As the 37th season of the PBA comes to an end (with all due respect to the teams playing in the PBA GovCup Finals of course), it marks the one day wherein the creme de la creme are recognized and appreciated for their efforts on (and off) the basketball court.
While these guys will always say the right things and push for multiple finals appearances and championships, there's always that human desire to be called the best. To be adorned and praised. That's what the PBA Leo Awards are for, and this writer would like to throw his kwek-kwek's worth of predictions/ picks for the top individual awards.
Let's start things off with the Top 5 defensive guys, followed by the five best players in their respective positions (this season) before ending it with the MVP winner.
All Defensive Team PG Ryan Reyes SG Marcio Lassiter SF Arwind Santos PF Marc Pingris C Doug Kramer
Mythical Five PG Paul Lee SG Mark Caguioa SF James Yap PF Arwind Santos C Asi Taulava
Most Improved Player: Jeffrei Chan (Rain or Shine)
Last year, Chan was just another versatile wingman who could do a couple of things right on the floor for his team. This year? He's Allan Caidic on loads of Chin Chun Su. The consistency may be lacking at times, but you cannot argue with his much improved offense that goes with his steady defense.
Runner-up: Doug Kramer (POW/ BB)
Rookie of the Year: Paul Lee
Chris Lutz had this award on lock before he got injured. Marcio Lassiter was also in the running before he got traded, got injured and sat out the 3rd conference. JVee Casio's proven to be a clutch player through and through and is the league's assists leader-- but that's what happens when you have a sharpshooter named Gary David as your alpha dog. That leaves us with Lee. "Angas ng Tondo." Plays like a seasoned veteran at all times, knows what to do on the floor and has pretty much become the face of a franchise outside of his temperamental head coach Yeng Guiao. Even one of the All Time Greats, Jojo Lastimosa himself, is a fan of Lee's "grounded" style of play.
Runner-up: Chris Lutz (PB), Marcio Lassiter (POW/ PB), JVee Casio (POW)
Coach of the Year: Tim Cone
Again, had Powerade not enjoyed a herculean effort from Gary David, the BMeg Llamados could've easily gone to all three conference finals under Coach Tim-- in only his first year on the job. How good is Coach Tim? He recognized that the Llamados needed chemistry in order to play the way he wanted them to-- so out went Kerby Raymundo and Roger Yap. Guys who dominated the ball and the locker room with their presence. James Yap was asked to play small forward, mixing it up with some of the league's best wings that would force the 2x PBA MVP to move his feet at all times (that's what wing players do, running all over and cutting inside for rebounds). PJ Simon was given freedom (somewhat) to play point guard and do a Rodney Santos-- a ball handler who could score and also be relied upon to play some defense. Truly, give Coach Tim the right tools and he's bound to make a pot of gold look even shinier.
Runner-up: Bo Perasol's assistant coaches (POW)
Most Valuable Player: James Yap (BMeg Llamados)
This year, Mark Caguioa came back strong. He pushed a team that was as dysfunctional as it was star-studded. His ferocity and "hate to lose" mentality kept Ginebra afloat and gave the team an identity. BUT, James Yap is the best player on the best team this year. The BMeg Llamados made two straight Finals appearances, and could've broken through earlier had Gary David and the Powerade Tigers not gone berserk in the Philippine Cup. This is the season that Yap blossomed into an all around, elite basketball player. Not just another guy who can put the ball in the hoop and look pretty, but a guy who can read the game, make the correct plays and contribute on all facets of it. He rebounds now more than he ever has in his entire basketball career. He plays defense, still raw, but the effort is there. He works off the basketball more and knows when it's time to take over and when to step back. He's still not the best SG out there (that's Caguioa as 1a, David as 1bcdefghijk before we get to Yap who's a lock at 2). What's scary is, Yap is only going to get better playing for Coach Tim Cone.Runner-up: Mark Caguioa (GIN), Gary David (POW)
Who are your picks for the Leo awards? Mark Caguioa's currently leading in our KKS poll, who are your other guys for MIP? Coach of the Year? Best 5?
While these guys will always say the right things and push for multiple finals appearances and championships, there's always that human desire to be called the best. To be adorned and praised. That's what the PBA Leo Awards are for, and this writer would like to throw his kwek-kwek's worth of predictions/ picks for the top individual awards.
Let's start things off with the Top 5 defensive guys, followed by the five best players in their respective positions (this season) before ending it with the MVP winner.
All Defensive Team PG Ryan Reyes SG Marcio Lassiter SF Arwind Santos PF Marc Pingris C Doug Kramer
Mythical Five PG Paul Lee SG Mark Caguioa SF James Yap PF Arwind Santos C Asi Taulava
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| Chan for three! BENGGA! |
Last year, Chan was just another versatile wingman who could do a couple of things right on the floor for his team. This year? He's Allan Caidic on loads of Chin Chun Su. The consistency may be lacking at times, but you cannot argue with his much improved offense that goes with his steady defense.
Runner-up: Doug Kramer (POW/ BB)
Rookie of the Year: Paul Lee
Chris Lutz had this award on lock before he got injured. Marcio Lassiter was also in the running before he got traded, got injured and sat out the 3rd conference. JVee Casio's proven to be a clutch player through and through and is the league's assists leader-- but that's what happens when you have a sharpshooter named Gary David as your alpha dog. That leaves us with Lee. "Angas ng Tondo." Plays like a seasoned veteran at all times, knows what to do on the floor and has pretty much become the face of a franchise outside of his temperamental head coach Yeng Guiao. Even one of the All Time Greats, Jojo Lastimosa himself, is a fan of Lee's "grounded" style of play.
Runner-up: Chris Lutz (PB), Marcio Lassiter (POW/ PB), JVee Casio (POW)
Coach of the Year: Tim Cone
Again, had Powerade not enjoyed a herculean effort from Gary David, the BMeg Llamados could've easily gone to all three conference finals under Coach Tim-- in only his first year on the job. How good is Coach Tim? He recognized that the Llamados needed chemistry in order to play the way he wanted them to-- so out went Kerby Raymundo and Roger Yap. Guys who dominated the ball and the locker room with their presence. James Yap was asked to play small forward, mixing it up with some of the league's best wings that would force the 2x PBA MVP to move his feet at all times (that's what wing players do, running all over and cutting inside for rebounds). PJ Simon was given freedom (somewhat) to play point guard and do a Rodney Santos-- a ball handler who could score and also be relied upon to play some defense. Truly, give Coach Tim the right tools and he's bound to make a pot of gold look even shinier.
Runner-up: Bo Perasol's assistant coaches (POW)
Most Valuable Player: James Yap (BMeg Llamados)
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| Not 1, not 2, not 3, not 4, not 5... |
Who are your picks for the Leo awards? Mark Caguioa's currently leading in our KKS poll, who are your other guys for MIP? Coach of the Year? Best 5?
Gary David not on your first team all-PBA? I think you just need 2 guards and 3 forwards/centers not necessarily a PG and a SG.
ReplyDeleteIm not surprised Gabe Norwood's not on your first team all defense. Haha. But I respect your call. It came down to Gabe and Marcio on my end too and I had Chris Ross over Doug Kramer.