It may be the unconventional way, but KIA continue to take the road less taken
Two days before the 2017 PBA Draft, the controversial KIA Picanto, through their new management, asked for understanding for why they proposed a trade that would send the top overall pick in the upcoming draft to PBA powerhouse team San Miguel Beermen.
Present were new team manager Joe Lipa, assistant team manager Bong Naves, team governor Bobby Rosales, and other officials from the league. The presser was hosted at KIA’s pratice facility in Azure Residences in Paranaque. Downstairs, newly-promoted head coach Chris Gavina was holding a practice session.
Though the trade is still pending league approval, Lipa disclosed that trading the first overall pick for veteran players Jay-R Reyes, Rashawn McCarthy, and Keith Agovida is a necessity for a young team like them.
“Don’t get me wrong, Christian Standhardinger is a great player. The boy has a big potential,” shared Lipa, who was the team’s consultant a season ago, “It just so happened that our philosophy is to play an unconventional type of basketball. As much as possible, we would like to play beyond the book. Example, we would like to shift to our philosophy which is there will be no positions.
“We would like to be competitive that’s why we thought of this idea of playing unconventional basketball. As much as possible, we would like to concentrate on long shooting. Shooting from the outside means that height is not a requirement,” he furthered.
“It just so happened that we will let our pick go to get two or three role players that can contribute to the team.”
Standhardinger, though clearly a cut above the rest in this year’s top-heavy rookie class, has a red flag, as he would only be able to join the team that drafts him come the second conference. On the other hand, the four-year-old franchise feels like a Kiefer Ravena, a Raymar Jose, or a Jeron Teng will not give the team the veteran leadership it needs.
“We would like to give hungry, young players a chance to be part of the team,” Lipa said.
It will be hard to find acceptance of this philosophy from the public, however. Kia’s management fully understands this, but they are also asking for the community to give them a chance.
“It’s a normal reaction if you disturb the status quo but give us time to prove our philosophy,” expressed Rosales, “It takes time to embrace this philosophy. Now that we are given a bigger role, it will be a team effort. Hopefully, everyone will embrace this.
“But I hope they give us a chance to help Philippine basketball.”
In addition, though they have only made the playoffs once in their first nine conferences in the league, Kia remain steadfast, saying that they are in the PBA to compete.
“Mahirap magka-time frame, it’s very hard to put a deadline,” Rosales said on whether there’s a timeframe for when they can finally make the leap.
“We’ll put up a fighting team. We may not become champions immediately, but we’ll put up a fighting team.”
