Small victory

As you may or may not already know by now, PBA commissioner Chito Salud has vetoed the latest (somewhat ridiculous) trade proposal placed before him: a lopsided deal that would send Rookie of the Year shoo-in Rabeh Al Hussaini, teammate and defensive specialist Noynoy Baclao and promising Rey Guevarra all of the Air21 fold to San Miguel for hardly used Joseph Yeo, walking dead Mick Penissi and Danny Seigle and a 2011 draft pick.

Why I've chosen to use the title above is simple: I don't believe that San Miguel won't land any of the three rookies by mid season AND I don't believe in Air21 period.

It's funny now, how more and more forum patrons are buying into Air21's slogan of "Hari ng Padala." The way things have been the previous four or five years, the Bert Lina franchise has done nothing but draft collegiate stars and trade them for cash and draft picks-- stripping the league of its dignity, and pretty much messing up the PBA draft for fans in general.

Which rookie, if given the chance, would ever want to be picked by Air21 when they know that they're bound to be traded down the line anyway? Sucks to be a member of "Ube Republic"-- pretty sure that Lina would trade them too had they been under contract. That's just how this franchise has been and is.

That being said, what merits a fair trade between the two franchises if SMB is really bent on acquiring the rookies and Air21 is sold on letting them go?

How about two starters/ solid young players, two veterans and two draft picks for safety. I'm talking Yeo, Seigle and Pennisi-- with a Denok Miranda thrown in for good measure. Yeo and Miranda, partners in the now defunct Santa Lucia backcourt, would do Air21 wonders given their current line-up (Air21 traded perimeter scorer Ronjay Buenafe to Rain or Shine in the offseason, and only have aging Wyne Arboleda and inconsistent Leo Avenido as legit PGs in the rotation).

Just a thought though; is San Miguel trying to build its own Talk N Text/Smart Gilas team? A starting line-up of Alex Cabagnot-Jay Washington-Arwind Santos-Baclao-Al Hussaini does look insanely intimidating if you ask me.

Cabagnot, Washington and Al Hussaini can take care of the offense, while no one's going to score on Santos and Baclao.

On Mercado-Cardona not working; Alaska's new style and Gabe Norwood's slump

Rumors of a lospided Air21 trade of 2010 top draft picks Rabeh Al Husseini (shoo-in for this year's Rookie of the Year plum), defensive specialist Noynoy Baclao and guard Rey Guevarra to San Miguel for 2011 draft pick, Joseph Yeo, Mick Pennisi and Danny Seigle aside; here are a couple of things we've picked up after a week's worth of PBA Commissioner's Cup action:

Quick thoughts on today's PBA games

Alaska Aces def. Powerade Tigers, 106-82

In what may be a sign of things to come for both teams, the Aces flat out whooped the hapless Tigers' in today's first game. Cyrus Baguio led the charge with 24 points while flashy import (very un-Alaska-like) LD Williams contributed 21 and a couple of one-handed alley-oop jams. The Tigers were led in scoring by import Russel Carter who scored 34 on 10-29 shooting (read: unacceptable) while still running the simplest play an unimaginative coach could run: isolation for their top scorers.

Chang Thailand Slammers take home ABL crown

Somewhere, Philippine Patriots' honcho Mikee Romero and head coach Louie Alas must be shaking their heads in releasing Froilan Baguion and import Jason Dixon during the offseason. As you may all know by now, the very same guys that the Patriots' deemed expendable (that or they were feeling rather generous) came back to lead their new team, the Chang-Thailand Slammers, to a title at the Patriots' expense.

Top 10 things to be excited about the PBA Commissioner's Cup

1. Meralco Bolts
- No other team has been busier than the Bolts who opted to drop untested names in their line-up in favor of established stars who long for more playing time. Renren Ritualo and Sol Mercado are two of the better scoring guards in the league (with Ritualo comfortable as a full time back-up given his game and age) while Reynel Hugnatan and Marlou Aquino both provide a solid interior presence. Question marks surround the team as far as sharing the ball is concerned. Will Mercado keep his newfound role of scoring pointguard (as he did with Rain or Shine) and play alongside Cardona in what promises to be an explosive (and bratty) backcourt or will MB head coach Ryan Gregoio slide someone to a "super sub" role and leave the keys to the team to the ever improving Chris Ross (who always had game, but played a little too fast for his own good prior to last conference).

