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PBA: Meet the imports — both old and new — for the Commissioner's Cup

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Dominic Menor, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/sports/03/10/pba-031017.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Familiarity with the PBA will be an advantage for returning imports Justin Brownlee (from left) of Barangay Ginebra, TNT&#x27;s Denzel Bowles and Mahindra&#x27;s James White. <cite>File photos courtesy of the PBA Media Bureau</cite></div></figcaption></figure></div>With a week to go before the PBA Commissioner&#x27;s Cup tips off, ABS-CBN News takes a look at each of 12 teams&#x27; foreign reinforcements. Of the current crop, 6 are returnees. They are Justin Brownlee of Barangay Ginebra; Denzel Bowles of TNT (formerly of Star, Purefoods, San Mig Coffee and B-Meg); Wayne Chism of NLEX (formerly of Rain or Shine); Eugene Phelps of Phoenix; Shawn Taggart of Rain or Shine (formerly of GlobalPort); and James White of Mahindra.The 6 new names are:Alaska: Octavius Ellis Height: 6-foot-10 (courtesy of Cincinnati Bearcats <a href="http://www.gobearcats.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/octavius_ellis_780999.html">website</a>) <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ej9cjaY-PNo">Highlights</a>: One-hand tip dunks, volleyball swats, finishes the break strong. Mini-scouting report: <a href="http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Octavius-Ellis-41147/">According</a> to DraftExpress.com, Ellis has a 7-foot-3 wingspan. He was a known defender and double-double (points, rebounds) guy at Cincinnati. For a team that was virtually a donut in the Philippine Cup, Ellis, who turned 24 on Friday, is just what the doctors ordered.Blackwater: Greg Smith Height: 6-foot-10 (courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com) <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXhpKkhOuyY">Highlights</a>: Low-post moves, strong finishes, baby hooks. Mini-scouting report: DraftExpress.com <a href="http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Greg-Smith-5817">makes note</a> of the size of Smith&#x27;s hands in a January 2013 interview, saying they&#x27;re &quot;the largest ever recorded at the NBA combine.&quot; According to an <a href="http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/get-know-him-greg-smith/">article</a> posted on the Minnesota Timberwolves&#x27; official website in March 2016, &quot;Nothing (Smith) does offensively is going to wow you, but he’s coordinated for a big man and can run . . . He does the majority of his scoring inside and is strong enough to fight through contact.&quot;GlobalPort: Sean Williams Height: 6-foot-10 (courtesy of DraftExpress.com) Highlights: Nothing recent. Mini-scouting report: Nothing recent that&#x27;s relevant has come out, although DraftExpress.com once <a href="http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Sean-Williams-392/">described</a> him this way: &quot;Whether he&#x27;s rotating over from the weakside, defending the midrange, or crashing the boards, Williams makes an impact with his physical tools and energy.&quot; That was 6 years ago.Meralco: Alex Stepheson Height: 6-foot-10 (courtesy of the NBA D-League website) <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nu1H1pLcJnU">Highlights</a>: Looks scary strong once he&#x27;s within a foot of the basket, a lot of relentless plays down low. Mini-scouting report: A March 2016 <a href="http://www.grizzlybearblues.com/2016/3/14/11206212/scouting-the-grizzlies-newest-point-guards-briante-weber-and-ray" target="_blank">report</a> on SB Nation goes: &quot;The best way to describe Stepheson is a bully. He uses his size, weight and strength to get position on his opponents on both ends of the floor . . . Offensively, Stepheson has fairly good footwork in the post, but he&#x27;s not a guy that&#x27;s going to wow you with his vast arsenal of post moves. He has a decent hook shot, but the majority of his buckets come from dunks and layups . . . Stepheson is not a player you would classify as a &#x27;shot-blocker,&#x27; but he does block shots at a pretty good clip, and he is an imposing defender on the low block because of his size and strength.&quot;San Miguel: Charles Rhodes Height: 6-foot-8 (courtesy of Mississippi State Athletics website) <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEmDt5rbDos">Highlights</a>: Back-to-the-basket moves, showcases offensive versatility around the basket, leads fastbreak, goes 1-on-2 in the paint in one sequence and makes the basket. Mini-scouting report: Nothing recent.Star: Tony Mitchell Height: 6-foot-8 (courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com) <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwzSdXjAh9U">Highlights</a>: Above-the-rim action (like waaay above), tip dunks, did we say insane hops? Mini-scouting report: A Bleacher Report post-NBA draft <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1680837-tony-mitchell-picked-by-detroit-pistons-scouting-report-and-analysis">article</a> in June 2013 touts his athleticism. It goes, &quot;Mitchell is a low-key guy and a hard worker . . . Tony Mitchell might be the most explosive pound-for-pound athlete in the entire field . . . Mitchell also has a ridiculous 7-foot, 2.5-inch wingspan and a 38-inch max vertical leap . . . With a max vertical reach of 12 feet, 0.5 inches, Mitchell can catch lobs nearly two feet above the rim.&quot;(For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website.</a>)

With a week to go before the PBA Commissioner's Cup tips off, ABS-CBN News takes a look at each of 12 teams' foreign reinforcements.

With a week to go before the PBA Commissioner's Cup tips off, ABS-CBN News takes a look at each of 12 teams' foreign reinforcements.

PBA: Meet the imports — both old and new — for the Commissioner's Cup

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PBA: Meet the imports — both old and new — for the Commissioner's Cup

Dominic Menor,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 10, 2017 10:00 PM PHT

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Updated Mar 10, 2017 10:35 PM PHT

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