The Holster Feature - Season Preview: Blades reboot anew
League III.13 Season Preview
Bacoor Blades
14:11
Coming off another disappointing appearance in the League Championship Finals last season, the Bacoor Blades begin another season with its community filled with an uncanny mix of expectation and frustration.
Season Review:
Elimination Round Result: 19-3 (obtained #1 seed and overall home-court advantage via point differential)
Playoff Results:
def. Ding-a-lings in Conference Semifinal, 121-76
def. Luna Thunders in Conference Final, 114-112
lost in the League Final to Dunking Donuts, 2-1 (104-82, 113-130, 91-113)
They had to contend until the final gameday of the elimination round to determine who won overall home court advantage, which they eventually did so. And they did use it to their full disposal, winning comfortably in the conference semis and winning a nailbiter of a game against rival Luna Thunders in the Conference Final. They would win the first game of the title series but would eventually drop the next two, handing the title to Dunking Donuts.
Roster Shakeups:
Additions: Faustino Gregorio Godinez, Ricaredo Publico, Kenneth Roy Villanueva
Departures: Ariel Eliav, Stephane Rambert
Retained: Gabor Martinovics, Antoine Fauvel, Kelly Paul, Eugenio Genco, Kwok Tuan An
Perhaps the biggest blow for this campaign is the loss of their two key players in Ariel Eliav and Stephane Rambert via transfers, which is basically two-thirds of the potent backcourt rotation last season and have been key figures in the last two Finals trips of the Cavite-based franchise.
This means that much of the load will once again be carried by the formidable frontline rotation of the Blades. As for the perimeter scoring, Gabor Martinovics will have to build on his strong showing in his first season with the Blades as he takes on a bigger responsibility on the floor with his wing partners gone.
"It will be a big challenge. To lose key guys like that and to have to take more of the load." said the 34-year old Madagascarian. "This will definitely make the climb back to the top a lot steeper, but it has to be done." he added.
"After two straight title round fumbles, there is building frustration, yes." admitted longtime Blades forward Kelly Paul. "But most of it is of our own doing, by not being able to capitalize with our opportunities."
While the arrival of their troika of rookies shore up the lost rotation, the disparity in talent level would make it hard to replicate the efforts that Eliav and Rambert offered.
On the flipside, their perennial edge in the frontline remain intact. Antoine Fauvel, Kwok Tuan An, Eugenio Genco and Kelly Paul will all be back for another tour of duty. But admittedly by team manager TheDogMan, this band that has defined Bacoor Blades basketball for the better part of the last three seasons could be on its last legs.
"The group is aging, especially Kwok and Antoine, they've been the pillars of this team for a significant period of time now." said the Blades gaffer. "Decline in perfomance due to advanced age is inevitable, especially in this sport."
As for the future of the roster, TheDogMan opts to leave it all to the players and how they would fare in this campaign.
"It's up to them quite frankly, we could easily get new players but it could have ramifications to the team's build and chemistry. We will try to manage them as efficiently as we could." he added.
The Blades will return to the court as they begin their Season 28 campaign with a road trip to black_mamba to face NuRSing_AvENgeRS on the 12th of July.