A fresh start

Captain Hook is back!
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

It's never easy being The Man then having to unlearn everything and play as part of a "big picture" team, only to be asked to be The Man again but not exactly The Man you were, then go back to being part of another rebuilding effort before finally being asked to revisit The Man you used to be because you're the only legitimate option left on the team.

But for NLEX Road Warriors guard Mac Cardona, he probably wouldn't have it any other way.

Sure, Cardona would probably be a lot happier if he had played and stayed with only one team to further his legacy as one of the PBA's best scorers (along with one-time peers/rivals James Yap and Mark Caguioa), but you know how they say that "in life, you simply need to roll with the cards that you've been dealt." Based on the numbers and history, there's no denying that "Captain Hook" is at his very best when he is allowed to play to his strengths instead of to someone else's. A return to his old, nonchalant on-court demeanor after flirting with a "Rated PG, TV-friendly Mark Cardona" version of himself also doesn't seem to hurt either.


Sitting at a mediocre 2 wins and 4 losses slate, NLEX needs more of the "old" Cardona who is currently averaging a league 2nd best 18.2 ppg and playing a lot like a pardoned convicted felon fresh out of a Middle Eastern prison.

How long has it been since Cardona made any headlines for his scoring prowess?

The last time he made the news, not including the PG Mark Era, was when he went all "anong height mo?" on an import in a semifinals showdown. How long has it been-- two, three years?

Looking at NLEX, they have proven veterans that can help spread the floor for a go-to-guy like Cardona. Nino Canaleta and Aldrech Ramos can snipe away from the outside while Asi Taulava, Enrico Villanueva and Eric Camson can all bang and bruise inside the paint. There are some inconsistencies when it comes to bench support, but NLEX head coach Boyet Fernandez has always over-achieved in his earlier run in the PBA with the now defunct Santa Lucia Realtors franchise wherein he had about just the same (or less) number of quality go-to-guys.

As a basketball fan, we pray for Cardona's continued return to his old "Captain Hook" form-- if not better, and that he is rewarded in the end for his efforts.

How far do you think can Cardona carry NLEX this PBA Philippine Cup 2015?