Why the Chang-Thailand Slammers should win the ABL crown

Unpatriotic sentiments aside, the ASEAN Basketball League is starting to enjoy a growing number of fanbase here and abroad (a quick jump to their Facebook page reveals 11,283 followers and counting). And while the level of talent is still not at par with some of Asia's commercial leagues, it's nice to see the sport growing in popularity (and Filipinos flourishing of course).

While much of the success should be credited to the genius of Harbour Center's Mikee Romero and that rich Malaysian mogul behind Air Asia (who are now both bankrolling the Philippine Patriots), credit should also be given to the whole league landing a TV deal with ESPN Star Sports. That alone puts it in a higher pedestal than FIBA tournaments held at this side of the world.

PBDL's gain is PBL's loss

GMA News recently reported on the transfer of three PBL franchises (which was set to re-open this 1st quarter of 2011 following a months-long hiatus) to the Philippine Basketball Association's Development League which is set to open on the 12th of March. These are: Cobra Energy Drink, Pharex and Agri-Nature/FCA.

Other teams that have already expressed their intentions in joining the newly formed amateur league patterned after the NBA's development league are: Cebuana Lhullier, Freego Jeans, Maynilad, Metro Pacific Tollways, Powerade, City of Antipolo (Wow. Their local government can afford an amateur team? I'd like to see Pampanga match that, given their crop of players up North.), Black Water/Ever Bilena, Handyfix, Pacific Pipes and PC Gilmore.

Back to the topic-- the PBL was set to run a 6-team tournament and have actually landed a TV/production deal with up-and-coming SportsVision (the same group behind the Shakey's V-League). But now that their line-up of teams has been cut in half, you could very well conclude that it's back to the drawing board for OIC Nolan Bernardino (son of the late PBA commish Jun Bernardino).

Should the PBL just close shop and hand over the keys to the PBA's newest project? Perhaps. Since bigger teams will opt to go with the more established brand (via affiliation) rather than one that has been on and off (which is such a shame). Better yet, the leftover PBL teams could sponsor one of the Liga Pilipinas squads (which is also in a state of limbo just after two mildly successful tournament-legs).

If anything, I feel sorry for those who patronized the PBL and what it stood for. I appreciate everything about it. The rivalries, the young and goggle-less Marlou Aquino, a fat Asi Taulava, MVP performances by guys named HERCULES Tangkay and PJ Simon, the Stags, Welcoats, Agfas, and even Mikee Romero's league-killing Harbour Center which basically robbed the league of star players by forming one super team and sucking the life out of the PBL.

Alaska-Meralco swap: Hugnatan for Thiele, Bugia

This just in, the Alaska Aces have traded "Swiss army knife" Reynel Hugnatan to the young Meralco Bolts for frontliners Hans Thiele and Paolo Bugia. Of the names involved, you'd have to love it for Thiele who made a mark as an energy wing-type (think Kelly Williams, Rich Alvarez, Marc Pingris) last conference, while you'd have to think that this is another smart/ shady move by Alaska (who has a knack for trading away steady players who have contributed so much but are saddled with big contracts i.e. Abbarientos, Duremdes).

At first glance, Alaska wins based on age and what Thiele and Bugia could bring to the table. Camp UE (Alaska now has Mark Borboran and Bonbon Custodio to pair with Thiele, maybe they'll also sign Rudy Lingganay from the ABL and throw in UAAP MVP Kelvin Gregorio in there for good measure down the line) now features agile, athletic wings, young bigs and backcourt general L.A. Tenorio.

For Meralco, you'd have to hope that Hugnatan stays healthy and blue collar attitude rubs off on known hot-headed teammates Mac Cardona and Sol Mercado. I'm not quite sure where MB head coach Ryan Gregorio is going with this. Either he believes that there's still life in the old legs of Asi Taulava (and probably of Marlou Aquino who was reported to be in talks with MB) or that Beau Belga is ready to take his place as Noli Locsin version 2.0 at power forward (minus the aerial acrobatics-- but who knows?).

Final verdict: advantage Alaska

Uhm, schedule please?

Either the PBA has concentrated more on this season's initial success, are banking on Solar Sports-Studio 23's promotional abilities OR that they feel that there's no need to promote that, "hey, we've moved to Studio BUT will still be standing by our usual Sundays, Wednesdays, Fridays format!"

