KIA signs up Senegal star in place of Ramos

Kia Motor has signed up Senegalese star Hamady Ndiaye as import after failing to land crowd-favorite PJ Ramos for the coming PBA Governors’ Cup, the season-ending conference that starts on Tuesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Born in Senegal but educated in the United States, the 6-foot-9 Ndiaye had stints in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings and the Washington Wizards before packing his bags to play in pro leagues in China and Lebanon.

He will have huge shoes to fill in taking over from Ramos, who was also the Carnival’s import in the recent Commissioner’s Cup where the 7-foot-3 man-mountain almost took KIA past the elimination round.

KIA, along with Barako Bull, Globalport and fellow newcomer Blackwater, are allowed to again tap an import of unlimited height for the tournament. The reinforcements of the eight other teams are no more than 6-5 in height.

Ramos failed to secure his release from his mother ballclub in the Puerto Rican league.

Ndiaye played against PBA superstars in the Fiba World Cup in Spain where Gilas Pilipinas scored its first victory in the tournament in over 40 years at the expense of the Senegal crew in overtime, 81-79, last September.