It’s
official.
After
a couple seasons of being on life support, the Red Bull / Barako Bull franchise has been laid to rest. On July 8, 2011, the PBA board has finally approved the sale of the franchise to Airfreight 2100 with the conditions
that the team will be competitive and will not become a SMC franchise.
Conduits... pero nothing else!
Will
people remember the squad for their lackluster trades? Gee... I hope not. Red
Bull in its eleven year history (technically it’s only ten with the Boosters
taking a leave of absence after the first conference of the 2010-11 PBA Season) has reaped a bunch
of accolades. There was one time that a PBA season wouldn’t feel complete if Red
Bull didn’t make the semis. There was also a time when a PBA season wouldn’t
feel complete if there aren’t any Barako / Thunder players either suspended or
fighting.
The
franchise traced its roots in the Philippine
Basketball League during the mid-90’s.
The team at times would use Agfa Color
as its name (because nothing beats Agfa). The team had a bunch of talented
collegiate stars from Manila and Cebu. Amongst the names listed in their
all-time PBL roster are Danny Ildefonso,
Braulio Lim, Henry Fernandez, Paolo Mendoza, Robin Mendoza, Lordy Tugade,
Jimwell Torion, Edwin Bacani, Kerby Raymundo, Junthy Valenzuela, Bernard
Tanpua, and Davonn Harp. The
team had one championship (1996 PBL
All-Filipino) before moving to the pros. In the 2000 jump to the PBA, the Energizers (Red Bull’s then moniker)
picked up Harp, Raymundo, Torion, Valenzuela, Tugade, and Tanpua. They also
selected UP and ANA Water guard Ogie Gumatay
from the 2000 PBA Draft and Mick Pennisi
as their direct hire. The Energizers also acquired Glen Capacio, Edmund Reyes, and former PBA MVP Ato Agustin via the expansion draft.
Obviously,
the most important person in the history of Red Bull is its long-tenured coach,
Yeng Guiao. Guiao was asked by George and Tony Chua and their cohorts
to stir Red Bull to greatness. Guiao was then the PBL Commissioner but before that he had championships with Swift/Sunkist. Unlike his stint with
the RFM franchise, Guiao didn’t have
a Vergel Meneses or Nelson Asaytono to work on. Well... he
did actually but both versions of Aerial
Voyager and The Bull were at the
brink of retirement and were past their primes. Guiao rewards hard workers
playing beyond their potential. This is why subpar players like Topex Robinson, Celino Cruz, Warren Ybanez,
Carlo Sharma, Reed Juntilla, and not-so-marquee versions of Mike Hrabak and Rich Alvarez were plucked out of obscurity to become helpful parts
in his “regime”.
This
coaching idea was enough to get Guiao cheered.
The
coaching idea that was enough to get Guiao jeered?
Guiao
is an ardent believer of extremely physical defense. He will curse to the
rafters if he sees his ward fouling softly. It’s not that harsh, compared to
the Crispa-Toyota days but the shots
were enough to get classified near late
80’s Ginebra levels. Yeng Guiao and his Barako “goons” terrorized the court
in gruesome fashion. This part of their repertoire made a bunch of people boo
them.
If you
look at it, most of the Batang Red Bull stars failed to prosper outside Yeng
Guiao’s tutelage. From his debut squad in 2000, only Lordy Tugade and Mick
Pennisi remain in the league. I wanted to do a Top 30 list but because of their
short tenure, I fear that the players landing in this list are benchwarmers.
Because
of this, here is Batang Red Bull
Barako’s All-Time Starting Roster.
GAME
STARTS NOW!
STARTING FIVE:
POINT GUARD:
WILLIE MILLER
The Thriller
He is
the first and only Number One draft pick of Red Bull and The Thriller did not
disappoint. While playing sparingly in his first season, he got the nod to
start after the suspension of Jimwell Torion and a slew of impressive
performances. His name is forever etched in Red Bull’s history as the only
player to win the Most Valuable Player Award.
SHOOTING GUARD:
LORDY TUGADE
The Alaminos
Assassin
He
joined the PBL team with little fanfare as his NU teammate Danny Ildefonso got
most of the spotlight. When Ildefonso turned pro, Tugade was still in the squad
but he has yet to rise. When he came with the squad to the PBA, we slowly saw
the evolution of the Alaminos Assassin. He became one of the team’s most
popular players and was the Finals MVP of the 2005-06 PBA Fiesta Conference.
