THE arrival of two first round picks, NorthPort’s latest acquisitions, has made the Batang Pier truly complete but also presented coach Pido Jarencio a big dilemma.
“Kung sino ibababa sa 3×3 na lang ang sitwasyon ko ngayon,” Jarencio told Malaya-Business Insight, referring to the side tournament included in the PBA’s coming season set to kick off on April 11.
“Kasi dati rin tayong player kaya alam natin ang feeling. Dumating sila dito, akala nila PBA sila then hindi pala sila sa 5-on-5. It could be frustrating at malamang ma-down pa player,” added Jarencio.
“But everybody is working hard to fight for roster spots kaya it’s still a welcome problem.
They have to work for their spot. Kung sino talaga ‘í½ung puwede kailangan naming i-evaluate, salain ng husto. Then ‘yung sumobra ilalagay sa 3×3.”
NorthPort acquired Sydney Onwubere, Clint Doliguez, Greg Slaughter and Jerrick Balanza through recent trades and then picked a total of nine players in last Sunday’s rookie draft.
For now, according to Jarencio, Jamie Malonzo and Troy Rike, picked at Nos. 2 and 11, respectively, look set to be included in the regular team.
“’Yung top two picks, 2 and 11, iyun ang sigurado. The rest titingnan namin potential, kung okay sa amin,” said Jarencio.
“’Yung Malonzo kasi alam nating all-around ‘yung bata. ‘Yung athleticism, tapos eksakto sa run-and-gun natin and then mag-ko-complement kay Greg, isang big guy, 6-foot-6, agile who can play the 3 and 4 spots and at the same time can defend a big guy and a small guy as well. ‘Yun ang maganda kay Malonzo,” added Jarencio.
That belief has been bolstered by what the former La Salle Green Archer has been showing in practices so far.
“Pag nakita mo ‘yung bata, lalo ngayon. Ang ganda ng katawan. Dati payat pa siya nu’ng nasa La Salle siya. Ngayon kumarga talaga. Suwabe athleticism. Above the rim maglaro,” gushed Jarencio.
Getting Rike, a 6-8 former Gilas Cadet, so late in the first round was also a pleasant surprise for Jarencio, who saw his primary options for bigs taken early.
“Hindi namin alam na magiging libre si Rike sa ganu’ng spot,” admitted Jarencio.
“Kami kasi, unang preference talent-wise, susunod potential tallest guy. Si Rike ang best tall guy na natitira, para sa amin. Kaya sunggab agad.”
Rike still has to take part in the Batang Pier’s small group practices but Jarencio knows what to expect from the former Wake Forest Demon Deacon.
“Kay Rike naman we have a legit power forward and a center-spot guy. Puwedeng gawig project or, depende sa ipapakita in the next few days, can start. Basta ako alam kong he has a good basketball IQ kaya medyo okay rin, maganda rin.”
With Robert Bolick and Jonathan Grey, who both sat out the last Philippine Cup bubble due to injury, now fully healthy, Jarencio now has 18 players from which to muster a team that would hopefully make the Batang Pier a real title contender.
“For now medyo masaya kami sa mga players na nandito sa amin. ‘Yung trades namin, napaganda kami tapos nadagdagan pa nu’ng draft,” noted Jarencio.
“Itong mga bago, they make us complete at binigyan kami ng versatility,” added Jarencio. “Medyo mas malalim na tayo ngayon at maliwanag sigurado kapupwestuhan natin ngayon.”
