Team profile
After bolstering weak spots in their roster and training behind closed doors, the Alaska Milk Aces are now eager to surprise everyone.
Narrowly missing the Governors Cup finals, the Aces hope to move up from there and contend for the crown in their second conference under coach Alex Compton.
“The season break helped us make the necessary adjustments in the new system put in place by Alex (Compton),” said team manager Dickie Bachmann, pointing out that they have abandoned the “triangle offense” of former coach Tim Cone.
They purposely played few pre-season matches in an effort to hide their new plays and patterns. And in those few games, they came through with a winning record.
Bachmann said their new system is more of a run-and-gun game where guys like Cyrus Baguio, Calvin Abueva and even rookie Rome dela Rosa are likely to thrive.
The Alaska official is very much impressed with Dela Rosa, son of former Shell and Sta. Lucia player Romy.
Bachmann is also surprised by free agent acquisition Eric Menk. “At 40, he’s keeping up with the young guys. He can run up and down,” said Bachmann of Menk whom they signed up to fill in for the injury-hit Gabby Espinas.
Compton kept the old Alaska nucleus of Baguio, Abueva, Sonny Thoss, Jvee Casio, Dondon Hontiveros, Vic Manuel, RJ Jazul and Tony dela Cruz and added an important piece on the puzzle in rookie guard Chris Banchero.
Obviously getting impatient over its slow progress, Meralco came down to make changes atop the organization, without draft rights and trade materials to tinker with its lineup during the offseason in the first place.
Kicked upstairs was coach Ryan Gregorio, who was replaced by Norman Black.
Team manager Butch Antonio was also moved somewhere else to make way for Paolo Trillo.
Coming over from Talk n Text, Black and Trillo will plot ways to pull the Bolts out of the cellar. And it’s not easy. The Meralco team that won only 14 of 36 games last season hardly improved. One significant change was the entry of Sean Anthony.
Black himself was not impressed with their winning record in the preseason.
“Those were exhibition games, merely tune-ups. We’re just trying to get better every game,” he said.
Black’s biggest concern should be how to match up with Junmar Fajardo, Greg Slaughter, Sonny Thoss and Asi Taulava.
Meralco has a small frontline rotation with a starting center in 6-foot-4 Reynel Hugnatan.
Gunners Gary David, John Wilson, Mark Macapagal, Rey Guevarra, Jared Dillinger and Mike Cortez have to deliver consistently to make up for the team’s shortage at the post.
One big energy source for Meralco is scrappy forward Cliff Hodge and flashes of old brilliance may come from Danny Ildefonso.
Since their return from a leave of absence, the Barako Bull Energy have remained a work in progress.
In the offseason, Barako Bull yet again effected major changes in its lineup in a continuing effort to find the right mix that could spark a breakthrough for the franchise.
Coach Siot Tanquingcen tweaked its team in enlisting RR Garcia, Jondan Salvador, Chico Lanete, Jake Pascual and Philip Paredes.
Core players retained are Denok Miranda, Carlo Lastimosa, JC Intal, Jeric Fortuna, Dave Marcelo, Willie Wilson and Michael Pennisi. Curiously left unsigned thus becoming an unrestricted free agent is twotime MVP awardee Willie Miller.
Manny Alvarez, the team’s representative to the PBA board, is confident they will make progress from last season where they struggled for only 10 wins against 25 losses.
He said their goal in each of the three conferences this season is to make the playoffs and take it from there.
“Definitely, we have to work on a lot of things,” said Tanquingcen, a champion coach with San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra now on his second conference as the Barako Bull bench chieftain assisted by Coy Banal, Jigs Mendoza, Art dela Cruz and Paolo Rivero.
Last season, the team played under coaches Junel Baculi, Rajko Toroman, Bong Ramos and Tanquingcen, but hardly made an impact, just winding up ahead of Globalport in the overall cumulative ranking.
Spending a little more than Kia and Blackwater in their entry into the big league, NLEX should come out stronger and perform better in their maiden PBA season.
For one, the Road Warriors are not starting from scratch with players like Asi Taulava, Mark Cardona and Jonas Villanueva whom they absorbed in their purchase of the Air21 team.
Of course, the idea of management is to be competitive right away.
Aldrech Ramos, Wynne Arboleda, Eliud Poligrates, Eric James Camson and Mark Borboran are the other former Air21 Express turning Road Warriors, teaming up with rookies Juneric Baloria, Harold Arboleda, John Byron Villarias and Jeckster Apinan, Raul Soyud, and trade acquisitions Rico Villanueva and KG Canaleta.
“We’re happy with what we’ve got. We’re happy with our mix of young and experienced talents whom we believe have developed a good chemistry already,” said coach Boyet Fernandez.
“When we acquired the Air21 franchise, I think nine had existing contracts. With that, we strategized and plotted down how to strengthen each spot,” said team manager Ronald Dulatre.
“We feel that our acquisitions are players that really can blend in. We wanted those players,” Dulatre added.
With these around him, Taulava believes he can have a shot at a championship before hanging his jersey.
Many believe the Barangay Ginebra Kings have a good prospect of reigning this season.
For one, they should have adapted to the triangle offense and, with added weaponry from Joseph Yeo and rookie Rodney Brondial, are considered among the top favorites to vie for the crown.
“We started with the little things and I think we’re starting to understand the little things,” said coach Jeff Cariaso. “Now, we’re building and getting better. As long as we continue to work hard, the wins are going to follow.”
