Meralco Bolts sophomore guard Baser Amer relishes floor leader role
IN ONLY his second season in the PBA, Baser Amer has been given the task bigger than any other player in the Meralco Bolts roster.
Not only because Mr. Amer is taking over a vital spot in the team, the premier point guard spot, vacated by Jimmy Alapag when the Mighty Mouse decided to hang his jersey before the start of the PBA season. The sophomore guard also needs to earn the respect of more seasoned players like Reynel Hugnatan, Jared Dillinger and Cliff Hodge among others.
But in the early goings of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, Mr. Amer has performed to the task and comfortably relished on his new role as the lead quarterback.
In four games, Mr. Amer has been a steady presence, making everybody on the team look good and setting the directions for a Bolts team that has yet to lose a game in four matches.
It didn’t take long for Mr. Amer to get himself settled. At this time, he’s the player every member in the squad look up to.
“From the start, I thought it was difficult, having more seasoned players in the team and trying to earn their respect. But once you approached them in a good way, things look easier and you can play basketball more relaxed as a team,” Mr. Amer told BusinessWorld.
Mr. Amer isn’t a stranger to playing the lead role.
He was the top man for the San Beda Red Cubs in the NCAA, leading the team to numerous championships, and continued the role all the way to the college level with the Red Lions. In the amateur ranks, he was able to keep up that status while guiding the NLEX Road Warriors and helping the team build a dynasty in the PBA D-League.
Mr. Amer’s penchant for winning didn’t end there as he would keep a hold of the Gilas Cadets squad, which won the gold medal in the 2015 SEA Games in Singapore.
Head coach Norman Black and Mr. Alapag, Mr. Amer’s predecessor, who is also helping out in the coaching staff, believe the young point guard will go a long way in the PBA.
“Baser is only in his second year, his fifth conference, but he had shown that he could be a good player in this league. I think he has the confidence right now. I have the confidence in him. Now, he has to take advantage of this opportunity. If he can continue to do that he should be well,” said Mr. Black.
If Mr. Amer can continue what he had just started this conference, Black added that he won’t be surprised to see Mr. Amer lining up as among those great point guards who played for him before — Ricardo Brown, Hector Calma and Mr. Alapag — all of whom had won championships while playing under his tutelage.
“There was a transition period last conference with Jimmy leaving and him becoming the lead point guard. Obviously, he’s a young kid and it takes some time for him to get some experience to be able to take control of the team,” added Mr. Black.
Mr. Alapag, for his part, wasn’t surprised with Mr. Amer’s progress either.
“I was fortunate to have a year with him where we were working together, day in and day out. I’ve known him since he was in college when he was playing for coach Mike (Jarin) in San Beda. I was working with him when he was with Coach Tab with the Cadets. Just to see his progress, his growth in such a short time. Now that I’m not playing, I could turn off the competition mode and become a fan again, at the same time coaching guys like him just to see how well he’s playing,” said Mr. Alapag.