KKS reaction: Chris Lutz to Meralco

Lutz to Meralco
(Photo credit Philstar.com)

From Beerman to Bolt.

After being relegated to the Unrestricted Free Agent list by mother team San Miguel Beermen, 6"3 guard Chris Lutz has been picked up the Meralco Bolts.

This is big news, considering that two rival corporate umbrellas were involved PLUS the fact that Lutz is the Beermen's original Gilas 1 pick from the 2011 PBA Draft. Career-wise, Lutz averaged 25mpg 8ppg 3rpg 3apg though his numbers have gone downhill from 2011 up to 2016.

Bust-a-move

Author's note: Happy new year!

Hype is a terrible thing; it can build you up just as fast as it can bring you down. The PBA and its fans have seen its fair share of “hyped” rookies, baptized as “franchise saviors” who ended up being role players on a different team at best.

Here is our short list of “hyped” players who did not exactly live up to expectations:

Moala Tautuaa, TnT 2015 1st pick
We are still waiting for the “Junemar-stopper.” And while we are at it, for Tautuaa to develop anything close to a post-up game.

Matt Ganuelas Rosser, TnT 2014 3rd pick
He got locked in Jong Uichico’s doghouse, but now that he’s freed by Coach Nash Racela, we’re still not seeing anything stellar out of this former Gilas player as he continues to play like a skinny, long-haired Jon Ordonio.

Show of force

This image might be a
common thing for years to come
(Photo credit to the owner)

Did you catch yesterday's out-of-town match pitting the defending PBA Philippine Cup champions San Miguel Beermen and darkhorse pick GlobalPort Batang Pier?

It was brutal.

While the final score of 97-86 would hint at a close game (even if you look by quarters: 20-27, 49-37, 71-58, 97-86), what we witnessed on the floor would suggest otherwise. The Batang Pier didn't stand a chance once the Beermen buckled down to work and got into a steady rhythm. 

Here comes the boom

Welcome to Junemar's world
(Photo credit to GlennMichaelTan.com)

Last season, the San Miguel Beermen were finally able to put it all together.

They brought in a true player's coach in Leo Austria, finally bought into the "less is more" mindset and let go of some more star caliber players for role playing ones and basically streamlined their offense to Junemar Fajardo 1, everyone else 2. 

The end result? Two championships in three conferences.

For flag and country

Against all odds
(Photo credit to the owner)

While we do not condone the actions of those who begged off from being part of the Gilas 3 men's basketball team, we cannot and will not crucify them for it either

As we have previously mentioned, we will just keep moving forward with the names that we have. From top to bottom, "PBA wish list" aside, we are looking at Jayson Castro, Terrence Romeo, Gary David, Dondon Hontiveros, Matt Rosser, Calvin Abueva, Gabe Norwood, JC Intal, Ranidel de Ocampo, Troy Rosario, Moala Tautuaa, Aldrech Ramos, Sonny Thoss, Asi Taulava and Andray Blatche.

You could throw in retired/unretired Jimmy Alapag, and you are looking at 16 proud and willing basketball players who should be celebrated rather than questioned.

#BeerYear

Dynasty.
(Photo credit Sports5.ph) 

It has been a very good harvest for the San Miguel Beermen at the close of the PBA's monumental 40th PBA season. We saw two more teams added into the already unpredictable mix of PBA franchises duking it out conference after conference, not to mention us having to bear with the "joke" that is Manny Pacquiao, certified PBA playing-coach, plus the first ever jam-packed opening game held at the jaw-dropping Philippine Arena in Bulacan.

So in a way, it is only fitting that the league's oldest remaining ballclub has finally rid itself of its demons a.k.a. Petronovela and has continued its winning tradition. This year, the Beermen took home both the PBA Philippine and Governor's Cup though in contrasting styles versus the same opponent (Alaska Aces). In the first conference, while you could say that the Beermen looked dominant, they traded for old hand Alex Cabagnot to replace starting point guard Sol Mercado. This didn't have much of an effect, and the Finals dragged on to the whole seven games that took an Arwind Santos ballsy clutch triple to seal the deal.

In the third conference, versus the very same Aces, the Beermen just steamrolled right through with Cabagnot being a huge factor on both ends. Sure, they had the services of super import AZ Reid, but the Aces were armed by Best Import awardee Romeo Travis and we doubt that they would use his shortcomings as an excuse.

Believe in the Reid

AZ be like "so many stars to pass to!"
(Photo credits to Sports5)

Two (and a half) conferences previously played. Two PBA Best Import Awards. Zero titles.

This is what drives the San Miguel Beermen's 6"5 import, Arizona Reid, in the ongoing PBA Governor's Cup wherein his team is tied with the Alaska Aces on top with a 7 wins and 2 losses record.

This is why he came back, wearing different threads but still sporting the same "attack first" mentality.

A new day for the Beermen

Infectious energy and hustle from Mr. A to Z
(Photo credits to Sports5.ph)

We will be the first ones to admit it.

