I just
read an InterAKTV column on how a couple of PBA legends think that Billy Ray Bates is the best PBA import
ever.
The
man dubbed as The Black Superman because
of his jam-infested plays is back in Manila and has apparently landed a
coaching role with the Asian Basketball
League’s Philippine Patriots. After accepting his Hall of Fame award at the 2011-12
PBA Season opening ceremonies, Bates went on to ambush Mico Halili and Jason Webb’s halftime report by speaking heartfelt
lines on how he wants to thank the people that supported him and how he wants
to become a coach in the PBA.
Here’s
the thing – how can I lay waste the wordings of Hall of Famers Philip Cezar, Atoy Co, Bogs Adornado, and Ricky Brown?
I mean they played in the time when conditioning hasn’t been that important and
it’s a sin for an import to score less than 30 points.
However,
I was born on 1982 (yes I’m that old) and I watch my first PBA game at around
1988 (I was a Purefoods fan back then). The only time I saw Bates in action was
when he was a shell of his former self with the La Tondena franchise (I think they were named Anejo then). I know Bates averaged 54.9 points with Ginebra but I
was born in an era where imports average less than 40 points a night. I’m
talking about imports like Lamont
Strothers, Winston Crite, Ronnie Grandison, Ken Redfield, Ronnie Thompkins, Michael
Phelps, Kenny Travis, Lambert Shell, Devin Davis, Derrick Canada, Derek
Hamilton, John Best, Terq Mott, Ansu Sesay, Tony Lang, Jerald Honeycutt and
a whole lot.
I’m
going to set my pick on the imports I know and I remember the fondest.
My
favorite import of all-time is Sean
Chambers. I was an Alaska fan back when they had Merwin Castelo, Kevin Ramas, and Rhoel Gomez on their lineup.
However, Chambers wasn’t really a scorer. In fact he was not even a big-time
rebounder. Barely standing 6’3, Sean The Man doesn’t have an outside shot. Over
the years, his scoring averages diminished. However, he knows how the blend
well with Johnny Abarrientos, Bong
Hawkins, Jojo Lastimosa, Jeffrey Cariaso, Kenneth Duremdes, and Poch Juinio.
He was a very big factor in the 1996
Grand Slam feat of the Milkmen when he both played in the Commissioner’s and Governor’s Cups.
Tony Harris once shot the lights off
whatever arena he’s in, including the record-holding 105 points he scored when
Swift clashed with Ginebra in 1992. Harris gave the Mighty Meaties credibility
in he was the team’s first taste of growth. However, Swift gained team 90’s
success with Thompkins, Grandison, and Steven
Smith.
In
what year did Harris hooked up with actress Ilonah Jean?
Hmm...
Norman Black had a halftime segment. He was
the reason why I wore Burlington socks on my elementary years. This is a reason
why he is right on the dot as a coach after he retired as a player for San Miguel and Ateneo.
How
can he NOT be the best import of all-time?
Black and
Chambers are the only recipients of the 100 percent performance award. Black
also helped Great Taste, San Miguel,
Tefilin, and Magnolia have respectable conferences. Basically the two-time best import is one of
the best things that ever happened in Philippine Basketball.
But
hey, Norman Black just ties up Billy Ray Bates’ two-time best import award –
which is the same number as Redfield, Honeycutt, Derrick Brown, and Gabe Freeman.
However...
I think the best import for me is Bobby
Parks.
I am
not a die-hard Shell fan but you can be sure that the Turbo Chargers are a
tough team to crack with the triumvirate of Parks, Ronnie Magsanoc, and Benjie Paras.
First
of all, check out the Best Import conferences of Bobby Parks:
(note: SEASON – TEAM – PLACING)
1987 – SAN MIGUEL – CHAMPION
1988 – SHELL – RUNNER-UP
1989 – SHELL – RUNNER-UP
1990 – SHELL (FIRST CONFERENCE)
– CHAMPION
1990 – SHELL (THIRD CONFERENCE)
– THIRD PLACE
1991 – SHELL – RUNNER-UP
1992 – SHELL – CHAMPION
Three
titles and three runner-up finishes is awesome especially for an import. Also
for an import, Parks is extremely durable. Parks played in 13 seasons and 221
games in the league trailing only Norman Black and Sean Chambers. While we saw
Parks’ diminishing play as the years go on, Parks was valuable in other
aspects. It is his dedication to the Philippine style of play that kept Parks
in the country which eventually led to the fathering of future PBA star Bobby Ray Parks.
Here
are the stats of Parks compared to the other players:
BOBBY
PARKS
13 SEASONS – 221 GAMES – 40.5PPG
– 15.2RPG – 5.4APG
NORMAN
BLACK
9 SEASONS – 282 GAMES – 40.1PPG
– 18.9RPG – 4.2APG
BILLY
RAY BATES
4 SEASONS – 98 GAMES – 46.2PPG –
12.4RPG – N/A
SEAN
CHAMBERS
13 SEASONS – 270 GAMES – 30.5PPG
– 12.0RPG – 4.7APG
So maybe
we can say that Black has better overall averages than either Parks or Bates
because of his impressive rebounding average. But then again, beauty is in the
eyes of the beholder. Bates is a basketball demigod in the country and his
presence gives awe to people. Black is for the all-around performance he brings
to the team he has played in while Chambers is your man if you want to have a
player that will give all he can give despite his deficiencies.
With
all due respect to the fans and supporters of Bates, Black, and Chambers (SEAN
IS THE MAN), I’m going to give my vote to the seven-time best import.
Reactions? Check them out here!
Game
over.
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