Asi fits well into Banal’s offense machinery

There was a time in Tuesday’s rematch between Talk ‘n Text and Ginebra when even Asi Taulava thought that he had transplanted into some sort of basketball twilight zone.

"I thought for a while there was some switch that happened out there, especially when Mark Caguioa missed his two free throws," said Taulava, who made 9-of-12 free throws including two that led the Phone Pals to a 90-87 grudge match victory over Ginebra in the Samsung-Philippine Basketball Association All-Filipino Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

But the 6-9 center really felt he was in a different world when he scored just 15 points and still watched his team score the victory.

"It’s nice to score just 15 points and still come away with the win," he explained.

The feat was made possible with the new system coach Joel Banal has put into place.

"It’s not a new system really," said Banal. "It’s just finding the open man. It’s setting up the mismatch and finding the open man when the help defense comes," he added.

Banal replaced Paul Woolpert, ending the string of American coaches who have handled the Phone Pals. The Ateneo mentor now has a 2-1 record since assuming the coaching chores of the Phone Pals.

The simplicity of the system is what delights Taulava.

"It suits me really. Now, we have guys stepping up instead of us being a one-man team. And I love to pass. If teams are going to have people sit in the middle and just wait for me there, my teammates are going to hurt them whenever I pass the ball," Taulava explained.

Against Ginebra, Taulava had sixth assists, the first time this season that he had more feeds than starting point guard and rookie Jimmy Alapag.

"Hey, I had more assists than you buddy," Taulava ribbed Alapag.

"Jimmy and the guys stepped up for us and it wasn’t just me," Taulava added.

Taulava admits that the system has made things easier for him.

"The pressure is off my back now. Things are simpler and more refined because everybody knows the roles they have to play," said Taulava.