Basketball
Sneed measures under height limit for Powerade; Hickerson set to make return
AKTV/Paolo Papa
Before new import Omar Sneed could plunge into action in the PBA Governors’ Cup, Powerade needed to hurdle one small obstacle regarding the official height measurement of its second reinforcement in the season-ending conference.
Listed at 6-foot-6 in the United States, the Tigers were hoping the veteran international campaigner could make the 6-foot-5 height limit imposed this conference.
Their doubts were put to rest Thursday when Sneed officially measured just under the limit at 6-foot-4 and 7/8.
Powerade coach Bo Perasol can now concentrate on utilizing the former Israel Basketball League’s Most Valuable Player. The Tigers lost their first two games with highly-touted Rashad McCants as their reinforcement, but the NBA veteran couldn’t give the team a victory.
Perasol hopes his team’s fortunes will change with Sneed.
“He rebounds well and he will play the No. 4 position,” Perasol said of his replacement import.
Sneed made the measurement despite questions regarding his true height.
Sheryl Reyes, a local agent for imports playing in the PBA and the ABL, raised concerns with the PBA Office about Sneed’s height in relation to former Air 21 import Leroy Hickerson, a high-flying guard who may be making his return to the PBA this conference.
“I was informed that Leroy was measured 6-foot-5 and 1/4 and I asked the PBA three times about this,” wrote Reyes in a text message to InterAKTV. “I was positive that Sneed was over 6-foot-5 because he’s taller than Leroy.”
Sneed and Hickerson played against each other in a Venezuelan league.
But the PBA Office later informed Reyes that she was given the wrong information regarding the height of Hickerson.
“They told me that Hickerson’s previous measurement was 6-foot-5, that’s why I had an issue regarding the height of Sneed. But everything is settled now because Sneed’s height was corrected and Leroy can come back and play this conference,” added Reyes.
A member of the PBA staff that was in charge of the measurement procedure said Hickerson was previously measured 6-foot-5.
“Pero dati pa ‘yun. Iba na yung procedure ngayon,” said the individual who requested anonymity.
STANDBY IMPORT
Which team Hickerson will be suiting up for, though, has yet to be revealed.
“He will be available by June 6, but I still cannot disclose which team will he play for,” said Reyes. “But for sure, he’s on standby.”
Hickerson last saw action for the Express in the 2010 Fiesta Cup.
A two-time slam dunk champion in the Mexican Basketball League, Hickerson came into the PBA as a replacement for Reggie Larry after the latter suffered a freak car accident.
Hickerson averaged 19.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.2 steals per game in the 41 games he played for the Halcones UV Xalapa and was chosen as Player of the Year, Guard of the Year and Import Player of the Year by Latinbasket.com in the 2009-10 season.
He is fresh from a stint in Venezuela, where he went up against Sneed and averaged 18.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
