Step up to the plate

Under-rated Coach Koy
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Call this the ex-Barangay Ginebra, now Barako Bull revenge tour.

How else would you call it after a former Ginebra reserve turned Barako star has been cited as the PBA Governor Cup's Player of the Week for the third straight time? JC Intal was the first, Dylan Ababou next and now, Joseph Yeo (who was probably, the one guy that Ginebra fans didn't want to see go after his sterling first two conferences with the team)

Koy Banal has done a masterful job coaching this team to a clean 4-0 record, making full use of their prized import Liam McMorrow (38 mpg, 25 ppg, 22 rpg) )who is basically a faster version of what PJ Ramos was to Kia in the PBA Commissioner's Cup. For the most part, Intal (29 mpg, 15 ppg, 7 rpg, 3 apg) has been pretty solid before all the trade rumors started popping up while Joseph Yeo (29 mpg, 13 ppg, 3 rpg, 4 apg) is slowly starting to feel comfy back in a "designated scorer" role that he used to have almost exclusively with DLSU and as an off-the-bench weapon with Santa Lucia (the Petron/ San Miguel years were rough, and we only have 2 conferences to enjoy with Ginebra). Ababou (18 mpg, 10 ppg, 2 rpg) on the other hand is proving all of his doubters wrong and is just being the most efficient player on the floor at all times regardless of who is up against (only Chris Tiu and Larry Fonacier, IMHO, play as smart or smarter given the same "limited" athleticism).

Then, there are the two kids that we almost gave up on: RR Garcia (23 mpg, 9 ppg, 3 rpg, 2 apg) and Carlo Lastimosa (11 mpg, 7 ppg, 1 rpg, 1 apg). The celebrated amateur stars are still far from what we initially expected them to be in the PBA, but are slowly becoming quite serviceable for Coach Koy as combo-guard options. We also love the Yeo-Lastimosa dynamic, as it seems that The Ninja has taken Lastimosa under his wing of sorts, whenever they are on the floor as he is seen constantly talking and pointing to certain spots for Lastimosa to go to.

O baka sinasabi niya lang "dito ka La Salle ,ganito diskarte ng tunay na Taft."

Only the green community would get that harsh, inside joke. Lol.

Though you could argue that Barako Bull is built mostly from perceived Team San Miguel Corporation (San Miguel, Ginebra, Purefoods) scrap, this is arguably the best and most complete team that they've ever had since the Manong Brigade of Willie Miller, Dondon Hontiveros, Danny Seigle, Dorian Pena and Mick Pennisi.

Garcia and Lastimosa could take turns running the point (with veteran Chico Lanete coming in from time to time), Yeo at 2, Intal at 3, Ababou as a hybrid 4 and McMorrow at the 5 (Jake Pascual at 4/5 off the bench). Of those guys, count on Yeo to naturally take over the offense (should Coach Koy let him) since he's always been best suited for that job.

How long can they keep this winning streak going?

Well, we wouldn't be surprised if they could at least stretch it to 5 or 6, since McMorrow is starting to prove to be too much of a beast in the paint for teams to defend.

Si James Forrester na lang kulang mag Player of the Week, rekta na.