There’s no question with regards to the team’s roster power with key personnel in Greg Slaughter, Japeth Aguilar, LA Tenorio, Mark Caguioa, Mac Baracael, Jayjay Helterbrand, Jayr Reyes, Chris Ellis and Yeo.
Reserves James Forrester, Billy Mamaril, Josh Urbiztondo and Dylan Ababou could play major roles with another team.
Still being worked on is the team chemistry and how to get along with the offense Cariaso brought along in his transfer from San Mig Coffee.
“We’ve introduced 75 percent already. You want to master and get better at it as you go on,” Cariaso said.
As for defense, the Kings could well match up with any team especially as they could play big or small but quick.
Slaughter, the 2014 Rookie of the Year awardee, could be a more dominant inside presence for the team. They will be a big problem for any team if Slaughter and Aguilar hit it well together.
Forget the name change. This team is the same winning mix that has strung up four straight crowns and is looking well capable of extending its mighty reign.
Coach Tim Cone, the team management and the entire ball club are not about to sit on their laurels as they have even sought some help from an NBA coach to take a look at their game.
“Coach Tom Newell came over to help us out. He didn’t change our triangle or the things that we do. He cleaned us up,” said Cone.
They don’t want to burden themselves with pressure, though, that they set a new mindset as a “growth- oriented team and not goal-oriented.”
They want each member of the team to improve, hoping the wins to come along.
“We’ll not think about chasing the record ( Crispa’s six straight championships). That will not be in our mind,” said Cone.
“What we promise is that we’ll tap the talent of each player and make them play to the best of their abilities,” said Rene Pardo, Purefoods’ representative to the PBA board.
Purefoods kept intact the San Mig Coffee roster that won the last Governors Cup, stretching its reign to four conferences and completing only the fifth grand slam ever achieved in the league.
However, the Hotshots will be playing sans Marc Pingris until Oct. 31 when they tangle with the Globalport Batang Pier at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
As an expansion team, Blackwater formed a team just from the expansion draft and the rookie draft, and would definitely need some time to be a championship contender.
But even with a roster of neophytes and discards, the team management and coaching staff are hopeful they can bring added thrill and excitement in the league.
And Ever Bilena chief Dioceldo Sy and head coach Leo Isaac stressed their maiden season in the PBA won’t just be about a battle with fellow newcomer Kia.
“It’s not just about going for a win against Kia. We hope we can make the Top Eight,” said Sy.
“We are a team of players out to prove they belong and players out to reinvent themselves. We’ll give them (the other PBA teams) a run for their money,” said Isaac.
To be assisted by Rodil Sablan, Patrick Aquino and Aris Dimaunahan, Isaac will have at his disposal a team led by dispersal draft recruits Alex Nuyles, JR Cawaling and Paul Artadi, and trade acquisitions Sunday Salvacion and Jason Ballesteros.
A champion team in the defunct PBL and in the PBA D-League, Blackwater will also have Bacon Austria, Juami Tiongson, Eddie Laure, Bryan Faundo, JP Erram, Gilbert Bulawan, Bambam Gamalinda, Chris Timberlake and Ogie Menor. In the reserve list is Brian Heruela.
“I have players who can hustle. They want to be recognized as Blackwater players and make their former mother teams regret putting them in the dispersal draft,” Isaac said.
Globalport owner Mikee Romero is confident they have learned their lessons, have put the right pieces together and are ready to compete this year.
Without a single winning record in their first six conferences in the league, Romero believes they can turn things around after a facelift that includes their acquisition of prized Fil-Am player Stanley Pringle.
Also with the arrival of Noy Baclao, Jojo Duncil and another rookie Roider Cabrera, Romero and his coaches led by Pido Jarencio feel they have assembled a team with potentials to reach the Final Four.
“This is a Globalport team that really can compete now,” said Romero.
“All 14 players were handpicked by us kaya masasabi namin
lahat ng players palaban,” said Globalport alternate governor Erick Arejola.
The Batang Pier racked up a high winning mark in the offseason even in their Seoul tour, raising the team’s hopes for an exciting season.
Pringle, from Penn State who has played as import in Europe and in Asia, has been a big boost, lifting the spirit of the team.
Making the team a potent force is Pringle playing well with Alex Cabagnot and Terrence Romeo.
Add anybody among frontliners Yancy de Ocampo, Kelly Nabong, Mark Isip and Baclao, and Jarencio has got a solid starting five.
Also in the lineup are Ronjay Buenafe, Jewel Ponferada and Keith Jensen.
The rigors of time have taken their toll on this former Philippine Cup three-peat champ, and Talk n Text had to make the sad decision of starting to effect a changing of the guard.
The team infused young blood in former Gilas cadet players Kevin Alas and Matt Ganuelas while also bringing back old tested player Jay Washington.
Another big change is the appointment of coach Jong Uichico, who took over from Norman Black.
Holdovers are Jayson Castro, Ranidel de Ocampo, Larry Fonacier, Kelly Williams, Harvey Carey, Ryan Reyes, Rob Reyes, Elmer Espiritu, Aaron Aban and Danny Seigle.
Allowed to rest for a while after his stint with Gilas Pilipinas is ace guard Jimmy Alapag.
The Tropang Texters have got a bit younger, and they’re raring to bounce back after some beatings from San Mig Coffee last year.
Their streak of three straight Philippine Cup title runs came to an end as they dropped their quarterfinal showdown with the Mixers.
Curiously, they also lost to the Mixers in the Commissioner’s Cup Finals then in the Governors Cup semifinals.
To help out Uichico get Talk n Text back on track are consultant Tab Baldwin and assistant coaches Nash Racela, Bong Ravena and Josh Reyes.