PBA Draft 2011: Best fit vs best talent available

Now that all the PBA draft 2011 secrecy has been made public with yesterday's annual celebration, did teams get the right guy who could make an impact and address a certain need or did they simply opt for the best available talent, regardless of the position played?

1 Powerade/ Jayvee Casio
After making it known that they were on "rebuilding" mode following the trade of Dennis Espino, acquisition of Doug Kramer, Rob Reyes' early retirement and release of Chico Lanete, Powerade had two choices: build with a PG or a Center. From top to bottom it was pretty ascertain that this was the year of the guards. Coach Bo Perasol has made it known even before that they were going with Casio, and get him they did. He's a shoo-in to start for the Tigers and has the size and touch to keep defenders honest. And if the events that ultimately led to the ugly Wyne-gate is any indication of his mental toughness, then the Tigers definitely got themselves a keeper/ franchise PG.

2 Rain or Shine/ Paul Lee
One look at Lee and you just know that he's a Yeng Guiao type of guy. His college coach, Lawrence Tiongson practically preaches the same hard-nosed, run and attack system. With Lee, Guiao finds himself with a quality player who is craftier than lead PG TY Tang and proven more consistent than on again-off again option at SG Ryan Buenafe.

3 Petron/ Chris Lutz
How on earth did Petron get their greasy (and I say that with all disgust since this brand, after winning the title, raised gas prices on us Pinoys lol) hands on this pick? Not only did they manage to get a solid wing who can defend and shoot, but they were also able to reacquire the services of a guy who will probably be Lutz' mentor 'til the Fil-Am rookie gets his feet wet in Dondon Hontiveros.

4 Powerade / Marcio Lassiter
The rebuilding continues for Powerade, who were so bad last season that they had no choice but to reactivate Will Antonio's career for stretches. If Perasol can be convinced to run a Casio-Lassiter backcourt, then there's not a doubt in my mind that this will be one of the more exciting teams in the PBA. Casio to provide the clutch, Lassiter to act as slasher/ defender in that Ronald Tubid role.

5 Shopinas.Com/ Andy Barroca
As you all know, B-Meg decided to reinforce an old trade clause so Barroca's definitely headed to the Llamados regardless. What Shopinas.com should do here is ask for concessions and not to simply just give the pick to B-Meg. Best return would be PJ Simon or even a Joe DeVance. If not, then this was a wasted pick as far as Shopinas.com is concerned. B-Meg needs a PG to spell Roger Yap and eventually take over, and that's what they got in steady Andy Barroca whose slashing ways could create huge openings for volume shooters like James Yap and Simon.

6 Alaska/ Mac Baracael
Other than being the best available talent left on the table, I don't know where Baracael fits in exactly other than to become Tony Dela Cruz' eventual replacement at the wing position. It would be fun to see if Tim Cone can get through Baracael who has a tendency to lose focus in games and wave off orders from the bench.

7 Meralco / Jason Ballesteros
This pick makes the most sense as far as addressing a need is concerned. Asi Taulava is a relic who should be brushed off only for international tournaments while Marlou Aquino is just a sad case. Ballesteros, at a bruising 6"6, can quickly come in and create a fearsome troika with Sol Mercado and Mac Cardona by anchoring the Bolts' defense. If he still has the same game we saw last at San Sebastian, then the bolts are in good shape. If he somehow forgot all the post-up moves that made him a monster with the Stags because of being buried at Smart Gilas, then Meralco is going to be in for another long season.

8 Barako Bull/ Allein Maliksi
Surprise first round pick? Or is he? Well, he IS a PBA Developmental League MVP and that's always going to be hard to argue against (he won it over Calvin "The Beast" Abueva too so that says a lot). I haven't really seen much of Maliksi to make a proper diagnosis, but reports have it that he has improved tremendously since that forgettable stint at UST.

9 Barangay Ginebra/ Reil Cervantes
Finally! Ginebra goes against Jong Uichico's long and storied tradition of opting for guards and going for an actual center/ banger. He could've gone with Ken Acibar with this pick, but opted for the more polished, workhorse Cervantes who doesn't really need the ball to be effective. The guy played with names like Barroca, Baracael and that other dude who were pretty much 100% of FEU's offense and settled for scraps. I do recall however, that Cervantes more than held his own against UST's man-mountain Jervy Cruz (before he lost all the weight for the PBA and disappeared completely because of being an undersized PF).

10 Barako Bull/ Dylan Ababou
Are we sleeping on Ababou? Yes. But rightfully so. I would even go far as saying that minus the Smart Gilas bench stint, Ababou's performance the last two years merits him a second round pick, not first. Where will Ababou fit in the Bulls' rotation? Well, there's a void in the 4 spot that he can pick up should Danny Seigle be switched to the 3-spot/ or get injured. I don't really expect anything from the former UAAP MVP, we've seen it before. He can play, he's proven that, but he only plays when he's motivated or trying to prove something to someone (which he isn't at most times).

Other notable picks:

11 Shopinas.Com/ Magi Sison
I pray that Magi Sison has the same genetic structure as Arwind Santos. Or fellow rook Paul Lee hands him some-hundred boxes of Appeton. He has legit post moves, but not the bulk to bang. What I don't like about Sison is that he's as slow-footed as Marlou Aquino minus the height and heft which is crucial in today's ultra-athletic and competitive PBA.

13 Alaska/ Eric Salamat
Not good enough to steal minutes away from Cyrus Baguio, but definitely a better option for Tim Cone as a backup at the 2 or even for star guard L.A. Tenorio. Salamat plays solid man-to-man defense and has also shown some spunk and fearlessness when the going gets tough.

14 Alaska/ Julius Pasculado
The Internet world loves him and has even made mix-tapes, but it's quite obvious that Cone opted to play the safe card by drafting Salamat first. We still don't know enough about Pasculado, and how he would fit in a system as strict as Alaska's. Either it works out and Cone finally gets that elusive star at the SG since Kenneth Duremdes OR Pasculado fades into obscurity and we write about Salamat and how his salute could earn him a new monicker from Quinito Henson: Sergeant. Get it? When he plays beside "The Lieutenant" Tenorio? I can see the stupid grin from Henson's face right now the minute Salamat receives a nice, behind the back kick-out pass from Tenorio, buries a three and salutes the Aces' crowd.

19 Ken Acibar/ Barako Bull
Maliksi, Ababou and now Acibar? I say that the Bulls went in the PBA Draft with a plan and executed it to perfection. They added guys who could play the wings and have enough to switch to PF. If everything works out the way I picture it to be, we'll see a line-up of Wyne Arboleda, Willie Miller, Maliksi, Ababou and Pena with Acibar as a building block for the future. What I also love about the pick is that Acibar will learn how to rebound like a man from the best of 'em in Pena.

All-in-all, it was a solid draft as far as local talent is concerned. Yes, there was an obvious shortage of big men and starpower outside of Smart Gilas, but from a talent standpoint, guys from one to 11 are all good enough to start for any PBA team NOW as compared to previous years' wherein we'd have only two to three recognizable names and PBA-ready guys.

Shopinas.Com Clickers ready to make an impact

If Shiela Lina and newly signed head coach Franz Pumaren are to be believed, we are looking at perhaps a future title contender in the PBA with a team anchored on Pumaren's uptempo yet defensive-minded philosophy.

As of this writing, the franchise still holds the rights to Barako Bulls' players who were adopted via the dispersal draft namely: Marlou Aquino, Pong Escobal, Jojo Duncil, Lordy Tugade, Borgie Hormida and Aries Dimaunahan. That, plus the fifth overall pick in this Sunday's PBA draft.

Given the order of drafting, it would be safe to assume that the Clickers would land either Mac Barracael or Marcio Lassiter (as the top three would probably be a toss up among Jayvee Casio, Paul Lee and Andy Barroca) which isn't all that bad. Far from it. Lassiter could be a diamond in the rough if given more freedom (he has game and spunk) while Baracael is a legit PBA-ready player who can be asked to switch from SG, SF all the way up to PF on both offense and defense.

Of the BB list, only Borgie Hermida and Jojo Duncil should be given a look at the very least. Aquino's just a basketball player by name, Escobal's just another warm body while who knows when Tugade and Dimaunahan will start breaking down due to age and injuries?

Either way, expect Pumaren to tap into some UAAP standouts who are plying their trade over at Liga Pilpinas (a lot of UST and ADMU names are associated with SMART Pampanga) or the ABL.

On a lighter note, I have trouble understanding why the Air21 Express would even bother changing their name into Barako Bull (which will now be known as Shopinas.Com). I understand that these are two separate PBA franchises, but they are owned by pretty much the same team. Why couldn't Air21 just carry Shopinas.Com and leave Barako Bull as is, or bring back the Burger King Whoppers (which I love since the PBA looks so much better when the teams are all well-known brands).

Also, wouldn't it be funny if Shiela Lina and Shopinas.com become the new Air21 in more ways than one? Like having its own private website for teams looking to make upgrades via trade? Each Clicker will have his own website complete with downloadable PDF profile, stats and a YouTube mixtape for scouts/ other teams to view and a counter to place their bids? Yeah. You heard/read it here first! Online shopping is the way of the future!

The Top 10 names in the 2011 PBA Draft

While some fans have bought into the Media hype that this is the deepest draft in recent memory, I choose to argue otherwise and that only about 10 to 12 guys will make it as rotation players in the PBA and about three to four as legit, potential PBA superstars.

That being said, you might raise an eyebrow or two with the names that I'm going to throw out there, but you never know in this league. Not when teams draft Jai Reyes and groom him as a future Johnny Abarrientos or Joseph Yeo is picked before Gabby Espinas in one of the draft history's biggest blunders/travesties.

