ALASKA is bringing in an untested import who boasts of a great basketball pedigree for the coming PBA Commissioner's Cup.
Octavious Ellis will be reinforcing the Aces in the midseason tournament that kicks off on March 17. He arrived in the country on Thursday night and was personally met at the airport by coach Alex Compton.
The 23-year-old product of Cincinnati is a cousin of Indiana Pacers' Monta Ellis. His father, Jerrel Horne, once played for University of Memphis.
The 6-foot-10 Ellis went undrafted in last year's NBA Draft, and instead took his act to the Adriatic League playing for Mornar Bar.
Ellis will have big shoes to fill since Alaska finished runner-up in this tournament last year behind Rain or Shine by bringing back former Best Import Rob Dozier.
Alaska is the last team to bring in an import just a week before the import-laden meet gets underway at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ellis will have his baptism of fire on March 18 when the Aces play the Globalport Batang Pier in the main game of a scheduled doubleheader at the Astrodome.