Harp, Locsin cleared; 3 more up for review

Philippine Basketball Association commissioner Noli Eala yesterday reinstated Davonn Harp of Red Bull Barako and Noli Locsin of Talk N Text even as he reopened the cases of three other players currently serving drug-related suspensions.

Harp and Locsin were among a group of players who tested positive in a sweeping, league-wide drug test but has since complied with the league’s rehabilitation program, making them eligible for reinstatement.

Eala’s decision paves the way for Harp rejoining Red Bull in time for the opening of the season-ending Samsung-PBA Reinforced Conference, which kicks off Saturday with a game in Baguio City pitting the Barako against the FedEx Express.

Locsin’s short-term contract with Talk N Text has already expired but the 6-3 bruiser expects to get a renewal from the Phone Pals, now that he has been reinstated.

"We welcome back Davonn and Noli into the fold and it is our hope that they can put this episode in their careers behind them," said Eala. "We also expect them to once again delight fans with their prowess on the court."

The decision raised to three the number of players given a new lease on their careers by Eala. He earlier gave the green light to Red Bull guard Jimwell Torion who was among the first cagers to flunk a random drug test.

More reinstatements are expected to come as the Commissioner’s Office opened for evaluation the cases of Jun Limpot and Alex Crisano of Ginebra and forward Ryan Bernardo of Talk ‘N Text.

Crisano and Bernardo have been undergoing the league-mandated rehabilitation program while Limpot has expressed willingness to do the same.

Another suspended player, Norman Gonzales, has dropped a lawsuit seeking injunction on the suspension slapped on him by the league and has appealed his case to Eala.

Meanwhile, with three returning imports and seven newcomers all determined to prove their worth, expect the forthcoming conference to be a slambang affair and a season-ending tournament truly worth watching.

The tournament calls for a height ceiling of 6’5 for all 10 imports.

The returning imports —Artemus McClary of Coca-Cola, Cedric Webber of Shell and Chris Carrawell of Alaska —graced yesterday’s PSA Forum at the Manila Pavilion along with the seven newcomers who talked about their respective chances.

"Just expect us to win. That’s the bottomline," said Carrawell, one of three former Duke players in this talented batch of imports, the two others being Rick Price of Ginebra and Nate James of Sta. Lucia. This will be Carrawell’s second stint with Alaska.

The other imports getting a first taste of Philippine basketball are Kris Clark of San Miguel Beer, Damian Cantrell of reigning All-Filipino champion Talk N Text, Darrin Hancock of FedEx, Harold Arceneaux of Purefoods and Ramel Lloyd of title defender Red Bull.

Lloyd is a product of the University of Syracuse who’s had a recent stint in Venezuela. He said he’s here on a mission and that is to keep the title for Red Bull.

Webber also suited up for Shell last year but saw action in just four games, having to leave early to try it out in the NBA. He’s back to finish what he started and said he’s ready to give "110 percent" every night.

McClary, for his part, will have a lot of adjusting to do with Coca-Cola after playing for Mobiline previously.

"I’ll just have to try and fit in," said the 28-year-old banger who’s coming off a short stint in Seoul, South Korea.

Hancock, at 30, is the oldest in the group, but will also bring with him a two-year experience with the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA.