Four-man race

TNT's Teen Titans

When was the last time that the PBA had four neophytes all going neck-and-neck for the season’s top rookie plum?

It’s almost always a two-man race: Kelly Williams and Arwind Santos, Gabe Norwood and Jarred Dillinger, Junemar Fajardo and Calvin Abueva, with a darkhorse or two coming out of the woodwork. But four guys? The top four picks all delivering in the minutes given to them right away?

We have: TNT Katropa’s Moala Tautuaa (20mpg 11ppg 4rpg 1apg) and Troy Rosario (24mpg 13ppg 5rpg 1apg), Rain or Shine’s Maverick Ahanmisi (21mpg 9ppg 4rpg 3apg) and Meralco’s Chris Newsome (28mpg 12ppg 4rpg 3apg), all engaged in a tight stats battle. They play different roles for their respective teams, but there is no denying that they have already made a name for themselves in the pros.

2015 PBA Philippine Cup: Rookie Report Card

One guy's been delivering, the other subpar
(Photo credit to Spin.ph)

Before things start to get too crazy in the PBA Philippine Cup Playoffs, here is our "Report Card" on the 2015 PBA Draft 1st rounders. With teams like Meralco and Mahindra now out of contention, we feel that now is the best time to come up with such since who knows what roles the rooks will play once the imports come in for the next two conferences (history says that they will probably and most likely enjoy reduced roles).

Special mention goes out to Mahinda's Bradwyn Guinto (24mpg 9ppg 9rpg) and NLEX's Simon Enciso (26mpg 8ppg 2rpg 3apg) for basically playing their way into their respective team's rotation and showing that while they were picked late (both 2nd rounders), hard work is always rewarded even in a league chockfull of talent and stars.

Oh, and Rain or Shine's Don Trollano is Mr. YOLO. God bless him.


12. Josan Nimes, SF, Rain or Shine
Stats: 9mpg 3ppg 1rpg 1apg

Nimes has legitimate Grade A basketball IQ, he knows when and where to pass, how to position himself on defense and actually plays a lot like a veteran PG. What is lacking at the moment is some aggressiveness, he hasn't shown a willingness to hit and get hit and most often is happy just creating plays for others. Kumbaga, nahihiya pa.

Grade: C

All eyes on me

Steal of the 2015 PBA Draft or bust?
(Photo credit to the owner)

With the PBA Philippine Cup (and season) set to open this Wednesday, here is a list of who we feel should be on your radar in terms of delivering "must see TV." We are not simply talking about our picks for any individual awards at conference's end. We are talking about guys who already have storylines written for them, going into the season.

*Special mention* Roi Sumang, GlobalPort Batang Pier
If only because this guy was initially expected to be in the first round of the 2015 PBA Draft, all eyes would probably be on Sumang and how he'll fit in 1) GlobalPort and 2) the PBA. Will he get his minutes on the floor and be allowed to score? Or will he be asked to defer to his veteran teammates, who are also scorers by trade (Joseph Yeo, Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle) and "learn" the ropes of being a role player?

10. James Yap, STAR Hotshots
Was Yap shackled by the Triangle, as most would believe, or is he simply on a slow decline owing to all the basketball mileage? Is STAR still his team, or are they moving to another direction with Mark Barocca and Ian Sangalang?

9. Aldrech Ramos, Mahindra Enforcers
Ramos is to basketball as Myrtle is to local showbiz. Whoever this guy's manager is should get a raise. He's everywhere. EVERY FREAKING WHERE. We haven't seen anything from him that would convince us that he's a solid role player at least, and yet we keep hearing all the hype and hoopla from wherever. Hell, he even made it to the Gilas 3 - Jones Cup selection for crying out loud. Now that he is on a bad team, with no one to compete minutes with (unless Coach Manny Pacquiao  Chito Victolero uses him at the 4 to backup Nino Canaleta), we expect to see at least some semblance of a grown man's game to Ramos this season.

