In a funk

"Clank!" For the struggling 2x PBA MVP
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Did you know that since the 2008-2009 season, this feared marksman's shooting clip from the three point arc has gone down considerably year after year?

Blame it on off-court drama or nagging injuries, but the honest and brutal truth of it all is that two time PBA Most Valuable Player James Carlos Yap, the "face of the PBA" and San Mig Coffee's on-court leader, is struggling. Three games into the new 2013-2014 season and we're still being (mis)treated to the same old sub-standard shooting performance unexpected from a player of Yap's caliber.

PBA GovCup Semis: San Mig Coffee vs Meralco

With Maliksi out, PJ Simon's
got buckets on mind
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

With Game 1 already out of the way, things are looking mighty interesting between the San Mig Coffee Mixers and the Meralco Bolts. We breakdown the match-ups and take a look at the necessary adjustments we feel should be made if this series is to go the distance.

PG: Mark Barroca/ Alex Mallari vs Mike Cortez/ Chris Ross/ Chris Timberlake
In a nutshell, here's a token summary of how point guards are supposed to be: can play the half court, can run, be the designated bail-out scorer AND make game-changing stops every now and then. The Mixers' Barroca is steadily boosting his stock under the tutelage of assistant coach Johnny Abarrientos (and now also of Olsen Racela) while Mallari looks like he's found a niche in the pros as a "sparkplug" type. On the flipside, the Bolts have a troika of guards who also possess most of the above-mentioned qualifications save for one-- they can't shoot a lick. The Cortez acquisition gave them a heady floor general who can control the tempo, but it still didn't answer their need for another on-court offensive threat. Given the defensive nature of both teams, the point guard/s that can dictate the pace of the game will win it for his team—even if it means having to put their “scoring caps” on.

Adv. SMC

Ang batang Maliksi

Ang batang Maliksi
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

When the San Mig Coffee Mixers’ Allein Maliksi first came into the league by way of the Barako Bull Energy, he quickly started to make a name for himself as a wiry and creative scorer reminiscent of 90s Pinoy superstars Kenneth Duremdes, Vergel Meneses and Bong Alvarez.

You know what we’re talking about. Guys who just make the game look easy, shooting jumpshots, driving to the hoop and throwing in a dunk or two from time to time.

So it really shouldn’t be much of a surprise to see Maliksi finding a niche with the Mixers this PBA Governor’s Cup (or even when he was briefly sent to Barangay Ginebra then back to Barako Bull). The 2011 PBA D-League Best Player of the Conference is blessed with a PBA stardom-ready body frame standing 6”3 and weighing a fit 180 lbs. (again, Duremdes II). Despite playing only 24 minutes a game, Maliksi is averaging a respectable 12 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists in Mixers’ head coach Tim Cone’s “new” spread-out offense wherein everyone gets a chance to score.

Pinoy Resbak State of Mind

Love the passion, but stick to basketball.
(Photo courtesy of PBA InterAKTV)

So there you are, standing at one end of the basketball court in a game that's already been decided if everything goes the way it's been going early. You see your hard-working import, being pulled to the ground by a no-name upstart who rubs it in by using all the little dirty tricks in the book to get leverage and stand over your fallen comrade.

You see one of your guys rush in to make the save. You then see the opposing team's snot-nosed punk, a guy who reminds you of yourself, and instinctively know that shit's about to go down.

Then you see red.

...

It's been a tough game so far, your team's down big early and the other team's not being shy to let you know about it. They're the better team. They're one of the three "mother" teams in the corporate umbrella. Your team is a highlight reel joke at best. Dazzling plays, electrifying aerial acrobatics and sweet shooting. But no substance. No fight. What? No fight? On a team that you're playing in? F that.

Waiting for Big Game James

James Yap, off-target
(Photo courtesy of PBA InterAKTV)

Five points and (almost) four rebounds in 36.5 minutes of action in two games for the San Mig Coffee Mixers this PBA's season-ending Governor's Cup.

