Sixers coming to town?

There’s a plan in the works to bring over the Philadelphia 76ers for a series of exhibition games against ABL teams San Miguel Beer and Indonesia Warriors, possibly at the soon-to-open MOA Arena.

Although nothing is final, initial talks have reportedly begun involving Warriors owner and Indonesian media mogul Eric Thohir. A source said it has been proposed for Manila to host the games and take care of food, accommodations and inland transportation with Thohir flying in the Sixers from the US.

Not too many fans know that Thohir owns 18 percent of the Sixers franchise. He’s the first Asian to own a stake in an NBA team. Over 10 years ago, the Vancouver Grizzlies were offered for sale to a wealthy Filipino businessman before the team moved to Memphis. And only last year, a Cincinnati investment banker attempted to form a syndicate, led by a Filipino, that would make a bid to take over the Sacramento Kings from the Maloof family. Thohir won the race to break into the NBA among Asians.

Thohir, 41, has controlling interest in print, TV, radio and internet media in Indoneisa. His brother Garibaldi or Boy is an investment banker and a mining magnate whose wealth was once estimated to be about $1.5 Billion. A passionate sportsman, Thohir is president of the Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) and the Indonesian delegation’s chef de mission at the coming London Olympics.

Thohir joined a high net worth group of investors in buying the Sixers last October. The other owners include David Blitzer, former NBA player agent Jason Levien, Michael Rubin and actor Will Smith.

Philadelphia has captured four NBA titles so far, the last coming in 1982-83 with coach Billy Cunningham and stars Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Bobby Jones, Andrew Toney and Maurice Cheeks. This season, the Sixers are running fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 25-17 record and seem headed for the playoffs. Coach Doug Collins has transformed the Sixers into a no-frills, overachieving gang whose leading scorer Lou Williams, a 6-1 guard, hasn’t started a game in the shortened season.

What’s more, the Sixers are getting the job done without 7-1 starting center Spencer Hawes who’s out with a left Achilles injury. Hawes is expected to be reactivated before the month ends. Including Hawes, there are six Sixers averaging in double figure points – Williams (16.1), Jrue Holiday (13.4), Thaddeus Young (13.4), Andre Igoudala (12.6), Hawes (10.5) and Elton Brand (10.4). Other key players are 6-7 Evan Turner and 6-4 Jodie Meeks. The Sixers are a relatively young squad with 6-11 Tony Battie the oldest at 36 and Brand next in the age ladder at 33.

Sports Illustrated recently tabbed Williams, 25, as its choice for Sixth Man of the Year, saying “(he) hasn’t started a game for the Atlantic-leading 76ers but he’s the team’s leading scorer.” Williams was named to the magazine’s All-Linners Team (“each of these players has exceeded expectations though not quite as dramatically as Jeremy Lin, of course”) which consisted or Roy Hibbert, Paul Millsap, Ryan Anderson, Kyle Lowry and the Sixers guard. “A second round pick, he embraces his role (go-to scorer) off the bench,” said Sports Illustrated.

Last Sunday, Philadelphia upset New York, 106-94, at Madison Square Garden with Williams and Young combining for 42 points as relievers. Turner, in only his fourth start at off-guard this season, tallied 24 and Igoudala hit 19. Knicks guard Jeremy Lin finished with 14 points, seven assists and six turnovers.

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PBA commissioner Chito Salud and special assistant Willie Marcial arrived from Laoag City last Tuesday afternoon after signing a contract with Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos and Mayor Michael Farinas for the northern capital to host the All-Star Weekend on May 10-13.

Former PBA technical director and now Laoag City administrator Perry Martinez was also at the signing rites.

Marcial said the All-Star Game will feature a revival of the Rookies/Sophomores/Juniors against Veterans format that was used in 1990, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2001. The initial plan of pitting only the rookies and sophomores against the rest of the PBA was scuttled to reinforce the newbies with juniors.

Meanwhile, Marcial said only two teams – Petron and Barako Bull – signified interest to sign up former B-Meg guard Roger Yap if he decides to return to the PBA after moving to the ABL with San Miguel Beer. The five-day deadline to notify the PBA of interest lapsed last Monday.

Salud has ruled that Barako, as a non-B-Meg sister team, has the right to match Petron’s offer and sign Yap outright in case both teams submit tenders.  Meralco was hotly rumored to submit an offer but held back in the end.