God is coming!

by rick olivares

(this story is out in today's edition -- February 1, 2008 -- of the Business Mirror)

God could be coming to the Philippines soon. And he’s going to be in high tops to spread the gospel of basketball.

The 6’0” God Shammgod came out of Providence College with a reputation for a slick handle and prodigious scoring skills, but instead he became one of those answers to trivia questions and lists of unique names of hoops players to ball in the NBA.

And now this New York City native with a great game and an even greater name could be coming to the Philippines to play in the Philippine Basketball Association in the upcoming Fiesta Conference. As of press time negotiations are underway to bring this exciting star to spice up the import-laden second conference.

Shammgod never seemed one to stay put in one place for any considerable time. He stayed in college for two years where he helped the Friars to the 1997 Elite Eight appearance with teammate Austin Croshere (who is currently with the Golden State Warriors). It was there where they met Mike Bibby’s Arizona Wildcats who defeated Providence 96-92 en route to the NCAA title. Shammgod was matched up against Bibby, of the current Sacramento Kings, and he torched him for 23 points and 5 assists, but it wasn’t enough to help them advance to the Final Four versus North Carolina. God who averaged 10.3 points per game in his two years at Providence made the Big East All-Rookie Team of 1996.

He was plucked by the Washington Wizards with the 17^th pick of the second round in the 1997 NBA Draft yet only lasted for one season. Shammgod averaged 3.1 points and 1.8 assists in four minutes of action per outing. He was on that team that included Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Tracy Murray, Rod Strickland, Ben Wallace, Calbert Cheaney, and former PBA import Darvin Ham.

Some of God’s former teammates were Ron Artest, Bibby’s current teammate in Sacramento. With Artest and later-Providence center Karim Shabazz. The three of them played in La Salle Academy in Manhattan where he made the 1996 McDonald’s All-American team.

God now has become akin to a basketball mercenary playing everywhere from places like China, Saudi Arabia, and Poland. He last played with the Portland Chinooks of the International Basketball League and he is back in action in the Chinese Basketball Association.