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| See you in the All Star Game kid |
Not only did the league settle for getting the Top 5 vote-getters, but they did it regardless of the position similar to how the PBA Mythical 5 has been picked the last three-four years. Difference being, the Mythical 5 allows that whenever there's no legit dominant player in a certain position. This is the All Star Game, we want to see the best guys in their positions and not guys trying to play whatever. This could've easily been fixed had the PBA All Star voting system classified the guys per position and asked for the fans to vote and not just throw random names out there and get the most popular.
Anyway, here are the line-ups and this writer's two cents worth:
Veterans
PG Mark Caguioa*
- the eye injury will most likely prevent MC47 from playing in the ASG, which makes room for a legitimate PG such as Alapag or Cabagnot to move up into the starting 5
SG James Yap
- the league's poster boy who has only hit over the 20 point mark ONCE this season
C Marc Pingris
- I'm a big fan of FireQuinito's Sakuragi ever since he broke the rim at the Makati Coliseum during a PBL show case
SF JC Intal
- he's turning into the new James Yap. With less skills but more sosyal fans. 2nd time he's in the ASG, and no, he hasn't deserved the selection BOTH times
PF Arwind Santos
- the best in the business when it comes to crashing the boards, playing pitbull D and blocking shots. MVP bridesmaid yet again
Reserves: Jimmy Alapag, Kelly Williams, Gabe Norwood, Alex Cabagnot, Gary David, LA Tenorio, Sonny Thoss
- seriously? Norwood?
Snubs: Ranidel de Ocampo, Jayson Castro
- seriously now, how could these two guys not make the list? I'd take the useless Norwood out (he's nowhere near All Star form this year) and also JC Intal. If Caguioa's not cleared by ASG, Castro needs to get the nod. It's about damn time. Sol Mercado/ Mac Cardona also deserve some love for the work they put in.
Rookies-Sophomores-Juniors
PG JVee Casio
- number one vote-getter and with good reason. Averages somewhere around 10 points and 10 assists so it's hard to argue with the guy. Now, if only Mico Halili could stop his immature fascination with this stupid "Smurfs" moniker for Casio and just go with what we've all known him to be: G-Shock. Yeah, after the watch. That's what they've been calling him since high school. Ok, better yet, KKS J-Shock. JV Casio e.
SG Josh Urbiztondo
- WTF. This guy can shoot. Can't say anything about that. But he's been masquerading as a PG and is just streaky. The biggest WTF here is the guy he won the spot from.
C Dylan Ababou
- from a basketball IQ standpoint, Ababou can definitely hold his own against the league's elite. He'll be matched-up with Pingris who's not that taller than him so he'll be okay.
SF Chris Lutz*
- solid basketball player, gets buckets, plays defense and is just crazy efficient on the floor
PF Marcio Lassiter
- can we call this match-up with Santos "The Try-out?"
Reserves: Paul Lee, Japeth Aguilar, Mac Baracael, Mark Barroca, Rabeh Al Hussaini, Chris Ross, Rico Maierhofer
- Rabeh should be a starter. Aguilar should be allowed to at least throw down 5 dunks in the ASG. Finally, we'll get to see the SMART Gilas I with Rabeh and Paul Lee a.k.a. what could've been.
Snubs: Magi Sison, James Sena
- The world is sleeping on these two combo forwards of Air21.
* - injured
Your thoughts on the ASG selection? Did your guy make it? Who do you think was snubbed from the Vets/ RSJ team?
James Yap and Intal shouldn't be on the list. Intal is nowhere near the "Rocket" that I used to know and admired. Gabe Norwood... ugh. Would've loved to see RJ Jazul there, considering he's on a breakout year. And yes, why isn't the best big man in the country not included in the game? For shame.
ReplyDeleteI guess both of you dont play or never played organized basketball. You dont understand the intangibles Gabe Norwood brings. Ask any PBA player and they would love to play with Gabe Norwood. He makes things easier on both ends.
ReplyDeleteNever played organized ball?
ReplyDeleteHa. That's a laugh. Sorry boss but I'm not some 5"2, out of shape, asthmatic blogger.
Anyhow, Yes I agree with you. On a good day, when he's on, Norwood is an all around player. He showed it when he was with Happee in the PBL. Just awesome and fun to watch on the court.
But I'm a Rain or Shine fan (since Guiao took over) and been watching all their games this season so far and Norwood's not getting it done at SF or even PG (his natural, US NCAA position). Maybe in flashes, but never all throughout a game let alone a whole conference.
Not saying he's a bad player, but since you've led me to think that you play organized ball, if you were given one guy to add in the All Star team and were made to choose among Norwood, Ranidel de Ocampo and Jayson Castro, would you still put money on Norwood?
this years all star voting sucked big time.so you forced people to vote jc intal(his name is there) and guess what he is part of the all star?what a big joke!as for norwood, there is a reason why paul lee,a rookie is the leader of the ros team, with all that intangibles norwood bring.
ReplyDeleteBig fan of Rain or Shine. Loved that they took some of my favorite college players (Jervy Cruz, TY Tang, Jeff Chan), and they infused swagger with Yeng Guiao with his types of players in Belga, Mattias and Arana.
ReplyDeleteNorwood is skilled, no doubt. But his "intangibles" are over hyped. If "intangibles" are the basis on which all-star players are determined, then the likes of Doug Christie, Ersan Ilyasova, Raja Bell, and Matt Barnes should be all-stars in the NBA. Or locally, put in PJ Simon, Wynne Arboleda, Bitoy Omolon (seriously, he made that Air21 team competitive), or Ryan Arana.
A Jayson Castro, Mac Cardona, or a Ranidel De Ocampo should be considered when selecting "all-stars". Heck, I'd say put in Willie Miller there as well, just because he's playing with his eyebrows crossed again.
I agree with you that Gabe Norwood is a bust for a 1st overall pick but there's no chance in hell he's a lesser player than JC Intal.
ReplyDeleteI am a RoS fan too, longer than you as a matter of fact. Ive been rooting for them since JDV and Alex Compton were playing as the Dragons.
Gabe contributions on the court is way pass the box score. His length and athleticism makes every pass/driving lane diffcult, his leadership, poise and decision making usually starts/finishes a RoS run. I agree he has many flaws in his game (iffy jumpshot, not aggressive, too passive) but his positives clearly trump the negatives.
To answer your question, I'd take out JC "Bianca Gonzalez" Intal and put in Jayson Castro. Ranidel is way too inconsistent to be an all star. At least if Gabe isnt scoring he contributes in different aspects of the game.