YENG Guiao has seen a lot of great imports in a PBA coaching career spanning over three decades, some of whom played under him, like the 'Hurricane' Tony Harris.
But when asked who he believes is the GOAT (greatest of all time) among PBA imports, the multi-titled coach, surprisingly, didn't only hark back to the pro league's great past but also pushed for someone from contemporary times.
"Yes, for sure," Guiao said with conviction when asked if Barangay Ginebra's resident import Justin Brownlee should be part of any GOAT conversation.
That's quite a surprise, not only because the outspoken coach rarely praises an opponent but also because this isn't an easy question to answer, considering the number of worthy candidates that should be considered spanning different generations.
But Guiao sounded dead sure when he said it's either Brownlee or the late Bobby Parks who will get his vote as the greatest of all the foreign imports that have seen action in the 49-year old professional league.
"I think he's No. 1 or 2 [on my list]," said Guiao. "It's a choice between him and Bobby Parks. My humble opinion."
And why?
"You can't argue with the number of championships [Brownlee has won] as well as his longevity, which is also my basis with Parks," Guiao said.
Tim Cone's take
Brownlee's current coach at Ginebra and with Gilas Pilipinas presented the same argument when asked about his GOAT among PBA imports.
"Truly, really hard to pick one out of all the many imports that landed in our league: Parks, [Norman] Black, [Sean] Chambers, [Billy Ray] Bates, etc., etc.," said Ginebra's Tim Cone, acknowledged as the GOAT among PBA coaches with 25 titles.
"There are so many. But if you had to tie me down, of course, I am partial to Justin and Sean. The championships speak for themselves," Cone added.
If championships won are to be the gauge, Cone and Guiao are not far wrong. Brownlee and Chambers have won more championships than any other PBA import, having won six titles each in their careers.
Brownlee, however, reached that record in three less seasons with Ginebra than Chambers at Alaska. Also, Brownlee, at 34, appears far from finished.
As for TNT coach Chot Reyes, there is no such dilemma as far as his choice for GOAT is concerned.
"In terms of the best [import] who ever played in the PBA, Billy Ray Bates ako," said the six-time PBA Coach of the Year awardee, casting his vote for the flamboyant import who dazzled PBA fans in the eighties playing for Crispa and Ginebra.
'The Black Superman' won less championships (three) than Brownlee and Chambers. But in terms of natural talent and ability to score, he left little question as to who was the best in a pro career that would've been way, way better if not for his constant battle with alcohol and drugs.
His career scoring average of 46.2 points over 98 games - which still ranks as the highest ever in league history - is proof of that.
Bates was, simply put, an unstoppable force.
In terms of prolific scoring, perhaps the only import that comes close to Bates was Harris, a former NBA player who showcased his high-wire act in the PBA when he led Guiao's Swift side to a championship in the 1992 Third Conference.
The flashy former Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers guard scored 87 points right in his PBA debut, a fair warning for what he was to do next in an out-of-town game in Iloilo on October 10, 1992 when he went off for 105 points - a single-game record that may never be broken.
READ Who can forget Tony Harris: We catch up with incomparable 'Hurricane' who took the PBA by storm
When it comes to sustained brilliance over a long period, Parks is no doubt the yardstick. The former Memphis State standout won a record seven Best Import awards over a six-year span from 1987 to 1993, winning three championships.
Parks scored close to 9,000 points, grabbed over 3,000 rebounds, and issued over 1,000 assists in his PBA career and turned Formula Shell into a perennial contender in an era considered as the heyday of San Miguel, Purefoods, and Ginebra.
NLEX coach Jong Uichico, who played then coached in that era, believes Parks comes the closest to Bates on his GOAT list, with Black and Brownlee following suit.
"For sure, [Brownlee] would be there at the top of my list," said Uichico. "I think mauuna si Bates, Parks, at coach Norman."
That Black gets his fair share of mentions is a tribute to his proficiency in a PBA career adorned by three championships and two Best Import awards. He is still the all-time leader among imports in scoring (11,329 points) and rebounding (5,333).
To give fans who know Black more as a coach an idea on how good Black the player was, this former Detroit Piston averaged as impressive 40.2 points over 282 games while battling the likes of Bates and other great imports.
There were other great imports in the mold of Black and Parks - among them former Ginebra reinforcement Michael Hackett, Tanduay's David Thirdkill, U-Tex great Glenn McDonald, to name a few - who may be on some fans' GOAT list.
But Black was quick to point out that any such conversations will inevitably end up as a 'LeBron or Jordan' debate owing to the generational gap among the choices.
"It's hard for me to rate since we played in the 80s and 90s," said the 11-time champion coach. "Most young fans only remember Brownlee, but there were many that came before, imports like Thirdkill, Hackett, Parks and the others."
"I would be biased [and say that] Bates is still the very best," Black continued. "But how would people of today think about that? They didn’t see him play. Brownlee will have to be at the top among the imports who played recently, but there were also good imports that came before him."
If there is anything that can distinguish Brownlee from Bates and Co., it is his impressive work with Gilas Pilipinas, with which he has won the Philippines' first Asian Games gold medal in 62 years, a Southeast Asian Games title, and most recently landmark wins against Latvia and New Zealand.
Who's your GOAT?
In the end, Black said each of the imports on the shortlist in the GOAT debate have their own distinct qualifies: Bates without a doubt was the best scorer, Parks and Black and Brownlee the most dependable. Brownlee is also the most clutch.
"When it comes to dominance and talent, I'll stick to Billy Ray," said Black. "Brownlee has been the most dominant the last eight years. He’s also proven to be a clutch import, gets it done when the chips are down.
"As far as numbers are concerned, he's behind some guys. But as fas as being a clutch player, he’s right there at the top," he added.
Under those terms, who's your GOAT among PBA imports?
Let us know in the comments section below.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
