Topic: 2022–23 PBA Commissioner's Cup - page 432. (Read 101364 times)

I'm not sure if he really thinks like that, if it's not gonna happen that he'll ever play with any SMC teams, then it's better if he will just join the TNT as that's the best way to get his revenge against any SMC teams. I believe that Northport is a great team now, they have improved a lot and this next conference they have a great chance to beat the top teams since imports could make a big difference.

Knowing how controversial SMB are with regards to their trades, this might actually happen.
The question is will it be beneficial for the team? Another one is, will the commissioner allow this trade?

Will it be beneficial for the team? I don't think so and I don't think too that NorthPort will allow to trade Slaughter after getting him. Trading CStan for Slaughter is a gamble for the NorthPort at first because they don't know how Slaughter changed after his training or will it be beneficial for the team to get him for CStan. Turns out that they won the trade and I don't think that NP will allow Slaughter to go to SMB "unless" SMB will trade Fajardo for Slaughter then that would be an equal trade IMO.

Will the commissioner allow the trade? NO for me. I know that the competition of the league is decreasing and this trade will further decrease it. Just think how will other teams respond to this if Fajardo and Slaughter will be in one team.

Isn't it shameful for Ginebra to get the player that they've traded again?
I mean Greg chose to not play in PBA to train and then Ginebra signed him again just to trade him to get CStan and then they will get him again just because it turns out that it didn't favored with them. I don't think that this will happen and I don't think that NP will allow it as well.

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Overall, these 2 trades might happen since we know how SMC is doing in terms of trades and they even have the controversial trades as well. I just hope that both the NP and Commissioner will not allow to trade Slaughter unless it will be an equal trade and both teams will benefit from it.

Not possible. The relationship is not good. Greg is expecting to be a Ginebra when he returns but Alfrancis Chua trades him even they talked and settled the problem properly. Greg's desire is to beat any SMC teams. That's what I think. He won't return to any SMC teams. Better if Greg will ask MVP to adopt him lol. He is a good fit with Katropa.

I don't know why are you expecting something from him at the last conference where it's not a secret that he deals with an injury, a serious injury that needs years to be fully healed. It's not normal to expect him to show the way he played before. That ended up for you to call him not impressive.

We can call a player not an impressive player anymore if no injury happened to them but their plays got degraded. There are lots of PBA players who ended up like that different to the reason why JMF is not playing on his usual.

Let those giants be with different teams so big men are spread, regardless if they are in prime or not. Maybe the best thing to do for SMB is not to rely on big men anymore but to focus on what they are been known since then, their shooting guards.

It's been several seasons that SMB is confident that they have JMF but since he's now seemed to slow down, SMB especially their Coach should create a new strategy.

I doubt it would happen, playing Greg and June Mar together will make the team play at a slow pace, and honestly, I think TNT will beat them easily as they are a team who are confident with their outside shooting and if they want to run, SMB would not be able to stop their offense with two big men left behind.

IMO, it's better if Ginebra will take back Greg as they were a great team with him while they struggle with C. Stand being their big man.

I agree  , SMB front office can't stop age so before Arwind retires, they exploit and get the best out of him. SMB is banking player and they never mind if those will fit in the current system, the important thing is that they have the leverage if another trade happens.

As a fan of SMB, I want to see them get Greg Slaughter out of NorthPort and let him play alongside Junemar Fajardo. Some will say that this is too much but considering that these two towers are not in their peak in the next few years, this could happen. 

We cannot tell who fits better until we see Manuel start playing with the SMB. However, in comparison, Arwind Santos has helped a lot the SMB team to be successful because he won championships many times with this team. Maybe let's just say that his time has come, accept his fate and probably also prepare for retirement soon as that's life in basketball.

Right now, SMB is still figuring out how to be more competitive to be a dominant team again.

Vic Manuel is a very good player but for me, Arwind Satos fits better on the roster of San Miguel Beer Men than Manuel. For me it's a small nerfing of SMB in terms of their strat and teamwork. After all, we all know that Santos were just traded because he's in his 40s, on the otherhand, SMB want a strong player that is below the retirement age, and it happened to be Manuel. Let's see how they will do it.

