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Sunday, July 30, 2006

Ginebra goes BIG BIG BIG!

This PBA trade news from Philippine Star made my jaws drop. To cut the long story short, the Ginebra Gin Kings, Air21 Express, and Coca-Cola Tigers entered a three-way trade which paved the way for the entry of Rafi Reavis and Billy Mamaril to the Gin Kings camp plus rights to Rudy Hatfield, should "H-Bomb" decide to return to the PBA (according to this news, Rudy Hatfield intends to play in the PBA again). Gone from Ginebra are role players Aris Dimaunahan (to Air21 Express), Kalani Ferreria (to Coca-Cola), Manny Ramos (back to Coca-Cola again), and Ervin Sotto (to Air21 Express), plus draft rights for this year's draft to Coke. The Express gives up Ryan Bernardo to the Tigers.

I feel I have yet to pick up my jaws because they fell when I read the news. Still, I could not believe what transpired.

Shet. Fuck. It's as if the tables have turned. Somebody wake me up.

One thing bothers me: what the hell is Ginebra thinking. Or what the hell is Coke thinking.

Minus the traded players, Ginebra currently have Eric Menk, Romel Adducul (still injured), Andy Seigle, Mike Holper, Allen Salangsang, Rodney Santos (still injured), Sunday Salvacion, Mark Macapagal, Mark Caguioa, Egay Echavez, and Jayjay Helterbrand. Ginebra then acquires two players in Rafi Reavis and Billy Mamaril (and possibly Rudy Hatfield).

While the Gin Kings grew taller, they got short on their back-court. They lost Aris Dimaunahan and Kalani Ferreria. A surplus in big men is seen also: you have Eric Menk, Billy Mamaril, Romel Adducul, Andy Seigle jockying up for the four/five slot. Rafi Reavis and Mike Holper (plus Sunday Salvacion and Allan Salangsang) will rotate on the number three spot. That leaves Mark Caguioa, Jayjay Helterbrand, Macapagal, Santos, and Echaves to rotate on the guard spots.

How will the exodus of players and the entry of big men affect Ginebra's player rotation, most notably its front court and backcourt? While Ginebra may be big this time, it has lost its high-octane speed when they lost Ferreria and Dimaunahan. The trio of Ferreria, Caguioa, and Helterbrand did wonders to Ginebra back in the 2005-2006 season. Plus, who are the 10 players which Ginebra will protect when the PBA holds its dispersal draft to new Welcoat Paints?

Totoo ba itich na magbabalik-coach si Jaworski? There were rumors that the San Miguel Corporation talked with the Living Legend to coach a SMC-owned team.

Meanwhile the Air21 Express seems to be happy with what they got from the trade. The only team in the PBA which has no Fil-Ams in its line-up, The Express now have the triumvurate St. Francis Alumni de Ocampo brothers and Sotto. That's nice, plus they have Mark Telan with them also, plus another guard in Aris Dimaunahan whom they always wanted to get. They lost only seldomly-used Ryan Bernardo (who played with the Lina-owned franchise since the days of the Laguna Lakers in the MBA).

The balance of force in the PBA shakes again with these trades. The intrigues build up when the PBA holds its dispersal draft and the rookie draft in August. It makes it more interesting to watch the PBA when the big league opens its doors on October 1, 2006.

Viva PBA! Go Ginebra!

Comments

G: naamoy ko rin na may matratrade sa Ginebra, most likely Adducul nga. haha. Rumors say na Sta. Lucia yun. haha.
 
Sana may Hoopshype-style rumor site din ang PBA. Meron ba, Carlo?
 
Maybe we could come up with it? hahaha. Let's take over the Filipino online hoops community! weheh
 
Talaga? Online? hahaha
 
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