PBA Finals: Tied 2-2

Have the San Miguel Beermen really solved the offensive conundrum known collectively as Talk N Text as their plays have said the last couple of days?

If anything, the Beermen have managed to level the series at two games a piece-- a blow-out win in game three, and a cliff-hanger in game four. In yesterday's game, the Beermen relied on usual suspects (and newly minted Best Player of the Conference) Jay Washington, steady Arwind Santos and a vintage performance from big man Danny Ildefonso who all churned in 25, 18 and 17 points, respectively.

One of the reasons why SMB has won back to back games in the Philippine Cup Finals is the inspirational play of veteran Olsen Racela-- who is all set to retire at conference's end to concentrate on coaching the RP under 16 men's basketball team (backstopped by Ateneo/ MVP as always). While he hasn't contributed much points-wise, Racela has been making the big plays and controlling the tempo for SMB.

What I'd like to see is if Racela will still be able to contribute now that TNT's Ryan Reyes is back in harness. An Alapag-Reyes backcourt could render Racela helpless on defense since Racela is often shifted to guard Reyes' back-ups (namely Fonacier) who isn't as physical as the "Energizer." If Racela is asked to guard Alapag, I worry that the "Mighty Mouse's" speed, though deteriorating, is still two to three gears better than Ra-Ra's.

Reyes' return will also allow Jason Castro to flourish in the "super sub" role he has gotten accustomed to.  It's a bit too early to crown him as one of the league's premier guards just yet, since he hasn't learned how to pace himself whenever he plays long minutes (Mark Caguioa, then blonde and skinny, had the same problem when he first entered the league as Vergel Meneses' back-up). That, plus the fact that Castro bites on just about every fake thrown his way (putting him in foul trouble and rendering him useless).

For SMB to capture their third straight win in this series, they need to maintain playing the aggressor instead of simply waiting for TNT to throw bombs at them early. Another vintage performance here and there (from Ildefonso, Racela and/ or Seigle perhaps?) wouldn't hurt either.

For TNT, they simply need to go back to the basics and play their game-- run and gun, hustle and drive.

PBA Finals Game 3: Let's get physical

Why am I not surprised that Game 3 turned out to be a physical encounter between San Miguel and Talk N Text once I read on the dailies that Mark Yee finally got some burn?

From what I've seen, heard and read, SMB was on its way to a blowout win when TNT head coach Chot Reyes tinkered with his rotation and threw in hardly-used players to punk out SMB's stars--namely Jay Washington and Arwind Santos. Did it do enough damage to derail SMB's interchangeable do-it-all forwards? Not really, since TNT was already down big when they started roughing SMB up. Perhaps Coach Chot could try this ploy a bit earlier in Game 4-- Santos and Washington both sounded displeased in the post-game interviews to say the least (or at the very least, affected by the physicality).

Advantage: Smart Gilas

While I can't stress the fact that fans are being treated to a great championship series between the San Miguel Beermen and Talk N Text Tropang Texters enough, there's even more reason to look forward to the coming Commissioner's Cup: the entry of the Smart Gilas Pilipinas national team.

Forget the experimental "invitational, exhibition" matches they had last season (which ended with Wynne-gate), this time SG is in it to actually win the whole thing while benefitting from having the tallest import-- naturalization candidate Marcous Douthit (who stands 6"10) and some of the country's top young talents.

PBA Finals Game 2: Chot schools Ato

In anticipation of tonight's telling third game (if Talk N Text wins it's all but over since no team in the history of Philippine basketball has ever come back from a 0-3 deficit), fans have been treated to 1) a match-up of great basketball players playing at the highest level and 2) an old school display of how you just can't take away from veteran coaches in the league.

Truth be told, San Miguel Beermen head coach Ato Agustin has done an incredible job after taking the reigns from Siot Tangquincen. He has opened up the offense with a "small ball" line-up anchored on the backcourt brilliance of Alex Cabagnot and do-it-all forwards Arwind Santos and Jay Washington. If anything, I'd say the Beermen actually play like a collegiate team, forever hustling and running.

The problem is, that kind of basketball can win you a title or two in the amateurs. This is the PBA, and despite falling in the Asian basketball scene the last two decades, it's still where the country's best players and coaches are. Not with Smart Gilas, not in the ABL, Liga Pilipinas or anywhere else (okay, maybe someone should promote Norman Black already and get it over with).

