Sydman’s Side Defect: PBA Offseason News

OFFSEASON NEWS

We look at the first transactions of the Philippine Cup that does not involve rookies. Amongst the rookie draftees Mark Cuevas and Christian Cabatu have yet to find teams. Paolo Bugia is probably headed somewhere not basketball related and the talks that Robert Jaworski will return to the league could again spark a slew of aged fans.

Amongst the first eleven player movements, two of them are rookie free agents. Until the preseason tourney concludes, he could see a bunch of rookie free agents playing for teams that they wowed. Last year, Dennis Daa, Christian Coronel, and Philip Butel of Sta. Lucia were among the notables that got to play for the PBA because of these types of events.

The transferees:

JOE DEVANCE (ALASKA): As what Benhur mentioned, Tim Cone thinks of JDV as the “Next Bong Hawkins”. Maybe its because he’s a big forward that can hit outside shots. Stats alone, he could easily annexed the Top Rookie Award but Welcoat did little to make the citation possible for the 2007 top pick. What he will give the Aces is a player that could score and rebound which is consistently lacking in the Aces’ frontline. Last season he led all rookies in points with 16.1 points, 7 rebounds, 0.7 blocks and an assist in the Philippine Cup and 11.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 0.8 blocks and 1.2 assists in the Fiesta Cup. He’ll be a force for the Aces if he learns to wheel and deal his wares as a post up guy rather than settling for those outside jumpers most of the time.

ERVIN SOTTO (ALASKA): Adding height, the Aces acquired Sotto from the Express. The seventh pick of the 2004 Draft has yet to hit PBA superstardom. Actually, he could be nearing waivers. This is his fifth team in four years, and this time, he was just released… to think that Air21 is a team that seriously lacks bench help. Last season, he played all 20 games for the Express in the Philippine Cup which generated 2.6 points and 1.9 rebounds. In the Fiesta Cup, he delivered 0.6 points and 0.7 rebounds for 5 minutes of showing in 22 appearances. I doubt Alaska would use his services effectively.

MARK ANDAYA (AIR21): One of the most attractive players in the league today (we are injecting sarcasm here), the former Letran Knight is known for replacing the starters when the game has already been decided. The guy has height, but he couldn’t his gift properly. I guess in a few years time, we will see him play in the Liga. Until then, he should re-evaluate his career. He was traded by Talk N Text in his rookie season to Air21. He was then traded by Air21 to Red Bull for basically… no one and Air21 re-claimed his services for… no one again. His Red Bull stint would develop into 3 points and 2.3 rebounds for 11 games in the Philippine Cup and one point, one rebound, and one assist in 2 games in the Fiesta Cup. This is his make or break season. Otherwise, expect him to look for other opportunities in other leagues.

AARON ABAN (PUREFOODS): Aban I felt was too raw for a push in the PBA so when Alaska drafted him in the first round of the 2006 Draft, I had doubts on how Tim Cone would use him. He had a few high spots last season (3.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in the Philippine Cup and 1.8 points and 0.8 rebounds in the Fiesta Cup) but playing 18 of the teams 47 games is a travesty. At Purefoods he could be a third-string guard to sub for James Yap and PJ Simon. I can’t say if he would blossom as a Giant since he’ll be mixed up with Yap, Simon, Brandon Cablay, and rookie prospect Jonathan Fernandez. If he could break in as a Giant though then he’ll never worry of contract waivers in a couple of years span. Also Purefoods was the team that wasted Boyet Bautista. Let’s just hope his career would end up like that other Letran Knight, Kerby Raymundo.

CHAD ALONZO (PUREFOODS): This is one thing that gets me giddy. There are five players with Harbour Centre experience and if their winning tradition could blend with the Giants’ old reliables, then you can expect them to marvel the competition this season. Alonzo is a player in the mold of Dennis Daa (young guy that could give coaches steady help off the bench). He has post up and jump shots skills as well defensive ferociousness. He is PBA-ready but getting the time to display his talents would be his biggest difficulty.

