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.

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.