Malalim na bench at epektibong import ang susi

Malalim na bench, epektibong import at kaunting tulong mula sa Itaas.

Ito ang naging sangkap para maisubi ng Red Bull ang titulo ng San Mig Coffee-PBA Fiesta Conference at siyaring bunga ng isinagawang ‘rebuilding’ ni coach Yeng Guiao.

"Actually this is prediction or foresight that really enable us to win a championship, ang nasa isip ko talaga, the bench would be crucial," pahayag ni Guiao na naghatid ng ikatlong korona. "Its really in the depth and balance that we have achieved in rebuilding the team."

Naasahan ni Guiao ang mga second stringers na sina Mick Pennisi, Cyrus Baguio, Topex Robinson at iba pa.

"The guys who delivers came from the bench. Nandiyan sina Mick, Cyrus, Topex at iba pa," ani Guiao. "One good thing about our team is that on given night, if Rico (Villanueva), is having a bad game or Lordy (Tugade) or Larry (Fonacier), there are guys who can step up."

At dahil import reinforced conference ito, kailangan ng epekitibong import. At nakuha ito ng Red Bull sa katauhan nina Quemont Greer at James Penny.

"James Penny should be credited with a major portion of the championship," ang papuri ni Guiao. "We made some crucial decisions going into the playoff to replace Quemont Greer and it paid off."

"It was really a gamble for us making that decision because Quemont is a real talent but we were looking for somebody to make others look better and James was it," ani Guiao.

"Nagkatugma-tugma talaga lahat. Ngunit siyempre, hindi nakalimutan ni Guiao na magpasalamat sa tulong mula sa Itaas. You need a certain degree of luck to win a championship and I will not claim all the credits for this because its a blessing from the Lord. And you need it to win a championship."

Ito ang ikatlong import laden conference na napagwagian ng Red Bull sapul nang pumasok sa liga noong taong 2000 at huling nakatikim ng korona noong 2002 Governors Cup. (Carmela V. Ochoa)