Sporting Chance - Time to switch

After a 0-2 start, Barangay Ginebra is suiting up a new import this Friday in an effort to arrest the Kings’ skid in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors Cup. Roy Hammonds is out and Brian Green is in.

Los Angeles-based Filipino import recruiter Mike Gonzalez told The Star yesterday he tried to bring in Green before Ginebra’s game against Sta. Lucia last Sunday but it just wasn’t possible. Green landed that night as the Realtors beat the Kings, 99-93.

Hammonds proved to be a dud. If you checked his San Jose State stats, it wouldn’t have surprised you that Hammonds flopped. Hammonds played at Dixie Junior College in Utah and moved to San Jose State for the 1993-94 season. In his first year with the Spartans, he averaged only 5.3 points and 3.0 rebounds as the varsity posted a 15-12 record under coach Stan Morrison.

Hammonds suffered a knee injury and sat out the entire 1994-95 campaign then was reactivated to play his final season of collegiate eligibility. It wasn’t an eventful exit. Despite logging 30.1 minutes a game as a starter, Hammonds could average only 11.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals. He shot a poor 46.7 percent from the field. The Spartans fell to 13-17.

In an interview, Hammonds insisted he played for the Los Angeles Clippers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He claimed coach Bill Fitch signed him to a 10-day contract to fill in for the injured Loy Vaught in 1998. Hammonds recalled playing against the Boston Celtics. However, there is no record of Hammonds ever playing a game in the NBA.

From what he showed in two games for Ginebra, do you honestly think that Hammonds is NBA material?

Unlike Hammonds, Green’s a scorer. Of course, they play different positions. Hammonds is basically a power forward. Green plays the No. 2 or No. 3 spot.

As a senior at McClellan Junior College in 1993-94, Green averaged 15.4 points and 7.0 rebounds. He went on to play two years at the University of Nevada-Reno. In 1994-95, Green averaged 15.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.1 steals. He hit 42.5 percent from three-point distance, ranked in the top 10 of five Big West Conference statistical categories and was MVP of the Big West tournament. The muscular 6-4, 210-pound bomber led the Wolfpack to an 18-11 slate. The varsity came within a turnaround jumper from advancing to the NCAA playoffs.

After a spectacular debut at Reno, Green slumped badly in his second and final season. He shot a dismal 38.2 percent from the floor and a woeful 26.1 percent from three-point range but a respectable 70.2 percent from the line. Still, Green managed to raise his scoring clip to 17.9. He also averaged 4.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.6 steals, and 33.2 minutes.

"Green couldn’t hit a shot," rued coach Pat Foster. "It cost us and that was the biggest single factor." Although he averaged 17.9 points, Green’s sub-par shooting contributed to the Wolfpack’s inability to pose a perimeter threat.

Luckily, Green has recovered from that nightmarish experience. This past season, he averaged 23 points and 5.9 rebounds for the Florida Sea Dragons in the United States Basketball League. Green hit 42.1 percent from the field, 78.8 percent from the stripe, and 37.9 percent from triple territory. He was the MVP in the International Basketball Association, averaging 27.8 points for the Dakota Wizards.

"I am a very intense, hardworking, passionate player (who) will do whatever it takes to win," said Green. "I look forward to winning a championship."

There seems to be no doubt that Green is talented. But will he fit at Ginebra? If Green plays the No. 2 or No. 3 spot, he’ll take minutes away from Vergel Meneses, Elmer Lago, and maybe even Jun Limpot. And who will be Ginebra’s post threat? Alex Crisano or Wilmer Ong?