Life without Gary

No David? More Baby Fat Assassin!
(Photo credit PBA.Inquirer.net)

The Meralco Bolts, currently carrying a league-best 6 wins and 2 losses slate in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, seem to be doing all the right things on the basketball court in spite of the recent off-court drama involving now former star guard Gary David (who has been relegated to the Unrestricted Free Agent list).

Head coach Norman Black has done a tremendous job in turning things around for the team after an abysmal Philippine Cup performance wherein the Bolts just looked lost and uninterested in winning. From the iso-heavy Ryan Gregorio years, the Bolts are flourishing under Black’s “spread the wealth” style of basketball that rewards hard-workers and preaches defense first.  Last season (in the very same conference), we saw flashes of this very same style although with older and inconsistent pieces (mostly anchored by veteran Reynel Hugnatan; who enjoyed an All Star year) around do-it-all import Josh Davis.

Now, it is the 6”9 import Arinze Onuaku (42mpg 21ppg 19rpg) who is doing a lot of the blue collar heavy-lifting while the locals fill in roles such as making stops and shots here and there. Cliff Hodge (27mpg 9ppg 8rpg 2apg) is slowly starting to become a more “controlled” basketball player, reminiscent of Black’s old hand Noy Baclao (now with the Alaska Aces) back when they were in the UAAP-Ateneo  Another former Ateneo ace, rookie Chris Newsome (27mpg 11ppg 3rpg 2apg) is starting to make waves as a legitimate two-way threat at both guard and wing positions, while Jared Dillinger (23mpg 10ppg 4rpg 2apg) continues with his solid play.

We also appreciate the fact that Black has found it in himself to trust young point guard Baser Amer (21mpg 9ppg 1rpg 1apg) while still keeping old hand Jimmy Alapag (18mpg 7ppg 2rpg 2apg) happy with his minutes. Other names who have contributed to the Bolts’ cause include Kelly Nabong, Brian Faundo, Anjo Caram and even the almost-forgotten Ken Bono who, to his credit, is working himself back into basketball shape.

Did the Bolts really need the David-drama?

No. It came off as a bit of a surprise even, since the team (up to that point) was winning games. And it wasn’t like David was being benched, he was averaging close to 17mpg which is pretty generous if you ask us considering David’s notoriously porous defense and flailing field goal percentages.

Honestly to us it looked more like a case of a proud veteran superstar, now being given limited airtime, unable to come to grips with the team’s growing success.

So where do the Bolts go from here?

Well, they will have to look for someone to fill David’s shoes. Fortunately, they have an Alapag on board so you can damn well leave all the queries about “who will the Bolts go to in the clutch?” behind. Newsome is also starting to excel as a PBA SG, after being asked to play SF last conference.

What this team will need is to probably prepare themselves for when the Playoffs come. Onuaku has been recently exposed (though not a the cost of a won game) as being a bit slow on the break, specially on defense. If a team like Tropang TNT or Alaska decide to crank it up, or the Grand Slam-seeking San Miguel just play small ball, Onuaku might have a hard time getting into position (which means, he can’t rebound and the Bolts can’t control the game).

Now if only Rabeh Al Hussaini could get in on this fun and exciting Bolts-ride...No Gary