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Early on in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup, several Fil-foreign players were nowhere to be found because they haven’t compiled the required documents for them to be able to play. The Commissioner’s Office requires those born overseas to secure at least an order of recognition from the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) to get the go-signal to suit up.
Since then, most have already been cleared by the league and their brand of play has certainly brought the landscape of the conference to a different level.
We list down seven Fil-foreign players who have made notable impact this conference and the significant game performances for their teams recently and might be strong possibilities for the 2012 PBA Draft following two conferences of play in the D-League.
Cliff Hodge
The high-flying Hodge can bring the house down. A gold medal winner in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games, Hodge has become not just a high-flyer but a clutch player as well. Recently, he teamed up with RR Garcia to lead the NLEX Road Warriors’ comeback over Blackwater where he notched 23 points, nine rebounds and two assists. The 6-5 Hodge, who is 23 years old, went to the University of Hawaii-HGilo and hails from Florida.
Chris Ellis
He completes the Fil-Am duo with Hodge for the NLEX Road Warriors. Just like Hodge, he’s a gold medallist in the recent SEA Games. And just like Hodge, Ellis can be an explosive player who can run the floor and before you know it, he’s on the other side on his way to a dunk. Ellis had a field day against Cobra last November 28 scoring 18 points in a lopsided win.
The 6-5 Ellis is from Caslifornia recently turned 23 and is a product of the University of Mary Hardin Baylor.
Keith Jensen
If you see someone who has a number 32 engraved on his sideburns, that’s Jensen. He can play inside but he is even deadlier in the perimeter. Jensen erupted for the Big Chill Super Chargers in their upset victory over NLEX recently scoring 21 points (3-of-4 from three-point area), grabbed eight rebounds and even had two steals in defeating the Foundation Cup champions.
The 6-4 Jensen was also considered for the SEA Games team. He is 23 years old and hails from California. He went to school at New York University.
Elliot Tan
He brings stability to the point guard position for the Big Chill Super Chargers. Against NLEX Road Warriors, Tan showed that he can play in big games notching 13 points and shot 3-of-5 from three-point range last November 24.
The 5-11 Tan is a possible second-generation PBA player as his father Alex played a few seasons with Tanduay in the mid-80s. He is 23 years old and hails from California and played at Biola University.
Alex Mallari
Playing in his second conference for the Big Chill group, the 6-5 swingman was slowed by an eye injury this season but last conference, he was the constant for the team. A tremendous shooter and fastbreak finisher, the knock on Mallari is his tendency to get wild and unpredictable on the floor.
Last season, he knocked inn the game-winning shot in his team’s first round playoff win over RnW Pacific Pipes.
The 24-year old Mallari hails from California and is a product of Lewis and Clark State College.
JM Buencuseso
Energy. That’s what Buensuceso brings to the RNW Pacific Pipes Steel Masters. A former member of the Sinag Pilipinas pool in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games, Buensuceso made a big impression in his first game leading the Steel Masters with 19 points in a come-from-behind win over Café France last November 14.
A genuine floor leader, the 5-11 guard is 23 years old and hails from California and played at Brigham Young University in Hawaii.
Jordan Sanvictores
This player has a European style of play—a left-handed center who has a medium-range jumper. In his debut, Sanvictores dominated inside contributing 17 points and 16 rebounds against Café France. Recently, he has been checked by his opponents but a big man who has a sweet stroke is always an upside.
The 6-7 Sanvictores is 22 years old and hails from Califo0rnia as well. He played at the University of Redlands.
Some other Fil-foreign players include AJ Mandani and Kelly Nabong of PC Gilmore, AJ Manalo and local college standouts Christopher Camus of Blackwater Elite, as well as Mapua’s Yousef Taha and Mark Jeffries both of Cebuana Lhuillier.
Source: Reuben Terrado, PBA D-League
Since then, most have already been cleared by the league and their brand of play has certainly brought the landscape of the conference to a different level.
We list down seven Fil-foreign players who have made notable impact this conference and the significant game performances for their teams recently and might be strong possibilities for the 2012 PBA Draft following two conferences of play in the D-League.
Cliff Hodge
The high-flying Hodge can bring the house down. A gold medal winner in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games, Hodge has become not just a high-flyer but a clutch player as well. Recently, he teamed up with RR Garcia to lead the NLEX Road Warriors’ comeback over Blackwater where he notched 23 points, nine rebounds and two assists. The 6-5 Hodge, who is 23 years old, went to the University of Hawaii-HGilo and hails from Florida.
Chris Ellis
He completes the Fil-Am duo with Hodge for the NLEX Road Warriors. Just like Hodge, he’s a gold medallist in the recent SEA Games. And just like Hodge, Ellis can be an explosive player who can run the floor and before you know it, he’s on the other side on his way to a dunk. Ellis had a field day against Cobra last November 28 scoring 18 points in a lopsided win.
The 6-5 Ellis is from Caslifornia recently turned 23 and is a product of the University of Mary Hardin Baylor.
Keith Jensen
If you see someone who has a number 32 engraved on his sideburns, that’s Jensen. He can play inside but he is even deadlier in the perimeter. Jensen erupted for the Big Chill Super Chargers in their upset victory over NLEX recently scoring 21 points (3-of-4 from three-point area), grabbed eight rebounds and even had two steals in defeating the Foundation Cup champions.
The 6-4 Jensen was also considered for the SEA Games team. He is 23 years old and hails from California. He went to school at New York University.
Elliot Tan
He brings stability to the point guard position for the Big Chill Super Chargers. Against NLEX Road Warriors, Tan showed that he can play in big games notching 13 points and shot 3-of-5 from three-point range last November 24.
The 5-11 Tan is a possible second-generation PBA player as his father Alex played a few seasons with Tanduay in the mid-80s. He is 23 years old and hails from California and played at Biola University.
Alex Mallari
Playing in his second conference for the Big Chill group, the 6-5 swingman was slowed by an eye injury this season but last conference, he was the constant for the team. A tremendous shooter and fastbreak finisher, the knock on Mallari is his tendency to get wild and unpredictable on the floor.
Last season, he knocked inn the game-winning shot in his team’s first round playoff win over RnW Pacific Pipes.
The 24-year old Mallari hails from California and is a product of Lewis and Clark State College.
JM Buencuseso
Energy. That’s what Buensuceso brings to the RNW Pacific Pipes Steel Masters. A former member of the Sinag Pilipinas pool in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games, Buensuceso made a big impression in his first game leading the Steel Masters with 19 points in a come-from-behind win over Café France last November 14.
A genuine floor leader, the 5-11 guard is 23 years old and hails from California and played at Brigham Young University in Hawaii.
Jordan Sanvictores
This player has a European style of play—a left-handed center who has a medium-range jumper. In his debut, Sanvictores dominated inside contributing 17 points and 16 rebounds against Café France. Recently, he has been checked by his opponents but a big man who has a sweet stroke is always an upside.
The 6-7 Sanvictores is 22 years old and hails from Califo0rnia as well. He played at the University of Redlands.
Some other Fil-foreign players include AJ Mandani and Kelly Nabong of PC Gilmore, AJ Manalo and local college standouts Christopher Camus of Blackwater Elite, as well as Mapua’s Yousef Taha and Mark Jeffries both of Cebuana Lhuillier.
Source: Reuben Terrado, PBA D-League