SMALL FORWARD: JUNTHY
VALENZUELA
The Hitman
If he
played for another team, he would have been benched. Hell, I doubt if he would
even get drafted. Because of Yeng Guiao rewarding the hard workers, he became
one of the most popular Barakos ever. Sure, Guiao also uses him as the “hit
man” as his moniker suggests, but The Hitman is also Guiao’s Go To Guy when
Yeng needs a clutch basket or a defensive clamp.
POWER FORWARD:
ENRICO VILLANUEVA
The Raging Bull
Just
like what his moniker suggests, The Raging Bull was the epitome of being
bullish. The former UAAP MVP was the forefront of Yeng Guiao’s inside offense.
During his stint with Red Bull, Villanueva was almost unstoppable. He almost
won a MVP Award, landed a Mythical Team stint, and was named Best Player of the
Conference. Villanueva would have won a MVP if Red Bull’s financial woes didn’t
force the squad to dismantle their lineup.
CENTER: DAVONN
HARP
The Anchor
If
there was one person that can go head-to-head against the likes of Eric Menk
and Asi Taulava, it’s the man they dubbed The Anchor. Sure, citizenship issues
caused him to move elsewhere but the man is a powerhouse. He was instrumental
in Red Bull’s early championship exploits and he almost won a MVP award had not
for teammate Willie Miller.
IMPORT:
ANTONIO LANG
Tony
Lang was part of the Duke champion squads headlined by Christian Laetner, Bobby
Hurley, and Grant Hill. The former Phoenix Sun brought his championship savvy
to Red Bull and gave the Barako their first PBA title. In return, Lang was
named the 2001 Commissioner’s Cup Best Import. He would have given Barako their
second title but he was replaced in time of the 2002 Commish Cup Finals.
SECOND
TEAM:
POINT
GUARD: JIMWELL TORION
Tora-Tora
In the
PBL, Typhoon Torion was a frightening offense and defense machine. When Red
Bull moved to the PBA, the fearless Tora-Tora from Salazar’s Institute of
Technology brought his game to a new level. He could have been a PBA superstar
if not for his on-court and off-court struggles. He could have been the face of
the franchise if he didn’t made his PBA career complicated.
SHOOTING
GUARD: LARRY FONACIER
The
Baby-Faced Assassin
Red
Bull was lucky to find the former Ateneo ace still available in the late second
round of the 2005 PBA Draft. Nicknamed the Baby-Faced Assassin, Fonacier
delighted the crowd with his superb sniping abilities. He is probably the
lowest drafted player to win the league’s Rookie of the Year Award.
SMALL
FORWARD: CYRUS BAGUIO
Skyrus
Cyrus
Baguio had a pretty mediocre rookie season and had to claw his way to get a
starting nod. Having the core of the team get decimated also helped his cause but
during the 2007-08 Season, critics saw the superstar version of Skyrus by
leading the squad to consecutive semifinal appearances despite Red Bull’s
talent inadequacies.
POWER
FORWARD: NELSON ASAYTONO
The
Bull
Beyond
question, this version of The Bull is weaker and less bullish. Occasionally he
would hit double figures and often his minutes are limited but Asaytono had
about five years with the franchise doing his new shtick – hitting those insanely
accurate triple bombs.
CENTER:
MICK PENNISI
The
Slick
The
guy is a sweet-shooting, trash-talking, part-Aussie, part-Filipino who became
the last vital cog from their first season to leave the Red Bull camp. The
Slick is also a great defensive threat who never backs down from a challenge.
Aside from an awesome name, he is also an awesome clutch scorer.
IMPORT:
JULIUS NWOSU
He is
not a scorer but he got Yeng Guiao’s nod because he gives a premium on defense.
This was great and all especially since Red Bull was reeling with the MIA’s of
Davonn Harp, Mick Pennisi, Kerby Raymundo, and Jimwell Torion. The Nigerian was
also instrumental in helping the Barakos win the 2002 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
RESERVES:
GUARD:
TOPEX ROBINSON
The
diminutive guard was acquired by Red Bull after an impressive stint with PBL’s
Shark Energy Drink. He didn’t carry his scoring to the pros but “The Pit Bull”
managed to retain his impressive rebounding and orchestrating skills.
