New face among imports
Most PBA teams aren’t taking chances with new imports in the coming Commissioner’s Cup with returnees Arinze Onuaku, Charles Rhodes, Justin Brownlee, Vernon Macklin and James White reportedly coming to terms for another tour of duty. Onuaku will be back with Meralco. Rhodes recently flew in for a brief visit from South Korea, where he’s playing, to check out options and it looks like San Miguel Beer will re-enlist him. The problem is the Korean league may not be over when the Commissioner’s Cup starts. There is talk that San Miguel may sign up Renaldo Balkman on an interim basis if the PBA lifts his lifetime ban.
Brownlee has become Barangay Ginebra’s resident import and even if he’s undersized for the second conference where the limit for reinforcements is 6-10, coach Tim Cone doesn’t mind because he’s got Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar to take care of the middle. Brownlee stands a shade less than 6-5 and took Ginebra to the Commissioner’s Cup semifinals last season. Without Slaughter in harness, Ginebra lost to TNT in the best-of-five series. With Slaughter back in action, Brownlee will enjoy the luxury of playing alongside a dominant center.
Macklin and White are joining new teams. Macklin, an NBA veteran with the Detroit Pistons, was once Ginebra’s import and will now suit up for Magnolia. White played four games with Kia in last season’s Commissioner’s Cup and must have impressed Phoenix coach Louie Alas to bring him back, this time for the Fuel Masters.
But NLEX is taking a different route from the others by bringing over a new face. Coach Yeng Guiao is welcoming Arnett Moultrie who was the Miami Heat’s first round pick in the 2012 NBA draft. He’ll become one of over 40 NBA first round picks to play in the PBA, joining the likes of Dickey Simpkins, Byron Houston, Scott Burrell, Dennis Hopson, Michael Young, DerMarr Johnson, Rashad McCants, Glenn McDonald, Kenny Payne, Freeman Williams and George Trapp.
Moultrie, 27, played two years for the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), the same school that produced Ginebra’s Joe De Vance, then saw action in a season with Mississippi State before turning pro. The 6-10 center never got to play for the Heat and instead suited up for the Philadelphia 76ers in 47 games in 2012-13 and 12 outings in 2013-14. He has played as an import in China, Lebanon, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Iran and Bahrain. A cause for concern is Moultrie’s inability to stick with one team in one league. He played in only five games over 10 days in South Korea last October and has since moved to Iran and Bahrain. The PBA will be his third stop since leaving South Korea.
Moultrie wasn’t spectacular at UTEP, averaging 8.8 points as a freshman in 2008-09 and 9.8 points in 2009-10. But in his first and only season at Mississippi State in 2011-12, Moultrie raised eyebrows by averaging 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds. That led to his decision to forego his last year of collegiate eligibility to try his luck in the NBA.
Moultrie arrives with a ton of international experience. In 2009, he was on the US national team that won the world U-19 championship in Auckland, averaging 4.4 points and 6.1 rebounds in nine games. In the gold medal game against Greece, Moultrie compiled 10 points and nine boards. Before playing his first season at Mississippi State, he joined the Bulldogs varsity on a Europe tour, playing five games in the Netherlands, Belgium and France. Moultrie averaged 16.8 points and 11.2 rebounds in racking up double-doubles in four of the five contests.
“The thing that stands out about Moultrie is his engine runs all the time,” said Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury. “He’s a very versatile player who can play inside or out. He plays hard defensively and can really rebound the basketball. He can put it on the floor and drive it, he’s got a nice face-up shot and ability on that block.” UTEP coach Tony Barbee described him as a unique player. “Moultrie was 6-1 or 6-2 as a high school freshman so he has grown a lot but still possesses guard skills,” said Barbee. “He’s a unique talent who changes the game because of his versatility and skill level.”
If Moultrie is as good as advertised, he’ll be a fit for the Road Warriors who could use a frightening interior presence to make life easier for Kiefer Ravena, Kevin Alas, J. R. Quiñahan, Larry Fonacier, Juami Tiongson and Alex Mallari. NLEX’ gamble to sign up a new face could reap handsome dividends.