PBA GC QF: (4) GlobalPort vs (5) STAR Hotshots

Pambansang Ex-Husband
kontra Pambansang Ex-Boyfriend.
Allegedly. Hihi.
(Photo credits to Sports5.ph)

"To be the man, you have to beat the man."

Call it a "rite of passage" for Terrence Romeo, Stanley Pringle and the rest of the "young" GlobalPort Batang Pier squad who are making their first trip into the PBA Playoffs. Standing in the way? The defending champions STAR Hotshots who started the conference (and basically the entire season) jet-lagged from their Grand Slam high from last year.

Lately? We've been seeing Marc Pingris once again pulling his shorts up and crouching low. We're seeing James Yap making clutch plays over the toughest of defenses. Marqus Blakely is back to being Black Sakuragi (which is somewhat racist, when you think about it) though in a more toned down manner.

Romeo has been frothing at the mouth for an opportunity to play at this level of basketball. He's a high stakes player, built for superstar-making games. There are only two teams that you need to be at your best to become a household name in the PBA: Ginebra, and STAR (Purefoods).

It's the Golden Ticket to the PBA's Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory of Superstardom.

Experience wise, this would be a no-contest. Easy. We could see GlobalPort buckling somewhere. Romeo going solo. The inexperience and immaturity exposed by Tim Cone and the STAR's collection of championship certified players.

BUT, the Batang Pier do enjoy having the services of a legitimate beast of an import in Jarrid Famous AND the solid Omar Krayem. They also have a veteran high post playing/ rebounder in Doug Kramer who can battle Pingris on the block. Then there's Kuya Denok Miranda waiting for his opportunity to shut down his old pal James Yap and or PJ Simon should he be called upon to do so.

Then again, there's only one Kramer to match up against both Pingris AND DeVance (Famous will concentrate probably on Blakely). And you do not want Kramer being pulled way out up top where he isn't at his best, chasing after DeVance. Same game plan should you switch Kramer on Blakely-- they'll just pull him faraway from the basket as much as possible.

Which brings us back to Romeo and Pringle vs STAR.

Which is the real story line here.

Romeo wants it. He'll do anything to win now and win big.

Pringle is the question mark.

IF he plays true to form, he is on a level right now which is better than Mark Barroca, Alex Mallari and Justin Melton COMBINED. He's a true rare talent, though we've only seen flashes because he is either injured/ deferring to Romeo. Krayem can be sent to match-up with Yap/ Simon, so that would take care of that.

Can the duo of Romeo and Pringle stay on the floor long enough, with Krayem, to lead the way vs a veteran STAR line-up? Talent says yes, experience, that will be the key to this match-up and will make it very interesting.

Barocca on Romeo would be nice. Pringle is big enough to guard the 2. We can see STAR going big with JdV, Ping and Blakely all in at the same time-- which would force Coach Pido to sit either Romeo or Pringle and field in a maybe untested Anthony Semerad (but, theoretically, should be able to hold his own vs JdV inside or out).

Unless of course, if you listen to the conspiracy theorists, GP is "ordered" to job outright.

Prediction: STAR