Sesay opts out - SPORTING CHANCE by Joaquin M. Henson

After a floundering start, Ansu Sesay is leaving Sta. Lucia Realty to make way for Damian Antonio Owens in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup.

Sesay is hurting or so he claims. A nagging pain in the shin has limited his mobility. He’s clearly not the same Sesay who led the Realtors to their first-ever Finals appearance last season. The pain has caused coach Norman Black a throbbing headache – presumably, by osmosis. There is talk that Sesay is trying to wiggle out of his Sta. Lucia contract – he’s asked to be replaced "for the good of the team" – because of a recent invitation to play at a National Basketball Association (NBA) camp. Black, however, said doctors confirmed Sesay’s injury.

Whatever the reason, Sesay has outlived his usefulness here. And Black isn’t twiddling his thumbs, waiting for Sesay to break out.

So Owens is flying in this morning and from all indications, will suit up for Sta. Lucia against Alaska in the second game of tonight’s twinbill at the PhilSports Arena.

Who’s Owens? And will he relieve Black of his headache?

Owens, 24, was listed at 6-6 in the NBA 1998 draft guidebook. But when he played four years at West Virginia University, Owens was registered at 6-5. By the time Dr. Ben Salud measures him, Owens might be eligible for the Third Conference – where the height limit for imports is 6-4.

The 215-pound Owens is touted to be hard-hatter who plays both ends tirelessly. He finished his collegiate career as West Virginia’s only player to rank among the career top 10 in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, and blocked shots. Owens shot double figures in 88 of 116 varsity games and posted 25 career double-doubles. He averaged in twin digits in his four years on campus. As a senior, he compiled 97 steals to set a new school record.

West Virginia’s long-time coach Gale Catlett said: "He’s the guy who sets the tone for us, offensively and defensively. He has a nose for the ball and can really penetrate to the basket. He’ll go right through you. I haven’t worked with a better instinctive rebounder."

Owens started to make waves at Bowie High School in Seat Pleasant, Maryland. As a prep senior in 1993-94, he averaged 25 points and 14 rebounds to earn All-State honors and a slot in Washington Post’s All-Metro first team. He went on to enroll at West Virginia where as a freshman playing the four spot, he averaged 10.5 points and a team-high 7.5 rebounds.

Owens shifted to shooting forward as a sophomore and raised his scoring clip to 14.6. The next year, his norm slipped to 13.6 but the Mountaineers improved their record from 12-15 to 21-10, barely missing the NCAA playoffs. In his senior season, Owens averaged 16.5 points as West Virginia zoomed to a 24-9 mark, beating Temple and Cincinnati in the NCAA Tournament before losing a 65-62 decision to Utah in the third round. The Mountaineers established a new team record for forced turnovers as Catlett’s patented fullcourt press drove opponents crazy.

Owens was named the Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. He was also selected to the All-Conference first team by Big East coaches. Owens scored double figures in 28 of 32 games and ranked sixth in the NCAA in steals, averaging 3.03. In the San Juan Shootout title game against Dayton, Owens collected 33 points (15-of-19 from the floor), 11 rebounds, three assists and four steals.

Owens’ weakness is free throw shooting. In four years at West Virginia, he hit only 55.3 percent from the line.

After finishing at West Virginia, Owens played for the Connecticut Pride in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA), averaging 10.4 points and 20.3 minutes in 43 games in 1998-99. He shot 51 percent from the field and 62.7 percent from the stripe. In the playoffs that season, Owens averaged 12.8 points and 3.2 rebounds.

Another import reportedly on the way out is Shell’s Juaquin Hawkins. His replacement is expected to be Tremaine Wingfield who played with disgraced Fil-Sham Sonny Alvarado at the University of Texas. Wingfield 29, is listed at 6-7, 230 pounds. Unlike Owens, Wingfield never averaged double figures in two years at Louisville and two years at Texas.