BY NOLI CORTEZ
THE long search for an import is finally
over for Red Bull.
The Bulls are set to bring in 7-footer Adam
Parada as their reinforcement, rounding out the cast of
imports in the PBA Fiesta Cup that formally kicks off March
30.
According to Red Bull team manager and
concurrently league chairman Tony Chua yesterday, Parada is
set to plane in on Tuesday.
The 265-pound, 26-year-old behemoth once
stood out at the University of California-Irvine, went
unpicked in the NBA draft and was among those cut by the
Sacramento Kings prior to the start of this ongoing season.
The Bulls wound up third in the
season-opening Philippine Cup.
"We still have to see him in action live,
pero okey naman daw ang credentials," said Chua.
"Sa amin naman, kahit sino o ano ang
import. Basta ang team will always play hard, pray hard," he
added.
The season-ending conference actually
starts March 29 at the Panabo Sport Center in Davao with
Coca-Cola taking on Talk N Text, but the formal opening
ceremonies are only set the next day at the Araneta Coliseum
with Red Bull facing crowd-darling Ginebra after the match
pitting Welcoat against Air21.
The Kings have signed Rahshon Turner of
Fairleigh Dickinson University, while the Dragons tabbed San
Diego stalwart Jason Beau Keep and Corey Santee.
Other imports who have already signed up
with their respective teams are Jameel Watkins of Magnolia,
Bobby Burries and Jason Dixon of Coca-Cola, Wesley Wilson of
Sta. Lucia, Randy Holcomb of Alaska, Aaron McGhee of Talk N
Text and Steve Thomas of Air21.
The Dragons and Tigers are allowed to hire
two imports after finishing 10th and ninth in the previous
Philippine Cup.
Red Bull was also interested in Watkins but was beaten to
the draw by the Beverage Masters.
