The Unknown

Will he play with PUSO?
(Photo courtesy of SolarSportsDesk.Ph)

"The boys may not be afraid yet, but we're getting a bad feeling. This passage, with its "decaying coconuts" and forest "darkness" hints that nasty things are on the way. No wonder the littluns start freaking out." - excerpt from "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding

The unknown and our fear of it is the "darkness" that we speak of, of the "nasty things" being on its way.

As Gilas Pilipinas flies out West to Miami, Florida to train for the coming FIBA World Cup tournament to be held in Spain, there's a lingering sense of doubt among fans. Realistically speaking, no one is expecting a podium finish this time around. Logic dictates that our team can win a game or two at best, but overcoming the powerhouse European teams and America might be a little out of the question.

The sense of the unknown or doubt, comes by way of one Andray Blatche. The man who is being touted as our new hero, to replace the one that has spent the last four or five years bringing us back to Asian basketball contention-- Marcus Douthit.

Ang Angas ng Pilipinas

Hindi lang ito tungkol kay Paul Lee, na siyang nag hatid sa Pilipinas ng kauna unahang  medalya ng bansa sa FIBA Asia Cup na ginanap sa Wuhan, China kontra sa home team.

Tungkol ito kay head coach Chot Reyes at sa mga players na sina L.A. Tenorio, Kevin Alas, Garvo Lanete, Gary David, Jared Dillinger, Jay Washington, Japeth Aguilar, Ranidel de Ocampo, Beau Belga, Junemar Fajardo at Marcus Douthit.

May mga pagkakataon na parang hindi naka angkla sa panalo ang koponang binansagan natin na Gilas Pilipinas. Minsan, parang naglolokohan lang sila. Minsan, parang wala ung kumpyansa at tiwala sa sarili. Minsan, parang payag sila na matalo na lang ng basta basta at isugal ang pangalan ng bansa.

Papunta naman na tayo ng Espanya, bakit pa nga ba magpapakahirap?

The Last Home Stand

In retrospect, the failed PLDT Gilas Last Home Stand was meant to raise money for charity and not simply for the enjoyment of basketball fans. Life, real life, is always bigger than basketball. The local organizers, Manny V. Pangilinan et. al., had nothing but great and meaningful intentions.

So to them, we say "thank you" and that we honestly hope that they continue with such efforts in bringing world class talent to the Philippines all for a good cause.

Were we disappointed with the outcome?

Yes, because no one really bothered to clarify that an actual 5 on 5 game was NOT going to happen. PLDT was correct in saying that they never promised a game, although they made a damn good job of teasing it with their faulty marketing exploits.

Maybe we should blame ourselves, yes, us, the Filipino basketball fantards who were spoiled with the Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, Kevin Durant game vs the PBA and Gilas selections that we thought that: "hey, since they're bringing in about 10 to 12 NBA starters, maybe they're going to play versus our Gilas!"

Well, guess not.

PBA Dispersal Draft: Blackwater Elite

Back to main man status for Nuyles?
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

The Blackwater Elite are here to compete.

Coach Leo Isaac and co. went into the PBA Dispersal Draft with clear direction and purpose, opting to tab names who are ready to contribute and make a name for themselves in the PBA (if they haven't already).

Drafted by the Elite are: Danny Ildefonso, Alex Nuyles, JR Cawaling, Eddie Laure, Bryan Faundo, JP Erram, Paul Artadi, Gilbert Bulawan, Bambam Gamalinda, Chris Timberlake, Norman Gonzales and Bobby Celiz.

Based on the names above, our projected starting five are: PG Artadi SG Nuyles SF Cawaling PF Faundo C Ildefonso

PBA Dispersal Draft: Kia Motors

Manny Knows.
Photo courtesy of Rappler.com

When it was announced over the grapevine that world boxing icon Manny Pacquiao was going to try his luck in the PBA as a possible playing coach, we dismissed it as a publicity stunt more than anything. We were not worried because we fully expect Pacquiao to serve as token team mascot/ crowd drawer while Kia Motors gets its feet wet in the pros.

We were not worried because while no one will ever confuse Pacquiao for Talk 'n' Text star Jayson Castro or newly-minted Grand Slam San Mig Coffee head coach Tim Cone, we knew that Pacquiao and Kia would probably get the best available names to form a competitive line-up come the PBA's 40th season.

Well, we're not so sure about that any more.

Coaching Carousel: Team MVP Edition (Uichico to TNT)

Jong Uichico, arguably the most successful of the Ron Jacobs coaching apostles, will be back on the sidelines in the coming 40th PBA season by way of the Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters.