Barako Bull Dispersal Draft - Who's in, out

As you may already know by now, the disgraced franchise known as the Barako Bull Energy Boosters have taken a leave (most hope for good) from the Philippine Basketball Association beginning the 2nd conference-- their slot now reserved for the Smart Gilas Pilipinas National Team.

And while we've heard nothing but cheers and sighs of relief from basketball afficionados who have grown tired (and disgusted) of BB, you have to feel sorry for its personnel-- from the coaching staff, players all the way to the water boys.

Good to know that then BB head coach Junel Baculi and one-time captain Alex Crisano have moved on to the ABL with the Philippine Patriots (where they'll contend for the championship), but the rest of the players left under contract are up for a "one-conference" dispersal draft-- that is, if you could hold BB to its word that they'll come back stronger than ever in the third conference (which I doubt).

The return of the Philippine Basketball League

The Philippine Basketball League is all set to return on the 26th of February behind Chairman Ding Camua and Sports Vision Management (the same outfit behind the successful Shakey's V-League tourneys). Six teams will vye for the season opening tournament title: Pharex, Excelroof, Cobra, Ani-FCA, Hobe Bihon and Cafe France.

Of the six (almost unheard of) brands, one has to wonder if the PBL, after a year long hiatus, will be able to regain its popularity with the emergence of other commercial amateur leagues such as the Asean Basketball League and the Liga Pilipinas (plus, the PBA's Developmental League which has been given the go signal by the PBA top honchos and is slated for a March opening).

All eyes on Cabagnot

Last conference, the San Miguel Beermen lost the Fiesta Cup title to the up-and-coming Alaska Aces despite having returning super-import Gabe Freeman at the helm. At the time, the Beermen played four of its current starting five led by point guard Alex Cabagnot.

But during the decisive moments of that series, Cabagnot often found himself sitting on the bench in lieu of guys like Denok Miranda and elder statesman Olsen Racela-- being badly outplayed by Alaska counterpart and who most of todays pundits recognize as the best point guard in the land, L.A. Tenorio.

This year, things have turned out for the better with Cabagnot receiving free reign from rookie coach Ato Agustin, and playing consistent, heavy minutes for the Beermen. While his averages are still quite modest at best (finishing the Philippine Cup elims at 8.29 ppg 4.36 rpg 5.29 apg), it has become pretty clear that SMB has found an heir apparent to Olsen Racela-- a guy who doesn't dominate the ball, simply orchestrates and when he has to, takes clutch shots for the team.

Bye for now? Thoughts on Barako Bulls' hiatus

Barako Bull during happier times

When Solar's marketing team first came out with this new slogan, I immediately thought "U-oh, here they go again." It wasn't that long ago when the PBA came up with its rather catchy yet far-from-the-truth mantra of being a "Bayan of Superstars."

Right. Not with names like Marlon Legaspi, Ronald Magtulis and Junjun Cabatu getting way too much playing time.

It was also rather ironic, since you could make an argument that there are better players strutting their wares in minor leagues such as Liga Pilipinas and Asean Basketball League-- definitely better than those wearing Barako Bull uniform. A team so disgraced, that they were pulling the credibility of the PBA down the toilet-- generously acting/serving as a dispersal/ farm team for the more financially stable teams in the league.

Superpowers collide: San Miguel VS Talk N Text

Author's note: my apologies to all our friends who've been supporting this humble little site for being unable to provide any updates. Not that I've been missing out on the current games (who in the Metro has anyway? Have you seen the Playoffs? Fans are coming back in!), but I just felt like taking time off to unwind, enjoy the game and let commentating geniuses like Jason Webb handle the rest (thank God Richard del Rosario's off live television!)

Number one and number two. Rarely have we seen the PBA's top two teams squaring off in the Finals-- with the import-less "Philippine Cup" title up for grabs at that. But here we are, with the league's two best and most loaded teams just minutes away from clashing in an out-of-town Battle Royal which I honestly believe has been two-three years in the making.

On one side you have the San Miguel Beermen, a team that has established its identity as an athletic, run and gun squad, facing the Talk n Text Tropang Texters-- a team that has the tools to run, but has been winning more based on a blue-collar like approach anchored on one of their unheralded frontline players (more on that later).

Here's a glimpse on the match-ups and who I feel has the edge, after the jump.