The Final Score: A new conference for Petron, a new chapter for Ronald Tubid

 

This is it. Ronald joins a new team in time for a new conference. He tries to get the pulse of his new teammates. He spots former teammates from the PBA and the PBL. They go way back. He nods at the players he used to regularly harass. They’re supposed to work together moving forward. Paano yan? Tubid doesn’t fret. His initial reading: he senses relief.

 

“Natuwa ata sila Alex [Cabagnot], [Joseph] Yeo, [Marcio] Lassiter and [Chris] Lutz nung nakita nila ako,” Ronald, a former member of the PBA All-Defensive Team, shares. “Kasi hindi ko na sila babantayan pag-dating sa game.”

 

Of the 10 players involved in the recent five-team trade, Tubid has the most years of experience. He has played for Shell, Air21, Ginebra and Barako Bull. Of the 10 players involved in the trade, he’s also the most productive by far. In the Philippine Cup, he averaged close to 15 PPG 6 RPG and 2 APG in 35 MPG. These are all career-best numbers.

 

Yet moving Tubid from Barako Bull to Petron Blaze didn’t seem to deliver a tectonic shift. At least, that was the notion. So people discussed Alex Mallari’s move to San Mig Coffee or Mac Baracael’s move to Ginebra or JC Intal’s move to Barako Bull instead. It must have been a familiar feeling for Ronald: to be overlooked.

 

Ronald was picked sixteenth over-all in the 2003 Rookie Draft. So many from that draft class, even guys selected ahead of Ronald, are gone. Tubid, that scrawny wildcard from Oton, Iloilo, incredibly, is still around. He has played in championship games and All-Star games through ten exciting years. He has been through a lot. Coming off his best tournament in the PBA, he’s ready to go through a whole lot more.

 

“Okay lang naman kung hindi ako umi-score. Sanay naman ako maglaro sa loaded na team,” Ronald admits. “Dati kasama ko rin naman sila [Mark] Caguioa and JayJay [Helterbrand] sa Ginebra. Pero hindi ako consolation prize lang para sa Petron.”

 

If you think about it, Ronald shouldn’t be. Of the teams involved in the trade, Petron Blaze, the team still facing very high expectations, is emboldened to benefit the most.

 

Initially, I figured Ronald could enter the picture and be a senior statesman on a talented team. No need for minutes. Just do whatever to help. But after probing Ronald’s career-defining performance in the Philippine Cup, I’m seriously having second thoughts.

 

“Hindi pa ako antique,” Tubid jokingly says. Then, he quickly shifts to a more serious tone. “Thirty-one pa lang ako. Sa totoo lang, feeling ko wala pa ako sa peak ng career ko. Marami pa akong gusto ma-accomplish.” -- GMA News