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| Coach Tim has The Fireball on target |
Don't get it wrong, the US 2005-2006 Sunbird Awardee has legit skills for any 6"1 Filipino-American basketball player. When he first came over Philippine shores in 2006, he suited up in the PBL for UST-Kettle Korn and was already making waves as a crack point guard. He bounced around amateur leagues such as La Liga Pilipinas and then back to the PBL before entering the draft which, unfortunately for him, didn't work out.
But then, Coach Boyet Fernandez and the now defunct Santa Lucia Realtors saw something in Urbiztondo. That, plus they needed an insurance policy should then lead PG Ryan Reyes were to go down with another injury (which he still is prone to this very day). This is where Urbiztondo would get some attention, only for him being a little too trigger happy for his own good. He was playing behind Reyes and Denok Miranda at Santa Lucia, and even after they were disbanded in 2010, Urbiztondo was seen as just "another rotation player"-- traded to Air21 with the number 3 pick but later on released.
*Shout-out to all my fellow Santa Lucia Realty die-hards.*
Then came the BMeg Llamados and their need for a point guard.
Roger Yap was aging fast, Paul Artadi was bouncing around teams more times than Cris Bolado and there was just no one there to play the point for the Llamados.
It took time, and the acquisition of Hall of Fame coach Tim Cone before Urbiztondo finally found a niche in the PBA.
Yes, rookie and Johnny Abarrientos-understudy Mark Barroca will definitely take Urbiztondo's spot in a year or two. And yes, Urbiztondo is nowhere near the elite guards of the PBA when it comes to ball distribution and controlling the tempo. But if there's one thing that's keeping him on the floor more than anything, it's his fearless approach to the game.
Taking deeper threes than usual much like the guy he's currently outplaying in the Finals (Alapag), Urbiztondo is helping the Llamados with his outside bombs. Opening up the floor for slasher PJ Simon, serving as import Denzel Bowles kick-out option and superstar James Yap's other go-to-guy in the perimeter, Urbiztondo simply needs to knock down shots to continue staying on the floor.
His defense, though weak, looks like it's holding up against Alapag. In three games, Alapag has been a complete non-factor while Urbiztondo at the very least is able to put up 2 to 3 triples just to keep things interesting. Yes, Simon comes in and takes his minutes at the PG spot, same with Barroca, but it's Urbiztondo who Coach Tim goes to early in games to try and spread the Llamados' offense.
Should this series end with a Llamados' championship, the Finals MVP would probably go to either Yap or Simon. But make no mistake about it, Urbiztondo's contributions are just as important as the next guy's.
I'm getting tired of your *Shout-out to all my fellow Santa Lucia Realty die-hards.* bullshit!!! will you please stop it for goodness sake....
ReplyDeleteWe all have our teams, mine was prematurely disbanded. Happy for the players who're still in the league. Hope whoever you're rooting for doesn't suffer the same fate.
ReplyDeleteWerent you bashing Josh Urbiztondo for taking "ill adivsed" 3's a few posts ago? Werent you begging Tim Cone to play Barroca over him? Stand up for something.
ReplyDeleteWhy not leave your name friend, since you're so adamant about "standing up for something?"
ReplyDeleteYes, like I've said before, Urbiztondo is a one trick pony who loves to shoot. Heat checks and all. But in this series, Coach Tim Cone is using him only in stretches, and he has improved/ matured a whole lot from the Commish Cup Eliminations and now in the Finals. He's not going for his usual heat checks, and is playing within the game plan.
Also, Mark Barroca will indeed take his spot down the line. It's the BMeg Llamados' worst kept secret. So at the time when I said Urbiztondo was just jacking shots and should sit in favor of Barroca-- it was just that. "At the time." Now, in this series, the case is different.
Players, coaching strategies-- they change by the game. It's what makes it fun to watch. If you're the kind of fan/ blogger who's stuck to one frame of mind, like you want me to be, then you're not being a true fan of the sport or a student of the game.
What this Finals is showing is not that Urbiztondo has suddenly become the second coming of Ronnie Magsanoc. But that through Coach Tim and through his own hardwork, he's finally found a niche in the PBA.
Your thoughts?
Hi Im Michael, 23 yrs old, E.Rodriguez Quezon City. Need more information?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that Marc Barroca is BMEG's future PG.
That's called being a bandwagoner. You jump on someone's success. Aminin mo na lang. Dami mong sinasabing palusot e. After criticizing a player all season long they do something great you jump on it like youve been a fan or you believed he could do it all along.
To each his own then friend, but I'm not afraid to say that yes, I call out players when they act a fool on the court, but also know when to quit playing and recognize the good they're doing for themselves/ the team.
ReplyDeleteMuch like how people thought I hated on JVee Casio-- I never did, being that I bleed green, just thought his patented step-in 3s wouldn't work in the PBA. He proved me wrong, so now I just bash his D.