Blackwater interim head coach Ariel Vanguardia strongly believes that Jvee Casio has so much more left in the tank even at 35.
The Bossing will acquire the veteran point guard along with Barkley Ebona in a trade with Alaska for Mike Tolomia and a future second-round pick. The deal received approval from the PBA, Tuesday evening.
“Mga ilang years pa magandang lalaruin niyan, for sure,” offered the veteran mentor in a quick chat with Tiebreaker TImes.
If there’s someone over at Blackwater who knows Casio so well, it’s Vanguardia. The 49-year-old worked with the playmaker during the late 2000s in Toyota Otis in the now-defunct Philippine Basketball League (PBL).
And from there, the two La Salle alums formed a deep bond with one another. Hence the bench tactician’s elation to be with him again.
“I’ve coached him in the PBL in Toyota. And we’ve remained close friends over the years. Isang tawag ko lang diyan sa mga clinics ko sa Laguna, pinupuntahan niya,” gladly shared Vanguardia.
This marks yet another reunion for Vanguardia with someone dear to him next to Rashawn McCarthy, his former talent in Westports Malaysia Dragons who became a Bossing last September via trade with Terrafirma.
“Yes. Another familiar face,” said the Blackwater alternate governor. “And I know what he can still give on the table.”
What exactly the team would get from the Gilas Pilipinas pioneer, according to Vanguardia, is his leadership. Floor general Baser Amer is expected to benefit the most as he’s being groomed to be the team’s lead guard.
Photo by PBA Images
“It’s his leadership. A leader to mentor Baser Amer,” said the former college coach, who has a reputation for building point guard-centric teams.
The trade is now the second to happen under Vanguardia’s watch, a testament of how much Blackwater wants to turn its fortunes around now that it is in the midst of the league’s longest losing skid ever at 19.
“Both teams were eliminated in the elims, didn’t make the quarterfinals. So both teams mutually agreed to talk. Nagkasundo naman,” he said.
“We wanted a big man and a leader to mentor Baser Amer. Sila naman, They wanted an added scorer and they also want youth, so maganda.”
Now, Vanguardia and Co. have their sights set on their next move as Blackwater is likely to pull off more trades in the coming weeks.
