Top PBA teams in pursuit of World Peace

MANILA, Philippines – Two top PBA teams are reportedly in hot pursuit of former NBA player Metta World Peace as their import for the next conference.

World Peace, formerly Ron Artest, hinted on Thursday that is he bound for Manila in one of his Twitter posts.

Philipine Basketball League soon! Angola Basketball League ! During my off time these are my next stops. Get ready Africa.Metta is coming

— mettaworldpeace.com (@MettaWorldPeace) December 11, 2014

PBA import agent Sheryl Reyes confirmed to Philstar.com that World Peace will be available to fly by February and can play as a replacement import.

Reyes was given the go-signal by World Peace's business manager Heidi Buech, President of Artest Management Group, to speak on their behalf.

"Two top teams are interested in him for the PBA and it's not Kia Motors but his schedule is the issue since his team won't be done playing in the CBA till first week of February," Reyes told Philstar.com.

Kia head coach Manny Pacquiao openly said last month that he wants World Peace as their import but the management had since a change of heart and is looking at taking advantage of their luxury – being one of the four bottom teams this conference – to get an import of unlimited height for the PBA Commissioner's Cup.

World Peace, who changed his name to The Pandas Friend while in China, is currently under contract with the Sichuan Blue Whales in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He is averaging 19.6 points on 42 percent of shooting while grabbing 6.2 rebounds per outing. He is sidelined though by a knee injury and will be undergoing a treatment. He is expected to miss a few games with another former NBA player in Daniel Orton set to replace him while he is on sickbay. With a 3-14 win-loss record, the Blue Whales' playoffs chances look bleak, making the former NBA Defensive Player of the Year available to fly between February 2-8 straight from China to Manila.

But with the PBA Commissioner's Cup set to tip off on January 29 next year, there is a big possibility that World Peace might only come in as a replacement import in one of the top eight teams in the PBA Philippine Cup, which are only allowed to bring in a reinforcement not taller than 6-9.

"If he can't come in time for the PBA opening then he will be a replacement import. However, if it does not happen, there is a charity event I am working on for him to be part of," Reyes said.

The PBA import agent has brought in former NBA players to the country to play as an import or in charity events. World Peace is set to join Reyes' prominent clients Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury.

Reyes has been speaking with Buech since her trip to the United States a few weeks ago to scout imports for the PBA.