AL VERGARA (PUREFOODS): In the 2007 Mock Draft, I hinted that this guy is PBA ready. However, coaches thought otherwise and he was sent back to the PBL. It proved beneficial for the former quarterback that once dished out the passes to the De Ocampo brothers at St. Francis. A RP stint and a slew of championships from his stint as a Harbour Centre Port Master should prove vital in his growth as a player. He’ll likely get a few minutes for the Giants… HOWEVER… something came up!

TOPEX ROBINSON (PUREFOODS): He could have been the best point guard Yeng Guiao has in his stable judging from his stats (PhilCup averages: 6.7ppg, 4.1rpg, 3.4apg, and 1.2spg; FiesCup averages: 4.8ppg, 3.6rpg, 3.3apg, and 1.5spg) but he is sadly mishandled. He now reunites with former roomie Enrico Villanueva. However, I doubt he’ll get the playing time he got with Red Bull. Roger Yap and Chico Lanete offers the same workmanship and hustle as that of Topex. With him arriving though, Vergara should move back to Harbour. He’ll be claiming measly minutes as a Giant and the only relief he would ever get is if someone gets injured in the regular rotation.

GHEROME EJERCITO (RAIN OR SHINE): Guess who’s back… back again. The oversized point guard debuted in the league with so much promise and he should owe his downfall to Coach Bill Bayno. Anywho, what’s past is past and I hope Ejercito learned to be quick. Rain or Shine could use his services as a shooting guard or a point guard. However, the Painters are overloaded in those spots and it’s unlikely that he’ll get major minutes for the Painters.

EDDIE LAURE (RAIN OR SHINE): He could have been a nice addition if he was three years younger. His stint with Alaska seriously raided his talents. While I see him as a mere bonus in that Devance-Sol Mercado trade, the Painters could use him as a player to sub for Rob Wainwright. He hardly imposed his presence as an Ace and that could be his motivation to revive his somewhat-dead career. In the PhilCup, he normed 3.2 points and 2.2 rebounds in 23 games. In the FiesCup, he gave 2.5ppg, 1.3rpg, and 0.7bpg in 6 minutes of action and six games for the Aces. Is Laure a tormented soul or a vengeful spirit? That remains to be seen (the DOTA references would make people cringe).

GABBY ESPINAS (RED BULL): With Paolo Bugia pondering whether or not he should continue his career or go on to pursue his Ateneo diploma, Espinas is a great fit to this team. Espinas is on his third team in three seasons and that spells pending doom to any player trying to make a name in the league. Underutilized in his first two squads, the former NCAA rookie MVP from PCU will flourish under Yeng Guiao’s system. In the PhilCup, he scored 5.5 points and 2.6 rebounds in eight games for Magnolia and Air21 but saw a monumental slide in the Fiesta Cup where he played for 12 games but managed to score 0.7 points and a rebound. What Espinas need is exposure and this is what Yeng Guiao would give him.

MICK PENNISI (SAN MIGUEL): Alas, the last of what was left from the original Red Bull core has been sent to the Beermen for a couple of draft picks. He will be used in the SMB fold but I doubt if he’ll get the minutes he usually gets as a Red Bull player. Most Ron Jacobs-trained coaches love this guy during international meets but they find it hard to use his skills wisely. Another thing is that The Slick is no post-up scorer. He shoot jump shots and could defend under the basket… and sometimes dunk… but he’ll likely do fade-aways and spot-ups than post. Last season, despite the lack of obvious superstars, Pennisi barely contributed for the Bulls. In the PhilCup, he was good for 10.0ppg, 7.2rpg, 1.4apg and 0.8bpg but he was seriously inconsistent. In the FiesCup, his numbers dropped significantly with Adam Parada taking over his scoring load but with 25 minutes a game, his inconsistency anew produced 6.7ppg, 5.4rpg, and 1.0apg. His inconsistency is his biggest lack and if this keeps up, I will not be surprised if one of SMB’s first rate bench boys would take over in his place.

So how will they fare next season.

PBA Games start at Oct. 4.