Talk N Text just four games away from title, Grand Slam

After today's superb 102-90 dismantling of the Barangay Ginebra Kings, head coach Chot Reyes, big boss Manny V. Pangilinan and the rest of the Talk N Text Tropang Texters are moving on to the Governor's Cup Finals.

What's more, they are just four wins away not only from another title, but from being only the third team in the history of the Philippine Basketball Association to clinch the coveted and elusive Grand Slam (San Miguel and Alaska being the others).

There are a lot of factors to consider in TNT's romp, and while they did change imports in the home stretch of the conference (despite a first place record mind you), credit has to go to the locals who are probably playing the best brand of team basketball you can ever dream of. From offense to defense, TNT plays fast and hard on both ends at all time-- a luxury they enjoy thanks to a solid nine to ten man rotation.

While Ginebra and maybe Petron (even after the lopsided Air21 trade) are considered to have the biggest names on paper, TNT has all the tools to stay competitive for the next two to three years barring any injuries or trades.

Jimmy Alapag is still the best point guard in the land no matter how much people try to hype L.A. Tenorio's brilliance (Tenorio is the better floor general, Alapag just the transcendent talent. Think Magsanoc as Tenorio VS Abarrientos as Alapag). Jason Castro has found his niche in the pros not as a high speed point guard but as a scorer (which plays to his strengths since he's not a very good assist man) and Ryan Reyes is, pound for pound, the best defensive 1-2 guard in the PBA (now that Wyne Arboleda is on the decline).

Then you have Ranidel de Ocampo who is arguably the best scoring big man in the league whenever he feels up to the task (maybe a slower, less athletic version of Jun Limpot). I dare you to name a better scorer than de Ocampo who stands 6"7 and you'd probably try to throw Jay Washington's name out there, but his post-up skills are not nearly as polished as RDO's (when RDO feels like posting up anyway).

Complement that with the sharpshooting, high basketball IQ of Larry Fonacier, workhorse-like defense of Aaron Aban (who can also shoot), the combined muscle and grit of Ali Peek and Harvey Carey plus the all-around hustle and athleticism of Kelly Williams and you have yourself a solid rotation that is pretty hard to beat.

Oh, and there's also that small yet huge factor of having a high quality import who can get buckets and help the team.

The style of coaching for Chot Reyes hasn't changed at all in my mind. It brings back memories of when Reyes led Coca Cola (led by Abarrientos, Jeffrey Cariaso and Rudy Hatfield) to the Finals in the early 2000s. That team was a joy to watch (plus, they played Alaska in the Finals--would've been sweeter had Rob Duat not broken Abarrientos' face early in that series).

Can TNT win it all?

YES.

And I'm not even a big TNT fan but there's just no denying that this is indeed their year. Their time.

If this team doesn't win the Governor's Cup, it will still go down as the best group of talented, complementing players ever assembled.

Your thoughts?

Smart Gilas' Fil-foreign wings join PBA draft

Today's biggest basketball news (with football's being the Azkals' loss to the mighty Kuwait team that pretty much showed the difference between a 90+ and a 160+ seed) is the recent application of two of Smart Gilas' more promising perimeter players-- Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz for the PBA Annual Draft.

This comes as a big news since, both players are arguably the most PBA playoff rotation-ready of the Nationals (with Mac Baracael being the third) despite logging in so-so minutes (being forced to play behind "fixed" starter Chris Tiu, or out of position, substituting for each other at the Small Forward position).  Also, it should be noted that there's a high possibility that both players will no longer suit up for Smart Gilas in 2012(depending on which team drafts them-- say, a greedy SMC franchise).

From what we've seen so far, Lassiter's game is a dead ringer for Utah Jazz guard Raja Bell. He is quick on his feet and is an excellent kick-out option from deep. He also slashes to the hoop from time to time, but he makes a living playing defense (I've often argued that Smart Gilas would be a more two-way potent team had they gone with a Casio-Lassiter-Baracael-Aguilar-Douthit starting unit).

Lutz on the other hand, doesn't have the same speed or tenacity as Lassiter but makes up for it with high basketball IQ and a trusty midrange jumpshot. In the PBA, he could be a very solid role player and would fit in disciplined teams such as Alaska or even Rain or Shine. Think Shell-era Tony de la Cruz before Tim Cone showed us all how a player of his talents should be utilized.

Hopefully, more Gilas players apply for the draft so we can see just how good they are playing against the country's best.

In my honest opinion, Andy Barroca needs to apply for the PBA (now that his stock is falling no thanks to the much improved PG play of former gungslinger-ok, he still is- JV Casio) as well as Dylan Ababou (no one remembers you or your UAAP MVP season anymore).

