Rookie Initiation? You tell me.

I am just an ordinary fan, and I find coach Bo's ways really hard to comprehend.

Just 2 days after the Tigers acquired fil-canadian cager Sean Anthony on draft day, coach Bo is already talking about his willingness to trade Sean.

Well, the story was that the Barangay Ginebra Kings was rumored to have offered a package of players possibly including Celino Cruz, Sunday Salavacion and Junthy Valenzuela to Powerade in exchange for the 6'4'' forward Anthony. Coach Bo immediately denied that such offer was made and that he wasn't interested in any of those players offered. Good.

But..

...coach Bo made an informal counter-offer that he would be willing to give up Anthony for Ginebra's JC Intal.

Oh C'mon.

Sean Anthony hasn't even played a single game yet and here comes coach Bo saying that he's willing to trade him. Reality check, I've got nothing against Intal but Sean Anthony is younger, bigger, a better defender, and more versatile (capable of playing the 2, 3, and 4 spot while Intal is a 2-3 swingman).

Well, fortunately (for us fans), Ginebra didn't bite and Anthony is reportedly set to sign a contract with Powerade.

End of story? hell no! there's more!

Barangay Ginebra recently released 3 guys from their platoon of guards, namely Sunday Salvacion, Junthy Valenzuela, and Celino Cruz (yep! exactly the same set of guys that was reportedly offered to Powerade for Anthony. Very sneaky.. Ginebra).

Now, according to Snow Badua, a well-loved sports reporter and insider, coach Bo was interested in Celino Cruz after all, but found it unfortunate that they already signed the rookie Jai Reyes. 

WHAT THE HECK?!? (trying real hard not to curse here).

Wow. Do you really have to say that Bo? Jai probably wouldn't be happy to hear that he would have been displaced had Celino Cruz been available earlier. Coach Bo could have simply said that "We would love to have Celino, but our roster is already full". Period. No need to mention the rookie guard. Or better, he could have said "We would love to have Celino, but Paolo Mendoza is still under contract".. hah!!

So in only a week's time after acquiring his rookies, coach Bo already managed to dangle Sean Anthony's name in trade talks and then implied, albeit subtle, that he would have had Celino Cruz instead if Jai Reyes wasn't signed yet. Not really the best way to build-up your rookies' confidence is it?

Then again, could this be coach Bo's way of "initiating" his rookies into the business? How will I to know? I'm just an ordinary fan trying really hard to comprehend coach Bo's ways.




Roar Out.