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| The Flying A vs The Mighty Mouse Photo credits to the owner |
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.
One player sees the defense and recognizes the need to throw out the playbook. He'll have to adjust on the fly. He takes a dribble and goes into the high post to size up his defenders-- not enough time to take a few more steps. The referees won't bail him out. Why would them? So he takes the ball with his right and crosses left, creating enough separation between him and his defender. He jumps back for the release-- the picturesque fade away.
The other player sees the defense and waits for his team. He has been to many wars and knows his teammates' capabilities. Tonight, they are not there for them. Tonight, defenders are draped all over the court like a blanket on a toddler. The game is coming to and end. He takes a few dribbles-- further away from the arc, teasing a back court violation, before defiantly taking a long three.
Who would you cheer for, hit or miss? Who would you go to war with, when asked to only choose ONE? Who would you be at peace with, when he misses the shot for your team and you lose a conference/ tournament/ season's worth of hard work?
The first player is the great Johnny Abarrientos. Widely recognized and accepted as one of the (if not the) greatest Filipino point guard of all time. There were many before him, but none like him. Hector Calma had his weaknesses on the court. Ronnie Magsanoc. Eugene Quilban. Dindo Pumaren. They were all great players, but none like Abarrientos. Was he the first Filipino combo guard? Or was he simply an under sized shooting guard playing in a great system that featured his skillset?
The second, as today's generation would know by heart, is Jimmy Alapag. Ever the mighty team captain whatever jersey he puts on. There are no off court issues or drama with Alapag. Just a professional, business-like mentality to basketball. He had his moments when he was younger, but he was not someone you'd see creating for himself. It's either a long three or a drive, none of the fancy one on one with Alapag. He has always been surrounded by some of the league's best players at their positions, something Abarrientos didn't always enjoy.
So in the hierarchy of basketball Point Gods, where would you rank Abarrientos and Alapag? Are they the 1a and 1b of average height basketball players? Or, based on the body of work, is Alapag 1a and the other, a 1c?
Abarrientos, 5"7, is a 6x PBA First Team, 5x PBA All Defensive, All Time Leader in Steals and a certified 12x PBA champion not to mention 1996 PBA MVP. He has suited up for flag and country 3x in his career. He has played for 3 teams (Pop Cola and Coca Cola are the same franchise, just different owners) which is the only chink in his armor-- oh, and the rumored vices that he had. Allegedly.
Alapag, 5"9, is a FIBA Asia Silver Medalist AND FIBA World Cup qualifier. 3x PBA First Team, 1x PBA All Defensive, 6x PBA champion and 2011 PBA MVP. He has played for only one team his entire career, and to this very day is as clean cut as Damon Wayans, Jr. in Major Payne.
Individually, Abarrientos seems the more talented one-on-one basketball player. And even when it comes to the team game-- 12 championships definitely trumps Alapag's six. Still, there's no denying that Alapag is a very big reason why Gilas Pilipinas went as far as it did the last two-three years.
Where would you rank the two Filipino legends and why? Is Alapag the Mighty Mouse and Abarrientos the Brown Jesus?
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Johnny A is way better. He existed when there was no social media to cover all his moves and all the big plays he made back in the day. He played against good point guards too.
ReplyDeleteJimmy A is a great PG of his generation, but he existed in a time when PGs are only a handful. Plus he has wide media coverage too.
Mas consistent si Johnny A in his Prime.
Johnny A. There's no point to debate. The flying A: 12 championships, 1996 mvp(run away),the best defensive PG of all time, he almost had 2 grand slam if alaska didn't lend tim cone,duremdes,jolas and johnny A to the centennial team(para sa mga taong nagsasabi na walang pakialam ang alaska sa national team)no dominat big man and an athletic team mate except duremdes but was able to win a grand slam and 12 championship.
ReplyDeleteThe Mighty mouse: only 6 championships, more of a loyalty award (al pacino winning the oscars,barkley and malone winning mvp over MJ)had a dominat big man in taulava,peek and de ocampo and he had ryan reyes and kelly williams but he only produced 6 championship,poor defender. The only thing that jimmy is better than johnny A is that the mighty mouse is a better outside shooter but the flying A is more concstent perimeter shooter who can post up against taller defender.
The flying a is a run away winner
Johnny was the best PG in the PBA for 6 seasons.
ReplyDeleteJimmy 3 times.
Johnny had slow and non-athletic bigmen in his national team duties in EJ Feighl, Marlou, Andy Seigle, Bong Hawkins, Alvin P.
Jimmy had all the athletic Fil-ams, naturalized players, and NBA talent Blatche.
Johnny is the better defensive player. Jimmy the better shooter. Johnny is better over-all.
Johnny all the way, he maybe short but sure is a thorn in all the team's plus one of the best point guard defensively who also battles for rebounds despite his size & take note he is not even a three point shooter nor playing a carrier high all the time but manages to dominate not just the game but the 90's.RP team during his time did not succeed the way Alapag time does doesn't mean none of there opponents was annoyed/pissed/bothered only by his presence plus the NBA Superstars are amaze by his quickness & carriage to face more bigger players than he is & giving a good quality game...A great example to all basketball lovers specially to short people,Johnny is also d one who open our eyes that its not only the big men who can dominate the game or be a member in the elite squad but it's also possible for short players like him. As Alan Caidic said "Johnny elevated the name POINT GUARD " Johnny Abarrientos also inspires a lot of aspiring basketball players plus U can fine his name in almost all of the all time statistics,I don't know if he is already part of PBA Hall of Famers, if not I hope he will cuz it's a shame to the committee if not. Johnny is certainly one of a kind.
DeleteJohnny all the way, Yes Jimmy Alapag w/his RP team brought medals for d country but how can't U be not proud of Abarrientos w/his team knowing they are 97% pure FILIPINO they may be short against all their opponents w/a less knowledge on how d game system works & yet manage to bring some medals.And take note wether they win or loss there is always an opponent bothered just only by his presence. U can say that he is a great player when he is not afraid to go up against or challenge by d BIG MEN or even IMPORTS every single game, a player who can dominate d game w/out even scoring, a smallest player who dominated the 90's not just by popularity but by skills, a player who own an MVP against d best of the best and in a more physical & toughest erra. Johnny is indeed a one of a kind. Winning an MVP at the same time Winning a GRAND SLAM is a great achievement as a player since it's not just you who won or celebrate but also d entire team. And winning a GRAND SLAM against d toughest teams & popular team is not that easy. And oh, b4 I forget Johnny's name is on most of those all time statistics records.
ReplyDelete