Buenafe-ntastic Fit

Buenafe a.k.a. Boy Leggings

Carpe diem.

Our Atenean friends are taught to live by this code, Kobe Bryant and Nike used it as part of their revived marketing campaign and pretty much anyone who seeks more in life has chanced upon this simple yet impactful mantra that translate into three simple words: "seize the day."

For one Ronjay Buenafe of the Meralco Bolts, the timing couldn't have been anymore perfect. Though he was released by head coach Yeng Guiao from the Rain or Shine Elastopainters fold despite helping the team win its first ever PBA title, Buenafe has found a new home for himself with the Meralco Bolts.

Currently ranked number 13 among the league's leading scorers, Buenafe has been torching opponents with 14.62 ppg generated by the number of long balls he's been allowed by head coach Ryan Gregorio to take. The Bolts of course, are running the "Dribble Drive Motion Offense" popularized in Filipino basketball parlance by the successful SMART Gilas II program (which Gregorio was a part of).


Credit has to go to power point guard Sol Mercado who leads the league in assists with almost 7 a game (number 2 in scoring as well with 19.5) for finding Buenafe waiting in the wings. Mercado's natural abilities are heavily increased, nay, "steroid-ized," by the DDMO that all he really has to do is drive hard into the paint to take the shot or look for one of his many shooters up top (Buenafe, Sunday Salvacion and even Mac Cardona).

But like we've always said, you can make the prettiest pass there is on the book but it's still up to the recipient to make the shot and make both parties look like geniuses on the floor. So far, Buenafe has been living up to the challenge and is making a James Yap-like run at stardom (okay, maybe not, but he's definitely starting to become one of the league's best gunners from deep).

Now that we've been given the chance to look at Buenafe from a different perspective-- playing the catch and shoot, complementary role rather than being the de facto 6th man asked to shoot and slash (as he was tasked to do under coach Yeng), we start to understand his effectivity and efficiency on the hard court. Yes, the defense still needs work, but this guy is not afraid to take shots-- which is big considering he's taking away shots meant for Mercado and Cardona.

The way things are going for Buenafe, he's bound to be in the Most Improved Player conversation. He's always had this kind of game, only difference is he's in a situation that works for him.