Ready to detonate: Rudy Hatfield set to return?

H-Bomb: Enough of this young sh*t, get me back in!

According to reports Rudy "H-Bomb" Hatfield, one of this decade's more charismatic and passionate basketball stars, is eyeing yet another comeback (after his first retirement in 2007 and early this year) to suite up for the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings in the second and/ or third conferences.

Now 34, Hatfield promises to bring back the energy that has been missing from time to time with the "transitioning" Gin Kings and has even called out teammates Mark Caguioa, Jayjay Helterbrand and Eric Menk to name a few.

Question is, just how good is Hatfield-right now, and can he play at an optimum level against today's faster and more athletic wings and bigs?

Personally, this writer enjoys watching Hatfield-- the closest Filipino basketball fans have seen to a WWE-type star with his magnetic personality and made-for-TV good looks. And unlike another entertaining, energy player named Alex Crisano Hatfield actually has legit basketball skills and helps more than he hurts his team when he's on the floor.

But, you have to consider Coach Siot Tangquincen's headstrong stance in developing the Gin Kings' younger talent. Where will that leave Hatfield? An under sized power forward who is pretty much just a more energetic, nay, frenetic version of the younger Willie Wilson? Hatfield may and will probably eat into another youngster, Rico Maierhofer's minutes.

Also, never the well-polished player, Hatfield always relied on his energy and athleticism- two things that go with age and injuries. The last time we saw Hatfield in a Ginebra uniform, the passion was undeniable-- the game, not so much. Today's bigger and younger players are wiser to the ball, and honestly, despite his great conditioning, Hatfield is a risk to break down mid-conference just like his peers. That's not hating on a player, that's just human nature.

Another concern is given Hatfield's vocal nature, how will he react towards Coach Siot and the new system that pushes the team's younger players over its established stars? Fireworks. F-bombs. You name it, it will probably go down ugly.

The only way Hatfield's return works is if Ginebra goes back to its fan-approved line-up of stars with Caguioa and Helterbrand up front and take the foot off the "young guns" express train pedal. Oh, and if Coach Siot becomes more zen like his buddy Coach Jong.