'Black Superman' to attend PBA Hall of Fame induction ceremony

After more than two decades, Filipino basketball fans will once again see beloved Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) import Billy Ray Bates. The enigmatic former NBA player arrives in the country Friday to personally attend his induction into the PBA Hall of Fame. The installation of the fourth batch of Hall of Famers—composed of six other personalities—is the highlight of Sunday's opening ceremony of the PBA's 37th season at the Araneta Coliseum. Other inductees are Bates' former coach and teammate at Crispa—Tommy Manotoc and 1977 Most Valuable Player Freddie Hubalde, four-time MVP Alvin Patrimonio, the late commissioner Mariano Yenko, ex-Mariwasa coach and national team mentor Valentin "Tito" Eduque and Vintage Enterprises CEO and president Carlos "Bobong" Velez. The electrifying import, who wowed local cage fans with his uncanny shooting ability and thunderous dunks in the 80s, will be arriving together with wife Beverly. He helped steer the league to greater heights during his celebrated stint with Crispa and later on, with Robert Jaworski and Ginebra. The prolific import responsible for Crispa's second Grand Slam in 1983 and Ginebra's first ever PBA title in 1986, will be busy with several activities in his first visit in the country since 1988. He will also have several mall appearances. Bates is likewise expected to watch PBA games live, including the lone opening match pitting his former team Ginebra against Rain or Shine. He was also supposed to be a guest up north for a few days by Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, with whom he got close during his playing days with the Redmanizers. But the eldest child of former President Ferdinand Marcos is currently out of town. Bates, considered to be as the greatest import to play in Asia's first ever play-for-pay league, once played for the Portland Trailblazers, Washington Bullets and L.A. Lakers in the NBA. He is still a legendary figure in Portland and was the subject in one chapter of former Blazers coach Jack Ramsay's book about the team. Now 55-years-old, the colorful player, who once got hooked on drugs and served time in prison, last played in the country in 1988 for Ginebra, where he had for partner former Boston Celtics guard Kevin Gamble. — JVP, GMA News