As we say goodbye to our beloved Tigers, we embrace this new franchise called GlobalPort Batang Pier (in this blog, I'll be calling them Porters for personal convenience), spearheaded by the ageless Gary David.
The start of a new chapter unfolds on September 30, 2012, as the Porters take on the Brgy. Ginebra Gin Kings.
But before that, let's take a look on the team's roster which undertook a major overhaul during the offseason.
Gary David - the rightful winner of last season's MVP (yes, I'm still bitter), Gary will be tasked to lead this squad. I presume he will be given captainship duties while still being the team's most potent offensive weapon. At 34, Gary is still as good as ever and has stayed away from injuries in recent years.
Willie Miller - A 2-time MVP, the Thriller will be playing Robin to Gary's Batman. Even at age 35, Miller can still score in bunches and his championship savvy will be valuable to this team especially to the younger guys. He will likely start at point guard and will be instrumental in relieving some pressure off Gary, given that Miller is a known clutch player himself.
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| The Thriller joins forces with El Granada |
Rabeh Al-Hussaini - Rabeh was a bit disappointing last conference. He can score, but there's a lack of effort in the defensive end, which led to reduced minutes. Still, he is just 24 and still have room for improvement. In my opinion, Rabeh would be better off playing the number 4 spot alongside a banger. His 3rd year in the league will be crucial for his development. He will likely be the team's 3rd scoring option and main threat down low. If he improves his rebounding and defense, he will be a crucial part of this team as well as for the future.
Rey Guevarra - Last conference's revelation, Rey will likely benefit from the departure of Sean Anthony and Lordy Tugade which will open up minutes for him. This athletic forward have shown flashes of brilliance at both ends of the floor, and he will have more opportunity to showcase his talents in the upcoming season.
Vic Manuel - The 9th pick of this year's draft, this PBA D-League MVP will now be tested if he can be as effective playing in the big league. At 6'4", he is rather undersized as a big man, but he's got good fundamentals and has ripened his skills after deferring joining the PBA for a couple of years. Manuel is a workhorse who should help offset the loss of Sean Anthony.
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| Future faces of the franchise? |
Rudy Lingganay - Rudy was a pleasant surprise last season as an undrafted rookie. He proved to be a steady contributor despite fluctuating minutes. Just like Guevarra, he will be given more opportunity to play for this new squad.
Jondan Salvador - Another impressive newcomer last conference, Salvador is a solid big man who loves to do the dirty work inside the paint. Though only 6'3", he can compensate well enough with his width and physicality.
Rommel Adducul - He can no longer score like he used to, but the General can still provide rebounding and interior defense. He can even serve as a mentor to the young bigs like Rabeh and Manuel.
Jason Deutchmann - You just can't go wrong with a 6'6" guy who can shoot. Though hounded by injuries this past year, Jason's rare mix of shooting and size will make him an interesting player to watch out for.
Josh Vanlandingham - A holdover from the Tigerellas, Josh' shooting will always be valuable off the bench. A rather streaky shooter who is capable of scoring 20 when he's hot, he will be relied upon to provide that extra firepower from the second unit.
AJ Mandani - One of the team's 3 rookies. Mandani struggled a bit in the preseason. Still, he will be given a chance to strut his stuff when the real competition begins, as long as he will be given minutes.
Mark Yee - Yee will provide much-needed toughness from the wing position. Known as an enforcer, Yee will be that pesky defender who can hit the occasional 3.
Marvin Cruz - A returning player, Cruz will provide depth at the pointguard spot. Cruz, Miller and Lingganay will form a triumvirate of left-handed pointguards for the Porters.
Angelus Raymundo - I honestly don't know much about this guy other than he is 6'5".
PROJECTED ROTATION:
C - Al-Hussaini / Adducul
F - Manuel / Salvador / Raymundo
F - Guevarra / Deutchmann / Yee
G - David / Vanlandingham
G - Miller / Lingganay / Cruz / Mandani
EXPECTATIONS:
Realistically, this team won't be as talented as the other teams that have all boosted up their rosters. The same has been said about Powerade last year though, and that team ended up 3 wins away from a championship. More than anything else, I'm just looking forward to seeing this team play and we'll see how it goes from there.
Roar out.
