Maurice Baker is not the best import in the PBA at the moment and it could pose as
a problem in the Talk N Text Tropang
Texters’ drive for a grand slam.
I’m
not saying he’s a bad hire. Combine him with Jason Castro and the Tropang Texters have a vaulted backcourt combo.
It’s
his height.
It's his inability to add size!
I am
not a fan of small imports. I am not normally judgmental about height
discrepancies but in this case I am. During the 2011 PBA Commissioner’s Cup, I was extremely pissed off on the
imports’ low production and crappy stats.
Sure,
this is not the 1980’s where an import would score 60 points on a regular
basis.
But
also during those days, a 6’5 Abet
Guidaben was portrayed as a giant.
The
PBA now is a different league than it was then. Danny Seigle is around 6’6 and plays the slasher positions. Ditto
for Jared Dillinger. Joe Devance, Kelly Williams, Jay
Washington, and Arwind Santos are players that can play multiple positions
with great ease. With the advent of great local scorers like James Yap, Solomon Mercado, Macmac Cardona,
Gary David, and Mark Caguioa, the importance of imports has been directed
to rebounding and becoming a low post threat.
It’s puzzling
to see how the quality of imports has decreased as of late. A couple of years
ago, former Ginebra King Chris Alexander
averaged 20 points and 20 rebounds. Now we have imports averaging a little
under 20 points and a shade fewer than 7 rebounds. Sure, the guards are piling in a bunch of assists to go with 5 or 6 rebounds a night but the PBA at the moment is souped up with backcourt stars that playing them in the position will rob many of their playing time. Sure, this ruling will give local behemoths the means to make their selves more productive but the more I see imports having mediocre stats... the more I couldn't stand it.
There
were only two imports in the Commish Cup that I liked – Paul Harris and Nate
Brumfield. Both players combined offensive firepower and rebounding
capabilities. These are the reasons why both players stuck for the duration of
the conference. Brumfield is also commended for shutting down Smart- Gilas who boasts 6’11
naturalized star Marcus Douthit.
Ginebra desperately needed Brumfield because they are overloaded with slashers
and shooters.
Actually
if you look at it, it is no surprise that Ginebra and Petron won games without
the services of an import in the 2011
Governor’s Cup. An import might be handy when they reach the finals but the
games of Mark Caguioa and Arwind Santos epitomizes the fact that small imports
can’t compete properly in the PBA.
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| WHERE ARE SEAN CHAMBERS AND BOBBY PARKS WHEN YOU NEED THEM?! |
While
I am a fan of Curtis Stinson because
he looks like a better and bigger version of Topex Robinson, he is still small. Ginebra needs big men more than
ever especially since Yancy de Ocampo
is their only credible inside threat that is always healthy and Willy Wilson is a shade taller than
Stinson. The constant DNP’s of Eric Menk
and Billy Mamaril, the season-ending
injury of Enrico Villanueva and the
exodus of Rudy Hatfield are factors
why the Kings are in need of an import that can play post.
The
problem is, at 6’2, what is there left?
A
typical PBA import must be all-around and imposing. He must not get pushed out
of the spotlight but that’s not the case now. Ginebra is expected to change
Stinson while B-Meg and Petron hope their third import would stick.
The
reason we have Douthit in the Smart-Gilas lineup is to solve our lack of
height. As it is, our shooters and slashers can be at par with the imports. If there
are 6’2 or even 6’4 imports that can score and rebound and play frontcourt,
they’re probably playing in leagues that offer big money and more realistic
chances to jump to the NBA.
Sadly
it’s not the case in the PBA.
Hopefully
the PBA would revise their requirements next season.
Game
over.
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