Recoating
The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is on a one-week break to give way to Gilas Pilipinas’ campaign in the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup in Beirut, Lebanon, but it is hardly staying silent with news emanating from it that the entire PBAdom can get its teeth into.
One such news is that involving the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters which traded away veteran sniper Jeff Chan to the Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters for Mark Borboran and a future second- round pick, and sent rookie Mike Tolomia to the Meralco Bolts for fellow freshman Ed Daquioag.
And through the grapevine, it is said that the Elasto Painters are not yet done dealing and are looking to further rejig their roster.
No way to look at these moves by Rain or Shine as its way of “recoating” to fortify its makeup moving forward.
It is completely understandable if you are to ask me for the Elasto Painters to do these now considering they are seemingly at the crossroads.
Their records in the first two conferences this season — which has seen them middling for the most part — I believe are very indicative of where they are right now in their PBA existence and how some form of change is necessary.
Losing Chan at this point will take its toll no doubt but down the line the pick Rain or Shine got for him would benefit it as the team can possibly secure a quality player from the draft to be part of its future.
Considering that Phoenix is struggling still, the pick may come early in the second round, a spot where PBA-ready players can be latched on.
Borboran, too, should help Rain or Shine. He may not be as explosive as Chan but he can play and shoot as well, not to mention add ceiling for the Elasto Painters.
Daquioag, meanwhile, gives Rain or Shine a slasher and a scorer who can be a boon to the team’s offense.
His arrival gives further dimension to Rain or Shine’s guard rotation, playing alongside Jericho Cruz, Chris Tiu, Maverick Ahanmisi and James Yap.
Some playmaking may have been lost with the departure of Tolomia but knowing Coach Caloy Garcia he will be able to find the way to make things work with Daquioag in tow.
If you happened to be a Rain or Shine fan, these latest moves by your favorite may take some time to get used to, especially that of Chan no longer around, but every team goes through such a phase.
In light of how the Elasto Painters have been playing of late, a change for the greater good of the team had to take place, something this space believes they were able to do with the deals they made.