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.

Rocky Road

The Rock is on The Road to..
(Photo credit to the owner)

Well, the writing was indeed on the freaking wall.

The NLEX Road Warriors' 6"10 slotman Asi Taulava has officially requested team management for a trade after seeing his minutes and contribution to the team cut down by new head coach Yeng Guiao. This is not him being "selfish," but rather him coming to grips that Guiao's run and gun, spread-out offense is not suited for a low post banger such as himself. Specially not a 43-year-old one whose illustrious PBA career is already on borrowed time.

If you chanced upon our column on FoxSportsAsia.com; you would know that system-wise it was simply a bad fit for the Fil-Tonggan. Sure, he was averaging an "ageless" 14 points and 10 rebounds last season while also playing a lot as one of the team's anchors on both ends, but Guiao has never built his offense around one single player. He may give guys a few touches here and there (Paul Lee at Rain or Shine, Davonn Harp/ Enrico Villanueva at Red Bull), but he will never call successive plays for any one.

The ABL's Filipino Imports

#CanadaSaPBA
(Photo courtesy of sports-asia.com)

While the Philippine basketball world quietly (and anxiously) waits for the time when promising 6"7 Fil-Tonggan center Moala Tautuaa is able to complete his stint with the PBA D-League and all other requirements to apply for the PBA Draft next year (or the one after that), cellar-dwelling teams need not wait that long to address their PBA Philippine Cup woes.

Six talented Filipino basketball players are currently included on different rosters in the neighboring ASEAN Basketball League which saw a drop in game play this last season (with the Philippine-representative, San Miguel Beer, opting to pull out and probably the reduced number of ASEAN imports as two possible culprits). With the ABL season now at a close, we wonder why the PBA teams haven't come knocking at these gentlemen's doors. We understand contracts and all, but surely teams that are in a bind and looking to salvage their season before it gets any worse (Kia Sorento and Blackwater) can manage to shell out a few extra bucks if only to save face.

You'll have to bear with us on this one, since the ABL seems to be in a deteriorating state and seems to have lost their online stats-updating team for some reason so we're going with purely basketball scouting and our own two cents here.

Jerick Canada, PG, HiTech Bangkok City
Let's start with the ABL Finals MVP and how great he looked for head coach Jing Ruiz (also a Filipino). Canada's shooting is still iffy at best, but the way he is able to control the floor and his teammates is not something you'd take for granted considering they're mostly Thais and American imports who're mostly out for stuffing the stat sheet and angling for bigger pay. Put Canada on a team like Kia Sorento and he'll prove to be the most heady point guard in the rotation right from the start. On Blackwater, he'll be a perfect mentor for up-and-coming Cebuano playmaker Brian Heruela while possibly sending Juami Tiongson back to the D-League and Paul Artadi near retirement. If Jeric Fortuna can make it into the pros, there's no reason why Canada shouldn't be given a second look. Basically, he's the guy that-- when a younger hot-off-the-plane Stanley Pringle was busy going 100 mph for the Indonesia Warriors, made sure that they actually won a title that one year together.

From the ABL to the PBA for Leo Austria

Will Austria have the reigning
PBA MVP's support?
How about the other MVP?
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

It pays to be loyal.

Formerly “disgruntled” ASEAN Basketball League San Miguel Beermen champion coach Leo Austria has recently been rewarded for his patience and trust with the franchise, being signed to a one-year pact to coach the “original, iconic” team of the same name in the Philippine Basketball Association.

If he’ll be able to finish the aforementioned contract is another story altogether.

See, the Beermen (formerly Petron Blaze Boosters) has run through a gauntlet of coaches since 2010: from Ato Agustin, Olsen Racela (with Rajko Toroman as active consultant), Gee Abanilla and the now axed Biboy Ravanes (with Todd Purves as active consultant). For all the on court drama of the so called “Petronovela,” there’s really not much you can expect from a team that has no continuity from the sidelines.

Team Ageless

When Asi Taulava first went to the ASEAN Basketball League in what many thought would be his "swan song" after two unimpressive seasons in the PBA with the Meralco Bolts, it was met with nary a whimper. There he was, a former PBA Most Valuable Player, probably looking for one last paycheck and maybe to cash in on his name/brand.

There's nothing wrong or shameful about it, business is business. Some guys are able to quit when they are ahead, others, keep on pushing until either their minds or bodies break. At the end of the day, these men (old, injury-riddled or in-denial) are just that, men-- men who need to provide for themselves and their loved ones. What good is looking back in a once illustrious career if you can't enjoy the fruit of your labors all the way to retirement?

So when his handlers coined "Team Ageless," we were part of the many who dismissed it and just said: "best of luck to you Asi, for all the years playing for flag and country and just being an all-around good guy despite your larger-than-life size, thank you."

One ASEAN Basketball League season, championship and Most Valuable Player later, we were all proven wrong.