Trade rxn: Too many to mention

When NLEX head coach Yeng Guiao said that he was considering trading a few players to form the most competitive team possible; he damn well meant every single word.

The fiery head coach and his team figured in several trades that took place during the PBA All Star break that involved four other squads. There were some surprises-- considering the names that were included, and here we try our very best to make sense out of the Guiao-manufactured madness.

Meralco: Garvo Lanete
The Bolts decided to let go of the promising Grey (who kept opening eyes with his efficient play despite the obvious lack of hype and athleticism) to acquire former Gilas Cadet hand Lanete. Lanete comes in to possibly re-start his amateurs superstar partnership with the Bolts' lead point guard Baser Amer who is having a breakout in the PBA Commissioner's Cup. The move will also allow the Bolts to focus on rookie Ed Daquioag as their premier slasher/ creator coming off the bench, with Amer and Lanete as their lead 1-2 players from here on out.
Grade: B

Trade RXN: Caperal for Eriobu

Keep an eye on this one.

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.

Who you gonna call?

UGH! APPLE-PEN!
(Photo credit: Paul Ryan Tan)

Don’t call it a comeback.

Veteran star Gary David is reportedly all set to sign a nine-month contract with the Mahindra Floodbusters after being left without a team on PBA opening day.

From a personal standpoint, we are thrilled that David is able to land another job which will allow him to secure the future of his family (if he hasn’t already). At day’s end, these free agents are providers whose sole source of income is the sport that they have come to know and love since their youths. No matter how we ridicule certain players about the way they play or look, we still respect them overall and show them love.

From a basketball blogger/ analyst’s standpoint, well, don’t expect too much out of the man dubbed “El Granada.”

Trade reaction: Mahindra makes its move

Nimes' time to shine
(Photo credit: mapua.edu.ph)

Don't look now but unlike fellow expansion team Blackwater Elite, which has been constantly saying to the media that it is trying to build a competitive line-up while ironically trading away top picks and assets for next-to-nothing, the Mahindra Floodbusters is keeping itself preoccupied with preparations for the coming PBA season.

Based on the people that they released and acquired, it is pretty obvious that head coach Chris Gavina is trying to build a free-flowing, running team and not one that simply, overly relies on point guard L.A. Revilla's wizardry and dies when he's not around.

Trade 1: Josan Nimes for a PBA Draft 2018 - 2nd round pick (Rain or Shine)
As a rookie at RoS, much was expected of Nimes under then head coach Yeng Guiao. The problem was Guiao gave his rookies a specific role: score and play defense in spurts; which didn't really fit Nimes' game. Nimes is a crafty point-small forward whose overall effect in a game is felt only when he is able to play long minutes AND facilitate, NOT jack up shots. At Mahindra, we hope that Coach Chris allows Nimes to run with it and take some of the pressure off Revilla. Also, Nimes needs to work on his defense if he wishes to make a name for himself in the pros.
Grade: B

Motoring on

Revilla and now teammate Taha
(Photo credit: PBA.inquirer.net)

We will be the first ones to say that when Chito Victolero resigned as acting head coach (in lieu of head coach/ newly-elected Senator Manny Pacquiao), we readily expected the Enforcers to go back to their expansion team ways and maybe just look forward to next season's PBA Draft.

Chris Gavina, Victolero's replacement, is not having any of it. In the on-going PBA Governor's Cup, the Enforcers are currently lording it over with an unblemished 3 wins, 0 losses slate anchored on the steady play of import James White (39mpg 28ppg 13rpg) and locals Aldrech Ramos (29mpg 14ppg 3rpg), L.A. Revilla (31mpg 9ppg 6rpg 4apg) and Nino Canaleta (30mpg 11ppg 3rpg).

KKS Trade Reaction: Dehesa to GlobalPort

Dehesa moving up
(Photo credit: Rivals.ph)

We honestly do not know what is going on with the GlobalPort Batang Pier. One day they look and sound like they genuinely wish to build something special; to become Playoff contenders, the next day we hear that the owner has been calling out his players/ employees on his personal Facebook page, the coach gets "benched/ demoted" and this guy or that guy is going to be sent to this team or that team by next conference.

Are they a farm team? Are they the new "Barako Bull" of the PBA? Will Stanley Pringle/ Terrence Romeo be able to build and cement their PBA legacies under one franchise?

The Right Gear

No joke.
(Photo credit: PBA.Inquirer.net)

So who’s laughing now?

Around this time last season, the Mahindra Enforcers (then Kia Motors/ Carnival) were being ridiculed not entirely for their poor performance (which was expected of a debuting franchise) but mostly because they opted to parade global boxing icon Manny Pacquiao as their playing-head coach. To make matters worse during the off-season, the team decided to trade their 2015 PBA Draft 2nd overall pick (which Tropang TNT would turn into wonderkid Troy Rosario) to acquire the services of journeymen: sideshow dunker turned sniper Nino Canaleta and one-time Gilas reserve Aldrech Ramos.

Blue collar approach

Just another day at the office
(Photo credit to the owner)

The Philippine Basketball Association is a showcase of Filipino basketball talent, skill and athleticism. It is a league wherein mere mortals are turned God-like, idolized by many and legends are formed. It rewards those who shine brightest, sure, but it also gives notice and praise to those who work in the shadows.

