Starting over again

Say hello to Cyrus Baguio, shooting guard for Phoenix Petroleum.

I remember the first time I saw Baguio play. I was studying in LSGH, rooting for the back-to-back seeking DLSU Green Archers in the 1999 UAAP Finals. I didn’t know much about the UST Growling Tigers as my understanding of the sport was still developing, but from Games 1 to 3, I knew that Baguio was special.

He was a high-flyer by trade, an unstoppable slasher who would (and did) dunk on sleeping fools with no hesitation. He is basically cut from the same cloth as a Terrence Romeo. Pass? Just give them the ball and get out of the way.

He was so good individually, that I still thank my lucky stars that he was oblivious to his supposed partner- Alwyn Espiritu, another beast in the post. Think Shaq and Kobe, only Coach Aric del Rosario couldn’t replicate what Phil Jackson did to get them on the same page. As good as Espiritu was inside, he was also not big on passing the basketball.

So they lost, and I, we (DLSU) won. I went to college—at UST. In my freshman year, I was treated to an exhibition “passing of the torch” game between Baguio, Nino Gelig et. al. and the “future” guys Anthony Espiritu and Warren de Guzman. The vets beat the rooks, handily, and after the game Baguio faced the crowd and threw his armband at my direction. I gave it to this girl, took it back, and gave it to another female barkada, a bigger Baguio fan.

They call me slim shady. Lol.

Back to Baguio, who moved on into the PBA. He was sparingly used by Coach Yeng Guiao in Red Bull before they started selling assets. Some say that the benching was worth it, because it made Baguio a more complete player. We think he just couldn’t beat Lordy Tugade and Junthy Valenzuela’s smarts at that point in his career. He moved around a bit, found a home in Ginebra before moving to Alaska.

Oh, Alaska. He won two titles with them under two coaches—Tim Cone and Luigi Trillo. He went from being Sonny Thoss’ chief scorer to a rotation player under Alex Compton’s #wenotme style. He led them to four PBA Finals, fought brilliantly in three of those four, but lost nonetheless.
A few days prior to the PBA Governor’s Cup, just a conference removed from their last PBA Finals defeat, Baguio was finally dealt to the rebuilding Phoenix Petroleum squad for a pair of 2nd round picks.

Not even a 1st rounder. And it wasn’t even a 1 for 2 deal. It was Baguio and a 2nd round pick in the 2017 PBA Draft for Phoenix’ 2017 and 2018 PBA Draft 2nd round picks.

Oh, the blatant disrespect.

I always thought that Baguio would retire an Ace, much like how Dondon Hontiveros’ story is probably going to end. Unfortunately, Baguio was part of a trio of elder statesmen that had to be moved to make way for the younger guys on the roster (Rome dela Rosa, Kevin Racal and Ping Exciminiano). The trio being Baguio, Hontiveros and Tony dela Cruz.
I wanted dela Cruz out.

Hontiveros can still win you games, but he went AWOL in all four of the PBA Finals trips they had vs San Miguel. Check the games. Watch the tape. Review the stats. Baguio was killing it. Hontiveros was absent. Dela Cruz? Forget it.

And that is why it was Baguio who had to go. He was probably the only one among the three who had market value. But for 2nd round picks? We are not so sure about that.

In three games played, Baguio is averaging his customary 10 points and 3 rebounds but in more minutes (32) as compared to when he was with Alaska (22.5). The biggest difference now perhaps, is Baguio has been racking up assists—six per game to be exact, which is something a team like Phoenix needs from their veteran.

They don’t need him to score, not with an import, John Wilson, Ronjay Buenafe and rookie Mark Cruz on the roster. They need a guy who understands the game and can break it down for his teammates—something Baguio is now able to do thanks to the years spent playing for championships.

If Coach Ariel Vanguardia could somehow limit Baguio’s minutes, he is looking at a solid contributor on both ends of the court. It should also be quite interesting once JC Intal and Josh Urbiztondo come back, since we could be looking at Binebra 2016: Urbiztondo, Baguio, Intal, Wilson and a center—Norbert Torres or Mick Pennisi come next conference.

The door’s not yet closed on Baguio. No, I think he’s still good for two more years and the Aces, for once, lost on a trade that they initiated.