Possible PBA return for NBA D-League’s Dunigan

MANILA, Philippines – Former Air21 import Michael Dunigan could be back in the local pro league in the coming PBA Commissioner’s Cup if he doesn’t get a call from any of the NBA teams after the 2015 NBA D-League Showcase Cup Tournament set Jan. 15-19 at the Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Cruz, California.

Barangay Ginebra and Meralco are two teams interested in signing up the versatile player set to play for the Canton Charge in the D-League Showcase event.

Ginebra team manager Alfrancis Chua said they’re also looking at two other players in the same event first played in 2005 as a scouting event for NBA general managers, scouts and coaches from pro leagues around the world.

Meralco coach Norman Black and Purefoods Star coach Tim Cone personally flew to the United States to scout potential imports in the D-League Showcase.

Dunigan banners the Canton team, being the team’s first round selection and No. 12 pick overall in the last D-League draft held late last year.

Talk n Text is the latest PBA team to have signed up an import for the Commissioner’s Cup that fires off Jan. 27 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The Tropang Texters are bringing back Richard Howell, with whom the team missed the 2014 Commissioner’s Cup crown by a game. Talk n Text lost to San Mig Coffee (now Purefoods Star) in the deciding Game Five of their title showdown.

Other imports set to play in the tourney 7-foot-4 Peter John Ramos for Kia Motors, 7-foot-1 Chris Charles for Blackwater, 7-foot-1 Solomon Alabi for Barako Bull, 6-foot-8 Al Thornton for NLEX and 6-foot-9 Arinze Onuaku for San Miguel Beer.

Alaska and Rain or Shine are looking to bring back old imports Rob Dozier and Wayne Chism.

Kia, Blackwater, Barako Bull and NLEX, teams that finished outside the Top Eight in the Philippine Cup, are allowed an import of unlimited height. The rest will play with imports with a 6-foot-9 ceiling.

Globalport has brought in Rod Benson but the NBA D-League veteran measured a little above the height limit.

Though allowed to field a seven-footer, the Road Warriors opted for a smaller import whom they believed are capable of carrying them to a prominent finish.

Thornton and the Road Warriors are now competing in a tune-up tournament in Dubai.

A former Florida State stalwart, Thornton was picked No. 14 overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2007 NBA Draft and made the 2008 NBA All-Rookie Team with Kevin Durant, Al Horford, Luis Scola and Jeff Green.

He had his finest season with the Clippers in 2008-09 when he averaged 16.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists.