Dear Asi

The Rock (in a hard place)
(Photo credit: Interaksyon)

Dear Asi,

Hello to my favorite 6”10 Fil-Tonggan, a giant of a man whose ready smile and dimples continue to pierce the hearts of many. I know you blocked me on twitter, because of something I said about you two years back about my opinion on why TnT let you go.

I said that it came down to setting an example to the rest of the team, that maybe someone somewhere believed that you weren’t playing hard enough, which is why up to that point you only had one title to your name. I tagged you because I felt like maybe you’d acknowledge it, or argue that “it’s a business, you a**hole,” but you chose to block me to this day, but it’s all good. Back then I was still in my 20s, now I’d like to believe that I’m wiser in my early 30s, being a father and all. What I’m trying to say is, maybe this time, I could get through to you in a better manner.

See, recently you said that you wanted out of the NLEX Road Warriors after newly-installed head coach Yeng Guiao pretty much turned you from being an ageless juggernaut the last two years into a, well, bit player with limited to no touches. You went from getting consecutive isolation plays in the post, with your young teammates slowing the tempo, to, well, being lost in trying to set screens and trying to move your feet from the perimeter which was never your forte.
You are forty-three years of age, I know in my heart that you can still get 10-10 on a nightly basis on a different team. You know it too. I even wrote a heavily opinionated piece on FoxSports Ph about how you fit (or didn’t) with Guiao’s plans.

But then you chose to stay after a heart-to-heart talk with Coach Yeng. And ended up playing under seven minutes your next game. You might end up playing twenty the next one, as is the norm in Coach Yeng’s unpredictable system, but you will most likely never see 30 minutes of hardcourt again.

Bad move, good sir.

That is, if you wanted to play for a title (likely) and or get your numbers (unlikely).

Good move, good sir.

Because as a fellow parent, this will help secure your family moving forward. Forget playing and being the centerpiece like in the Boyet Fernandez years, dude you’re getting paid! You’re under the MVP umbrella! You can be the team mascot/ poster boy until fans get more acquainted with your younger teammates. We’re pretty sure that a team like NLEX, which is hungry for fans and attention (thus the decision to bring in Coach Yeng and build a stronger bond with the Pampanga/ Northern fanbase), would need a company pitchman such as yourself. Forget what some might say, family first right? Ohana, right?

Right.

Also, do you really want to leave the MVP group? We’re pretty sure that the Big Boss is quite generous with his favorite players/ guys, and that loyalty goes a long, long way. Do you want to move to the other group? Two of their more famous stars, your peers—Danny Ildefonso and Danny Seigle, not to mention their coach, Jong Uichico, were all unceremoniously dismissed so that says a lot, right? That's not a knock on the other "team," just what everyone who's paid close attention to Philippine basketball know at this point.

Okay, back to basketball and how you can help.

Playing for Coach Yeng is easy. EASY for a big! Take the jumpshots that are there. Instead of going all the way down the floor, park at the free throw line/ three point arc and wait for whichever guard calls you to set a screen. Once they kick the ball out to you, just shoot it. Don’t pass. Don’t try to play point-center. Just let it fly. Trust me. I’ve been a Yeng Guiao-Rain or Shine fan for years, even when he was at Red Bull, and his bigs were jacking.

Everyone from Mick Pennisi (another peer of yours) to Homer Se to Beau Belga, JayR Quinahan to Jewel Ponferada and Raymond Almazan.

Shoot your shot! He wont’ sit your ass if you miss, how the hell do you think Don Trollano made a name for himself (much to my, an RoS fan, dismay) LOL? Just set the screen and go. Offensive boards? Sure, when they’re there, but otherwise Coach Yeng’s bigs set screens on offense, take jumpers, then run back on defense. Instead of running the full length from post to post, you’ll simply be running from the free throw line (offense) to the post (defense).

This will save you a lot of time and energy if you ask me.

Yes, it is a lot to ask. You can still ask for a trade (or even be traded without your knowledge) later on, but if you ask us, it wouldn't really rob you of anything or diminish your legacy if you played the last few years of your PBA career minus winning another PBA title.

You'll still be The Rock. You'll still be family.

P.S.

Obviously, I am a Marlou Aquino fan but still, respect.

Sincerely,

Me.