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| (Photo Credit: SLAM Philippines) |
Name: Carlo Abadeza
Age: 20
School/Team: Arellano Braves
Years of eligibility left: 0 (Graduating)
Committed to: San Beda Red Lions
Height: 6'4"
Position: Power Forward/Center
Projected Position: Combo Forward
Quick Hits
Strengths:
- Skillset and height have a good match well with each other for the college game
- Offensively skilled already
- Has range for a big his size
- Post defense is elite
- Has a ton of experience
Weaknesses:
- Slow foot speed makes the transition to becoming a small forward difficult
- Has weight issues
- Needs to tighten his handle for penetration to be better
- Lack of speed is an issue
Going up and down is nothing new for future San Beda Red Lion Carlo Abadeza. Back then, he was just a player in the Passarelle leagues with the La Salle Greenhills, Eventually, he made it to the NCAA roster, and consequently, the Batang Gilas U16 team that made it to the FIBA World Championships. Then, he found himself transferring from Greenhills all the way to Legarda. In Arellano, he was able to establish himself as one of the top recruits in his class. After some issues with weight gain and such, he now finds himself at the bottom of the barrel, struggling to even make a big impact for the Arellano Braves. It's fair to say that he's no longer a top 5 recruit for his batch.
The next chapter of Abadeza's life finds him heading to Mendiola, as he recently committed to play for the San Beda Red Lions for his collegiate career. The question is, will he be able to redeem himself, or will he find himself stumbling down even more just like before? If he's able to redeem himself, will the rise be continious, or will he fall down the face of the earth once again?
To answer that, we'll be analyzing four key components of a player's game: Offense, Defense, Physical Tools and Basketball IQ/Intangibles.
Offense
The reason for Abadeza being formerly seen as one of the top recruits of his batch is because of what he brings offensively. Despite the dud that he put up in the SLAM Rising Stars Classic 2017, there's still plenty to work with regards to Carlo's scoring.
With Abadeza, an apt comparison we can give him is Arvin Tolentino. Think Born To Score, except he takes less jumpers from outside. He can hit the occassional three-pointer or mid-ranger, but where he truly thrives is down low. He scores by penetrating, and by using a number of post moves when given the ball in the low block. Carlo is a versatile scorer who is able to take advantage of an advanced skill set, and a strong body to get buckets.
If there's something which is holding back from making Carlo greater, it's his handle. It isn't as tight as what you would expect from someone who penetrates to the paint, which makes him susceptible to getting stripped the ball from when he tries to go inside. If he wants to be able to turn into an effective scoring wing, he has to be able to improve on his dribbling.
At the same time, his poor speed gives him a difficult time against faster, stronger defenders. This was very evident in the SLAM Rising Stars Classic, where Abadeza clearly struggled against guys like Aaron Fermin and Troy Mallillin. The reason for his poor speed is largely because of his weight gain, but we'll talk about that more later on.
With Abadeza, you get a versatile scoring option who happens to have a number of issues with regards to speed, and ability to handle the ball. There's plenty to work with here. Carlo has the potential to be an effective scoring forward, but if he works hard enough, turning into a scoring wing is in play.
With Abadeza, an apt comparison we can give him is Arvin Tolentino. Think Born To Score, except he takes less jumpers from outside. He can hit the occassional three-pointer or mid-ranger, but where he truly thrives is down low. He scores by penetrating, and by using a number of post moves when given the ball in the low block. Carlo is a versatile scorer who is able to take advantage of an advanced skill set, and a strong body to get buckets.
If there's something which is holding back from making Carlo greater, it's his handle. It isn't as tight as what you would expect from someone who penetrates to the paint, which makes him susceptible to getting stripped the ball from when he tries to go inside. If he wants to be able to turn into an effective scoring wing, he has to be able to improve on his dribbling.
At the same time, his poor speed gives him a difficult time against faster, stronger defenders. This was very evident in the SLAM Rising Stars Classic, where Abadeza clearly struggled against guys like Aaron Fermin and Troy Mallillin. The reason for his poor speed is largely because of his weight gain, but we'll talk about that more later on.
With Abadeza, you get a versatile scoring option who happens to have a number of issues with regards to speed, and ability to handle the ball. There's plenty to work with here. Carlo has the potential to be an effective scoring forward, but if he works hard enough, turning into a scoring wing is in play.
Defense
Last NCAA Season 92, Carlo was named as part of the All-Defensive team joining former Arellano teammate and Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Fermin.The biggest reason for his defense being so good is because of how he defends the post.
He has a strong frame, where he is capable of taking a lot of hits from big men who are either heftier or more muscular than him. In a way, it's kind of a good thing that Carlo has all of that extra weight for him to use when getting pounded in the paint. As a post defender, Abadeza will translate well given all the experience that he has.
But as a forward in today's game, it's going to take more than just defending the post to be named a great defender. The main issue with Carlo's defense are his slow feet, which makes him close to incapable to defending stretch big men. Say, make him defend a stretch big man in the UAAP like A.Tolentino. He'd be #BBQChicken once he gets isolated with Arvin on the top of the key because AT is clearly faster and more conditioned than him.
