Hindi pa sigurado ang Beermen kay Onuaku

MANILA, Philippines - Inilarawan ni San Miguel coach Leo Austria ang kanilang import na si Arinze Onuaku na mas maliit na version ni Shaquille O’Neal na magbibigay sa Beermen ng magandang tsansa sa hangaring sa back-to-back championships kung hindi kukunin ng ibang NBA team.

“We’re still hoping we can have him although we know no less than six NBA teams have expressed interest on him after his remarkable showing in the NBA D-League Showcase Cup,” sabi ni Austria. “He had actually signed up with us but then he got a call from the NBA. We have to wait now as he explores on the NBA possibilities.

Tinitingnan ng San Miguel  si dating Dallas Maverick Eric bilang pamalit kay Onuaku ngunit may problema pa rin.

“The problem is that he also awaits call from the NBA. In case both become available, Onuaku is our first option,” ani Austria.

“Onuaku is an undersized big man in the NBA, but he’ll dominate in the PBA,” pag-lalarawan ni  Austria sa 27-gulang na Lanham, Maryland native, No. 1 sa Syracuse all-time list sa kanyang .648 field shooting at No. 11 sa blocks sa kanyang 148.

Ang plano ng San Miguel ay makumplimentuhan ng import sina June Mar Fajardo o Arwind Santos at hindi agawan ang mga ito ng oras.

“We want somebody who can match up with the other imports so that we can still have our matchup advantage with June Mar,” sabi ni Austria. “Onuaku is a player who will need to be doubled on defense. If we have him on one side and June Mar on the other, we would be very formidable.”

Makakapaghintay ang Beermen dahil ang unang salang nila sa magbubukas na Commissioner’s Cup ay sa Feb. 4 pa.

Matapos makopo ang PBA Philippine Cup title noong Miyerkules, sinabi ni Austria na baka sa Martes pa sila magbalik-practice.

Si  Griffin ay nakalistang 6-foot-8 forward at posibleng mas maliit pa siya kapag sumailalim sa PBA height measurement system.

Nasukatan na sa PBA Commissioner’s Office sina Rain or Shine import Rich Jackson na 6-8 1/16, PJ Ramos  ng Kia na 7-2 ¾, Solomon Alabi ng Barako Bull na 7-0 ½ at Richard Howell ng Talk ‘N Text na 6-6 15/16.

Ang iba pang import na lalaro sa Commissioner’s Cup na magbubukas sa Jan. 27 ay sina  DJ Covington ng Alaska, Michael Dunigan ng Barangay Ginebra, Chris Charles ng Blackwater, Al Thornton ng NLEX, Daniel Orton ng Purefoods, CJ Leslie ng Globalport at Josh Davis Meralco. (QH)