Imports all accounted for

MANILA, Philippines — All 12 imports playing in the PBA Governors’ Cup are now in town with Meralco’s Tony Bishop the last to arrive early Wednesday morning. Under PBA rules, only the newcomers will be measured at the league office and so far three of the five fresh faces have cleared the limit of below 6-6. The seven returnees will not be remeasured.

The three newcomers who have passed the test are Blackwater’s Jaylen Bond at 6-5 9/16, NorthPort’s Cameron Forte at 6-5 3/8 and Terrafirma’s Antonio Hester at 6-3 7/8. In their Eurobasket.com bios, Bond is listed at 6-8, Forte at 6-7 and Hester at 6-7. The two other newcomers are TNT’s McKenzie Moore and Bishop. TNT team manager Gabby Cui said Moore will be measured today while Bishop, who is undergoing hotel quarantine, will visit the PBA office tomorrow or Monday. Bishop will report for his first practice with the Bolts tomorrow.

The comebacking imports are San Miguel Beer’s Brandon Brown at 6-4 5/8, Rain or Shine’s Henry Walker at 6-4 1/2, Alaska’s Olu Ashaolu at 6-4 3/8, NLEX’ KJ McDaniels at 6-4 5/8, Phoenix’ Paul Harris at 6-3 1/2, Magnolia’s Mike Harris at 6-4 3/4 and Barangay Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee at 6-4 5/8. Ashaolu and McDaniels have been practicing the last two weeks. Paul Harris started practice last week.

Two imports were drafted in the NBA. Walker, 34, was Washington’s second round pick in 2008 and played for Boston, New York and Miami in 181 games over five seasons. McDaniels, 28, was Philadelphia’s second round choice in 2014 and saw action for the 76ers, Houston and Brooklyn in 148 contests over three campaigns. Another import Mike Harris, 38, was undrafted in 2005 but suited up for Houston, Washington and Utah in 54 games over four years.

Among the imports, Paul Harris is here for unfinished business. He played for TNT in 2011, 2012 and 2014 then moved to Ginebra in 2016 only to log a single game before exiting with a hyperextended thumb. Harris left the door open for his replacement Brownlee to check in and become a Ginebra legend, leading the franchise to four titles in seven conferences. Now, Harris is back to prove himself all over again. “Paul is looking good,” said Phoenix assistant coach Jamike Jarin. “He’ll bring a lot of energy, leadership and his selfless ways.”

An import with a long PBA history is Walker who has played for Alaska, NLEX and Blackwater in five conferences. Rain or Shine consultant Caloy Garcia said Walker was coach Chris Gavina’s personal choice for the Elasto Painters. Blackwater coach Ariel Vanguardia said he would’ve liked his import to wear 007 on his jersey but three digits aren’t allowed. His import is Bond, not James, but Jaylen. Vanguardia said the former Temple University standout is a stocky bruiser who’s a smaller version of the NBA’s Karl-Anthony Towns.