B-Meg's blueprint for success: 1996 Alaska Milkmen

Whether or not one Timothy Earl Cone decides to step in as head coach of the third San Miguel Corporation franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association this preseason/ mid-conference/ next conference, we all know that it's bound to happen sooner rather than later.

How could it not?

Cone at a B-Meg practice (credits: hoops.blink.ph)

From the outside looking in, Tim Cone hasn't coached (or will coach) a team as talented or enjoys as big a following as the B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados since he had Kenneth Duremdes and Rodney Santos on the Alaska roster. It's easy to say that James Yap could easily slide into the Duremdes role while scoring buddy PJ Simon (who is actually more consistent) does an RS9.

But then again, we shouldn't count out the rest of the names on the B-Meg roster who are no patsies themselves. On paper, this team could actually rival Cone's 1996 grand slam winning Alaska Milkmen man-for-man.

PG - Mark Barroca as Johnny Abarrientos
It will probably take a conference or two before Cone hands in the keys to the B-Meg machine from Roger Yap to Barroca full-time, but when he does, you can bet your ass that Barroca is going to jumpstart the whole team with his heady court vision and blazing speed. And while SMART Gilas head coach Rajko Toroman lost faith in Barroca's darting quickness in favor of JVee Casio's clutch shooting, Cone will probably let Barroca do his thing since he has two more guys who can shoot the ball from deep when needed.

SG - PJ Simon as Jeffrey Cariaso
Today, you're either wishing Simon started for a different team since he's THAT good on offense (better than Cyrus Baguio) OR happy that he's the ever so popular James Yap's chief reliever. That was the same conundrum that Alaska faced in the mid 90s when they had the prized Fil-Am Cariaso coming in for Cebuano hardcourt heartthrob Jojo Lastimosa. Cone made it work however, by trusting Cariaso with much of the offense early (thus giving the Fil-Am his numbers), and going to Jolas in the clutch.

SF - James Yap as Jojo Lastimosa
Will Yap embrace the Jolas role? Scoring almost exclusively in the fourth, letting his teammates run the show and happy with pedestrian numbers? Will Yap play the kind of defense necessary to win championships in the PBA and allow Simon to flourish? OR will Cone tweak the triangle to make Yap look like Michael Jordan/ Kobe Bryant?

PF - Kerby Raymundo as Bong Hawkins
While Raymundo will never be at par with "The Hawk" defensively, they pretty much have the polished low-post game complemented by a consistent jumper that Cone wants from his bigs. In theory, the "triple post offense" or "Triangle" runs through two bigs who can shoot and pass and a slasher/creator. If Raymundo returns in shape next conference, then I'll be hard pressed not to switch from Meralco (Santa Lucia die-hard here) to B-Meg.

C - Joe DeVance as Poch Juinio
As unfathomable as it may sound for an MVP frontrunner, JDV is better off as a 3rd option on a champion team much like the Los Angeles Lakers' Lamar Odom. JDV blossomed under Cone who appears to be the only coach in the PBA who knows how to properly utilize the sweet shooting big (by giving him enough leeway to shoot his ill-advised threes IF he plays defense, rebounds and plays in the paint from time to time).

PF - Marc Pingris as Cris Bolado
Okay, Bolado never really played heavy minutes for Alaska back then, but he was the lucky charm. Fortunately for Cone, he doesn't need to carry an extra rabbit's foot since Pingris is better than Bolado by leaps and bounds on the defensive and rebounding end. Plus, I don't think Cone has forgotten how Pingris, a 6"5 wiry power forward, stopped his Alaska Aces and lead guard, a then still rising L.A. Tenorio, in a championship series a few years back.

PG - Roger Yap as Kevin Ramas/ Gilbert Reyes
The only reason I bothered to associate Yap with the two is because they're the ones who play the most minutes and score after the 1996 Alaska Milkmen's top five guys. By all means, Yap is a better two-way player than half of the 96 team.

Just writing about it, picturing how things will pan out and all is causing major basketball nerdgasms. Of course, we still have to see how it will work and IF Tim Cone will sign up and actually COACH this team.

And before we end this, I'd like to say kudos to the WWE Vince McMahon (the television character not the real person, then again, who knows if he's any different in real life from his tv persona) of Philippine basketball, Noli Eala, for scoring the biggest/ sliest deal, since, maybe, Alaska duped Santa Lucia into taking a deteriorating Kenneth Duremdes in the 2003 PBA Draft.

On a side note, I'm really happy for Cone. He gets to coach a superstar team that you just know enjoys great financial backing while also being arguably the most popular team in the country. Yes, I said it. Ginebra still lords if over in Metro Manila. But Purefoods/ B-Meg OWNS Visayas and Mindanao.

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