Thursday, October 30, 2014

A new day

#ThankYouGilas
A runner-up finish in the 2012 FIBA Asia championships, a Jones Cup title, a lonesome yet historic victory in the 2014 FIBA World Cup and finally, a seventh-place finish in the SouthEast Asian Games...

... and with that, Gilas Pilipinas-- from head coach Chot Reyes to the defiant and valiant captain Jimmy Alapag, is no more. Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas' (SBP) President Manny V. Pangilinan announced it just recently, that we will no longer see this version of the Philippines' Men's Basketball Team lovingly called "Gilas." Others have gone on to social media to express their thoughts. Some call it a travesty, an over-reaction to the Asiad debacle. Others say that it's been a long time coming and perhaps, another camp (Team San Miguel Corporation) should take charge.

Whatever it may be, know that this is not a dark day in Philippine basketball but rather a bright one.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

The Great Debate: Johnny vs Jimmy

The Flying A vs The Mighty Mouse
Photo credits to the owner
Two players of different eras, forever remembered for the greatness and passion for the game of basketball.

The game is on the line, fans anxiously hang on to every breath as the coach madly scribbles zigzags and curls on a stained white board. Words are being thrown out in the air while players scramble to focus while gulping on water or energy tonics-- whichever fuels the body faster. There's no time to hesitate, this is "win or go home" and nothing more. The lead referee blows on to his whistle to resume play.

Silence.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

The Real Deal Redux

Not yet Stan the Man, but def the Real Deal
Photo courtesy of Sports5
"One game doesn't make a PBA career."

It does, however, offer a glimpse of things to come should every thing turn out the way it's meant to be (barring any injuries, on and or off court issues, etc). This is basically what Boss Mikee Romero and the entire Global Port Batang Pier team and fanbase are hoping for after their prized 2014 PBA Draft 1st overall pick Stanley Pringle delivered last Sunday though in a 96-101 losing effort to the NLEX Road Warriors.
Playing an absurd 40 minutes, Pringle managed a respectable 14 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 3 turnovers and 4 fouls while being asked to keep his two trigger happy backcourt buddies Alex Cabagnot and sophomore star Terrence Romeo.

The Top 10 story lines in the 2015 PBA Philippine Cup Part 2

Author's note: Apologies for splitting the Top 10 list into two. We're not thinking about the hits (we don't have advertising at the moment. *tear* In case you're interested, send us an email or leave a comment with your contact details.), rather, the original format was hellaciously long. Enjoy.

5. #TeamAgeless
Fajardo vs Aguilar
Photo courtesy of Solar Sports Desk
Does Asi Taulava have it in him to lead the NLEX Road Warriors back to another darkhorse run? When will Jayjay Helterbrand buy into the "new school" and admit to himself that Ginebra's "Never Say Die" era is long dead and gone (because, on paper, when was the last time you looked at the Ginebra roster and thought that they wouldn't be a shoo in for at least a 4-5 seed each conference? The Magtulis-Calpito-Cabatu era comes to mind) Will Mark Caguioa ever learn to trust his younger teammates? And finally, when all is said and done, body of work versus body of work, will Jimmy Alapag rank higher than Johnny Abarrientos in the hearts and minds of the every day Filipino basketball fan?

4. The Japeth Aguilar Experiment
Because 18-18 in an opening day game doesn't make an Best Conference of the Player awardee, or even an MVP. What has he learned from Spain? Has he learned any thing at all? Have we given up on Aguilar? Not yet? Why? Which position on the floor does Aguilar really want to play in the PBA? Will he go in hiding again once the PBA's elite defenders rough him up? Or are we on the verge of seeing a transcendent talent finally rise and triumph after all the trials and tribulations?

Oh, and the #KagatSaFakeJapethWatch has officially started.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

The Top 10 story lines in the 2015 PBA Philippine Cup Part 1

Author's note: My sincerest apologies to all of our friends who were expecting about 11 more 2015 PBA Philippine Cup Previews prior to the start of the conference. See, we just relocated overseas and though this writer was able to finish the previews-- he did not save them on any other medium aside from MS Word on his trusty, old Macbook Pro. The very same Macbook Pro which is operating minus a serviceable battery, and, just two days ago, lost its hard drive for good (read: system crash, with mounting error which is the killing blow really). Why this writer is writing and referring to himself in the 3rd person, is quite stupid. Entertaining, humorous, but stupid. Happy reading from the beautiful Gulf Coast!

