A Petron Post-Mortem

Talent is hard to beat. But when hard work and tough mentality are against talent and talent alone, talent will go reeling.

Proof of that is when Petron, a team teeming with top-shelf talent like Marcio Lassiter, Chris Lutz and Junemar Fajardo, were waylaid by Rain or Shine’s bruising and hardworking crew, a team devoid of a superstar but a place where anybody can star. Hard work and mentality are, therefore, greater than talent.

You can’t go by talent alone especially when only two people, as far as effort is concerned, wanted to win. It’s a case of the “I’ll just turn it on when needed” mentality of some guys (hi there MVP and feeling All-World PG!) just don’t cut it. It doesn’t help either when the coach doesn’t have it in him to control his team and its “stars.” For what it’s worth, I pitied the efforts of Fajardo and Chris Ross as they were foiled by the reigning MVP’s choking and their lead guard shooting them unconsciously in the foot. Their two “big guns,” as some analysts would say, just didn’t show up on a consistent basis, again.

See, that 22 point-18 rebound game of Arwind Santos came at a time when it is considered worthless. By the end of Game Two, there was no doubt as to who will come out on top. Game Three was a mere paasa by the MVP as they tried to stay in the series but didn’t really gain any ground or foothold. Alex Cabagnot was worse. Lots of times he had his teammates (i.e. Fajardo) open for an easy shot off a pick and roll yet he fails to recognize that, time and again. He wasn’t the league’s best point guard nor anywhere near, and he definitely still isn’t now.

So, how do we do this Petron? Do you want to stick to your struggling coach, MVP and point guard? Or do you want a breath of fresh air? I think most fans would want that breath of fresh air more than ever. Here are some alternatives, definitely not the ultimatum, just alternatives how to go on a rebuild yet be able to compete.

Fire Abanilla, hire Leo Austria

Why not ditch the coach who couldn’t even win in the UAAP, has questionable game-planning skills and crumbles under the pressure for someone who has proven that he can win? Leo Austria is a true tactician and heady coach as they come.

With Fajardo, Austria’s slow-down, dump it in the paint first option system will be greatly maximized. Here’s a coach who knows how to utilize a 6’10” mastodon who has started to throw his weight around. He wouldn’t want his guards to dribble the air out of the ball running around like headless chickens. Also, knowing coach Leo, he wouldn’t want people slipping their screens before the ball-handlers blow by them.

Lastly, he’s not someone who will be rattled that easily at endgame, especially when his team is surrendering a 30-something-to-eight run.

Riding it out with Santos

I cannot reiterate as much how Santos is undeserving of his MVP award. Oh, how I wish the media can take that back but no, it’s not likely to happen. The problem is, Petron, which will rename itself to San Miguel Beer once more, cannot trade Santos and have someone of equal value. They’re stuck with him for better or for worse.

Who would want Santos, a Carlos Boozer in the PBA, when they run for a title? The stats are gaudy but the shot-making and overall efficiency is suspect. Sure, the guy is a daily double during elimination games. But what about the games that really count? I cannot be too sure he’ll show up besides padding his stats. Hence, tough luck prying off big names in return for Arwind, his trophy and his salary.

So here’s the plan: with Austria in tow, and Arwind’s diminishing powers being a factor, why not play him like Shawn Marion, albeit off the bench? No set plays. Let him hustle and work for his beloved stats. Don’t make him an option. At all. This will in a way mitigate his disappearing acts when the games get tougher.

If Santos produces huge numbers of the bench, then great, if not, it is not much of a loss and Junemar’s big night did not go to waste. He’ll be an X-factor at best, pedestrian at worst. Not bad I guess.

And it still does not dispel the fact that his MVP award should’ve been LA Tenorio’s to begin with.

Trade Cabagnot

This will be the best move for both. Cabagnot wants to be the top dog in the team. He cannot have that status in Petron as long as Junemar Fajardo is there. It is Fajardo’s team now after all. And the hierarchy is as follows: Fajardo, Lassiter, Ross, Lutz, spare parts.

I do not know who would want to take a ballhogging point guard who cannot even light up the scoreboard consistently on a good day. He’ll have his moments but they are far and few. Maybe Air 21 can use Cabagnot but it’s up to Franz Pumaren to police the points guard so that he won’t stunt the growth of the younger players.

With Ross and Paolo Hubalde, he won’t be missed. Lassiter and Lutz can also run the offense as last resorts. Moving him might also get Lutz his mojo back. They can grab a center far more serviceable than resident journeyman Yousef Taha.

They can also package Tubid with Cabagnot as well and maybe net a shooting guard that won’t give much of a drop off from Lassiter or Lutz. I would say JC Intal would be a good swing but you have Lassiter and Lutz in front of him unless you have a rotation of Ross-Lassiter-Intal-Kramer-Fajardo followed by Hubalde-Lutz-Santos-role players, hypothetically.

The above-mentioned points are the big three moves that I think will affect the whole Petron franchise as they move forward from yet another devastating finish in the opening conference.

And no, saying the league has three conferences to make you bounce back is not something people would want to hear.

Send your letters of complaint, protest and blind hate to @PioVGarcia.