Noel joins Big Dome slam dunk

MANILA, Philippines – Barangay Ginebra import David Noel will display his vaunted high-flying act in the PBA Slam Dunk competition preceding the All-Star Game at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday and from all indications, the former University of North Carolina mainstay is the man to beat.

Noel, 25, won the Slam Dunk contest in the 2006 NCAA Final Four and is known for his unimaginable, mind-blowing jams. Writer Tim Peeler said throughout his Tar Heels career, Noel was more known for his skills as a football player and his ability to come up with “creative, jaw-jarring dunks.”

Noel spurned an offer from North Carolina football coach John Bunting to play for the varsity and instead, earned a slot on coach Matt Doherty’s hoop squad as a walk-on freshman with a scholarship promise in his second year.

While Noel has championship experience as a dunker, eight other contestants won’t make it easy for Noel on Sunday. There will be two divisions in the contest – locals and imports.

The locals are Sta. Lucia’s defending champion (Machine Gun) Kelly Williams, Talk ‘N’ Text’s Jared (Daredevil) Dillinger, San Miguel Beer’s Jay Washington, Rain or Shine’s Gabe (Mr. President) Norwood and Purefoods’ Niño (The Elevator) Canaleta. The imports are Sta. Lucia’s Anthony Johnson, San Miguel’s Gabe Freeman, Purefoods’ Jahmar Thorpe and Noel.

Ginebra coach Joseph Uichico confirmed Noel’s participation yesterday.

For the first time in PBA Slam Dunk history, locals and imports will vie for top honors. After two rounds of eliminations, the top finishers in each division will face off for the crown. A cash prize will be up for grabs.

PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial said the competition format is unprecedented. “The best of the locals will go up against the best of the imports in the grand finals,” he said. “This is a dream come true for all basketball fans. We’ve been trying to do this for years and now, it’s finally happening. The league’s best dunkers – local and imports – will be out to show who’s No. 1.”

Marcial said the PBA has selected five judges for the contest. They are US Ambassador Kristie Kenney, IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr., Harlem Globetrotters star Anthony (Buckets) Blakes, a representative of the PBA Press Corps and this writer.

PBA operations manager Rickie Santos said normal basketball rules will not apply. “Competitors can use two balls, they can run with the ball and do other things which would otherwise be prohibited in a regular game,” explained Santos. “However, a competitor must elevate without any assistance from either another person or by actions that have the desired effect like hanging on the rim with one hand while dunking with the other.”

The eliminations will feature two rounds with each player given one attempt per round. In case of a miss, he is allowed to re-dunk once. The grand finals between the winners of the locals and imports divisions will be a two-round affair.

Noel arrived last week as a replacement for Utah’s 2002 first round pick Ryan Humphrey who was measured over the 6-6 limit. Ginebra had previously released original import Rod Nealy after the team stumbled to a 2-5 start and brought in Humphrey.

Noel played four years at North Carolina and was awarded a scholarship starting his sophomore season by Doherty’s replacement Roy Williams. He saw action on the Tar Heels varsity that won the 2005 NCAA title with stars like Rashad McCants, Sean May, Raymond Felton and Marvin Williams. Writer Dave Droschak described him as “a tough rebounder and a guy who runs the floor and finishes around the basket.”

As a senior in 2005-06, Noel scored 12.9 points a game and was North Carolina’s third leading scorer behind Tyler Hansbrough and Reyshawn Terry. He also averaged 6.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 33.7 minutes. Noel shot .532 from the field, .424 from three-point range and .625 from the line. In his farewell game as a Tar Heel, Noel collected 22 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four blocked shots as North Carolina lost a 65-60 decision to George Mason University in the NCAA second round. George Mason, starring Rain or Shine import Jai Lewis and Gabe Norwood, went on to qualify for the Final Four.

Noel was Milwaukee’s second round pick in the 2006 NBA draft and averaged 2.7 points in 68 games for the Bucks in the 2006-07 season, earning a salary of $412,718. This past campaign, he averaged 17.8 points for the Albuquerque Thunderbirds in the National Basketball Development League.

In his PBA debut last Monday, Noel posted a triple double with 22 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists as Ginebra defeated Burger King, 100-94, at the Cuneta Astrodome.