1 JAYVEE CASIO
There's no other player in the country at present who has made a better argument for himself or raised his value draft-wise as Casio. Be it as a clutch shooter for San Beda and De La Salle or more recently, as SMART Gilas' go-to-guy and heady point guard with nerves of steel and balls the size of grapefruits.
2 PAUL LEE
Lee lost some steam by opting out of the SMART Gilas program (probably because he didn't want to play behind lesser talent *cough* Chris Tiu *cough* before wanting in late and finally settling in the PBA's Developmental League. But make no mistake about it, of all the names on the table, Lee is arguably the best and proven player pound for pound on both ends of the court. Everyone knows he can score, but then he went out of his way to learn how to play team ball at UE and later on, adding man-to-man defense as well as how to transition from SG to PG when needed. There's not a doubt in my mind that if given the right opportunities, Lee will blossom into a PBA superstar.

3 ANDY BARROCA
Another FEU point-god who was burning players in the international level before Casio's ascension, Barroca is that rare combination of speed and intelligence lost in today's flashier point guards. Think UAAP L.A. Tenorio (he slowed down a bit in the PBA), minus the step back three ball and that's pretty much how Barroca is as a point guard (and taller). One thing going for him is that, he doesn't mind coming off the bench and always follows his coaches to the "T."

4 MARCIO LASSITER
There's a lot going for Lassiter in the draft, one of which is his US pedigree. Another thing I've grown to like about the Fil-Am wing is that he seems to play with a lot of intensity and is fearless. He's hit big shots for SMART Gilas before, and he plays the type of pesky defense that old school coaches like Yeng Guiao, Jong Uichico and Ato Agustin love.

5 MAC BARACAEL
The only positions that Baracael can't play, or at least we haven't seen him as, are shooting guard and center. Other than that, Baracael follows in that new line of Filipino wings who can play defense, shoot, run and jump out of the gym (okay, maybe not so much). At the moment, Baracael is the only player other than Paul Lee who may be considered as "PBA big minutes" ready.

6 ERIC SALAMAT
Here's the thing with Ateneans and other champion UAAP players: you can't really tell how good they are because of their school's systems. Salamat, who's known as a key contributor off the bench, is exactly that. In short minutes, his passion and tenacity often lights up his teammates, the crowd as well as the scoreboard. In instances where he's asked to player longer, he shows that he is prone to fouls and turnovers as well as some bone headed plays here and there. Can he be a starter at SG? For lower seeded teams yes, but he is a back-up PG at best.
7 CHRIS LUTZ 
Another SMART Gilas Fil-Am wing who appears to be a solid system player who can shoot and defend. The only thing that bothers me really and has left me unconvinced is that, he doesn't seem to have that same fire as his teammates Casio, Lassiter, Barroca and Baracael. Almost like he's going through the motions and is content to be a solid rotation player-- not a star.

8 DYLAN ABABOU
People will sleep on Ababou because, quite frankly, he's been sleeping on us the entire time with Smart Gilas. He wasn't able to win over Rajko Toroman and land a spot on the regular rotation, so why would PBA teams take a chance on the former UAAP MVP other than his affiliation? Personally, I want Ababou to end up with a losing team, just so he can be thrown out there in an instant, get his confidence up and show that old MVP form of his as the closest thing we have to a Jun Limpot (big man with legit skills and a high basketball IQ).

9 REIL CERVANTES

He's big, he can bang and he has legit, back-to-the-basket moves. In a UAAP dream world without Jhervy Cruz, Rabah Al Hussaini or Ford Arao, Cervantes could be the best slotman coming out of college. Right now, his game is more polished than that of Alaska's Sonny Thoss. Hopefuly, his fire can make up for his lack of height.
10 ALLEN MALIKSI
No one knows about Maliksi other than his recent stint as PBA D-League MVP (which I feel should've gone to Calvin "The Beast" Abueva). I've seen a few of his games and yes, he can definitely shoot the ball with the best of them. But his lack in heft might hold him back and probably earn him a sure tryout spot for an ABL team (if Patrick Cabahug couldn't make it, then all bets are off unless this guy has great backers/handlers).

KKS SLEEPER: KEN ACIBAR
A.K.A. Paul Lee's favorite drop-to guy in the UAAP. This kid can play and already has the body of a young Danny Ildefonso. Hopefully he doesn't drop the ball and continues to build around a solid inside-out, Kerby-ish game.

Who's your Top 10 for this Sunday's draft?

Petron refuels in time, wins Governor's Cup title

Remember last conference when the then newly renamed Petron Blaze Boosters were pretty much hated on by every single San Miguel (and even non-SMB fans) for trading some of its core pieces in hopes of staying as a contender in the next three years?

Or how everyone wanted Ato Agustin's head on a plate because of his questionable rotations and lack of in-game adjustments?

Well, all is now forgiven.

While people will undoubtedly be writing about how Petron denied Talk 'n' Text's Grand Slam bid, let's concentrate on how special the team that won the Governor's Cup title is. Even if they had to win it by plugging in gaping holes with names like Paolo Hubalde and one-time UAAP UST hero Jojo Duncil.

1.  A shorter rotation means a fixed rotation
Arwind Santos no longer had to share air and floor space with athletic yet not-so-polished Jay Washington whenever he freelances in the paint. Denok Miranda was a lock at the PG while Alex Cabagnot slipped into the SG spot where he may not be as effective a scorer, but great as a ball handler and is another guy who keeps the ball moving. And whenever Danny Ildefonso is healthy, he is the best center in the PBA bar none (Espino's injuries have slowed him down the last five years, and Sonny Thoss is still a solid system player but not a star). Yes, they were depleted, but man for man, Petron had the healthier players and it showed. TNT's guards weren't running or driving as hard and were easy covers for bloodhounds like FEU stalwarts Santos and Miranda, and TNT's bigs are BIG but tissue soft in the paint and allergic to banging (which is big considering they had Peek, Carey and De Ocampo but were all schooled by Ildefonso).

2.  More playing time for Denok
It's no secret. And it has always bothered me that Alex Cabagnot played more minutes than Denok Miranda. Of the two, Miranda has the titles to back his claim for more minutes. Us fans, from his days back with FEU, to Viva and Santa Lucia all know and recognize that his game has more substance than Cabagnot. Now, it's so fulfilling to see him finally getting the playing time and "running with the ball" so to speak. Once Petron gets their SGs back, who knows if Miranda will still be playing this many minutes but if this series is any indication, he is arguably one of the league's better and headier guards (and he can now shoot too!)

3.  Ato Agustin goes all "Release the Kraken!" with star Arwind Santos
How did Agustin utilize the Swiss army knife greatness of Santos? Simple, let him run amock. Santos was pretty much all over the floor, showing that he is the best Filipino basketball player out there (and that's not media hype. Media hype would be Mico Halili et. al.'s love affair with Jay Washington). It's not like Agustin didn't have a prototype in how to handle a guy like Santos too (re: Calvin Abueva with the San Sebastian Stags who is someone that I'd love to see Santos play against, one-on-one). Santos had the series that LeBron James had versus Chicago. He covered everyone from Kelly Williams, Jimmy Alapag, Ranidel de Ocampo, Maurice Baker all the way up to Jayson Castro and blocked the shit out of them each and every time. Hell, if Ato Agustin asked Santos to guard Marc Agustin from the police, I wouldn't be surprised if Ato's temperamental son made it out of the country undetected! Every time TNT missed a shot, Santos was almost always sure to grab the rebound. And like the great Pat Riley would say, "No rebounds, no rings."

4.  Vintage Danny Ildefonso
Kick Ali Peek's ass? Check. School Harvey Carey? Check. Make a mockery of Ranidel de Ocampo? Check. Sweet jumpers from all corners? Check. Flex for fans? Check. This was "Demolition Danny" at his best in years (before injuries and that stupid 100 million Peso Tanduay offer got in the way).

5.  Anthony Grundy

Re-united and it feels so good doesn't it?

What would've happened had TNT's Ryan Reyes not been injured? I say, Grundy would've worked a lot harder on offense (ask James Yap, Willie Miller, etc.). Instead, Grundy was a walking mismatch. First, he was shooting TNT's import Scottie Reynolds face off. And when Mo Baker came in, Grundy shot his face off once he figured out how to work around the slower TNT replacement import. It also didn't help TNT's cause that Mark Yee had to grab so much attention to how Baker was being defended with that "up yours" episode of his.

All in all, I feel that the biggest difference was when Petron started throwing elbows and handing out hidden physical plays that TNT just wasn't used to/ ready for. TNT was running on fumes, and being hit time and again took the fight out of them. Credit goes to Ato Agustin for coaching this series "Old school" realizing that while he had a shortage in talent, he had an abundance of healthy guys ready to hand out ass-whoopings Stone Cold style.

The minute Denok Miranda played more than 10 minutes with his buddy Arwind Santos, the complexion of the series titled in favor of Petron (and brought in legit title hopes and nostalgia of their winning ways in the amateurs) who are now your Governor's Cup champions.

NO GRANDSLAM: Talk 'n' Text runs out of battery, settles for 2nd place

Take nothing away from the gallant Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters who lost 73-85 to the Petron Blaze Boosters and were literally running on fumes the entire Governor's Cup Finals-- a painful testament to the three consecutive finals appearances (that resulted in back to back titles) this season.

Today's game showed the Texters at their worst, indecisive and uncharacteristically statuesque in both offense and defense. If anything, the players looked exhausted and seemed to have been waiting for one of their own to step up and carry them through (a role usually played by Jayson Castro who was playing hurt and even sprained his good leg's ankle in the 2nd half).

