SOLOMON Mercado sort of came under the
radar when he was tabbed at No. 5 by Alaska in the PBA Rookie
Draft last Aug. 31. Doubts grew, however, when he was traded
the very next day to Rain or Shine.
Well, Mercado is now proving doubters
wrong.
After coming up with an impressive debut
for Rain or Shine last Sunday in the KFC Philippine Cup, the
well-built guard was named the hands-down choice as the Smart
Accel- PBA Press Corps’ Player of the Opening Weekend.
The former standout for Biola University
led the Elasto Painters to a 120-102 shocker over the Air21
Express, winding up with a game-high 29 points for the best
rookie debut since Asi Taulava’s 32 for Talk N Text in 1999.
He also had seven rebounds, four assists
and just one turnover in 34 minutes of action to handily beat
out Talk N Text’s Jared Dillinger, the No. 2 overall pick who
had 15 points, six rebounds, three assists, a steal and a
block in the Tropang Texters’ 98-97 squeaker over Coca-Cola on
opening day lasty Saturday.
Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia attributed
Mercado’s unexpected explosion to the shroud of unfamiliarity
surrounding the trim 200-pounder. "Hindi pa kasi siya
nakikitang maglaro," Garcia said with a sly grin.
Alaska coach Tim Cone had no such
reservations on the 24-year-old, who first showed what he can
do with Harbour Centre in the PBL.
"We knew he could be a special player," said Cone in
explaining the trade that also involved Eddie Laure and the
Elasto Painters’ Joe Devance and second round picks in 2010
and 2011.
