To Trade or Not To Trade: Petron's Jay Washington

      File Photo: www.interaktv.com

After the win of Petron Blaze versus Rain or Shine last night (November 14), Jay Washington confirms of the trade talks that he may be involve in, that he knew about it and is just ready to play basketball.

There are 2 rumors afloating: A straight up trade between him and Global Port's Gary David and a three-team trade which would bring him to Ginebra, Gary to Petron and Kerby Raymundo to Global Port.

There has been questions on Jay's ability to play lately: Can he coexist with Arwind Santos? Where did his BPC numbers go a few years back? Petroniverse fans observed him very lazy on court that some even compared his game to Global's Rabeh Al Hussaini, who has been a cause of headache of his coaches. 

But a very different Washington showed up Wednesday against the E-Painters, it was like the Jay it used to be...

To trade or not to trade? That is the question...   

 

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Finals Preview: Powerade Tigers ROAR to the Finals

The team has ousted B-MEG, #1 placed team during the Quarterfinals by beating them twice, they have also ousted Rain-Or-Shine in a 7 game series and they've made it to Finals.

Enroute to Digos, Powerade Tigers made fans proud and non-believers believe as they set up a match with the defending champion, Talk and Text Tropang Texters. 

POWERADE CORE : DMC (David, Marcio, Casio) 

Gary David has proven his all-season long brilliance for Powerade and he was there delivering the goods when the team needed it the most. He's also my hands down choice for BPC. Expect him to lead the Tigers in their quest for a championship. I hope you did vote for him for the Veterans for the All-Star game, It would be a shame if you didn't, He deserves to finally have a slot there.

Marcio Lassiter and Jvee Casio both used their Smart Gilas experience to their advantage. Marcio, the 2011 4th Pick was able to show non-believers that he would not disappear during big games by delivering 30 pts in 2 games (this is how I remember it) during the Semifinals series against the Rain-or-Shine Elasto Painters. He is also Mr. Do-It-All by stopping players from opposing teams to score and finding breaks for his team mates.

Jvee Casio, the top rookie of the 2011 draft started out flat with injuries and all but as the conference progressed, he used his experience that differentiated him from other rookies, "Gilas", He delivered as they close out the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters last night, I guess it also ended the Paul Lee hype, that there was the reason why Powerade chose Jvee instead. His leadership on the court feeds off to his team, he just doesn't find a way to score, he finds his open team mates for the shot. 

POWERADE CREW: Doug Kramer, Rommel Adducul, Will Antonio, Alex Crisano, Sean Anthony, Josh Vanlandingham, Francis Allera, James Martinez, Rudy Lingganay 

The supporting crew for Powerade is not the same of the star-studded teams, but their team chemistry is pretty much evident with the way they move the ball, find ways to score and stopping their opponents. Expect them to be around for the series against TNT. They can match up well with the likes of Dillinger, Peek, Carey, Williams and the rest of the Tropang Texters. 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Powerade Coach Bo Perasol 

Bo Perasol may be considered as the underdog when the Coaches statistics are place head-to-head, but you can never count Coach Bo out. He has the ability to bring out the best in his players and keep them motivated. He knows how to trust his players and let them play the Powerade game. 

To the Powerade franchise: This conference has been successful on your end, Good luck on your finals bid! 

(I would be doing a separate feature on Gary David to be up soon) 

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Analysis: How Powerade got the job done

As of this writing, 2 teams have already secured their places in the Semifinals of the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup: Talk and Text Tropang Texters and Powerade Tigers. Talk and Text making it to the Semifinals was expected, but for Powerade Tigers, winning twice against top seeded B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados, it was like David and Goliath but this time, David (Gary David) had lots of help. 


The first game of the quarterfinal series is where Powerade showed that they can be a title contender. Behind the efforts of Gary David who had 32 points all in the first three quarters, Marcio Lassiter  with 24 points and an improved game from Doug Kramer who contributed 10 points and 13 rebounds in a sorry loss by B-MEG over Powerade, 97-88. 


With Powerade getting first win, the pressure was with the Llamados when Game 2 happened last  Sunday. The lone knock-out game packed crowd as well, as spectators were interested to see whether B-Meg can knock Powerade or Powerade as a true contender and it proved the other way around: Powerade eliminated the Llamados, 131-123 in a comebacking effort from the Tigers who did well on the rainbow country by hitting 22 3-point shots and still behind the efforts of Gary David who had 37 points, Marcio Lassiter and Jvee Casio. 


What Powerade did to beat B-Meg was nothing extraordinary: It was playoff basketball, Gary's team mates in Game 2 knew that when he's hot, He can score in bunches. With B-meg's defense running towards Gary, Gary has other options, Marcio, Jvee and even the likes of Josh Vanladingham, Will Antonio, Doug Kramer and Rommel Adducul inside the paint. Jvee Casio, despite being matched up with guards like James Yap, Roger Yap and PJ Simon knew how much he should work harder - as hard as how he did for him to be included in the Gilas National team. Indeed, it was Powerade's heart that brought them back to the Final 4 - the last time they had advance to the series was during the 2004 Fiesta Conference, back when they were still known as Coca Cola Tigers. 


With their achievement, It was fitting enough for Gary David to get the Player of the Week award this conference.


The Powerade team today is different from the past years - They can give ROS or Ginebra a good fight at the Semifinals, they can prove themselves as a contender. I wouldn't give a straight forward prediction though: I would be an interested spectator on how Bo Perasol, his coaching staff, the players do well in Semifinals. 


The author is not a Powerade fan but is a fan of the PBA. She has respected every team in the league and is trying to write for all the teams in her web blog, News Bits Online. 

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