2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Preview
Overview:
The second tournament of the 2015/16 PBA season will commence today with the Commissioner’s Cup. This conference allows to appoint one foreign player for each team with a height limit of 6’9″ for the top eight teams of the last tournament while the bottom four are exempted to this rule.
Returning Imports:
Alaska Aces – Robert Dozier
Height – 6’9″
Career Highlights: 2008 NCAA Div I Finals Appearance | 2013 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Best Import and Champion
Robert Dozier has been the top selection for the Alaska Aces in the commissioner’s cup as he once led the team in championship way back in 2013. Even though he failed to defend the title when he came back last year for the team, the Aces still put their trust to the man who once played alongside with Derrick Rose during his stint in the University of Memphis.
Barangay Ginebra – Othyus Jeffers
Height – 6’5″
Career Highlights: 2014 NBA D-League MVP
Othyus Jeffers once played in the 2014 PBA Commissioner’s Cup for the TNT Tropang Texters albeit he only played one game recording 38 points, 13 rebounds and 2 steals in a win over the Meralco Bolts. Although he is not the biggest import in the conference, he was chosen by head coach Tim Cone in the hopes that he will be a vital part of the triangle offense with Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar leading the backcourt.
NLEX Road Warriors – Al Thornton
Height – 6’8″
Career Highlights: 2008 NBA All-Rookie First Team
The NLEX Road Warriors called back their commissioner’s cup reinforce last year with Al Thornton. He lead the Road Warriors in finishing the last year’s elimination round in fourth place with 6-5 record and made appearance in the semifinals before being swept by the Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters.
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters – Wayne Chism
Height – 6’9″
Career Highlights: 2015 Commissioner’s Cup Best Import of the Conference
The two time ROS commissioner’s cup import, Wayne Chism proved that he belonged to the league as he won the 2015 Best Import of the Conference award and led the team in the finals but failed to win the championship. With his return in the PBA, Chism has an unfinished business to accomplish by going back in the finals and to seal the deal this time.
Star Hotshots – Denzel Bowles
Height – 6’10”
Career Highlights: 2012 PBA Commissioner’s Cup champion and Best Import of the conference awardee
Denzel Bowles has been the regular import for the San Miguel Pure Foods Company, Inc. franchise in the commissioner’s cup as he played with the team way back when they were called the B-Meg Llamados, San Mig Coffee Mixers, and currently as the Star Hotshots. He once led the team in winning the championship on 2012 and also became the best import for the same year.
TNT Tropang Texters – Ivan Johnson
Height – 6’8″
Career Highlights: 2015 PBA Commissioner’s Cup champion
Ivan Johnson is making a comeback for the TNT Tropang Texters in the commissioner’s cup to defend their title. Johnson has proved last season that he can play through the physicality of the league and surely knows how to lead a team in winning the championship.
New Comers:
Blackwater Elite – Alex Loughton
Height – 6’9″
Career Highlights: 2005 CAA Player of the Year
The Blackwater Elite are putting their trust with Alex Loughton who hails from Australia. The 32 year old big man had his stints in professional Spanish basketball leagues and with Australia’s National Basketball League.
Global Port Batang Pier – Brian Williams
Career Highlights: 2013 ASEAN Basketball League Champion with San Miguel Beermen
The Global Port Batang Pier choses the ASEAN Basketball League standout with Brian Williams who led the San Miguel Beermen together with Chris Banchero and Asi Taulava in winning the championship way back in 2013. With his familiarity with playing alongside with the Filipinos, the Batang Pier are decided that they could led the team in winning their very first championship.
Phoenix Fuelmasters – Kenny Adeleke
Height – 6’9″
The newest PBA franchise will make their debut in the league as they tap the Nigerian journeyman with Kenny Adeleke. With his 10 year professional career, the African bigman has played for over 16 teams overseas with a two game NBA stint with the Seattle Supersonics.
Mahindra Enforcer – Augustus Gilchrist
Height – 6’10”
Augustus Gilchrist has got to be the underdog amongst all the imports in the conference. On his stint in the NBA D-League, Gilchrist averaged a mediocre 6.97 points and 4.33 rebounds in 69 games and played on two teams in Europe after that.
Meralco Bolts – Arinze Onuaku
Height – 6’9″
Career Highlights: 3x NBA D-League All-Star
The Meralco Bolts is looking to shake their disappointing effort last conference as they tap the 6’9″ center with Arinze Onuaku. Onuaku had a stint in both in the NBA and NBA D-league then also played in Israel, Lithuania and China’s CBA.
San Miguel Beermen – Tyler Wilkerson
The PBA Philippine Cup back-to-back champs tap the power forward journeyman with Tyler Wilkerson by the recommendation of Chris Ross and Chris Lutz as they were both graduate of the same school with the Marshall University.
Which of the following import do you think will shine the brightest to lead his team in winning the championship?
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