Barangay Schizophrenia

Should they run? Go big?
Or maybe, they should play a little D.
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

"A mental disorder that makes it hard to: Tell the difference between what is real and not real; Think clearly; Have normal emotional responses; Act normally in social situations"

How hard is it to be a member of the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel family? The pressure to deliver, put on a show for fans, please the management and hope not to be traded/ fired after a tumultuous conference-- just how hard is it to be #LahingGinebra?

After letting go of Jeffrey Cariaso and his Triangle Offense, Ginebra openly declared that they will return to the old, "run and gun" system that has made them a household name, loved by thousands (or millions) of kabarangays here and abroad. Expectations were high following this piece of news, since it meant that no longer will established scorers such as former PBA MVP Mark Caguioa, L.A. Tenorio, Joseph Yeo and even a Josh Urbiztondo be shackled and forced to "make the extra pass" or the "correct play" in the half court. It also teased the possibility of breakout conferences for 6"9 Japeth Aguilar and wingman Chris Ellis. Yes, a run and gun system does not fit into prized 7"0 center Greg Slaughter's strengths per se, but what is 1 man, even at 7"0, when you can, theoretically, get production from basically 3/4 of your roster?

So yes, we do agree that a return to the R&G system was a good move for Ginebra-- if only because words like "system" and "structure" as Cariaso has introduced, just doesn't seem right. It's almost like going home one day and passing through your favorite sari-sari store where your drunk uncle hangs out all the time, only to find him reading a novel instead of gulping down one kwatro kantos after the other.

It. Just. Doesn't. Feel. Right.

Now, for the choice of import, Mike Dunnigan is a straight up beast of a center. So you can't say that whoever decided to bring him into the fold wasn't thinking of talent and what Dunnigan can bring to the table as a player. Hell naw.

But where does he fit exactly?

Slaughter loves to play the high post as a passing big man, so they can work together. But having Slaughter up top and Dunnigan down low also limits the spacing required by the bevy of slashers/ scorers to operate (since Slaughter's guy will move out with him). And, as good as both guys are, they aren't rebounding demons. Dunnigan can get the ball, but he's not built like other traditional import-centers who haul down 20 a night or dies trying. Slaughter? On a good day, he'll get you 10 meh rebounds.

Oh, Aguilar? That dude wants to play small forward.

Sure, it's still too early to be pressing the panic button for Ginebra. But that opening game (loss) to Meralco was disastrously schizophrenic wherein they were trying to play R&G in the 1st half and when they saw that it wasn't working, dropped it altogether to play halfcourt and pound the ball inside.

Perhaps the team should first look into adopting a defensive identity first, rather than proclaiming out loud what kind of offense they would like to run.

That vintage NSD effort that came up a bit short against Barako?

Against. BARAKO.

Come on now, powerhouse teams (even those only on paper) are supposed to take Barako lightly for the 1st 3 quarters before turning it around early in the 4th quarter to cruise to an easy win. But Ginebra? Hell, they couldn't win the game not until the very end when Joseph Yeo missed a possible game winner.

Seriously. 

For all the supposed "identity crisis" on offense, Ginebra would be in a much better place if only they could concentrate more on defense. The old Jaworski teams played ugly, helter skelter basketball, but it was always anchored on hard-nosed defense. Nowadays, you see a promising rookie enforcer like Rodney Brondial glued to the bench when his speed, hunger and nose for the ball would be an instant hit playing alongside a dominant center in Dunnigan.

Hope Ginebra turns it around soon, for returning head coach Ato Agustin's job security's sake.