(This is the first of ten
articles called What They Need. Last
year, I made a version where we called out a PBA team’s roster and pick out the
slots they need to shore up. Most of these deficiencies are addressed via the
draft.)
Holy
crap. Let’s just say this. Last season’s... or Barako Bull’s last three seasons
have been crap. Little by little, the powerful Red Bull army created by Yeng
Guiao got dismantled and in the process left the team in shambles. Barako Bull,
fighting battles in the hardcourt as well as the legal court, is poised to say
bye-bye.
They
did... after the 2010-11 Philippine Cup.
TOP
FIVE ENERGY BOOSTERS OF THE 2010-11 SEASON:
1
PAOLO HUBALDE
PHILCUP:
6.7PPG – 3.4RPG – 4.0APG – 0.9SPG – 14 GAMES
COMCUP:
(SAN MIGUEL) 0.8PPG - 1.2RPG - 1.3APG - 6 GAMES
GOVCUP: (PETRON) 1.7PPG – 1.2RPG – 1.1APG – 16 GAMES
2
ROB WAINWRIGHT
PHILCUP:
5.9PPG – 3.4RPG – 1.4APG – 12 GAMES
COMCUP:
DID NOT PLAY
GOVCUP:
DID NOT PLAY
3
RICHARD YEE
PHILCUP:
4.8PPG – 4.0RPG – 12 GAMES
COMCUP:
DID NOT PLAY
GOVCUP:
DID NOT PLAY
4
MARK ANDAYA
PHILCUP:
3.4PPG – 3.6RPG – 1.6BPG – 13 GAMES
COMCUP:
DID NOT PLAY
GOVCUP:
DID NOT PLAY
5
PONG ESCOBAL
PHILCUP:
(MERALCO) 5.2PPG – 2.7RPG – 1.4APG – 9 GAMES
COMCUP:
(B-MEG) 2.3PPG – 1.3RPG – 1.1APG – 8 GAMES
GOVCUP:
(B-MEG) 0.8PPG – 0.5RPG – 0.5APG – 4 GAMES
If you’re
going to look at their Top 5, only two of these players played for the season
until the last conference. Hell, Escobal was picked by the squad when the Energy
Boosters have already been eliminated (trade that sent Mark Isip and Reed Juntilla
to Meralco).
Basically
I did this part of this article for the sake of just doing something.
Moving
on...
WHAT
THEY NEED:
CENTERS: Where do I start? The Clickers
(smart name since it identifies the moniker to the brand without sounding
dick-ish) needs to boost their frontline. I don’t think they’ll solve their
woes in this draft (unless they time travel to 2012 and claim the rights of Greg Slaughter, Junmar Fajardo, or Aldrech
Ramos) but having a big core with Marlou
Aquino, Big Mac Andaya and Ken Bono is a start.
FORWARDS: This is another position they
need to check. I have no idea if they still have the rights to Rob Wainwright, Richard Yee, Chad Alonzo, Dennis
Daa, and Jason Misolas but as I said, the team has a huge void to fill in
their lineup. Does Lordy Tugade
still have the legs to perform stellar feats? That remains to be seen.
GUARDS: They lack a marquee shooting
guard but there are doable pawns in this lineup. Paolo Hubalde when given the minutes can be a great orchestrator.
He was a wonderful addition for the Petron Blaze Boosters and he’ll be yearning
to win now since he has tasted gold. Pong
Escobal and Borgie Hermida are two other players that can shore up their
backcourt. The team still has Marvin
Cruz in their mix so it will be interesting how the PG rotation plays out.
WHO
SHOULD THEY PICK?
First
of all, the team needs a scorer. I hope they get Paul Lee but I doubt if he’s available at the fifth spot. If it’s
not Lee then the Clickers must choose between Mac Baracael, Dylan Ababou, Chris Lutz, and Mark Barroca. I know
the Clickers have too many guards at the moment but they don’t have a marquee
guard and Barroca could shape their future with his brand of play. The eleventh
pick can be met by getting Magi Sison,
Reil Cervantes, Ken Acibar, or Eric Salamat.
Any of
these players can start on their team given the current cast they have right
now.
Still
they can’t rely much in the draft. Much of their offensive boosts will rely on
free agency. With Mark Macapagal now
with Meralco, Renren Ritualo is
expendable. Same goes with Don Allado
in B-Meg. There are a lot of free agents that are available for their taking.
But
still, they may find their savior in this draft.
Game
over.
From twitter: B-Meg acquires the fifth pick of shopinas for a random player.
ReplyDeleteWhere is Bono in the ranking of top Barako Bull players? I remember he had a couple of double digit performances in the first conference. Also Dennis Daa?
ReplyDeleteI know Escobal didn't play for B-Bull last season but if I'm going to replace him, i'll rather insert chad alonzo.
ReplyDeletepero if you're following them...
BONO
5.5PPG - 3.8RPG - 8 GAMES
DAA
6.2PPG - 5.0RPG - 12 GAMES
Hmm... come to think of it. may Daa could have been included.
Agree with you there Sydman both Dennis and Ken had better averages than Richard Yee and Big Mac (save for the blocks)
ReplyDeletewell daa and andaya have been practicing with shopinas but no idea what bono is doing at the moment.
ReplyDeletealso from the twitter page, gamalinda and menor are also practicing for the squad.
aren't they involved in a trade that sent the tnt pick that turned out to be jason ballesteros to meralco?