Batang Pier sign Johns; imports list now complete

NorthPort became the last team to secure the services of an import by tapping globetrotting Taylor Johns for the PBA Governors’ Cup which tips off Aug. 18.

Coach Bonnie Tan confirmed the signing of Johns late Friday, thus completing the cast of reinforcements that will look to help their teams win the season-opening tournament.

Johns, 30, is coming off a stint with Indonesian club Kesatria, but has played in Slovenia, Greece, Israel, Finland and Slovakia.

The Batang Pier are in the midst of a busy offseason after letting go rookie Zav Lucero to the Magnolia Hotshots to acquire Jio Jalalon while also getting Sidney Onwubere from Barangay Ginebra for Ben Adamos.

Brent Paraiso was also traded to Terrafirma for a future draft pick.

Johns is among the last batch of imports secured by teams for the first conference, joining Converge’s Scotty Hopson and San Miguel Beer’s Tauras Jogela.

Hopson had brief NBA stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder on top of his credentials of being an import in Europe, China and Lebanon.

Jogela is from Lithuania and has played in his home country and neighboring Latvia. He was also Most Valuable Player of the Fiba Europe U-16 Championship in 2009.

The three are among the nine PBA newcomers for the Governors’ Cup, which will implement a maximum height limit of 6-foot-6.

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Johns, Hopson, Jogela, Magnolia’s Glenn Robinson III, TNT’s Darius Days, Terrafirma’s Brandon Edwards, NLEX’s Myke Henry, Blackwater’s Ricky Ledo and Phoenix’s Jayveous McKinnis will still have to be measured by the league to determine if they’ll meet the required limit.

Only Barangay Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee, Meralco’s Allen Durham and Rain or Shine’s Aaron Fuller are returning for another tour of duty.

The Governors’ Cup is also implementing a group play format to determine the eight quarterfinalists.

Group A has Meralco, Magnolia, TNT, Terrafirma, NorthPort and Converge while Group B features San Miguel, Ginebra, Rain or Shine, NLEX, Phoenix and Blackwater.