One look at the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup league statistics and you will be very surprised to see two non-household names making huge waves for their respective teams. On one side is the Mahindra Enforcers' Mark Yee (18mpg 12 ppg 10rpg) and on the other is Barako Bull Energy's Willie Wilson (36mpg 13ppg 10rpg). Both under-rated and definitely far from being part of their team's offensive sets. They will never really make the headlines (unless Yee opts to get his Hokage on again and use that special pwet ninjutsu of his), so please allow us this much Internet space to show them some of our basketball geek affection.

The joke is on us

Showtime L.A.
(Photo credit to the owner)

Earlier this year we wrote about how Manny Pacquiao, playing-head coach of the Mahindra Enforcers, (then Kia Sorento/ Carnival) was a big joke. Granted, we still think that he is a joke when it comes to basketball but his team-- coached by Chito Victolero, definitely is far from being one.

Though they are currently at the bottom of the PBA Philippine Cup standings with a 1 win 3 losses record, the Enforcers have looked like a serious basketball team this season as they did near the end of their maiden campaign. They received a lot of heat from trading away the 2nd pick of the 2015 PBA Draft to Talk'n'Text which they turned into Troy Rosario, but you could hardly tell the effects of the trade since they were able to get instant value right away with the strong performances of Aldrech Ramos (21mpg 13ppg 6rpg) and Nino Canaleta (22mpg 11ppg 4rpg 2apg).

Add to that holder L.A. Revilla (32mpg 17ppg 4rpg 6apg) who continues to flourish as one of the PBA's up-and-coming floor generals and the steady plays of Karl Dehesa (24mpg 11ppg 4rpg 2apg), Mark Yee (11ppg 8rpg) and Hyram Bagatsing-- who no one really thought would have a pro career, let alone shine, coming out of the DLSU ranks.

Nothing to see here

Still waiting for Garcia's break out year
(Photo credit to the owner)

Because really, are there actual fans of the following teams and not just of the individual players who were "carried over" from their idol's former squad?

Barako Bull Energy Cola
If only this team weren't so blatant in being the league's premier farm team, we would actually vouch for this line-up. RR Garcia, JC Intal, Mac Baracael, Jervy Cruz and either the old Mick Pennisi (seriously, this guy should consider retiring soon) or Prince Caperal. Then there are guys like Chico Lanete, Josh Urbiztondo, James Forrester, Emman Monfort and Willy Wilson coming off the bench. Okay, maybe they have a surplus of point guards, but this should make for an exciting run-and-gun squad right?

Right.

Who pads his stats first? Last season, it was Denok Miranda who was able to stat-pad his way out of the Energy camp. Will it be Intal, who is coming off a solid Gilas 3 stint? Will it be Garcia, the former UAAP MVP, who we thought would break out last season after being freed from the burden of having to play with college buddy/ rival Terrence Romeo only to learn that hey, maybe Garcia's not THAT special after all? Or will it be Baracael, who will most likely go back to his stretch four roots and remind us of how special a player he looked back when he played for Gilas I?

Your guess is as good as ours. Coach Koy Banal will make this team compete, but at day's end when they start winning someone's bound to pull the plug. Remember Joseph Yeo last conference? When he started running his mouth about how "free" they were? Yeah, he got traded soon. But not before BB's winning streak fizzled out..

2015 PBA Draft - 1st round Grades

"Here's the ball rook, run with it"
(Photo credit to the owner)

While the mood was unceremoniously subdued by new PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa's announcement that no trades were to take place in the 2015 PBA Draft proceedings, it was still quite a haul for most PBA teams, the applicants and their followers.

Honestly, this year's draft made the most sense for all the teams involved since most went to address their immediate needs rather than just blindly bobbing for apples. A few surprises/highlights include the Sinag/ Gilas Cadet alumni being picked early, Coach Yeng Guiao's "we need a big/ wing but we'll draft a surprise PG pick anyway just to mess with you mock draft nerds," and above all-- Roi Sumang "dropping" all the way down into the 3rd round after being projected as a possible and legitimate first round talent.

Because the 2015 PBA Draft went all the way down to the 6th (!) round and we, admittedly, have little to no idea about some of the names chosen, we'll stick with handing out grades for the 1st round selections.

1. Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters - Moala Tautuaa
When Tautuaa opted to throw his hat into the PBA D-League last year in hopes of joining the 2015 PBA Draft, TNT basically moved some parts to ensure that they will be able to acquire his services (or Bobby Ray Parks, Jr.'s, who opted not to join). Looking at the 6"7 Fil-Tonggan, it's easy to understand why TNT would go for him at this spot after losing Ali Peek to retirement and now Kelly Williams to injury and Jay Washington to a trade. He looked pretty solid while playing in the ABL and D-League, he has the size, speed and strength to combat any PBA big man, 2x PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo included.
Grade: A

2015 PBA Draft Complete Results

Our heartfelt congratulations to the following amateur standouts who were selected in the recently concluded 2015 PBA Draft.

2015 PBA Draft 1st pick overall
Moala Tautuaa - Talk n Text
(Photo credit to the owner)

View the full list of draftees and which team they went to here:

Talk'n'Text Tropang Texters
1.1 Moala Tautuaa (PF)
3.9 Michole Sorela (C)
4.7 Joshua Cobillo (SG)
5.5 Emilian Vargas (SG)

Mahindra Enforcers 
1.2 Troy Rosario (PF)
2.2 Bradwyn Guinto (C)
3.2 Leodaniel de Vera (SF)
4.2 Michael Vincent DiGregorio (SG)
5.2 Alexander Austria (SG)