The Living Legend

June Mar Fajardo. 6x PBA MVP.
Photo: CNN Philippines

Author's note: Isn't it funny how just a week or two ago, most of us were scrambling, racing against time, trying our best to meet deadlines, submit reports, pay bills and so on? Now we find ourselves trying our best to live each day to the fullest, trying our earnest not to cross the line between being safe and paranoid altogether. 

Here is our long overdue take on the greatness of one Philippine Basketball Association player, an individual who, no matter what happens moving forward, has already cemented his legacy and name in just about every Filipino sports annals. 

Happy reading, and please do stay at home if you can. 

Just about every sports writer/ influencer/ fan/ blogger has already written about the PBA's unrivaled 6x Most Valuable Player June mar Fajardo. Of how a quiet 6"10 Cebuano rose to fame from the province, before moving to the ASEAN Basketball League as a sparingly used bench warmer (we can't even call him a role player at the time) and then the PBA. Sure, he still looks lost in the scheme of things whenever he is asked to play for flag and country. But when given the time, the play, the opportunity to show his wares, he has always handled himself pretty well against the best of them.

And not once did we hear any news of him not wanting to play. If he's healthy, he'll suit up. In spite of the fact that whoever's been coaching the national team, tends to run a more perimeter oriented style rather than making full use of Fajardo and the 6"11 import Andray Blatche.

He'll suit up for flag and country. No questions asked.

Make a stand

Standhardinger: Out of place
(Photo: Inquirer Sports)

The San Miguel Beermen are off to another mediocre start to the 2nd conference of yet another PBA season following a championship run.

Tell us if you've heard this story before: the Beermen put up a world-class, titan-like basketball display in the Philippine Cup versus worthy adversaries, only to look like mere mortals as their superstar core of multi-time MVP Junemar Fajardo, Alex Cabagnot, Arwind Santos, Chris Ross and Marcio Lassiter are either saddled by injuries or play below par owing to fatigue.

But isn't this why they got Christian Standhardinger and this season, the flamboyant Terrence Romeo? Management did a heck of a job in fortifying their 2nd unit, throw in the help of a solid import in Charles Rhodes, the improved play of Matt Roster and Von Pessumal and the bruising Kelly Nabong, and you pretty much have a unit that could start in the Playoffs for any other team.

On paper, that is.

So far, the biggest disappointment has to be Standhardinger-- he of mighty FIBA Asia credentials, a thoroughbred who was primed to become Fajardo's bosom buddy in the post the way Marlou Aquino and Dennis Espino flourished together with the Santa Lucia Realtors a decade or so ago.

The Filipino-German has found it hard to get solid minutes under Coach Leo Austria, and when he does, he mostly plays a garbage man's role to Fajardo. There's playing the weak side, then there's being asked to simply get out of the way-- Standhardinger appears to be playing more to the latter. What's odd is, Standhardinger can't seem to post-up PBA competition the way he is able to awkwardly manoeuvre in the paint versus FIBA bigs to get scoring position.

If you were to ask us, we'd openly accept that the SMB core guys, who all play at least 31 mpg, sit the 2nd conference (or maybe have their minutes cut down to the mid 20s mark) and have the 2nd unit take over. That's Standhardinger, Romeo, Rosser, Pessumal and an import, Rhodes. You simply cannot convince us that that unit can't get the team to the Playoffs at least, with Fajardo, Ross and Lassiter chipping in from time to time.

It's just unfortunate how SMB fans, who have already grown accustomed to this 2nd conference dip shoot down the rest of their roster if only to save their core starters' reputation. As though the Beermen's 2nd unit were composed of guys who'd be best of playing in minor leagues.

The only probable and logical reason we can come up with, why this has been tolerated for so long, is that Coach Leo and or management is mindful of their core starters' numbers, minutes and salary. They get paid a lot, so best to really get their money's worth, right?

We're not asking Standhardinger to suddenly average 20-10 in lieu of Fajardo, simply, for him (and the rest of the guys) to not look so lost out there on offense and not hesitate to maybe take a few shots here and there.

