PBA GC SF: (1) Alaska vs (5) STAR

The series' X-factor is in this picture,
but not who you would think
(Photo credit to Sports5.ph))

Forget Manila Classico (which celebrates the fanbases more than it does the actual two teams since performance/ championships-wise, they are simply non-equals), this is the real rivalry that has more history and bad blood to it than anything else in the last four-five years.

Ideology vs machinery. Building a team the right way in hopes of winning championships vs one that can just as easily acquire any given player to fit its needs en route to a title romp. At the end of the day, this is what it all boiled down to from the outside looking in specially for head coach Tim Cone. A new challenge, more money, job security and so on vs a franchise that has been repeatedly rumored to be up for sale since when? 2012? We've been hearing about it for two-three straight seasons now.

There is no loyalty in professional sports, only business.

STAR has the, well, starpower. Alaska has the hustle and endless amount of energy.

Something's got to give.

PBA GC QF: (1) Alaska vs (8) Ginebra

Whichever team controls the paint,
controls the series
(Photo credits to Sports5)

This is not going to be pretty.

For the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel faithful, there's no harm in entertaining thoughts of an upset. Basketball is a fair and just sport-- the ball is round, shots can go in or out, players can get sick/ hurt/ cause drama on any given day. There is always a chance of winning.

But in this series? Versus a healthy and well-oiled Alaska Aces squad that quietly snuck its way atop the PBA Governor's Cup standings with arguably the most low-profile, no, under-rated import in Romeo Travis leading the way?

Slim to none. The chances are slim. To. None.

What If: Tanduay Rhum Masters

Ano apelido ni Punisher? ... Ano.
Punisher Ano.
(Photo credits to the owner)

Somewhere in 1998-1999 the Philippine Basketball Association found itself in a bit of a bind no thanks to the sudden rise of the Metropolitan Basketball Association which was backstopped by network giant ABS-CBN. To combat this growing threat, the league welcomed a lot of new talent by way of the "direct hire" process as well as adding an expansion team financed by Lucio Tan, Jr.: the Tanduay Rhum Masters.

The Rhum Masters were making waves in the now defunct Philippine Basketball League, where they were earlier known as the Stag Pale Pilseners, winning championships left and right under a young and fiery pony-tailed coach named Alfrancis Chua and players like Marlou Aquino, Eric Menk, Cris Cantonjos and Mark Telan being part of the roster at one point or another. So "graduating" into the PBA was the next logical step. They were able to buy into the league, elevate 6 players directly from their PBL line-up and also acquire the 1999 top overall pick which would turn out to be one Earl "Sonny" Alvarado.

There were a lot of names on that 1999 roster, the ones that we remember the most being: Alvarado, Menk, Telan, Cantonjos, Jason Webb, Pido Jarencio and Jayvee Gayoso. So yes, that was a nice mix of young yet proven PBL talent, Webb, and two wise Ginebra sages.

Sorry for singling Webb out. But he was basically what Simon Atkins is today for NLEX (no offense, not a lot of stats, but serviceable).

Back to the story.

Aces Full

Nung nagsabog ang Diyos
ng kagwapuhan sa mundo,
ganito din katindi box out ni Banchero
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

It is quite astonishing how the Alaska Aces, now with a 5 wins and 2 losses slate, are managing to stay under the radar while we are all busy celebrating the Ginebra castaways over at Barako Bull, the "revived" San Miguel Beermen and the whole "Sanchir-drama" over at Ginebra.

Don't be surprised if you find Alaska making another deep Playoff run despite having a rather low-key yet ultra-efficient import in Travis Romeo (35 mpg 27 ppg 13 rpg 3 apg). Calvin Abueva (15 mpg 7 ppg 6 rpg 1 apg)? He flirted with a near triple-double last night versus Kia Carnival, but this PBA Governor's Cup campaign for the Aces has been more about their excellent guard play than Abueva's "somewhat controlled" high-octane reputation and performance.

5 wins and 2 losses?

Credit the Aces' guard play.