Here's a shortlist of what I see caused TNT's downfall this series:

1.  Hurting backcourt
For all the negativity, Jimmy Alapag still played one hell of a season (Best Player of the Commissioner's Cup) before doing a "Miami Heat's LeBron James in the NBA Finals" from game three onwards. Yes, there are solid claims that he was playing hurt, but we failed to see that same fire and fight in the "Mighty Mouse" on several occasions. Jayson Castro played like an MVP and has nothing but titles and accolades on his future. Unforunately, as good as he is, no one can put up HUGE numbers while playing with an MCL tear, let alone a sprained ankle on the other leg. Ryan Reyes, another key contributor on both ends of the floor with his outside sniping and defensive hustle, was also hurt. In case you haven't been paying attention all season long, these three are the backbone of TNT's uptempo style of basketball.

2.  If Ranidel de Ocampo's your go-to-guy, you're not going to win big
This series showed why, despite all the positives from Mico Halili and other color commentators, RDO will never live up to his potential. He is arguably the best big man in the series, yet opted to shoot from deep when he could've taken it into the paint. The only player on the Petron end that could stop RDO was Arwind Santos, and that guy was busy locking Alapag and Castro down. So what does RDO do? Spot up for threes. The turnover that sealed TNT's fate best captures his take on the game and the disappointment us fans of homegrown Pinoy big men have felt over the years.

3.  Chot Reyes' bullish arrogance/ loyalty to his rotation
The difference between TNT and Petron who both had "depleted" line-ups but on different terms? One adjusted on the fly, the other didn't or couldn't. Yes, Reyes made the genius move of changing imports mid-Finals. But he bullishly believed that he still had enough talent on his roster, injuries and all, to beat Petron. On the other side of the fence, since Petron coach Ato Agustin had little to work with, he knew where to go and who should be on the floor at all times (Miranda, Santos and Ildefonso). Reyes could've brought in Jarred Dillinger (who has been buried as a 4th option at PG) to provide some spark whenever Castro, Reyes, Alapag and even the inconsistent Larry Fonacier were off but he didn't. He wanted to put an emphasis on defense, when all he really needed was more firepower.

4.  No answer for Arwind Santos  
There was a time when Kelly Williams was seen as Santos' equal-- superior even. But then Santos kept working on his game (and putting on some good muscle), while Williams suffered some blood disorders and what not before being traded to TNT and made to do the dirty work. Santos made an impact on pretty much the entire series be it on offense or defense, which I will write on my Petron entry up next.

5.  Lack of ceiling/ muscle
What if Ranidel de Ocampo played exclusively in the paint and drew in defenders and kicked out to Alapag, Reyes, Fonacier and import Maurice Baker? What if Ali Peek were three inches taller, to at least see eye-to-eye with Petron's Danny Ildefonso? Sadly, TNT's shortage in legit post-up bigs caught up to them in this series. Once their guards went out the door with various injuries, TNT went from Fully Loaded, to "Pasaloaded."

Again, this loss doesn't mean that TNT didn't play well this series or the whole season, it just so happened that even the best fall down to age, injuries and a more driven team.

Ateneo dynasty

It took Ateneo de Manila University time before it became a legit UAAP powerhouse. In the 90s, Ateneo wasn't even considered to be on the same class as rival De La Salle University, always finishing outside of the top spot behind perennial contenders University of Santo Tomas, Far Eastern University and the University of the East.

But my, oh my, time indeed changes everything.

A boatload of MVP-ish sponsorship later and we are bound to see another rare four-peat by the still undefeated Blue Eagles who are seated atop the UAAP ranks with a 9-0 card.

The pieces are there, and they just keep on coming. Yes, DLSU has indeed scored on some RP Youth standouts and even UST, but Ateneo still has the biggest names and just keeps on adding to it-- this year with SMART Gilas slotman 6"11 Greg Slaughter (who is still a project skills-wise, but is the most dominant force in the paint given his mobility and height) and the "Phenom" Kiefer Ravena (who, in his first year, already has Ateneo jerseys being sold by the dozen, his own website and Facebook fanpage among others).

Do I see the Eagles winning this year's title? Definitely and it's not even close. Should the Eagles lose to an unseen underdog, I would be truly disappointed.

And no, I don't see the team dipping once Slaughter and Kirk Long move on with their lives (Long won't be eligible to play in the PBA because he's not Filipino, but hey, maybe he can suit up for the San Miguel Beermen in the Asean Basketball League). Next season, we're looking at Ravena and hopefully more polished Justin Chua (who's damn tall himself).

The only way I see this team losing is if one of their rivals get a Sam Ekwe-ish import and masquerade him as an honest-to-goodness "student" and pair him with a Ray Ray Parks or Jeric Fortuna.

OR

If DLSU goes back to their winning blueprint of getting Fil-Am guards and letting them wreak havoc in the UAAP.

PBA Governor's Cup Game 7: It's winning time!

It's going to be a war out there tonight, and I will stick to my original prediction that Talk 'n' Text will rise to the occasion as a team and come out with their third straight title and be recognized as the league's only 3rd Grand Slam franchise.

If Game 6 were any indication, it clearly showed the disparity in talent between both teams. Petron has managed to survive through vintage performance Danny Ildefonso, the super human efforts of Arwind Santos and the resurrection of Denok Miranda's playing career as a high-caliber point guard. On the other hand, TNT, whenever it had its best pieces on the floor, continues to be just downright unstoppable.

Will Petron take advantage of TNT's many injuries? They should, since Jayson Castro and Ryan Reyes are both playing at 60%. If anything, Petron needs to put Arwind Santos on Castro and someone rough like Sunday Salvacion and Ray Guevarra on Reyes to make TNT's injured prized guards work harder on both ends of the court.

TNT only needs to push the tempo and attack the rim at a hellish, bull-headed pace. Petron doesn't have the defensive frontline that has made it a force in the early years, having to rely on an aging Ildefonso whose best back-up is equally aging and more slow-footed Mick Pennisi. If someone can wake Jimmy Alapag from his slumber and convince him to drive more by giving him more screens from the outside, then he could finally shut some people up and show his MVP form if only for a game.

Keep an eye on Alapag, Castro, Reyes and Harvey Carey tonight as I believe those four will come in and give Petron hell.

At Petron's end, I hope to see another 20-14 performance from Santos, and wouldn't mind if Danny Ildefonso gets a dunk in there and "raises the roof" off the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

Still, I pick TNT to win it all and would be surprised if they don't.

Breaking news: Dondon out of Gilas, Paul Lee or JV Casio?

While local basketball junkies are still recovering from the recently concluded Petron-Talk 'n' Text match, there were other basketball-related news floating around which saw the light of print be it on paper or the Internet.

Dondon Hontiveros withdraws from SMART Gilas program

Despite what you and I think, Hontiveros clearly showed signs of aging in the Williams Jones Cup. Yes, he had that vintage game versus Japan I'll give you that. But he struggled to play defense (his bread and butter whenever his shooting was off) and was committing one too many turnovers (which, for an accomplished veteran like himself, was a no-no). He has already proven his gifts and played for our country one too many times, and his withdrawal should be seen as a positive since it would allow Gilas to get a younger SG in the future. Either way, daghang salamat Cebuano Hotshot!

Who should go first in the PBA 2011 draft; Paul Lee or JV Casio

Paul Lee has finally decided to throw his hat in the PBA Draft and is my automatic choice for the number one pick. Yes, Casio has shown that he is clutch at the PG spot for Gilas, but Lee is a legit PBA superstar SG. We've seen what he could do in UE when in his first year alone he was already drawing comparisons to DLSU's Joseph Yeo-- which he quickly shed off by becoming a more complete player by playing D and learning to pass to teammates. In the PBL and the PBA Developmental League, he dominated and played both guard positions with ease. Now tell me why I should pick Casio, who will face stronger PGs in the PBA like Denok Miranda, Ryan Reyes and Jayson Castro over Lee again? Powerade or Welcoat both need a guy like Lee, and this one should be a no brainer regardless if Casio joins the draft or not.

Why Japeth Aguilar left off the SMART Gilas "wish list" five

Serbian head coach Rajko Toroman probably gave up on the athletic Aguilar who has not learned to shoot from the outside with consistency or play in the paint. He's a flashy workhorse, we'll give him that, but with his history of injuries and bull-headedness, maybe a year or two in the PBA wherein he won't be babied by opponents and fans will force him to work on his game. That, or he ends up being a taller Raffi Reavis-- which isn't a bad thing really, but frustrating for a guy with the potential of being the best athletic big man in the PBA since Mon Fernandez.

TNT Reveals Heart of Champions; trashes Petron 104-78

In what should be considered as another blockbuster and high quality basketball atmosphere in Filipino basketball standards, the Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters were able to salvage a blowout loss versus the recently fancied Petron Blaze Boosters.

Though the Boosters started the game hot behind arguably the best local talent in the PBA today Arwind Santos, TNT was quick to counter by pulling out a jittery Kelly Williams and sacrificing rebounding in favor of Jayson Castro (who was a game time decision) and his blitzkrieg scoring.

And blitzkrieg it was. Castro, who has long built his reputation as an attack point guard was literally raining ice cold buckets on the confused Boosters. Either he was dropping bombs from the outside, or slashing hard into the paint and dishing out bullet kick-out passes, the man was flat-out Derrick Rose-esque unstoppable.

From then on, the Boosters didn't know what to do on defense and their game fell apart. It also helped that TNT, which gambled on Game 6 replacement Maurice Baker over the ineffective Scottie Reynolds, held his counterpart Anthony Grundy to an abysmal scoring night.