Studio 23 isn't to blame here, since they'll only carry the live feeds and are not in charge of production (yet). It's still Solar's show, and they should be heavily promoting the league-- regardless of the channel, as part of their contract (which ends after the Governor's Cup).

Are they that determined to drop all of their sports programs in one go? Oh well. Sucks for Solar TV's personnel and fans.

Maybe Old Man Ronnie was right all along.

PBA: Kabarkada Mo!

Following yesterday's meeting among the PBA board of representatives, the remainder of the 36th season will now be aired on ABS-CBN's UHF channel Studio 23 (much to the delight of veteran mediaman Ronnie Nathanielsz perhaps who has written countless columns in support of the Lopez owned network) instead of PBA commissioner Chito Salud's preferred VHF channels (ABS-CBN 2, NBN 4, TV5, GMA 7, RPN 9, IBC 13).

No takers

Marvin Cruz, Pong Escobal, Marlou Aquino, Lordy Tugade, Paolo Hubalde, Jojo Duncil, Aris Dimaunahan, Rob Wainwright, Richard Yee, Bruce Viray, Chris Canta, Borgie Hermida, Richard Alonzo, Ken Bono, Khazim Mirza, Dennis Daa, Mark Andaya and Jason Misolas.

Of the 18 Barako Bulls players in today's dispersal draft, it almost came as a shock that only two names were called. On again-off again veteran Lordy Tugade who was re-signed by San Miguel and slow-footed point guard Pong Escobal who went to B-Meg Derby Ace.

Olsen Racela retires at 40

In a fitting tribute to one of the better PBA stories, one-time back-up Olsen Racela, 40, was acknowledged by just about every single Talk N Text personnel who was interviewed during their Philippine Cup coronation despite playing for the opposing (and losing) San Miguel team.

While I was too young to remember how Racela was when he first stormed into the league as a scrawny speedster out of Ateneo as the 10th overall pick in the 1994 draft, I saw glimpses of his game around '96-'97-- the height of legendary Robert Jaworski, Sr.'s Ginebra's popularity. This, if only because Racela struck me as a Bal David clone-- same speed, same "rah-rah" approach (pardon the pun) but with glimpses of knowing when to hit the breaks.

Talk N Text brings home Philippine Cup crown

In an awesome display of pure grit and just "wanting it more" than their opponents, the Talk N Text Tropang Texters broke away from the San Miguel Beermen in the pivotal third quarter after being tied at 57-all to win the game 92-85 and the series 4-2.

While I've never been a fan of TNT, the minute they gutted the now disbanded Santa Lucia Realtors' roster and added its National Team shoo-ins Kelly Williams and Ryan Reyes, everyone knew that it was just a matter of time before they win another crown (only their 3rd this decade which is quite befuddling to say the least). Trading hotshot scorer Mac Cardona to sister team Meralco also seemed to pay dividends for the franchise, allowing them to speed things up with more ball-handlers than ball-stoppers (people who need 5-10 seconds of the shot clock to create in every possession).

In the four games that they have won, TNT simply outmatched and outclassed SMB in every aspect of the game. The two losses they suffered really looked more like games they lost rather than SMB won or fought hard for (specially game 3).

PBA Finals Game 5: Match point, Chot, RR owns Santos

When the Beermen came alive in Games 2 and 3 to level the series, people started questioning the Tropang Texters-- their head coach, Chot Reyes, in particular. While his SMB counterpart Ato Agustin was receiving praises and pats on the back from peers and pundits for changing his rotation (starting Paul Artadi and Danny Ildefonso over Alex Cabagnot and Dorian Pena), doubts were being cast over the former National Team head coach.

Not anymore.

As if on cue, Reyes changed his starting five before going with a three-guard line-up the rest of the evening. It should be noted that when Reyes inserted Jason Castro, Jimmy Alapag and Ryan Reyes all at the same time instead of for one another, the Beermen quickly found itself trailing by double digits despite its formidable and lengthy wing players.

Alapag played with his usual tenacity, Castro was kept under control  since he was not asked to orchestrate the offense (akin' to a thoroughbred who needs to have the sides of its eyes covered and just do what it does best, move forward and kick ass) and perhaps the biggest key to the game-- Ryan Reyes moving to the small forward position and just man-handling the taller (yet skinnier) Arwind Santos.