Triangle in the Llamados

And the new legacy starts now. After weeks of pure speculations,  Coach Tim Cone is finally the head coach of the Llamados. Personally, I've seen this change as a statement of the Conjuanco-owned company, the  SMC, having the MVP team TnT dominated last season, it is not a shocker that changes was made to make the SMC teams better. And so far, this is the best move that SMC has done. Getting the services of this multi-titled mentor for the Llamados makes the Llamados an instant contender for next season.

Can Triangle offense works with the Llamados' line up? Let us now discuss the players of the Llamados that can be useful for this popular offensive strategy.

only 15 PBA players earning Max salary?!

"Only 15 PBA plyrs earning maximuum salary of 350k a month"
-Comm. Chito Salud

From: Mr. Fidel Mangonon(PBA Statistician)

Number of Players with Maximum Salary: Alaska = 4, BMeg = 3, TnT = 2, Meralco = 2, A21, Powerade, Ros, and BGK with 1 each and Petron = None

It's hard to believe that there is only 15 PBA players who is earning Maximum Salary, is this a case of Miami Heat team style where the Big Three( Lbj, Wade, Bosh) agreed to decrease their salary to be able to be in one team? Or is this a case of under the table issue that is not new in the league?

These are the exact list of players with Max Salary:

• Alaska Aces with 4:

1. Reyes, Jay R
2. Tenorio, Lewis
3. Dela Cruz. Anthony
4. Thoss, Joachim

• BMeg Llamados with 3:

1. Yap, James
2. DeVance, Joe
3. Raymundo, Kerby

• TnT Tropang Texters with 2:

1. De Ocampo, Ranidel
2. Williams Kelly

• Meralco Bolts with 2:

1. Taulava, Asi
2. Hugnatan, Reynel

• Air21 Express: Danny Siegle
• Powerade Tigers: Gary David
• ROS Elasto Painters: Gabe Norwood
• Barangay Ginebra Kings: Mark Caguioa
• Petron Blaze Boosters: None

It is quite amazing on our part knowing that there are still many notable players that is not getting a max salary. This is some kind of a funny list, one good example is the Reigning MVP Jimmy Alapag, he even doesn't earn Max Salary. How about Petron's Santos, Washington, and Hontiveros? their not having having max salaries as well? Petron is a lucky team because of having 2 BPC awardees last season that doesn't EVEN earn maximum salary. 

If the list given by the PBA is accurate, then I must say that Alaska Aces is the team that players really want to go to. Man, they are the team who has the most Players with Max Salary. But why did Joe DeVance wanna get traded? hmmmmm.


This issue gave the league a big blow, Barber Speak Blog hope that this will be resolve IMMEDIATELY.  

" Philip Zuñiga is a graduate of Philippine Normal University. He is a certified sports fan since 1996. "

The story about the Llamados and Coach Tim Cone

Barber Speak TIME FRAME:

Before the draft:

• There are rumors about Coach Tim Cone was being eyed by the Bmeg Llamados to be their coach. 
• Coach Jong Uichico was also eyed as the next head coach.
• There are also rumors pointing that Jojo Lastimosa or Joel Banal will be the next head coach of the Aces.

During Draft Day:

• Tim Cone was still the head coach for the Aces.
• Jorge Gallent was still the head coach for the Llamados.

After the draft (Aug. 30, 2011):

• The coaching rumor came to end when the Llamados appointed Assistant Coach Richard Del Rosario to be the Acting head coach for the 37th season of the PBA.

Sept. 1, 2011:

• Tim Cone was released by the Aces.
• Joel Banal was named at the new head coach for the Aces.

Sept. 2, 2011:

• Some reports suggests that Tim Cone was having a meeting with some high SMC officials. 
• New Rumor: Tim Cone as the Consultant for the Llamados.

Adding Tim Cone to the talents of SMC means only that the Management was not happy by the way TnT( led by MVP) dominated the 36th season of the PBA that almost gave them a grandslam. If this rumor is true, Bmeg will definitely be a team to beat for the upcoming season. The Llamados using the triangle offense will mean trouble for the opposition.

" Philip Zuñiga is a graduate of Philippine Normal University. He is a certified sports fan since 1996. "

Alaska won't be the same without Coach Tim

13 championships in 22 years, the last team who got a Grandslam, the only PBA team who uses triangle. These are the traits of the team led by Tim Cone. His team is always competitive, Since '96 Alaska is my most hated team because for me, this team is the "contrapelo" of Ginebra.

It's so frustrating to see the last second play of this team. Abbarientos,  Lastimosa, Miller, Tenorio, and even Baguio, why these players are clutch? 

But even though I hate this team, I admire Coach Cone, he's discipline to his team(2 decades) is definitely one of a kind. His team is always known as the team with a system, it looks beautiful for a basketball fan like me to watch this team execute their plays, it likes an orchestra led by a popular musician. 

BUT today was a sad day not only for the Alaska Management and fans, but for all PBA fans, especially the chance that coach Tim will go to SMC, seeing him not in Alaska's bench is like seeing Manny Pacquiao naturalized as an American. That thing will really broke the hearts of Alaska loyalists. Until now I just can't imagine how will that works, but that's the sad thing about life, change is the only permanent thing. 

Goodbye for now Coach Tim. See you again. 

 " Philip Zuñiga is a graduate of Philippine Normal University. He is a certified sports fan since 1996. "

WHO WILL COACH BMEG?

A lot of personalities has been linked as the next head of coach of the Llamados. There are four names floating for the chance of coaching two-time MVP James Yap's team. They are the Petron's assistant Gee Abanilla, Bmeg's assistant Richard Del Rosario, Ginebra's co-coach Jong Uichico and Alaska's mentor Tim Cone, which is for me has the longest shot to take the job. But this is PBA everything can happen. (Nelson Beltran said in his twitter account that Uichico will be the one that will take the job.)

I think that the most logical choice for the Bmeg is Coach Tim Cone, why? now having Andy Barroca, he already have a point guard in his Triangle offense. Andy is ready to take this job, having three years  with coach toroman, it makes Barroca a polished point guard. Also, having Devance, Pingris and Yap will also make the transition of Coach Cone's Triangle an easy one.

BUT as what I said earlier, having Cone is a long shot. And the next logical choice is Ginebra's Jong Uichico, this humble mentor already has 8 championships, and with that alone we can say this man is right for the job. Uichico is a good defensive coach that for me what the Llamados is needed. Also, it will be a nice gesture for SMC to assign Jong as Bmeg's mentor, to avoid the possibility of having him as an assistant for the ginkings, which for me is a sign of disrespect to this multi champion coach.

Meanwhile, Ginebra's former big man Alex Crisano is having a chance of playing in Powerade Tigers.

" Philip Zuñiga is a graduate of Philippine Normal University. He is a certified sports fan since 1996. "