Your thoughts?

Top heavy

Championship-hungry
(Photo credit: abs-cbn.com)

While the league is having its PBA All Star Break, allow this writer to make his (hopefully) triumphant return with this "catch-up" entry.

So far, we've seen a lot of impressive performances from most of the PBA imports: Alaska's Corey Jefferson and Phoenix's Jameel McKay are lighting it up while Blackwater's Greg Smith is beasting the boards. Ginebra's Justin Brownlee is also low-key doing his thing, being the most versatile of the lot and leading the imports in terms of sharing the basketball and keeping his teammates involved.

As for the locals, 3x PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo, Jayson Castro, Terrence Romeo and other bonafide stars have taken the backseat as expected. The guards: Castro, Romeo and Alex Cabagnot have managed to stay afloat, thanks to their passing skills. Still, it's quite clear that teams are relying heavily on their imports this conference to help get them into better PBA Playoffs seating.

Perpetual

Greatness within reach
(Photo credit: mb.com.ph)

Ladies and gentlemen, here are your PBA Philippine Cup champions and Perpetual Trophy winners, the San Miguel Beermen!

Alex Cabagnot missed having his beautiful nose fixed for this. Marcio Lassiter deferred to everyone else when everyone knew that he is the team’s best shooter. Arwind Santos stopped trying to look like a superstar and just did a lot of the dirty work. Chris Ross just kept providing the Beermen with the “larong mahirap” hustle and energy. Three-time PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo was happy to just put up “pedestrian” numbers instead of Kraken-like ones for the good of the team.

Coach Leo Austria came under fire, for some reason, because he wasn’t using his bench enough—even when they were winning and almost came out of the elimination round unscathed.
Speaking of the bench, they were all just happy to be there and do whatever was asked. No one was going on social media, no young up and comer was posting “play me or trade me” photos on Instagram. They all simply bought into what Coach Leo was preaching.

And it was all worth it.

PBA Ph C F: 1 San Miguel V 7 Ginebra

Ginebra is on the rise
(Photo credit: sports5.ph)

Call it a date with destiny.

When Tim Cone was transplanted from his grand slam throne with the Star Hotshots to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, expectations of turning the franchise around and multiple title runs were the norm. Everyone agreed that if anyone could make Ginebra’s giants, 7”0 Greg Slaughter and 6”9 Japeth Aguilar, regular fixtures in the PBA Playoffs and Finals it could be no one else but Cone.

And following that same logic, a fantasy showdown was born: Cone’s Ginebra versus the league’s current crème dela crème; San Miguel Beer and its own giant: the reigning 3x PBA MVP, 6”10, Junemar Fajardo.

Last season, San Miguel won its 2nd straight PBA Philippine Cup title which further cemented the supremacy of its local cast while Ginebra, only three conferences into the Cone Era, ended the season with a title of its own.

PBA Ph C SF 1 San Miguel v 4 TNT

Country's best players 1A, 1B
(Photo credit: pba-online.net)

Thank you Alex Cabagnot.

This corporate rivalry that has spilled on the hardcourt badly needed that "arrow" of yours, if only because Team MVP (through TNT Katropa) wasn't holding up its end of the bargain. While San Miguel Beer kept winning title after title, post-Chot Reyes TNT started to pile up the losses and early playoff exits.

Even their last title romp, over Rain or Shine just a few conferences back, can be marked with an asterisk because San Miguel's key players were hurt during that same conference so they can never really lay claim supremacy. Also, then TNT import Ivan Johnson simply went berserk against the whole league (in a good, basketball way of course)

So yeah, shoot those arrows and post those tweets. Keep them coming (because we sure as hell know that most of the guys on the roster, specially from TNT, won't really look to exchange violent, non-basketball related blows). Would love to see Gabby Espinas and Ranidel de Ocampo get into it. Maybe Arwind Santos and Kelly Williams. Ross' pesky defense versus Castro's genius.
Light up the fireworks.

