If you review Red Bull’s stats, you’ll know why the Thunder is head and shoulders above the rest of the pack.
Red Bull is No. 1 in defense, giving up only 67.9 points a game. Their average winning margin is 11.5 and the Thunder’s only loss was a 10-point setback to Talk ‘N’ Text in a game where Bong Alvarez shot 17 points and Alex Crisano, 16. Red Bull is also No. 1 in rebounding with a 42.8 clip (only two other teams are averaging at least 40 boards), No. 2 in field goal percentage (behind only San Miguel Beer), No. 2 in assists, and No. 2 in transition points.
In the semis, Red Bull battles the winner of the quarterfinal faceoff between No. 4 Talk ‘N’ Text and No. 5 Alaska. It’ll be a best-of-three affair. While the Thunder is seeded first, it can’t afford to take either the Phone Pals or Aces lightly. In the elims, Red Bull barely beat Alaska, 59-57, and it lost to Talk ‘N’ Text.
Why is Red Bull on top? Here are 10 reasons.
• Depth. The Thunder is deep at nearly every position. Note that in the All-Filipino Cup, injured star guard Jimwell Torion is sitting out the action yet he’s hardly been missed. It’s not that Torion has outlived his usefulness. Guiao simply had to adjust his rotation to make up for Torion’s absence. In the elims, DaVonn Harp was the only Red Bull player to start every game. In all, Guiao used nine players as starters. And 11 of his 12 players logged at least 10 minutes an outing with Jay Mendoza the only Thunder out of the loop. Two players–Mick Pennisi and Willie Miller–averaged over 25 minutes a game but the Slick hasn’t started a single contest and the Wisp started only once.
• Morale. Red Bull’s morale is sky high. The Thunder is coming off a title run in the Commissioner’s Cup and Guiao’s charges are determined to make it two in a row. What’s obvious is the players are enjoying themselves on the floor. They’re having fun and they’re winning. The players aren’t complaining about playing time–they’re getting their share of minutes. Noli Locsin, for instance, saw action for 22 minutes against FedEx last Sunday and delivered 21 points and seven rebounds. In Guiao’s book, there are no sacred cows. He’ll give minutes to players who deserve them. That sense of fairness does wonders for a player’s morale.
• Teamwork. The players look out for each other. They’re not after padding individual stats. Their focus is team, not self. Against Barangay Ginebra last Friday, Red Bull compiled 23 assists as four players dished out at least three apiece. Against FedEx last Sunday, the Thunder collected 20 assists. Clearly, the players don’t mind passing to find the open man for the best look at the basket. That’s why Red Bull is hitting a league-high 36.5 percent from three-point distance and a scorching 47.1 percent from two-point range.
• Motivation. No doubt about it, Guiao’s boys are driven. They dive for loose balls. They scratch and claw. They hustle back on defense. Their energy and intensity are infectious. If a player’s flat, Guiao doesn’t panic because there are others in line waiting for the opportunity to shine.
• Unpredictability. It’s tough to anticipate what Guiao’s got up his sleeves. He keeps the opposition guessing. Sometimes, he’ll play fast–like in beating FedEx, the Thunder scored 20 fastbreak points. Sometimes, he’ll play slow, depending on how he reads the matchups. Guiao’s luxury is he has size and quickness at every position. Harp is Guiao’s only constant as a starter and that gives you an idea of Red Bull’s bench depth and why the Thunder is so unpredictable on the court.
• Defined roles. There is no, or little, confusion on the floor when Guiao sends his players in. Their roles are clearly defined so that there is no duplication of efforts. There is no redundancy. Each player knows what he’s supposed to do–that’s the key. When Guiao barks his marching orders, his boys know what exactly they’re supposed to do–then, it’s just a matter of getting the job done.
• Fresh blood. Red Bull’s lineup is a balance of youth and experience. Guiao’s nucleus is relatively young–Harp is 24, Miller 25, Junthy Valenzuela 23, Lordy Tugade 24, Torion 27 and Pennisi 27. Then he’s got tried and tested veterans in Locsin, Vince Hizon, Nelson Asaytono, and Edmund Reyes. Guiao brought in four new faces this year–rookie Homer Se, Asaytono, Locsin, and Hizon. Infusing fresh blood keeps everyone on his toes. Guiao’s gambit seems to be working.
• Management support. This is vital. George Chua, his family, and the Photokina executives make it a point to show their all-out support, win or lose-before, during, and after the season. It makes a difference when a player sees the boss cheering in the stands.