J-Wash's New Groove

No longer No. 23
(Photo courtesy of PBA InterAKTV)

Displaying the all-around game expected of him since being selected 1st overall in the 2005 PBA Draft, Jay Washington is off to a good start with new team Global Port Batang Pier after last night's 101-94 drubbing of the Air21 Express.

The 31-year-old backstopped high-scoring import Markeith Cummings (who scored a crazy 37 points in just 41 minutes), finishing with a superb stat line of 15 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists in 36 minutes which is arguably the most he's played in recent memory. While we've maintained that Washington isn't a go-to-guy, he is a great complimentary piece when paired with an elite scorer. In this shooting guard-type import-laden conference, Washington will be able to be just that.

Hopefully, this is a sign of things to come for Washington. He made the rounds as one of the better wingmen in local hoops when he debuted in the PBL-- more than then "rival" Kelly Williams who was more of a Rudy Hatfield to Washington's Jun Limpot.

Sadly, it didn't pan out that way in the pros. Washington was traded by the team that picked him 1st overall (Air21- no surprise there) to a powerhouse where he couldn't get his minutes and touches (Talk 'n' Text) before being dealt to a squad with so much unnecessary drama and redundancy in talent. Williams of course, went to a team that had no young elite-level talent to speak of, was handed the ball and just ran away with it. By the time he was traded to TNT, he was already a certified PBA MVP looking to win more championships than personal accolades.

Back to Washington and Global Port.

If you're a fan of Filipino basketball, which we feel you are else you wouldn't have reached as far as this paragraph-- or be on this blog at that, then you have to feel for Washington and just root for him to succeed. As much as we troll our own guys (there's a self-imposed post-FIBA Asia Japeth ceasefire at the moment), we only want to see them play their best (if not, then hand their roster spot to more deserving guys).

As a team, we're loving Global Port right now. While we still have doubts and feel that they're just another team on the San Miguel payroll (a.k.a. farm team like Air21 and Barako Bull), they've added a lot of talent that we just find hard to resist.

NCAA star Marvin Hayes (6 points, 6 rebounds) got his minutes last night, JayPee Belencion had another fine offensive performance (14 points) and little man Rudy "D'Anay" Lingganay got some love from Coach Junel as well.

Throw in our guy Sol Mercado, coming off injury yet still dropping a cool 8 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists stat line and you'd be crazy not to call this team this conference's true underdogs.  

Take your time idol Gary David. Get some rest. These guys can hold the fort for now.

Now if only we could get some minutes for AJ Mandani. The PBA is sleeping on this kid.