Here are the match-ups:

PBA Ph C QF: 1 San Miguel v 8 Rain or Shine

Lassiter v Cruz will be key
(Photo credit: pba-online.net)

Will San Miguel waltz into the next round or will Rain or Shine prove (to itself, above all) that there is indeed life after Yeng Guiao and Paul Lee?

There are a lot of questions going on between this odd pairing, mostly because RoS on paper is a much better team than their lowly seeding would suggest. Can they beat San Miguel? History says they can, and on paper, while they do not have anyone standing on equal footing as San Miguel's 3x PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo and his backup Yancy de Ocampo, they are quite tall over-all.

Like, average height of roughly 6"3 spread around, tall AND wide.

Let's review the match-ups:

Instant classic

Big Beau vs The Kraken
(Photo credit to the owner)

If last night's game between the San Miguel Beermen (7-1) and the Rain or Shine Elastopainters (5-3) were a preview of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals; then we are not going to raise any complaints (and that's not simply because we are RoS fans).

The game had all the elements of a classic: starpower, hot-shooting for both sides, physicality, taunting, bum calls that could've changed the outcome of the match-- and those are words to cover the regulation period at that! For the Beermen, they were led by the usual suspects: 3x PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo 25p 17r, 1x PBA MVP Arwind Santos 17p 15r 5a, Alex Cabagnot 14p 3r 3a with some much needed support from RR Garcia 17p and Yancy de Ocampo 12p.

The Elastopainters on the other hand did their usual thing of "spreading out the offense" with Jeff Chan 11p, Chris Tiu 13p, Beau Belga 14p, Maverick Ahanmisi 9p and Dexter Maiquez 8p. Surprisingly misfiring was Jericho Cruz, but we'd like to give the Beermen credit for starting the game with defensive specialist Chris Ross on Cruz right away.

Just a few game notes:

Amazing Arwind

The Pinoy Spiderman
(Photo credit: Inquirer.net)

When it is all said and done, the San Miguel Beermen’s do-it-all forward and former PBA MVP Arwind Santos will undoubtedly go down as one of the best ever.

Is he a small forward? But he rebounds the basketball and often makes his best defensive stops around the paint. Is he a power forward? But he shoots threes, runs the floor and isn’t exactly built like a stocky one as per Filipino traditions.

All Ineligible/ Anti-Gilas

#whatif Anti-Gilas
(Photo credit Sports5.ph)

While we await the official announcement of Coach Chot Reyes’ Gilas 24-man pool (with the 12 former Gilas cadets already shoo-ins), here is an interesting thought: why not create a “practice team” of “FIBA ineligible” PBA players who are also, mostly, Gilas-caliber?

We are not trying to create any drama here, just that we feel that these guys could readily give Gilas a run for its money considering their overall talent and global experience pre-PBA.  Just to make it even more interesting, we would want maybe Coach Norman Black or Tim Cone to handle this roster:

Alex Cabagnot
Chris Ross
Stanley Pringle
Chris Newsome
Chris Banchero

Opening Day Game(s) notes

Come at us, brodies.
(Photo credit: Spin.ph)

The new PBA season is upon us!

Here are a few game notes from two days' worth of games, missed out on today's 2nd game: the Rain or Shine-TNT match, so you'll have to make do with the Blackwater vs Phoenix one for now. Will catch the game later on replay (thanks OSN and Aksyon International)!

Also, if you've been paying attention, it seems like they found a strong digital marketing arm to help keep in step with the times which is a good thing (someone send us free tickets or something! Lol)

San Miguel 96 - Star 88

- Alex Cabagnot, shooting guard. This is going to be fun.

PBA GC SF 2 San Miguel Beer vs 3 Ginebra

The Kraken vs The Aguila(r)
(Photo credit: Sports5.ph)

We are going to be in for quite a #TeamSanMiguel slobber knocker of a semifinals clash between sister teams: defending PBA Governor’s Cup champions San Miguel Beer and the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

In a sense, this is the basketball God’s way of “testing” head coach Tim Cone’s Ginebra squad: should they wish to further themselves and live up to championship expectations, then they will have to go through arguably the most dominant team in the last two seasons. It won’t be easy, since the Beermen appear to have (re)embraced a certain “win now, win big” philosophy anchored on making the most out of 2x PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo’s (still young) basketball career.