Carlo will be capable of defending pretty much any big man in the post in college. But if he wants to be called an all-around elite defender, he has to work on his foot speed so that he'll be capable of defending more players in college.
Physical Tools
Carlo is a big player who has a ton of heft. He's lost a considerable amount of weight ever since the Juniors Basketball season, but it's safe to say that he's still quite the big player. Thankfully, he's able to maximize the heft that he has by taking hits from player in the post, or using this to get defenders out of the way when scoring.
But the issue with that is that his speed is largely affected. It's actually a shame that he has this issue, because he has a considerable amount of length and athletic ability to him. He could easily dunk back when he was more fit, and he's able to take advantage of his length by getting to score against smaller, less lengthy defenders. If only he's able to get faster as a player, then Carlo would be talked about more highly compared to how he's seen today.
In order for Carlo to get back to the heights that he was in before, he has to lose weight. As simple as that. Turning that fat into muscle could potentially improve his speed as a player, and in the process, make him better as a basketball player.
But the issue with that is that his speed is largely affected. It's actually a shame that he has this issue, because he has a considerable amount of length and athletic ability to him. He could easily dunk back when he was more fit, and he's able to take advantage of his length by getting to score against smaller, less lengthy defenders. If only he's able to get faster as a player, then Carlo would be talked about more highly compared to how he's seen today.
In order for Carlo to get back to the heights that he was in before, he has to lose weight. As simple as that. Turning that fat into muscle could potentially improve his speed as a player, and in the process, make him better as a basketball player.
Basketball IQ/Intangibles
There's nothing much to talk about with regards to Carlo's Basketball IQ. It isn't a standout feature where we can call him a player who's "beyond his years", but it isn't horrible either that we'll crucify him as someone who's just tall. It's just right. Not much to complain with regards to this.
But what stands out with him is how he is as a leader. Back then in Arellano, he was incredibly proud of how he was the "captain ball" of the Braves, having to lead young'uns such as Lars Sunga and Aaron Fermin during their run. You could see with the way that his teammates treated him that as a leader, he was indeed effective with how he was able to handle himself.
That doesn't mean that he can't work with other leaders. In a San Beda team where there's a ton of talent, it's easy to believe that he'll be able to fit right in. After all, he played in a Batang Gilas U16 team that had the Big Three of the Nieto Twins and Jolo Mendoza, and Carlo managed to do well enough to help that team. He's a sociable person who's going to be relatively easy to handle as a person in your basketball team.
But what stands out with him is how he is as a leader. Back then in Arellano, he was incredibly proud of how he was the "captain ball" of the Braves, having to lead young'uns such as Lars Sunga and Aaron Fermin during their run. You could see with the way that his teammates treated him that as a leader, he was indeed effective with how he was able to handle himself.
That doesn't mean that he can't work with other leaders. In a San Beda team where there's a ton of talent, it's easy to believe that he'll be able to fit right in. After all, he played in a Batang Gilas U16 team that had the Big Three of the Nieto Twins and Jolo Mendoza, and Carlo managed to do well enough to help that team. He's a sociable person who's going to be relatively easy to handle as a person in your basketball team.
Overall
High risk. Abadeza is coming off a down year with the Braves, where instead of increasing his stock as one of the best players in High School, his reputation took a hit because of the poor performance and weight issues that he had during the season.
High reward. There's a ton to work with regards to Abadeza. The advanced skillset, the physical tools that he has in terms of height and length, and the experience that he's had playing for the National Team.
Carlo Abadeza is out to redeem himself. He has the tools to be able to do so, but it's clear that he has to show that he has the determination to be able to bounce back from all of the struggles that he's gone through.
It's just a matter of whether he wants it enough for him to be able to work on his game. He's always had the tools and the skills, but does he have the heart to be able to make it big?
Under Coach Boyet Fernandez and the San Beda program, Abadeza receives another chance to bounce back. The legendary Red Lions program is willing to take the risk with regards to Carlo, because they know of the potential high reward that he could give to them. It will be interesting to see whether Carlo is able to repay the trust that Coach Boyet and the rest of San Beda is putting on to him.
High reward. There's a ton to work with regards to Abadeza. The advanced skillset, the physical tools that he has in terms of height and length, and the experience that he's had playing for the National Team.
Carlo Abadeza is out to redeem himself. He has the tools to be able to do so, but it's clear that he has to show that he has the determination to be able to bounce back from all of the struggles that he's gone through.
It's just a matter of whether he wants it enough for him to be able to work on his game. He's always had the tools and the skills, but does he have the heart to be able to make it big?
Under Coach Boyet Fernandez and the San Beda program, Abadeza receives another chance to bounce back. The legendary Red Lions program is willing to take the risk with regards to Carlo, because they know of the potential high reward that he could give to them. It will be interesting to see whether Carlo is able to repay the trust that Coach Boyet and the rest of San Beda is putting on to him.
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