No, those aren't Yancy de Ocampo or Rafi Reavis' averages. Those are resident superstar and 2x PBA Most Valuable Player James Yap's output in their first two games. A woeful five points on a dreadful 0/7 clip from the arc and 2/24 from inside with Yap's only saving grace coming from the free throw line where he has managed to go 6/6.

Finals Rematch, Finals Preview

Amoy rematch.
(Photo courtesy of PBA InterAKTV)

In a rematch of last PBA Governor's Cup Finals, the defending champions Rain or Shine Elastopainters hacked out a gritty 79-75 win over now "rivals" San Mig Coffee Mixers.

It got testy, chippy, physical and had that feel of a PBA Finals. Beau Belga, recently cheered by thousands- millions of Filipinos, was welcomed back to the loving arms of PBA fans with a resounding chorus of boos after a series of, well, classic Belga defensive plays. James Yap had fans screaming, but Chris Tiu had his supporters at the SM Mall of Asia Arena just the same.

And nobody does it better... Eala reassigned

Photo courtesy of sports.nfo.ph

In an obvious public relations damage control effort, San Miguel Corporation opted to "reassign" their trusted Basketball Operations Consultant Noli Eala following the intense social media backlash brought about by vexed Barangay Ginebra San Miguel fans in the aftermath of their head coach's, Alfrancis Chua's, resignation.

The move to reassign the one-time PBA Commissioner comes not only at the heels of Chua's resignation but also after Eala's hit-and-miss performance since he came on board early in 2011. The then Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas head was brought into Team SMC after a "falling out" with the SMART Gilas Pilipinas men's national basketball program (here's a quick link to our idol FireQuinito's old entry) bankrolled by Team Manny V. Pangilinan (MVP) and was bent on helping all three of Team SMC's Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) teams to acquire premium talent albeit at the cost of overall team chemistry.

Gilas Pilipinas: The Stopper

Photo courtesy of pbafans.blogspot.com

When was the first time you saw Jean Marc Pingris play basketball?

Was it with the San Mig Coffee Mixers? When he was finally lauded as the league's best defensive player once a more prized basketball peer was moved out? Was it with the BMeg Llamados when he served as the ideal complementary piece to a rising superstar triumvirate? Or was it when he was a highly touted rookie with tons of potential and athleticism rocking corn rows and sporting a huge tattoo on his bicep?

We remember the wild beast with immense swagger back in a Philippine Basketball League All Star Slam Dunk contest. At the time, Pingris had no chance of winning against legit high-flyers and basketball aerial wizards (Nino Canaleta was only good at one thing then, and that was dunking it Dr. J style). How could he? He had an obvious advantage at 6"5 with little to no effort to really dunk the basketball (we're not talking about Michael Jordan here).

Mixers' Pride

They'll be back.

Mirroring the current (or soon to be) faith of the Chicago Bulls in the on-going NBA Playoffs, the San Mig Coffee Mixers have nothing to be ashamed of despite being sent home by the Alaska Aces.

The team, already facing a rash of injuries to top stars, fought valiantly and could've easily won a game or two had they managed to protect their lead in the 3rd to 4th quarters. Had they been able to sustain their momentum, it would be the Mixers and not the young Aces barging into the PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals to defend their hard-earned title.

Alas, their hurting and now humbled stars could only do so much.

Into the PBA Commish Cup Playoffs (Part 2.2)

Ibalik ang bangis!

San Mig Coffee Mixers (4) vs Meralco Bolts (5)
No other playoff match-up could be as 50-50 as this one not only because of their "too close to call" rankings but also because one team is rising steadily while the other is suffering from a malady of injuries and off-court issues. As a basketball fan, we're quite pleased that the Mixers are back in the hunt to defend their title after a slow star and that the Bolts, dismissed as a team that's clearly tanking to get a better seeding at next year's PBA draft after the lopsided Sol Mercado trade, are back in the Playoffs.