2015 PBA Draft - 1st round Grades

"Here's the ball rook, run with it"
(Photo credit to the owner)

While the mood was unceremoniously subdued by new PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa's announcement that no trades were to take place in the 2015 PBA Draft proceedings, it was still quite a haul for most PBA teams, the applicants and their followers.

Honestly, this year's draft made the most sense for all the teams involved since most went to address their immediate needs rather than just blindly bobbing for apples. A few surprises/highlights include the Sinag/ Gilas Cadet alumni being picked early, Coach Yeng Guiao's "we need a big/ wing but we'll draft a surprise PG pick anyway just to mess with you mock draft nerds," and above all-- Roi Sumang "dropping" all the way down into the 3rd round after being projected as a possible and legitimate first round talent.

Because the 2015 PBA Draft went all the way down to the 6th (!) round and we, admittedly, have little to no idea about some of the names chosen, we'll stick with handing out grades for the 1st round selections.

1. Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters - Moala Tautuaa
When Tautuaa opted to throw his hat into the PBA D-League last year in hopes of joining the 2015 PBA Draft, TNT basically moved some parts to ensure that they will be able to acquire his services (or Bobby Ray Parks, Jr.'s, who opted not to join). Looking at the 6"7 Fil-Tonggan, it's easy to understand why TNT would go for him at this spot after losing Ali Peek to retirement and now Kelly Williams to injury and Jay Washington to a trade. He looked pretty solid while playing in the ABL and D-League, he has the size, speed and strength to combat any PBA big man, 2x PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo included.
Grade: A

2015 PBA Draft Complete Results

Our heartfelt congratulations to the following amateur standouts who were selected in the recently concluded 2015 PBA Draft.

2015 PBA Draft 1st pick overall
Moala Tautuaa - Talk n Text
(Photo credit to the owner)

View the full list of draftees and which team they went to here:

Talk'n'Text Tropang Texters
1.1 Moala Tautuaa (PF)
3.9 Michole Sorela (C)
4.7 Joshua Cobillo (SG)
5.5 Emilian Vargas (SG)

Mahindra Enforcers 
1.2 Troy Rosario (PF)
2.2 Bradwyn Guinto (C)
3.2 Leodaniel de Vera (SF)
4.2 Michael Vincent DiGregorio (SG)
5.2 Alexander Austria (SG)

Small moves, new beginnings

Still waiting for Jervy to live up
to his Baby Patrimonio potential
(Photo credit to the owner)

Finally, a couple of PBA off-season deals that we could write about!

Who would've thought that it would be the GlobalPort Batang Pier squad of Boss Mikee Romero doing all the wheeling and dealing off/ pre-season? And no, it's not to serve at any of the two giant corporation's pleasure even but to actually try and continue building a legitimate darkhorse contender for the coming season.

There are rumors however that this is only the beginning, and that more trades will follow suit. No worries, the more trades and transactions there are going into next week's 2015 PBA Draft, the more copies we can write, rave and rant about!

Tuloy ang ligaya kahit off-season!

Jervy Cruz to GlobalPort, Jewel Ponferada + 2015 PBA Draft 2nd round pick to Rain or Shine

2015 PBA Mock Draft V 4.0

Ginebra fans should be on
the lookout for this kid
(Photo credit to the owner)

Before the official list of 2015 PBA Draft applicant is made public, reportedly next Monday, we are revisiting our mock draft with what we hope is the final and true order (all things considered). We already know that some prized names such as 2x UAAP Most Valuable Player Bobby Ray Parks, Jr., his rival Kiefer Ravena, and even promising big man Arnold Van Opstal will hold out for another year.

