2019 Post PBA Phil. cup: Magnolia Hotshots should make a trade

(c) PBA Media Bureau

What Magnolia Hotshots did in the 2019 Philippine Cup was not anticipated. Although they have a powerful line-up, it still falls short to what the San Miguel Beermen and the Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel has.

After a championship in the Governors' Cup and being one game away from stopping the San Miguel Beermen, I will not blame the Hotshots management if they feel like they are already the second best team in the league.

Maybe they are, but that may not even last at the end of this conference.

Why?

First, San Miguel and Ginebra still have a much more talented and deeper rotations. Ian Sangalang and Paul Lee will not be one of the best two players of Ginebra and San Miguel, if they join them today.

That is how talented San Miguel and Ginebra is. Actually, Rafi Reavis, Justin Melton, Robert Herndon and Rome Dela Rosa may not even be in the playoff rotations of SMB and Ginebra if they join those two squads.

Actually, their depth is really concerning, especially on the frontline. If injury hits one of Rafi Reavis and Ian Sangalang for an entire conference, it will be hard to bet on Magnolia even reaching the semifinals. Why? Those two players are vital on offense, Ian, and defense, Rafi. Actually, just the mere fact that the end of their rotation is full of non-shooters should scare the management from not making any move.

Lastly, some of their core pieces are old. At the center of this problem is Rafi Reavis who exhibited in their last two conference runs that he is the backbone of their defense. At 42 years old, I am willing to bet that he will not be able to do that a year from now. Is there a replacement in place already?

None. Actually, aside from Ian Sangalang, they do not have another guy who is capable of tagging a giant, those 6'8 guys and above, for a whole game.  Raymond Almazan was available. Magnolia did not move even though they can actually meet the price.

Another guy that they should be focused on is Mark Barroca. He is already 33 years old with a lot of injury concerns and mileage in his body.

Overall, Magnolia is a great team today. I was amazed by what they did the last conference. After what the coaching staff and the players did in the court, it is time for the management to do something to sustain it.