All ships still afloat

Contrary to what some doomsday soothsayers are proclaiming, no team has been struck out of contention in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. All 10 teams are still in the running although the door is slowly shutting on Meralco and San Miguel Beer, both showing only a win so far.

But the Bolts and the Beermen aren’t hopeless cases. At least, not yet. They’ve got a chance to work their way out of the bottom of the barrel. San Miguel is bringing up the rear with a 1-5 record and Meralco is in ninth spot at 1-4. Four teams will be booted out after the single round eliminations. In danger of sinking are San Miguel, Meralco, B-Meg (2-4), Air21 (2-4), Powerade (2-4) and Rain Or Shine (3-3).

Since the schedule will not allow for playoffs, every team must pour it on game after game. The quotient system will apply in case of ties. And from the look of things, there’s a strong possibility of ties at the end of the eliminations.

To advance to the playoffs without complications, San Miguel must sweep its three remaining assignments – Talk ‘N’ Text on Friday, B-Meg on Sunday and Rain Or Shine on April 6 – and hope at least four teams don’t win four games. That means the Beermen will pray for Rain Or Shine, Powerade, Air21, B-Meg, Meralco to win only up to three games.

San Miguel’s fate will depend a lot on how it fares against the Texters in a battle of archrivals at the Araneta Coliseum this Friday. There was talk that San Miguel would change imports but team manager Hector Calma said yesterday David Young will stay in the roster. Young is one of only two imports, excluding Smart Gilas’ Marcus Douthit, picked in the NBA draft. He was chosen by the Seattle SuperSonics on the second round of the 2004 draft. The other is Rain Or Shine’s Hassan Adams who was picked by the New Jersey Nets on the second round of the 2006 draft.

Rumored to be on standby for San Miguel was Jason Davis who never averaged in double figures in two seasons with Sacramento State in 2006-07 and 2007-08. Davis normed only 2.1 points in 29 games in his first year at Sacramento State. He compiled impressive numbers at Allan Hancock Junior College but the level of competition was far from high quality. Davis is in town and practiced with San Miguel yesterday but was hardly impressive.

Young will definitely suit up against the Texters and if San Miguel prevails, it could turn the team’s fortunes around 360 degrees. A victory will be a huge morale boost with San Miguel still to play B-Meg and Rain Or Shine.

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Young, 29, is no slouch. He showed his potential by scoring 35 points against Alaska in his PBA debut last March 9 and San Miguel lost by only two. If Young brings his A-game on the court this Friday, coach Ato Agustin will be the happiest man in town. San Miguel hasn’t won since Young replaced original import Ira Brown.

Young has played in France, China, Hungary, Italy, Greece, Puerto Rico and Japan. He’s been around the world. In Japan, he saw action for the Aishin Sea Horses that took the Superleague title and won the Emperor’s Cup. Young knows what it takes to win and his ability to get the job done is what Agustin hopes to bail San Miguel out of the cellar.

But it’s not easy developing instant chemistry with a team that just underwent a massive facelift. San Miguel recently traded Danny Seigle, Dorian Peña, Dondon Hontiveros and Paul Artadi to Air21 for Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Noy Baclao and Rey Guevara in a deal that shook up the foundations of both franchises. Additionally, Agustin picked up Paolo Hubalde from Barako Bull’s backyard. It’s easier to slide in veterans than rookies so Air21 appears to be winning over San Miguel in the adjustment stakes. For the Beermen, the process will be a lot slower.

Still, Agustin has a nucleus of holdovers to rely on. Jay-Washington, Arwind Santos, Alex Cabagnot, Joseph Yeo, Denok Miranda, Danny Ildefonso, Mick Pennisi, Lordy Tugade and Sunday Salvacion are available to stabilize things. It’s just a matter of getting everyone to dance to the same beat. Inevitably, the rough waters will calm and the ship will sail smoothly.

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It’s tempting to sacrifice this conference and jockey for a 6-4 or even a 6-6 import in the third. Under PBA rules, the top four teams on the basis of previous conference records (60 percent weight for the first and 40 percent for the second) will be allowed a 6-2 import in the Governors Cup, the next four 6-4 and the last two 6-6. Barako Bull, or whichever team buys its franchise, is guaranteed a 6-6 import because of its last place performance in the Philippine Cup. Smart Gilas’ record in the Commissioner’s Cup will not be a basis for Barako’s import handicap in the third conference.

For San Miguel, playing with pride is the priority. You can expect the Beermen to give it all they’ve got in their last three games.