 1992), Mike McGee (Sta. Lucia Realty, 1993), Mitchell Wiggins (Tondeña, 1994), Jerome Lane (Shell, 1994), Kenny Battle (Alaska, 1993), Leon Wood (Purefoods, 1994), Billy Thompson (San Miguel Beer, 1994), Byron Irvin (Purefoods, 1994), Dennis Hopson (Purefoods, 1996) and Byron Houston (Pop Cola, 1997).”