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| Mac Mac needs to stay focused for the Bolts |
Earl Barron is slowly proving to be the best and most polished import in the league today now that Nick Fazekas and Marcus Douthit have all gone home in the eliminations. Constantly dropping 30 and 20s, the NBA champion reserve is proving to be too much for the lengthy Llamados frontline (which has surprisnigly been downplayed this QFs by the commentators) and counterpart Denzel Bowles. Bowles has all but come undone and unglued in the match-up, being schooled repeatedly and looking more like a JV player rather than a true blue reinforcement.
On the Llamados' best day, they only have Yap, PJ Simon and sometimes Joe DeVance to look for on offense. Josh Urbiztondo has proven streaky at best, but he hasn't been knocking down the same shots because of the energy he spends chasing good friend Chris Ross around the floor. Ross might be a dud shooting-wise, but the cat sure is fast.
The Bolts on the other hand, have the league's prime time shot-creator in Mac Mac Cardona. He's no shooter a la the now disliked Gary David of Powerade, but a solid, "get buckets" type who can make shots out of nowhere with his patented spin, teardrop move. There's Sol Mercado who has yet to breakout in this series (choosing to play defense), import Barron, sniper Mark Macapagal and even the twinner Mark Borboran who could just as easily light up the scoreboard as well as play defense when the need arises.
If the Bolts are able to stay focused tomorrow, then they are looking at their first semis appearance as a young franchise under the MVP umbrella. The Asi Taulava-Earl Barron frontline needs more TV time.
Bet Money: Meralco Bolts
Alaska Aces vs Barako Bull Energy (series tied 1-1)
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| Baguio vs Tubid: Classic Match-up |
Yes, but definitely not as a collective group of rejects and discards. Not if any team is seriously considering making a Finals push over just forming a competitive squad. And definitely not when asked to compete against a young, up-and-coming squad that already boasts of two legit future Hall of Famers in L.A. Tenorio and Sonny Thoss.
Though the lengthy Lenten break might play in the Energy's favor, it won't be enough from preventing the young Aces from finally getting the Tim Cone monkey off their backs and advancing to the semis after a forgetful Philippine Cup showing.
Import Adam Parada continues to shine in the paint as a sturdy screen setter, sometimes rebounder and scorer while Thoss takes care of everything else big men are supposed to do. The guards are running- and boy are they running! Cyrus Baguio is looking like the Red Bull/ Ginebra player of old, Tenorio back to being healthy and Mac Baracael contributing whichever way he can.
Match-up wise, you'd think that the Energy have the advantage with their best five of Willie Miller, Ronald Tubid, Gabe Freeman, Danny Seigle and Dorian Pena. On the opposite end, the Aces' best are Tenorio, Baguio, Baracael, Thoss and Parada.
Resume-wise, the Energy have it by a wide margin. Reality-wise, the Aces are younger and more fit to playing their positions.
At PG, Miller is crafty while Tenorio is savvy. Don't look for Tenorio to lock Miller, that's not what he's there for. Miller will get his when and if he wants, but Tenorio will cancel it out by dishing out timely assists for easy buckets. Baguio and Tubid should be fun, but Tubid has regressed to an overly-dramatic and antics-heavy flopper that we have forgotten just how good a player he once was. Freeman is solid, but nothing SMART Gilas I alum Baracael hasn't seen or been asked to guard before, he'll get his points for sure, but he'll work for it. Seigle and Thoss is going to be ugly. Pena and Parada will battle all night.
X-factor of course will be Bonbon Custodio and how he contributes to the Aces' cause. He didn't in Game 2, but if he's able to catch fire early the Energy won't be able to put anyone on him because they're best perimeter defender (Wyne Arboleda/ Tubid) will be busy chasing Baguio.
Bet Money: Alaska Aces
i hope and pray that barako clinches the series just so they can prove that so called discards still have what it takes to win. i do not expect them to win a trophy a semis stint is a good swan song for all the gool ol' players i have cheered for through these years. parada mind you is a disappointment statwise.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. But Parada doesn't really need to be a big time scorer in the Aces' new look offense. He just needs to be a presence in the paint, provide screens and contest shots. Putbacks, gimmes and drop passes to cutting guards are bonuses. Plus, it allows ball-time for iso-heavy players like Baguio, Baracael and Custodio to do whatever on offense.
ReplyDeleteThink of Parada as a modern day, Tim Cone-era E.J. Feihl.
At the end of the day, 7"0 is still 7"0.
And this is an educated 7"0 guy we're talking about.
It would've mattered more had the Energy opted to get a high scoring, bruiser of an import who stands at least 6"8. But they opted to get a wingman in Freeman. So match-up wise, Parada > Pennisi.