Powerade nabs backcourt of the future

At the height of the Coca-Cola Tigers' success in its first 2 years in the league, the team had a potent backcourt combination.  On the team were Johnny Abarrientos and Jeffrey Cariaso, 2 remnants of Alaska's 90's dynasty.  Both were past their prime already when they joined the Tigers (Johnny A. was 32 while Jeffrey was 31), but both wanted to prove that they can still play at a high level.  As fate would have it, this backcourt tandem would lead the Tigers to its first championship, the 2002 All-Filipino Cup title, at the expense of.... yes, the Alaska Aces.

August 28, 2011 was a huge day for the Powerade Tigers and its fans.  Days leading to the draft, people have been buzzing regarding who the team will be picking with the 1st and 4th overall picks.  While Smart Gilas standout JV Casio seemed to be the consensus choice for the top pick, other possibilities still linger like choosing UE spitfire Paul Lee or Smart Gilas wingman Marcio Lassiter instead.  I myself made an article a week ago discussing whom between Casio and Lassiter should we pick first.

Ultimately, the Tigers chose Casio, which was a great decision.  While Paul Lee has tremendous amount of untapped potential, Casio is arguably the better and more complete player at this point.  He had strut his wares for the national team and had competed against some of the best guards in Asia.  He became perhaps the most important local player for Gilas and his international stints made him ripe for the PBA.  All was well with this choice.

And then the unexpected happened...

In perhaps all mock drafts circulating around the net, nobody had Lassiter falling out of the top 3.  It was also believed that Barako Bull would choose Lassiter with the 3rd pick if Casio and Lee goes 1 and 2.  But on draft day, Barako Bull and recent champions Petron consummated a 4-player deal that brought Don-Don Hontiveros, Carlo Sharma to Petron in exchange for a future pick, Sunday Salvacion, and Mick Pennisi.  The deal also included a swap of picks between the 2 teams (3rd and 8th pick).  Now, while this deal was lopsided and really fishy, it actually worked in Powerade's favor.  Apparently, Petron was more interested in Chris Lutz than they were with Lassiter, and they did choose Lutz with the 3rd pick, to the surprise of many.  Of course, without hesitation, Powerade quickly grabbed Lassiter with the subsequent pick.

We got arguably the national's team 2 best local scorers.  When Smart Gilas played in the PBA Commisioner's Cup last year as a guest team, the team's top 2 local scorers were Casio (14.2 ppg) and Lassiter (13.5 ppg).  If that is any sort of indication, both guys can indeed compete and produce in the PBA.  

Another beneficiary is Gary David.  David finally gets the scoring help he badly needed.  Although Casio is known for his shooting, he is also a willing passer.  While in the past David had to exert much energy on creating his own shots, he will find it much easier this time with a playmaker like Casio.  Opposing teams' defense will no longer be focused on David alone.  Lassiter is also a good defender, and he could help David, also an able defender himself, defend against scorers of opposing teams.

Perhaps the best thing about acquiring Casio and Lassiter is the fact that these are 2  high-character guys, so there will be no attitude problems as such.  Both guys also considered it an honor to play with David, so we can at least be assured that there will be no ego clashes within the team.  They also expressed their desire to help the team improve, which is more than enough to make us fans happy and excited. 

Powerade was awarded the top pick when they won the draft lottery, they hit the jackpot when they landed Casio and Lassiter.

Only time can tell if Casio and Lassiter can lead our team to greater heights like what Abarrientos and Cariaso once did, but one thing we can be sure of, the future looks bright!

Roar out!

Top 5 picks in franchise history

The excitement surely is building up for the Powerade Tigers and its fans with 3 days to go before the 2011 PBA Annual Rookie Draft.  The Tigers will be picking 1st and 4th, making this draft the best position the team has ever had since 2002.  The hot names for the top pick are now down to JV Casio, Marcio Lassiter, and Paul Lee.  With some luck, the team could have a chance to grab 2 of those guys depending on how Rain or Shine (#2) and Barako Bull (formerly Air21 - #3) utilizes their pick.

