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Yeng
Guiao is convinced that his Red Bull Barakos have found
the solution to their woeful inside game that was a
major concern last conference.
It took
just 43 minutes in the team’s opening game for the Red
Bull coach to believe that Adam Parada is indeed the
team’s man in the middle.
In
singing praises for the 27-year-old, 265-lb gentle
giant, Guiao indicated that the club is sticking it out
with their seven-foot reinforcement for the duration of
the Smart-Philippine Basketball Association Fiesta
Conference.
AIR21’s Arwind Santos slams
on in as Jireh Ibañez of Welcoat helplessly looks on
during Sunday night’s game. The Express won, 105-96. -- NONOY
LACZA
“He’s
not a flashy, spectacular import. But he’s an effective
import. And he plugs the hole in the doughnut,” Guiao
said.
It’s
hard not to agree with Guiao, especially after watching
Parada—a mainstay of Mexico’s national team—dish out an
eye-popping performance in his debut Sunday.
Parada
registered 28 points, 21 rebounds and five blocks as the
Barakos defeated the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 89-83,
Sunday.
“We were
not expecting such a good game from Adam. We knew he was
a big, smart and effective big man. But he proved he’s a
winner,” Guiao admitted.
“He
makes good decisions. He doesn’t take bad shots and he
works hard off the board. That’s exactly what we need
because rebounding has become our weakest stat since the
last conference,” Guiao added.
The
former stalwart of
University of
California-Irvine
went 10-of-18 from the field and made eight-of-11 free
throws in a decent display on offense. He capped his
awesome act by completing a three-point play that gave
the Barakos a comfortable 85-81 lead with 1:44
remaining.
Parada’s
impressive showing was a strong indication that the
Barakos is again a team to be reckoned with in the
league’s season-ending tournament.
Junthy-Sunday
exchange still in limbo
IF Guiao
would have his way, he wouldn’t allow his trusted man
Junthy Valenzuela to leave his team.
Reports
are rife that Valenzuela is headed to Barangay Ginebra
in a one-on-one trade for Sunday Salvacion. Both camps
won’t confirm nor deny the reports, however, as talks
between the ball clubs are still going on.
“Personally, I don’t want to give up Junthy and I’ll do
anything just to keep him,” said Guiao, who decided to
sit Valenzuela in their game against the Kings on
Sunday.
“I also
heard our team owner Mr. George Chua. He doesn’t want to
let go of Junthy because he’s an asset to the team,”
Guiao added, “but there are factors that we don’t have
any control over.”
As of
Monday, the deal was still up in the air. Reports have
come out that the decision to have the trade finalized
or not now rests on Red Bull’s hands.
Valenzuela was actually ready to play in the Barakos’
Fiesta Cup opener, but Guiao chose not to field him so
as not to confuse the six-foot-two bruiser from Cebu.
“I
talked to [Junthy] before the game and he seemed
confused with what’s going on. I really felt we could
still win the game without using him. Cyrus [Baguio] had
a good game and that offset Junthy’s absence,” Guiao
said.
“If
things fall into place and he’s still with us, there’s
no doubt I will play him,” Guiao added.
Red
Bull’s next game will be on Friday against Air21 at the
Araneta Coliseum.
Valenzuela is the remaining original member of the
Photokina franchise that entered the PBA in 2000. He was
elevated from the amateur team of Red Bull in the
Philippine Basketball League (PBL) along with Kerby
Raymundo, Davonn Harp, Lordy Tugade and Bernard Tanpua.
Raymundo
and Tugade now play for Purefoods and San Miguel, while
Harp is not in the Philippines anymore following
citizenship issues. Torion last played for Sta. Lucia
last season, while Tanpua did not last long with the
Barakos.
Valenzuela was Red Bull’s second leading scorer behind
Baguio in the Philippine Cup. He put up an average of
15.7 points, mostly coming off the bench.
Valenzuela and Salvacion’s games nearly mirror each
other, with both players having range and the ability to
create scoring opportunities off the dribble.
Incidentally, Salvacion was not fielded by Ginebra coach
Jong Uichico against the Barakos. (With Joel Orellana) |