Credit should go to TNT's Castro for his superhuman effort despite a rumored MCL tear and also to another unsung hero, Ryan Reyes, who was clearly limping but was seen in several instances battling through screens and just holding his own against Grundy.

Now I know why the Boosters enjoyed a 3-2 series lead prior to today's pivotal Game 6. Reyes and Castro, TNT's best guards today (I'm sorry Jimmy Alapag fans including myself) are playing hurt. There's a difference when you're running a short rotation of healthy guys (as Petron does) and playing your stars while they're at 60% capacity.

Had Reyes and Castro been healthy to start the series, I believe that this would've been over in 4 or 5 games.

Hat's off to Ranidel de Ocampo, who still plays like a SG and must be the cause of Coach Chot Reyes' constant frustrations. Danny Ildefonso is the best big man in this series in the paint, but if RDO decided to play closer to the basket instead of waiting for kick-out threes, he won't be so bad in there as well.

Fortunately for him, his shots were falling and that someone probably got on his case during halftime because he was grabbing rebounds and boxing out more in the second half rather than the first.

But here we are, looking forward to Game 7. A fitting end to the return of the Governor's Cup, with a great and competitive match-up that will decide the Grandslam hopes of one team, and the valiant stand of a depleted one.

Oh yeah, I called it. I said that TNT will win via blowout and they did. Hopefully, the don't spoil the fun I'm having with my predictions, make me look like a basketball blogging genius and win on Sunday.

Either way, I'm having fun watching the games and just being a true blue PBA fan.

Petron turns table on Talk 'n' Text, only a win away from title

Are the Talk 'n' Text players finally breaking down mentally amid all the pressures of the "Grandslam or bust" brought forth by the local media?

In all honesty, there's nothing wrong should the Tropang Texters lose the Governor's Cup title to their now esteemed rivals, the Petron Blaze Boosters. Though it will definitely ruin their "grandslam" bid, it won't be enough to take away what they have accomplished this year-- winning and dominating both Philippine and Commissioner's Cup conferences.

What makes last night's 93-80 loss is that it wasn't even close or competitive considering Petron's depleted (yet it now seems to be more well-balanced) line-up.

Was it Jayson Castro's absence?

Or has Petron head coach Ato Agustin *gasp!* finally figured out how to stop the TNT juggernaut?

I say, a little of both.

Castro's absence shouldn't have been THAT much of a hindrance considering the guys left on the roster. What's obvious here is that newly minted MVP Jimmy Alapag has been struggling and partner Ryan Reyes is being taken out of the equation by several cross matches.

Agustin, in the last two wins, has decided to stick his MVP Arwind Santos on PBA MVP Alapag which is pretty much like how the Miami Heat negated NBA MVP Derrick Rose in the recent playoffs. Alapag, though he's no longer the high scorer of yesteryears, is still the guy who the entire TNT squad looks to follow on the court. Unfortunately, it's hard to find Alapag when you have a guy like Santos draped all over him like a wet towel.

Then there's Ryan Reyes, who is being guarded by then Santa Lucia backcourt partner Denok Miranda. Those two are arguably the best defenders on the PG spot and it is showing. Miranda's advantage, as with most Filipino guards, is his moxy and gulang that Fil-ams just don't have. What hurts TNT is, Reyes is expected to at least contribute on offense, while Miranda is not. Meaning, Miranda's break-out games are a byproduct of TNT not locking him up as opposed to Reyes who is watched by his Kuya Nok 24/7.

Another "change" has come in the way the games are being played. In an all out footrace and battle of athleticism, there's no denying that TNT will whoop Petron's ass from players 3 to 14 (1 and 2 being Santos and the injured Jay Washington). In last night's game, Ali Peek was being taken out of the whole game by a lot of pushing, shoving, hacking (Sunday Salvacion), jersey grabbing (Danny Ildefonso) and the like, same with Harvey Carey. Ranidel de Ocampo, arguably this series' best big man ON PAPER, would've made a big difference but is back to playing way outside and settling for spot-up jumpers (if you're a Smart Gilas fan, you'd be worried and begging Rajko Toroman to get another PBA PF as an import).

The tide has indeed changed and the name of the game is "old school, grind it out, Filipino basketball" that Petron's stalwarts of Santos, Miranda, Ildefonso and Salvacion know and love while TNT's Alapag, Fonacier, Peek and De Ocampo seem to be having problems with.

While I still see TNT pulling it off in seven games, we won't be hearing any "benta" rumors when this is all said and done. Not with the current MVP-SMC rivalry, which I believe is good for the league as a whole, looking into the future.

SMART Gilas: Who should stay, go

Andy to Chris: Pare mauna na ako ha.

Following the recent developments within the SMART Gilas fold, team members who have applied for the upcoming 2011 PBA Draft are rumored to be having second thoughts. Guys like Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz who are both being eyed as certain Top 5 draft picks, are mulling withdrawal now that the Gilas program is a lock to continue for another two years.

Rumor has it that there will be an even bigger compensation waiting for these guys including names like Mac Baracael, Andy Barroca and Jason Ballesteros as compared to the PBA's fixed maximum rookie salary of Php 150,000.

But let's breakdown the team as it is. Who should stay on with the program, and who should move on to the PBA (before it's too late)

Stay

JV Casio
There will always be a spot on any team in the PBA for a high IQ, clutch PG like Casio and him playing for Gilas has been nothing but a revelation as he continues to build his credibility and move from long time San Beda/DLSU gunner to a Ronnie Magsanoc 2.0.

Chris Tiu
Yes, I will continue to bash the minutes that this guy receives from the coaching staff. But Tiu's game is definitely built for Toroman's system, and he is the most recognizable face on the line-up that will help put this team over with non-basketball fans. I fear that once he sets foot in the PBA and doesn't end up with an MVP team, that all his flaws will be exposed and that he will suffer a career similar to Gec Chia (one time Ateneo hero, PBA blah).

Mac Baracael
I want Baracael to play for Gilas until the wheels fall off. He plays with Pinoy passion and swagger and has the game to back everything he does (even the sneers) up out on the hardcourt.

Japeth Aguilar
I am a Japeth hater. No, I don't hate him personally. I just hate his game. So much wasted potential spent on trying to dunk everytime down the floor instead of concentrating on the little things that would help make him the most dominant Pinoy big man in years. The only reason I want him to stay with Gilas is so that people around him could make him realize his shortcomings. Once he sets foot on the PBA where the game is faster and more undisciplined, he'd be a superstar with all the dunks and volleyball spike-like blocks (think Rafi Reavis + Marc Pingris combined). Great entertainment, bad for him as a basketball player.

Go


Andy Barroca
Somewhere in the last year and a half, Barroca lost some of his speed and even his starting job to JV Casio. And since this country is full of PGs, Barroca needs to move on while his stock is high and teams like Powerade, Rain or Shine and even Meralco need a starting PG.

Marcio Lassiter
Let's face it, Lassiter will never steal Tiu's spot as the starting two guard and will always be forced to play out of position and asked to defend bigger guys. I say, stop wasting time and head to the PBA to become a legit star.

Chris Lutz
While most observers are quick to point out that Lutz' game is similar to Lassiter's, I beg to disagree. They play the same roles, yes, but Lutz is more spot-up shooter while Lassiter is a more intense, slash to the hoop and play defense player. Lutz is a perfect fit for Alaska where he can fill in the role of a Jojo Lastimosa, Brandon Cablay, and the one vacated by Larry Fonacier.

Jason Ballesteros
Too skinny to play PF for Rajko Toroman. So head to the PBA and give Marc Pingris hell.

Dylan Ababou
Mr. Nice Guy. Well, I don't know what's going on in that head of his, but no one remembers his UAAP MVP season anymore. We haven't seen this guy play in a VERY LONG time which is sad. No, he's not superstar-like, but he does have game. I don't know if it's the added weight, or just the fact that Baracael can do what Ababou can, only faster, better and with more intensity.

What do you think?

Talk 'n' Text versus The World

Currently seated on a precarious 2-2 tie with Petron Blaze in the ongoing PBA Governor's Cup Finals, I feel that there has always been a big elephant in the room that people have continued to ignore for years. That elephant being, why can't the Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters win over fans other than MVP-PLDT employees and those who appreciate Jimmy Alapag's true value?

A quick trip to the team's Wikipedia page would show its so-so legacy since Pilipino TeleCom took over the Pepsi franchise in 1996. So far, it has won five titles: one in 1998, then in Alapag's rookie year in 2003, 2008 and this year's Philippine and Commissioner's Cups.

The page also shows the number of PBA legends that have adorned the TNT yellow and blue that could and should have won them a multitude of fans based on the players' starpower alone (from Jeffrey Cariaso, Asi Taulava to Willie Miller and Jimmy Alapag).

So now, without further ado, here are the reasons why I think, TNT remains to be the PBA's version of the WWE's Triple H (you know he's good, but since he has a lot of connections and douche-y moves that may or may not be his fault, you just can't root for him no matter what).

1) Asi Taulava, Jeffrey Cariaso and Andy Seigle
- This should have been the core that would have led the then Mobiline Phonepals to numerous PBA titles. Imagine having Cariaso, who was arguably the closest the 90s had to a Mark Caguioa, being paired with 6"8 and 6"10 giants. Wether it was bad coaching, or them just battling superb basketball players (not athletes though), they just couldn't pull through. Also, this team was the first to distance itself from local fans as other than Cariaso (who was disliked by Ginebra fans for his role in Alaska's 1996 grandslam), no one knew jack about Taulava and Seigle and were unimpressed with the young duo's post plays (both were several notches lower skills-wise than local bigs Benjie Parasm Marlou Aquino, Zaldy Realubit.) This team, in my mind, paved the way for Fil-foreigners and the division in fans that ultimately hurt the PBA-- those who embraced the athletic newcomers, and those who preferred to root for the homegrown talents.

