PJ Simon: Rodney Santos 2011?

Is PJ Simon ready to be Tim Cone's Rodney Santos 2.0 ?

Despite the B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados' shaky 2-3 record in the ongoing Philippine Cup owing to their adjusting to new head coach Tim Cone and all the intricacies of the triangle offense, there's one player who continues to shine in his new prominent role on the floor: Peter June Simon.

The 43rd pick in the 2001 PBA draft who has been stuck as teammate James Yap's high-scoring off-the-bench sidekick the last three years is playing an average of 32+ minutes and scoring 14 points. That, plus being asked to bring the ball down and orchestrate from time to time.

While his assist averages leave little to be desired (1.2 apg), it's obvious that Simon has earned his coach's trust and is proving himself to be more than a one-dimensional player (read: scorer). Daresay that there were games wherein Simon outshone his famed, two time MVP teammate Yap (who's having an efficient run under Cone's system as well) and could be the missing link should the Llamados' vie for a championship this season (as the team's best slasher).

And since life is made easier (and arguments more credible) whenever historical references are made, here's how I see Simon's new role in Cone's system: Rodney Santos Version 2.0.

Feel free if you've seen this before: Santos plays behind PBA superstar teammate Kenneth Duremdes not as a designated stopper, but as a solid slasher who could be relied upon in the clutch owing to his jumper and ball handling skills.

If things work out as planned, Simon could end up enjoying a better career than that of Santos' since he has already shown MVP-like performances even during his PBL days (when he was matched up with now forgotten Hercules Tangkay-- who was Yap's teammate and who the PBA poster boy easily and respectfully deferred to). Now at 32, this may be Simon's last shot at superstardom if he could make the leap from being just another scorer in the PBA into a multi-faceted player that could command double teams and open things up for his teammates.

*stats courtesy of http://www.pba-online.net