PBA GovCup Finals: Rain or Shine leads 1-0

Norwood's speed and length
is causing trouble for Big Game James

In a game expected to be in the battle-tested, veteran-laden B-Meg Llamados, the Rain or Shine Elastopainters hacked out an impressive win anchored on solid defense, balanced offense and unbridled confidence and composure.

While the Llamados looked out of sync and a step slower (blame it on them having to play a grind-out game against the Ginebra Gin Kings last Friday), they were flat out beaten by a team that was ready for the big stage. Defensively, the Elastopainters worked hard as a team to keep the ball from moving side to side as the Llamados often do. James Yap top scored for the Llamados with 19, but import Marqus Blakely, PJ Simon and even Marc Pingris (who has been on a recent tear) were held to no more than 12 points each.

PBA GovCup Finals: X-Factors

Uhm. Foul?

Now that the dust has settled somewhat and we're just waiting for the opening tip-off of the PBA Governor's Cup Finals match-up between the Rain or Shine Elastopainters and BMeg Llamados, here are the guys that this writer believes could steal a game or two for their respective teams.

The Llamados' tenacious power forward Marc Pingris is usually associated with lists such as this one, but now that he's been elevated to full-time PBA superstar status, let's move on to the guys who may or may not always be on the scouting report (or Quinito Henson's on-and-off "Dean's List").

PBA GovCup Finals: BMeg vs Rain or Shine

Pisikalan at pagalingan sa pagtira ng tres

Prepare for war.

Though the Rain or Shine Elastopainters enjoy a 2-0 GovCup match-up advantage over the BMeg Llamados, it still wouldn't be wise to cast the Yeng Guiao-coached squad as the instant favorites. Not against a team that just came off a championship run, is peaking at the right time and has a certain individual named Tim Cone hollering Hall of Fame plays from the bench.

From an individual talent standpoint, the Llamados feature some of the league's best while the Elastopainters have guys who are solid but not great. Household names such as James Yap, PJ Simon and Marc Pingris command star power and much leeway from the referees which could ultimately decide the series. On the other side of things, Jeffrei Chan's outside sniping could very well be the key to the series-- how open he gets off brush and backdoor screens and makes his SG counterparts Yap and Simon work on defense.

Breakthrough!

First Finals appearance in 6 years

The Rain or Shine Elastopainters have finally broken through the glass ceiling and reached the PBA Finals for the first time in the franchise's six years in the PBA. This, after repeatedly failing in advancing early in the semifinals and facing injuries to key players Jeffrei Chan and super rookie Paul Lee.

With tonight's 92-82 victory over the BMeg Llamados, the Elastopainters have achieved what head coach Yeng Guiao was brought in to do: to barge into the Finals despite not having established PBA superstars in the fold and overcoming superpowers such as the San Miguel and MVP teams. Guiao's appointment instantly made the Elastopainters a dangerous squad, with guys being brought in to play specific roles that were to benefit the overall team game. Hot shot Sol Mercado was sent to Meralco in order to balance out the roster while guys like Beau Belga, JayR Quinahan and Ronjay Buenafe were brought in to make the transition from pretty boy Coach Caloy Garcia to Coach Yeng easier and faster.

Stuck on Cloud 9

Belga needs to be
on target for Wednesday

The Rain or Shine Elastopainters' dream of making the PBA Governor's Cup Finals outright is now over, with Wednesday's game versus the rising BMeg Llamados to dictate which team advances to the big stage. The loser of that match will have to play again versus the winner of the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings- Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters playoffs in order to proceed to the next and final round.

So, with the Elastopainters needing to secure "only" two to three wins in the semifinals, what went wrong-- given their lofty standings at the end of eliminations and how easily they breezed through the competition game in and game out? It's pretty simple: everyone else improved, superstar rookie point guard Paul Lee hurt his shoulder and the Elastopainters peaked a little too early in this shortened conference.

Pingris continues to earn Cone's trust

Pingris: Always Ready to Battle

When Hall of Fame-worthy BMeg Llamados head coach Tim Cone first came into town, talks of him developing established 2x PBA Most valuable Player James Yap captured headlines. There were dreams of multiple titles, unmatched greatness and a dynasty that was just waiting to happen.

For a time, people even toyed with the idea of how Cone could make his own present day "Alaska circa 1996" with Llamados with guys like Yap, Roger Yap, PJ Simon and Kerby Raymundo all in the fold. What people didn't really bother to talk about in those stages, was where defensive and rebounding bloodhound Marc Pingris fits in the Triangle Offense and Cone's gameplan altogether.

Gary David is no LeBron. And he shouldn't be.

He shoots. They follow.

