Basketball
The List: Top 10 Imports in PBA Governors’ Cup History
Kenny Travis, right, with San Miguel coach Norman Black in 1994
The PBA Governors’ Cup, named in honor of the PBA’s Board of Governors, is an import-laced conference, often capped with a height limit, that has seen some very talented non-Filipino players dominate its ranks. It originally ran from 1993 to 2002, before being brought back last season.
In this week’s installment of The List, we count down some of the best imports the Governors’ Cup has ever seen.
But as usual, we’ll start with some honorable mentions:
Larry Robinson
The experienced and versatile NBA vet was named the 1997 Governors’ Cup best import, but was one of the few players to win the award but not be able to carry their team to the PBA finals, as his San Miguel Beermen were knocked off in the semifinals and finished in third place that year.
Arizona Reid
Reid made an instant impact with the upstart Rain or Shine Elastopainters in 2011 and rolled his way through the tournament to win the Best Import of the Conference award. But AZ couldn’t carry his team into the championship rounds, becoming the first Best Import awardee to miss the finals since Robinson in ’97.
Anthony Grundy
The 6-foot-2 Grundy was smaller than many of the imports in his stint with Petron last year, but he led an injury-laden team that was missing at least three regulars as they squeaked into the finals, then denied the top-seeded Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters a shot at the coveted Grand Slam.