For today however, let us try to look back at the franchise' past drafts and count down the top 5 picks in franchise history.  Qualified are all players drafted by the Coca-Cole Tigers from its first season in the league (2002) until last year's draft. Note: Sean Anthony was drafted by Air21, but was traded to Powerade on draft night, so in essence, it was the Tigers that drafted him.

Of note as well, I only took into consideration the player's contributions and achievements during his time with the team.  How that player performed after he left the team is not taken into account in this ranking.

So without further ado..

5. Denok Miranda
- Drafted 3rd overall in 2005 by Coca-Cola
- 2005-2006 PBA All-Rookie Team
- Played 1 1/2 seasons with the team before traded to Sta Lucia in a deal that brought Alex Cabagnot to Coke.
- Stats with Coke (rookie year): 7.3 ppg, 3.2 apg, 2.4 rpg, 27.7 mins/game,

When the Coca-Cola Tigers were on the clock for the 3rd pick in the 2005 PBA draft, Mac Cardona was still on board.  Instead, Coke drafted Denok Miranda, a pointguard from FEU.  At that time, it made sense.  Coke was looking for a young successor to the aging Johnny Abbarientos, so while Cardona was obviously the best talent available, the Tigers opted to select Denok. As we all know by now, Cardona has become one of the best scorers in the league while Denok settled into a role player, albeit a good one.

Actually, that pick wasn't really that bad.  Denok was immediately plunged into a starting role and had a very solid rookie year with the team.  He played very composed and analysts likened him to a veteran with his poise inside the court.  It also helped to have 2 great pointguards with the team at that time providing guidance, Johnny A. and Hector Calma, who was then Coke's team manager.

Miranda's most memorable moment with the team was hitting a game-winning 3-point shot at the buzzer to beat Alaska 99-98, in a wildcard game in 2006, perhaps one of the wildest finishes in team history.

4.  Sean Anthony
- Drafted 6th overall in 2010 by Air21 (traded to Powerade on draft night)
- 2011 PBA Blitz Game Co-MVP

Maybe in due time, Anthony will occupy the top spot in this ranking, but for now, he will have to settle with fourth.

Drafted by Air21, Anthony was immediately shipped to Powerade.  Anthony impressed scouts during the rookie camp despite playing with a mask due to a broken nose.  In his debut game with the Tigers, Anthony immediately contributed and grabbed 12 rebounds.  Unfortunately, his nose injury was aggravated during practice and he was advised to sit out for at least 5 weeks.  The tough cookie that he is, Sean came back earlier and played a couple of games before the conference ended, scoring a career-high 29 points against Alaska in the team's last game.

Anthony's hustle and defense are very valuable to the team, and if he manages to stay healthy, he could become a big-time contributor next season.

3.  Ronjay Buenafe
- Drafted 11th overall in 2007 by Coca-Cola
- 2007-2008 PBA All-Rookie Team
- 2008 PBA Blitz Game MVP

Every Tiger fan just loved watching Ronjay Buenafe.  His wide array of hangtime acrobatics and crossovers never failed to impress.  He scored 16 points coming off the bench in his debut game and finished the season averaging 11.17 points, playing in 42 games.  What was more remarkable was Buenafe's performance in crunchtime situations.  He hit 3 game-winners in his rookie season, including a jumpshot from the top of the key in a wildcard game versus San Miguel to force a sudden death.

Buenafe never averaged more than 25 mins/game in his 2 seasons with Coke, but he averaged in double-digits in points in both seasons, which is a testament of his scoring ability.

The ''Red Dragon'' was thought to be the team's future franchise player, that is why many were surprised and disappointed when he was traded prior to the start of the 2009-2010 season.

