Teams race to upgrade imports

Because it’s a short conference, PBA teams are racing against time to find the right imports for the Governors Cup with the consolation that a replacement may be made at any time even in the last game of the finals. Tonight, two more teams are set to unveil new imports as the eliminations are quickly coming to a climactic ending.

Patience isn’t a virtue when it comes to switching imports in a conference where each team plays only nine games in the eliminations after which the last two placers are struck out of contention. The key is to evaluate whether an import is capable of bringing a team to the next level and in PBA terms, that means the finals. That’s why former New Jersey Nets forward and NBA first round draft pick Josh Boone was given the pink slip despite staking San Miguel Beer to a 2-0 record. The scuttlebutt was San Miguel Beer head coach Biboy Ravanes and consultant Todd Purves agreed Boone wouldn’t be able to lead the team to the championship given the quality of imports in town. So they decided to bring in former Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Jones.

A few days ago, former University of Tennessee standout Wayne Chism arrived to take over Alex McLean’s spot on the Rain Or Shine roster even as the Elasto Painters were coming off a 96-79 win over Meralco. With McLean in harness, the Painters were 2-3. Obviously, coach Yeng Guiao felt McLean, who stands 6-6 3/4, isn’t big enough to battle against the likes of Jones, Talk ‘N’ Text’s Richard Howell and San Mig Coffee’s James Mays. Rain Or Shine is allowed to bring in an import with a ceiling of 6-9 so Chism comes closer to the bar. McLean left Manila last Friday.

Chism, 26, made his Rain Or Shine debut against Globalport at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Monday night. It’s his second trip here in a month. He was previously in Manila to suit up for Barako Bull but had to leave after his FIBA clearance wasn’t secured because of pending obligations with his former team in Hungary. When his clearance came through, at least three teams went after Chism with the Painters eventually hitting the jackpot.

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Chism played four years at Tennessee, averaging 11.3 points and 6.5 rebounds in 142 collegiate career games, including 118 starts. He shot 46.2% from the field and 66.6% from the line. Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl said Chism’s value lies in his ability to defend five positions as a center, describing him as “one of the best defensive big men in the country.” Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook editor Chris Dortch said Chism is “a rare talent who can play inside and out and he needs only to continue to mature, slow down and let the game come to him.”

Barangay Ginebra has brought in Josh Powell who played on the Los Angeles Lakers championship teams in 2009 and 2010. Powell will play against Meralco tonight. Powell, 31, played two years at North Carolina State where he averaged 12.4 points and 5.3 rebounds, hitting 55.3% from the field and 72.9% from the stripe, in his final season.

Powell suited up for Dallas, Indiana, Golden State, the Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers and Atlanta in six NBA seasons despite being undrafted. He earned $4.8 Million during his NBA career and bankrolled a season-high $1.1 Million with the Hawks in 2010-11. Powell has also seen action in China, Puerto Rico, Italy, Greece and Russia.

Powell was a freshman and former San Miguel Beer import Anthony Grundy a senior when they were teammates at North Carolina State in 2001-02. A versatile forward, Powell was once Dirk Nowitzki’s backup with the Mavericks and used to sub for Andrew Bynum with the Lakers. Powell earned a 3.45 grade point average as a college freshman taking up business management but left school after two years to turn pro.

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Ginebra started the conference with Leon Rodgers but couldn’t get on course as the team struggled with a 2-4 record. Against Air21 last Wednesday, Rodgers was held to 18 points after averaging 32.8 in his five previous outings. His inability to jell with Ginebra stalwarts Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar was a severe drawback.

Meralco sent for NBA veteran Darnell Jackson to replace original import Brian Butch two weeks back but when the Polar Bear racked up monster numbers, coach Ryan Gregorio kept the former Cavalier in the wait list. For over a week, Jackson was holed up in his hotel, not practicing, not playing while waiting to be activated. Last Wednesday, Butch had food poisoning and wasn’t his usual self, scoring only 11 points in the Bolts’ 96-79 loss to the Painters.

Jackson will suit up against Ginebra tonight. A Meralco source said Butch may leave Manila today. Jackson, 28, played for Cleveland, Milwaukee and Sacramento in three NBA seasons. He was the Miami Heat’s second round pick in the 2008 draft. Jackson was Kansas University’s top rebounder when the Jayhawks won the NCAA crown in 2008. As a senior, he averaged 11.2 points and 6.7 rebounds in 40 games, including 35 starts. A Cleveland teammate was LeBron James and a Kansas teammate was Miami Heat guard Mario Chalmers.

Another import casualty was Air21’s Herve Lamizana who played four games before Wesley Witherspoon took over with the Express at 2-2. Witherspoon has since led Air21 to a 1-1 record. Staying on the job are Globalport’s Evan Brock, Alaska’s Rob Dozier, Barako Bull’s Joshua Dollard, Mays and Howell unless someone shows up with the ability to take over as a game changer.