LaDontae Henton #23 of the Providence Friars reacts after a foul was called against his team in the first half against the St. John’s Red Storm during a quarterfinal game of the Big East basketball tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 12, 2015 in New York City. Elsa/Getty Images/AFP
ALASKA, a bridesmaid in the last three PBA conferences, has enlisted former Big East star LaDontae Henton of Providence as its import for the season-ending Governors’ Cup.
Henton was a tested scorer in college but wasn’t picked in the 2015 NBA Draft, spending last year playing in Spain.
The Aces have had a frustrating streak of finishes since last season and are hoping to finally win a championship. Alaska has finished second in four of the last five conferences, counting the Philippine Cup twice and to Rain or Shine in this season’s Commissioner’s Cup.
Henton averaged close to 20 points and a shade under eight rebounds as a Friar and was named to the All Big East First Team in his last year in 2015.
He will be ranged against a big list of returning, dependable imports that count Arizona Reid of defending champion San Miguel Beer, another former Best Import in Marqus Blakely of Star and Allen Durham of Meralco.
The Hotshots have decided to bring back Blakely instead of availing of an import as tall as 6-foot-9, part of the handicap they earned after failing to make it past the eliminations of the Philippine Cup and bowing out in the quarterfinals of the Commissioner’s Cup.
Barangay Ginebra has decided to go for former Tropang TNT import Paul Harris instead of Othyus Jeffers, while the Elasto Painters eye a second straight championship with the help of Dior Lowhorn.