The Mahindra Floodbusters have agreed in principle to send 6"4 wing rookie Joseph Eriobu to the Phoenix Fuel Masters in exchange for 6"6 big Prince Caperal. We ask that you keep an eye on these two gentlemen, since we believe that they are poised to become solid and serviceable PBA players in the next few years.
Give the Floorbusters and Coach Chris Gavina an A for acquiring Caperal, just weeks removed from losing prized Gilas pick Russel Escoto to a knee injury. Caperal is a solid big man who rebounds, defends, knocks down 15 to 17 ft jumpers AND runs the floor. Though we don't expect Caperal to suddenly improve his Fuel Masters' averages of 19 minutes, 6 points and 6 rebounds, he will be a great building block moving forward. If Caperal plays his cards right, he could easily start at the 4/5 spot should Coach Gavina go big together with an import. Then, once Escoto returns, you are looking at quite the tall and promising frontline.
For the Fuel Masters, Eriobu will have to earn his miutes under coach Ariel Vanguardia. A lot of people had high expectations for Eriobu, and even held him in the same breath as do-it-all workhorses like Calvin Abueva and Cliff Hodge. Being with the Floodbusters should've helped him achieve all of that, since they didn't really have a lot of players with Eriobu's God given gifts to begin with, but the rookie only managed 17 minutes, 6 points and 4 rebounds a game.
Worst, whenever he was on the floor, he looked completely lost on both ends.
Hopefully, he will be able to come into his own with the Fuel Masters while playing with veteran workhorse Willy Wilson. Wilson is someone Eriobu could aspire to be: a tough defender and rebounder with acceptable range and speed. Not exactly a Hodge or Abueva, but still solid enough to average 10 and 10 (and even have a 20 rebounds game) despite being around 6"3 at best.
Our advise for both guys: keep working. Caperal needs to move his feet a little bit more, and maybe extend his range to the three point line (you never know when Yeng Guiao or Gilas might come calling). Eriobu needs to pick a position that he wants to play (if its a PBA small forward, then he needs to lose a bit of weight in order to run more, if he's going the combo-forward route, then learn the little things like timing and positioning for rebounds and defense) and go from there.
Being the more senior PBA player, we feel that Caperal will be able to contribute right away while Eriobu, a rookie by all accounts, should be given time to get his feet wet.
Who do you think won the trade?
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