(From Business World)
The Philippine Basketball Association journey of guard Mike Cortez and forward Billy Mamaril took another turn as they moved to new homes anew to do their thing.
In a trade consummated at the weekend, 2003 rookie draft batch mates Cortez and Mamaril swapped ball clubs. Former no. 1 pick Cortez is now playing for the Barangay Ginebra Kings while sixth selection Mamaril is now with the Air21 Express.
This latest swap marked yet another instance said players found themselves on the move, and highlighted their status as league "journeymen." Ginebra is "Cool Cat" Cortez’s fourth team in his seven-year career after stints with the Alaska Aces, San Miguel Beermen and the Express. Mamaril, for his part, has Air21 as his fifth squad following stops with the Purefoods TJ Giants, the now-defunct Shell Turbo Chargers, Coca-Cola Tigers and the Gin Kings.
Constantly on the move, one is left to wonder whether Cortez and Mamaril are that "non-bearing" to be that easy to ship out. A quick look at their respective careers will actually show the contrary. While they may not be top of mind as the brightest of the league stars, they still are quality players who can change complexion of games if allowed.
While injuries on both knees have somewhat slowed him down, Cortez remains one of the heady backcourt men in the PBA. In his seven-year pro career, he has been steady for at least 11 points and four assists. He has the ability to break down defenses with his penetrating moves while also having a decent outside game. He showed his value as a floor leader when he helped the Beermen notch last year’s Fiesta Conference title and was considered a potential finals most valuable player at that time, which eventually went to teammate Jonas Villanueva.
Mamaril, meanwhile, is one of the grittiest frontliners in the league. Offensively he is shaky alright -- at least six points per throughout his career -- but defensively he is very solid. He has been named to a couple of PBA All-Defensive teams and almost always is assigned to guard opposing teams’ top frontcourt players and imports with much effectivity.
And this capacity of theirs to be productive is I would like to believe in part the reason why they have been constantly on the move. Teams find much value in them that when they are being dangled in a trade, ball clubs find ways to snatch them. And this latest player deal is no different. With Ginebra’s backcourt aging and ailing, Cortez gives it a boost with his leadership and decision making. The same goes for Mamaril, who adds ceiling and toughness to Air21’s frontline.
Whether these latest stops would be the last for Cortez and Mamaril, we will never know for sure. With competition in the league growing tougher and evolving, teams will be constantly on the lookout to further improve themselves. Still, Cortez and Mamaril can take solace in the fact that they are being traded because they are wanted by other squads and afforded the chance to do what they do best; a situation that may not be the most "ideal" (as I am sure given the chance they would prefer to stick it with one team) but nonetheless is fair enough and something to make the most out of from.
(Note: Cortez made his debut for Ginebra last Sunday and finished with three points and four assists in 17 minutes of play. Mamaril plays his first game with Air21 on Friday against the Sta. Lucia Realtors.)
The Philippine Basketball Association journey of guard Mike Cortez and forward Billy Mamaril took another turn as they moved to new homes anew to do their thing.
In a trade consummated at the weekend, 2003 rookie draft batch mates Cortez and Mamaril swapped ball clubs. Former no. 1 pick Cortez is now playing for the Barangay Ginebra Kings while sixth selection Mamaril is now with the Air21 Express.
This latest swap marked yet another instance said players found themselves on the move, and highlighted their status as league "journeymen." Ginebra is "Cool Cat" Cortez’s fourth team in his seven-year career after stints with the Alaska Aces, San Miguel Beermen and the Express. Mamaril, for his part, has Air21 as his fifth squad following stops with the Purefoods TJ Giants, the now-defunct Shell Turbo Chargers, Coca-Cola Tigers and the Gin Kings.
Constantly on the move, one is left to wonder whether Cortez and Mamaril are that "non-bearing" to be that easy to ship out. A quick look at their respective careers will actually show the contrary. While they may not be top of mind as the brightest of the league stars, they still are quality players who can change complexion of games if allowed.
While injuries on both knees have somewhat slowed him down, Cortez remains one of the heady backcourt men in the PBA. In his seven-year pro career, he has been steady for at least 11 points and four assists. He has the ability to break down defenses with his penetrating moves while also having a decent outside game. He showed his value as a floor leader when he helped the Beermen notch last year’s Fiesta Conference title and was considered a potential finals most valuable player at that time, which eventually went to teammate Jonas Villanueva.
Mamaril, meanwhile, is one of the grittiest frontliners in the league. Offensively he is shaky alright -- at least six points per throughout his career -- but defensively he is very solid. He has been named to a couple of PBA All-Defensive teams and almost always is assigned to guard opposing teams’ top frontcourt players and imports with much effectivity.
And this capacity of theirs to be productive is I would like to believe in part the reason why they have been constantly on the move. Teams find much value in them that when they are being dangled in a trade, ball clubs find ways to snatch them. And this latest player deal is no different. With Ginebra’s backcourt aging and ailing, Cortez gives it a boost with his leadership and decision making. The same goes for Mamaril, who adds ceiling and toughness to Air21’s frontline.
Whether these latest stops would be the last for Cortez and Mamaril, we will never know for sure. With competition in the league growing tougher and evolving, teams will be constantly on the lookout to further improve themselves. Still, Cortez and Mamaril can take solace in the fact that they are being traded because they are wanted by other squads and afforded the chance to do what they do best; a situation that may not be the most "ideal" (as I am sure given the chance they would prefer to stick it with one team) but nonetheless is fair enough and something to make the most out of from.
(Note: Cortez made his debut for Ginebra last Sunday and finished with three points and four assists in 17 minutes of play. Mamaril plays his first game with Air21 on Friday against the Sta. Lucia Realtors.)
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