Defection

I think most basketball heads here in the Philippines were shocked about the Semerad twins’ sudden transfer to Ateneo. Include me among those people. I never foresaw this one. Talk about being blindsided hard. In any case, this was worse than what LeBron James did to Cleveland.

I woke up to the news of the transfer recently. Reading it got me out of bed and my brain started wondering... Why? According to my sources inside the Red Lions camp, the twins were being given shady advices by their agent, Arnold Vegafria, feeding them info. As you may well know, their agent is a showbiz guy. Wait, what? A showbiz guy handling basketball matters? Ho, ho, ho! Seriously? Yes, pretty sure about it. Basketball players being advised regarding basketball matters by a showbiz person. Great.

To everyone from San Beda, I still firmly believe that when the twins do transfer to Ateneo, they won’t end up playing for the Blue and White as envisioned by their agent. At best they can only study now seeing that a Philippine Basketball D-League rule prevents them from playing ball. Even if they say they only sit out a year at most, what with their (through the shrewd agent) unearthly demands of starters’ minutes and other shenanigans, I don’t think Coach Norman would give in to that. An alumnus, who requested anonymity, divulged to me that MVP really got mad at them. To MVP, it was a slap in his face after supporting them. And before any other Red Lion gets angry at any Blue Eagle, I reiterate what the demands were: starters’ minutes basically having Nico Salva’s and Ryan Buenafe’s minutes, and a whole lot of “freebies” so to speak. If Ateneo succumbs to that, there would be bad repercussions with regards to the school.

To Ateneans out there, please consider this first before everyone rejoices. Yes, I am a die-hard faithful of the Blue and White but I don’t like accepting deserters like the Semerads. At all. They said they stagnated in San Beda when in fact, they were instrumental in crowning the Lions champions in the NCAA. Who cares if they played in some Under-18 national squad? Does it mean they must have special treatment, like being named stars of the team like what happened to Kiefer Ravena? Does it mean they can demand minutes and the spots of tried and proven veterans like Nico Salva and Ryan Buenafe? Arguably, we all know who’s better at the moment. The twins may think otherwise, but thing is, they’re still raw compared to those three. Yes, Anthony may have a nice shooting form, but his game is still lacking. Yes, David may be rugged and has a nose for the ball, but again, his game is still lacking. Seriously, Buenafe will make both of them cry with his basketball IQ. Not to mention, those three have something these two don’t have: loyalty. Besides, there is no logjam at their position coming into the next NCAA season. Garvo will be gone, Jake will be gone and so will Big Daddy Dave. That gives them an opportunity to really star alongside Rome De La Rosa, Baser Amer, Ola Adeogun and Julius Armon.

Another thing to consider for Ateneo: if the recruitment processes were any more stricter in the country, the school would be robbed of the championships it may have earned just because of some showbiz agent wanting more fame and money for his pets. Do you Ateneans like that? Maybe the pedestrian fans who know little would say yes and the shrieking horde of girls, who don’t know a bit about basketball, I came to abhor. To the real fans? I don’t think so. Wouldn’t it be a slap in the face of Salva and Buenafe, who have given Ateneo championships since their rookie years, after being loyal to Ateneo that we replace them with these two who think they’re hotshots already? And why would the school fall for some agent who doesn’t know anything about basketball, except maybe to occassionally shriek at Chris Tiu (if he’s a member of the third gender)? Seriously, Ateneo, think this through. Norman Black’s system of basketball unity will be destroyed by wannabe-stars who demand so much. Come on Paolo Trillo, be more sensible I beg you. If the twins can do that to a champion school, chances are, they can do it again with us. Consider also the development of Von Pessumal, Gwyne Capacio, Jerrick Estrada, or the impending call up of Joma Adornado. Please Paolo Trillo, I beg you to be really sensible. The Blue and White do not need the twins. At all.

I really pity San Beda for getting mixed up in this. My alumnus friend said that the twins just disappeared without saying anything. And then their agent dropped the bomb that they will go Blue. Maybe the signs were there when the twins did not show up for team events like dinners after games, celebrations and the like. Right now, the twins are persona non grats in Mendiola, as they should be. Not only did they run SBC to the ground, they even shifted to reverse and ran them over again. And to Ateneans, if we are putting out basketball hopes in these kinds of players, there’s something wrong with our hearts and brains.