The Future

The kids are all right (photo: Spin.ph)

Just earlier this evening, the Ateneo-led, all-amateur Gilas Pilipinas Men's Basketball Team is flying out to Belgrade, Serbia to compete in the FIBA Olympic Qualifiers. The team will be facing off against the hometown heroes and later on against the Domincan Republic. To say that this will be a tall order, would probably fit the bill both figuratively and literally.

So what are the expectations so far? 

Well, it would be nice if our boys could salvage a win, or at the very least, keep in step with these teams that are bringing in legitimate NBA players (Serbia has three to four if I remember correctly, including the titan-sized Boban Marjanovic).

Honestly, I wasn't expecting much from this team in the recent Clark Bubble. Sure, Tab Baldwin's back as the full time head coach, but they were missing some U.P. firepower by the names of Kobe Paras and Juan Gomez De Liano. To make up for this, they brought in more guys from Ateneo, while adding in representatives from DLSU and FEU. You'll have to forgive us for not being all too familiar with these kids outside of those who've already played a year in college. 

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.

That New, Old Black Magic

The Bolts are winning despite David's struggles,
just as Black designed
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

And just when you thought that the professional game has passed Norman Black after looking every bit like a coach who just spent the last near decade or so in the amateurs, the man turns things around after what was initially deemed a "demotion."

See, Black was coming off a surreal five-peat championship quest with the Ateneo De Manila University-- a feat that probably won't be matched very soon. To reward him for his winnings and loyalty, he was handed the keys to run the college team's financier's crown jewel in the Philippine Basketball Association: The Talk'n'Text Tropang Texters. He made good in his first season back in the pros, winning a title and all-- but then it became pretty obvious that the title was more a "last hurrah" for his predecessor's system rather than Black's.

What followed was a series of disappointing finishes, with the Texters losing out on PBA Finals appearances and even semifinal showdowns which they're almost always a part of during the Chot Reyes Era.

Coming of Age

Aguilar has been dominant
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

If you were 6”9 tall, can run the floor like a guard, knock down jumpers with little to no effort AND make the highlight reel-worth shotblock, best bet is you’d take the PBA by storm and post 19 points and 10 rebounds a game.

Japeth Aguilar is such a man. Even if it took him roughly 4 PBA years to get there.

Meralco's power surge zaps Ginebra

It was bound to happen sooner or later.

That the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel camp, now powered by a towering frontline to backstop last season's PBA MVP runner-up L.A. Tenorio and former PBA MVP Mark Caguioa, will be demystified right before our very eyes. That the 7"0 Greg Slaughter and vastly improved (nay, more comfortable) 6"9 Japeth Aguilar would be cut down to size and made to look like a collegiate freshmen by a guy dismissed as too unfocused/ temperamental for the pro ranks (Meralco Bolts' 6"7 off season recruit Rabeh Al Hussaini).

For all things said against Bolts' head coach Ryan Gregorio, he and lead assistant Jong Uichico came up with arguably the most brilliant strategy against the previously unbeaten Ginebra team.

Strike First: David to Meralco, Cardona to Air21

Finally, a star that
#BansangMeralco can cheer for
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Just when we all thought that we'd be able to enjoy a reprieve from the highly addictive madness that is the Philippine Basketball Association once the PBA Governor's Cup Finals duel between Petron Blaze and San Mig Coffee is through, we are greeted with a barrage of pre off-season, marquee trades.

We've already touched on the recent trade that saw GlobalPort hotshot Gary David moving over to Meralco, now we breakdown the rest of the wheeling and dealing that went down the last few days. For argument's sake and our readers' reference, we've added their 2012-2013 season averages (minutes, points, rebounds and assists). Props to the folks behind www.pba-online.net 

Trade 1

Meralco
Gary David, SG (28.49 mpg 17.10 ppg 2.98 rpg 1.7 apg)
Go-to-scorer that fits Meralco's Dribble Drive Motion Offense owing to his range, up there in years (35) and mileage but is as proven as you can get.

