Alfred Ryan Batino is arguably one of the most effective bigmen in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). As an imposing 6'5 center for the Bataan Risers, he is possibly one of the top 10 leading rebounders in the MPBL with an average of 8.1 boards a game, just .05 below Mon Mabayo who ranks fifth (5th) with 8.6 rebounds per match.
He is also the Bataan Riser's third leading scorer in the Lakan Season with an output of 9.5 points while dishing out 1.8 dimes and blocking almost a shot per outing. With such production, it's not surprising why Ryan Batino commands much premium in the MPBL because of the lack of legitimate bigs in the league.
From all angles, a 6'5 center is too small by international standard. In fact, a 6'5 height is good enough for a shooting guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and in Federacion Internacionale de Basketball (FIBA) tournaments where seven (7) footers dominate the shaded lanes.
In the MPBL, we can only name a few centers or forwards who stand at least 6'8 tall. There's Marlou Aquino who is 6'9 but is already too old to bang bodies inside. His son Matt Aquino is 6'8 but needs to bulk up to be more effective on the post.
Big Mac Andaya is also 6'9 but similar to Marlou Aquino, he is already too slow and prone to turnovers at 39-years old. Perhaps the tallest to ever play in the MPBL is 6'11 Jericho De Guzman who was sparingly used as a slotman for Barangay Ginebra and the Valenzuela City Classics. Although he was once considered by coach Tim Cone as a project, sadly he remained just that- a project.
In the Lakan Season, it's quite surprising that four of the top five (5) rebounders in the league are all below 6'5. Dhon Reverente who is only a 6'1 guard led all MPBL players in rebounding with an average of 11.5 rebounds per game. 6'3 Mark Yee came in second with 11.4 rebounds; 6'3 Shaq Taganas is third with 10.2 rebounds; 6'5 Will Mcaloney is fourth with 9 rebounds; and 6'2 Mon Mabayo is fifth with 8.6 rebounds. This should not have happened but it did, which means the MPBL truly has a big man problem.
Simply put, there's just too many teams in the MPBL but very few legitimate bigmen. This is the reason why MPBL founder Manny Pacquiao is hesitant to allow fil-foreigners who are above 6'4 to play in his league. He does not want the local slotmen to be overpowered by bigger fil-foreigners. But was it the right decision?
Whether Pacquiao made the right call or not, it does not matter much for Ryan Batino. He is not the kind of guy who will back down against a bigger opponent. So far, he considers the hulking 6'4 Jondan Salvador as the most difficult big man to match up with considering his size and good defensive skills.
Certainly, Ryan Batino would be more than happy to battle with much bigger and taller opponents. Will he support any move to lift the height restriction on fil-foreigners?
With his imposing presence both offensively and defensively, the 27-year old Ryan Batino easily became the leader for his team. It is a role which he gladly assumed because for him it is his biggest contribution to the team even though he still has much to learn.
The Bataan Risers embraced his leadership. With Ryan Batino as captain, the Risers reached the playoffs despite a management and roster change in the middle of the season due to financial problems by its previous owner. He is, nonetheless , quick to deflect the credits of such turnaround to coach Jonas Villanueva.
Unfortunately, Ryan Batino and his team succumbed to the Pampanga Giant Lanterns in the first round of the playoffs. That would be the second consecutive playoffs exit for the Risers who have yet to reach the championship rounds, but at least the fans got to witness what Ryan Batino can do inside the court.
Looking at what Ryan Batino has been showing so far in the MPBL, it is hard to imagine that he almost quit playing basketball back in 2012 after he was not given much attention and playing time at the University of Cebu (UC), perhaps due to the presence of Junemar Fajardo that time. He somehow found his way to the basketball program of the Centro Escolar University (CEU) Scorpions where he thrived from 2012 to 2015.
After exhausting his collegiate playing years, he declared for the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) draft in 2015 and he was selected as third (3rd) pick in the fifth (5th) round by NLEX. However, he was not given a contract so he remained as a reserve and practice player for NLEX where he played for its developmental team in the PBA D-league and the Merlion Cup. It was coach Jojo Lastimosa, his coach in the Merlion cup, who recruited Ryan Batino to join the Bataan Risers for the second (2nd) season season of the MPBL known as Datu Cup.
And the rest, as they say, was history. Ryan Batino is now a legitimate threat at the post in the MPBL. Will we ever see him play against taller and bigger fil-foreigners?
It's up for the MPBL to decide.
He is also the Bataan Riser's third leading scorer in the Lakan Season with an output of 9.5 points while dishing out 1.8 dimes and blocking almost a shot per outing. With such production, it's not surprising why Ryan Batino commands much premium in the MPBL because of the lack of legitimate bigs in the league.
From all angles, a 6'5 center is too small by international standard. In fact, a 6'5 height is good enough for a shooting guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and in Federacion Internacionale de Basketball (FIBA) tournaments where seven (7) footers dominate the shaded lanes.
In the MPBL, we can only name a few centers or forwards who stand at least 6'8 tall. There's Marlou Aquino who is 6'9 but is already too old to bang bodies inside. His son Matt Aquino is 6'8 but needs to bulk up to be more effective on the post.
