SMB-Air21: Breaking down the seven-man swap

It has finally happened, the San Miguel Beermen and the Air 21 Express have pulled off the trade that has gotten our basketball crazy world abuzz. On the surface, it looks like SMB has pulled off a coup, but looking at it a little closer, it does seem like it makes sense for both sides. On the one hand, the Beermen took in the top three picks from this season’s draft in Silverino “Noy" Baclao, Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Rey Guevarra. The youth movement they desperately needed following their back-to-back bridesmaid finishes is now a reality. The Express, on the other hand, got veterans Danny Seigle, Don Don Hontiveros, Dorian Pena and Paul Artadi. What the Beermen got Three young guns with a world of potential in front of them. But make no mistake about it, this team will still revolve around back-to-back BPC Jay Washington. Arwind Santos, Alex Cabagnot and Joseph Yeo will still make up their core, while Danny Ildefonso, Sunday Salavacion and Lordy Tugade will still fill their roles. And from having four point guards to now just two (with the retirement of Olsen Racela), Denok Miranda will have more playing time. Young legs are what the Beermen really got in this deal that would go along the balance that they can potentially obtain. Baclao may just be the perfect guy for this team, think Marc Pingris who was around the last time they won it all. How about Air 21? If healthy, Danny Seigle has the potential to become dynamite once again. Hontiveros will definitely be their starting 2 guard (an upgrade from Reed Juntilla), Dorian Pena will back up JayR Reyes and Paul Artadi epitomizing the monicker of the Express. Another big plus for Air 21 is the marketing angle these four championship-caliber players bring. The names they put on the back of that ube jersey can only mean better mileage for the company. Of course their winning savvy is also on the table now, the intangibles they bring is, as local folks say, “di matatawaran." But something tells me this episode just isn’t done. Artadi is joining a team already stacked at the 1. Wynne Arboleda, Marcy Arellano, Josh Urbiztondo and Lou Gatumbato rotate at that position with Juntilla also capable as a combo-guard. They did fill the gaping hole at the 2-guard spot with the Cebuano Hotshot and will still be massive up front. Pena joins Reyes and Carlo Sharma while Seigle shares time with Leo Najorda and Wesley Gonzales acting as the swingman. But 5 ½ point guards just seems way too many, even for a team known for their express delivery. It really does seem both teams got what they wanted and needed. Seeing Danny Seigle in another uni might be the weirdest thing that comes in the next few weeks, but seeing him actually playing will definitely be a welcome sight for everybody. All seven guys debut this weekend, and every one of them has a fresh chance at delivering a whole new first impression once again. -- OMG, GMA News