The 2010-11 Philippine Cup Finals between San Miguel Beer and Talk 'N Text still isn’t done but
everyone’s already scampering for imports and possible replacements for the second conference –
to be once again named the Commissioner’s Cup – which fires off almost two weeks from now in
Laoag City on February 18.
Excluding the Smart-Gilas national team, the nine PBA teams are going to be allowed one foreign
reinforcement standing no taller than 6-4 or 1.93 meters.
Believe it or not, two imports have actually already been replaced for different reasons.
Powerade, which finished ninth and was one of two teams which failed to advance to the playoffs of
the Philippine Cup, was the first to plane in and break in an import in the person of Penn State’s
Titus Ivory but the latter failed to impress its coaching staff headed by Bo Perasol and was sent
home late last month.
Former Notre Dame standout Russel Carter, who is coming off a stint in Belgium, was tapped by the
Tigers to replace Ivory.
Alaska, which finished sixth in the Philippine Cup, latched on to former Chicago Bull Eddie Basden
and was impressed by the former University of North Carolina at Charlotte standout but Basden was
measured to be one-fourth of an inch over the height limit.
The Aces, who made it to the three of the last five conference Finals, are currently still
evaluating their options for Basden’s replacement.
Easily among the imports with the most impressive credentials are Rain or Shine’s Hassan Adams and
Meralco’s Tony Dandridge.
Nicknamed “Hot Sauce,” Adams is a legit former NBA player, having been drafted in the second
round and 54th overall by New Jersey in 2006 and played 61 games for the Nets that year. Prior to
that he played for Arizona where Andre Iguodala was a teammate and regular roommate and was also
part of the US’ under-21 national team in 2004. Adams also saw action for the Toronto Raptors
during the 2008-09 season before he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Danridge, 24, was the 2009 US NCAA Slam Dunk champion while still playing for New Mexico.
The rest of the teams' imports are Syracuse’s Paul Harris for Talk 'N Text, Tennesee's Jajuan
Smith for Air21 and Oklahoma Baptist’s Nate Brumfield for Barangay Ginebra while Buffalo’s
Robert Brown continues to try out for B-Meg Derby Ace and his fate is still up in the air.
San Miguel Beer was pursuing Gonzaga's Ira Brown but it looks like negotiations have hit a snag as
Brown is still playing in Argentina. (FM)
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