Not only the import, but also with the surrounding players. A lot of options aside from those familiar faces, those two new players are also known to contribute. Manuel and Enciso are both scorers when plays are designed for them. And we also expect that import will step up and lead them.

I don't have any info yet about the import, but knowing SMB; they are very capable of paying / hiring good caliber import.

The chemistry and the type of leadership is what we need to wait from coach Leo's back up guy.

Well, let's see in the new conference if there's an improvement. Recovering from a serious injury may require time depending on the player and since Fajardo is the best player in the league, I'm optimistic that we will see an old Fajardo the soonest. We have imports by next conference so Fajardo would be able to relax a bit, I mean he does not need to carry his team anymore as the import will do the job, rebounding and blocking shots, I think that's easier compared to doing it and scoring at the same time.

They have no choice because Fajardo is not yet 100% and we can see how he move, he is slow and his lift is not yet normal. If we saw his game before he was injured, even if they'll double him, Fajardo can still find a way to score, and in rebounding, he can control the offensive and defensive rebound but the last conference, his production is not impressive yet.

Sorry for the word " not impressive", I think it's just normal because expect too much from him.

Having a big man on any team in PBA is already a big advantage. With Manuel's performance as a big man, he will surely give an SMB a good lift aside from this team is already an advantage to any team because of the presence of JMF as their main big man.

Actually, SMB is not focusing much on designing a play for Fajardo. During their TNT faceoff last playoffs, SMB focus on outside shooting as Fajardo can't deal much inside the paint offensively.

SMB is trading a player with age as the main reason. They did it too on their other owned teams.

Chris Ross and Marcio Lassiter are safe. Aside from showing they still have that skills, they are not yet on the retirement age.

They will trade another player but not from the main.


That will be the starting lineup if All-Filipino Conference.

But if Governors Cup will be the next conference, Vic Manuel will be bench support for June Mar Fajardo.

I see that combo was effective enough for them, Mo' making good numbers when being paired with Fajardo. Now, adding another good player down inside means more threat. Starting 5 might Fajardo,Manuel,Perez,Romeo and Ross, this 5 are complete package if they will find the rhythm together. Marcio and Mo' can come out from the bench and bring more energy.

Interesting to see if how Manuel will suit himself inside SMB, now that he's playing with a new coach and teammates

Did the type of talent he have will give SMB a good lift, or the team will still design their play with Fajardo?

With Vic Manuel playing alongside Fajardo, the painted lane will be too crowded as Manuel loves to muscle his way to the basket, unlike Arwind Santos who just roamed around the rainbow whenever there is a double on the Kraken so I guess it's a double-edged sword on having Manuel on the roster of SMB.

On the other hand, as we can see last conference where coach Leo Austria experimented on Mo and Junemar playing in the middle where Mo was the recipient on most of the assist from Junemar whenever there is a double on him so let us see what combination would work best for them.

My guess would be the starting five SMB are as follows.

June Mar Fajardo - Center
Vic Manuel - Forward
Marcio Lassiter - Guard
Terrence Romeo- Guard
Chris Ross - Guard.

JMF, VIC, and Lassiter are all good rebounders so they can still dominate the rebounding department.

As we can see in the last conference, the opposing team loves to double JMF, that's where Manuel will be more effective.

They are only trading old players, these two players you mentioned are still young.

Marcio Lassiter - 34 years old
Chris Ross - 36 years

while JMF is still 31 years old.

Without Cabagnot, the younger players will now have a chance to play more minutes.
As far as I can see, SMB is trusting Romeo to carry the team and I also like to see CJ Perez be more productive this new season.

If it's from the starting 5, I think Chris Ross and Marcio Lassiter will not be traded as they are consistent and good shooters of the team. Chris Ross alone can minimize the output of Mikey Williams, so this guy will stay for sure. I think they are done already, if they'll continue to trade it must not be coming from the starting 5.

SMB is spending big on their players that's why it's understandable that for the sake of the franchise they need to build a roster that can catch up with other teams especially since most of their main players are now close to retirement. I don't see any wrong move by the SMB here and the goal of having Enciso is to have an extra space at their team's cap.

They have another big target and they aren't finished yet. I'm sure of that. Stay tuned!