In our honest opinion, this year's draft has a lot of promise and potential but not much of the PBA ready superstars. There seems to be a lack of Paul Lee-like sleepers, the Gilas cadets look more like serviceable role players than future stars and even the projected number one pick, 6"7 Fil-Tonggan Moala Tautuaa, hasn't really dominated the amateurs in a way that Asi Taulava, Eric Menk, Rommel Adducul and even Jervy Cruz did moving up the ranks-- which is big, considering we live in a day and age wherein everyone just about blows everything out of proportion.

1. Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters (from Blackwater) - Moala Tautuaa, 6"7
For all good things about Troy Rosario, how he's improved and made the most of the chances given him since breaking into the spotlight by way of the UAAP Finals (SEAGames, FIBA 3x3), we have a feeling that the Texters will find it rather difficult to pass on a specimen like Tautuaa. Between the two, Tautuaa is the more polished offensively though quite lacking in range. He is basically a heftier, full-bearded Kelly Williams (who is out with an MCL injury btw)-- not a center per se, but a strong presence in the paint who can run and cover a lot of ground on both ends of the court.

2. Mahindra Enforcers/ Kia Carnival - Troy Rosario, 6"7
If Coach Manny Pacquiao has proven one thing last season, it's that he is not in the league as a mere "joke." They competed quite well in the last two conferences behind the coaching brilliance of lead assistant Chito Victolero, and it only makes pure basketball sense to go for Rosario and pair him-- pick and roll, pick and pop, with point guard L.A. Revilla whose stock should be on the rise for next season.

2015 PBA Draft: Team Needs

Who needs who?
(Photo credit: Interaksyon.com)

While we await the winner of the PBA Governor's Cup Finals Best-of-Seven series between the Alaska Aces and San Miguel Beermen to formally end the league's 41st season, here's a picture of what we can expect come the 2015 PBA Draft.

Based on how the teams fared this season, we already have a working idea of who-picks-where for the coming draft. Some names have already announced their intent (primarily highly touted 6"7 Fil-Tonggan Moala Tautuaa), while some names are still playing in minor leagues both locally and internationally (keep doing what you're doing Bobby Ray!).

Now the fun part: do teams go for "best available talent" or do they address specific "team needs?"

Here's how we think the teams will approach the 2015 PBA Draft, based on their overall performance this season and who they should be looking out for:

Troubled Waters

Reil "KOBE!" Cervantes.
Franchise player.
(Photo credit: Sports5.ph)

Here's where Blackwater Elite finds itself at the end of its maiden season:

Call them this year's biggest loser: PBA wins and losses -wise and also, 2015 PBA Draft -wise. The awful performance was expected, given the fact that the team was barred from making any direct hires from their promising PBA D-League roster and was pretty much asked to form a roster out of discards and no-names.

But then, the franchise's only glimmer of hope, their salvation, the coveted 2015 PBA Draft Number One Pick-- was foolishly sent in a hullabaloo of a trade which involved NLEX, Rain or Shine and Talk'n'Text.  The team lost its 1st pick to TNT to acquire the services of Larry Rodriguez.

2015 PBA Mock Draft V 3.0

Come at me, bro.
(Photo credits to spin.ph)

Will Bobby Ray Parks, Jr. fulfill his NBA dreams? Or will he be forced to "settle" for this side of the world's oldest play-for-pay basketball league? Is Moala Tautuaa really that good? What if Troy Rosario ends up being the same player as one former UAAP All Star Kelvin Gregorio?

Ladies and gentlemen, here is the third version of what is starting to look more and more like a thin 2015 PBA Draft field (talent-wise). This time, we are going with "what the team needs right now" over the "best available talent" thinking to fill out the rest of the First Round.

12. Rain or Shine Elastopainters - Glenn Khobuntin, 6"4
Tailor-made for Yeng Guiao, fits the new RoS "TV friendly faces" image that the team has come to embrace the last two seasons. Perimeter big in the mold of old wards Ronnie Matias and Larry Rodriguez, though not as skilled.