Thoughts on Smart Gilas (89) VS Smart All Stars (98)

Following the disappointing display of basketball ever conducted by a collection of local, professional players, fans started to worry about the chances of Smart Gilas Pilipinas against the visiting Smart All Stars headlined by Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose, Chris Paul and Kevin Durant.

Granted, the PBA selection, just like the rest of us, were probably seeing the NBAers for the first time and made the most of the opportunity by concentrating more on posing for cameras with their idols, asking for autographs and being all giddy fanboys rather than just playing competitive basketball. To say that they were starstruck would be an understatement, and not one player displayed any fire at all to compete at their highest level.

Smart All Star Saturday’s Main Event: NBA VS PBA All Stars

When news first broke-out that several high profile NBA players were coming over to play at the Araneta Coliseum, Kobe Bryant was still in the middle of his Nike Tour and absolutely non-committal (even quoted as to not receiving any invite or proposal from local organizers yet). So naturally, this news was met with a standard Filipino “WEH” or in American English, “Get the F out of here!”

Bryant left to continue his tour, but the “impossible” just wouldn’t die down. Then came an FB message from Mr. Jaemark Tordecilla (the man behind FireQuinito.com who now no longer posts rants on his blog since he is pretty much occupied with his head gig at Akyson TV Sports) that yes, the news was legit. Chot Reyes later posted it on Twitter, and names such as Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant were starting to be thrown around.

Right then and there, everyone was just all giddy. Having those legit NBA All Stars over, just doing interviews, posing for fans and signing autographs would’ve been enough, but to actually see them PLAY as an All Star team? Again, GTFOH!

And we’re not talking about any All Star team, but an actual, “in their primes” core of Team USA. Durant and Rose came from the “B-Team” while Paul and Bryant were from the “Redeem Team.” Wow. Just wow. Add rising stars James “Fear the Beard” Harden, Rookie of the Year awardee Tyreke Evans, promising rookie Derrick Williams and high flying, seven foot specimen JaVale McGee and just about every Filipino basketball fan had their most fulfilling, nerdgasmic wet dream ever.

Azkals-mania aside, future looks bright for Philippine basketball

While everyone (including myself) has been caught up in the football craze powered by the Azkals (still a fitting name, before it used to stand for "homeless" but "asong kalye" is also a term used for *excuse my French* bastard hybrids), its popularity could and should be credited to a lot of things. One and two, it's a NATIONAL team that has SHOWBIZ-worthy faces and bods. Three, we don't get to see them play very often.

Case in point, I bet you that should a football-counterpart of the PBA be made, that it would drive away bandwagoners and organizers would have problems selling out fields worse than the PBA's gate attendance to a Powerade-Meralco game.

With that, people should stop saying that football is better suited for us Filipinos because it relies on speed and not height-- uhm, did you watch the Azkals-Sri Lanka match? A couple of years ago, that is exactly how our team looked. We looked like Sri Lanka. Our players were even shorter and had smaller bodies than our broad-shouldered, Hindu looking neighbors.

Anyway, I am writing this because someone should go out and say it. The future of Philippine basketball looks bright, if not brighter than ever.

Fans, coaches and scouts have probably outgrown their mini love affair with high leaping athletic wings, and are now concentrating on actual basketball players rather than athletes as spearheaded by the Smart Gilas Pilipinas national team.

In both the now import-flavored NCAA and UAAP tournaments, we have seen a return to high scoring, talented shooting guards and big men (okay, so a 6"3 big man would be pushing it in the pros but at least the post game is still alive despite the Dirk Nowitzki-fever).

FEU's RR Garcia, Adamson's Alex Nuyles, DLSU's LA Revilla, UST's Jeric Fortuna, Jeric Teng Kevin Ferrer, NU's Ray Ray Parks (who is forcing it too much but will probably get it as the season unfolds) and Ateneo's monster rookie Kiefer Ravena.

Of the lot, Ravena, if he learns to play PG, will be a star in the PBA. Alex Nuyles is a shoo-in for any Yeng Guiao team, while LA Revilla has the best handles in the amateurs bar none.

Forgive me for not naming any NCAA player, I haven't cared about that league not since the PCU troika of Gabby Espinas-Jason Castro-Rob Sanz (and later Beau Belga).

Here's a couple of UAAP predictions that I'll throw out there just for fun:

Ateneo will be in the finals and will win their 4th chip.

UST will rival Ateneo for basketball supremacy akin to their 2010 Juniors MVPs.

FEU will be in the Final Four, look dominant, and fail/sell out/be controversial yet again.

DLSU will not win a title unless they go back to shopping for Fil-Am point guards and centers (re: Mike Cortez, Don Allado era).

