Barako Bull has something to prove

In the 38th season of the PBA (2012-2013), Barako Bull Energy, to put it mildly, did not do very well. Out of ten teams, it placed ninth in the first two of three conferences and did not make the playoff round. In the third conference, it played “inspired” basketball, qualifying for the playoff round, but losing immediately and getting eliminated after just one game in the quarterfinals. It made some trades and player personnel moves last season that left many shaking their heads (e.g., trading away Allein Maliksi, who was playing superbly, to San Mig Coffee, for two seldom-used veterans), got caught up in a coaching change that seemed to leave many of its players confused and groping to keep up with the fiery Rajko Toroman, and, at times, had to rely either on a thirty-seven-year-old veteran (Danny Seigle) or the smallest player in the league, and a rookie at that (5’6 Emman Monfort), for offense.

In the offseason, Barako made even more puzzling moves as it traded away all its three first-round draft picks in exchange for some veteran players, some of whom hardly saw action for their former clubs last season. It gave up the chance of choosing guards Terrence Romeo (reigning UAAP Seniors MVP) and/or RR Garcia (2010 UAAP Seniors MVP), and opted instead to use its later-round picks to choose, guess what, a bunch of guards.

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A review, however, of the Barako roster on the opening day of the 39th season of the PBA last Sunday, 17 November 2013, actually showed that the team was solid. The only rookie to stick is Jeric Fortuna of UST, while the rest of the team is a combination of young and “experienced”, scorers and rebounders, shooters and slashers. Gone are Seigle and Monfort, as well as Enrico Villanueva, Celino Cruz, Gilbert Bulawan, Wesley Gonzales, Chris Pacana, and Elmer Espiritu, and the newcomers are guards Denok Miranda, Rob Labagala, Willie Wilson (who can play up front as well and has amazing positioning skills), and Willie Miller (a balik-Barako after just one season away), and forwards Mark Isip and Rico Maierhofer (on the reserve list). The rest of the lineup is not too shabby: Jonas Villanueva (a former Finals MVP), banger Dorian Peña, JC Intal, scorer Ronjay Buenafe, Dave Marcelo, Keith Jensen, three-point ace Mark Macapagal, and enforcer Mick Pennisi.

Most, if not all, preseason rankings had Barako at tenth place. The so-called experts deemed Barako as the potential bottom-feeder, probably fighting for its life from day one. Approaching its first game against Air 21, odds-makers heavily favored the Express to beat the Energy Colas, particularly due to the Express’ acquisitions of Asi Taulava, Joseph Yeo, and Mac Cardona in the past few months. But, just a few days ago, I spoke with some fellows on the Barako team and, a bit surprisingly, they were excited and raring to go. They straightforwardly declared that they were a team to be reckoned with, a team that will not quit, that will compete every night, because many, if not all, of the players are hungry to prove themselves, to show they have the talent to be in the PBA, to stick with one team and contribute, and not just be used as trade fodder. They said they were solid in both the front and back courts, and I agreed. Plus, the more stable nature of Coach Bong Ramos’ position as Head Coach would, presumably, be a positive for everyone on the team. High hopes from the team were very apparent. Of course, the test would come on the court.

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I anchored the TV coverage of the Barako-Air 21 game on Wednesday night at the Araneta Coliseum, together with Dominic Uy and James Velasquez. James, who did courtside reporter duties, and I spoke prior to the game and he agreed that Barako could not be considered a pushover. Air21 scored the first two points of the game (a Taulava bankshot), but Barako matched them in the early goings as points came from Isip (six points in the first quarter) and Buenafe (two booming triples from way beyond the arc). Yeo scored for Air21, as did Niño Canaleta, but it was clear that Barako would challenge every shot and make the Express work hard at every offensive. At the end of the first quarter, Barako had grabbed a five-point lead.

Barako broke the game open in the second quarter as they capitalized on Air21’s repeated turnovers, as Jensen came in to continue what Isip had started, scattering eight points of his own. I praised Barako’s defense again and again, but Dominic reminded me and all televiewers that the Barako offense was crisp and efficient, the passing was impeccable and there was a sincere intention to find the open man and not operate one-on-one. As Air21 sputtered on both ends, Barako erected a twenty-point halftime lead. Miller had a couple of highlight plays, both near the basket, reminding all of his sometimes-forgotten greatness.

James reported at the start of the third quarter that Coach Ramos reminded his team to keep hustling, to not let down their energy in the second half, and, indeed, they heeded his words. Barako rained three-pointer after three-pointer in the first few minutes of the second half, yet continued to force turnovers on the other end, to bring the lead all the way up to thirty-three points. Although for the game Barako only converted ten of thirty from beyond the arc, the successive threes padded the lead and, together with stingy defense, assured victory, despite a resurgence from Air 21 in the fourth quarter, where Air 21 outscored Barako thirty-one to thirteen. Fortuna made his first two points as a pro, as did Air21 rookie Eric Camson. Barako won the game, 88-75, to begin the new season on a positive note. Some members of the media called it an upset. If so, what a monumental one it was.

We interviewed Isip, who finished with sixteen points in twenty-six minutes of action, as the Best Player of the Game. He reminded us that “basketball is supposed to be fun”, and indicated that his team believes it is a force to reckon with. Surely, the entire Barako team had fun in its first game. All thirteen players fielded in scored, seven of them finishing with at least six points. I congratulated Coach Ramos in the hallway and he bashfully said the win was just “chamba” (a fluke). I disagreed. A close win, perhaps, can be considered that, but not an overpowering performance. Barako Bull took the game by its horns and etched out a victory in splendid fashion.

While one game cannot define a tournament, Barako fans (Where are you? Please stand up!) surely have a lot to watch out for. One thing is certain – with this current lineup, you know the team will compete in every game.

You can follow Charlie on Twitter @CharlieC.