Out of all the imports in the 2017 Commissioners Cup, Sean Williams has the most impressive résumé.
Coming out of Boston College in 2007, Williams was a former lottery pick in that year’s NBA Draft — 17th overall, the highest NBA pick among the current roster of reinforcements. He was in the NBA for five seasons and has made strides in both the NBA D-League and the numerous leagues around the world.
However, he has yet to break out with the Globalport Batang Pier, a team that is now sporting a horrid 0-3 slate.
“If you look at our import, he has the best credentials but he’s not living up to his billing,” first-year Globalport head coach Franz Pumaren said.
“He’s not giving us import-like numbers. That’s the bottom line.”
In three games, the 30-year-old native of Houston, Texas is averaging 17.0 points on 48.84 percent shooting, 15.0 rebounds, and 2.33 blocks per contest. However, he is committing 4.33 turnovers and is averaging 4.33 fouls per game — both highs for the current crop of reinforcements.
His inability to adjust quickly to the Philippine-style of basketball has become a liability for the Batang Pier. In their three losses, opposing imports have feasted against them, with Alaska’s Cory Jefferson dropping 28 points on 57.9 percent shooting and 14 rebounds against them last March 18; Star’s Tony Mitchell collecting 22 points on a 44.4 percent shooting clip and 17 rebounds last March 25; and, most recently, Justin Brownlee tallying his conference-high 29 points on 48 percent shooting, eight rebounds, and seven assists last Wednesday.
With the losses piling up, Pumaren confided that Williams is currently “under review” from the team’s management.
“It’s all under review. The question is we cannot change the import right away,” the multi-time collegiate champion coach conceded.
However, given the circumstances, the 53-year-old mentor is challenging his locals to step up for the time being.
“Even if we’re not getting import-like numbers, the locals should also do their part. If we’re gonna play like what we’re capable of just like in the last conference, I think we will not be in this predicament,” he added. “I’m not pushing the panic button yet. If you look at the scenarios, there’s also a lot of teams in the bottom.
“There’s gonna be a lot of movements that will happen.”
