Mega-trade sends Tenorio to Ginebra, Casio to Alaska

From PBA-Online.net

Finally bringing an end to all the rumors that ran amok over on Twitterverse thanks to Snow Badua, five PBA teams took to the spotlight with one of the biggest trades in recent memory.

While point guards L.A. Tenorio formerly of Alaska and JVee Casio formerly of GlobalPort caught everyone’s attention because of their superstar status and National Team pedigree, this writer argues the teams that acquired them may not necessarily be the biggest winners of the deal (on-court basketball wise).

Alaska Aces: JVee Casio (Global Port), Dondon Hontiveros (Petron) and 2nd Round Pick (Ginebra)
At first we were all going nuts and throwing fits over Alaska’s decision to send arguably the hottest basketball commodity today in Tenorio over to a team that’s not exactly fond of loaning players to the National cause. It was as unfathomable as the Aces sending one time PBA MVP Kenneth Duremdes over to Santa Lucia back in 2001 for a guy who would later turn out to be that year’s 5th overall pick Brandon Cablay (who is good, but nowhere near the same stratosphere as Duremdes). But then they got JVee Casio from Global Port. Followed by Dondon Hontiveros from Petron. Two national players of different eras but are definitely serviceable starters.


Casio, who is not a traditional point guard by trade, will excel in the Triangle Offense that Coach Luigi Trillo wants to (re)run. He will also have the time of his life playing alongside fiery rookie Calvin Abueva who will take a lot of heat away from him on both offense and defense. That plus there’s Cyrus Baguio, Bonbon Custodio and Mac Baracael to feed and Sonny Thoss to watch his back. Hontiveros on the other hand will bring that steadying presence that the suddenly young and raw Aces sorely need.

This writer would like to sincerely apologize to the Alaska Aces franchise for ever prematurely doubting their basketball decisions. Just a smart (shrewd) deal that’s trademark Alaska.

Grade: A (getting two national players and a draft pick for a disgruntled guard who is at his best running a free-lancing, fastbreaking team is always a plus)

Barako Bull Energy: Enrico Villanueva (Ginebra)
Here we are again. With the Energy and another basketball trade that *SURPRISE!* doesn’t hurt them in any way but rather improves the team as a whole. Having Villanueva back means that he’ll be the de facto starter for the Energy and will share floor space with his Ateneo buddy Doug Kramer. We never really got to see the two at their best side by side, now that Kramer’s established himself as the new Dorian Pena, let’s all pray that Villanueva rediscovers his inner “Raging Bull”—dunking on fools, popping his jersey and taunting fans.

Grade: A+

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel: LA Tenorio (Alaska)
Kindly explain and carefully expound why Ginebra suddenly felt the need to get Tenorio from the market when they still have a steady Mike Cortez, spitfire Rob Labagala and “retire or not to retire” former MVP Jayjay Helterbrand (plus a bunch of pg draft picks)? Tenorio will undoubtedly get his well-deserved playing time being the healthiest of the lot and have fun running the high octane offense but perhaps they could’ve gone for an elite big man (Kramer or Sonny Thoss) instead.

Well at least Tenorio can rock his old Ateneo #6 jersey again and not have to jump from 9 to 5 like he did at Alaska.

Grade: C for Ginebra (you just lost a guy- Enrico Villanueva, who plays a traditional position that you need at PF/C while getting a player who you have a lot of guys of), A for Tenorio

GlobalPort Batang Pier: Willie Miller (Barako Bull) and 2014 1st Round Draft Pick (Ginebra)
Willie Miller is 35. The Batang Pier’s franchise player, Gary David, is 34. they’ll be 65 and 35 next season. They already have a whining, “pass me the ball or I won’t grab any rebounds or play defense” big man in Rabeh Al Hussaini down low. Lord have mercy on this new franchise that is off to an awful start off-court.

Grade: D (this trade only works if by 2014 they land Stanley Pringle or Chris Banchero from the ABL or some kid who’s of the same skillset)

Petron Blaze Boosters: Hans Thiele (Alaska) and Wesley Gonzales (Alaska)
Thiele is actually a legit and solid big man who can be molded into the next Rafi Reavis. Gonzales is, well, Gonzales. They just needed someone to play the Nonoy Baclao role, only difference is that Baclao didn’t deserve the benching while these two will be just fine. Sabi niyo kasi sakim sa talento ang Petron e.

Grade: D for Petron. 

*On a side note, buti na lang walang na-trade sa mga asa banner ko. Mahirap mag Photoshop ba.