The 2021 PBA season is upon us, with a triple-header kicking off the Philippine Cup on Friday. How does each team stack up? Here's the first of our team-by-team previews, starting with the Terrafirma Dyip and the Blackwater Bossing.
Terrafirma Dyip
Additions: Joshua Munzon, James Laput, Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, Russel Escoto, Gelo Alolino
Subtractions: CJ Perez, Glenn Khobuntin, Jeepy Faundo, Keith Agovida
Holdovers: Roosevelt Adams, Rashawn McCarthy, Juami Tiongson, JP Calvo, Andreas Cahilig, Eric Camson, Aldrech Ramos, Joseph Gabayni, Bon-Bon Batiller, Christian Balagasay, Reden Celda
2020 record: 1-10 (last place; missed playoffs)
Key stat from 2020: 102.51 points per game (fourth-best)
Terrafirma found itself on the wrong side of the news cycle last January when it traded talented guard CJ Perez to powerhouse San Miguel in exchange for three role players and a first-round pick in the rookie draft, which turned out to be Fil-Aussie big James Laput.
Of course, it was understandable for a lot of fans to be up in arms for what they saw as a lopsided trade that favored the Beermen. However, the Dyip's management appeared not the least bothered, going business as usual by selecting erstwhile no. 1 3x3 player Joshua Munzon with the top overall pick in the draft.
Terrafirma then went on to bag Laput as well, hopeful that the two youngsters can make an instant impact as they team up with incoming sophomore forward Roosevelt Adams and Fil-American scorer Rashawn McCarthy.
Make no mistake, they lost an MVP-caliber talent since Perez's stat line last season went like this: 24.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.0 steals. Munzon, though, is seen to be a ready-made replacement, given his rich experience from FIBA 3x3, Chooks 3x3, ASEAN Basketball League, and Thailand Basketball League.
Another thing to watch is how head coach Johnedel Cardel reacts to his seat that is getting warmer and warmer, as he has yet to lead the Dyip to the playoffs since assuming the post in 2018.
Player to watch: Joshua Munzon
Cardel has no doubt that Munzon will perform well on the big stage and under the bright lights right away. The 6-foot-4 wing is a well-known lethal offensive weapon who can knock down shots from outside or take it strong inside.
"Josh is long, can really defend, can score, can pass, and is a leader," said his new mentor in describing the former Cal State product.
Munzon made a name for himself in the 3x3 circuit in the last two years. Alongside a long stint in the local pro league, he also played for Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA 3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Austria last May.
Cardel and Terrafirma welcome with open arms the 26-year-old's vast experience, knowing that playing at such high-level tournaments will augur well for him as he makes his PBA debut.
2021 outlook:
Cardel believes Terrafirma got a much-needed roster upgrade by selecting Laput in the first round. While the 6-foot-10 center only played one season for La Salle in the UAAP, the head coach believes they got a young slotman who can develop into a rim-protecting menace for the Dyip moving forward.
"At least, we have a 6-10 player who can defend the paint, who can alter shots," he stressed. "Even if he doesn't jump and just raises his arms, he could surely alter some shots."
Together with Laput, Cardel sees Munzon and Adams forming a promising young core for Terrafirma.
Still, just like any other squad that made some roster changes, the shot-caller said their biggest challenge is chemistry.
"Some people say we got stronger, but we have to remember, these guys (Munzon and Laput) are still rookies. For us, we have to keep working hard in practice first to ensure we play well together," he added.
Outside the trio, Ganuelas-Rosser, Alolino, and Escoto will add experience to the team, while McCarthy is a proven scorer.
With this combination of young talent and veteran players, don't be surprised if Terrafirma, well, surprises in the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup.
Blackwater Bossing
Additions: Baser Amer, Simon Enciso, Kelly Nabong, David Semerad, Andre Paras, Rey Mark Acuno, Joshua Torralba
Subtractions: Mac Belo, Don Trollano, Roi Sumang, Maurice Shaw, Diego Dario, Matt Salem
Holdovers: KG Canaleta, Ed Daquioag, Mike Tolomia, Ron Dennison, Frank Golla, Marion Magat, Paul Desiderio, Richard Escoto
2020 record: 2-9 (10th-place; missed playoffs)
Key stats from 2020: 92.22 points per game (10th); 46.39 rebounds per game (ninth)
Blackwater figured among the most active ball clubs in the long offseason after shipping reliable veterans Mac Belo, Don Trollano, and Roi Sumang, as well as last season's rookie big Maurice Shaw in separate transactions.
Now the new face of the underachieving franchise is three-time All-Star Baser Amer, whom the Bossing acquired from the Meralco Bolts last summer.
Since Blackwater finished among the last in rebounding, head coach Nash Racela got his frontcourt upgraded with the entry of battle-tested Kelly Nabong and David Semerad, while also adding size and youth by selecting Andre Paras and 6-foot-7 Rey Mark Acuno in the draft.
Offense was the primary suspect in the Bossing's dismal showing last season. Even with Belo and Trollano showing the way, the team, as a whole, had difficulty executing, leading to just a 37.8% mark from the field, while going lower than 30 percent from beyond the arc.
Blackwater's offensive struggles, not to mention their erratic defense, contributed to their early exit from the "bubble," winding up with just two wins - thanks to fellow cellar-dwellars Terrafirma and NorthPort - en route to a 10th-place finish.
Player to watch: Baser Amer
There's no doubt that expectations will be high for Amer once the season starts.
For one, the former San Beda standout has blossomed into one of the league's top playmakers under the tutelage of Meralco head coach Norman Black, averaging close to 10 points per contest, along with 3.0 assists and 2.8 rebounds last season.
Other than his veteran smarts, Amer, the 2018 All-Star MVP, will also provide dependable three-point shooting for Racela.
Although the collegiate champion coach isn't inclined to put a big burden on Amer's shoulders, the new Blackwater guard will surely have an increased leadership role for a franchise that has yet to make the semis since joining the league in 2015.
2021 outlook:
Team chemistry will again be a key issue for Blackwater due to the number of new faces added to the squad. With no tune-up games to test the new-look squad, Racela expects everyone to just make the necessary adjustments as the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup progresses.
Nabong and Semerad are sure to add a much-needed physical presence, while the 6-foot-4 Paras can also provide muscle underneath, though it remains to be seen how he can translate his impressive PBA D-League performance, where he was a double-double machine, in the pros.
Torralba, one of the Bossing's three rookies, may also be a pleasant surprise.
"He's a two-way player," Racela said of Torralba, who played for La Salle in the UAAP before seeing action in the MPBL. "I think he's physically and mentally ready. He's exposed in different levels so he could have stability right away as a rookie. I hope I'm right."
Entering his 16th season, KG Canaleta will be tasked to lead the way for Blackwater while also serving as "big brother" to their young players.
All in all, the Bossing remain a work in progress. Racela isn't guaranteeing anything just yet - other than that Blackwater will fight for each and every possession in each and every game.