Live by the three, die by the three

Mandani's D makes him better suited
to play alongside David, Mercado

For a minute there, the Global Port Batang Pier appeared to be poised to run roughshod over the competition this PBA Commissioner's Cup.

Ace player Gary David is back to his deadly, gun-slinging ways from deep, rookie AJ Mandani continues to impress and prove to be the steal of this year's PBA draft and new recruits Japeth Aguilar and Sol Mercado are fitting in seamlessly with the latter further solidifying his claim to Most Improved Player of the Year (if they win a title or two this year, Mercado's our vote to cop the Most VALUABLE Player title- real talk). Then there's solid import Justin Williams who has a tremendous work ethic let alone a mean defensive streak dow low (averaging 5 blocks a game) plus grizzled coach Junel Baculi throwing in some of that Pinoy old school macho swag we love and tip our hats to-- yep, the Batang Pier are as solid as they come.

So why the 2-3 start?

Alaska off to immaculate start

RJ Jazul
(photo courtesy of PhilStar.Com)

It's funny how it was only a season ago when the Alaska Aces were cast as one of the proverbial "cellar dwellers" no thanks to their divorce with long time head coach Tim Cone. The players were listless and lethargic (hi Cyrus Baguio), the coach changed from Cone heir Joel Banal in the Philippine and Commissioner's Cup before settling with the then unimpressive Luigi Trillo in the Governor's Cup which was then followed by the exodus of team leader L.A. Tenorio who was coming off a brilliant stint with the SMART Gilas Pilipinas men's basketball team.

Well, what a difference some offseason trades and the PBA Draft does. While Tenorio's floor leadership and court savvy will be missed, the guy he was indirectly traded for- JVee Casio is no patsy. Clutch-wise, Casio is everything Tenorio is (and may be even more) and while the former King Archer is nowhere near half the ball handler his predecessor is, he makes up for it with crisp and timely passes while keeping the turnovers at a minimum.

adidas DRose 3.5 Triple Blue

adidas and Derrick Rose recently revealed the new D Rose 3.5 Triple Blue colorway. The latest design is inspired by Derrick’s intense, focused playing style on the court. 

 

The multi-toned light blue frost pattern on the upper and toe box conveys the coldness of Derrick’s attitude for the competition. The SPRINTFRAME is pearlized and outsole is iced to stand out on the court. The inside tongue patch and sockliner feature the D Rose logo and detailed frost patterns.

The new D Rose 3.5 is now available in the Philippines for PHP 7995 at adidas and other sports stores nationwide.

Follow the adidas Philippines on Facebook (www.facebook.com/adidasPhilippines) for the next exclusive colorway debut. 

Hustlin' Harder

Everyday he's hustlin'
(photo courtesy of Inquirer.Net)

There’s more to the Petron Blaze Boosters’ impressive 3-1 start this PBA Commissioner’s Cup than just their heavily tatted (his “Hustle Harder” eyelids included), NBA caliber (and Team Sheryl Reyes) import Renaldo Balkman.

Granted, Balkman is lording it over with team-leading averages of 27.75 points, 12.5 rebounds, 1.75 steals and 3.75 blocks a night, but there’s a huge difference in the team’s overall approach to the game. No, head coach Olsen Racela didn’t earn a high level degree in coaching overnight, they are simply back to playing basic, helter-skelter basketball.

Ginebra in transition

For a team that held so much promise and potential going into the season, the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and their millions (and millions- S/O Rock) find themselves struggling after two games with a clear lack of cohesion and chemistry on the floor.

It's easy to put the blame on their import Herbert Hill who looks to be winded everytime the 2nd half comes in, but you have to spread the fault to guards L.A. Tenorio, Jayjay Helterbrand and their barrage of wings from Chris Ellis, Mac Baracael and veteran Rudy Hatfield. Reigning PBA Most Valuable Player Mark Caguioa is putting up the numbers, but after that, there's no one carrying the fight for the hapless Barangay.

Good but not great

So Japeth Aguilar is back in Philippine shores after all the unnecessary and unwarranted off-court drama. In three games so far with the Global Port Batang Pier, the 6"9 athlete is averaging an eye-popping 15 points and 9 rebounds a game to go with 2 blocks in 36 minutes played.

This, despite playing in an import-laden conference featuring some of the world's biggest (literally) athletes who share the same position let alone having a dominant one sharing frontline duties in Justin Williams (who is clearly the barometer for all bruiser-type imports today).

After such a sterling performance, and a Gilas Pilipinas 17-man pool spot, you could very well ask the question "where the haters at?"

Still here folks, still here.

On the prowl

Still COOL like that

When Mike Cortez first took the country by storm as a high-socks wearing, crossover wielding 6"0 point guard for the mighty De La Salle University Green Archers in the UAAP, expectations of him being the next "great Filipino point guard" became rampant.

Near triple doubles were the norm, as Cortez would make the game look easy for himself and his teammates on a daily (nay, yearly) basis. He would slice into the lane when the opportunity is presented him (finishing with his trademark "jump straight up, ball palmed on his overly extended right arm *hand*, wait for the contact before laying it in" move) or would simply look for his scorers Ren Ren Ritualo and MacMac Cardona on the wings for the easy deuce.

Coach Chot Names Gilas 17

REPRESENT JD and Gabe!

Brace yourselves Gilas Pilipinas fans, head coach Chot Reyes has come out with a 17-man pool for the coming FIBA Asia 2013 World Qualifiers. At first look, we’re loving how the core of the 2012 Jones Cup team was brought back together with a bunch of Coach Chot’s system Talk ‘n’ Text players.

This allows continuity and fluidity of Gilas’ preferred “Dribble Drive Motion Offense” as most of the perimeter players already know the nooks and crannies of it. Tenorio did a masterful job the last time out, able to pick his spots outside and get to just about anywhere he pleases inside.

The Anti-Gilas

If you can't join them, beat them.

Now that the Philippine Basketball Association, as a whole, is on board the Gilas Pilipinas men's basketball program and its attempt to crash the medal round of the FIBA Asia 2013 World Qualifiers, hopes are indeed very high. After all, not only is the tournament going to be held in Manila, but because of the surplus of talent that has suddenly been made available to Gilas head coach Chot Reyes et. al.

In helping prepare Gilas Pilipinas for the coming tournament, the PBA will be shelving its annual All Star Game in lieu of a tune-up match pitting the "chosen ones" and players who didn't make the final cut (re: the "other" best players of the league). This is not a jab at the guys who were not chosen for one reason or another. This is a challenge, for them to not treat this as a "friendly" and just go hard. If they can spill blood, then go do so. To send the best, we need everyone on board to give their best.

Here's our list of the Anti-Gilas:

PG
Sol Mercado/ Paul Lee/ Alex Cabagnot
Since Mercado, who was doing work in the 2012 Jones Cup as a power guard spark plug, is ineligible under the new FIBA rules, it's only fitting that he gets first dibs on taking on fellow power guards and Gilas shoo-ins Jayson Castro and Ryan Reyes. Based on the last few months, Mercado is going to attack the rim and should give our prized point guards a run for their money. Lee comes in to spell Mercado to score and orchestrate. Cabagnot, when his head is screwed on straight, is a legit playmaker who is a wizard on offense.