Time to break up the MMDA (?)

Hi, I'm Jason Deutchman.
I averaged 6 points and 5 rebounds
in only 20 minutes last conference.

Nine games into the GlobalPort Batang Pier’s PBA Commissioner Cup campaign and we’ve pretty much figured that this team won’t make a run at the next round—not with an abysmal, cellar-dwelling 2-7 win-loss record.

Granted, the team underwent an almost drastic reinvention mid-season, bringing in lead point guard Sol Mercado and athletic beanpole Japeth Aguilar. Though they won their first game and looked mighty impressive on offense thanks to their knack for spectacular, showtime-esque plays, it’s on the defensive end where this team finds itself lacking.

The much celebrated MMDA- Willie Miller, Solomon Mercado, Gary David and Japeth Aguilar are arguably some of the best and explosive names in all of Philippine basketball. There’s the former 2x PBA MVP, last year’s MVP bridesmaid, a guy who’s playing like he’s up for either MVP or Most Improved and then the most athletic, local-bred and born freak of nature (we mean that on a positive scale) we’ve ever laid eyes on.

As good as they are offensively, only Mercado qualifies as a guy who plays consistent defense night in and night out—and even that may be a stretch. Miller’s offense, much like Barako Bull’s Danny Seigle, is still the best in the business, but his legs hinder him from staying in front of his guy. David’s never been a defender, we won’t even lengthen this paragraph to validate that and Aguilar has never met a pump fake he doesn’t bite into.

Aguilar, when forced to meet a driving/face-up opponent, must probably always be thinking “mag pump fake ito, pero tatalon pa din ako!”

Now, we’re not saying that big boss Mikee Romero et. al. should pull the plug and disband the MMDA. We’re suggesting that perhaps it’s high time that coach Junel Baculi explore the wonders of his reserves and not play favorites as heavily (Reed Juntilla FTW).

There’s the rookie pair of AJ Mandani and Jason Deutchman. Both had stellar debuts last conference, with Mandani being a big, pit bull type of a point guard (think of a swagged-up, ankle-breaking Denok Miranda) and Deutchman as Mike Hrabak (remember him?) with muscle tone.

It seems that Baculi thinks that his team could simply outscore opponents, always going with a scorer (JP Belencion, Juntilla) to supplant another scorer. We’re loving the extended minutes being awarded to Jondan Salvador, but it wouldn’t hurt to have a safety out on the perimeter as well.

When we talk about safety in basketball, that’s how Tim Duncan has always been for the San Antonio Spurs. His teammates—mediocre defenders like Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli get a pass because they simply funnel their man into the waiting arms of Duncan. But that worked better before as compared to today because- surprise surprise, they had a perimeter guy playing defense (hello Bruce Bowen).

Having four scorers and a defender works from time to time, but not in a lengthy conference where guys are scouted and teams are better prepared. SMART Gilas did it, and that was the prototype for awhile, but that was in a short conference—even the Meralco Bolts have found some balance in playing that way on offense, but then going back to hustle defensively (Batang Pier hasn’t gotten the memo yet).

A slight adjustment would be to have Mandani-Mercado-David-Aguilar-import, then Mercado-Miller-Deutchman-Salvador-import. Not only will Batang Pier get the most out of Mercado who has been playing at an insane level this season, but they’ll also get to preserve veteran stars David and Miller.

If Coach Junel Baculi can't figure out how to win with four three legit superstars and one promising talent, then changes are in order.