Blackwater's Defense

Despite their bad record this conference, as a basketball fan, I'm happy with the way Jeff Cariaso is using the resources available to him. Jopia is a defensive revelation. I think he got more defensive stops using Jopia than when he had Rosario. And I like how Blackwater is defending as a team. I hope Cariaso can instill this team minded defense in his players so that when Barefield is healthy, they might get back on the winning track.

I believe Cariaso has a lot of love for Casio. But it is time to pass on the point-guard responsibilities to a younger generation - in the same way Magnolia is trying to build a future after Mark Barroca. TNT believed in Tungcab and Montalbo. And Ilagan was also promising. But if their playing time is being taken up by an import, then, they will have a hard time developing. Give Escoto's playing time to Tungcab or Suerte.

Which leads me to the question, why hire a guard when you have a conference where the maximum import height is unlimited? This is the conference where you can get a big more dominant than Fajardo, and yet you still stick with King? Chemistry ... it's not like King has already won a conference for Blackwater in the same way Brownlee has for Ginebra and Hollis-Jeferson has for TNT. When an import has one a title, then you consider him for the long term. NLEX found a gem of an import in Watkins and the same goes for Northport and Converge. Isn't finding the right import more of a scouting issue? Whose job is it to find these guys?

And I thought David would blossom in his role as center / power forward once Rosario left. But David is lazy, settling for 3-point shots when he should be developing his body to become like a Danny Ildefonso powerhouse inside the paint. Big's should be learing how to shoot the three-point shot when they are near retirement, not before. Who is gonna rebound if they miss their three-point shot? Only Coach Guiao believes in three point shooting big men. But when was the last time he won a championship using a 3 point shooting big? Probably during his days with Penisi.

SMB Jabari Narcis

This guy was amusing to watch. He was taking three point shots as if he were a better option than Marcio Lassiter, the PBA's all time leader in 3-point shots. He would also carry the ball coast-to-coast as if he were RJ Abarrientos only for it to get stolen, or lost as an error. And when he posted in the paint, he could not pivot like a natural center even though he was taller than Jun Mar Fajardo. Sure he could dunk, but that's expected when you have a guy his height. But watching him feels like San Miguel ran out of a budget to find a Professional athlete, so they opted for one from the Amateur ranks. 

But at least he has more energy than Quincy Miller. And he solves some of SMB's biggest problems right now - rebounding and defense in the paint. You'ld say, well don't they have Jun Mar? But I'm afraid Jun Mar isn't the defensive presence he used to be. And small guards easily run circles around Fajardo at this point in his career. Narcis solves that problem since Tautua and Brondial aren't defensive minded enough. And Narcis helps relieve some of the pressure on Fajardo in the paint by being another post option.

I still believe in Coach Leo Austria despite being benched for some time. I do hope he uses Rosales, Enciso, Teng as additional 3-point options. They surely would have a better shooting percentage from long range than Jabari Narcis. Even Cahilig has a better chance at making threes than Narcis. And Austria used to pride himself in establishing player roles - and Narcis is a rebounder and defender first, and probably a scoring option when no one else is open. Stop giving him point guard duties. Give him the ball when he is established inside the paint.

Pros were amateurs before they became pros. Maybe Narcis needs this experience to become one. 18 points in the last outing was decent - but with the number of attempts he had - if he made them, that SMB vs Magnolia game would have been a blowout. Let's see if he gets another chance in SMB's next game.