So who will win the Best-of-Five affair (which, in all honestly, would most likely command audiences worthy of any PBA Finals or All Star Game all in itself)? Here is our take:

2016 PBA GC QF: 2 San Miguel vs 7 NLEX

SMB's Spiderman and Crunchman (ugh, Quinito)
(Photo credit: PBA.inquirer.net)

Is NLEX ready for the semis? Is Coach Boyet Fernandez going to be around for next season? Will he call another ill-opportune timeout and have his assistant Adonis Tierra save his ass through the media?

Or will San Miguel move one step closer to defend their remaining title from last season?

Check-out our QF preview/ prediction and hit us up @kilikilishot on Twitter!

PBA CC SF: 1 San Miguel vs 5 Rain or Shine

Grudge Match
(Photo credit: Spin.Ph)

In a grudge match of the PBA Philippine Cup Semifinals, San Miguel will need to overcome bullish Rain or Shine once again if they are looking to continue their Grand Slam bid. The only problem here is, they are facing a team that appears to have found a wide body, literally, to even out the playing field.

Oh, and that SMB's 2x PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo is coming off an injury (caused by RoS' Jireh Ibanes in that same Semis match-up mentioned above).

So here is what we know: RoS beat SMB in the eliminations thanks to then import Mo Charlo's 35 points and 13 rebounds debut. It was also a close 108-105 match, which could've easily been in favor of SMB had Fajardo been in the shape that he is in now (still not 100%, but definitely getting there).

In that match SMB's Tyler Wilkerson posted 33 and 10, Marcio Lassiter and Alex Cabagnot provided 18 a piece and Chris Ross had 12. On the flip side, it was JayR Quinahan with 15, Chris Tiu and Maverick Ahanmisi with 13 each and Jeff Chan with 12-- basically, typical RoS stats with just about everyone who saw action scoring a point or two.

So how does SMB beat RoS?

Cruising along

Wilkerson
(Photo credit: PBA.Inquirer.net)

If you are wondering why we keep harping about the fact that this season might very well be a grand slam one for the San Miguel Beermen, it is simply because, well, it is.

Not only are the Beermen near atop the current PBA Commissioner's Cup standings, after already securing the PBA Philippine Cup championship just weeks ago, but they are looking at a depleted field of opponents who are trying to salvage what they can this conference. The defending champions, Tropang TNT, suffered a huge blow with the exit of original import Ivan Johnson. Then there are the Rain or Shine Elastopainters, who lost a slim-fast Wayne Chism and have now opted to go small with a wing/guard Mo Charlo.

And of course, there are the Alaska Aces who are also atop the standings but we all know how that story will end should they meet the Beermen in the Finals-- because really, other than the imports, what has changed for both camps?

We will tell you what changed.

Legendary

Championship # 3
(Photo credit to PBA.Inquirer.net)

What the San Miguel Beermen were able to accomplish just a few nights ago versus the Alaska Aces in Game 7 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals goes beyond historic.

How can you not call and recognize it as something more, when the team was all but left for dead following a zero wins to three losses predicament heading into Game 4? That even if they had won Game 4, historically speaking, the leading team usually ends it in the 5th (while in a few cases, in the 6th).

Still, no comebacks. Never. No team in the history of the PBA has forced a Game 7 after falling 0-3. No team in the history of professional, documented basketball, has ever come back and won four games straight en route to a championship.

The 2016 PBA Philippine Cup San Miguel Beermen are legendary.

On History and Pressure

The jugular
(Photo credit to PBA.Inquirer.net)

Coach Alex Compton erred when he said that the pressure was not on his Alaska Aces but rather the defending champions, Coach Leo Austria and his San Miguel Beermen.

