Four new imports suit up for PBA clubs

At least four teams are bringing in new talents as imports for the Philippine Basketball Association Fiesta Cup set to kick off Feb. 22 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Red Bull Barako signed up Pensacola Junior College’s Carlos Willer, FedEx inked Auburn’s Alvin Jefferson, Coca-Cola enlisted Washington’s Mark Sanford and Sta. Lucia Realty tapped in Troy State University’s Lamayn Wilson to compete with mostly returning imports, including Lenny Cooke of Purefoods, Jarmaine Walker of Barangay Ginebra and Art Long of San Miguel Beer.

Meanwhile, Purefoods and Shell have come to terms with draftees Ervin Sotto and Carlo Sharma, completing their rosters for the coming PBA transition tourney.

Sotto, the No. 7 pick from St. Francis of Assisi College, is to get roughly P5 million in two and a half years while Sharma, the 12th pick from La Salle, is to get P1.4 million in one and a half years.

Curiously, Willer made the grade at Red Bull Barako although he was a mere walk-in, recommended by veteran import agent Sam Unera. Earlier the team management was considering re-enlisting old import Julius Nwosu.

"Magaling yung Willer, siya na ang import namin," said Red Bull Barako team manager Tony Chua.

Jefferson is FedEx coach Boni Garcia’s personal pick. Garcia is familiar with Jefferson’s game since the Filipino mentor had a stint as an assistant coach in the USBL where the former Auburn Tiger had been a star player.

Garcia sat on the Pennsylvania Vallewdagws bench as one of coach Daryll Dawkins’ deputies. Jefferson, meanwhile, played for the Dodge City Legend.

"He’s not really an offensive player. He’s more of a defender, rebounder and blocker — someone who we really need in the team," said FedEx team manager Lito Alvarez.

Jefferson is coming in fresh from his stint with the Harlem Globetrotters.

Making a reputation as a lethal offensive weapon at University of Washington was Sanford who, after junior college, was picked No. 31 overall by the Miami Heat in the 1997 NBA Draft.

Batch ’97 of the annual NBA draft was star-studded, featuring the likes of Tim Duncan, Keith Van Horn, Chauncey Billups and Tracy McGrady. Sanford was picked ahead of another future PBA import Jerald Honeycutt (No. 38 by Milwaukee).

Coca-Cola coach Chot Reyes will be with Sanford (with an NCAA career average of 16.1 points) as they plane in from the United States on Wednesday.

The Tigers actually have also called on former import Ron Hale. The flamboyant player is still campaigning with the Mitsubishi ballclub in Japan and won’t be available until mid-March.

Wilson is also regarded as a scoring threat.

According to an Internet report, Wilson is an explosive player for TSU, has the ability to shoot from the outside, as well as post up smaller defenders. Wilson led the Trojans in scoring with 19.4 points per game in his final year in the NCAA Athletic Sun Conference.

Sta. Lucia’s import on standby is former Red Bull Barako import Tony Lang who is Hale’s teammate with the Mitsubishi Dolphins in Japan.

Purefoods has decided to choose Cooke over former PBA Best Import awardee Derrick Brown with the former practically taking the Chinese league by storm.

"Lenny is averaging 42 points and 17 rebounds. Papakawalan pa ba naman namin yan?" said Purefoods team manager Rene Pardo.

Cooke, who was once the top high school player in the US before LeBron James came, is due to arrive in the country on Feb. 1.