PBA imports take center stage

MANILA, Philippines - Tiras Wade is confident he can make Talk n Text a better team and is hopeful they can work well together to have a good shot at a possible sweep of the two championships in the 2008-09 PBA campaign.

“(Talk n Text’s chance for a season sweep) is kind of good. The team’s confidence is high coming from a run (Philippine Cup championship) like that. We’re bringing the same winning attitude in this tournament,” said Wade as the imports slugging it out in the Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference were presented in a press conference at the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City yesterday.

In the same press conference, PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios formally announced that Motolite is sponsoring the season-ending import-reinforced tourney.

“We’ve been involved in the three “Bs” — boxing, basketball and billiards. We’ve decided to focus on basketball this time as we want a visible role. We want to help promote the league through our branches nationwide specially on the grassroots level,” said Motolite vice-president for marketing Ernest Estrera.

The imports met the press after they were officially cleared to play in the tourney, measuring inside the 6-foot-6 height limit.

Shawn Daniels of Burger King is the tallest at 6-foot-5 5/8 while Barako Bull’s Scooter McFadgon is the shortest at 6-foot-3 13/16. Ginebra’s Rod Nealy measured 6-foot-5 1/16, Sta. Lucia’s Anthony Johnson 6-4 15/16, Purefoods’ Brian Hamilton 6-foot-4 3/4, Rain or Shine’s Charles Clark 6-foot-5 1/4, San Miguel’s Nate Carter 6-foot-5 1/16, Coca-Cola’s J.J. Sullinger 6-foot-4 1/4 and Wade 6-foot-5 3/8.

Alaska’s Galen Young missed the event as he’s only to arrive today.

“We expect you to play your best and hope you give the fans what they came for,” Barrios advised the imports.

Daniels and Johnson, both returning imports, are the first to display their wares as Burger King and Sta. Lucia clash in the opening game on Saturday in Dumaguete.

The burly Daniels, who has reinforced Air21 (now Burger King) in two previous tourneys, is known to be a post-up player while Johnson, a former Coca-Cola import, is more of a wing player.

Taking the spotlight Sunday are Wade, Hamilton, Clark and McFadgon as Barako Bull and Rain or Shine clash in the 3:50 p.m. curtain-raiser then Purefoods and Talk n Text square off at 6:30 p.m.

Asked what he can bring to the table for Talk n Text, Wade said: “About everything.”

To the same question, Nealy replied “hard work,” Fadgon “scoring,” Clark “low-post presence,” Johnson “what it takes to win,” Carter “energy,” Hamilton “hopefully to meet up their (Purefoods’) standard and bring it to the next level.”

Nealy is said to have improved, his game maturing at 29. The former Houston Baptist mainstay reinforced Ginebra two years ago, failing to make it to the semis as they were beaten by San Miguel Beer and import Galen Young in the quarterfinals.

Hamilton and McFadgon seem to have the best credentials with both having experienced playing with NBA teams at least in pre-season tourneys. Hamilton had a short contract with the New Jersey Nets and McFadgon with the New Orlean Hornets.

In a bid for a season sweep, the Tropang Texters hope to draw boost from Wade, who has played in Italy, France, Hungary, Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Israel all in the last two years.

Wade is said to be an old-school swingman with excellent perimeter shooting skills, plus a strong body that allows him to create his own shot.

Curiously, Wade, Johnson and Hamilton all played for Louisiana-Lafayette in college basketball.