Changes and trades winners: Ginebra and Talk n' Text
It was always a roller coaster ride in the Philippines most famous team, having multiple coaching staff changes in the past conferences. Since 2013 Ginebra has never had a legit head coach that they permanently hire, every coach seems to be always on the move and they can't seem to find their perfect match that will lead them to another championship since Coach Jong Uichico back in the fiesta conference 2008.
In the long drought from a title, they changes the head coach position ten times already, having the head coach the privilege to choose their coaching staff of course. But the newest acquisition is a block buster one, having to acquire the most successful coach in the Philippines Basketball Association gets the undying fans and lovers of the team roaring.
Ginebra has a "Never say Die" slogan and the fans live by it. Never saying die to their team behind their championship drought through the years. Once you became a Ginebra, fans will love you everywhere even though you have been traded to other teams in the league. Ginebra fans are different kind of fans. They are love showers, shouting their hearts out every time the team gets a basket. Suspending or ending early what they are doing if Ginebra got a game. Everybody seems to be the number one fan, or at least they wanted to be. That is how they are famous in the Philippines.
As soon as Coach Tim Cone joined the Ginebra organization, as soon as the Ginebra fans will love him. Thanks to the most successful coach banner he had on his name. But as changes in the coaching staff happens, so as other changes in the team. Coach said that Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar will definitely benefit his system, so those two definitely won’t be traded. He also said that he loves Mark Caguioa's different perspective on playing and attacking the basket and he said he can put him in the corners to benefit from the triangle system. What he would like to change in the team was the fact that the team has loads of guards and having only few forwards.
So then they made changes, they did not want to lose their beloved players whom the fans also did loved by their energetic and passion for the game, so they traded them to their sister team Barako Bulls. Coach said that there are too many guard and less forwards, so they did lessen the crowded position trading three of their point guards away and receiving a forward. They traded Josh "the fireball" Urbiztondo (a veterans shooter and defender), Emman Monfort (whom fans loved most of the three), and Jens Knuttle (a decent reserve player) for a forward that they lack in their roster Nico Salva and a 2016 first round pick.
As for the terms in to trading with sister teams, this fair seems to be fair enough to be accepted by the commissioner. The Ginebra San Miguel acquired what they lacked and the Barako Bulls got a bunch of quality players whom could play whatever role in the team that fits them. Josh and Emman can boost up the bench and get hot instantly.
So even though this is a sister team trade, it is much more acceptable than the next trade to be discussed.
photo source www.smartgilasbasketball.com
The rumors of Talk n' Text chasing the number two pick to acquire Troy Rosario have been escalating for some time now. When the rumor started it seemed to be fair because of Ranidel De Ocampo being on the mix on the ongoing trade talks. The Mahindra Enforcers, formerly known as the Kia Sorento and Kia Carnival, was supposed to be receiving Ranidel De Ocampo (from Talk n' Text) and Aldrech Ramos (from NLEX Road Warriors). NLEX Road Warriors should have recieved Kevin Alas (from Talk n' Text) and the TNT would get what they wanted to be their future franchise player, Troy Rosario (from Mahindra).
That seems to be quite fair in that scenario, the Mahindra will get a veteran all-star Ranidel and a good quality player Aldrech. Those players can add to the foundation of their rookie PBA team, and can make them a quality adversary to a lot of teams in the PBA. Talk n' Text Tropang Texters would acquire what they wanted and also they would keep Kevin Alas to their family with Alas going with their sister team NLEX.
I do not know how they pulled this one out, but instead of Talk n' Text winning the trade, with them having to lose only a veteran player Ranidel while acquiring a future franchise player in Troy and keeping Alas in the family; instead they have become a winner of winners, having not to lose Ranidel while also keeping Alas in the family.
Instead of being fair the deal become one sided with the Talk n' Text acquiring Troy while give up (or should I say keeping) Kevin Alas to NLEX, while NLEX sent Nino Canaleta and Aldrech Ramos to the Mahindra Enforcers.
Instead of receiving a much better veteran player in Ranidel, they have receive instead Canaleta who is a quality player but not as good as Ranidel.
The Talk n' Text team should be a superior team these years to come having to acquire the first and second draft picks, Moala Tautua and Troy Rosario. Also they got back Larry Rodrigez to the family acquiring him from Blackwater Elites; Matt Ganuelas-Rosser is continuosly improving and Ranidel Being Ranidel. TNT is surely a team to watch.
