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| #CanadaSaPBA (Photo courtesy of sports-asia.com) |
Six talented Filipino basketball players are currently included on different rosters in the neighboring ASEAN Basketball League which saw a drop in game play this last season (with the Philippine-representative, San Miguel Beer, opting to pull out and probably the reduced number of ASEAN imports as two possible culprits). With the ABL season now at a close, we wonder why the PBA teams haven't come knocking at these gentlemen's doors. We understand contracts and all, but surely teams that are in a bind and looking to salvage their season before it gets any worse (Kia Sorento and Blackwater) can manage to shell out a few extra bucks if only to save face.
You'll have to bear with us on this one, since the ABL seems to be in a deteriorating state and seems to have lost their online stats-updating team for some reason so we're going with purely basketball scouting and our own two cents here.
Jerick Canada, PG, HiTech Bangkok City
Let's start with the ABL Finals MVP and how great he looked for head coach Jing Ruiz (also a Filipino). Canada's shooting is still iffy at best, but the way he is able to control the floor and his teammates is not something you'd take for granted considering they're mostly Thais and American imports who're mostly out for stuffing the stat sheet and angling for bigger pay. Put Canada on a team like Kia Sorento and he'll prove to be the most heady point guard in the rotation right from the start. On Blackwater, he'll be a perfect mentor for up-and-coming Cebuano playmaker Brian Heruela while possibly sending Juami Tiongson back to the D-League and Paul Artadi near retirement. If Jeric Fortuna can make it into the pros, there's no reason why Canada shouldn't be given a second look. Basically, he's the guy that-- when a younger hot-off-the-plane Stanley Pringle was busy going 100 mph for the Indonesia Warriors, made sure that they actually won a title that one year together.
Patrick Cabahug, SG, HiTech Bangkot City
There is a legitimate need for scorers in the PBA despite this Euro-style of basketball that's being played the last five years (shorter minutes for stars, longer rotations, superstars averaging a modest 16 points per game and no one complains). We understand why Cabahug was unable to secure a PBA roster spot the first time-- he's reed thin and plays half-hearted defense. But the time spent as being a sort of "hired assassin" in the ABL has addressed some of those areas, with Cabahug playing acceptable defense every now and then and learning to play with superstar imports who demand to have more time with the basketball. Looking at Kia, they need a go-to-guy who is not afraid to take the ballsy shots hit or miss-- no, the over-eager Reil Cervantes doesn't count as one. For Blackwater, they have the names (Sunday Salvacion, Alex Nuyles, Bam Gamalinda), but for some reason are unable to get it together. Even teams like Barako Bull, who is still trying to squeeze a PBA career out of JC Intal's lethargic body and Carlo Lastimosa's less than mature approach, should consider signing Cabahug.
Froilan Baguion, PG, Saigon Heat
Baguion is the best damn Filipino point guard out there even to this very day. The only setback is that he's really, REALLY short. But any one who has seen Baguion play-- from NU to the ABL, all know that he's damn good and could've been the next, smaller Eugene Quilban (smart with range) given the right situation. Kia would be a great fit. And don't we just love underdog stories? We've been hyping guys like Emman Monfort so much, but we'd argue that Baguion is a better court general than many of today's PBA point guards. Down side is his age (34 years), but we wouldn't be surprised if he still has a good 1-2 years left in him (considering the ABL doesn't play as many games).
Leo Avenido, SG, Saigon Heat
The former ABL MVP was unable to crack the Alaska Aces' rotation last season and is back in the league where he flourished. Now, the thing with Avenido is he's so much like Paolo Hubalde-- he's not a point guard per se, but he's not a shooting guard either. Yes, he can make shots, but it always feels unnatural team-flow wise. Even when he's orchestrating, it's just not a good fit because he always seems like he's looking to score but minus the ability. His defense is mediocre, which is probably why he was never really part of a solid PBA rotation, but at this point in their careers, we'd definitely take him over Paul Artadi over at Blackwater. Or over any of Kia's point guards.
Al Vergara, PG, Singapore Slingers
An under-sized combo guard who opted to explore his options overseas rather than waste his playing years riding the bench for loaded PBA teams (which shows you how good he is, since he was signed by teams like Purefoods). In case any of you were to young to remember, Vergara is the floor general who kept the St. Francis of Assisi dynasty together-- you know, that team that had an unfair frontline of Yancy and Ranidel de Ocampo AND Ervin Sotto. He's also the point guard who steered Harbour Center to numerous titles in the PBL before being brought in by the Slingers to supplant another Filipino import, Jayson Castro.
Mark Yee, PF, Saigon Heat
We need Mr. "Try to box me in and I'll poke the hair in your ass all the way into your intestines" back in the PBA. For TV entertainment.
Which among these ABL imports should be signed by PBA teams this season? Which team? Why?
Usap tayo!
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