By Jerome Lagunzad
As far as GlobalPort coach Pido Jarencio is concerned, the Batang Pier didn’t end up on the short end of the bargain following the blockbuster trade that saw them ship superstar Terrence Romeo to rebuilding powerhouse TNT Katropa more than a week ago.
In fact, Jarencio, 53, believes that the Batang Pier netted a “superstar potential” in former top overall pick Moala Tautuaa while giving most of their underrated players a chance to prove their true worth starting in the import-laced Commissioners Cup.
“May mga adjustments kami na ginagawa kasi may mga bagong players na dumating. Pero overall, okay naman kami,” he told Tempo-Bulletin in a recent interview, his voice sounding confident enough that the Batang Pier can pull off big surprises.
“Basta kami, aayusin lang namin ‘yung team namin. Magkaroon ng camaraderie at mas gumanda ang chemistry, okay na tayo du’n. Kung sino man ang mga dumating, magtutulong-tulong na lang.”
Foremost among those who’s being integrated to the Batang Pier’s system is the 6-foot-8 Tautuaa, selected by TNT as its first overall pick back in the 2015 PBA rookie draft who has yet to find consistency as one of the league’s top big men.
But Jarencio admitted he has already seen a glimpse of what the American-born Fil-Tongan center could bring for GlobalPort after spending some few practices with him so far.
“May potential siya na maging superstar,” he said of Tautuaa, 28, who appears to have been scratching just the surface of his full potential after averaging 8.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in the season-opening Philippine Cup.
“Ang nakikita ko sa kanyang positive, unang-una malakas talaga ‘yung katawan niya. Second, he’s really tall and he has the ability to take and make perimeter shots up to the three-point line. May post moves pa siya.”
Aside from those, Jarencio is confident that Tautuaa can take full advantage of the quickness rarely seen from local big men these days since the Batang Pier, now bannered by lightning-quick guard Stanley Pringle, like to step on the gas on every opportunity.
“He can also run in transition which is na gustong-gusto natin. Alam mo naman na run-and-gun team tayo,” he said.
Even without the 5-foot-11 Romeo, a three-time PBA scoring champion, Jarencio added the Batang Pier have enough tools to compensate the big loss in their offensive weapons, with Pringle expected to benefit the most.
