Pass (some of) the blame to ‘Spo

Again, while I usually refrain from writing about the wonders of international basketball (choosing to leave it to the so called “expert bloggers/analysts”), I just feel like sharing my two cents worth of insight on the recently concluded NBA Finals which the Dallas Mavericks won over the lethargic Miami Heat, 4-2.


“If we lose games, it’s not because we weren’t prepared,” a quote shared by Miami Heat co-captains Udonis Haslem and Dwyane Wade when asked about head coach Erik Celino Spoelstra earlier this season.

By now, we’ve read all the stories on young Fil-Irish coach Spoelstra or “Coach Spo” and his ascencion to the top of the Miami ranks. A point guard out of Oregon who played a few years in America and Europe before taking a job as a video scout for Pat Riley at the young age of 25, later on becoming an errand boy, Dwyane Wade’s personal shooting coach, assistant coach and pre-Big Three head coach.

Governor's Cup is back! Rain or Shine wins 95-82 over B-Meg

PBA commissioner Chito Salud keeps doing himself right, this time by bringing back the Governor's Cup and effectively remedying what to me has been its one fatal flaw-- how to separate it from the Commissioner's Cup which also makes use of hiring imports.

In case you haven't heard, the top teams in the recent Commish Cup won by Talk N Text will field in imports of around 6"2 max in height, while the cellar dwellers get guys up to 6"6 tall. And while I am amazed that the PBA never went back to getting 7"0 imports like they did a few years back (which they should reconsider because since most of today's Pinoys are uber talented and no longer just "role" players, why not let them strut their stuff while being backed by foreign giants who do the dirty work?), this current arrangement is quite acceptable.

On to the game then.

B-Meg, parading its 6"2 import, Darryl Hannah and new acquisition Joe DeVance from Alaska, lost to the Rain or Shine Elastopainters who have found a gem of an import yet again in dreadlock-sporting Arizona Reid who scored 36 and hauled down 17 boards.

Credit of course goes to RoS since this team is playing with pretty much the same roster while adding an import who automatically fills up its hole in the middle (since RoS head coach Yeng Guiao still doesn't look like he's convinced that Beau Belga is a legit, 48-minutes center/power forward). On the other side, BMeg coach Jorge Gallent is still trying to look where Joe DeVance fits in his rotation, while also trying to make room for his import.

Gallent opted to sit steady point guard Jonas Villanueva in favor of his import (who shot an awful 4-23 from the field and finished with 8 points) and even tried to get something out of Pong Escobal (who, at this point, is just not a PBA player). JDV scored in the post, but it's clear that BMeg needs to unload some of their post players to get better point guards and wings.

JDV, Jerwin Gaco, Marc Pingris, Don Allado all took turns in the paint which is good, but there was no fluidity in their game at all.

James Yap did his usual thing, as did super sub PJ Simon (who should be traded and start for another team), but they just looked really lost out there. Maybe it's because point guard Roger Yap wasn't in the rotation, or maybe they just need more time to jell.

We ain’t stupid: why it’s hard to love LeBron James

(Disclaimer: I usually don't write about the NBA since starting this blog, opting instead to concentrate on helping get the word out on our proudly homegrown basketball leagues/associations. That being said, I just couldn't find it in me not to write about someone who is arguably the best basketball player today, and the frustrations the come with it.)
For all the God given freakish athleticism, high basketball IQ and charisma in the world, there’s a reason why one LeBron James has yet to win the world over. And it’s not simply because he decided to strip his old team balls-out on national television in search of greener pastures—no, it’s because of the player himself. A player so gifted, anything less than a 20,5,5 stat line would be deemed an utter disappointment or travesty. 

Smart Gilas settles for 4th in FIBA Champion's Cup

At this point in time, Smart Gilas has effectively gone from a promising team of amateurs, to one that has fallen victim to its own hype, all the way to today's nice mix of young names and PBA veterans who have re-established what Philippine basketball is all about and should be: teamwork.

Truth be told, when the PBA sent the ill-conceived all star selection to represent the country a couple of years back, guys weren't playing their usual roles on the floor. Instead of making sacrifices on the floor, it was quite clear that some of the players we were rooting and pulling for had their own agendas (re: Arwind Santos, Dondon Hontiveros). Be it showing off for international scouts, not wanting to get hurt or just plain settling for wearing the Philippine colors but not representing and fighting for country-- those guys failed simply because they didn't play as a team.