#ivan johnson

Ivan Johnson takes 63. Last worn by Fernando Cruz in 2024.

PBA Media Bureau Blackwater import Greg Smith is a well-travelled player, having played in the NBA, Mexico and Turkey. But he had not known about the PBA until hearing it from fellow journeymen Ivan Johnson and Daniel Orton, two players who had stints in the league. “I had a couple of guys that played here before. Those two guys, Ivan Johnson and Daniel Orton, told me about this league,” Smith told InterAksyon.com in an exclusive interview. Johnson and Orton had controversial stints in the PBA. Johnson received a one-season ban last year after cursing at commissioner Chito Narvasa during a game. Orton meanwhile was fined P250,000 in 2015 for his tirades at the league and Mahindra’s listed player-coach Manny Pacquiao. After playing three games for the Elite, Smith now has experienced first-hand the brand of Philippine basketball his two friends had told him about. “They told me it’s very physical. The guys who were here, they told me playing one-on-one is a tough match-up because all these guys (PBA players) were good. I was able to find that out today.” Smith said adjusting to the PBA wasn’t difficult. “The coaches are basically helping me out, like the feel of the game and the referees on how we should play,” he said. On Sunday, Smith had solid numbers of 34 points and 20 rebounds although he failed to give Blackwater a win over Rain or Shine. Remaining winless in the conference is “tough”, but Smith believes Blackwater can bounce back by ironing out the “little things.” “It was tough. Rain or Shine made tough shots in the end and kept battling us. We thought we had it and in the last two minutes they made two clutch treys,” said Smith. “I think we just have to go out there and capitalize in the fourth quarter, plays like we’re making our own, like little things – finishing free throws, defensive assignments, stuff like that – but in the practice this week, I think we can develop more chemistry and get better. This game will help us get that first win.” http://j.mp/2n5yvEU

PBA Media Bureau Rain or Shine import Mo Charlo had a strong showing in his PBA debut and he has his coach considering keeping him here for a long time, possibly until the Governors’ Cup. Charlo is hoping that his 35-point, 13-rebound performance can help convince his team that it’s the right decision to make. “Hopefully, I made a great impression. I don’t want to leave. It’s a great country. The fans are great. I love it here so far so hopefully I could build a career here for many years to come,” Charlo told sportswriters. The 32-year-old import has been looking forward to having the chance to play here after hearing from friends, including controversial import Ivan Johnson, what the basketball scene was like in the country. “My friend, Ivan Johnson, he played here last year. I talked to him a lot and kept on telling him that I want to come out and play in the PBA,” he added. Charlo’s wish was granted when Rain or Shine suddenly found itself in need of a new reinforcement after reigning Best Import winner Wayne Chism got injured and his initial replacement, NBA veteran Antoine Wright, failed to impress and was sent home after a few games. So far, he has not disappointed as he led Rain or Shine to an important win that put them in a five-way tie for fourth to eighth places alongside Barangay Ginebra, NLEX, Mahindra and Blackwater, who are all carrying an identical 3-3 card. Rain or Shine has been in the league’s final four for the last eight conferences but that streak seemed like it would be put to the test after Chism went down with an injury. Should Charlo keep up the efficiency and enthusiasm, he could find himself hanging around until the third conference, especially as he measured at around 6-foot-3, well within the usual height limits set for the season-ending tilt. http://j.mp/1YGui7U

