Stars are bland

Look up, look up!
(Photo credits to Sports5)

Definitely not a typo.

The re-christened, yellow-and-red sporting STAR Hotshots are finding it even tougher to defend their third and final crown from last season's grand slam romp, specially with the absence of future cornerstone 6"7 Ian Sangalang. Head coach Tim Cone has stuck mostly to playing an eight-man heavy rotation, with other guys playing sparingly by design.

Thus far, the Hotshots' record is five wins versus five losses. Stuck somewhere in the middle of the Playoff hunt.

Leading the team's hope for a last title defense are returning import Marqus Blakely (39 mpg 23 ppg 13 rpg 3 apg), Marc Pingris (29 mpg 8 ppg 6 rpg 2 apg), Joe DeVance (29 mpg 11 ppg 3 rpg 2 apg), Alex Mallari (28 mpg 10 ppg 3 rpg 3 apg), Mark Barroca (29 mpg 10 ppg 4 rpg 3 apg) and 2x PBA MVP James Yap (25 mpg 11 ppg 4rpg 1 apg). Guys like Justin Melton and PJ Simon are contributing as well, though it appears that they are having some trouble meshing with the rest or excelling in limited minutes (specifically Simon).


The question now is, do they have enough to make a late push and reach the PBA Finals?

History has taught us to never count out Cone and the Hotshots, not with the kind of superstar talent they have on the roster-- JdV, Yap and Simon can all dominate games whenever they choose to with Blakely as a given.

But why did the Hotshots open the conference so flat? Why did we keep hearing Coach Tim ranting about effort, singling out Pingris (as a soft of indirect message to the team, most likely) and asking where the defense has gone?

Well, that's been the story of the Hotshots' campaign this whole season, hasn't it?

Effort. Defense. Focus.

Winning championships isn't easy. A grand slam? That takes out a lot from even the best conditioned athletes in the world. No one really minded at first and gave the Hotshots a free pass because, quite simply, we were tired of them winning so many titles knowing that with the great mix of young and veteran talent, more are in store.

We gave them a free pass because, well, they just won a bunch of titles under Coach Tim in a short amount of time (the equivalent of Rain or Shine winning so many second place finishes under Coach Yeng Guiao, in the same amount of time LMAO).

But they have to start winning again at some point, right?

Can they beat the teams currently seated atop the standings? Alaska, San Miguel, Rain or Shine?

Yes. Yes. And we all know that the Hotshots' have RoS' number, so YES.

Who knows, maybe all the early trade rumors got into some of their players' heads and hearts? And that they are only regrouping now?

It would be premature to count the Hotshots out just yet.