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 fourth of our team-by-team previews, featuring the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and the Alaska Aces.
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
Additions: Bradwyn Guinto, Anton Asistio, Andrei Caracut, Leonard Santillan
Subtractions: Clint Doliguez, Sidney Onwubere, Kris Rosales
Holdovers: Gabe Norwood, James Yap, Javee Mocon, Rey Nambatac, Beau Belga, Jewel Ponferada, Mark Borboran, Norbert Torres, Adrian Wong, Prince Rivero, Vince Tolentino
2020 record: 2020 record: 6-6; 6-5 in elimination round, 0-1 in quarterfinals (8th place; lost to Barangay Ginebra in QFs)
Key stat from 2020: 80.8 points allowed (first in defense)
The appointment of Chris Gavina marked a new era for Rain or Shine as the Asian Coating franchise continues its evolution as a team in the pro league.
Gavina inherits a squad that for the last two seasons has been undergoing roster retooling in an effort to keep pace with the arms race and match up with elite squads like San Miguel Beer, Barangay Ginebra, Magnolia and TNT.
So far, Gavina is inheriting a roster that's teeming with future stars, made even stronger with the entry of a talented rookie table led by Leonard Santillan, the fifth overall pick in this year's PBA Draft.
Under Caloy Garcia during the 2020 PBA bubble, ROS was already a defensive-minded squad. And the result was evident because the Elasto Painters held their opponents to just 80.8 points per contest, en route to being the best defensive squad in the tournament.
Unfortunately, ROS, which got off to a hot 3-0 start, sputtered in the last eight games of the elims as the team settled for the no. 8 seed in the playoffs.
The Elasto Painters eventually bowed to the top-seeded Gin Kings in the opening round of the playoffs to kiss their title aspirations goodbye.
Player to watch: Leonard Santillan
Gavina sees a lot of upside on Santillan, being a skilled player on both ends of the floor.
"He has the ability to put the ball on the floor, stretch the floor, and he's comfortable with his back to the basket as well. So he brings us several ways to attack just with his multiple skill sets that we will look to improve," Gavina said, in describing the Cebuano big man.
Santillan has polished his skills in various leagues, beginning with the University of Visayas in the CESAFI, before being recruited to play for La Salle in the UAAP.
With Gabe Norwood, Beau Belga and James Yap serving as his mentors, Santillan can only get better as he grows in his professional career.
2021 outlook: Rain or Shine is one hungry squad. And you can sense that every time you get to talk with Gavina.
A defensive-minded coach, Gavina said he demands 100 percent from all his players as they begin the 2021 PBA season.
The Fil-American coach said he's well aware that the Beermen and the Kings only got better with the offseason additions of CJ Perez and Christian Standhardinger, respectively. Even Magnolia got a roster upgrade with the entry of Calvin Abueva in a trade, while Phoenix got its own boost with Vic Manuel coming on board.
But with the breed of young stalwarts and veteran players at his disposal, Gavina is confident that his wards will be able to perform at a high level.
"As a coach, I want to instill a mindset that we need to prepare as if we're the worst team in the league and focus on how much smarter and harder we have to outwork the teams that I previously mentioned," Gavina added.
Gavina also feels good with what he's seeing from his players since they started going back and forth in Batangas for practice nearly two months ago.
With the right mix of veterans and young and driven, players, Rain or Shine is poised to go deep in the playoffs under Gavina. And who knows, even reach the Finals.
Alaska Aces
Additions: RK Ilagan, Taylor Browne, Ben Adamos, Gabriel Banal, Yousef Taha
Subtractions: Vic Manuel, Jesper Ayaay, Abel Galliguez, Ping Eximiniano, Simon Enciso, Yutien Andrada, Noy Baclao
Holdovers: Jeron Teng, Rodney Brondial, JVee Casio, Robert Herndon, Kevin Eboña, Maverick Ahanmisi, Jaycee Marcelino, Mike DiGregorio, Abu Tratter, Reynaldo Publico
2020 record: 7-5; 7-4 in elimination round, 0-1 in playoffs (6th place; lost to TNT in QFs)
Key stat from 2020: 94.4 points per game (seventh in defense); 96.0 points per game on offense (third best)
The coming new season marks the first time in seven years that Alaska will be without long-time Vic Manuel.
The "Muscle Man" was dealt to Phoenix last February after contract negotiations broke down during the offseason. Manuel's absence leaves Alaska a huge gaping hole as far having a go-to-guy is concerned.
Yes, Jeron Teng can put the ball into the hoop, too, but what Alaska will miss is the 6-foot-4 Manuel's ability to score in the perimeter or at the low block whenever the Aces need it.
So as the Aces move forward in the post-Vic Manuel era, coach Jeff Cariaso hopes Teng can take the leadership mantle even as veterans like Mike DiGregorio and Maverick Ahanmisi andemerging big man Abu Tratter provide support.
Player to watch: Ben Adamos
With Manuel moving to play for Phoenix, the focus of attention is now on Alaska's first-round rookie draftee Ben Adamos.
The pride of Albay, Legazpi was one of the coveted big men in the rookie pool. He put up impressive stats of 11.6 points on 45-percent shooting, along with 8.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks for the Perpetual Help Altas in the NCAA's Season 95.
Cariaso feels the incoming freshman has the tools to fill in the void at the slot. Thankfully, Adamos has Alaska assistant coach Danny Ildefonso as his mentor.
Ildefonso, credited largely for mentoring a young June Mar Fajardo during their brief time together at San Miguel, will try to do the same with Adamos.
Adamos will definitely learn a lot from Ildefonso, the former two-time PBA MVP, who is known for taking the time to teach players how to master the fundamentals of the game.
2021 outlook: The Aces are still a team in transition as they adjust this season without Manuel. But having a young Adamos, along with key rookie additionsTaylor Browne and RK Ilagan, add depth to an Alaska franchise that is aching to put an end to its eight-year PBA title drought.
Veteran guard JVee Casio showed he can still play, averaging 7.7 points and nailing close to 30 percent from three-point country. His experience will come in handy as he supports and even mentors Teng.
Free agent additions like Yousef Taha and Gab Banal will definitely bring the needed experience for the Aces, while fans can expect young big man Abu Tratter to mature further.
Last season, the former La Salle big man averaged decent numbers of 10.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per contest.
Make no mistake about it, Alaska won't be a pushover at all this coming season.
With some key additions in the offseason, the Aces are out to prove they are capable of shocking everyone, and hopefully, go deep in the playoffs.