 2.  Gary David
 - Drafted 10th overall in 2004 by Coca-Cola
- League leading scorer in 2010 - 2011 season (21.8 ppg) 

Only #2 for Mr. Pure Energy?!?  Well, as I mentioned above, I only took into account how the players performed during their time with Coke, and David's rookie season with Coke wasn't that impressive, averaging 6.9 points in about 14 mins/game.  David struggled to find playing time as a rookie playing behind Jeffrey Cariaso, who was Coke's alpha male at that time.  After he was traded to Air21, David would then play his best years, where he was named to the 1st Mythical Team in 2008, and became a 2-time all-star.

When he returned to the Tigers 5 years later in 2009, there was no holding back for Gary D.  He averaged more than 20 points (leading the league) in the past 2 seasons. Since he is still with the team now, he still has a chance to unseat the top guy in this list.

1. Rafi Reavis
- Drafted 2nd overall in 2002 by Coca-Cola 
- Most improved player (2003)
- Played in 187 games with Coke from 2002 - 2006
- Lead the team in rebounding from 2003 - 2006
- 4 finals appearances and 2 titles with the team

The only player in the list to win a title with the team.  Reavis manned the shaded area for the Tigers for 4 seasons.  He played sparingly in his rookie season, playing behind veteran center Poch Juinio, but took over the position in his second year, where he improved his scoring from 4.6 to 10.4, and his rebounding from 3.8 to 8.3.

Reavis' length and defensive abilities were key factors for the Tigers' success from 2002-2003.  That Coke team was known for its defense, and Reavis along with Rudy Hatfield, would spearhead the Tigers' defense.  In 2005-2006, his final season with the team, Reavis averaged 11.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks, before he was sent to Ginebra along with Billy Mamaril and Rudy Hatfield in one of the most lopsided and infamous trades in league history.  Since then, the team have struggled to replace his spot.  From the undersized Ali Peek, to Mark Telan, to guys like Manny Ramos, Gilbert Lao and  Mike Gavino, nothing seemed to work.  It was only until the team acquired Asi Taulava that the team was able to field a quality center once again.

Other Notables:

RJ Rizada  (12th overall in 2006) - Rizada's career stats doesn't stand out, but he actually is the longest-tenured Tiger in franchise history.  He had played spot-up minutes for John Arigo, Ronjay Buenafe, and now Gary David. He had been tasked to guard imports.  Truth be told, his staying power is simply amazing.


Joseph Yeo (3rd overall in 2006) - Yeo's rookie year somewhat mirrored Gary David's.  It was tough for Yeo to play significant minutes with Coke's leading scorer John Arigo playing the same position as him.  While Yeo had a decent rookie year (7.4 ppg in just 16 mins/game), he was shipped out after a year.  Just like David, he also had his best years after he was traded.  I had high hopes for Yeo, but the coaching staff didn't feel the same. Yeo would eventually become an integral part of the Sta. Lucia squad that won the 2007-08 Philippine Cup title.


Chris Pacana (15th overall in 2006) - a virtual unknown when he was drafted by Coke, he went on to surprise many people with his decent play during his rookie season.  He averaged a respectable 5.69 ppg, 3.1 rebs/game, and 2.2 asts/game in his lone season with Coke.  He would go on to win a title while playing for the Ginebra Gin Kings.

Casio or Marcio? Who's your top pick?

For the first time in franchise history, the Powerade Tigers earned the rights for the top pick in the PBA Annual Rookie Draft.  The highest pick the Tigers previously had was Rafi Reavis, who was drafted 2nd overall in 2002, the Tigers' inaugural year.  While Reavis only stayed for 4 years with the franchise, he was a vital component of Coke's championship squads.

Now, with the top pick, Powerade has a chance to acquire a player who could potentially turn things around for the team, and with a handful of very talented young hotshots joining this year's draft, there just might be someone among them who is destined to bring  this wounded pack back to the peak of glory.

Who will that player be?

While any player has a chance to go number 1, let's narrow down to 2 potential top prospects and make a case for each of them.