Willie Miller traded to Air21 for Nino Canaleta, 2012 draft pick

While the trade is still up to PBA Commissioner Chito Salud's approval, two time PBA Most Valuable Player Willie Miller has been traded to the Air21 Express for slam dunk artist/three point shooter Nino Canaleta and a 2012 draft pick.

How this helps both teams will probably be felt beyond this conference, as Air21 is already out of contention and other than their import-woes, Ginebra has already zeroed in on a solid nine-man rotation.

Caneleta will probably steal minutes away from JC Intal, but not from defensive anchor Willy Wilson as Uichico has shown a preference for the DLSU Green Archer rather than Intal in close minutes (plus, someone has to play defense after Cortez, Caguioa, Tubid, Wilson and Helterbrand right?).

The 2012 draft pick, if they're lucky, could turn out to be a Smart Gilas alum-- which will always be a bonus in my book because of the international exposure and training those boys have had.

For Air21, either they are starting to reload to become a relevant force next season, or they are looking to trade their recent stars (Dondon Hontiveros, Danny Seigle and Willie Miller) for younger players-- or, to split it with their sister team (since Air21 was able to buy the Barako Bull franchise a few weeks back).

To be quite honest, I can't name a two-time MVP who has been traded as many times as "The Thriller."

Ginebra locals take charge, wins over B-Meg

In a league that puts a premium on scoring, it should come as no surprise that the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings have won their second straight game despite missing the services of super import Curtis Stinson. Not when you have the luxury of scorers like Mark Caguioa, Ronald Tubid, John Wilson, Eric Menk and even a still-groping-for-form Jayjay Helterbrand at your disposal.

Yesterday’s come-from-behind 89-85 victory over the B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados is proof that when motivated, this team can hold its own against some of the better teams in the league regardless with or without an import AND even two time Most Valuable Player awardee Willie Miller.

To their credit, the Llamados came up with a superb game but was just outplayed in the fourth canto. Import Darnell Hinson played like his job was on the line (which was rumored to be the case), while James Yap and PJ Simon chipped in 14 a piece. It should be noted that new addition Joe DeVance started the game waxing hot, taking advantage of his high basketball IQ and feathery touch to dismantle the Kings’ defensive gameplan early on, only to fizzle out as the game progressed (why am I not surprised?).

According to reports, the Kings’ are all set to fly in another D-League veteran to replace the injured Stinson, but I don’t think anyone minds seeing the Kings’ guards take over games (specially those who have been begging Ginebra head coach Jong Uichico to play Helterbrand, Caguioa, Wilson, Tubid, Labagala and even Miller or Aquino—if he ever cracks their rotation).

San Miguel all set to join ASEAN Basketball League

Author's note: my apologies for being unable to post as much as before, Destiny Cable-BTV and work-related drama aside, I'll slowly rebuild this site from the ground up and write about the only sport I've grown to love: Filipino basketball.

The minute Noli Eala was called on by the San Miguel franchise to serve as one of their higher ranking sports development officers, you just knew that he'd make it back to the limelight and steal some thunder from the Philippine Basketball Association-- Asia's oldest play for pay league and the very outfit that kicked him out after a personal issue (so yes Sir Jaemark of FireQuinito.com, while I find your Eala-bashing amusing, I still feel that maybe we could go easy on the guy even if he comes off as a douche).

Contrary to earlier reports, San Miguel will not take over the AirAsia Philippine Patriots' spot on the ABL roster. Rather, it will be the second Filipino-backed franchise which could very well be a teaser to an all-Pinoy ABL finals at some point in the very near future. And as of this writing, would be SMC's 4th basketball team (alongside Petron, Ginebra and BMeg in the PBA). No reports yet if they're going to pull one of the three teams mentioned and send that to the ABL (doubtful really).

What will San Miguel's transfer do (other than make SMC richer by adding to their global brand/image of course)?

- More Filipino basketball players will have jobs either with SMB or as imports for other squads (as seen last conference)
- Make the ABL more competitive in terms of style of play

- Added exposure for Asian players, since SMC is a global brand and the ABL has a solid partnership in place with ESPN Star Sports (which could open the doors for the first Filipino NBA player *hey, if you're going to dream then dream big right?*)

- Put a premium on ABL basketball and could very well take away from the PBA fanbase (specially if Chris Tiu and some of those Smart Gilas boys decide/ realize that there's a real chance of more money and fame in the ABL.)

- Give SMC the edge over Team MVP who has pretty much taken over the role played by SMC in the Filipino community basketball or otherwise for years.

That being said, don't be surprised if MVP follows suit and forms his own ABL franchise.

Overall, this development is good for basketball, the players and the Philippines (why wouldn't it when we'll have a 2/7 or 8 chance to bring home another title?).

What do you think?