mick-pennisi

Photo Credit: PBA.ph

When your lineup like Red Bull Barakos is already thin with the departure of some stars, the exit of another player, specially a bigman in Mick Pennisi will certainly leave Red Bull with a big hole in the middle.

Mick Pennisi was earlier traded to San Miguel Beermen in exchange for draft picks. Despite Mick’s departure, coach Yeng Guiao is determined to make the most out of his remaining players. Manning the shaded lane will be left to Carlo Sharma, Mike Hrabak, Rich Alvarez, draft pick Larry Rodriguez, and newcomer Gabby Espinas.

Red Bull is known as a team who can overachieve despite a lineup lacking in superstars. This is the start of their rebuilding process and they might not start the conference good due to chemistry issues. However, expect that they can adjust fast enough to win some games and give the opposition some headaches.

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Pennisi’s exit hurts Barakos

Source: Manila Standard Today (manilastandardtoday.com)
by Rey Joble | September 24, 2008

Orphaned by yet another marquee basketball player in Mick Pennisi, Red Bull is facing yet another challenging task in the coming Philippine Basketball Association season.

“Mahirap ang sitwasyon talaga natin ngayon,” Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao told Standard Today. “Honestly speaking, I am still at a lost with the departure of Pennisi.”

Pennisi is the remaining holdover of Guiao’s champion basketball squad from 2001. Only last conference, the Barakos also let go of veteran swingman Junthy Valenzuela, who played a key role in Barangay Ginebra’s basketball title conquest in the Fiesta Conference.

But Guiao, a noted fighter, is not about to throw the white towel.

“We have new basketball players coming and we have players ready to step up,” said Guiao.

The Barakos acquired Gabby Espinas from Air21 as well as several newcomers like Larry Rodriguez and Jeff Chan.

Known as the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s first-ever Rookie/Most Valuable Player, Espinas will play the starting power forward spot.

Rodriguez is another fighter, a characteristic which Guiao likes, while Chan provides additional firepower from the perimeter.