Lakers out to silence critics with solid roster

The Laguna Lakers have always been considered one of the powerhouses of the MBA’s Northern Conference. However, due to one reason or another, they have as yet not fulfilled that lofty billing, struggling to get their neighbors. This year, with the return of head coach Bonnie Garcia and a stronger guard rotation, they may finally turn heads.

Garcia has looked for size and gotten it, knowing he will ram head-on into mammoths Batangas and San Juan in the north and Cebu in the south. At the guard spot, he has taken in Philippine team guard Junel Mendiola from Pampanga and resurrected Tec Regidor from Surigao, where he lived up to the responsibility of running a weak team.

Biboy Simon is back at full strength. Once the league’s top shooter, The Assassin suffered more mental anguish than physical pain from his ACL operation last year.

"I told coach I really didn’t have my confidence," Simon admits. "So he took it slow and worked on me. I feel a lot better."

With Simon firing from the outside, the burden is lighter on Chris Clay, who has been putting up MVP numbers since Biboy was sidelined. Clay has been working out extensively in the off-season, as has 6-8 center Jeff Flowers. Flowers, the subject of trade rumors earlier, has trimmed down, and averaged a double-double in the tough Battle of Champions played in Laguna in March.

Laguna’s bench is scary with its size, and is older and wiser after a year of MBA trench warfare. Back-up center, 6-5 Randy Lopez (Davao), forwards Christian Nicdao (6-4) and Jerome Barbosa (6-3) add versatility to the line-up. Toss in Surigao’s leading scorer Richie Melencio, and there is firepower at every position.

Laguna’s problems are more mental than anything else. If they can get past the distractions of having had to campaign for team owner Bert Lina and pull it together, they’ll finally make it past the early round of the playoffs. Remember, last year they finished second to the San Juan Knights in the Crossover Cup. With all the reinforcements, this year could be a different story.