GUARD:
CELINO CRUZ
It was
a shock that the former FEU stalwart was left unsigned when he was drafted but
thanks to a stint with Shell, Cruz got his entry to the league. He did not
disappoint and he was a decorated pawn in Yeng Guiao’s rotation.
GUARD:
WARREN YBANEZ
The
former PSBA Jaguar came to the team as a free agent. While he was the third point
guard in Yeng Guiao’s rotation, he used his minutes well and at his unselfish playmaking
abilities rewarded Ybanez increased playing time. After his contract expired,
he became a fixture with the Philippine Patriots.
FORWARD:
LEO NAJORDA
He
meshed late with the squad finishing his commitments with San Sebastian but
when he joined the squad in 2005, he did not disappoint. At one point he was
one of the team’s scoring leaders and in fact the one of the last vital cogs
(from their winning seasons) to be sent away from the franchise.
FORWARD:
KERBY RAYMUNDO
At 19,
this former Letran Knight was the top acquisition of the Red Bull Energizers.
However, it was revealed that his high school records were falsified and
subsequently he was suspended for a year. He returned just in time to help the
now-called Thunder to the 2001 PBA Commissioner’s Cup title. Afterwards he was
sent to Purefoods.
CENTER:
CARLO SHARMA
He
started out in Shell and drifted to Coke but he was never the guy people look
at. That is until the bruiser was placed in the cudgels of Yeng Guiao where he
was wonderfully used by Red Bull as their resident enforcer. There was a point
where Sharma was more used than Enrico Villanueva – which was a subtle
indication that The Raging Bull was on his way out.
IMPORT:
RAY TUTT
King
Tutt played in two seasons for the Thunder. He was a prolific scorer for their
Governor’s Cup squads but he just can’t give team a title. He holds the
franchise record for most points in a single game with 56 points.
IMPORT:
JAMES PENNY
James
Penny was explosive, analytical, and has a high basketball IQ which made him
the perfect import to send the team to the top of the 2005-06 Fiesta
Conference. While he was just a replacement for scoring monster Quemont Greer,
that feat gave him a bunch of return stints.
Aside
from the mentioned, other notable performers to don the Red Bull colors are Vergel Meneses, Ato Agustin, Al Solis,
Vince Hizon, Glenn Capacio, Edmund Reyes, Noli Locsin, Jay Mendoza, Rich
Alvarez, Homer Se, Paolo Bugia, Magnum Membrere, and a slew of others. In
fact, Asaytono, Agustin, Capacio, Mendoza, Solis, Reyes, and Hizon retired
after playing for the squad. When Red Bull has winning seasons they equip their
roster with accomplished stars in the brink of retirement. When the Barakos
have losing seasons, players use their stints as the squads to catapult their
careers to the next level. Players like Gabby
Espinas, Mark Isip, Hans Thiele, Reed Juntilla, Jojo Duncil, Larry Rodriguez, Paolo
Hubalde, Pong Escobal, Gilbert Lao, Yousif Aljamal, and Jeff Chan made use of their Barako Bull
stints wisely. The squad was also used as a re-starting point for veterans who
thought they could still deliver like Sunday
Salvacion, Aris Dimaunahan, Mike Hrabak, and Alex Crisano.
In
terms of NBA players, joining the fray are Tony Lang, Julius Nwosu, Sean
Lampley, Earl Barron, and former
Chicago Bull Scott Burrell.
The
Barakos finished with an all-time record of 150 wins and 169 losses but the win-loss percentage is deceiving
since their last five conferences were purposely abysmal. Lopsided trades and
financial despair was enough to send Red Bull to disbandment.
Red
Bull is a franchise people love to hate. I remember a time when they battled
Ginebra. People terrorized Junthy Valenzuela because he looks like current Bubble Gang star Diego Llorico. But Red Bull is more than what you’re thinking.
Red
Bull is a team that gives equal opportunities for players to succeed.
Ang
bumangga... GIBA!
Game
over.
No mention of Larry Fonacier?
ReplyDeleteWon rookie of the year as part of Red Bull and was instrumental in one of their championships?
uhh... dude he's at the second team part.
ReplyDelete