Watch the throne

It's good to be King
(Photo courtesy of PBA InterAKTV)

I see you. I recognize the hunger in your eyes. The bloodlust flowing through your body and escaping your pores in an invisible crimson. I have what you want. I have what you need. But you will not take it from me. I deny you the right. I deny you the validation. 

I am King.

L.A. Tenorio put the whole of Philippine basketball on notice with tonight's 34-point masterpiece over the latest to challenge his lofty position as the country's premier point guard. Barangay Ginebra San Miguel won over the Meralco Bolts, 98-85. Tenorio put any of Meralco's Chris Ross' ascension and claim to the point guard throne on hold.

Not tonight. Maybe not for a little while.

On the shoulder of giants

Emman Monfort stands tall
(Photo courtesy of PBA InterAKTV)

In a decade long war,  an army already on the losing end lies in wait. Grizzled veterans, keeping an eye out on any semblance or opportunity for greatness. Underlings, green and raw, bold and battle crazy looking to make a name for themselves.

One of them watches the trenches, waiting for daylight. One of them breathes in the thick and heavy air of dawn, unshaken, unnerved. His name is Emman Monfort, he of the Barako Bull Energy Cola, drafted and almost forgotten because of his diminutive 5"7 frame and limited skill set. He was over-looked because at the time, he deserved to be. He was picked 16th overall in the 2012 PBA Draft because there were more established collegiate names before him. All that was really going for him was his Ateneo de Manila University pedigree, the winning tradition, the championships.

Gilas Pilipinas: Take the lead

Photo courtesy of Interaksyon.com

Following in the footsteps of all the great Filipino point guards before him, Lewis Alfred Tenorio will spearhead Gilas Pilipinas’ medal-finish dreams in the coming FIBA Asia tournament this August.

Tenorio has earned the mantle from Gilas teammate Jimmy Alapag the last two years. He is the top Filipino playmaker today given his ability to play different styles. He can play uptempo like Alapag and Alex Cabagnot, he can slow it down in the halfcourt a la Wynne Arboleda and Mike Cortez or he can even call his own number and score at will like Paul Lee and Jayjay Helterbrand.

Gilas Pilipinas: The Specialist

Photo courtesy of interaksyon.com

Name one basketball skill and chances are Larry Fonacier's probably performed it in one of the many stops in his decorated and multi-titled basketball career.

Shoot from the outside? Hit clutch baskets? Jumpshot? Layup left hand? Layup right hand? Use the glass? Stop and pop? Pick and roll? Pick and pop? Teardrop?

Check.

The Dream Match to end it all

Dream Match III: if only to see
Kiefer vs Mac/Yeo/Cortez

There you have it.

The PBA Green Archers were able to repeat versus rivals PBA Blue Eagles in this afternoon's ho-hum battle at the SM MoA Arena dubbed "Dream Match II: The Revenge." Well, if the script were to be followed, the Eagles were supposed to win this one to force a nail-biter of a third and deciding match (ala celebrated promoter Don King's brand of boxing).

But the Archers wouldn't have any of it. Mac Cardona, free from the burden of having to play a passive role with his mother team Meralco's three-ball happy Dribble Drive Offense, played like he had a score to settle with everyone from the Eagles' side of things. He dropped in threes, made his patented tear drop hook shots and even threw in some mean mug swag "anong height mo" theatrics here and there for good measure.

So should a third match be played, with the Archers now up 2-0 in this mini cash cow of a side event by the PBA? Yes. But IF and WHEN current amateur superstar known to most as "The Phenom" Keifer Ravena turns pro (or is eligible to do so).

Payong Kaibigan: A Tale of Two Eagles Part 2

Ako ba pinag uusapan nila?