Big Mac Andaya is also 6'9 but similar to Marlou Aquino, he is already too slow and prone to turnovers at 39-years old. Perhaps the tallest to ever play in the MPBL is 6'11 Jericho De Guzman who was sparingly used as a slotman for Barangay Ginebra and the Valenzuela City Classics. Although he was once considered by coach Tim Cone as a project, sadly he remained just that- a project.
In the Lakan Season, it's quite surprising that four of the top five (5) rebounders in the league are all below 6'5. Dhon Reverente who is only a 6'1 guard led all MPBL players in rebounding with an average of 11.5 rebounds per game. 6'3 Mark Yee came in second with 11.4 rebounds; 6'3 Shaq Taganas is third with 10.2 rebounds; 6'5 Will Mcaloney is fourth with 9 rebounds; and 6'2 Mon Mabayo is fifth with 8.6 rebounds. This should not have happened but it did, which means the MPBL truly has a big man problem.
Simply put, there's just too many teams in the MPBL but very few legitimate bigmen. This is the reason why MPBL founder Manny Pacquiao is hesitant to allow fil-foreigners who are above 6'4 to play in his league. He does not want the local slotmen to be overpowered by bigger fil-foreigners. But was it the right decision?
Whether Pacquiao made the right call or not, it does not matter much for Ryan Batino. He is not the kind of guy who will back down against a bigger opponent. So far, he considers the hulking 6'4 Jondan Salvador as the most difficult big man to match up with considering his size and good defensive skills.
"Nung Lakan Season, nahirapan ako kay Kuya Jondan Salvador kasi sobrang laki tapos magaling dumepensa, said Ryan Batino in a chat interview with Ligang Pinoy ."
Certainly, Ryan Batino would be more than happy to battle with much bigger and taller opponents. Will he support any move to lift the height restriction on fil-foreigners?
"Oo, para competitive din sa liga. Ang konti lang kasi ng big man ngayon tapos ang daming team, answered Ryan Batino."
With his imposing presence both offensively and defensively, the 27-year old Ryan Batino easily became the leader for his team. It is a role which he gladly assumed because for him it is his biggest contribution to the team even though he still has much to learn.
"Being leader for the team, kahit di pa ako ganun ka-beterano pero pinu-push ko mga teammates ko para maging better, in a hard way, responded Ryan Batino when asked what's his biggest contribution to the team."
The Bataan Risers embraced his leadership. With Ryan Batino as captain, the Risers reached the playoffs despite a management and roster change in the middle of the season due to financial problems by its previous owner. He is, nonetheless , quick to deflect the credits of such turnaround to coach Jonas Villanueva.
"Swerte namin kay coach Jonas Villanueva at nandyan siya para maging intact pa rin ang team namin. Sya nagbigay ng kompiyansa sa amin para mabalik namin laro namin, shared Ryan Batino."
Unfortunately, Ryan Batino and his team succumbed to the Pampanga Giant Lanterns in the first round of the playoffs. That would be the second consecutive playoffs exit for the Risers who have yet to reach the championship rounds, but at least the fans got to witness what Ryan Batino can do inside the court.
Looking at what Ryan Batino has been showing so far in the MPBL, it is hard to imagine that he almost quit playing basketball back in 2012 after he was not given much attention and playing time at the University of Cebu (UC), perhaps due to the presence of Junemar Fajardo that time. He somehow found his way to the basketball program of the Centro Escolar University (CEU) Scorpions where he thrived from 2012 to 2015.
"Noong 2012, magqui-quit na talaga ako kasi di ko makitaan sarili ko ng edge at no playing time para makapag pakita. Then by March, opportunity knocked on my door, mayroong university sa Manila na naghahanap ng player and one of our assistant coaches in UC referred me. Kaya I grabbed the opportunity at sa awa naman ng panginoon nakuha ako, explained Ryan Batino."
After exhausting his collegiate playing years, he declared for the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) draft in 2015 and he was selected as third (3rd) pick in the fifth (5th) round by NLEX. However, he was not given a contract so he remained as a reserve and practice player for NLEX where he played for its developmental team in the PBA D-league and the Merlion Cup. It was coach Jojo Lastimosa, his coach in the Merlion cup, who recruited Ryan Batino to join the Bataan Risers for the second (2nd) season season of the MPBL known as Datu Cup.
"Naging coach ko si Jojo Lastimosa sa NLEX at sa Merlion Cup. At that time nasa [PBA] D-league ako nun, pinapa-tryout kami nun sa San Juan pero si coach Jolas sinabihan ako na maglaro ako sa kanya kasi same lineup daw nung sa Merlion. So pinili ko dun sa Bataan kasi alam ko mga kakampi ko, yung mga kaibigan ko at di na mangangapa, explained Ryan Batino."
And the rest, as they say, was history. Ryan Batino is now a legitimate threat at the post in the MPBL. Will we ever see him play against taller and bigger fil-foreigners?
It's up for the MPBL to decide.
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