Shorts: PBA Visit

San Mig Premium?




       Obviously, the San Miguel Corp franchises are looking to repeat their dominance in the PBA's import-flavored conference.  Much of their success will depend on their imports, though.  For this conference, the San Miguel Beermen will bring back last year's best import, Gabe Freeman.  Fresh off a stint with the Philippine Patriots in the Asean Basketball League, Freeman is in great shape and look for the Beermen to be back in the title hunt yet again.  The Ginebra Gin Kings hope former NBA player Awvee Storey can help augment their sometimes sputtering offense.  Storey, who averaged 3.5 points and 2 rebounds in 26 games for the Bucks, can help.  The only concern is his head.  The 33 year old has bounced around the world, not because of lack of skill but because of behavior.  His checkered past includes trouble with Gilbert Arenas and the police and punching a teammate in the NBDL.  The Kings may want to grab a replacement import, just in case.  All Filipino Champs Purefoods have their eye on Reggie Larry, who despite barely playing in the Golden State Warriors' Summer League Team, does have tremendous hops, as seen in the video above.  The question is, will he mesh with the league's most potent defensive team?


Where's the Beef?

     The answer to that question may be Ginebra.  Obviously lacking in size when they lost to the Alaska Aces in the semi finals of the All Filipino Cup, Ginebra is on the prowl to increase size.  Rebounding and hustle will no longer be franchised by Willie Wilson alone, as the Kings have re-signed the "H-Bomb" Rudy Hatfield for the year.  Although years older and our of competitive basketball for a while, look for Hatfield to grab Ginebra at least an extra two to three possessions a game.  Then, the Kings look to find a true center who can block shots with a rumored deal sending former Ateneo Blue Eagles Rich Alvarez and Doug Kramer in exchange for Yancy de Ocampo.  De Ocampo, who rotted on the Talk and Text bench averaging less than 15 minutes a game, is no game changer, but he's still a 6'11" non game changer.








Back in the Flash?

     In other PBA related news, guess who's back in town after retiring to the U.S. to live a quiet life?  Bal "The Flash" David, the former blur of a point guard of the Ginebra Kings, is back in town and involved in basketball again.  Fortunately, he isn't trying to stage a comeback playing.  He is now mentoring the Fern C basketball team in the Philippine Basketball League. Call me evil, but I saw a Fern C game last week, and as I gazed at David pacing the baseline and calling out instructions, one thought came to mind, "If he keeps asking his players to play tougher defense, one of his players will certainly ask him why he didn't bother playing any during his Ginebra days?"  Like I said, evil.  I wish you luck Bal! Peace!