Team #NSD

(Photo credits to the owner)

So it's a Friday weekend (here in the Middle East anyway) and we are catching up on our steady dose of Upper B basketball talk (if you haven't already, please checkout buhaybasket.com which is basically the new/ another version of FTS or Bro Show or Goat or whatever only a lot more entertaining whenever Jai Reyes is given air time). On this episode, they were asked by one of their many followers about naming a Team Never-Say-Die first five (minus Ginebra players, of course).

Basically, the names that were mentioned are: Marc Pingris, Paul Lee, Dondon Hontiveros, Cliff Hodge and whichever among Yousef Taha, Jerwin Gaco, Alex Nuyles, etc.

We are not going to say that they were wrong, just that we would probably go another way.

Trade Reaction: T.M.B.T.M.

The Prototype returns
(Photo credits to the owner)

Too many bigs to mention.

In an unforeseen and yet unsurprising summer trade that is about as crazy as #LaBoracay when you consider how ho-hum player transactions have been the last few years (no thanks to farm teams), Ginebra, Global Port, San Miguel and Barako Bull engaged in a six-player deal that basically rotated the teams' back-up big men.

We're calling it "crazy," if only because it gave us something to talk about on social media and grants our wish to "free" some of the players involved. "Crazy," because the trade practically unmasked the whole FARM TEAM concept out for even the most nitwit-test of nitwits.

Sinong hindi farm team?

(Unsolicited) Advise Ganda

Is this the year when
The Rocket finally takes off?
(Photo credits to the owner)

E di wow.

Since it's the Holy Week and every one outside of the BPO industry back home is on break, here is our way of reflecting and soul-searching (after fulfilling our Christian obligations of course). We list down the Top 5 PBA Players who need to reinvent/ adjust their game to maybe fulfill their potential as true basketball players, or even, superstars.

5. JC Intal, Barako Bull
Though he is having his best season to date with averages of 13 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists per game this season, we feel that there's still hope for the former UAAP Ateneo de Manila superstar than just being a household PBA role player. He has the pedigree, the body, the face, the athleticism and skillset to be a legitimate PBA superstar. He's even married to one of local showbusiness' hottest TV personalities. Basically, all of the tools to be a premier player. What's lacking in Intal is basic, ruthless aggression. Some players have it, some don't. Some guys like to get their hands dirty, get into the shaded area without a care for their bodies. Just as long as they get the job done. Some guys, well, they're happy with taking jump shots, easy lay-ups and dribbling up top to show their handles. Intal has shown a knack and willingness to get dirty back in college. We haven't seen it in the PBA thus far. To us, it's what has been keeping him from breaking through that "glass ceiling" of sorts.

PBACC The Quarterfinals: Purefoods vs Alaska

"Siya na naman?!"
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Do you believe in fate?

It seems that it cannot be helped. Purefoods head coach Tim Cone will never, truly be rid of his Alaska ties (we doubt he'd want to anyway), and now he finds himself squaring off with the very same team in the 2015 PBA Commissioner's Cup Quarterfinals if only to win another championship.

Coach Tim has done a marevelous job in adding substance to what was once simply a "glamour" team. He taught every one from James Yap to Jerwin Gaco how to play the right way, how to read and react to offenses and defenses, and to basically how to keep winning.

On the other side of the fence, Coach Alex Compton inherited a team of hungry young rascals and veterans, shaped them into something of a more cohesive unit who enjoy playing together. Now, JVee Casio and RJ Jazul don't shun away Calvin Abueva whenever he pesters them for the basketball. Now, Abueva knows where he's supposed to be and how he can help. Yes, the antics are still there, but finally, they have allowed "Abueva to be Abueva."

Which means all hell is going to break loose when Abueva crosses paths with Yap.

Don't call it a comeback

Kala niyo sawa na kami mag-champion?
(Photo credits to the owner)

Coach Cone was not brought into the Purefoods' fold to win a championship. He wasn't brought in to simply win a PBA Grand Slam (though that could have easily been one of the targets/ objectives).

He was brought in to (re)establish a (new) dynasty in Philippine basketball.

Name any past or present San Miguel Corporation-employed head coach in the last ten to fifteen years that was given as much leeway and power as Cone. You'll have to go back two more decades or so, to the days of the iconic Robert Jaworski, Sr. and Ron Jacobs, to truly understand how much creative control and power Cone was given when it comes to the direction of the team, player trades and acquisition and basically what sort of product to put on the basketball court.

