The kids are all right

You either die a hero,
or live long enough to be the villain
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Last night the PBA Commissioner's Cup 8th seed Barangay Ginebra San Miguel was dealt yet another crushing quarterfinals loss, this time by their new-found box office adversaries, Rain or Shine Elastopainters.

We are going to leave the uncertainty of how the endgame played out to the experts (Mike Dunnigan didn't have possession, Jeffrei Chan poked the ball at maybe a millisecond before the shotclock buzzed, was out of bounds, went in to chase after it while every one else was waiting for a whistle that never came, took a step into the court from outside, took another step, retrieved it and went for the easy lay-up), what we'd like to discuss is every thing else that was wrong for Ginebra moving forward.

Like Mark Caguioa and Jayjay Helterbrand, two former PBA MVPs, playing heavy minutes despite their mileage (Caguioa is 35, Helterbrand 38). You say that they were making baskets out there for the team, sure, but so would a Joseph Yeo and L.A. Tenorio had they been given the minutes and touches.


It should be noted that on that broken play won by Chan, Dunnigan and Greg Slaughter were the only two Ginebra players who chased after the Gilas stalwart.

And when they had time for a winning play, Ginebra went to Helterbrand-- often injured, flirting with retirement, but sure, we'll give him the benefit of a doubt and say that he could've pulled a Bal David. But definitely not on a younger, wiry defender (FIBA stopper level, ladies and gentlemen) in Gabe Norwood.

He was looking for a whistle. Something. Anything.

What we saw was an old soldier, looking for hope, doing what was needed, when his commanders should have sent someone else.

It's 2015, just so everyone knows.

There is a reason why Helterbrand isn't and shouldn't be playing as much. Why just about every single superstar shooting guard almost, always lights up Ginebra when the team chooses to match that person with Caguioa.

It's time for Ginebra to move on.

Move on from The Fast and The Furious. Give them their props, they will forever be legends synonymous with the Ginebra name much like Robert Jaworski, Francis Arnaiz and Bal David. Today's basketball isn't played and won by one or two guys alone. Even the very best in the world nowadays seeks to play within a team.

We're not asking for the two to retire. We're simply asking that maybe, just maybe, they should pull their coaches aside and say "boss, sila naman."

Greg Slaughter was a beast last night, Japeth Aguilar was relevant. But for some reason, the team just shied away from their two giants in winning time. Probably because they felt that they could win more by riding their 35 and 38 year old backcourt tandem. Like they used to.

Tenorio looked lost out there. For the very first time in our many years of watching Tenorio play, we've never seen him look so lost and with hardly any impact as he did last night.

Joseph Yeo was out there, but that back injury limited his mobility specially on defense. Plus, he gambled against RoS' rookie Jericho Cruz one too many times (need to check your scouting reports, Ninja).

Mark Baracael and Chris Ellis, thankfully, were limited. Those two need to get with the program soon.

But Tenorio, Yeo, Slaughter and Ellis?

They should be allowed to grow, lose and win as a unit.

Not with Caguioa, Helterbrand and even a Josh Urbiztondo taking their minutes.

It's time to hand over the keys, Mr. Fast, Mr. Furious.