No trade for Adducul

Barangay Ginebra assistant coach Binky Favis was in Tacloban City to scout Talk ‘N’ Text in a Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Fiesta Conference game last Thursday. He took the 6 a.m. Philippine Airlines flight from Manila, watched the Phone Pals defeat Purefoods at the Leyte National High School gym that night and flew back on the 8 a.m. jet the next day.

It was a typically exhausting trip for the league’s No. 1 scout. But Favis is used to the grind. He loves the game too much to let the mental stress of breaking down a 48-minute game into Xs and Os get the better of him. Favis eats, drinks and sleeps basketball. For him, the game isn’t only a convenient excuse for a career. It’s a way of life.

In Tacloban, I managed to corner Favis for a few minutes and tried to find out how things are coming along in the camp of the league’s most popular franchise.

I asked Favis about a persistent rumor that Romel Adducul is on the trading block.

Looking surprised, Favis said there is no plan to move out Adducul who was Ginebra’s first round pick – and second overall – in the PBA draft last year. But he admitted at least two teams had checked on his availability during the offseason.

"FedEx and Shell showed interest but we weren’t willing to negotiate," said Favis. "The rumor is old news. We haven’t heard from FedEx or Shell or any team inquiring about Romel in a long time."

Perhaps, the rumor was rekindled when word got around that Adducul is courting FedEx owner Bert Lina’s daughter who’s a sister of Express guard Wynne Arboleda’s wife. But basing the rumor on Adducul’s courtship is unfair to all parties concerned. Personal relations have nothing to do with playing basketball. Brothers Yancy and Ranidel de Ocampo, for instance, play on opposing teams. The fact that they’re brothers is irrelevant when the ball’s in play. It’s the same thing with brothers Andy and Danny Seigle.

Is a trade a possibility? Favis said anything is possible in basketball because theoretically, every player is marketable. But he reiterated that Ginebra coach Siot Tanquingcen has no intention of letting Adducul go. And Adducul hasn’t asked to be traded, added Favis.

In fact, Favis explained the problem that Tanquingcen faces today has nothing to do with Adducul. It’s about finding an import to fit in Ginebra’s system.

Favis said Ginebra is solid at four and five. Adducul and Andy Seigle alternate at center while Eric Menk is a fixture at power forward. The vulnerable position is the three spot. Favis said that’s why before the season began, Migs Noble and Noynoy Falcasantos were recruited to join Estong Ballesteros in the rotation.

Because of the vacuum at the three spot, Favis said the objective was to hire an import who could fill the gap. Rosell Ellis was Ginebra’s first import but was let go after a 2-1 start because he was clearly too short to make a difference. Then came George Reese who was comfortable at the three spot but just couldn’t deliver consistently. Finally, the job went to Torraye Braggs who played for Houston and Washington in the National Basketball Association (NBA) this season.

Favis said the ideal situation is for Adducul, Menk and Braggs to start in the frontline.

A solution would be to relocate Menk to three and situate Braggs at four to keep Adducul and Seigle tag-teaming at center. That’s if Braggs isn’t a fit at the three spot. Menk slipping to No. 3, however, limits his opportunities to rebound and score on put-backs.

Braggs isn’t a center so the danger of displacing either Adducul or Seigle is neither clear nor present. He’s either a four or three so that should be a clue for Tanquingcen and Favis on how to reassemble the troops.

"We’re hoping Braggs turns out to be what he claims he is," said Favis. "When Siot talked to him long distance on the phone about playing here, Braggs told him not to worry because he’s the answer to his problems. On TV, he bragged that he’s a winner. We certainly hope so."

Ginebra has searched far and wide for the best import available. NBA veteran Tyrone Nesby was on the wish list. So was Virginia Tech’s Ace Custis who starred in the Japan League this year. But just when the top players were about to sign on the dotted line, something came up — a juicier offer from Europe, a travel advisory discouraging Americans from traveling to the Philippines, a promise for an NBA call-up or whatever.

Favis said Tanquingcen’s arrival has not entailed a major readjustment in how the team plays. "Allan (Caidic) and Siot share the same roots," he noted. "Their philosophies aren’t much different. Siot gets mad, too, but whenever he does, he always tries to end his lecture on a positive tone."

On league-leading San Miguel Beer, Favis said import Art Long has played a major role in triggering the early surge. He also cited the deep local bench as a factor.

"Long has improved on defense," said Favis. "He’s become a solid team player. He doesn’t look to score and doesn’t force his shots. He gets everyone involved in the offense. When San Miguel plays zone, he’s such a force in the middle. He allows his teammates to stay home on defense in the perimeter because if anyone manages to penetrate, he’s in there waiting."

As for San Miguel’s local crew, Favis just shook his head. "They’ve got Dale (Singson), Dorian (Pena) and Danny Seigle coming off the bench," he said. "Those three players will start for any other team. In the PBA, there is only a handful of natural point guards and San Miguel has two of them — Dale and Olsen (Racela)."

Favis said he’s confident that once Ginebra gets over the hump, it’ll be smooth sailing. The consolation is no team will be kicked out after the double round eliminations, he continued, but the pressure to survive the quarterfinal qualifying games will be intense.

One advantage that Ginebra has is its loaded backcourt with Mark Caguioa and Rodney Santos at offguard and Bal David and Jay-Jay Helterbrand at point guard. Down the bench are Sunday Salvacion, Banjo Calpito and rookie Kim Valenzuela. Favis said the backcourt must play consistently to buoy up Ginebra’s chances to advance to the quarterfinals.

Now if only Tanquingcen can get the orchestra to start playing beautiful music as a unit.

Postscript: A popular restaurant in Tacloban City is Guiseppe’s, an Italian eatery on Veteranos Avenue. It’s owned by Joseph and Cathy Bonavitacola. Joseph is a New York-born Italian who’s married to a Filipina, Cathy Anover. In his younger days, Joseph used to commute from Napoli to New York and back. He gave up medical studies to concentrate on his love for cooking. The Bonavitacolas, who met in New York, settled in Tacloban City some 12 years ago. Guiseppe’s offers a mouth-watering menu assembled by Joseph himself…In Samar, just after getting off the San Juanico Bridge, is a coffee and gift shop called Marjorie’s Garden. A retired ABS-CBN telecommunications consultant Marjorie Wonson of Boston has lived in her Samar hilltop home the last six years. Marjorie’s Garden opened last year to rave reviews. Cappuccino, lattes, java shakes, vanilla and chocolate chip cookies and a delicious coffee-cranberry cake are highly recommended in the menu. She hand-paints her own craft which is an assortment of plates, cups, trays, vases and pots. Candles of various sizes, shapes and colors are for sale in the shop.