PBA Media Bureau For the Commissioner’s Cup, Tropang TNT brought in Ivan Johnson, an import with a wealth of experience playing not only in top-flight basketball leagues around the globe but also in the PBA, where he led the team to a title last season. With Johnson out for the rest of the season because of a ban imposed by PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa, Tropang TNT is looking at another veteran guy to fill the void in David Simon. At 33, the 6-foot-8 and 3/16 Simon is well-travelled, having played in several leagues, including, most recently, the Korean Basketball League. “His team got eliminated. He played pa until Sunday before he came here. He flew in yesterday and has been to two practices. I think he could fit in with our team,” Tropang TNT coach Jong Uichico told InterAksyon.com in a telephone interview. On Tuesday, Simon measured under the height limit, making him eligible to play in his team’s clash against Alaska, which will parade a new import themselves, on Wednesday. Uichico said it would be hard to evaluate Simon until he sees actual minutes on the court but the coach expects the import to provide some of the things the team has been lacking so far. “We’re not a good rebounding team. We expect him to provide that inside presence we need,” Uichico added. http://j.mp/1mUZT80

PBA IMAGES Titleholder Tropang TNT and 2013 champion Alaska Milk will both bring in a new import as they clash in the 2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday. Playing with an import in a stretch of only 15 minutes over their three previous games, the Texters are finally playing with one in David Simon as they take on the Aces and their own debuting PBA import in Shane Edwards at 7 p.m. Due to Ivan Johnson’s shenanigans, the TNT locals had to fend for themselves in their first three games, salvaging one against Blackwater and losing the next two versus Meralco then Globalport.          Alaska, meanwhile, lost its conference debut versus Blackwater where the Aces missed import Rob Dozier due to a foot injury (plantar fasciitis).          “It will be interesting to see how the import matchups effect the game since both of us will be featuring imports who just arrived,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton.”          “Hopefully, we can contain all of their threats but I don’t think that is an enviable task,” Compton also said.          Simon is a fixture in the Euro basketball fresh from a stint in the Korean league while Edwards has just completed a tour of duty in the German league.         TNT coach Jong Uichico hopes Simon gets along well with the Texters immediately as they anticipate a tough battle with the Aces.          Arriving in the country at noon Monday, Simon attended a light workout with Jayson Castro, Ryan Reyes, Ranidel de Ocampo, Mo Tautuaa and Troy Rosario Monday evening then a full practice with the team Tuesday.          “Binunot muna namin sa Gilas practice sila Jayson, Ryan, Ranidel, Mo at Troy to help David walk through our plays,” said TNT team manager Virgil Villavicencio          “I think there’s no problem as to his physical shape. He’s fresh from the Korean league. He became available as his team failed to make the playoffs there due to injuries to his teammates,” Villavicencio also said.          “Siksik ang muscle, parang Kelly Williams. Pero mas malapad ito,” said Villavicencio in describing their replacement to their sacked import. Simon, 33, played college basketball with the Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne then spent most of his pro career in Europe. Edwards is a 6-foot-7 forward with a brief stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014. The post New imports make debut in TNT-Alaska tiff appeared first on Philippine Basketball Association. http://j.mp/1L8s9j8

Ivan Johnson and PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa. Photo by Mark Giongco/INQUIRER.net PBA commissioner Chito Narvasa has lowered the lifetime ban on Ivan Johnson to a season-long suspension and reduced the TNT import’s fine from P250,000 to P150,000. Johnson personally apologized to Narvasa on Tuesday at the PBA Office in Libis for his actions against the commissioner during TNT’s game against Meralco last Saturday. The league initially handed Johnson a lifetime ban and a P250,000 fine for “addressing the Commissioner with profanities and showing utter disrespect for authority.” The 31-year-old Johnson is set to leave Manila on Saturday as per TNT manager Virgil Villavicencio. The post PBA lowers ban, fine on Johnson appeared first on Philippine Basketball Association. http://j.mp/1mGOeJT

PBA Media Bureau PBA commissioner Chito Narvasa lowered the sanctions on Tropang TNT import Ivan Johnson after the two made peace in a meeting following their heated incident over the weekend. Instead of a lifetime ban, Johnson will just be barred from playing in the PBA for this season. His fine was also reduced from P250,000 to P150,000. Do you think that the new penalties are fair? Vote in our poll. Do you agree with the PBA’s decision to lower Ivan Johnson’s ban? http://j.mp/1mGCFCB