Jerry Codinera is known in Pinoy basketball circles as an icon.
He is the first recipient of the Best Player Conference award – a title he would held twice. He would score the Mythical 5 thrice, the Mythical 10 citation five times, the Defensive Player of the Year once, would lead the league in several all-time defensive stat categories, participated in the PBA All-Star in multiple occasions, held championships here and abroad…
The only gem missing in his mantle is a Most Valuable Player award.
It’s kind of safe to make him as the Scottie Pippen of Alvin Patrimonio’s Michael Jordan.
So learning from a guy whose moniker is Defense Minister should do wonders to a neophyte’s career.
Right.
Right?
So Lervin Flores inserted his name to the 2017 PBA Draft mix. He’s a mid-first rounder in my book because teams need size and the draft doesn’t have much to offer. The only worry Flores needs to check upon is his landing spot.
The Star Hotshots may have given his Arellano coach the awards and accolades but this team drafted the likes of Norbert Torres and Chris Javier and kept a couple of big men like Aldrech Ramos (rookie year), Jewel Ponferada, Jake Pascual, and Rodney Brondial who rarely saw significant action for the squad. Marc Pingris is going to be a chore to bounce off his starting spot but then you have Rapping Rafi Reavis. The former second pick overall of the 2002 PBA Draft has shown his age on his papers but barely in a typical PBA scenario which is probably why we have yet to see the evolution of Ian Sangalang.
Ditto for Rain or Shine who could be getting a big man so they can ship Beau Belga to a team that would nurture him like Yeng Guiao’s NLEX.
I saw an article in which some NBA players prefer the early second round for the late first round because at least they are going to play for lottery squads. In the PBA, if you end up suiting for Star, San Miguel, and Ginebra, you should be a big deal in college packed with a huge amount of confidence.
And here’s another. Gym work. I know Flores has dealt with Cameroon or Nigerian imports from the NCAA school but those guys are baby food compared to the monsters of the Commissioner’s Cup. Flores needs a way to pack more muscles without sacrificing his athleticism. If he can’t hang inside the paint, then he’ll be slow enough to see action as small forward. Mark Borboran is an example of a player that had to adjust his game to prolong his career… this isn’t an easy task.
And finally, balls. Jayson Castro and Beau Belga are examples of the NCAA bullish cred (both hail from the former NCAA champions, PCU Dolphins). Scottie Thompson is from Perpetual Help and while there are flaws in his game… (why are you not hitting your free throws), he is fearless when it comes to crashing the boards. Kevin Alas and Baser Amer just got their fame when they played their normal gameplay as is with the likes of Calvin Abueva and Jio Jalalon. Flores has the penchant to act all fierce on the inside and this is what he really needs to do in the PBA.
Would it be awesome for Flores to have the height of Prince Caperal?
Arellano is slowly becoming a perennial NCAA threat. Even if they aren’t as dominating as they once were, it has been a long way back since having Orlando Daroya as their only representative in the PBA after Rey Cuenco. Jalalon, Caperal, Nard Pinto, and James Forrester (before he moved to ABL) have helped promote Arellano Chiefs basketball in the PBA.
And now we have another in Lervin Flores… and Zach Nichols to boost their PBA population.
And before I forget… Flores jumped on Empoy to win the 2017 NCAA Slam Dunk Title.
Empoy.
He’s like… the current John Lloyd sans the controversy.
PROJECT SYDRIFIED WP 