I'm a traditionalist (read: grew up in the 20th century), and Im probably one of the few folks who still believe basketball is a big man's game. It just becomes so much easier to play the game with a productive guy manning the inside. You get more possessions with relentless rebounding (Abe King), play tighter defense with an intimidator (Jerry Codinera, once upon a time Marlou Aquino), score more on higher percentage shots (Mon Fernandez, Benjie Paras), and basically add an almost automatic option both ways (Alvin Patrimonio).

Sure over the years basketball has developed into a more scientific, more balanced game, with complex motion offenses and flex patterns allowing teams without an all star big man to compete. Perimeter players and plus athletes like Johnny Abarrientos and Mark Caguioa are capable of carrying a team. Nothing however can take the place of the big strong brute who can easily muscle his way in for the easy bucket, or disrupt an offense by simply putting up his hands.

With the growing emphasis on egalitarian offenses and team defense, the dominant big man is in decline. Its gotten to a point where big men are now learning skills once thought exclusively for the perimeter guys. Danny Ildefonso developed a medium range jumper. Dennis Espino learned how to be a distributor from the post. Enrico Villanueva wins games with three-pointers.

And yet when given a choice a team would rather draft someone 6-foot-5 or taller rather than a perimeter player, unless of course we are talking of exceptional perimeter guys like Mike Cortez or Renren Ritualo. Obviously the old hoops adage still holds true to this day: You cant teach height. Youd be hard pressed to turn a small man into a pointguard, but you can certainly turn a big man into a productive enough power forward or center.

Witness the case of one Ryan Dalman, now a UAAP track and field star. Dalman was once upon a time on his high school juniors team, and according to his coaches then, had nearly zero skills in basketball. He did however have size, about 6-foot-2 and a strapping 200 pounds as a junior. With a lot of hard work on his part, and patience from his coaches, he became a reliable rebounder and defender inside. Had Dalman been around in the netherworld of 1990s college hoops he would have made a perfect complement to yet another player who was more size and heart than skill, Gabby Cui.

Why else do you think recruiters up to now would rather look at a kids height that his skills at the grade school level? Even in the modern game, size still matters.