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| Photo credit to ABS-CBNnews.com |
The Alaska Aces' 6"4 power forward Vic Manuel is proof of those words having worked his way up the ranks enough to average a star-like 16ppg 8rpg 1apg 1spg 1bpg in only 24mpg of action. Manuel has been so consistent and solid; that it simply does not matter if he is starting for head coach Alex Compton or not since the results at game's end is almost always the same.
Did Manuel's steady ascension caught us off guard?
No, not really. Since you have to remember that this guy is a legitimate UCAA Most Valuable Player when he played for the PSBA Jaguars and also a former PBA D-League Best Player of the Conference awardee. So the game is there. Even when he was selected 9th overall in the 2012 PBA Draft by GlobalPort and played for that team and later Meralco before finally landing at Alaska, he was averaging a serviceable 8ppg to go with 4rpg in maybe 16-17mpg.
What was lacking, even when he had his PBA D-League coach Luigi Trillo at Alaska for a time, was accountability.
Before, he was being utilized as a simple scrappy role player who can score when he likes, but only if he cleans up after the 1st, 2nd, 3rd all the way up to 5th options on offense. Not that there isn't anything wrong with it, but when you are a well-polished low and high post force and you see the ball keeps going to a wild child like Cliff Hodge instead of you, well, that is kind of demoralizing in its own way despite wanting to be part of a team and so on.
With the Aces, Manuel is the best low and high post option right now. Simple as that. Sonny Thoss has lost his speed while the next guy, a former PBA MVP, Eric Menk is now only a shell of his former dominant self.
Let us not even bother with Samigue Eman and Noy Baclao here.
That being said, Coach Alex knows that Manuel is up to the task and that is why he is playing about 6-7 more minutes than he has his first few years in the league. That is why the team does not hesitate in giving him the ball in certain situations to create some offense (credit the Aces' "We Not Me" mantra, otherwise Cyrus Baguio and Manuel's buddy Calvin Abueva would've been jacking up shots all day). Sure, he overdoes it sometimes, but rarely do we see Manuel doing anything outside of his accustomed to high to low post plays. Either he shoots a set shot, or puts the ball down for a two-three dribble drive to the rim. If he can get into the paint, he usually uses his body to get proper positioning against hapless hybrid forwards who cannot handle all the physicality involved in low post forays.
Things might change once the giant imports come in, as Thoss will probably slide down to the 4 spot taking Manuel's minutes and limelight. But right now, there is no doubt that Manuel is making a run for being the best legit 4-man in the PBA today.
Who is his closest competition, really? Japeth Aguilar has the numbers, but he doesn't really play the traditional 4 spot. Willy Wilson?
On a last note, sucks for the team that picked Aldrech Ramos 4 spots ahead of Manuel huh.
His minutes spiked up after we traded Gabby, although i wish gabby was still with the team.
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