2) Jerry Codinera
- you really can't blame TNT for this one. They saw an opportunity to get an established power forward to pair with budding Asi Taulava even if it was on Andy Seigle's expense. This was TNT's first move to try and win over some local "masa" fans but it backfired on them. The people didn't want to see Codinera wearing a different uniform from bossom buddy Alvin Patrimonio. It was painful to watch, and the fans unfairly blamed TNT for it. Purefoods' survived because of Patrimonio's charisma while Codinera started to fade into the limelight (he was later on traded to Fedex but that was at the twilight of his career).

3) Bill Bayno VS BCAP
- here was a legit, NCAA division 1 coach who came to the country to revolutionize Philippine basketball. Only problem was, local coaches weren't that open to the idea and Bayno's brash, American arrogance didn't help his case either. The last straw was when he told his players to score for the opponents (read: shoot at their own hoop) to better their own team's standings which will always be considered as "un-macho" in any book.

4) Willie Miller
- what's there to say about Miller other than he's aloof, and that he was traded by his first PBA team, Red Bull, to the very same squad they lost to in the finals THE NEXT CONFERENCE?

5) Mac Cardona
- Cardona, though I love his game and swagger, is a walking, modern-day kontrabida regardless of the team and its fans he's playing against.

6) Chot Reyes
- the epitome of the negative Atenean stereotype: Brash, arrogant and "holier than thou." The shirts are nice, and everyone has the right to be fashionable. But admit it or not, the loud shirts take away from the focus on the game. I'll tell you something else about Reyes, he is damn good and scouts opponents like no other. He preaches a run and gun system built around hustling defense as opposed to the old school PBA's shoot-shoot-shoot style of coaching. He's never one to try and win over fans, and even when he answers to the Media you can feel a sense of "you're asking me that?!" mockery in his tone. Great coach, just not PR-able.

Your thoughts?

Let's have fun: Smart Gilas' BEST 5 VS PBA 2011 Mythical 5

Now that the PBA votes are in and we have seen Smart Gilas at about 80% of its full potential (with PBA recruits Jimmy Alapag, Ranidel de Ocampo and Kelly Williams to make up the missing 20% in the upcoming FIBA Asia tournament), let's have a fantasy hoops match between the two "teams."

Please take note that I took guys who I perceived as the BEST (the ones from Gilas anyway) so that means, no Chris Tiu (sorry Tiu fans). The guy plays with a lot of heart, but is not even the 3rd best shooting guard on the Gilas rotation (1 Lassiter, 2 Hontiveros, 3 Lutz, 4 Tiu). Why he is playing as much as he does, I leave to you.

Comment all you want, but be sure to leave your names! Sayang naman.

And yes, I am bored. Not that I don't have a lot on my plate at work, but because I'm still waiting for my promo-writing "Delight in scrumptious..." creative juices to kick in.

PG JV Casio VS Jimmy Alapag
This one is going to be a battle. Alapag has built a reputation as a pass-first guard who has absolutely no problems with taking over close games. Always a threat to pull up from DEEP, the "Mighty Mouse" will probably go with the playmaker role on this one. That, plus he's not as quick on his feet as he used to. Casio on the other hand, has the license to shoot from almost anywhere and freelance on offense. Gilas' head coach Rajko Toroman also makes sure that his ballhandlers are protected by screens set from both sides by his bigs (watch replays of their games in the Jones Cup and you'd see this pattern over and over) which could pose as a huge problem for Alapag who's no longer a spring chicken (read: fighting over multiple screens every time down the floor is flat-out exhausting).

Adv. Casio's young legs and the big screens that Alapag will have to hurdle 

SG Marcio Lassiter VS Mark Caguioa
An explosive match-up only because Lassiter plays the pre-flopmaster/pre-Ginebra Ronald Tubid/ DLSU era Mac Cardona type of defense that Caguioa absolutely gets annoyed with. While I still see Caguioa being incensed enough to flat out destroy Lassiter (and make faces at his young defender) one-on-one, Lassiter has the tools to make Caguioa work on defense as well and will probably be able to slash into the paint from time to time. What sets them apart is Caguioa's still quick first-step (not as quick as before, but still damn fast) and added bulk which Lassiter doesn't enjoy. Think Kobe Bryant versus Raja Bell 2007.

Adv. Caguioa and the thousands... and thousands of Ginebra fans which will have a new guy to jeer

SF Mac Baracael VS Arwind Santos
This match-up will depend solely on Santos' mentality coming into the game. Will he play the "skinny dominant, all-around freak-of-nature" that we love, or will he be the "three-point shot jacking, looking for an NBA recruit in the rafters guy we saw during the FIBA 2009 tournament?" Santos has the game that can school a young buck like Baracael. Problem here is that, Baracael is no pushover figuratively and literally. One, we is bigger than Santos and two, plays with more fire. And if Toroman ever gets his dream line-up and moves Baracael to his natural position, then that would be Gilas' best team bar none.

Adv. Baracael's pride, desire and intensity (read: angas at yabang) over Santos' talents.


PF Japeth Aguilar VS Kelly Williams
The Filipino pogo stick versus the Machine Gun. Okay, we will have to come up with a better name for Aguilar but you get the picture right? He dunks, dunks and dunks. He can't post up. His jumper needs work. And other than playing exceptional help defense, is a dud one-on-one versus Asia's quality bigs. Good for him though, that he's only going against Williams who is just a better version of the 6"9 beanpole. Williams also doesn't know how to play in the post, and relies more on putbacks and transition offense. Put a guy in front of him and he's bound to dribble off his own foot.

Adv. While they both can jump straight out of SMART Araneta and onto another planet, Williams wins based on discipline and experience. Great example would be, KW21 won't bite on silly fakes 9 out of 10 times.

C Marcus Douthit VS Sonny Thoss
After what we've seen in the recently concluded Jones Cup tournament, it's pretty safe to say that of the competing teams, Douthit is the 2nd best big man in there behind Iran's Hamed Haddadi. That's not a knock on Chinese Taipei's Tseng Wen Ting, but Douthit's game is reminiscent of Los Angeles Lakers' Lamar Odom (minus Odom's point guard capabilities of course). What Douthit doesn't seem to have however is power, but given his size and skill, he will still be too much for "The Boss."

Adv. Douthit, who will probably drop a 30-20 stat line on Thoss.


6th man: Andy Barroca VS Jason Castro
Speed versus speed. Although, Barroca seems to have slowed down a bit (either to injury or the weight he put on) which will play heavily in Castro's favor. Of the two, Castro is the better scorer while Barroca is the better point guard. When matched up, Castro's number will definitely be called versus the smaller Barroca.

Adv. Castro is a threat to put Barroca in foul trouble early and that will be the story of the game.

Coaching: Rajko Toroman's "Euro-type spread the floor, perimeter-oriented" game VS Chot Reyes' "run and gun, hustle at all times" style
Adv. Toroman, who will probably have his wings stationed at the post while his two guards and Douthit dissect the PBA's defense. Since Reyes' teams relies on aggressive help defense and looks for turnovers, it won't be a surprise to see wide open threes coming from Lassiter, Casio and Baracael which will frustrate the PBA players to no end and cost them the game.

I see Gilas winning by a wide margin despite being a class lower talent-wise due to its overall team discipline and philosophy of looking for the open shot instead of relying on iso-plays.

Sounds fun right? I should definitely be a WWE booker. Or a PBA Fantasy owner.

PBA Leo's gets it right with Mythical Five awardees

Whenever year-ending awards such as the Philippine Basketball Association’s “Leo’s” come around, people are quick to put in their two cents worth (this writer included) on who was robbed, snubbed and deserving.  

And while “anti-Jimmy Alapag of Talk N Text as Most Valuable Player” campaigns have sprawled the Filipino Internet world in favor of “more deserving candidates/ runners-up in Petron’s Arwind Santos and Ginebra’s Mark Caguioa, it was nice to see that at least in one category, the PBA awards council was able to fittingly recognize this season’s best players at their position and arguably, in the last two or three years even.

PG Jimmy Alapag (Talk N Text)

The standard bearer for Filipino point guards. You can read into Mico Halili’s feature on Mark Caguioa’s reaction on not being crowned MVP, but I’d like to think of it as a gesture of respect on The Spark’s side. It went to a guy who has worked his ass off for flag and country, represented us and worn our colors proud and never sold out (unlike another MVP runner up who drastically transformed his game in the international scene in hopes of being recruited to the NBA or whatever self-serving motive he had). And yes, his best years as a high scoring, high assist guard are behind him and we only see flashes of it from time to time, but there’s still no one in the PBA who can match up to his overall intensity and game.

SG Mark Caguioa (Ginebra)

I feel for all the Ginebra fans out there despite being a Santa Lucia-Meralco believer. This year marks the return of the “Furious” Mark Caguioa. Not the “Spark,” but the “Furious” MC47 who would burn the hoops and wasn’t afraid to get in people’s faces. There’s just no question, that Caguiao is a throwback, old school basketball player who shuns the limelight and all that James Yap glam in lieu of simply dropping buckets on fools. Yes, his defense remains subpar, but there’s no one in the league who can light it up and affects the game as him.

SF Arwind Santos

In perspective, the only year Santos didn’t deserve to win MVP was Kelly Williams’ MVP year. That’s it. Santos is and continues to be a stat monster and the country’s best player on both ends of the court. There’s just no one in the entire PBA that could measure up, pound for pound. You could make an argument for Jay Washington and his athleticism, but Php 100 says Santos can lock him down as well while JWash couldn’t even stop an offense-less Kelly Williams when matched up. And yes, he is the guy I mentioned on the Alapag clip above, trying to play out of position as a trigger-happy guard when he was called upon to represent our country when we all knew that he would’ve been just fine at his natural SF spot. Just ball Arwind, we still have your back.

