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| Reynel is expected to be Ryan Gregorio's goldmine off the bench. |
Reynel
Hugnatan, a former MBA MVP, is set
to join his third team after the Alaska Aces has traded him to the Meralco
Bolts for Hans Thiele and Paolo Bugia.
Hugnatan
was Alaska’s best bet off the bench last season, averaging at least 11 points
and 7 rebounds for the Aces. Last season, Alaska placed second in last season’s Philippine Cup and was champion of the
last season’s Fiesta Conference. However, he was a shell of his former self
in the recently-concluded Philippine Cup. His averages dipped from double
figures to 5ppg. His scoring drought could be one of the reasons why Alaska had
an atrocious Philippine Cup campaign.
Thiele
on the other hand, has had a successful rookie campaign. For a person that was
left undrafted in the 2010 PBA Draft,
he is netting 7.7ppg, 6.9rpg, and 0.9apg
in 25.1mpg. Those stats dropped after he was traded from Barako Bull to Meralco for former Las Pinas College standout Dennis Daa.
Bugia
is an Atenean journeyman who averaged 2.5ppg
and 1.4rpg and was part of the big three-team trade that sent superstars Sol Mercado to the Bolts, Jay-R Reyes to the Air21 Express, and Ronjay
Buenafe to the Rain or Shine Elasto
Painters.
For
Hugnatan, this will be his third team after getting selected ninth overall in the 2003 PBA Draft by the
Coca-Cola Tigers. Thiele, an undrafted rookie, will suit up for already his
third team while Bugia, is set to join his sixth team after Red Bull, Purefoods,
Ginebra, Rain or Shine, and Meralco (although he wasn’t able to suit up for the
squad).
MY TAKE: Great trade for Alaska. Hugnatan was barely productive last
conference and Alaska needs a solid player off the bench. The Philippine Cup
was also the first season where we saw the OLD Reynel Hugnatan and not the
Reynel of old (meaning his Negros
Slashers days). Reynel is an able body that can slide from both forward and
center spots but he’ll have a tough time getting playing time with Asi Taulava, Gabby Espinas, Mark Isip,
and Nelbert Omolon “hogging” the
spotlight. Still though, Hugnatan has the ability to adapt well especially when
he’s in the hot seat. He can score, defend, and he can take out Isip and Omolon
from the main mix.
As for
Thiele, I like his chances in Alaska. He is set to join former UE teammates Mark Borboran, Elmer Espiritu, and Bonbon Custodio.
He is also an able body who likes to do the hustle and the dirty work and plays
a lot like Tony dela Cruz. Thiele
has been passed around by teams because he is a project and yet he can readily
contribute to a team’s cause. Alaska has had problems with their bench and they’ll
love Thiele’s presence especially if he contributes on offense.
As for
Bugia, I still believe that he can still be usable. The problem with Bugia is
that he scrappy but is perceived to be a liability on offense. Sure, he likes
to play unselfish... but oftentimes nice guys with average skills finish last. I
pitied him when he was moved to Meralco but I somewhat like his chances as an
Alaska Ace. One thing he needs to be is to be aggressive because Tim Cone likes
his players packed with “controlled intensity”. Well at least he’ll have
another Atenean in the lineup as he joins LA
Tenorio for the first time in his PBA career (which probably completes his “I
need to play at least with all of my Atenean teammates in the PBA” shtick).
I’d
rather play Bugia than play the PBA version of Elmer Espiritu and all versions
of Mike Burtscher.
Hopefully
they will do well in the second conference where imports will probably destroy
their chances of having steady playing time.
Game
over.
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