With the 2014-2015 PBA season’s official
rosters released, I found it only logical to look at each line-up and see where
each team stands. In this series of posts, I’ll be breaking down each team’s
bigs, wings, and floor generals while also looking at what kind of damage
they’ll do this season.
Let’s look at roster of the Kia Sorento.
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| Can this team of novelty be a team of winners? |
Overall
2013-2014 Record: Not
applicable.
Best
Finish: Not applicable.
BIGS: Hans
Thiele, Chad Alonzo, Rich Alvarez, Reil Cervantes, Angelus Raymundo, Mike
Burtscher
- The very first game of the 40th
season of the PBA showed us all how second chances can bring out the best in
people. Prior to this season, many PBA hoop nuts probably thought both Hans
Thiele and Reil Cervantes were to Arwind Santos/Ranidel De Ocampo in the same
way Class A kicks are to the originals. Day one of the 2014-2015 season proved
this to be right. On a team lacking the depth of the glamor squads of the pros,
Kia had to lean on Thiele and Cervantes for their frontcourt punch. Luckily,
both guys delivered. The caveat, of course, is that this was against MAYBE the
shallowest team they’ll face all season. I highly doubt Kia’s frontline can
hold up against the bigs of other more-established franchises.
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| Coach Glenn Capacio will have to rely on Hans Thiele heavily this season. (image by Pranz Kaeno Billones/Sports 5) |
- It was, however, nice to see former UAAP MVP
and top overall draft pick Rich Alvarez strut his stuff again. He’s no longer
as spry as he once was, but he still has great timing, as proven by his THREE
blocked shots. True to form, he didn’t do much else in his 25 minutes of
action, but if he averages 4 points and 4 boards per game this season, then
that means he’s already bested his numbers in the past 6 years.
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| Reil Cervantes is another vital cog for the Sorento. (image by Pranz Kaeno Billones/Sports 5) |
WINGS:
Kenneth Ighalo, Eder Saldua, Joshua Webb, Paul Sanga, Alvin Padilla
- Judging from the first game, it seems Eder
Saldua, Ken Ighalo, and Alvin Padilla will probably get the bulk of the action
on the wings. None of those guys can consistently make an impact in the PBA, of
course, but at least they have enough swag to compete. Kia will struggle
mightily against the Calvin Abuevas, Gary Davids, and James Yaps of the PBA,
but at least it’s a struggle that might net high TV ratings. Oh well, I said
MIGHT, okay?
FLOOR
GENERALS: LA Revilla, Rudy Lingganay, Manny Pacquiao, JR Buensuceso
- LA Revilla had the stat-line of the game with
23 points and 6 rebounds while shooting 10/15 from the field and 50% from
downtown. Does that make him a bona fide All-Star? Hell, no, but at least we
know there’s someone on Kia’s roster who can heat up in a pinch. I doubt he’ll
be able to consistently drop double-digit games, especially when he squares off
against the likes of LA Tenorio, Jayson Castro, or Mark Barroca, but, hey, don’t
sleep on this kid’s heart. Much like his maligned playing coach, Revilla will
fight to the end, and what an end it will be. The same can be said for both
Lingganay and Buensuceso, who put up decent numbers on day one, but will
probably have to eat the dirt of the PBA’s more established guards. Hey, nobody
said it would be easy, right?
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| LA Revilla shocked the PBA with his 23-6 stat-line against Blackwater. (image by Josh Albelda/Rappler) |
Final
Word: Underdogs
- With a playing coach who, after his debut,
will still have to worry about pro boxing matches and attending the Philippine Congress,
Kia’s future rotations will probably have a little more stability. The trade-off,
though, will come in Manny Pacquiao’s inspiring and enthralling presence. Admit
it, his mere “being there” is enough to spike the energy in Kia’s players. Without
him, however, coach Glenn Capacio and his wards are little more than
newly-minted underdogs.
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