JV Casio

Position:  Point guard
Born:  August 7, 1986
Height:  5'11''
Weight:  175 pounds
College:  De La Salle University
Achievements:
** UAAP season 67 rookie of the year
** UAAP season 70 mythical selection
** UAAP season 70 Finals co-MVP
** UAAP season 71 mythical selection

The starting guard for the Smart Gilas national team, JV Casio is arguably the most talented young guard in the country today.  Casio was already good in college, but he showed tremendous improvement in his game when he was tapped to play for the national team.  While he was more of a shoot-first, high volume shooter during his time in La Salle, he had since developed into a more efficient and complete player after spending the last couple of years with the national squad.

PBA comparison:  Jimmy Alapag

Strengths:  Casio has always been a very good shooter.  He is never afraid to take big shots when the game is on the line.  He is also a high-IQ player, and had since improved his shot selection.  He can shoot given the smallest of space off picks and screens.  He can also drive and dish.  He likewise possess a good floater which he uses to score in the paint.  He also developed his passing and playmaking skills during his time with Gilas.  He has solid leadership skills and is not afraid to take over the game when needed.  Although he is a pointguard, he can score in bunches and is capable of big scoring nights.  His international exposure also helped his game tremendously, and although he will be entering the PBA as a rookie, he essentially is very much a veteran already experience-wise.

Weakness:  There aren't really too many weaknesses with JV's game. His size could be a factor, but it hasn't really been much of an issue given Casio's skills.  He may have problems defending against bigger and stronger guards, but his craftiness and hustle makes up for what he lacks in size.


Marcio Lassiter

Position:  Shooting guard / Small forward
Born:  May 16, 1987
Height:  6'2''
Weight:  185 pounds
College: Cal-State Fullerton
Achievements:
** Co-Most Valuable Player of the Coast Conference North in 2006-07
** Played for NCAA Div. 1 school Cal-State Fullerton
** Lyle Parks, Jr., Hustle Award from the Titan Athletics Club
** Andrew Awad Toughness Award (Cal-State)
** Three-time All-Academic Athletic Association honors in high school (Washington High School)

There is no doubt that Marcio Lassiter is a multi-talented player.  Seldom do you come across a 2-way young player who can get things done both in offense and defense.  Marcio's pedigree includes playing under an NCAA division 1 program in Cal-State, and he's not just any player there, he was a vital part of the team and was considered the leader in his last year with the team.  He was a #1 pick in the 2009 PBL draft and was picked up by the Smart Gilas national team later that year, where he became an important piece in coach Toroman's system.  A proven winner who led his college team to the NCAA tournament for the 1st time in 30 years.

PBA comparison: Ronald Tubid

Strengths:  Lassiter's primary skill is his shooting.  He can light it up from the outside and can also mix it up with drives and penetrations to the basket.  His college coach acknowledged him for being a good wing defender.  Lassiter is also an all-around player, capable of playing multiple positions, and as a matter of fact,  he actually played power forward in his senior year in high school where he averaged 20 points and 9 rebounds with Washington High.   Lassiter has also proven to be quite a durable player, and had not missed significant time with the national team due to injuries.  When Gilas played as a guest team in the PBA last year, Marcio led the league in minutes, averaging 38 minutes/game.  While known as a set-up shooter, he is very much capable of creating his own shots and scoring off the dribble.  He has a great feel for the game and is a very efficient player.  At 6'2'', he's got good size for a wing man in PBA standards.  He doesn't need the ball in his hands to be effective.

Weakness:  Just like Casio, Lassiter has no glaring weakness.  He tends to become a bit of streaky though as most shooters do. May need to be more assertive when he plays in the PBA.

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So, there you have it, it's probably tougher to choose now after reading this one, but one thing is for sure, here are 2 guys very much deserving of the top pick.

Who's your top pick? Casio or Marcio? Your call.

Roar out!