Another ex-import in NBA roster

It’s not only former Barangay Ginebra import Chris Alexander who’s close to landing a roster spot in the NBA this coming season. Another PBA veteran Gabe Muoneke, who averaged 28 points in six games for Purefoods in 2002, is listed in the Utah Jazz’ 18-man preseason lineup.

Alexander is in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 17-man cast for the exhibition campaign. Because he’s 7-1 and relatively mobile, Alexander seems a more likely choice to make it to the final roster than the 6-7 Muoneke who’s playing in the same spot as veterans Carlos Boozer, Matt Harpring, Andrei Kirilenko, Paul Millsap and Memo Okur.

But Muoneke, 30, is hanging on. In Utah’s 120-119 overtime loss to Denver a few days ago, he was the 14th player sent in by coach Jerry Sloan and contributed two points, one rebound, one assist and one blocked shot in 10:30. In three previous games, Muoneke was 0-7 from the floor and averaged 5:50 minutes.

In the NBA last season, two former imports, who saw action were Cleveland’s Billy Thomas (Tanduay, 2001) and Miami’s Earl Barron (2004-05).

Muoneke is not the typical basketball globetrotter. He majored in petroleum engineering at the University of Texas and spent two summers in college working for Baker-Hughes Intech as a mud-motor mechanic in Houston. His father Nik is a math professor at Prairie View and his mother Njudeka is a medical technologist.

Muoneke has played as an import in Iran, Spain, China, South Korea, Turkey, Puerto Rico and France aside from the Philippines. He suited up for Nigeria at the World Championships in Saitama in 2006.

In 2003-04, Muoneke played six games for the Houston Rockets in the NBA preseason but failed to make the last cut. He also had tryouts with the Vancouver (now Memphis) Grizzlies, Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Bobcats.

* * *

Rajan Sadhwani, who counts Glenn McDonald (U-Tex, 1978-79-80, Manhattan, 1983) and Francois Wise (U-Tex, 1981-82, Tanduay, 1983, Manila Beer, 1985) as two of his closest friends, said the other day he outdid the former PBA imports in leading the Black Team to the Bel-Air Village Inter-Color Seniors Basketball Championships in Makati at the age of 50.

Sadhwani was not only named the MVP in the 40-and-above tournament but also voted the Best Defensive Player. Of course, he was listed in the Mythical Five selection.

 “I hope Glenn and Fran read about this,” he chuckled.

“Our team won the championship and the awards were given right after and to my surprise, I won a medal for the defensive player, a trophy for the MVP award, a medal as part of the Mythical Five and we were also given the championship trophy.

“I am so proud of these achievements, considering I turned 50 only five months ago and I dedicate all these to my mom who just turned 88, to my wife Apples (Aberin), to our daughter Samantha and our son Martin.”

Sadhwani was a high school varsity cager and played for the University of San Carlos Warriors in Cebu City. “I really wanted to play for La Salle in college but it was very difficult as I was a working student,” he said.

The Black Team was mentored by Jose Luis Monfort, the men’s basketball head coach at Southville International School and the assistant coach at St. Francis of Assisi College.

* * *

The STAR’s sports section congratulates Wanbol U on its first anniversary last Oct. 5. The “school” is made up of avid readers and contributors to the comments forum in The STAR website.

Vic Ongasis of Wanbol U wrote in to say, “To Wanbol students, you are our Dean and your column is our favorite ‘klasrum.’ As I’m sure you are aware by now, your readers come from all over the world and from different time zones (US, UK, Middle East, East Asia, Australia). And ‘one of us’ even met you in person, the prolific blogger Morpheus. Thank you for acknowledging our group more than once in your column.”

Wanbol U even has its own logo with icons representing the group’s interests, which are basketball, movies, music, internet and OFWs (“many of us are homesick Pinoys”).

To Wanbol U, keep those comments coming. We’re all learning from each other.