SMB’s Wheel of Fortune

MANILA, Philippines – San Miguel Beer continued its mid-season rebuild following the firing of head coach Gee Abanilla, who was running like a headless chicken during the playoffs, with a blockbuster seven-player deal with Air21, Barako Bull and GlobalPort. Reportedly, it was three separate trades involving the three teams, but why bother when we can consider it one four-team deal anyway?

With the trade, San Miguel welcomes back into its fold Rico Maierhoffer, who won Rookie of the Year honors with Purefoods (named B-Meg then, still Purefoods to me) then bounced to Ginebra and Barako Bull. But the main piece of the trade, Sol Mercado, will be donning the fabled pinstripes of the Beermen as fans bid a merry goodbye to Alex Cabagnot. Of course, Barako, Global and Air21 got players for themselves, but let’s admit it, this is a one sided-megabuck deal that makes the strong team stronger.

In a way, it looks like talent hoarding to me, like what DLSU does (ever notice why they continue to bag those top-5 recruits? As they say, better they rot with us than beat us on the floor), since hey, they both have Uncle Danding funding them. Would it work for the better? Nah. Will those SMB fans scream championship like those Barangay Ginebra (does it hurt?) and Miami Heat fans? Definitely, I guess, well some. Anyway, let’s take a look at who gets who and how does this all work out for each of the teams’ future.

San Miguel Beer

Acquired: Sol Mercado, Rico Maierhoffer, a good number of loyalistas

Gave up: Alex Cabagnot, Jason Deutchman, 2016 and 2017 second round picks

My poor two cents:

Did San Miguel give up way too early on Jason Deutchman? I think so. I’m not a stats guy like that Pelicans fan I am following, but Deutchman isn’t terrible whenever he gets spot minutes. But he doesn’t rebound. And maybe it’s just the system, or lack thereof, of Abanilla that contributed to him boring holes at the end of San Miguel’s bench. He could have been a good stretch-four ala Rashard Lewis to give Junemar Fajardo the ample space he needs to work with.

I’m not saying Maierhoffer is useless. I think the former Green Archer is a more solid, more level-headed version of the missing MVP of the PBA. Why more solid? Maierhoffer will fight for those loose balls without hesitation. Never mind if he is reed-thin, he’ll just beat you to that ball. And after being wasted by Ginebra, this man from Sabang, Puerto Galera, is on a mission that hey, his Rookie of the Year run wasn’t a fluke back then. He has the length (6’4”-6”) to play four yet quick enough to guard small forwards and a bit of the slow two-guards (hello Mr. Miller). Maierhoffer likes to crash the boards. Junemar loves to eat rebounds. What do we get? Two guys willing to do the dirty work. That is a beauty.

Another thing of beauty is the elbowing of Cabagnot. I’ve suffered numerous PBA games to see this guy try be the top dog but just couldn’t. He was last seen dribbling the air out of the ball and denying his team an easy layup via a Fajardo seal down low. I think one analyst’s opinion of him got way over his head. Nowhere is this guy clutch. He won’t bravely take that last shot if San Miguel were down. He’d take it when they are tied and there’s a chance to redeem himself in overtime. He’s trying hard to be a Mark Caguioa earlier in his career and now trying hard to be The Man. This will give San Miguel fans a breath of fresh air with Mercado, in some ways. Sol has been called a ballhog, granted. But this man is playing insane basketball as well to make him keep those possessions. He isn’t the type to wave a perfect seal just so he can shoot. At least this guy uses his mind and gives it to teammates whenever possible and if available.

San Miguel got a starting PF (if they prefer to keep Kramer as JMF’s back up and my proposal to have Arwind come off the bench), and a starting shooting guard to get them buckets. I say, game on!

Air21 Express

Acquired: Jonas Villanueva

Gave up: Bonbon Custodio

My poor two cents:

Air21 has been long in need of a point guard. And voila! You get a Jonas Villanueva who is terribly itching to show that he still has what it takes to stay relevant in the pros. It couldn’t get any better than that for current coach Franz Pumaren, who now can relax a little bit since he has a true point guard.

I think we’ll see Villanueva show signs of life and a bit of resurgence now that he isn’t going to playing behind someone like Roger Yap or Mark Andy Barroca (during his days in Purefoods). Additionally, it’s a good thing Air21 gave away a bonehead basketball type. See, Custodio WAS good. But when reports of him selling out that crucial playoff game back in college, he was never the same explosive scorer that had the swagger to cross you up in a nasty manner and pull the a trigger on a sweet runner right as you tumble.

GlobalPort Batang Pier

Acquired: Alex Cabagnot, Bonbon Custodio, JWash’s ire

Gave up: Leo Najorda, Sol Mercado

My poor two cents:

Jay Washington played the best basketball of his career after two years of wandering blindly and wondering whether he’s the first option of San Miguel or Arwind Santos. Boy was he glad (as body language in-game suggests) to be rid of Cabagnot and Santos when he suited up for GlobalPort. He was close to a 20-10 guy somehow as he was the main guy in the paint for Batang Pier.

But, I cannot say that he is happy to have good ‘ol Cabaggie in his team once more. He knows that Batang Pier will soon be Terrence Romeo and RR Garcia’s team, but he still is the veteran rudder of this boat. He will pile up the numbers beside Justin Chua up front with some Kelly Nabong and Jondan Salvador thrown in the mix for bruising purposes. A Washington-Chua-Nabong/Salvador front court ain’t easy to chew on, and in fact, sounds strong on paper.

Moving Mercado may be in the best interest of Garcia and Romeo’s career (along with Vice Ganda’s shrieks courtside). Garcia can move up and start as the point guard while “good buddy” Terrence can play the two. JP Belencion can either start at small forward if Pido trots out a big starting five of Garcia-Romeo-Washington-Chua-Nabong. The second unit would look like Lingganay-Belencion-Yee-Menk-Salvador. Ultimate “take no prisoners alive” group? Heck yeah.

Would Alex and Bonbon figure into their scheme of things? If it was me, I would ship them off right away. Only if there was such a thing as guaranteed contract deadlines (this doesn’t work here). Alas, they’ll be stuck at the end of the bench boring holes alongside my “favorite” Blue Eagle, Nico Salva.

Barako Bull Energy Cola

Acquired: Jason Deutchman, Leo Najorda, 2016 and 2017 second round picks (SMB)

Gave up: Rico Maierhoffer

My poor two cents:

When I saw JC Intal and Maierhoffer, two perennial rivals in the UAAP, leading the charge for Barako Bull as they put a scare on Petron, I was actually amused. This forward combo can actually work. Intal was getting back his old Rocket self while Maierhoffer is showing people that he can still irritate and devastate the best of ‘em on a nightly basis.

All good things come to an end I suppose.

Najorda is still good enough to get some six points while Deutchman hopefully recovers his lost mojo (thanks to Alex and Arwind) and make himself relevant again. Also, may God empower Bong Ramos to teach this young dude the value of rebounding.

At the end of the day, this was San Miguel’s trade through and through.

Send your letters of complaint, protest and blind hate to @PioVGarcia.