Enough is enough

Menor needs to go back
to being the star he once was 

It seems like the only time that Coach Franz Pumaren and his young Air21 Express ever make the news is when Ogie Menor makes an ass of himself on the hardcourt and gets on someone's nerves.

Yesterday's incident involving the Meralco Bolts' Mario West should serve as notice to the PBA's Commissioner's Office and whichever games/ sports body the league reports to as a whole. Granted, the foul Menor committed wasn't really "up there" with his best "hits" but the intention was rather clear. He wanted to take all of his frustrations out on the high scoring former NBA recruit. The foul would've been forgivable had it been done in a hotly contested, too close for comfort game-- but no, they were on the receiving end of yet another ass-whooping and Menor pretty much wanted to make something of it.
Months back, this writer argued for Menor. That he was playing his role as enforcer/ "kuya" to the hilt to ensure that no one pushes his young teammates around. Well, they weren't being bullied by the Bolts other than just being outplayed by superior talent. Asi Taulava and Reynel Hugnatan weren't taking guys out with their elbows, so what's Menor's excuse this time around?

Wilmer Ong played rough but always with purpose. To take guys out of their game to swing the momentum to his team's side. He never really gave up a hard foul when the game was out of reach. Ditto with other old school enforcers. There was a sense of pride in being a hated "goon," they were there to make plays on the ball at all costs-- not like Menor who seems to be taking the "I'm a tough guy, let's fight" route.

He says his idol is Ron Artest?

Artest would be ashamed to be associated with a straight-up goon who harms his team more than helps it.

What pains fans such as this writer is that, Menor used to be a solid, star player who could drop buckets and was easily in the mold of a young Nelson Asaytono back with San Beda. A high scoring, big guard who has that "take no prisoners" attack mentality. What made him the goon he is today, well, is beyond even the wisest of fans really.

It's just sad because, Menor's convinced that he's now a full-time enforcer while he's not even yet in his 30s. He's still in shape, only needs to work on his game (which he has always had) and maybe stick a few jumpers consistently. Ren Ren Ritualo's the only person who's really in his way from being a starter at SG for the Express, and we're talking about a guy who hasn't dominated a single game not since his days wearing green and white here.

Our message to Menor: just ball man. We all know you still have it, we still see flashes of brilliance here and there. Go to the ABL and dominate if you have to. Enough with this wannabe tough guy antics, just ball like you did back with the Red Lions.