Trade reaction: Espinas for Baclao, 2017 pick

"Iwan mo ko, bro?"
(Photo courtesy of Spin.ph)

News have it that the Alaska Aces have decided to send gung-ho power forward Gabby Espinas to GlobalPort Batang Pier for Nonoy Baclao and a future draft pick. This comes as a bit of a surprise since prior to his injury, Espinas has enjoyed a "revival" of sorts with the Aces as its resident enforcer and bossom buddy to star Calvin Abueva. On the flip side, Baclao continues to milk every ounce of a professional career from being part of a UAAP Dynasty (much like his brethren JC Intal of Barako Bull).

Though it's an unfair comparison since Espinas was sidelined, here are both men's numbers: GE 8 season games played so far averaged 12.6 minutes, 8.3 points, 5 rebounds on 54.1% shooting. NB averaged 13 minutes, 3.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and shot 40.3%.

One guy is injured/ coming off an injury while the other is basically just a token warm body who somehow finds a way to get his minutes. Almost like it's mandated in his bloody contract that he needs to play 10 minutes a game at the very least no matter how little he does on the floor for the team.

What's wrong with Alaska?

The struggle is real for Baguio and co.
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

For all the heat that the PBA Philippine Cup champions San Miguel Beermen are getting for their current pitiful PBA Commissioner's Cup campaign, the team that they beat-- the Alaska Aces, are not doing so well either. The team has been under-performing and uncharacteristically not "fighting" in games that many are starting to buy into the rumors and ask if this team is really going to be sold soon thus their players' lackadaisical approach.

Well, blame it on the import that they started the conference with. After that, blame it on the players simply being tired from that grueling, balls-out of a PBA Finals that was one of the best any Filipino basketball fan has seen in years. Blame it on head coach Alex Compton for failing to better prepare his team this conference. And then, only then, yes, maybe blame it on that ugly rumor that keeps lingering around.

The Aces opted to start the 2nd conference with a defensive-minded import in the 6"9 DJ Covington who played four games and averaged somewhere around 22 ppg and 9 rpg in 29 minutes which resulted in a 2 wins-2 losses record. The knock on Covington was that he wasn't much of a "go-to-guy" for the Aces, but then again he was already long established as a guy who plays defense first, offense second. Basically, he's built for Coach Compton's #wenotme style as another rock solid role player. Plus, 22 and 9 doesn't seem all that bad if you look at the number of minutes he plays versus other imports who go almost without rest.

The Right Fit

The real deal. Sorry Ms. Sheryl!
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

It's that time of the PBA season once again wherein teams try their very best to remain (or be) competitive by adding a foreign reinforcement. The trouble with this set-up is that it's a hit-or-miss affair, since you're never truly guaranteed of having the right chemistry or wins, not until the import comes over and actually plays a few games with the team.

There are those who have solid credentials but never really lived up to the hype, some who were able to deliver, and other unknowns and sleepers (Terquin Mott, Devin Davis and Damien Owens from an era ago, Diamon Simpson, AZ Reid, Marqus Blakely) who pretty much take their teams to the promise land and even come back several times to help their team keep that winning tradition. Sometimes, it's not all about the credentials. Sometimes, you just have to take a leap of faith when it comes to adding an import. But it would be absurd for a team to throw team chemistry and addressing certain needs out the window if only to get a name. Right?

Well, some times.

Here's our take on the PBA imports that we've seen so far:

Instant classic

Pampanga's, no, the PBA's BEST.
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Kindly excuse us for this rather late reaction to what has turned out to be an amazing, "instant classic" PBA Philippine Cup Finals between the eventual champs San Miguel Beermen and hard-fighting Alaska Aces.

To be quite frank, we were simply left in awe about how the Best-of-Seven series (which went the full distance) captured the magic of true Filipino basketball. Nothing fancy, no shootouts or one team trying to showboat over the other, but just quality, grind-it-out, matira matibay basketball. What was first being sold as a "vintage" match-up between two of the most dominant teams in the mid 1990s, quickly became a series of its own with the Aces' inspiring run to the top behind a battlecry that preaches #wenotme and the Beermen's quest to quash any #larongmayaman tags and to exorcise whatever demons and drama it has had to deal with the last two or three years.

