“GILAS-ables” is a series
of articles that will discuss different players who could make a case for
joining the Gilas pool. This series will include Filipinos and Fil-foreign
players plying their trade not just in the PBA but also in other leagues, including
the US NCAA, the UAAP, and the PBA D-League.
In the fourth article in this
series, we’ll talk about a player who’s represented the Philippines in
international 3x3 competitions already but has not generated even a single peep
with regards to his possible inclusion in the Gilas pool.
PLAYER INFO
Name: Manuel, Vic
Team: Alaska Aces
Height: 6’ 4”
Weight: 201 lbs
College: PSBA
PBA STATS
Current Season:
16.4 points per game, 8 rebounds per game, 1.2 assists per game, 1.4
steals per game
Career:
8.8 points per game, 4.7 rebounds per game, 1 assist per game, .5
steals per game
WHY HE SHOULD BE IN THE GILAS POOL
Much like Sean Anthony, a Gilas-able
discussed earlier, Vic Manuel was a so-so player until this year, when
something suddenly clicked inside the head of the 4-year veteran.
After 2 uneventful years with other teams
then a year adjusting to the Alaska Aces system, Manuel suddenly blossomed this
year, which was highlighted with a victory over the Terence Romeo-led Manila
West 3x3 team and a stint in the 3x3 Master’s Tournament in Abu Dhabi, where
they finished in 6th place.
If selected to the Gilas pool, Manuel
should be expected to challenge, ironically enough, Alaska teammate Calvin
Abueva’s role as slasher/driver, garbage basket man and general, all-around
pest.
A shade taller than Abueva at 6-4, Manuel
will still be undersized as a small forward, the only position that makes sense
for him. However, Manuel does have the heft and muscle to bother much taller
players, even while lacking Abueva’s superior foot speed.
Where Manuel is more reliable than Abueva
and even other options at SF like Gabe Norwood and Matt Ganuelas-Rosser is at
scoring around the basket. He barely has bad shooting nights because he’s very
picky about his shots and he never strays far from his strengths.
He also has enough bulk to absorb contact
and finish through them as well as the quickness and the guile at the post to
get his shot off before shot blockers can react to him. And while it is highly
unlikely that Manuel will be the primary scoring option at the blocks, it
doesn’t hurt to have him there, especially when Fajardo/Slaughter are out of
the game and Blatche is camped out at the 3point line.
But for him to realistically get a shot at
a Gilas slot, he has to prove he can play defense on known scorers. That means
shutting down the likes of Arwind Santos and Ranidel de Ocampo or, better yet,
the mid-sized imports of the league. If Manuel can do that, then he’ll have a
leg up on his competition at SF.
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