11. Blackwater Elite (from Talk'n'Text) - Maverick Ahanmisi, 6"2
This team desperately needs a go-to-guy. There's that Ryan Wetherell cat and all the hype about him while playing in Vince Hizon's FBA... but if the UP MBT could win a legitimate basketball title over there the way their roster is right now...

#TankSoHard

Too good to be tanking, yes?
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

The best thing to ever happen to Blackwater Elite's Marcus Douthit this PBA Governor's Cup, is the 2015 South East Asian Games where he is on loan to the Gilas Pilipinas team.

That's it.

Is he (still) paying for the sins of that disastrous post FIBA World Gilas stint in Korea? Wherein he bore the brunt of the blame, for being unable to do an Andray Blatche and basically carry a fatigued and injury-riddled team to a medal finish? Why on earth did he sign up with the Elite in the first place? Oh, yeah, the Team MVP ties which is becoming as clear as the team's bootleg Talk'n'Text jerseys.

We feel that Leo Isaac can coach in the PBA. We feel that Douthit (43 mpg 2- ppg 13 rpg 3 apg) still has some gas left in the tank.

Pido Redux

Depensa muna bro
(Photo credits to the owner)

"Pride, puso, palaban."

These three words served as Global Port Batang Pier head coach Pido Jarencio's battle cry when he first made a name for himself, outside of playing amateur and pro-ball, along the sidelines with the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers from 2006 to 2013 (with three UAAP Finals appearances and a championship to display). The same battlecry was what Jarencio said he will bring into the PBA when he was hired by the Batang Pier in 2014, only to finish the season with an abysmal 2-16 win-loss record.

They "fired" him, brought him back as team consultant, and is now promptly back calling the shots in the PBA Governor's Cup wherein the Batang Pier are surprisingly ahead of the pack with a 3-0 win-loss slate which is arguably the best start in Pido's young PBA coaching career. For stat lovers, the Batang Pier are averaging 94 ppg on 42% 2-pt, 40% 3-pt, 52 rpg and 18 apg (with 15 topg) versus their opponents' 79 ppg, 37% 2-pt, 13% 3-pt, 47 rpg, 14 apg and 16 topg.

So what changed between Pido's first time out and this one?

One out of five

#BayanNgRoS

One championship in five tries, that is.

With yesterday's heart-breaking Game 7 loss to eventual PBA Commissioner's Cup titlist Talk'n'Text Tropang Texters, the Rain or Shine Elastopainters are left with an unfortunate dilemma moving forward:

Should they make a trade and possibly break-up the core, or should they keep it together for another try?

The Kia Pick Conundrum

Tapos hindi sumali sa Draft e no?
TROLLOLOL
(Photo credits to the owner)

Kia Carnival is recently making the wires thanks to their openness to trading away their 2015 PBA Draft Pick (which could go as high as number 2) if only to land a proven, PBA superstar name. Talk'nText name has been floating around, but they already have the 1st pick (courtesy of Blackwater) so why would they want to let go of one of their stars?

Then again, we're looking at a loaded Texters' team that could add both Moala Tautuaa AND Bobby Ray Parks, Jr. in one killing.

So TNT's Jayson Castro's name has been mentioned, as well as the Purefoods' young backcourt tandem of Alex Mallari and Justin Melton, but are they really worth the 2nd pick? A Tautuaa? A Parks, Jr.?

Here we try to make sense of it all, and which teams should offer which players for the 2nd pick.

2015 PBA Mock Draft V 2.0

Top 5 sleeper
(Photo credits to owner)

Remember when we said that it was a bit early to be writing about the 2015 PBA Draft, given the scarcity of names that are sure to apply? Well, we are starting to hear more and more of young, collegiate talent that are foregoing their final UAAP/NCAA years if only to try their luck at the pros (UE's Roi Sumang being the biggest newsmaker to date).

Just bear in mind that the PBA Draft order isn't final (we'll know at season's end) but here's more or less something to work with (thanks to that PBADraft website whose owner I don't know, but props to him/ her).

