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.

Bono sa PBA

Bono: Waiting for another shot

Update 03/18/12: Ken Bono, according to Avatar Talents which he is part of, has been signed by the B-Meg Llamados under coach Tim Cone

It almost happened.

Air21 Express almost closed in on a deal to bring back former UAAP Most Valuable Player Ken Bono to the PBA after disastrous stints with Alaska, San Miguel, Coca Cola and Barako Bull.

But it didn't push through. Blame it on Internet rumors getting out of hand and crossing the realms of reality, or Bono's long bout with conditioning. Arguably the best basketball talent off the Adamson ranks not named Kenneth Duremdes, Bono is stuck playing in the ABL with the Bangkok Cobras-- a place where only non-PBA level players or those who have yet or have passed their primes should be banished to.