PG Mark Barocca vs Chris Ross
It's going to be speed versus speed, with a slight edge to Ross for his defensive tenacity and rebounding. Barocca's not too shabby either and for the Mixers to win they'll need the former FEU stalwart to deliver offensively and defensively. It's going to be interesting on how these two will guard each other. Ross can't give Barocca too much daylight as the latter has shown an improvement from the outside. Barocca can't stick too closely to Ross because the Fil-Am will just blitz his way to the rim for the finish or a kickout to his shooters. Ross can guard Barocca straight up, but Barocca will have to watch out for Ross' outside passes so the entire Mixers will have to chip in to play safety at all times.

Adv. Meralco

Monster-Bowles Returns

Monster Bowles and The Captain
having a moment

After a forgetful return/debut, San Mig Coffee Mixers import Denzel Bowles has powered the team to two consecutive victories including last night's impressive (yet foul-ridden) man-handling of the Global Port Batang Pier in an out-of-town sortie.

Though his rebounding numbers haven't rounded up to the 2012 version of himself, Bowles' is finding ways to contribute by mixing up his now more consistent mid-range game with his face-up moves to the basket. Batang Pier counterpart Justin Williams, who is reportedly on his way out thanks to a string of low scoring performances (hey, he's not the focal point of the offence, he's playing MAD defines, so what's your beef Coach Junel Baculi), was being tested to the hilt in more ways than one. To Williams' credit, he was putting in the work on the defensive end and blocking shots left and right.

PBA GovCup Finals: A Review

Nawala ung laro ni Sakuragi

Now that the dust has settled a bit and some of the euphoria has faded into the rainy evening, let's look back at some of the things we learned from the highly competitive PBA GovCup Finals that opened a lot of eyes.

First, there's the fact that the champions-- the Rain or Shine Elastopainters, managed to win big the old fashioned way: "Built not bought." The title was six years in the making, took some retooling and a more aggressive stance (thanks to Coach Yeng Guiao who took over for the meek Caloy Garcia) but it was arguably a breath of fresh air in a league dominated by powerhouse teams with endless financial exploits.

So without further adieu...

PBA GovCup Finals: Na-delay lang pero amin ito

Finals MVP: Jeff Chan 

Sa sobrang pagkaka-delay ng kampeonato para sa Rain or Shine Elastopainters, muntikan ng masilat ni 2x PBA MVP James Yap at ng BMeg Llamados. Buti na lang bumalik sila sa dati nilang porma at hindi nagpadaig sa libo-libong Llamados fans (kasama na referees) na dumagsa sa SMART Araneta Coliseum.

Matapos ng ilang taong pagkaka bwusit sa potensyal na taglay ni Gabe Norwood, sa wakas natauhan din siya at namalayang 6"5 ang height nya kumpara sa bumabantay sa kanyang si Josh Urbiztondo. May mga ilang beses na nalulusutan sya ni Urbiztondo at tinitirahan, pero agad namang bumabawi si Norwood sa opensa-- oo, sa opensa, para panatilihing angat ang Elastopainters.

PBA GovCup Finals: Do-or-die Sunday

To win game 7: Yap needs to dominate.
Norwood needs to play smarter.

For one night, let's forget that the upstart Rain or Shine Elastopainters over-achieved this conference and jumped to a 3-1 Finals lead.

For one night, let's all forget that James Yap, 2x PBA Most Valuable Player, has been playing like a king not to be denied of his throne the last two-three outings.

For one night, let's just enjoy the last game of such an entertaining 37th PBA season that has provided us with joy, heartbreak, frustration and even hope wether you are a Barangay Ginebra fan or a masochistic Air21 hopeful.

PBA GovCup Finals: The James Yap Rises; Series now 2-3

Hindi pa ako tapos!

The PBA's most celebrated two-time Most Valuable Player just wasn't ready to go on vacation.

Not with the reigning NBA champion Miami Heat's coach Erik Spoelstra watching intently in the stands. With a beauty like Venus Raj and other celebrities hooked into what has become an overly physical series that has surprisingly been nothing short of entertaining for basketball fans and non-fans alike.

