Cool, clutch Casio

Sinong nagsabing SHOOTER lang ako?

Five years ago if you were to tell us that JVee Casio would be playing on a title contender in the PBA as one of its leading men, we'd sign off on it in a heartbeat.

But if you were to add that he'd be playing point guard... Maybe not so much.

See, Joseph Evans Casio has a God given gift: to break the hearts of many opponents and their fans with heart-breaking triples. To shoot his team back into games and on to victories be it blowouts or buzzer beaters. Casio will score, he is a scorer by trade. To say otherwise would be blasphemous. He is a caricature of Ren Ren Ritualo straight out of a Washington Young "Pupung" comic strip.
Now?

He is the point guard for the Alaska Aces.

And though he scored a bunch in tonight's close out game over the San Mig Coffee Mixers, he's been running the team more than he is leading it. He rarely top scores. Rarely asks for the ball. Rarely even takes more than 10 attempts a game which is mind boggling for a man of his trade and talents.

But the Aces are flourishing with this "new" Casio. The offense runs as smoothly as head coach Luigi Trillo's fancy game neckties. The team's overall approach to the game is as clear as Alex Compton's American blue eyes.

Even with temperamental teammates Gabby Espinas and Calvin Abueva, there's a sense of calmness with the Aces. They're never in a panic in tight games and Casio is a big part of it. He is the bridge that links their "quiet" veterans with their more fiery and testy young guns. While Abueva grabs the headlines and limelight, Casio is the glue that pulls the team together with his heady exploits.

Is Casio at par with the Tenorios, Alapags and Cabagnots?

We say yes. And the way he's going and learning the spot, he could even be better in a year or two's time.