Act a fool

Coach Bo Perasol is losing his guys one by one

After going on public to dismiss any other and all trade rumors concerning the Powerade Tigers in the PBA after sending Marcio Lassiter to Petron, team executive Ronnie Ascuncion (the guy who replaced the respected JB Baylon) went back on his word and did what should be Phase 2 to the "master plan."

Big man Doug Kramer, who enjoyed a prolific Philippine Cup before struggling to find minutes in the big import-flavored PBA CC, was sent to the Barako Bull for undersized veteran power forward Jondan Salvador. Now, by all accounts, there was a time that Salvador could be argued as the better and more polished post player of the two. But as far as their PBA careers go, Kramer is on his way up the ranks of solid bigs in the mold of Dorian Pena and Sonny Ali Peek, while Salvador is being shipped from one team to another as an end-of-the-bench rotation player ala  now new Tigers teammate Alex Crisano.


From the outside looking in, it's hard not to argue against the Tigers and buy into the whole "disbandment" talks. Not only did they trade two vital and young cogs in Lassiter and Kramer, but they are also reportedly just re-signing guys for a one-year contract and nothing more (other than the multi-year one that Baylon secured for Gary David). This was a big reason why Kramer was reportedly shipped, as the burly forward-center was looking for a more solid, and deserving, three-year deal.

But taking a look at their coming Governor's Cup roster, the team will still have star rookie JVee Casio, superstar Gary David, the energetic/ frenetic Sean Anthony and even new recruit Rabeh Al Hussaini. That, plus the addition of legit NBA starter Rashad McCants (Kevin Garnett-era Minnesota Timberwolves), and you're still looking at a rather formidable five on paper. Did they lose a lot in giving up Kramer and Lassiter? Offensively, they'll still have enough.

It's on the defensive end where the Tigers are bound to lose some teeth. Lassiter was their best perimeter defender and two way player to complement David. Kramer, though not a solid D man one-on-one, has the smarts and body to make life tough for opponents in the paint.

Say what you want about Al Hussaini and all of his potential, but this guy is the pre-2012 Andrew Bynum of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Thinks he's the best out on the floor (which he could very well be given the right plays), but pouts and sourgrapes when he's not getting the ball. He works hard only when he knows he's going to be rewarded for it with gimmes from his guards, and sulks and looks disinterested when the game doesn't go through him.

Back to Ascuncion and the Tigers. Are they really in the PBA to win it all and form the best possible line-up to compete? Or are they cleaning house slowly but surely, ready to disband at any moment, and simply tying up loose ends?

If that's the case, then Casio and David should be dealt to an MVP franchise just to keep things interesting (since Lassiter was already shipped to Petron and Kramer, reportedly, is on a Barako "rental"before he gets traded to either Petron or Ginebra).