See, when news broke out that the Beermen would be going into the PBA Philippine Cup Finals minus 2x PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo, which is currently tied at three games apiece with the deciding Game 7 to be held Wednesday, no one had them winning versus the number one seeded Aces. Most experts, bloggers and amateur social media commentators were raving about the Aces’ teamwork and hustle, which could only be thwarted by the giant presence the 6”10 Cebuano. Take him out of the game and suddenly, the Beermen find themselves on even ground as the Aces man for man—only, the latter has been playing on a high level together for so long under Compton from guys 1 through 15 while the Beermen pretty much run everything, offense or defense, through their big man.

Asterisk

Should an asterisk really be placed on this 2015-2016 PBA Philippine Cup Finals? Because one of the many combatants is out with an injury? But isn't basketball a team sport won, lost and above all, played, by 5 men on the court and about 7 to 9 more on the bench?

As an Alaska Aces fan, why would you rob yourself of glory when it appears that fate itself is rewarding you for your efforts?

As a San Miguel Beermen fan, why would you discredit the 13-14 other men on the roster for all they have done this conference just because 2x PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo is sidelined?

This is just how things turned out. It is quite a bitter pill to swallow (specially for SMB fans), but what can anyone do? Pretty sure that the Aces would want to face SMB both at full strength, but wouldn't it be a disservice to SMB if the Aces were to say "wala si Fajardo e, so walang kwenta sila kalaban." 

PBA Finals Preview: Alaska vs San Miguel

#smcbetterworld #grandslamdreams
(Photo credit to PBA.Inquirer.net)

In the end, it was all but a matter of time for these two great PBA franchises to once again lock horns in the PBA Finals.

On one side are the Alaska Aces, the very epitome of selfless team play and current proof that you do not always need to have the best players in the league to win big (though it sure as hell helps to make life a lot easier).  The Aces are banking mostly on Vic Manuel (24mpg 16ppg 8rpg 1apg), Calvin Abueva (21mpg 13ppg 9rpg 2apg) and Sonny Thoss (24mpg 11ppg 6rpg 2apg) while maximizing whatever they can get from JVee Casio, Cyrus Baguio, Chris Banchero and the rest.

On the other are the powerhouse San Miguel Beermen, armed to the teeth with arguably some of the best at their respective positions today. They are led by the reigning, defending 2x PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo (36mpg 23ppg 14rpg 2apg), 1x PBA MVP Arwind Santos (34mpg 16ppg 7rpg 2apg), Alex Cabagnot (32mpg 15ppg 4rpg 5apg) and Marcio Lassiter (24mpg 10ppg 4rpg 2apg) while getting ample support from Chris Ross (21mpg 5ppg 3rpg 4apg 1spg), Ronald Tubid and Ryan Arana to name a few.

Built versus bought. Good versus evil. Stars versus super-duper stars.

The story and plotlines are endless.

That being said, let’s get to the numbers and match-ups:

Alaska
101ppg (3), 49rpg, 45% from 2 (2), 39% from 3 (1), 21 apg (2), 7spg

*(ranking this conference)

San Miguel
97ppg, 50rpg,  43% from 2, 31% from 3, 20apg, 7.3spg

PG Casio/ Jazul/ Exciminiano vs Cabagnot/ Ross
This one is going to be tricky for the Aces, since they will need to keep rotating at the PG spot in hopes of neutralizing Cabagnot who is SMB’s linchpin on offense. We wouldn’t be too surprised if Banchero or Exciminiano get more daylight in this series. Ross will make Casio irrelevant.
Adv. SMB

SG Baguio/ Banchero vs Lassiter
How do you stop Lassiter when he’s in rhythm? Pressure.  Lots of it. Fight through whatever screens and stick to him. This basically means that the Aces will have to rotate their guards more actively in this series than the one versus Globalport.  Or, they could just hope and pray that Lassiter goes through one of his notorious funks—you know, the times when he plays so many minutes but does not appear to be interested in playing at all (has happened a few times, once in the RoS series even).
Adv. SMB