While this writer strictly adheres to his own "No NBA" policy (because "there are other, more interested men" as said by Thomas Wayne on Batman Begins. And seriously, who needs another NBA blogger when we have friends like Voltaire Lozada who's one of the under-rated yet rising minds out there?), let's just use the high and mighty, 3x NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James to better quantify or argue for/against the perceived reputation among fans/haters of one Gary David.

What uniform he'll be donning by next season is up in the air, but this we all know for sure-- he'll definitely be suiting up for PILIPINAS this coming FIBA Asia tournament. He will also be expected to provide the outside shooting opposite Smart Gilas 2 teammate Jeffrei Chan of the Rain or Shine. Now, the thing that has grown bothersome/ tiresome really is some fans perception of David as being a glorified ballhog. To the point that they've made fun of Mico Halili's "El Granada" moniker and changed it to "El Buwaya."

Good Defense > Good Offense

Big Game James' new well-rounded
game trumps David's electric scoring

Yesterday's "semis-positioning" game in Legazpi City between the BMeg Llamados and Powerade Tigers proved not only to be entertaining on all fronts, but the adage that "good defense will always triumph over good offense." The Llamados won in overtime, 110-98, but it was more than just a Wild Wild West shootout.

Granted, both teams scored in amazing fashion with the score locked at 90 a piece at the end of regulation. But once we hit OT, the Llamados buckled down to work defensively and crashed the boards while the Tigers were starting to shoot blanks-- with season Most Valuable Player frontrunner Gary David, the Miracle Man, obviously tiring out.

B-Meg's new groove

Yancy is REMINDING EVERYONE that
there are TWO dominant De Ocampo's
in the PBA today

Apologies for the 2-week hiatus, had to put all of my attention on something that could ultimately lead me to greater things-- professionally. But now that it's over, let the good times continue rolling and let's get right down to business.

Air 21 versus B-Meg in a meaningful out-of-town game that was close early before the Llamados regrouped in halftime and came out on a mission. While the story of the game was clearly between the awesome duel of imports Marqus Blakely (BMeg) and Zach Graham (Air21) who both treated fans to a brilliant case study on the difference between all-around players versus clutch gene scorers, it's always more fun to dig deeper.

Second look

Kung ganitong kadikit
na depensa nga di pinipituhan e

Before anything else, let it be known that this writer is at peace with the BMeg Llamados winning the PBA Commissioner's Cup title over the Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters. Tim Cone was coaching and reaching deep into his bag of tricks, James Yap was playing like the University of the East version and not the Purefoods-Mr. Kris Aquino one, and Marc Pingris was putting on a defensive clinic on Ranidel de Ocampo.

BUT... since the game is being replayed this very minute over on AKTV, we couldn't help but look back and question the foul called on Kelly Williams with 1.2 seconds to play that led to the Llamados' import Denzel Bowles to take (and make) two free throws to force overtime (where they had a major advantage in terms of personnel).

Coz you gotta have faith

Love you bro. Aiiiiiight?

During turbulent times, episodes of trials and great challenges, it is always convenient to take the easy way out. No one will call you out for it, no one will crucify you for your actions—you simply went with what was the most logical thing to do.

But sometimes, you stick to what you know inside despite all odds and circumstance. Sometimes, you abandon reason and thought and trust your gut. Sometimes, if not most of it, we live life by the minute—all by faith.

When the B-Meg Llamados found themselves unable to quickly dispatch the defending champion Talk ‘n’ Text Tropang Texters, head coach Tim Cone could’ve made the right adjustments on the floor. By “right” we mean, the ones that we all believe would work for him outright. Like putting in Yancy de Ocampo over ineffective Joe DeVance. Or sending Josh Urbiztondo, Mark Barroca or both to the bench in favor of Jonas Villanueva. Simple solutions that could or would’ve worked either way—but don’t tell that to Coach Tim.

Tactical error

Can't win 'em all

Now that the smoke has cleared and the dust has settled somewhat, the losing part of last night’s epic PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals Game 7—the  Talk ‘n’ Text Tropang Texters should keep their heads unbowed for putting up an awesome display of heart and fight.

They were ahead by nine points midway in the fourth quarter in a grind-it-out game they had no business in winning since it wasn’t their style. The overtime forcing free throws off a foul by Kelly Williams on B-Meg super import Denzel Bowles shouldn’t be taken against the former PBA Most Valuable Player.

Tim Cone, Denzel Bowles reward BMeg planet

Monster Bowles took over in OT

What a game!

It came down to a battle of attrition, with the BMeg Llamados fighting back to force overtime after the Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters started falling down one after the other in the 4th quarter.

Import Donnel Harvey fouled out. James Yap-stopper Ryan Reyes hurt his knee on a drive. Ali Peek fouled out. Ranidel de Ocampo went down. Jimmy Alapag, who was playing like the reigning PBA MVP and was making up for lost time with an efficient and explosive scoring display, was suffering from cramps. Jayson Castro, injured ankles, knees, hamstrings and all, came back to play but it just wasn't enough in the end.