More teams, more competition. The Gilas boys are back with their respective teams so don't pencil Purefoods in as repeat Grand Slam champions just yet. Here are a few other things that we feel are the conference's top story lines:

Para sayo ang jumpshot na to!
Photo courtesy of Sports5
10. Manny Pacquiao, playing coach
You do realize that sooner than later, we'll just have to embrace the fact that somehow, an individual with no adequate training to play the sport of basketball on the highest level whatsoever, made it into the league simply by his non-basketball yet other-worldly credentials. As an athlete, Pacquiao is undoubtedly as fit (if not fitter) than the likes of PBA athletic specimens Jayson Castro, Calvin Abueva and whichever cross fit crazy name you'd like to throw into the discussion. As a basketball player however, despite his claims of playing the sport constantly-- his shot mechanics alone pretty much shows how good he really is on the hard court. The only time Pacquiao is allowed to score in an actual PBA game is in the All Stars, other than that, whichever player allows Pacquiao to score on him should be revoked of his professional license and will forever be known as an embarrassment not only to himself but to the sport in general.

9. #LetAbuevaBeAbueva
We're not claiming to be privy with Abueva's contract terms, but as far as we know he's on the last year of his rookie deal which can only mean one thing: he's out for blood. Like most players angling for a bigger pay, keep an eye out on The Beast this season and do not be surprised if he is either playing more than his usual 25 minutes, grabbing headlines and wanting more touches or he somehow goes out to the media and destroys the whole #wenotme rainbows and candies slogan of the Alaska Aces if only to put himself on a better position negotiations-wise. Other things we'd like to see from Abueva so he could make that one, giant leap into PBA go-to-guy superstardom: improved handles and a reliable jump shot. In an All-Pinoy conference, expect Abueva to go berzerk on both ends of the floor.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

2015 Philippine Cup Preview: Alaska Aces

Will Coach Alex #LetAbuevaBeAbueva ?
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)
Head coach: Alex Compton
Players: Samigue Eman, Chris Banchero, Cyrus Baguio, Calvin Abueva, Sonny Thoss, Ping Exciminiano, Paolo Bugia, Vic Manuel, Eric Menk, Dondon Hontiveros, RJ Jazul, JVee Casio, Tony de la Cruz, Gabby Espinas, Josh Vanlandingham, Rome de la Rosa (R)

After an unexpected divorce with its (now former)  head coach, the Aces look to win anew under head coach Alex Compton who is reportedly shying away from the Triangle OffenseThis approach is going to prove to be rather interesting, since it wasn't THAT long ago wherein the Aces sacked another former head coach for doing just that-- dumping  the team's patented, tried-and-tested offensive philosophy of XX years instilled by now San Mig Coffee Mixers' grand slam coach Tim Cone.

Looking at the roster, the Aces were able to add a few pieces who have that right balance of being an exceptional basketball athlete (which is quite big with the franchise when you look at most of their acquisitions over the years) and quality locker room guy (with Abueva and maybe buddy Espinas being the only firebrands). Veterans Menk and Vanlandingham will address certain needs on the floor-- a quality backup for franchise cornerstone Thoss on the block and a wing defender/ shooter to spell veteran wings Hontiveros and De La Cruz.

Sunday, October 5, 2014

Winning (and losing) with dignity

Under fire: Gilas head coach Chot Reyes
(Photo courtesy of InterAKTV)
The public outrage on Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes, for his failure to lead Gilas Pilipinas to a medal finish in the recently concluded 2014 Asian Games, is indeed unfair, yet also well-deserved.

Defenders of the five-time PBA Coach of the Year awardee are quick to point out how "well" his team did in the also recently concluded 2014 FIBA World Cup (considering we finished with a 1 win, 4 losses record), citing that there's little the fashion-forward coach could do given the fact that the tools at his disposal-- his players, are either hurt or exhausted. However, the two other Asian teams that went to Spain with Gilas (Iran and Korea) fielded an even more intact line-up while we added new reinforcements: Marcus Douthit and Jarred Dillinger.

The offensive and defensive sets, one cannot argue that Gilas ran and stuck to the game plan to a "T." Did they tire themselves out of games in the first 3 and a half quarters much like they did in Spain? Probably. Did the team let opponents come storming back in by playing a deliberate, fast paced, game of runs offense that often found Coach Chot Reyes not calling for a timeout and instead having his players weather the proverbial storm?
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