How to Fix the Aces? Time to Trade?

Have you seen this face of LA Tenorio? Was this because of Rommel Adducul?

Or maybe, this shows that LA is kind of frustrated with how the Aces has started the conference after Tim Cone decided to forget his 22 years with the Aces.

With the new system in the Alaska, is it starting to show that LA is not comfortable and showing only his weaknesses that he cannot operate without a smooth offensive system and can only be effective in a triangle system?

Are we starting to realize why the San Miguel Franchise (Petron Blaze Boosters) traded LA along with Larry Fonacier for Mike Cortez and Ken Bono?

Does Alaska need to trade LA?

If you look at the Alaska lineup, there is no pure point guard that has a very big upside or at least a potential to become a star-caliber once given the opportunity to start.

First Five

PG: LA Tenorio

SG: Cyrus Baguio

SF: Tony Dela Cruz

PF: Jay-R Reyes

C: Sonny Thoss

Second Five

PG: Brandon Cablay

SG: Bonbon Custodio

SF: Mac Baracael

PF: Paolo Bugia

C: Sam Eman

Rotation Players

Eric Salamat

Ariel Mepana

Julius Pasculado

Wesley Gonzales

Reserves

Hans Thiele

Ervin Sotto

If we look out for point guards from the other teams, although there are several good ones, we cannot see any possible target that other teams are willing to trade or let go.

So what to do?

Instead of trading LA, Alaska can make him happy by surrounding him new bloods that can ignite energy, provide instant offense and/or compliment his kind of playing style.

So who to trade?

Alaska can start by shopping Cyrus Baguio, although we all know that Skyrus still got game, is it also a very known fact that he may now be on the downside of his career because of the frequent injuries he got this past few conferences.

Trading Skyrus is a very big possibility as Alaska is never shy of trading away their star players who is on a downside or halfway past of their superstardom. (hello Johnny Abarrientos, Jojo Lastimosa, Poch Juinio and Kenneth Duremdes)

Since Barako Bull likes to collect veteran players, Alaska can offer Cyrus for the offensive minded Dylan Ababou. With this trade, Barako would get a pure two-guard who can run with his old trademate Willie Miller. Cyrus will also have a chance to be reunited with his old teammates and form the red bull connection.

On the other side, Alaska will get a big two guard who can shoot, slash and rebound. This would also solve the outside shooting problem of Alaska which they sorely missed after the departure of Larry Fonacier from the Elmer Espiritu bust trade. With Ababou's outside shooting, it will create more space for LA to operate his signature daredevil and teardrop shots.

Next, Strike while the iron is hot!

Since Sonny Thoss and Jay-R Reyes had a very duplicated playing style, Alaska may consider trading one of them. This time, I think Sonny would get the nod over Jay-R as he has already proven himself time again that he can play dominantly inside the paint.

Alaska should capitalize on the good start of Jay-R Reyes and should make him available for trade. Trade while Jay-R is hot!

Since Petron is having some problems on what to do with Jay Washington once he returns from the injury, Alaska can offer Jay for another Jay.

Jay-R Reyes with less pressure on Petron side, can continue his improvement and compliment the outside game of Petron bigs Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Arwind Santos and Danny Ildefonso as these three bigs prefers shooting mid-range jumpshots.

On the Alaska side, Jay Washington is a big slashing power forward who can also shoot from the outside (Hello Joe Devance) and is going to be a perfect fit by complimenting the game of Sonny in creating more space inside to operate on offense.

With these two trades, this is now how the Aces starting five will look like:

First Five

PG: LA Tenorio

SG: Dylan Ababou

SF: Tony Dela Cruz

PF: Jay Washington

C: Sonny Thoss