Alab-PH signs former UMass player, drops Korean imports

FILE – Massachusetts’ Sampson Carter, left, and BYU head coach Dave Rose, right, react after a basket by Carter during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, in Springfield, Mass. AP

Alab Pilipinas shored up its frontline by acquiring former University of Massachusetts standout Sampson Carter as one of its reinforcements for the remainder of the Asean Basketball League 2016-2017 season.

The 6-foot-9 Carter, a power forward, who suited up for the Memphis Grizzlies in the preseason last year, will fly in on Sunday to link up with Alab, which is bracing for an away clash with the Kaohsiung Truth on Jan. 8.

Alab team owner Charlie Dy said Carter was recommended by guard Bobby Ray Parks Jr., who played with the forward in the NBA D-League last year.

Carter, who averaged 7.1 points and 4.2 rebounds in five years playing for UMass, wasn’t selected in the 2014 NBA Draft. He has played in the Slovakian and Portuguese leagues, before seeing action in Mexico last year.

Dy said they are still in talks with another American reinforcement since the league allows two world imports for each team. Alab parted ways with Korean imports Lee Dong-jun and Lee Seung-jun last week, after splitting their first four games of the season.

Meanwhile, Kaohsiung signed former Far Eastern U standouts Raymar Jose and Achie Iñigo as heritage imports for the remainder of the season.

The duo impressed in the Truth’s 87-93 loss to Alab last Dec. 11 at Olivarez Gym in Parañaque, where Jose had 12 points, while Iñigo finished with eight assists.