Is Richard Howell the Best Import of the 2014 PBA Commissioner’s Cup?

Is TNT import Richard Howell a lock for the Best Import award?
(image by Pranz Kaeno Billones/Sports 5)

Like past iterations of the PBA Commish Cup, there were many imports who impressed local hoop nuts this year. One of the most recognizable ones, of course, was returning and reigning Best Import Robert Dozier of Alaska. Many still remember how he was able to lead the Aces to their first post-Tim-Cone title last season as they beat the Ginebra Gin Kings in the Finals of the 2013 Commissioner’s Cup.

Unfortunately, Dozier and the rest of Alaska weren’t able to duplicate that feat this year. Despite being one of the most effective reinforcements out there, the former Memphis Tiger fell short of leading the Aces back to the Finals. Alaska lost in the quarterfinal round to eventual finalist San Mig Super Coffee. In the end, Dozier averaged around 20 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks per game while shooting 54% from the floor and showing a new weapon by making 40% of his threes.

The PBA’s Best of the Week: March 12-17, 2014

This is the first of what I hope will be a regular series of posts about the best performers for every week in the PBA. Unlike the NBA, our local pro circuit doesn’t really have any citations for Player of the Week and other similar accolades, so this is something that I hope will satiate fans who want their hardcourt heroes duly recognized.

This past week, of course, saw a lot of very impressive performances, but three players, in particular, really stood out. Each of these guys led his respective team to a 2-0 record this past week, which definitely helped pad his case to be counted among the Best of the Week.

There will be three citations in this series of posts: Import of the Week, Rookie of the Week, and Player of the Week.

Without further ado, here is the inaugural set of players for Hoop Nut’s PBA Best of the Week:

Clockwise from top right: Ian Sangalang of San Mig Super Coffe,
Jayson Castro of Talk N Text, and Brian Butch or Meralco.

2014 PBA Commish Cup Import Lowdown: Alex McLean & Richard Howell

Now that the 2014 Philippine Cup has been handed to the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers, the attention of all ten (soon to be twelve?) teams is going to be diverted to the season’s second conference — the Commissioner’s Cup. The unique feature of this conference, of course, is that teams are allowed to employ “big” imports. This is in contrast to the third conference, or the Governors’ Cup, where teams are allowed only the services of “small” imports. 

In this particular conference, unlike in the Commissioner’s Cups of 2012 and 2013, there will be a height limit imposed on the teams’ imports, and this limit is based on how well each team fared in the previous conference. Because they finished in the bottom two spots of the team standings, the Air 21 Express and the Meralco Bolts have the luxury to choose imports who can be as tall as 6’11 (around 210cm), while the rest of the field can employ imports who are, at most, 6’9 (around 205cm).

I’m here to look at the ten imports who will show their wares in the 2014 Commish Cup. Traditionally, PBA teams rely heavily on their imports for practically everything, from scoring, to rebounding, to defending, and, in some cases, even playmaking. The expectations are extremely high (which explains their skyrocketing salaries), and the pressure can really take its toll.

In this fourth part of this series, we will look at the imports of both Rain or Shine and Talk N Text. These are, respectively, Asian hoops journeyman Alex McLean and D-League standout Richard Howell.

Alex McLean (L) and Richard Howell (R) look to be
good fits for their respective PBA clubs.
(composite image by Enzo Flojo/Hoop Nut)