PF Kelly Williams

What he lacks in all-around basketball skills (dribbling for one, shooting second), he makes up for with 100% hustle and activity on the floor. Think the 2011 version of Rudy Hatfield, only more athletic and could jump right out of the building. And unlike rival Jay Washington of Petron, Williams has accepted his role a long time ago and doesn’t waste his energy and effort playing outside and trying to play like a guard.

C Sonny Thoss

Is Thoss the best center in the league? Well, he sure does put up the numbers and is arguably the most consistent guy at his position. Give it another year and maybe Petron’s Rabah Al Husseini could take over this spot (okay, make that two to three more years, depending on Rabah’s maturation process). Still waiting on Rob Reyes to make an impact like he did years ago in the PBL though it seems that after some injuries, he has lost much of his “Baby Eric Menk” game.

With that, congratulations to the Leo awardees and hopefully the PBA board continues to recognize players for who they are on the court and not via the number of endorsements, TV appearances and showbiz-relationships they are in. Else, God forbid, we're looking at multiple MVP reigns for Smart Gilas' Chris Tiu down the road.

Smart Gilas finishes 3rd in 33rd William Jones Cup

"The future looks bright for the Philippines" is how the Asian ESPN analyst put Smart Gilas Pilipinas' 3rd place finish in the 33rd William Jones Cup which rightfully adjusted its laughable format of whoever finishes with the best record wins the whole thing (thanks to one of the original 10 teams' pulling out at the last minute) into a round robin, playoffs type.

And while we were still manhandled by powerhouse teams such as Korea, Iran and Jordan, it was nice to see that our team was able to compete on even terms and even had the opportunities to steal some games had it not been for injuries, fatigue, incomplete line-ups and boneheaded plays expected from late recruits/ young players.

Now that it's all over and as we wait for the FIBA Asia tournament which is right around the corner (we play our first game on September 15), here are some observations on Team Pilipinas (there's always room for criticism because if we don't point this out now, how else are we supposed to improve?):

Chris Tiu is a solid role player, but cannot be expected to make plays
I no longer want to discuss why Tiu is playing heavy, starter minutes for Smart Gilas when better talent at the position is available. This is probably why Rey Guevarra decided to join the PBA draft instead. And why Paul Lee didn't even bother. Tiu fought for rebounds. He brought the ball up without turning it over. But overall, he didn't have any impact in any of the nine games they played which is big considering the fact that Gilas is a perimeter-oriented team.

Mac Baracael is not a power forward
I feel for Baracael who is a much better player than Tiu, Chris Lutz and Marcio Lassiter combined. Definitely leaps and bounds better than starting PF Japeth Aguilar as well. Yet he languishes on the bench and plays back-up for whoever. This leads us to think that if only head coach Rajko Toroman had Ranidel de Ocampo or Kelly Williams on board, then Baracael could slip back to his natural SF spot where he can shine on both ends.

JV Casio is clutch
He was the man in San Beda. He was the man in De La Salle. Now, he changes his style of play from SG to PG and whoops ass. He's even breaking out some crossovers here and there while keeping his mean stroke from the outside. He's even added a teardrop-floater in his arsenal. Hopefully, he continues to flourish as a pass-first guard with clutch shooting in the mold of a Ronnie Magsanoc or Dindo Pumaren.

Rajko Toroman doesn't utilize his wings
Marcio Lassiter is one of the better ball handlers and slashers on the team. Yet he was only given the green light to do so in their last game versus Chinese Taipei, and only after Chris Lutz was out. Often used as a defender and corner three point specialist, one has to think why Toroman never demanded more from his prized Fil-Am wings and insisted on playing both Lassiter and Lutz out of position at SF. Oh wait. Someone has a lock on the SG position. See above.


Asi Taulava has no game
From long time starting center to back-up enforcer. Asi never had the post game to back his 6"9 frame. Eric Menk and Danny Ildefonso, guys three inches shorter, would always go around him in the paint despite being lighter than the Fil-Tonggan. Now, little is expected of Taulava and rightfully so. As an enforcer off the bench, he fits the role to a "T." But you'll have to wonder when the wheels will start falling off and who can replace him once he is on the wrong side of 40. Still, thank you Asi for playing big despite your limitations.

Marcus Douthit is a finesse player
More Chris Webber than Shaq. He is a superb role model and the right import/naturalized center for the job. We can't ask for more from Douthit, and should appreciate what he has and continues to do for the National team. Still, perhaps the people behind Smart Gilas could start looking at local talent or even more naturalization candidates who can bang and rebound.

Japeth Aguilar still doesn't know how to play
He is as phenomenal and athletic as ever on the defensive end, blocking shots from all over and hustling to recover on his teammates' blown assignments. But there are still several flaws to his game, offensively and defensively. On offense, he has nothing but dunks. He attempted two jumpers in today's game and missed both strongly. Why? At 6"9, he shouldn't be jumping from 14 ft. anymore a a simple push shot would do (give him tapes of Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Garnett). He doesn't have the muscle to post anyone up even if most Asian PFs are listed at only 6"5 to 6"8. And on defense, he still bites on every shot fake thrown his way like most wide-eyed greens do. I'm still pulling for you Japeth, but maybe it's high time to work on your game instead of relying on your athleticism (which is a gift, but as we all know, doesn't last a lifetime).

Despite all of our criticisms over the course of the program, tonight was a great night not only for Smart Gilas Pilipinas but for all Pinoy basketball fans. This only shows that with the right set of players, commitment and funding, that we do have what it takes to win big in international tournaments over bigger countries.

"If you're going to dream, then dream BIG!" Let's try for that FIBA title now!

Presenting your PBA 36th season MVP: Jimmy Alapag

It almost never happened.


When Jimmy Alapag flew in to the shores of Manila to play for the 2002 National Team as a then unknown from NCAA Division 2 California State, people were skeptic with him playing behind veteran Olsen Racela before injuring himself in the team's first few exhibition games.

Unfair as it is, much is expected of Fil-Americans and the burden placed on Alapag was no different. The PBA was still in its "Fil-foreign explosion" phase-- wherein local stars were quickly being relegated to back-ups so you can see why having an NCAA-Division II player, playing BEHIND a local who wasn't even considered the best at his position (Johnny Abarrientos fell from grace at the time, but was still arguably better than Racela. Ronnie Magsanoc and Boyet Fernandez were also around at the time) wasn't the best thing for young Jimmy.

Once the 2002 games in Busan, South Korea was over, Alapag was able to set his sights on the PBA Draft where he would be picked behind now forgotten names like Mike Cortez (who was then considered as the *controversial* premier point guard from the amateurs), Rommel Adducul and even Mobiline/ Talk N Text teammate Harvey Carey.

All this "downfall" for a guy who was handpicked by legendary champion coach Ron Jacobs.

From the start, Alapag would create a huge stir in the PBA as he slowly took over as the league's best point guard with the aging Abarrientos slowly fading into the limelight, and "people's champ" Olsen Racela not putting up much of a battle (really now, I love Racela's all-heart game, but he's not on the same plateau skills-wise as Abarrientos, Magsanoc, Alapag or even a Dindo Pumaren. Jayjay Helterbrand is an SG masquerading as a PG.)

He led his team to a title his rookie year and eventually won the season's Top Rookie honors. This was followed by a stellar career unmatched in the PBA with averages of 13 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds which is borderline "Hall of Fame-ish." Not to mention that Alapag can just as easily light up the scoreboard whenever he sees fit (which he did early in his career whenever then teammate Asi Taulava would coast through games).

He would also be a part of the 2005 and 2007 National Teams and quickly earned the respect and trust not only of the Philippine basketball community but of Asia as well. Lebanese phenom Fadi El Khatib (who was invited to a private work-out with Michael Jordan, Ray Allen and Michael Finley to name a few and show just how good this guy is) went as far as to say that Alapag is Asia's best PG hands down. That's how good he is.

Then, in 2009, Alapag was surprisingly dropped from the National Team roster coached by temperamental Yeng Guiao who opted for an inch or two taller guards in Jayjay Helterbrand and Ryan Reyes (both of whom weren't able to play as effectively in the FIBA tournament since they were injured). When news of Helterbrand and Reyes' injuries came out, Guiao again opted to play natural SG Willie Miller at the PG and bring in defensive stalwart Wyne Arboleda into the fray.

It was easy to take Alapag for granted that year though, as Helterbrand was playing absurd basketball on offense (by pretty much being given the green light on offense with his high scoring buddy Mark Caguioa being sidelined all season) while the man known as the "Mighty Mouse" was doing his usual schtick and posting his norms across the boards.

This led some people to believe that yes, maybe Alapag's time has passed and that his height may keep the National Team down. Guiao and those who chose to believe that notion couldn't have been any more wrong. The National Team was soft, gutless and timid on both ends, and it was quite obvious that Miller couldn't carry the PG load or orchestrate any plays other than isolations for himself.

Once that was over, Alapag continued to play the way he always does-- intense. TNT continued to be a contender, winning it all even, and is currently leading TNT's Grand Slam bid in the on going Governor's Cup Finals.

Now 34, Alapag almost never got the MVP title to cement his legacy alongside other PG greats. And we, as fans, would've been robbed of seeing his greatness being recognized.

Fortunately for all of us, it happened.

Congratulations to the PBA MVP, Jimmy Alapag!

