Give And Go
By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
The new season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is now in full swing with the opening conference Philippine Cup being played.
And much like in years past, this space has been busy observing at this stage of the competition, including, among other things, how the league’s newbies, or rookies, are faring early in their PBA journey.
Some have made strong impressions out of the starting gates while others are still finding their way.
No doubt of all the rookies this season, the NLEX Road Warriors’ Kiefer Ravena has been having it solid so far.
The number two pick in this year’s draft, behind top selection Christian Standhardinger of San Miguel who is set to make his PBA debut in the second conference, Ravena has been living up to his top billing.
Known for the longest time as “The Phenom,” Ravena has been bringing the numbers for NLEX with early norms of 19 points, 4.5 rebounds, 8.5 assists and three steals per ball game while helping the team to an unblemished record in two games to date.
That NLEX has given full confidence on Ravena to do what he does right from the get-go has certainly helped the former Ateneo King Eagle to make waves in the local pro league.
It remains to be seen if Ravena can continue his solid form against the top teams in the league, as their two victories came over middling and/or bottom teams Kia and GlobalPort, but signs are pointing that he has it in him to handle such, good news for NLEX.
Another player that has impressed early is Blackwater Elite’s Raymar Jose.
Albeit they bowed to the Meralco Bolts in their opener, the former Far Eastern University stalwart made a good account of himself with 16 points, six rebounds, two assists and a block.
I must admit that as far as Jose in the PBA I am wait-and-see. It is not so much that I do not believe in his abilities as a player but more of I find him undersized in the power forward position and may have a hard time adjusting early on, if at all, in the PBA.
You cannot blame me though for league history is littered with many undersized big men coming off the draft who eventually fell by the wayside.
But in his first game he made me think, and that he could be different and make a difference after all with his energy and hustle. So let’s see.
La Salle’s Jeron Teng as expected was an offensive force in his first game with the Alaska Aces with 16 points and that dimension of his game should be a boon to the team.
I want him to see though improving on other facets of the game, particularly rebounding and defense, in line with what the Aces are all about as a team.
Jason Perkins of the Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters and Robbie Herndon of the Magnolia Hotshots are a pair of undersized backliners but nonetheless are holding their own so far.
Perkins finished with a near-double double of 10 points and nine rebounds in his PBA debut, a loss to San Miguel, but he was foul-plagued for much of the contest which should be addressed if he is to really make a major dent.
Herndon, for his part, has been repaying the confidence that the Hotshots have given him with steady, not necessarily dominant, play. Whether he will be the next All-Star forward to come out of the Purefoods franchise we will just have to see. But the potential is there.
It still early in the season and I am sure more rookies, like Rey Nambatac of Rain or Shine, Sidney Onwubere of TNT, Lervin Flores of GlobalPort, and, of course. Standhardinger would show what they are capable of doing, something to look forward as the new PBA year progresses.
Michael Angelo S. Murillo has been a columnist since 2003. He is a BusinessWorld reporter covering the Sports beat.
