New world for Martinez

New world for Martinez

New world for Martinez

New world for Martinez

Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Google Plus

THERE’S  life  in  basketball after the PBA and the PBA Developmental  League.

And James Vincent Martinez, once  considered  as  one of  the country’s  most  prolific scorers, is only too happy to find  it in the Thailand Basketball  Super League.

After short but memorable stints in the country’s premier play-for-pay leagues, Martinez  is now showing his wares  as an import for the  team Dunkin’ Raptors in Thailand.

It all started  with a call from a friend from Thailand.And now Martinez is now doing well --  and doing what he loves best  -- shoot basketball.   The 5-9  combo guard, who played  for San Beda College during  his  high  school days and  University of the East  in  college, is one of the ASEAN imports now playing in  the league, whichis obviously patterned after the PBA.

“I am deeply honored to play  as an import  in Thailand. It’s a big opportunity for me to show my talent as a  player,” said  the 29-year-old Martinez, who noted that Filipino players are now being recruited to play as imports by different teams in Thailand.    

“It only shows how talented Filipino players are,” said Martinez, pointing to  AJ Mandani and Jeff Viernes as among the newest  recruits in the tournament. “It’s like a reunion for me. Mandani and Viernes  used to  play for two-time  PCBL champion  Jumbo Plastic.” 

Martinez was drafted with the 18th overall pick by the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the 2011 PBA Draft and was later signed by the Powerade Tigers on the same season.

Martinez then suited up for AMA University in the PBA D-League  under coach Mark Herrera last year.

With the Titans, Martinez  established a  scoring  record of 58 points on  22-of-42 shooting from the field, including 10-of-26 clip from three-point range in 28 minutes against Topstar-Mindanao. He  surpassed  the league record for most points in a game of 41  previously held by Mac Belo.

Martinez is also best remembered for scoring 75 points for AMA  in a winning game against veteran-laden Gryphon International  in the MBL Open last  June, 2015.   

His   record  75-point performance  surpassed the  previous  MBL-high of  54 points   established by Jonathan Aldave of Wang’s Ballclub.