Author's note: While there are thousands of basketball bloggers out here on the Internet world, this writer wishes to separate himself somewhat by coming up with this small space we'd like to call Payong Kaibigan (first effort was to refrain from immature heckling/ cat-calling and posting any showbiz-oriented/ malicious). We will touch on certain professional basketball players plying their trade in the Philippines and critique their overall game-- identifying what we see as their strengths and areas of improvement.

Of course, we could easily and unimaginatively just go with tagging them as being "one-dimensional" or even bano, but we're not that great a basketball player or legit coach to be in the position to do so. We could only call them out, in hopes of them improving in these areas to further their careers. We'll try our very best to keep everything constructive.


With the operating word being "try."

Here we go again.

We've been Tiu-torized!

Brother Jonas has been Tiu-torized

We'll be the first to admit it.

When a certain Chris Tiu started making waves out of Xavier High School we didn't really care as much. He's around our age, and we have mutual friends, but we've always belittled his abilities as a basketball player. When he chose Ateneo over La Salle where he's Xavier buddies Joseph Yeo and TY Tang were starring, we (because of our green bloodlines) cursed him out and saw him as no better than Ateneo prep star turned DLSU backup BJ Manalo.

Tiu brought out all the insecurities among all male basketball fans. While the women shrieked and frolicked, we booed and called out his lack of athleticism and speed. His efforts with Ateneo didn't really change anything. He was the guy who would knock down open threes or jumpers benefiting from superstar teammates throughout his collegiate basketball career. He was solid, yes, but definitely not someone you'd bestow James Yap kingship over.

Cool Cat and Coach Franz: Reunited and it feels...

Nilabasan ako
nung napanood ko to sa TV.
Orgasmic.
(Credit to Sir Vic Icasas) 

... so good. Right? Time heals all wounds, even the undisclosed ones it seems. Okay in case you've been living under a rock or is still a young/developing basketball mind, the relationship between Mike Cortez and Air21 Express head coach Franz Pumaren has been plutonic at best.

The year was 2002, and (my beloved kinder-grade-high school Alma Mater) De La Salle University Green Archers were on a tear of the hapless UAAP. Leading the charge was Coach Franz, Cortez, Willie Wilson, Mac Cardona and a wide-eyed Joseph Yeo. They were running right through the competition, Cortez was looking like the best point guard in all of Philippine basketball (yes, including his NCAA, PBL and PBA counterparts). He wasn't scoring as much, but he was big, strong, smart beyond his years and had swag all day (say what you want, but Cortez put the back-arm tattoo on the Philippine map). The guy was a walking triple-double, and with him leading the way the Archers' were looking pretty solid to win a rare-five peat.

Pulling for Japeth to make it but...

Hilaw pa din ba si Japeth?

Like any proud Filipino basketball fan, news of a local wanting to make it to the biggest stage of them all-- the National Basketball Association (NBA), will always be met with nothing but cheer and support. So now that news of 6”10 athlete Japeth Aguilar is trying his darndest to make a summer league roster (via the San Antonio Spurs), it is only fitting that we give him all the love that we can.

Before Aguilar, only two Filipino players in recent memory were really mentioned in the same stratosphere as the NBA. There’s the legendary and iconic Johnny Abarrientos, an MVP point guard who was well ahead of his time, followed by reigning Philippine Basketball Association MVP Mark Caguioa who was rumored as being scouted at one point during his younger years with Ginebra. Of the two, it was the same old story—they were great players, elite probably, but were just too short.

Chot Reyes’ Redemption Tour starts NOW

Chot Reyes
SMART Gilas  2 Head Coach 

It’s official.

After months of speculation (media and fans) and preparation (for those directly involved), Chot Reyes has officially been named head coach of the SMART Gilas Men’s Basketball program. Succeeding Serbian Rajko Toroman, this will be Reyes 2nd time at the helm after a disastrous 2007 campaign wherein the country finished 9th in the FIBA-Asia.

Reyes will be vacating his post as multi-titled coach at Talk ‘n’ Text to give way to Norman Black of Ateneo de Manila University after the UAAP season (can’t let anything get in the way of that elusive five-peat now).