So I guess it can’t be helped.
Kia Picanto has traded its pick to the San Miguel Beermen but as much as it “pains” them to drop Jay-R Reyes, Keith Agovida, and Rashawn McCarthy from their lineup, it feels as if the trade will commence if they give up more assets.
An asset is a property regarded with great value and in some ways this is why people are crying foul with the whole Christian Standhardinger to SMB trade.
And now it’s the same ire from the fans if SMB pulls out an awesome move and selects Kiefer Ravena as the top pick of the 2017 PBA Draft. In terms of assets and liabilities, Standhardinger has a live ABL contract and is two years away from his 30th birthday. Ravena meanwhile is only 23, seen by many as a good heir apparent for the soon-to-turn-35-year-old Alex Cabagnot, and seen by many as a good long term investment.
Can you visualize Ravena to get drafted to the same team that drafted his dad 26 years ago?
When TNT traded for Troy Rosario, TNT gave up three assets. Sure, people can disregard Rob Reyes as injuries forced him to retire early but what about Nino Canaleta and Aldrech Ramos? Canaleta went from 8.1 points and 3.3 rebounds to 11.7 points and 3.8 rebounds during the 2015-16 Mahindra campaign while Ramos went from 6.1 points and 3.2 rebounds to 13.3 points and 5.7 rebounds. What Canaleta and Ramos brought to Mahindra is a competitive lineup and you really can’t say that about Reyes, Agovida, and McCarthy because as far as assets go… Reyes is the only name from the trade with considerable value and that value left him after three years of benchwarming well with Ginebra and San Miguel. The last time Jay-R Reyes averaged more than twenty minutes in a season was when he was still with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
If San Miguel desperately wants to pursue the pick, then they need to give up their best assets. One of San Miguel’s biggest flaws is that they have the talent but for some reason has a fixed eight to nine-man core. If Kia is bent to dish out a semblance to “give a fuck”, these are the four assets they need to target. These targets are assets in some ways and while I don’t think they are at par with what they are giving up for their first round pick, it is better than what they are going to receive.
A VETERAN
Now I don’t care if this turns out to be Gabby Espinas, Ronald Tubid, Reyes, and Yancy de Ocampo but hopefully one of these players would have the credibility to lead Kia’s young core. I guess the best choice among the four is Tubid… but the best player to get a butt load of playing time is Yancy de Ocampo. As far as cred goes, Tubid is a seven-time PBA champion, averaged in double digits for five consecutive seasons, an eight-time all-star, and a former Finals MVP. Yancy on the other hand is a former top pick who is a nine-time champion and a former Mythical Second Team member (2008).
BRIAN HERUELA
June Mar Fajardo can win individual and team accolades without Heruela and his bosom buddy can explore his stardom without the San Miguel penitentiary. Let’s not forget that before the former UC Webmaster moved to San Miguel, Heruela averaged 10.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.5 steals in 33.1 minutes for Blackwater during his rookie year in 2014-15. Heruela will turn 29 in April 2018 so he still has a few years left in him.
DAVID SEMERAD
While Anthony Semerad is enjoying his run as one of Nash Racela’s rotation guys at the TNT camp, David Semerad is barely seen donning the SMB jersey. David will enter his fourth year with just 60 games under his belt. I know Anthony is the better scorer but David can be a potent import stopper. Hell, he could even become a Willy Wilson-playalike if you think about it.
VON PESSUMAL
Now I know that rule in which a team is prohibited to own two Gilas players from the 2016 special round but it’s not like the Beermen is eager to develop this former Ateneo sharpshooter. When Pessumal was playing for GlobalPort, at least he had playing time and this exposure proved vital for his growth. Sending this dude to Kia could catapult his career to great heights to the point of yeah… Kia played it smart when they sent their top pick for an assortment of good deals.
Now notice that I didn’t include a future first round pick? From now until… 2020… unless injuries destroy team chemistry, the San Miguel first round pick is pretty much a glorified second rounder. Also, I didn’t insert a San Miguel starter because I don’t think the Beermen will give up any of them. Not even Marcio Lassiter. Like I said, San Miguel is all about assets and a player like Super Marcio is more valuable than the current Kia team they have at the moment.
I may be a little rough on Agovida, Reyes, and McCarthy but it’s more of team than player. Agovida enjoyed a jackrabbit rookie start while playing for the Manny Pacquiao-led squad and McCarthy is a beast for the Westports Malaysia Dragons during his ABL days. And Reyes was once worthy of a one-for-one deal with Joe Devance.
With that said, I can’t see Kia evolving with these three solely.
PROJECT SYDRIFIED WP 