Play to win

Regardless of the conclusion of the PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals later on today, we've been treated to two conference's worth of prime time, premium basketball action. The players are literally leaving everything out on the floor and the fans, in turn, are responding to it by filling the venues, watching online and missing out on their favorite tele-novelas.

Both the BMeg Llamados and Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters have been fighting tooth and nail thus far, and the Finals MVP will surely be given to the individual who deserves it most (unlike some instances regarding the Season MVP wherein guys win via media votes and not by what they have done the whole season). That being said, here are the frontrunners (and maybe darkhorses) when it comes to the Finals MVP award.

And yes, KKS only recognizes locals and not the imports no matter how Godly they are on the floor. They don't need the added publicity or write-ups anyway right?

The nominees:

PBA CCF Game 7: Looking for answers

Tensai idea: Pingris on Castro. 

So after an exciting playoffs that was marred/ made beautiful by physicality, great scoring bursts, emotional plays and near fisticuffs, we've come down to a winner-take-all Game 7 of the PBA Commissioner's Cup. In one corner stands the league's standard bearers for the last two years and a half-- the Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters bannered by the SMART Gilas 2 Men's National Basketball team, and the rising BMeg Llamados on the other.

Going into Game 7, we've seen coaches calling out players, end-of-the-bench guys making headlines with dirty plays, certain comparisons with an early 90s anime that didn't really reward fans with a fitting ending (other than the All Star pick-up game which was nice but blah) and so on. But there are other compelling storylines that haven't grabbed national focus just yet, and we'd like to think that we've got some listed below (because hey, we have no lives other than the games):

Yap Awakening

Size, speed and shooting: James Yap

Any time you are able to pair a solid, nay, good big man with an ever-improving All Star guard, chances are your team is bound to contend no matter the odds. Throw in a bunch of great role players led by this side of Asia's most tenacious forward and you may have just enough firepower to overcome and overthrow a dynasty.

In the pivotal Game 5, the B-Meg Llamados went to their 1-2 punch of 7"0 6"10, Best Import of the Conference, big man Denzel Bowles and the suddenly rejuvenated and reloaded guns of 2x PBA MVP James Carlos Yap. Scoring 28 and 30, respectively, Bowles and Yap were pretty much "superstar-ing" their way all over the hapless Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters who still cannot squeeze anything off trusted National vets Ranidel de Ocampo and reigning MVP Jimmy Alapag.

Texters load up; Series tied 2-2

You may hate the shirt, but you have
to love the multiple championships

Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters' head coach Chot Reyes does it again.

After throwing stars Ranidel de Ocampo and Jimmy Alapag under the bus in the post-game interview of their Game 3 loss, Coach Chot was able to make himself look like half a genius with RDO's solid bounce-back performance.

While Alapag continues to struggle with his cover of BMeg Llamados' Josh Urbiztondo and PJ Simon, RDO was able to play free tonight-- attacking the rim and not settling for jumpers. It also helped the Texters' cause that Jarred Dillinger decided to take over the game, as KKS predicted, and played lights out on offense and defense.

The Fireball Rises

Coach Tim has The Fireball on target

If you were to tell me that a 2009 PBA draft reject were to outplay the reigning league Most Valuable Player in three straight games of the 2012 Commissioner's Cup Finals, I'd slap you silly for the blatant dumbness of it all.

Don't get it wrong, the US 2005-2006 Sunbird Awardee has legit skills for any 6"1 Filipino-American basketball player. When he first came over Philippine shores in 2006, he suited up in the PBL for UST-Kettle Korn and was already making waves as a crack point guard. He bounced around amateur leagues such as La Liga Pilipinas and then back to the PBL before entering the draft which, unfortunately for him, didn't work out.

Tim Cone will never be an underdog

Who's your daddy?!?

Prior to the PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals, people pencilled in the participating teams as how everyone saw them. The mighty Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters as the rightful favorites, going for their 4th title in 5 tries and the rising BMeg Llamados as the underdogs, the "good but not great" squad ready to takeover the local basketball scene.

Three games in, and we couldn't have been any more wrong.

A Pingris a day keeps The Doctor away

Don't let the box score fool you,
Pingris is the real MVP of this series for BMeg

For a guy whose inclusion in the upcoming SMART Gilas 2 men's basketball team raised some eyebrows for an apparent and obvious lack of offensive skillset, the BMeg Llamados' Marc Pingris is proving doubters wrong with his superb defensive exploits in both playoffs and Finals.

Tasked to shutdown the Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters' postman and resident KKS Doctor Ranidel de Ocampo, Pingris has done all that and more by putting up (in the first 2 games) 10 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2 assists on average. These may not look much, but check out RDO's ugly stat line of 5.5 points and 4 rebounds with zero assists and you'll realize that yes, Pingris is getting the job done.