Stay the course

Bigote. Slick back pomade hair.
Sunglasses. Neon green shirt.
#THATSG.
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

With a respectable 4-5 win-loss slate, the Global Port Batang Pier have found themselves in the PBA Governor's Cup Playoffs hunt thanks to a potent four-man scoring machine and the "old school" hand of head coach Junel Baculi.

They found a solid import in Markeith Cummings to go with their awesome foursome of Sol Mercado, Gary David, Willie Miller and Jay Washington. They have some rough and tough ninjas in youngsters Marvin Hayes and Kelly Nabong, plus an assortment of role players that can contribute when given enough daylight (Belencion, Lingganay).  Honestly, when owner Mikee Romero envisioned bringing his success in the amateurs to the pros, we all thought that it would take at least two years for them to do so (by languishing early and rebuilding via the PBA draft like most cellar-dwelling, "new" franchises do).

Well, it's the third conference, they made some adjustments, and are looking like a team you don't want to meet in the playoffs.

They have the individual hardware to establish their claim to the PBA and, much like Baculi's sweet sunglasses the other game, have swagger in bunches.

Who isn't intimidated by the site of Mercado, Washington, Nabong and Hayes? Those cats are about as close to a hip hop gangsta music video as you can get IMHO. And Gary David is just a 30-point explosion away from re-establishing himself as the team's alpha dog. Save for David and Miller, this is a pretty young core for Baculi that can win with time.

Only, Boss Mikee isn't looking to win later.

Boss Mikee wants to win. Now.