Trade Reaction: T.M.B.T.M.

The Prototype returns
(Photo credits to the owner)

Too many bigs to mention.

In an unforeseen and yet unsurprising summer trade that is about as crazy as #LaBoracay when you consider how ho-hum player transactions have been the last few years (no thanks to farm teams), Ginebra, Global Port, San Miguel and Barako Bull engaged in a six-player deal that basically rotated the teams' back-up big men.

We're calling it "crazy," if only because it gave us something to talk about on social media and grants our wish to "free" some of the players involved. "Crazy," because the trade practically unmasked the whole FARM TEAM concept out for even the most nitwit-test of nitwits.

Sinong hindi farm team?

Let's start with the easier ones, shall we?

Barangay Ginebra acquired the beefy 6"5, 227+ pounder Dave Marcelo from Barako Bull which will reunite him with his college coach and now Ginebra taskmaster Frankie Lim. Of the young bigs on the BB roster, Marcelo was the guy who was "quick to take the ball and run with it." Playing alongside a 7"0 import (Sol Alabi) meant that Marcelo was basically free to crash the boards, do the dirty work and just play the weak side while the rest of his big teammates were either a bit slow to adjust or kept flirting with illusions of grandeur/ superstardom (Philip Paredes, Jondan Salvador, Jake Pascual and Ronnie Matias). Call that Barako Bull phase an internship, because over at Ginebra, Marcelo will be asked to provide more of the same beside 7"0 cornerstone Greg Slaughter. The Beauty of it all is that for all things finesse about Slaughter, Marcelo (despite the good looks) is all force.

Which brings us over to Barako Bull who was handed Rico Maierhofer by way of San Miguel. Maierhofer's been in the league for quite a bit now and just like when he was with DLSU, we're rather unsure at which position he plays and where he will excel moving forward. He's just tall, semi-athletic but not quick. He doesn't have the footwork on either offense or defense. He's not a shotblocker. So yeah, he's a roster-filler for head coach Koy Banal. They just got James Forrester and Dylan Ababou from Ginebra, can't win all your trades now Farm boy.

One team that did win is Global Port, who were able to grant newly-re-installed head coach Pido Jarencio's wish for hard-nosed players with Billy Mamaril and Doug Kramer. Mamaril has always been solid for Ginebra as its token enforcer despite the shitty minutes he got. One day he starts and plays heavy, winning time minutes, the next four games he rides the pine while people clamor for a more "physical" Ginebra. Kramer is arguably the most solid weakside playing big man in the PBA today. He's the weird-Dennis Espino. Kung si Espino sobrang fundamentally sound as an ace big man, si Kramer kuhang kuha yung role ng role playing big. We fully expect Kramer to start next conference, and to set bone-crushing screens for Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle. On a side note, the new Batang Pier duo's name is meant for an 80s singing act or 90s sitcom: Billy & Doug.

Lastly, San Miguel Beer just landed tested veterans Yancy de Ocampo and Gabby Espinas. When motivated (contract renewal, when in an on-court altercation with a rival player, playing against baby brother Ranidel), Yancy is arguably still one of the best low to high post big men out there. His skillset is just extra ordinary, though he doesn't appear to be going to the same Fountain of Youth as fellow vets Asi Taulava and Eric Menk. As a last option on the bench and back-up to Junemar Fajardo, sure, YdO has a lot to offer in limited minutes. It's in practice wherein he'll be of big help to the reigning PBA MVP, as he can teach a lot more than previous JMF mentor Danny Ildefonso should he embrace that role (because YdO knows how to play as a stretch 4 while DI doesn't). Espinas on the other hand makes his return to the team that drafted him 5th overall in the 2006 PBA Draft. We feel that the man we have dubbed as The Prototype a.k.a. The Beast before The Beast, would have gone down a different path had he not been buried with the Beermen, and it took a long time for him to get his confidence and bearings back (which would be thanks to former Alaska coach Luigi Trillo). Now, in his early 30s and coming off injury, he'll be Arwind Santos', a former rival, chief back-up and new partner same way he did Calvin Abueva. We're not going to mess with that frontline anytime soon, because now guys who are after JMF's head will have to deal with Espinas' resbak. (which Santos, or even a Kramer never, truly were).

Who won the recent trade? Our money's on GlobalPort and Ginebra, hit us up @kilikilishot on Twitter!