Vroman's chink in armor

Barangay Ginebra import Jackson Vroman may be a smart operator, an inside-outside threat and an intimidating presence inside the lane but if he can’t knock down free throws consistently, he’s a major liability in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Last Sunday, the two-year NBA veteran from Iowa State hit a dismal 4-of-12 from the line as the Kings dropped a 109-93 decision to B-Meg before close to 16,000 fans at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. He finished with 26 points, one less than adversary Denzel Bowles, and delivered eight assists in 41 minutes. Bowles went 5-of-8 from the stripe.

Vroman, 31, is dead last in free throw percentage standings among imports. When it’s obvious an import can’t shoot free throws, expect a lot of preemptive fouls reminiscent of Hack-A-Shaq. A defender would rather risk sending a poor free throw shooter to the line than give up an unmolested layup or dunk.

Alaska’s Adam Parada tops the free throw percentage ladder with a .789 clip followed by Petron’s Nick Fazekas at .782, Meralco’s Earl Barron at .750, Barako Bull’s Rodney White at .607, Rain Or Shine’s Duke Crews at .595, Air21’s Marcus Douthit at .566, Bowles at .563, Powerade’s Dwayne Jones at .560, Talk ‘N’ Text’s Donnell Harvey at .500 and Vroman at .400.

The closer an import plays to the basket, the more prone he is to getting fouled and going to the line. Barron, for instance, likes to shoot from the perimeter and doesn’t go to the line too often because jumpshooters don’t earn that luxury. In Meralco’s 93-84 win over the Painters last Sunday, Barron shot 5-of-7 foul shots and Crews, 13-of-16. Barron, however, outscored Crews, 29-21, because he’s much more versatile in offense. Last Saturday, Powerade beat Petron, 98-88, in Legazpi City and Fazekas, a solid foul shooter, was held to only 1-of-3 from the line. Tigers import Dwayne Jones was atrocious at the line, sinking 4-of-10, but outscored Fazekas, 22-21, and the locals took care of the rest.

Here are 10 things an import should keep in mind if he wants to enjoy a long career in the PBA:

• Hit free throws consistently. An import should make at least 60 percent of his foul shots – only four imports are over the hump. Big guys who post up and play close to the basket will be fouled a lot so they’ve got to be ready to sink those free throws.

• Go strong to the hole. There are locals who can defend imports like Asi Taulava, Rudy Hatfield, Don Allado, Dorian Peña and Mick Pennisi – that means if an import plays the perimeter against a local, the opposing import will be virtually unopposed in clearing the boards. Imports should take high percentage shots not jumpers from the outside. They shouldn’t settle, they should be aggressive in driving to the rim.

• Stay cool under fire. If an import isn’t used to PBA officiating, he can go berserk. The play is physical in the PBA and referees will allow contact unless it puts a player at a severe advantage or disadvantage. It’s not good policy to rave and rant. Imports need to stay in the game – they’re useless sitting on the bench with six personals or in the dressing room with two technicals.

• Invite the double team. An import should be deadly enough to draw a double team wherever he is. Opposing teams must respect his offense and work to keep the ball away from his hands. If an import is doubled, he should be quick to locate open teammates and shouldn’t hesitate to pass.

• Control the boards. Whether an import boxes out or plucks down the rebound himself doesn’t matter for as long as his team controls the boards. An import must establish his interior presence on both ends. If an import isn’t able to compile at least 10 rebounds in a game, something’s wrong. Par for the course would be 15 rebounds.

• Don’t be reclusive. An import must assimilate. Chemistry is crucial in building a championship team. The idea is for an import to adjust to the locals not vice-versa. He can’t be on his own and hole up in his hotel room. Teamwork is essential and that means interaction on and off the court.

• Trust your teammates. It’s dangerous if an import has a Messianic complex because he’ll try to do things by himself without getting teammates involved in do-or-die situations. The coach plays a big role in making an import believe in his teammates. If an import doesn’t trust in his teammates, things will go haywire. No one man – not even a Michael Jordan – can tow a team to the championship singlehandedly.

• Listen to your coach and teammates. Attitude is critical in molding a quality import who must be coachable. It may be difficult for an NBA veteran to take orders from a PBA coach but that’s how life is in the basketball world. An import must respect his PBA coach and teammates. Without that respect, the import will go nowhere.

• Capitalize on your strengths. The Commissioner’s Cup allows teams to recruit an import of unlimited height. Some imports are taller and bigger than others. Those with a size advantage must use it to overpower their defenders. Those who are smaller must go to their strengths – they’re quicker and faster to the ball. An undersized import shouldn’t go eyeball-to-eyeball against a seven-footer unless he wants to be embarrassed. The coach will find a way to even up things in a mismatch.

• Don’t allow easy shots. An import must be an intimidator with the ability to block shots. In Air21’s win over Talk ‘N’ Text, Douthit showed how an import can lead his team to victory without producing major points. Douthit was a towering presence inside the paint, making the Texters change their shots within five feet from the hoop. Douthit shot only six points but Air21 held Talk ‘N’ Text to only .323 field goal shooting to win with tenacious defense.

So far, four imports have been replaced since the start of the conference – Barako’s DerMarr Johnson (injury), Talk ‘N’ Text’s Omar Samhan (injury), Meralco’s Jarrid Famous and Barangay Ginebra’s Chris Alexander. Who will be the next to get the pink slip?