For the champions, the Beermen, Arwind Santos stood tall when his young fellow PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo was under attack. He set the tone early in the series by not letting the Aces' and its star Calvin Abueva get into any of his teammates' heads by way of physicality. Santos let his game do the talking, even when he wasn't exactly taking the lead role on offense. He battled like the Arwind Santos of old. He was probably pushed into going back to his old self by the challenge that is the young Abueva. We were all reminded, in a span of seven games, why every one thought of Santos as a one of a kind talent in the whole Philippine basketball world. At the same breath, we were also left to rue what could have been, had this Santos showed up the previous years, and maybe joined Gilas Pilipinas as arguably the best and most versatile wing/high post defender in the land.

The 2015 PBA Philippine Cup Finals so far

Win or lose, the Aces' loyal fans
are starting to grow in number with each day
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

If only we could extend this 2015 PBA Philippine Cup series from a Best-of-Seven to maybe a Best-of-Eleven or Thirteen or Fifteen or... then we'd be constantly be treated to hard-fought, instant classics akin to the same competitive fire of yesteryears (when players weren't multi-millionaire franchises scared of being called out on social media and played all out if only to make a name for themselves). Oh yes, the PBA Finals that has the San Miguel Beermen ahead 3-2 against the Alaska Aces have drawn in so much interest that even fans of other basketball teams have gone on to either 1) watch the games on television or live or 2) wish that their own teams played with the same intensity and desire.

Here's what we know: the Beermen are an invincible unit when their "Fab 5" are on the court: that's reigning PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo, former PBA MVP Arwind Santos, Alex Cabagnot, Chris Lutz and Marcio Lassiter. These five guys are absolute beasts and could easily be the starting core for Gilas 3.0 (barring any politicking and drama).

Larong Pinoy

Patay kung patay basketball.
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Sa kasagsagan at kasikatan ng Alaska Aces ngayon dala ng kanilang kakaibang laro sa PBA Philippine Cup Finals kontra San Miguel Beermen, marami ang nagsasabi na dapat isama si Calvin "The Beast" Abueva sa susunod na Gilas Pilipinas. Marami ang nagsasabi, at ipinaglalaban, na ang kanyang stilo-- na minsan ay parang barumbado sa mata ng iba,ay ang tunay na uri ng basketball sa Pilipinas at siyang dapat dalhin sa FIBA maging sa Asya o buong mundo kung papalarin.

Yung buong pusong lumalaban, hindi nag aalinlangan, hindi takot masaktan o matamaan, hindi iniisip yung susunod na kontrata, posibleng endorsements o kahit na ano pa. Yung naroroon sila bilang basketbolista, bilang manlalaro, para manalo at hindi para magpasikat.

Pero gagana ba talaga ang mga tulad ni Abueva sa FIBA? Ngayon pa lang, marami nagsasabi na mapapaaway ang Pilipinas. Na posible tayong mapahiya. Na "hindi basketball" ang laro natin mga Pilipino kung hindi "basket-brawl."

Resbak

There is a wise old saying that goes something like: "you will never know who your true friends are, not until you are in the face of adversity."

If you have been paying attention to the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup Best-of-Seven Finals between the Alaska Aces and San Miguel Beermen, "adversity" would be putting what the Beermen are going through a bit too kindly.

See, this is a team whose core has been together for maybe a good two or three years now but has always fallen short-- be it to injuries, drama or personal agendas by certain players. This season however, they have bought into a more "team oriented" philosophy and are actually going out of their own way in standing up and stepping up for a fallen comrade. Now you can see them laughing at one another, with one another. Now they just keep playing when someone takes a bad shot or, like Chris Lutz in Game 1, makes a giant booboo. They are there for one another, there is an obvious bond nowadays that was not always as transparent in recent memory.

PBA Philippine Cup Finals: San Miguel vs Alaska

Pampanga's Best
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Welcome to the PBA Philippine Cup Best-of-Seven Finals wherein arguably the two most complete basketball teams, San Miguel and Alaska, square off to decide which proud franchise brings home the coveted Jun Bernardino Trophy.

