History repeats itself: Alaska's PBA import exceeds height limit

For the second time in franchise history, Alaska Milk will send home a reinforcement who exceeded the height limit in the Philippine Basketball Association’s import-laden conference. Eddie Basden, Alaska’s import choice for the coming PBA second conference, went over the height limit during the official measurement conducted at the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City Monday. The procedure witnessed by team representatives had Basden officially measuring 6-foot-4 and ¼. In the PBA's second conference, teams are allowed to field in imports not taller than 6-foot-4. PBA operations manager Rickie Santos confirmed the news to GMANews.TV. “Basden was officially measured at 6-foot-4 and ¼ inch," said Santos in a telephone interview. “We have a new procedure being followed now, but the most basic things are imports are measured lying down, head straight and eyes looking directly at the ceiling." This is not the first time an Alaska import exceeded the height limit. In the 2005-06 import-laden conference, Victor Thomas, who once suited up for Red Bull to play in a tournament with a 6-foot-6 height limit a season before, was measured over the height limit in his supposed return to action in the PBA. “Well, he exceeded the height limit and that’s the way it is, so we have to look for a replacement," said Alaska coach Tim Cone, who added that they are now looking at their shortlist of candidates to replace the NBA veteran Basden. Here's the PBA’s guidelines on the measurement of imports as approved by Commissioner Atty. Chito Salud are as follows: 1. PBA’s measurement procedure — A measuring bench at the PBA Office will be used for this purpose. 2. The import will lie flat on his back barefooted. 3. The technical group personnel conducting the measurement shall make sure that both backs of the knees, shoulder blades and the head are firmly resting on said bench. The head musty be in a straight-up position, not tucked in or raised up. 4. The import shall then be measured accordingly from the top of the head to the tip of his heels. 5. Any team representative present can request for a re-measurement. The procedure above shall then be repeated and the second measurement shall be considered final and official. Only one request for re-measurement shall be allowed. If there’s no request for a re-measurement from any of the team representatives present, then the first measurement will be considered final and official. 6. Any fraction over the allowed height limit shall be considered as a failure to meet the height limit requirement. “Things have changed the way things were being done five or 10 years ago. Eddie was listed at 6-foot-5, so we were anticipating that he could easily pass the height limit of 6-foot-4. So now, teams should look at one another because if someone will get a 6-foot-5, then he could be over the limit as well," added Cone. According to Cone, one of the imports that team representatives should look at is Talk n Text import Paul Harris, who is also listed at 6-foot-5 in the US just like Basden. Harris, who played for the Utah Jazz in the Orlando Pro Summer League, will backstop the Tropang Texters in the second conference. The Tropang Texters are currently battling the San Miguel Beermen in the Philippine Cup best-of-seven finals series. - KY, GMANews.TV