See, personnel wise, there shouldn't be anything wrong with the Texters. That they should've won or at the very least challenged the San Mig Coffee Mixers the entirety of this season instead of winning big in the elimination rounds of the three conferences before bowing out in the Playoffs.

Save for a few additions, this is still now Gilas Pilipinas' head coach Chot Reyes' Texters. They lost Ali Peek to retirement and added two versatile scores in Nino Canaleta and Danny Seigle while keeping the core in place, so you could understand where management's frustrations with Black would come from.

Coaching Carousel: Team MVP Edition (Part 1: Black to Meralco)

For the Meralco Bolts and reportedly soon-to-be former head coach Ryan Gregorio, it was a hard four years.

They inherited a once proud Santa Lucia Realty franchise that saw it's two young stars, Ryan Reyes and Kelly Williams, shipped to their older brother Talk 'n' Text. A couple of promising talents (Joseph Yeo, Denok Miranda) were also sent elsewhere. So, to fill the void, the Bolts opted to bring in Mac Cardona as their franchise player to team up with the likes of aging bigs Marlou Aquino and pre-Team Ageless Asi Taulava.

It was rough. Cardona was dumped, another exiled Texter in Jared Dillinger was brought in and more trades were made to help the Bolts' campaign. This season, the team fielded in a not too shabby starting or best five of Mike Cortez, Gary David, Jarred Dillinger, Reynel Hugnatan and Rabeh Al Husseini.

That's actually not a bad five, with Danny Ildefonso and Cliff Hodge coming off the bench.

Thoughts on the PBA Leo Awards 2014

The first of many.
Ladies and gentlemen,
your undisputed PBA MVP

They finally got it right.

After a year (or two, or three) of head scratching awardees that left a lot of room for debate, the Philippine Basketball Association finally got it right (in terms of current public perception anyway) with this year’s Leo Awardees.

Here, we take a look at the winners and some names that were left off contention if only to reward or acknowledge that certain player/s efforts. In case people forget, this season had that “rushed” feeling in terms of games being played on a daily basis, conferences being tweaked and shortened all for the FIBA cause.

Now, before you argue that the players are generously paid for the services they render, please be mindful that they are human beings who push their bodies to a level that the everyday Twitter hater could only dream of. That being said, nothing beats a full day’s rest (or more) so we pretty much owe it to the guy to thank them even if it’s only by way of this small market blog.

Sportsmanship Award: Willie MillerFormer two-time PBA Most Valuable Player Willie Miller is what Filipino basketball is all about: competitive and bruising yet stylish and fun. While his body no longer allows him to post the same numbers that has helped him become “The Thriller,” it’s refreshing to know that he still plays the game with gusto and joy and passing it to the next generation.

Gilas Pilipinas gears up for FIBA Asia Cup

Gilas call-up after 
Year of redemption for JWash

If we are to be taken seriously by other countries as a resurging basketball power, then we should move on from last year's inspiring silver medal finish in the FIBA Asia Championship Cup (which is also the last of its kind in terms of being a FIBA World Cup Qualifier).

It begins with consistency, and we're not talking about finishing 3rd or 4th time and again. We're talking gold or silver at worst for Gilas Pilipinas or whichever incarnation of the country's men's basketball team follows suit. Iran is definitely a lock, China has been having some coaching and personnel problems but they'll always be there. From the third spot down, it's an open field.

For the coming FIBA Asia Cup in Wuhan, China in July 11 to 19, Gilas head coach Chot Reyes has opted to bring in some of his pool players/ new recruits in an effort to keep his cards close to his chest and keep his core guys well rested.

The holdovers are Ranidel De Ocampo, LA Tenorio, Gary David, Japeth Aguilar, June Mar Fajardo and naturalized center Marcus Douthit (in what might be his last tour of duty should NBA center Andray Blatche suit up in the FIBA World Cup). Out from the 2013 Silver Medal team are Gabe Norwood, Marc Pingris, Jimmy Alapag, Jayson Castro, Larry Fonacier and Jeff Chan.

And the number 1 pick in the 2014 PBA Draft goes to...

Two balls. One well covered box. A dutiful PBA Commissioner who doesn't seem to understand the concept of showmanship.

How appalling.

Where's the drama? Where's the "ït" factor? The surprise?

As you may know, prior to the PBA Governor's Cup Finals Game 1 between the grand slam-seeking San Mig Coffee Mixers and defiant Rain or Shine Elastopainters, there was a "draw" held to choose which among the Elastopainters (via Meralco) and GlobalPort Batang Pier will get to pick first in the next PBA Draft. Now, in the NBA, they do this via lottery. With a lot of balls, and a couple of teams in the running.