CHICAGO -- The ability of San Miguel to readily switch imports like they just did, sacking Jordan Adams for Sheldon Mac and then quickly running back to Adams, is a somersault small teams wished they could execute.
Arguably, what the Beermen pulled off is a function of the league's lack of parity. What's inarguable is that SMC wields a powerful weapon that also happens to be a P word.
Privilege.
Having two imports -- one on injured reserve and the other active -- means two overlapping salaries.
When Magnolia brought in Shabazz Muhammad to replace Glenn Robinson III, the Hotshots had to pay GR3 until September 15. Which means the team had two high-salaried reinforcements for 10 days.
San Miguel is in the same boat now, required to compensate both Adams and Mac, who's still in Manila and can still be activated in this Governors' Cup.
MONEY CAN'T ALWAYS BUY BETTER JUDGEMENT
While this kind of salary double-whammy, wastage in simple terms, would decimate the budgets of independent or so-called "farm" teams, it's not a problem for the SMC group which, according to Ramon S. Ang, burns roughly P1 billion annually in operating expenses for its PBA teams.
Money, however, doesn't always buy good taste or better judgement.
"Match-ups," coach George Gallent, citing the need to stop TNT's Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Ginebra's Justin Brownlee, is what induced the import swap.
Really?
So they flew a guy thousands of miles away before figuring that out?
Or was it because Mac, an NBA veteran they've glossed over had a vigorously unspectacular game versus NLEX yesterday where he only had 16 points while finishing with more fouls and turnovers (4) than rebounds and assists (2).
SHELDON WASN'T A BIG MAC.
What if Mac, who's new to the country, his teammates, and the PBA, was still groping for adjustments?
Or, did San Miguel re-unite with Adams because the optics of replacing a dude who scored 50 with a newbie who barely got to 16, is horrible, laughable?
What's lost in this switcheroo is the fact that the Beermen outlasted the Road Warriors, 119-114.
At 4-2, with a place in the playoffs virtually sealed, what's the harm in letting Mac validate his credentials in tomorrow's game versus win-less Phoenix?
And if matching up with JB or RHJ was the concern, then why not allow Mac to actually play against those guys before icing him?
Seeing, not hypothesizing, is believing.
Moral of the story?
Getting imports isn't as easy as calling an agent with a host of former NBA players as clients and then paying the price tag.
Beyond the talent, how he fits in your system, how he gets along with his coaches and teammates, the ability to be selfless while also being capable of becoming a one-man army if needed, are key factors.
That's why Ginebra has been so good for years.
They have Brownlee, a phenomenon who's as constant as the rain in July.
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