Talk N Text: Destined for greatness

Now just two wins away from the Governor's Cup championship and the coveted Grand Slam, Talk N Text looks more and more like the team of the new decade.

Not only does it enjoy the full support of Manny V. Pangilinan (whose name simply cannot be NOT mentioned on any championship caliber Filipino sports team), but they were also able to build around mostly young talent while keeping their heart and soul in the "Mighty Mouse" Jimmy Alapag (who is ripe for an MVP title-- hell, if Jayjay Helterbrand can get one, why not the best PG in the Philippines today?).

From the outside looking in, head coach Chot Reyes has always pushed for an uptempo style of basketball anchored on pesky, all-out hustle on the defensive end. He has utilized former MVP Kelly Williams' athleticism to the hilt, like a modern day Rudy Hatfield with more height and hops. Alapag will always be Alapag, and the young guards Jason Castro and Ryan Reyes are ready to take over the PBA as the new 1-2 punch a la Helterbrand-Mark Caguioa of Ginebra (once Alapag retires of course).

Once the Smart Gilas project ends, or gets new pieces all over the world, then we can expect to throw in Japeth Aguilar in there. Yes, he still has the post game of Rafi Reavis, and yes, we'll probably never be able to convince him to play as a traditional center, but in the ra-ra game played in the PBA, he'll be just fine and dominate on the offensive end.

Win or lose, TNT will be a contender for the next two or three years barring any injuries, lopsided trades or MVP going bankrupt (not a chance).

The ugly truth

Pilipinas' basketball revival took yet another detour with this evening's defeat to reigning Asian powerhouse Iran in the semifinals of the 33rd William Jones Cup.

After handing the Iranian powerhouse an opening day loss, we were pretty optimistic going in to tonight's game despite the fact that it was quite noticeable in that first win that Iran was keeping its' trump cards in check. Hamed Haddadi scored in double figures yes, but he wasn't dominant.

Tonight, he was almost Hakeem Olajuwon-like outscoring the entire Philippine team at one point all by himself.

But enough about Haddadi's exploits or of Iran's dominance. It's high time that someone wrote about the state of Philippine basketball and how we could become relevant in Asia once again. Take note, not as a "contender" but simply "relevant."

After PLDT head honcho and the new godfather of Philippine sports Manny V. Pangilinan announced that the Smart Gilas program would continue until 2014, this was seen as a victory for Filipino basketball lovers altogether. It meant continued international exposure and training for our players, and hope to make a dent in the basketball scene that continues to be ruled by giants.

But then I ask, is this why Smart Gilas poster boy Chris Tiu is locked on to the starting shooting guard position despite better talent being available?

I love the SG program, and what it has done for basketball. But sometimes, you just have to ask if we are sending out the BEST available talent per position. And I answer you sir, ma'am, that we are not.

Here are some key factors that may or may not help our cause in the future:

Point guard
From Abarrientos, Alapag to Casio, we all know that the Philippines' best asset is at the PG position. Not even China, Japan or Iran have the players that we have in bunches at that position. From pass-first to high scoring PGs, we will always have the best in Asia. But now, I have come to realize that maybe it's high time that we start looking for PGs 6"0 and above. Jason Castro and Ryan Reyes come to mind, and hey, they are both under MVP's employ.

Shooting guard
Get the best shooters, 6"3 and up, and no more Chris Tiu. Yes, he is a solid player and will probably be an even bigger star once he sets foot in the PBA. But there was always a reason why Jeffrey Cariaso played ahead of Jojo Lastimosa at times for Alaska in the 90s. And this should've been the case with Tiu, who should've sat in favor of the Fil-Am interchangeables Chris Lutz and Marcio Lassiter (both of whom have applied for the PBA draft).

Small forward
6"4 and above. Mac Baracael should be a lock here. If they can get Arwind Santos or Jarred Dillinger, the better. Kelly Williams should also play this position.

Power forward.
6"7 and above with polished post skills or a jumper. No Japeth Aguilar (despite his vast improvements on defense). Ranidel de Ocampo. Sonny Thoss.

Center
Someone tell Norman Black to keep pushing Greg Slaughter and milk him in the post in the UAAP to further train him, Keifer-mania be damned. Get Samigue Eman and throw him in Black's camp. Get every available 6"10 Filipino, pure or half, and convince them that the best way to get into the NBA is for them to play their height and not masquerade as shooting guards. Marcus Douthit is a nice player, but he is not a banger in the paint. And Asi Taulava never had any skills in the post to speak of.

Coach
Rajko Toroman has done wonders for the Smart Gilas team, yes. But it's time to get an educated Filipino to represent our country. Korea and Chinese Taipei are doing just fine with their mostly local talent and coaching. It's just getting the right coach, and him getting all the support in the world from sponsors. You simply cannot convince me that Franz Pumaren's famed DLSU full court press or Norman Black's halfcourt brilliance cannot win in the AMATEUR RULES FIBA/ international tournaments. I say keep Toroman, but get an established Filipino champion coach in there as well. And yes, I saw Ryan Gregorio on the Smart Gilas bench, but no, dear God not him. He only has one play on his book, and that's to call Iso for his star guards.

If only basketball and sports in general didn't have so much politicking. We could only dream of the fruits that it may bear. If we sent only the best, and not who some people think or feel are the best. For now, more power to Smart Gilas, and keep your heads up Pilipinas!

Talk N Text, Petron tied at 1-1

Following a rather lackluster effort in Game 1, the Talk N Text Tropang Texters made sure that the Petron Boosters wouldn't bury them any further in their out of town Game 2 clash this time in Lanao del Norte.

But not before trailing the Boosters in the first half thanks to the superb efforts of Arwind Santos, Denok Miranda and import Anthony Grundy. It seems as though PB head coach Ato Agustin has learned his lessons from the Philippine Cup (wherein they lost to TNT) and has opted with the heady, defense-first point guard rather than the flashy Alex Cabagnot (Olsen Racela's retirement also helped in settling Agustin's current PG rotation). In fact, Agustin has been able to use both players at times with Cabagnot running the offense and Miranda as the shooting guard to match up with TNT's interchangeable, speedy backcourt monsters in Jimmy Alapag, Ryan Reyes and Jason Castro.

And while flashes of physicality (both of the aggressive/ hurting and sexual kind *Mark Yee!*) have marred both games, I don't really see an all out brawl anytime soon. Kudos to the commissioner for not yet hitting the panic button, since this "mini controversy" is helping sell the games to none PB, TNT fans. Maybe if another altercation broke out in Game 3.

But in my honest opinion, any "fight" started by Alex Cabagnot shouldn't even make sports headlines. Dude has great handles yes, but he'd be the last guy I'd pick for my team in a Survivor Series-type streetfight. Really now, the guy just seems to be too much of a nice, happy fellow to even start shit. The Flagrant One was more likely a frustration foul than anything malicious.

The Mick Penissi-Ranidel de Ocampo cut though, is iffy. The guys have been on national teams the last five years now, so I don't really see any bad blood between the bigs.

And let's all be honest here, the only tough guy on both rosters is Mark Yee. And the refs already have him on their crossheirs for his ass-fingering of Grundy.

Today's a good day to be a Filipino basketball fan, once the spotlight on Smart Gilas is over, we will still have a lot of quality games to look forward to since the Petron-TNT rivalry hasn't even reached its peek. Both rosters have a bunch of young names that will only get better with time.

Until then, I'm pulling for a TNT win and grandslam in five or six games.

SMART Gilas Pilipinas dominates early in 33rd William Jones Cup

First, we took down two-time defending champions Iran. Then, we thoroughly outplayed Chinese Taipei with systematic and crisp ball movement, timely baskets and hard drives to the hoop.

If this is what the future of Philippine basketball looks like, then please MVP & co., feel free to extend the program for a couple more years (and not just the reported two).

Granted, we probably caught Iran napping (they were also missing the services of two starters and didn’t play Hamed Haddadi until the last few minutes of the first quarter) but there’s no denying that this is the best coached and most dedicated National team I’ve ever seen.

What they lack in individual talent, they make up for with great teamwork and focus.

Yes, I’ve written one too many entries about how I wish player X was included over player Y, but the two games I’ve seen so far have proven what we’ve known all along. A Philippine team, that has been practicing for as long as SMART Gilas without the distractions of PBA duties, NBA draft dreams and politics will always be at par with Asia’s best regardless of the lack of ceiling.

And just because there’s a frustrated sports academe in all of us would-be basket-bloggers, here’s my version of their early report cards:

Marcus Douthit – A+
Douthit, the country’s naturalized center, has proven himself worthy of all the accolades and positives thrown his way the last few months. Not only did he handle his own on defense versus two of Asia’s great centers in Iran’s Hamed Haddadi and Chinese Taipei’s Wen-ting Tseng, but the man flat out beasted them on the boards as well as by sticking short jumper after short jumper in their faces.

J.V. Casio – B+
Casio is and will always be clutch. The grade we’re giving him here masks his true value for the Nationals but its also a by-product of him being guarded by taller and heftier guards. Casio’s one true weakness (his being slow in typical Filipino point guard standards) is the prime culprit as to why he can’t get his shots off as much as we’re used to. He doesn’t have that Allen Iverson crossover or that L.A. Tenorio stepback three to go to yet, but he has been superb in protecting the basketball and playing PG (which is not his natural position).

Andy Barroca – A
So he disappeared against the tall and quick Taiwanese guards, but that’s not enough to ignore how much he hurt the Iranian defense with his quick slashes to the hoop complimented by a three ball here and there. If our team wants to move forward, then we need Barroca to play his A game at all times and space the floor for him with shooters.

