Purefoods Tender Juicy, determined to make a good showing in the 2009 Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference, has recruited a new import in Jahmar Thorpe, replacing Brian Hamilton whose game took a nosedive after a remarkable debut in the league.The Giants settled with Thorpe, a product of University of Houston, with Marquin Chandler still unavailable, yet to finish his engagement in the Japanese league.

Thorpe, 24, arrived Thursday night from the United States. He was measured at 6-4 15/16 in the PBA office Friday before joining the Giants in Bacolod City for their game in  Victorias City, Negros Occidental where they play the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in one leg of the PBA Phoenix Fuel on Tour.

Thorpe is listed in the Houston Cougars journal as a 6-foot-6, 225-pound forward. Houston U is the same school that produced Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler among other great players. Former Great Taste and Manila Beer import Michael Young was a member of a Cougars team that won a championship in the mid-80s.

The Giants got off to a 2-0 start in the tourney but have since gone on a slump with Hamilton’s game taking a downturn after debuting with a triple-double performance to lead the team to a 131-121 win over the Talk n Text Tropang Texters last March 3.

Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio hopes they regain their winning ways with Thorpe taking over from Hamilton.

Thorpe had his first stint playing abroad last year, starring for the Goettingen ball club in Germany where he made a reputation as a show man.

Reports said Thorpe became one of Bundesliga’s popular attractions with his high-flying dunks.

Native of Morristown, New Jersey, Thorpe played high school ball with the Morristown HS before jumping to college ball with Caldwell College then Houston.

He made the All-Morris County selection, All-Iron Hills Conference first team and Iron Division All-Star as a Morristown senior. He led the team to a 24-3 record and won the Morris County MVP honors while averaging 13.5 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in his senior year.

At Caldwell College, an NCAA Division II school in Caldwell, New Jersey, Thorpe immediately made an impact with an average of 17.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. He was named to the All-Metropolitan Division II second team selection.

He later made the All-Region II First Team and All Bi-State Conference First Team selections in junior college where he averaged 18.1 points and 11 rebounds.(jack18jack)