SF Abueva/ Hontiveros vs Tubid/ Lutz 
Abueva’s antics will not work on Tubid. Not when they are out in the perimeter. Out there, it is going to be a surefire flop-fest between these two gentlemen. Abueva’s advantage lies when he switches to help down low, where his Cabalen rival Arwind Santos awaits. Hontiveros might make a few shots, maybe they can play him at the 2 spot in stretches to play alongside Abueva.
Adv. AA

PF Manuel vs Santos/ Espinas
The Beermen came prepared. Santos vs Abueva is the dream match-up of course, but we just do not see Manuel switching to 5 and being forced to guard Fajardo (that would be a massacre and waste of Manuel’s contributions). As good as Manuel has been this conference, Santos is even better guarding traditional and not so heavy power forwards. Why? The 4 spot is Santos’ natural defensive position. And if you just so happen to be about the same size and height, he has no problem proving yet again how he built his reputation over the years. Should Coach Leo Austria move Santos to check Abueva, Espinas vs Manuel should be very entertaining; with the advantage going to Manuel.
Adv. SMB

C Thoss vs Fajardo
Is Fajardo hurt or was he just caught with a stinger? As of this writing, Team SMC has been saying that there is no real, serious injury and that they are just waiting for the MRI results. Still, if Fajardo isn't 100%, then Thoss will be able to hold his own against him. If he sits the series out entirely, then that's a different story since SMB will be forced to rely on JayR Reyes and Yancy de Ocampo at the slot. Solid, but not half the threat as Fajardo (unless of course someone dangles a huge bonus in front of Yancy's eyes).
Adv. SMB IF JMF is healthy, tied if not

How SMB wins
If they simply listen to Coach Leo and follow their game plan by moving the ball first instead of dumping it into Fajardo (who still does not know how to kick the ball out) and watching his greatness, this team is near unbeatable. No, they do not need to balance everyone’s minutes out and have their core group play 25 minutes tops. That is not their style. They are a throwback team in the sense that the first five plays a third of the game while the rest play ¼. It’s the same even in the late 90s and early 00s with Olsen, Dondon, Danny S and Danny I. They had solid players off the bench, but the stars are the stars for a reason.

How Alaska wins
Relentless pressure. This is an intelligent team that follows their gameplan to a “T.” They do not enjoy half the firepower of SMB, but because they are a disciplined unit, they are able to make up for each other’s weaknesses by playing together. They have enough bigs to not over-react to anything Fajardo does in the paint, no matter how dominant he looks (yes, we are expecting a borderline 50-20 game somewhere in this PBA Finals). There is no need to double Fajardo, but there is a great need to zero in on Cabagnot, Lassiter and Santos. One failed pick and roll/pop switch, the defense crumbles and the Beermen either finish with an easy Fajardo 2 or an open Lassiter/ Santos 3. 

And also, if Fajardo doesn't play, advantage goes Alaska. If he plays at 50-70%, Thoss can take him. 

X-factors
SMB: Gabby Espinas, Ronald Tubid and Ryan Arana
The Aces will try to get rough and physical at some point, it’s up to SMB’s enforcers to respond in kind

AA:  Chris Banchero
Either versus Cabagnot or Lassiter, Banchero’s under-rated defense will be put to the test in this series

Prediction: SMB if Fajardo is 100%, Aces if Fajardo sits the series out.

Who do you think wins? @kilikilishot on Twitter

A tale of two semifinals

Surprise X-factor for Aces
(Photo credit to PBA.Inquirer.net)

You will have to excuse us at some point if we are unable to post entries about the must-see semifinals matches: Globalport vs Alaska and San Miguel vs Rain or Shine. How can we, when both series have proven to be quite riveting and entertaining thus far while also being played consecutively?

Hindi mo pa na-aabsorb yung nangyari dun sa isang series, maglalaro na yung sa kabila.

Honestly, we feel that they could space the games a bit more, by a day even. But then we understand that the PBA is probably rushing the schedule a bit to hopefully fit in their Gilas-related efforts. That being said, here are a few notes that we have taken from both match-ups.

Alaska vs Globalport

- Alaska will let Terrence Romeo have fun, because they recognize that when his shots are not falling he will force the action and alienate his teammates completely