Chot Reyes finally pulled the plug out of
the ridiculously lame Talk N Text import Scottie
Reynolds and tapping his original import Maurice Baker to save/finish this tiring Governor’s Cup finals showdown against the Petron Blaze Boosters.
I like
Baker more than Reynolds because unlike Reynolds who is basically a scorer,
Baker is an all-around performer. I was actually pretty surprised that they
took out Baker during the semifinals and wondered if Baker got injured or
something. My guess is that Baker was sort of hurt but they will stick with him
but will be bringing in Scottie Reynolds because at this point, Baker might
have been checked.
With
their backs against the wall though, it’s better for TNT to have a checked
import than a powerless one.
Reyes
has been publicly calling Reynolds out in the broadsheets and he has done
nothing to save his reputation. When Baker was re-instated, he lashed out again
on Reynolds.
“We
are playing without an import. Theirs is fantastic and ours suck.”
Ouch.
In a
team filled with scorers and shooters, an import that also does the dirty work
fits their system right on. Another variable they need to seriously check is
that TNT might have big and brawny players but compare their size with Petron
and they’ll get dwarfed. Ranidel de
Ocampo isn’t really a big time rebounder and Ali Peek gives up three to five inches when pitted against Mick Pennisi and Danny Ildefonso. Kelly
Williams? I don’t think he’s in a proper matchup right now position-wise
because whatever he is doing at the moment, it’s basically to harass and shadow
Arwind Santos. Sometimes when
Williams is busy manning the forward and center spots, Arwind is pitted with
the likes of Larry Fonacier, Ryan Reyes,
and even Jimmy Alapag which is
except when Arwind is beyond the arc defensively... is a freakin’ mismatch! Harvey Carey is likewise playing hurt
and Reyes hasn’t trusted his shock troopers like Jared Dillinger, Rich Alvarez, Mark Yee, and Aaron Aban because he
looks at them as liabilities in terms of offense and defense. Chot is kind of
right here because for a team that is hardly missing the services of Jay Washington, Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Joseph
Yeo, and Lordy Tugade and is relying on bunch of Barako Bull loans and
seldom-used former college stars... it’s just unacceptable!
With Jason Castro unable to suit up in Game
6 (if he can he’ll play injured), the inability of Reynolds to provide the
muscle and the hustle will deepen the fact that he’s turning goat in this
series. Remember at the start of the conference when Baker and Castro seemed to
be playing as if they are mirror images of each other? This is what Chot Reyes
wants Baker to be right now – a more polished Jason Castro that can do the
things Reynolds should be doing right now.
With two
games making and breaking their case to clinch the grand slam, Chot Reyes needs
to have a more valuable import.
However
is the switch a case of too little, too late?
Game
over.
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