Imports to beef up PBA teams: Alaska, GlobalPort, Talk ‘N Txt all set for Charter Day caging

CEBU, Philippines - Expect an intense and high level hardcourt as the PBA teams will parade their respective imports in the keenly-awaited 2014 Charter Day Cup Invitational Basketball Tournament on February 21-23 to be played in two separate venues.Games on February 21 and 23 will take place at the Cebu Coliseum, while action on the 22nd will be at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.

The Alaska Aces will bring along with them Robert Lorenzo Dozier, Jr., the Talk 'N Txt Tropang Texters will field in Richard Arnold Howell, while the GlobalPort Batang Pier will be beefed up by Evan Brock.

The 6-foot-9 Dozier was named “Best Import” after steering the Uytengsu-owned franchise to the Commissioner's Cup title last year via a 3-0 sweep of the Brgy. Ginebra Kings.

Dozier, the last player drafted in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Miami Heat, has an illustrious collegiate career, playing alongside Memphis Tigers' future NBA players such as Derrick Rose, Chris Douglas-Roberts, and Joey Dorsey.

Howell, on the other hand, once played with the Portland Trail Blazers. In his profile posted on nba.com, the 23-year-old power forward is a tough player, great rebounder, dominant on the offensive glass and has a good scoring touch at the post.

Brock also holds an impressive resume, having played with the Atlanta Hawks.

The visiting pros will gang up on the Tagoloan Natumolan Tigers, the lone amateur squad in the three-day joust that serves as their tuneup for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup set to unfold on March 7.

Owned by Tagoloan Mayor Paulino Emano, the Natumolan Tigers are under the tutelage of Van Halen Parmis, the current assistant coach of reigning CESAFI champion University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers.

Alaska is one of the most popular teams in Cebu partly because of the presence of Cebuano hotshot Dondon Hontiveros and Aldrich Ramos. They will play alongside Calvin Abueva, Cyrus Baguio, JV Casino, Sonny Thoss, Nic Belasco, Samigue Eman, Leo Avenido, and rookies Ryan Buenafe and Chris Exciminiano.

GlobalPort, who has found a new head coach in Pido Jarencio, will be bannered by the high-scoring rookie Terrence Romeo together with Jay Washington, Sol Mercado, Erik Menk, Justin Chua, Nic Salva,RR Garcia, Kelly Nabong, Enrico Villanueva, Jondan Salvador, Rudy Lingganay, Marvin Hayes and Jewel Ponferada.

On the side of the Tropang Texters, they will bank on Jimmy Alapag, Jayson Castro, Ranidel de Ocampo, Kelly Williams, KG Canaleta, Danny Seigle, Larry Fonacier, Ryan Reyes and Harvey Carrey.

The four contenders will play in a single round robin format. The team with the best record will automatically be declared as champion.

Tickets are priced at P50 for general admission, P150 for upperbox, P300 for lowerbox, P400 for stage seats and P500 for ringside.

For reservations and further information, one may text or call 0922-2801830, 0943-2978831, 0917-5273888 or 2551405 and 4029419. (FREEMAN)