On one side is powerhouse San Miguel Beer, now seemingly exorcised of all its demons and drama, which is looking to win its first All-Filipino championship since the glory days of the now exiled Danny Ildefonso and Danny Seigle in 2001. On the other side are the Alaska Aces, a team that has slowly rebuilt its basketball program to fit the modern era and its new core of mostly blue collar talent.

Here we try to look at the match-ups, where the strengths lie for each team and who can turn the tides when need be. Based on the names on the roster, it's easy to give San Miguel the advantage but then you realize that the Aces feature guys who are just as good yet have managed to fly under the radar owing to their #wenotme battlecry.

PBA Semifinals Predictions: Rain or Shine vs Alaska

98-95.

Matira matibay basketball
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

That's how close the initial and only meeting between PBA Philippine Cup Semifinalists, the Rain or Shine Elastopainters and the Alaska Aces, was which basically decided which team will get a bye to the Semis and which will fall into the Knockout Phase.

After taking care of business against the hapless NLEX Road Warriors and the overwhelmed Meralco Bolts, the Aces are looking to continue building on their success with head coach Alex Compton. It seems like all the patience and trust is finally paying off for the once conservative franchise, with 3rd year pro Calvin Abueva putting up career numbers while also toning down all the crazy antics and flopping. It wouldn't be that much of a stretch to conclude that Abueva's increase in minutes is probably a product of his "good behavior" on the floor.

On the other side, the Elastopainters are off to prove two things: 1) they can finally win the Philippine Cup (All Filipino title) that has seemingly eluded head coach Yeng Guiao and 2) that the Gilas-topainters foursome of Beau Belga, Paul Lee, Gabe Norwood and Jeffrei Chan have all reached that legitimate "higher level" in terms of basketball skill and IQ.

So here we are, in a seven-game series featuring the league's most credible "independent" teams.

Matira matibay.

PBA KO Phase Round 2 Predictions: RoS Bracket

Expect fireworks.
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Well look what we have here: for the first time in a very long while, one of the teams that will advance to the PBA Finals will not be the Purefoods franchise. This, after a heart-breaking loss to a balanced Meralco Bolts franchise that didn't even have a superstar game from main man Gary David (where did that perfect game from James Sena come from?!).

Now, in a rather odd ball of a set-up, two teams will slug it out for the right to face the waiting PBA Philippine Cup 2nd seed Rain or Shine Elastopainters. On one side there's the Alaska Aces, a team that could've easily finished 1 or 2 if not for some lapses and the other, the Bolts.

3 Alaska Aces vs 6 Meralco Bolts
The first and only time that these two teams met in the elimination round, the Aces put on a 105-64 ass whooping of a clinic on the hapless Bolts. The Bolts were never really in the game, with Vic Manuel, Dondon Hontiveros, Calvin Abueva and rookie Chris Banchero all takings turns just scoring at will and the Bolts clearly out of form with Gary David going 2/10 from the field.

PBA KO Phase Predictions: RoS Bracket

Business is about to pick-up in the on-going PBA Philippine Cup as we bid newcomers Kia Sorento and winless Blackwater Elite adieu until next conference and see who's the cream of the crop. As you may or may not know, the top two seeds: San Miguel Beermen and Rain or Shine Elastopainters, get a bye until the later round. The rest of the field will have to duke it out, with the lower seeded teams needing to win twice over the higher seeded ones if they would like to advance.

The Rock needs to go to TNT. Now.
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

We're dividing the brackets into two, based on who they will eventually face in the Quarters: The RoS and SMB brackets.

3 Alaska Aces (twice-to-beat) vs 10 NLEX Road Warriors 
The Aces missed out on an opportunity of landing in the top two spots by a hairline, but this match-up with the NLEX should be a quick and easy one considering both rosters. The Warriors have a formidable frontline with Asi Taulava and a suddenly revived Enrico Villanueva but they, unfortunately, do not play with the same intensity as that of Calvin Abueva who is leading the league in rebounding despite being the same size as NLEX star scorer Mac Cardona. If Eric Menk continues with his inspired, "tour de force" play and Sonny Thoss comes back 100% healthy, then it's all over for the Warriors who still need to address some holes on the roster.