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| Not a fan of Coach Chot's but you have to feel for our PILIPINAS head coach |
Rumors have it that Jones Cup Most Valuable Player L.A. Tenorio is on his way to a San Miguel Corporation team straight from Alaska. It doesn't matter that he served as the team's poster boy the last few years, emerged as the league's best PG and even led Pilipinas to Asian basketball gold. This is the thanks he gets for serving the country. His legacy tarnished by yet another trade. Fuuuuuuu.
Then you have another Alaska guy, 6"7 Sonny Thoss who was reportedly ordered by management to concentrate on his employer's best interests and not waste his time elsewhere or risk getting hurt. He's played in back-to-back international meets (South East Asian Games and the Jones Cup) in a span of two or three months so okay, let's give Alaska the benefit of the doubt and say they're only looking out for their anchor in the paint's safety and longevity (the team has made a lot of sacrifices for the good of the country's basketball team years ago so okay, we're good for now).
San Miguel has reportedly all but distanced themselves from the "loaning of players" issue. Saying all the right things to the media and that the "choice is up to the players." This writer has been around long enough to know that players, specially the young ones who are full of spunk, would jump at the opportunity to play for flag and country. That the only way they will consider not suiting up is that if someone whispers sweet nothings in their ears and scare them off somewhat. You're smart, we all are, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what's really going on in the background here (read: powerplay by Team SMC and their allies to withhold talent from Team MVP's national basketball program).
It's such a shame because just when we're finally getting somewhere and gaining ground, it's almost like one party wants the other to fail. And when they saw that the other was winning-- succeeding even, they went out of their way to ensure it doesn't happen again. Or if it does, it would take nothing short of a miracle to do so.
How good a team would the Jones Cup roster be had Arwind Santos, James Yap, Alex Cabagnot, Marcio Lassiter, Mark Caguioa and Mark Pingris suited up? The mid-game lulls would surely be addressed by all that potent firepower. And you could probably even throw in a bunch of bigs to add more muscle for the Pilipinas cause-- Eric Menk, Kerby Raymundo, June Mar Fajardo, Rob Reyes, Joe DeVance and so on.
Not sure about this, but read somewhere that Coach Chot was asked/ sought help from President Noynoy Aquino-- PNOY himself, to help convince some of the teams to let certain players suit up for the country. Though amusing, that was probably the most embarrassing piece of news/ gossip this writer has ever heard basketball-wise. That a professional coach, a grown man who has won at several levels, had to make a plea to the President just so we can form a more competitive basketball team and bring glory to the country. SMH.
For everyone's sake, let's pray to the high heavens that one of the Big Bosses in this story wakes up on the better side of the bed and lends stars from his stable over to SMART Gilas.
After all, it is still the patriotic thing to do.
Ang mamatay ng dahil sa'yo. Laban Pilipinas!
P.S.
For all the ignoramuses who say that the players are not there for Pilipinas but are there carrying the SMART-Gilas name, please recall that prior to this team generously funded by Mr. Manny V. Pangilinan we had Powerade, Selecta, San Mig Coffee and so on as national sponsors. It shouldn't even be a topic of conversation you twats. It's not SMART Gilas that opponents worry about during film session, it's PILIPINAS. The team from the PHILIPPINES. Red, white, blue and yellow. It's a business folks-- hell, if MVP wanted to put his surname at the back of all the jerseys then so be it, as long as this country is well represented, clothed and funded for international meets. Read the comments on the InterAKTV site and you'll see some of the funniest opinions on our favorite sport/ league.
"It's a business folks-- hell, if MVP wanted to put his surname at the back of all the jerseys then so be it, as long as this country is well represented, clothed and funded for international meets."
ReplyDeleteThe problem with that reasoning is, now you're saying that SMC should be OK with MVP using their players for his business.
Don't get me wrong, I'd like to see Arwind, Pingris, and the rest to play for the country too. But simply loaning these players, even for the greater good of the country, just doesn't make good business sense for SMC.
Would MVP/Smart take care of expenses in case of injuries to the players? Probably. But after the fact, what now? Would MVP/Smart allow the removal of their logos to the team's jerseys? And disassociate their name completely to the team? For the greater good of the country? That would be a resounding "No". Again, that would not make good business sense.
For this to work, why not SMC and MVP/Smart make a joint sponsorship of some sort? Let them stud the jerseys with their logos for all we care. That would tame a lot of these companies' prides.
On a separate, possibly unrelated, note, this is similar to Manny Pacquiao always proclaming that he is in boxing to make the Filipinos proud. Sure. I guess the millions in $ don't hurt, but yeah, he's doing it for the country no doubt (wink wink).
^Sir sponsorship has never been an issue until RSA just took everything personally against MVP. He hates MVP so much that he thinks of him as his #1 nemesis not only in business but also in sports. He hates seeing MVP get all the glories. MVP actually lended Jimmy and Asi before when San Miguel was the sponsor of National Team. What I want to say is, when the pride and glory of the country is on the line, you should stop being a child and stop being selfish..sabagay may lahing chinese yata si RSA eh, prang Scarborough lang ang peg.
ReplyDeleteAgree. In a perfect world, Pilipinas should be the lone "brand" seen on our team's jerseys. But that's not how it works-- mula barangay level hanggang professional.
ReplyDeleteA "co-sponsorship" would be nice if only all sides would play fair and they be guided by a strong, neutral leader. Unfortunately, based on their moves the last 2 or 3 years, Team SMC (and even Team MVP) would trade their own mothers if it would translate into getting ahead of the other. Too many self-propaganda/ issues there. That's why I'm not really pulling for any Team SMC guy to suit up for SMART Gilas 2.
Baka magmala Arwind Santos. Mag pakitang gilas at gawing tryout para sa international scouts ung FIBA tourney.