Gilchrist checks in for Mahindra

MANILA, Philippines – Augustus Gilchrist of the University of South Florida is scheduled to arrive in Manila today as Mahindra’s import in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup opening Feb. 10 and the 6-10, 240-pound center is the only exception to the rule where all other teams may bring in a reinforcement only up to 6-9.

Mahindra and Blackwater, in only their second PBA season, were allowed to sign up an import of unlimited height for the Second Conference on condition they fail to advance to the playoffs in the ongoing Philippine Cup. The exception was approved by the PBA Board as a concession to the new franchises both of which did not make the playoffs in any conference last season.

In the Philippine Cup which is now in the semifinals stage, Blackwater sneaked into the quarterfinals with a 3-8 record but Mahindra missed the cut at 2-9. So Mahindra was given the import exception while Blackwater joined 10 other teams with the 6-9 restriction.

Mahindra interim head coach Chito Victolero, filling in for Manny Pacquiao, confirmed Gilchrist’s arrival. The Enforcers checked out the availability of P. J. Ramos and Hamady N’Diaye before coming to terms with Gilchrist. Ramos played for Mahindra, then known as Kia, in the Commissioner’s Cup and N’Diaye in the Governors Cup last season. Both imports were impressive but are now playing in other leagues. The 7-4 Ramos is averaging 19 points and 9.7 rebounds with the Jilin Northeast Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association while N’Diaye is averaging 6.3 points and 4.5 rebounds with Bnei Hertzeliyya in the Israel league.

Gilchrist, 26, could be a perfect fit for Mahindra. He’s a versatile post player who’s used to battling double teams at the low block. Gilchrist ended his collegiate career at South Florida on a high note, leading the Bulls varsity to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 20 years. He averaged 9.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocked shots in 33 games that season as the Bulls advanced to the third round of the playoffs. The varsity beat No. 12 California, 65-54 and No. 5 Temple, 58-44, before bowing out to No. 15 Ohio, 62-56.

Gilchrist teamed with former PBA import Jarrid Famous (Meralco, Globalport) for two seasons at South Florida. They were reunited with the Iowa Energy in the NBA D-League in 2012-13. Famous, who also suited up for Petron in the ABL, now plays in Lebanon where he is a naturalized citizen.

South Florida coach Stan Heath called Gilchrist a “monster, a terrific post player (and) a difficult guy for teams to match up against.” Gilchrist played his entire four-year collegiate career under Heath.

“On any given night, Gilchrist is as good as any big man you’re going to find in our league and around the country,” said Heath. “He’s certainly talented, he gives you that versatility inside and out. He pretty much gets a double team routinely in every game we play so he’s got to handle that situation better. I think with better perimeter shooting and with his development as a passer, those things will happen for us.” Michael Bradley, writing in the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, said Gilchrist is “a rare big man who can step out and shoot the long ball (and) is also quite comfortable banging around in the lane.”

Gilchrist was initially tapped to play for Virginia Tech then moved to Maryland but when transfer rules meant sitting out the 2008-09 season as a freshman, he ended up at South Florida where his eligibility started in the second semester. Gilchrist averaged 10.2 points in his first collegiate season as the Bulls struggled with a 9-22 record.

In his sophomore season, South Florida registered an incredible turnaround with a 20-13 mark. Gilchrist shot at least 20 points in three of his first seven games and tallied 21 against Providence. He missed 15 contests with a high ankle sprain but still averaged 13.4 points and 5.9 rebounds. Gilchrist hit an eye-popping 13 of 27 threes for a 48.1 percent clip from beyond the arc.

In 2010-11, the Bulls fell to 10-23 as Gilchrist was the only player to average in double figures, norming 13.4 points. He averaged 19.5 points in the last six games, shooting 54 percent from the field and 83 percent from the line. Gilchrist shot at least 20 points in six games with a high of 32 against DePaul. That season, South Florida came back from 16 down at the half to edge Villanova, 70-69, took eventual NCAA champion Connecticut to overtime, beat Final Four team Virginia Commonwealth and lost a 77-75 double overtime decision to Brigham Young, starring Jimmy Fredette who shot 32 points to Gilchrist’s 14.

After completing his eligibility at South Florida, Gilchrist played for Sacramento in the NBA Pro Summer League in Las Vegas then joined Iowa in the D-League before seeing action as an import in Italy, Hungary and Cyprus. Gilchrist averaged 5.2 points and 4.8 rebounds for Granarolo Bologna in the Italian Serie A in 2014-15. He scored in double figures only once, netting 11 in 26 minutes against Umana. Gilchrist passed for only four assists and shot 15 of 27 free throws in 14 games with Bologna while averaging 18.4 minutes. To make an impact with Mahindra, Gilchrist has to deliver bigger numbers in the PBA than what he produced in Italy.