Kia won’t give up fighting

MANILA, Philippines - Despite a 1-10 record, Kia Sorento displayed a fighting heart in its first conference as a PBA expansion franchise in the Philippine Cup but for a tested winner like playing coach Manny Pacquiao, the bottom line is what counts and the challenge is to win consistently in the coming second conference.

There were losses that could’ve gone the other way. Kia bowed to Globalport by five, to Meralco by six and NLEX by eight. “We competed,” said assistant coach Glenn Capacio yesterday. “A positive that we can build on is we established our system of ball movement where everyone gets a chance to execute. Even if we change two or three players, they can adjust easily to our system. We’ve got a good foundation. Boss Manny is a huge positive. He inspires us to play hard. Boss Manny is Boss Manny. He’s not used to losing. Of course, he feels bad that we lost 10 games but he understands there are no short-cuts in the PBA. To become a championship team, you go through the process. It’s not like before where expansion teams were able to recruit direct-hires. Now, we’re dependent on who’s available. We’re hoping that management is patient with us as we grow to become more competitive.”

Throughout the first conference, Kia played 23 players, the most by any team. It would’ve been 24 if Jeremy Bartolo, who was suited up, got to check in against NLEX. Among those who wore the Kia colors were undrafted players Paul Sanga (2013), Eder Saldua (2008), Hans Thiele (2010), Chad Alonzo (2006), Rudy Lingganay (2010), Bogart Raymundo (2008), Hyram Bagatsing (2007) and Jonathan Parreno (2009). Kia negotiated one trade during the Philippine Cup, dealing Lingganay to NLEX for Eloy Poligrates.

Capacio said he’s asked for a meeting with Pacquiao to discuss the team’s lineup for the Commissioner’s Cup. “We’ve got five or six players with contracts of at least a year,” he said. “Reil (Cervantes) and Kyle (Pascual) are signed up for three years, Alvin (Padilla) for two, LA (Revilla) and J. R. (Buensuceso) for one and Eloy up to August of next year. Rich (Alvarez) has a contract expiring in December. Several players are unrestricted free agents. So we’ll need to sit down to firm up our roster. We still lack material even if we have a large pool of players.”

Capacio said it’s difficult to create chemistry in a team when players come and go. “It’s survival out there,” he said. “Some players don’t know if they’ll be dropped to the reserve list or get cut so every chance they’re given to play, they do what they think is best for their career. They’re fighting for their lives. Luckily, our system gives us focus.”

To climb the standings next conference, Capacio said Kia needs a dominant import and three locals who can play center, point guard and combo guard.  “Management has sent a message to the agent of Hamed Haddadi that we’re interested,” he said. “I think the agent has replied. As for adding key locals to our team, of course, I’d like JuneMar Fajardo at center and Alex Cabagnot at point guard. But realistically, if I had a choice, I would try to get Jay-R Reyes at center. For point guard, I’d like to get Raphy Reyes. A. J. Mandani is another option. For combo guard, I’d like Ronald Tubid. If we get Haddadi, Jay-R, Raphy and Ronald, we’ll be very competitive in the Commissioner’s Cup.”

Haddadi, 29, is a 7-2 center who has played for Memphis and Phoenix in the NBA. He was the mainstay of the Iran national squad that captured the gold medal at the FIBA Asia Championships last year. Haddadi is now playing for Qingdao in the Chinese league where he’s averaging 21.4 points and 11.1 rebounds.

In the second conference, the top eight placers of the Philippine Cup will be allowed to recruit an import with a height limit of 6-9. There will be no height ceiling for imports hired by the last four placers. “It’s a challenge for us to compete,” said Capacio. “I know Boss Manny wants us to win. He told me we’ll meet before or after his birthday (Dec. 17) when he comes to Manila.”

Pacquiao was supposed to play in Kia’s final elimination game against NLEX last Sunday but couldn’t fly from General Santos City to Manila because flights were cancelled due to inclement weather. He played in only two games. Against Blackwater, Pacquiao didn’t make an attempt in 6:46 minutes as a starter. Kia won, 80-66. Against Meralco, he missed on two three-point shots and grabbed two defensive rebounds in 6:30. Kia lost, 99-93.

Fans are still awaiting Pacquiao’s first basket in the PBA. In the Blackwater game, Paul Artadi and Alex Nuyles took turns defending Pacquiao. Mike Cortez and Jared Dillinger shadowed Pacquiao in the Kia game against Meralco. “They’re challenging Boss Manny,” said Capacio. “They respect his game and they’re not giving him a chance to score.”

When Pacquiao fought Chris Algieri in Macau last month, the WBO welterweight champion invited the team and coaching staff to watch at ringside. Capacio said 15 players were at the Cotai Arena. Among the players who traveled were Cervantes, Revilla, Joshua Webb, Mike Burtscher and Alvarez. Players who delivered during the Philippine Cup were Cervantes who had 34 points against NLEX, Revilla who shot 23 against Blackwater and 21 against Barako, Thiele who compiled 19 points and eight rebounds against Globalport, Buensuceso who fired 18 against NLEX, Karl Dehesa who posted 14 against Talk ‘N’ Text, Jopher Custodio who contributed 10 against Purefoods, Pascual who scored 10 against Alaska, Padilla who tallied 17 against Rain Or Shine, Webb who netted 13 against Alaska and Bagatsing who scored in double figures in two games.