Imports watch PBA Finals closely

MANILA, Philippines - Two imports are soaking in the drama and excitement of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals as courtside spectators while awaiting their turn to see action when the Commissioner’s Cup opens on March 7.

For sure, Alex McLean and James Mays are itching to show their wares on the floor. They’d rather be playing than sitting in the stands cheering for their new teammates. McLean, 28, will play for Rain Or Shine and Mays, 27, for San Mig Coffee. In the second conference, the last two Philippine Cup finishers Air 21 and Meralco will be allowed to recruit an import up to 6-11 while the limit for the rest is 6-9. McLean is listed 6-8 and Mays, 6-9.

From what they’ve seen so far in the Finals, McLean and Mays are blown away by the enthusiasm of the fans and their passion for the game. They know the responsibility on their shoulders because the expectation is they’ll bring their teams back to the Finals in the Commissioner’s Cup.

McLean is a 240-pound forward from Liberty University, an NCAA Division I school in Virginia. He has played in Poland, Paraguay, Argentina, Iraq, Egypt, Qatar, China and Lebanon in a journeyman career. In 2011, McLean averaged 22.4 points, 14.6 rebounds and 1.6 steals with Jin Qiang Sichuan in the Chinese league. He shot 54.8% from the field, 40% from beyond the arc and 72.2% from the line.

Before moving to Liberty, McLean played at Suffolk Community College in Long Island, New York, and averaged 17.1 points and 13.2 rebounds in 2004-05. He initially agreed to transfer to Southeast Missouri State then changed his mind to enroll at Liberty. Writer Mike Ashley described McLean as “powerful in the paint, a quality post player” and said he can run the floor despite his bulk. In his first year at Liberty, McLean hit at a 14.5 clip and grabbed 8.9 rebounds.   He was second in rebounding in the Big South Conference to former Rain Or Shine import Arizona Reid.

Liberty coach Ritchie McKay called McLean “a monster around the basket.” He added, “(McLean) is a self-made player, he’s a work-out guru and loves to improve.” In his second and last year at Liberty, McLean was tasked to become a defensive stopper on the low block and to develop a go-to offensive move. He did as he was asked and raised his scoring clip to 15.8 points.

McLean never played high school basketball because he was considered too short at 6-2 as a senior. Instead of sports, McLean concentrated on music, playing bass, piano and drums for the Bay Shore High School band. But late in his senior year, McLean had an incredible growth spurt and was encouraged to play basketball. He turned down music scholarship offers from several schools, including California at Berkeley and Hofstra, and also received interest to study at Julliard. McLean decided to pursue a career in hoops instead.

McLean’s cousin Garnett Thompson of Providence was naturalized by Lebanon in 2012 to gain eligibility to play for the national team. His brother Phil was a runner on the St. John’s University track varsity.

Mays earned a reputation as a scrambling defender in four years at Clemson University, an NCAA Division I school in South Carolina. Clemson coach Oliver Purnell said Mays was “the key guy in our pressure defense, our best on-the-ball defender and the point of the press.” Writer Al Featherston said Mays was “a disruptive force in the middle of Purnell’s zone press.” Purnell called Mays “a difference maker,” adding that “his ability to defend, rebound and provide a low-post presence is vital.” As a junior in 2006-07, Mays drove from half court to score the game winner over George Tech, compiled 22 points and 15 rebounds against Maryland and keyed a come-from-behind victory over Miami with 19 points and 10 rebounds. He averaged 12.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.9 steals and 28.1 minutes that season.

A lithe 230-pound post player, Mays has played in the NBA D-League, China, Puerto Rico and Turkey. What gives Mays a distinct advantage in the PBA is his experience in FIBA competitions as a naturalized player with the Central African Republic national team. He averaged 12.2 points and 4.8 rebounds at the FIBA African Championships in Madagascar in 2011.

Mays gained extensive experience playing in NBA summer leagues with Charlotte, Indiana, Toronto, Oklahoma City, Utah and San Antonio. He had tryouts with Washington, Sacramento, Denver and Brooklyn but never made it to the NBA. In the 2012-13 NBA D-League, Mays averaged 16.4 points, 10.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists with the Springfield Armor.