Let's go.

Trade reaction: Ginebra's Ababou, Forrester for Barako's 1st round pick

Kampihan na talaga.
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Well, so much for newly-installed head coach Frankie Lim's Ginebra youth movement.

In a trade that comes as manna from heaven in the middle of some Arabian dessert for those involved and their supporters, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel has sent the little-used pair of Dylan Ababou and James Forrester to Barako Bull Energy Cola for the team's 2015 PBA 1st round draft pick (which is projected to be somewhere from the 4th to 5th).

For Ginebra, this spares the new coach from the burden of being asked by the thousands of kabarangays in having to play the two when they still have some more established, somewhat "immovable" veterans on the roster. Now, the team's rotation of shooting guards and wings involve "only" Mark Caguioa, Jayjay Helterbrand, Joseph Yeo, Josh Urbiztondo, Mac Baracael and Chris Ellis. And based from what we saw in the Rain or Shine quarterfinals game, it seems that management is still convinced that Caguioa, Helterbrand and Urbiztondo have a lot left in the tank and deserve to play together some more (ugh).

This, plus the fact that they could possibly get a top-tier rookie in the 2015 PBA Draft-- anyone from U.E.'s Roi Sumang, DLSU's Norbert Torres, San Beda's Garvo Lanete and maybe some hipster pick in one of those ASEAN Basketball League Fil-Ams not named Moala Tautuaa.

2015 PBA Mock Draft V 1.0

Number 1 or Number 2?
(Photo courtesy of SLAM.ph)

Though we personally believe that it's a tad bit too early for this (most of the names we want/expect aren't even in yet!), there's no harm in sharing our 2015 PBA Mock Draft now is there? Some of the names are a given, but the manner or order in which they will be drafted should be a bit of a surprise.

Here. We. Go.

12. San Miguel Beermen - Norbert Torres, 6"6
Go big or go home, Arnold Vosotros is a nice option as well but it would be hard for other teams not to tab the burly Green Archer (even if he is still a project at best) in the 2nd round. Call this a back-up plan for the Beermen in case any of their bigs get hurt OR a very good trade chip.

11. Rain or Shine Elastopainters - Aljon Mariano, 6"3
San Miguel will hope to land Mariano (there's a whole story here, but we won't go into that for now), but we feel that head coach Yeng Guiao will find it very hard to resist the fundamentally sound Cabalen who is basically another Ronnie Matias or Larry Rodriguez in the making.

10. Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters - Glenn Khobuntin, 6"4
Remember when Jayson Castro talked about how his team needs some bad boys? Well, okay, Khobuntin's not exactly going to rough anyone up but he does look the part. A solid wingman who can easily transition to either a PBA 3 or 4, Khobuntin will be a great understudy for veteran Ranidel de Ocampo as the season progresses.

The Expendable

From near-franchise player
to rumored trade bait
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

What started as just another Holiday story from polarizing sports writer Snow Badua to pass the time has suddenly spread like wildfire on social media, with many still trying to make sense of the whole situation. Apparently, the Talk'n'Text Tropang Texters are looking at trading the recognized, still-in-his-prime, Best Point Guard in FIBA Asia, Jayson Castro to Kia Motors for a possible top pick in the coming 2015 PBA Draft.

Just in case you haven't heard yet, already jockeying for the Top Pick honors are 6"7 Fil-Tonggan Moala Tautuaa, 6"4, 2x UAAP Most Valuable Player Bobby Parks, Jr., Ateneo high flyer Chris Newsome (possibly) and even Ateneo ace, reigning UAAP MVP Keifer Ravena.

So what the reports are saying, if there's any truth to it, is that the Texters are looking to use Castro as live bait if only to land one of those three to four high profile names right away. It seems a bit off however, considering Castro is arguably the best combo guard in the PBA today (when healthy) and is looking like he's starting to slowly inherit the team from veteran Jimmy Alapag.

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.

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.