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| "F this 0-7." Photo courtesy of Sports5 |
It didn't take long for the Texters to get back on track with newcomer Nino Canaleta and hard-working import Richard Howell in tow. The Gilas Pilipinas core of Jimmy Alapag, Jayson Castro, Larry Fonacier and Ranidel de Ocampo are averaging around 20-22 minutes a piece and contributing as always, while Howell drops a steady 20-20 points-rebounds a game.
To say that the Texters were able to get "just what the doctor ordered" in Howell would be an understatement. Coach Norman Black saw that the team lacked an inside presence last conference, specially with teams shoring up their front lines and all. Instead of going crazy and looking for a slow-footed, traditional post man, they went for a mobile yet crazy strong reinforcement that operates almost exclusively in the paint with a no-nonsense approach.
Sound familiar? He should. It's almost like the Texters got a younger, bigger Ali Peek down there to take care of business.
With the seven game win streak, the Texters have rid themselves of previous head coach Chot Reyes' style of basketball. Though you can still see the fast-paced, "dribble drive offence" from time to time, this team has no qualms beating opponents with a more old school, half court approach which only makes them even more deadly come the next round.
On the flip side, there's the hapless Batang Pier manned by newcomer coach Pido Jarencio.
The "quotable coach" has already made headlines in the PBA by throwing his starting point guard Alex Cabagnot under the bus. He also didn't pull his punches when he said that there are six-seven guys on his roster that aren't playing up to par/ to his liking which leaves a whole lot of room for doubt and discord.
Looking at the team's averages, there are a few guys whose stock went down from last conference namely: Kelly Nabong, Marvin Hayes and Jondan Salvador. This is surprising for us because, quite simply, those guys are the epitome of what Coach Pido would call "Never Say Die" basketball. They're not gifted basketball players, but they are hella rugged and borderline goon-ish which is pretty much the kind of basketball Coach Pido grew up playing/ competing against.
So there's that. Cabagnot and the goons are under performing. Jay Washington, who was having a stellar run last conference, has also slowed down a bit no thanks to the brainless fact that he's playing the same position as their import, Evan Brock.
This is the same dilemma that hounded Washington when he played with reigning PBA MVP Arwind Santos a few years back. On paper or video game, it looks really nice. But on court chemistry, as far as we've seen, isn't as easy as putting one dude's locker next to another dude.
On a side note, it's nice to see our guy Ronnie Matias getting minutes in Coach Pido's system.
Terrence Romeo shutting it down/ being shut down the rest of the conference doesn't help Batang Pier's chances either.
Your thoughts on the two teams and how they'll finish this conference?
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