The games are heated, BMeg Llamados and Rain or Shine Elastoplayers aren't smiling at one another like they do in the NBA where everyone's a friend. There's a growing sense of hatred once the ball is tossed until the buzzer sounds. There's intensity, tenacity and fire from both camps. And tonight, it was Yap who shone brightest and torched the hapless Elastopainters.

PBA GovCup Finals: RoS a win away

RoS: Winning behind "balut" chemistry

Beat.

Just, plain, good old-fashioned beat.

That's how the BMeg Llamados are, now down 1-3 after losing a 17-point first quarter lead and losing all sense of composure best embodied by newly-minted Defensive Player of the Year Marc Pingris' silly headbutt on Rain or Shine Elastopainters' kiti-kiti guard Ryan Arana.

PBA GovCup Finals: You Dare Question Cone?

Cone: Always the "big picture" thinker

"@manilacone: My responsibility is to try to win another championship for them. I rested James and PJ last night so that they could be fresh for Sunday."

Unnerved, unapologetic and without any traces of regrets. BMeg Llamados' head coach Tim Cone drew a lot of flak from the Llamados' faithful for opting to sit stars James Yap and PJ Simon in yesterday's 84-93 Game 3 loss to the Rain or Shine Elastopainters. The master tactician went on to the post game press conference and even on Twitter to explain his actions, something almost unheard of in his multi-title and stellar coaching career.

PBA GovCup Finals: Rain or Shine wins without Paul Lee

No Lee means more
ball time for Chan

Save for a few tense moments, the Rain or Shine Elastopainters hacked off a morale-boosting win over the BMeg Llamados in tonight's sleeper of a Game 3.

With star rookie point guard Paul Lee out due to a dislocated shoulder, the "other guys" took the ball and literally ran away with it. Jireh Ibanes, a defensive specialist by trade, buried most of his shots from all over the court in the first quarter. Then came Ryan Arana, Ronjay Buenafe and Beau Belga. TY Tang had his dumb moments but not enough to lose the game as well.

Credit has to go to Coach Yeng Guiao for trusting his boys when they were down early going into the second quarter. The Llamados were even able to stretch the lead a bit, but the fiery mentor didn't bat an eyelash or flinch even-- opting to ride it out when it looked like all the Llamados needed to do was keep trapping Tang midcourt and wait for him to dribble off his foot or pass it to his own bench.

PBA GovCup Finals: With or Without Lee

Can RoS win without Lee?

"We will win this series with or without Paul Lee."

These were the ever-defiant, fighting words of the upstart Rain or Shine Elastopainters' head coach Yeng Guiao when asked about his team's chances of winning the title minus Rookie of the Year race leader Lee who re-dislocated his left shoulder (an old injury that hasn't gotten any better).

Well, what else did you expect him to say? To call it a day, tuck his tail between his legs and go home? To burst whatever remaining bubble of confidence is left on a team that faired miserably last season post-Sol Mercado and pre-Lee?

PBA GovCup Finals: Llamados tie series, Lee hurt anew

Sabi nila me ibang Hari
na daw galing UE? Weh.

Welcome to the B-Meg Llamados' James Yap's show.

The two-time PBA Most Valuable Player reigned supreme on a night where the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings' Mark Caguioa solidified his own PBA Season 37 MVP campaign by scoring back-to-back Best Player of the Conference citations and the Rain or Shine Elastopainters' rugged, do-it-all import Jamelle Cornley was recognized as the best reinforcement in the land.

With his team, once hailed the favorites, surprisingly caught off-guard and seemingly punked by the young Elastopainters, Yap responded with a sterling 24 points, 7  rebounds performance and sinking in the dagger MJ-like fadeaway with 15 seconds left and stretching the lead to four. There were times wherein Yap looked like he was forcing the issue a bit with WTF threes, but he was attacking the basket and helping underneath the boards.