Chris Tiu – B
I love the kid. I really do. I respect him as a person, and think that he is a great role model for everyone. His game however, leaves little to be desired. He tried to get some rebounds (Tiu, to his credit, is a high rebounding guard and is not afraid of contact) but failed to match up with bigger guys. He played solid and willing defense. He just couldn’t buy a bucket. MVP’s golden boy jokes aside, Tiu is a system player that helps keep the ball moving at all times for the Nationals.

Japeth Aguilar – A+
Who the heckare you and what have you done with Aguilar? It’s almost like someone strapped the once flimsy high flyer to a chair and forced him to watch hundreds of Kevin Garnett “Defense 101” tapes. I like it. Plus, he’s not asking for the ball and is bent on rebounding and blocking shots. I like what I see.

Mac Baracael – B
Or “Bah-rah-quiao” as the ESPN announcer would say. The guy has turned out to be Pilipinas’ head coach Rajko Toroman’s go to guy at the four spot in the fourth quarter. Despite being a few inches shorter than starter Aguilar, the old adage proves true that coaches “start guys that they like, but end with guys they trust.” Baracael pretty much plugs in all the holes for the Gilas team be it on offense or defense. Though I would still prefer that he start at SF alongside one of the Fil-Am wings (Lassiter or Lutz) at SG, the fact that Toroman ends games with the FEU Tamaraw more than justifies his inclusion in the National team.

Marcio Lassiter/ Chris Lutz – B
Even the ESPN guy (who covers games by himself, the poor fellow) has observed that both players, well, play the same way. Or at the very least, fit into a certain role in Toroman’s scheme of things. They cut, set perimeter screens and pretty much live at the corners and spreading the floor for Barroca, Casio and Douthit.

Dondon Hontiveros – B
I’m disappointed with the way the Cebuano hotshot is playing. Actually, he’s been playing the same way even before he was traded from San Miguel to Air21. his stock has indeed dropped, and while he can still play solid defense in spurts, he no longer has that same fire on offense.

Asi Taulava – B+
The old dog is still at it at 38. And while Taulava was never the low post threat we’ve dreamt of (and now have thanks to Marcus Douthit), he is a great back-up center and is still the widest body in all of Philippine basketball today. Slowly but surely, Taulava’s turned himself from basketball teddy bear to an enforcer in the low post.

Dylan Ababou - C
Wow, I didn’t know that he was still on the team! He was able to get some garbage time minutes last night versus Chinese Taipei—and looked every inch like the lost cub that he is. Not knowing his place on the floor, late on rotations and so on. Hopefully, he starts to show more fire in practice and cracks Toroman’s rotation. That, or he should just jump into the PBA as a draft sleeper.

To be quite frank, the way we're playing, I'd be utterly disappointed as with the rest of Pinoy sports fans if we don't finish with a medal.

Mission Impossible? Which team will beat Talk N Text in the Gov's Cup Finals

While we let our stat and theory happy brethren solve the conundrum that is the ongoing PBA Governor's Cup, let's move on to a more interesting topic. Say, of the three-four teams left in contention, who can beat the seemingly almighty Talk N Text Tropang Texters?

Alaska (8-5)
They have the coach and the system. But do they have enough firepower and defensive will to withstand the TNT juggernaut?

I seriously doubt it. With L.A. Tenorio, who serves as the team's barometer, and Cyrus Baguio both bothered by injuries, the Aces just don't have enough to hang with the Texters. Yes, they can probably win a game or two over TNT, but I don't see Bonbon Custodio ever recovering his old UE Warriors form or expect a 1996 Marlou Aquino-like performance from their troika of post players in Sonny Thoss, Samigue Eman or JayR Reyes. Right now, the only thing that has kept Alaska afloat is import Jason Forte, who more than makes up for the lack of scoring options. This is where losing Joe DeVance (even if he settles for one too many threes) comes in to haunt the Tim Cone-coached squad.

Petron (7-5)
On paper, they have the tools to match TNT man for man. Throw Arwind Santos on Kelly Williams, Danny Ildefonso/Rabah Al Husaaini on Ali Peek and Harvey Carey and maybe dust off a Denok Miranda (no chance) and sic him on Ryan Reyes/ Larry Fonacier to keep TNT's sharpshooters in check and hope that Alex Cabagnot doesn't get his ass handed to him by Jason Castro or Jimmy Alapag. Oh, and if ever Noynoy Baclao makes a cameo, he can be asked to check Williams or even Ranidel de Ocampo.

The problem doesn't lie in the players for Petron. It lies with the coach, Ato Agustin.

See, one or two championships in the amateurs doesn't translate into gold in the pros. And San Miguel/ Petron's successful season can be attributed more to their fantastic roster, rather than plays drawn up by Agustin and the PB coaching staff.

If they ever face in the finals, Agustin will once again be schooled by the wily and ever so fashionable Chot Reyes.

Ginebra (7-5)
They have the guards to hang with TNT. They have the firepower, defensive grit and the magic of playing to the undying cheers of the crowd.

What they don't have, are bigs who can score in the post and protect it as well. Eric Menk is good for a few vintage plays here and there, but nothing more. Rico Villanueva, as powerful and bullish as he is, hasn't improved since leaving Ateneo (relying heavily on bulldozing his way to the hoop, instead of fancy footwork. Think Shaq in 1995 when he was schooled by Hakeem Olajuwon). Also, the trade for Nino Canaleta doesn't really give them a wing in the elite levels of Williams, Santos or Washington.

Too bad really, because earlier in the conference when they had a superb PG of an import, I believed that this team could finally solve the TNT puzzle by fielding in a bevy of snipers all at once without sacrificing anything on the defensive end (i.e. Stinson, Caguioa, Wilson, Tubid, Menk).

Rain or Shine (6-6)
Much like last conference, the Elastopainters had the best import on the field, but failed to capitalize on it. Again, we saw lackluster plays and half-assed efforts on the court. Again, we saw players turn superstar one day, and wallflower the next. Is it because of Yeng Guiao? Are they being cheated as he claims? Is there a conspiracy in the PBA?

Who knows, who cares?

What I do know is that RoS BEAT TNT twice this conference. And it wasn't as if TNT was taking games off against a lesser opponent, they were just being outplayed and outsmarted by Guiao's gallery of rogues. From Ronjay Buenafe (who plays well versus good teams, bad versus bad ones), Beau Belga (same) to flashy Gabe Norwood, everyone was pitching in much to TNT's dismay.

Only problem here is, after last night's defeat to Alaska, who knows if they can even MAKE the Finals.

PBA 36th Season Awards - KKS Predictions

Most Valuable Player: Jason Castro/ Talk N Text

As much as I (and most Pinoy basketball fans) love Jimmy Alapag, there's no denying that "The Jet 2011/ The Blur" has improved dramatically from his rookie season on both ends of the floor. Castro, who was masquerading as a point guard for Philippine Christian University and the Singapore Slingers, is now a full-time slasher for Team TNT. There's no one faster than Castro at the two-guard (unless Mark Caguioa finds a young donor for his old knees) and thanks to TNT's loaded roster, defenses can't sag on him as much at they would like. Plus, his steals average is going up fast in the ongoing Governor's Cup which just adds to his statistics.

Runners-up- Jimmy Alapag, Arwind Santos

Most Improved Player: Sol Mercado/ Meralco

The minute Mercado was traded from Rain or Shine to Meralco, people quickly shutdown the Ryan Gregorio coached team since they were pairing the spitfire combo guard with the equally ball-dominating "franchise" Mac Cardona. But then, things started falling into place. Chris Ross' game started to rise, Cardona was injured, and a huge scoring void was suddenly opened. Enter Mercado, who has never taken a look back since (will be interesting how he'll perform once Cardona comes back next season though).

Runners-up: Jason Castro (but he's already MVP!), Danny Seigle (his game came back when he was traded, but not enough to overtake Mercado's "One man show")

Rookie of the Year: John Wilson/ Barangay Ginebra

Somewhere, Rabah Al Husaini's crying to his mama. Not only did he go from franchise cornerstone in Air21 to just another tradeable, solid player with Petron, but he also had to start from scratch and win over San Miguel fans who were none-too-thrilled with the whole set-up (specially when Danny Seigle underwent some sort of revitalization at Air21 ad started posting and shooting over smaller guys like it was 1999). Wilson on the other hand, EARNED his spot not only with the Gin Kings but also in the PBA. It wasn't that long ago when Wilson wasn't even on the rotation, which was reserved for his NCAA MVP rival Jimbo Aquino. But then, Aquino proved to be one-dimensional, while Wilson embraced a newfound defensive philosophy and grit that complemented his outside shooting.

Runner-up: Rabah Al Husaini

Defensive Player of the Year: Arwind Santos/ Petron
You want stats? Okay. This conference, Santos is the leader in rebounds with 14+ a game. DAMN. Blocks? He's up there as well. And, whenever his mind is in it, he is arguably the best stopper with that unique combination of basketball IQ, speed, size and athleticism (we'll check later re: power). An annual bridesmaid for the MVP trophy, Santos earned his spot as the league's best defender.
Runner-up: Marc Pingris, John Wilson. Willy Wilson 

Mythical Five

Jimmy Alapag/ Talk N Text
Without question.

Jason Castro/ Talk N Text

Obvious pick. (won't happen though no thanks to the PBA Media who are made up more of showbiz fans than basketball junkies).

Gary David/ Powerade

Seriously now. This guy needs to win a title. Too good not to.

Arwind Santos/ Petron

Again, a no brainer.

Marc Pingris/ B-Meg

Okay, would you rather have Sonny Thoss' bland post presence, or Pingris' all out hustle, intimidation and swag? Thought so.

Your thoughts?