We were unfair, unjust and downright mean.

Mean, in expecting the San Miguel Beermen to just steamroll through the opposition the rest of this season after their PBA Philippine Cup title romp which appeared to have put all of their fans' frustrations of the last few years re: on and off-court chemistry to rest. Unfair and unjust, in writing and tweeting so many things about how the Beermen perhaps needed a shake-up, or that guys were "coasting" rather than just buying into the whole "they are tired/ exhausted/ injured" excuse.

So after spending much of the PBA Commissioner's Cup looking and playing like an expansion team, the Beermen are now back in the PBA Governor's Cup with a much more respectable 4-2 win-loss record. Now THIS, is what we expected last conference. A team that's just loaded with superstars, even if they unloaded some guys during the start of the season and since then, should always be in contention atop the standings and nowhere near the cellar.

We are sorry for the hate in the 2nd conference, but in some ways, we were also right.

The Disease of More

Anyare?
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

The great Miami Heat team president and former head coach Pat Riley is known for many things on the basketball court, but his greatness and wisdom traverses the constricting 94 x 50 feet measurement of paint and Maple wood.

Somewhere during our adolescence, we stumbled upon one of his leadership lectures' handout which preached about "The Disease of Me"-- now we can't recall the manuscript as it was written, but do remember something about "how much easier it is to be selfish, instead of being part of a team and learning to sacrifice."

And that brings us back to the continued struggles of the San Miguel Beermen.

Because seriously, this team needs some hour(s)-long counselling.

Denied, Eliminated

Giants in the PBA
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

It's tough playing in the PBA-- with the demand and expectation of management, family, friends and fans. To try and play at a very high level, and once there, to maintain it all throughout a grueling season of limited respite and recluse.

While eight teams will carry on into the Playoff rounds of the ongoing PBA Commissioner's Cup, four will be denied entry. Three of which have already been made clear to the masses: newcomers Kia Carnival and Blackwater, and newly-minted PBA All Filipino Cup titlist San Miguel Beer. The fourth one will be decided later on today, if it's going to be the AFC 2nd placers Alaska, or Global Port (depending on how Alaska's match versus Barangay Ginebra turns out).

Silver lining of course is that the four eliminated teams of this conference (plus performance in the 1st conference, so there's some math to be done) will be allowed to bring in imports of unlimited height (compared to the Top 8's 6"5 ceiling) plus an Asian reinforcement of their choosing (6"4 ceiling).

Here we take a look at what went right and wrong for the three teams that have been eliminated, and how their chances are going into the next conference.

Uphill climb for the Beermen

From A to Z, Reid does it all for SMB
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

The good: the San Miguel Beermen are starting to actually resemble the PBA Philippine Cup champion version of themselves. The bad: they need to win their remaining games to get proper Playoff positioning, and teams to not win so much. The ugly: one of their two remaining games will be against old rivals, Talk'n'Text Tropang Texters which is currently seated atop the standings with a 6-2 win-loss record.

So that's the Beermen's current predicament: an uphill climb to stay relevant in what was supposed to be "phase 2" of their Grand Slam quest this season. If they can't win against the Texters (and Global Port), then they'll have to pray the best they can and maybe go on a tour de force of church visits from Manila to Pampanga to Cebu to hope that they can make the playoffs (re: other teams start losing, scoring margin computations, etc.).

But can they do it?

The Hangover

Where to, Captain?
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

What's going on with the San Miguel Beermen?

The newly-minted PBA Philippine Cup champions find themselves winless in three games so far in the PBA Commissioner's Cup, despite the superhuman efforts of 6"9 reinforcement Ronald Roberts and the supposed "powerhouse" frontline pairing of him and reigning PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo.

To make things worse, their most recent defeat came at the hands of newcomers, then-winless, BlackWater Elite which are more and more looking like their rivals, Team MVP's, farm team.

Head coach Leo Austria was reported to have said something like being "embarrassed" about his team's display so far.

As he should.

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).

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.

Iba ang may pinagsamahan

Larong mayaman?
Basta laro lang.
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Iba talaga yung kasama mo yung mga tropa mo, mga kuya at bunso, mga kakosang alam mo na lalaban kasama ka pagnagkagipitan o kaya pag gumawa ka ng kalokohan at nagkahulihan, e magsisinungaling para sayo kahit hindi mo senyasan. Alam ng mga manginginom yan. Ng tropa. Yun ung mga oras na nahuli ka ni misis gabi umuwi tapos tatanungin niya sempre si kumpareng kasing pulang kamatis at amoy chico mo pero susubukan kang ipagtanggol at ilusot para sa isa pang bagong umaga.

Ganyan ang takbo ng San Miguel Beermen ngayon. Noon, nananalo sila (sa simula) dahil sa likas na galing at talento lang ng mga manlalaro nila. Ngayon, iba na. Hindi na sila nag kakanya kanya, hindi nagdadamutan o nagtatampuhan sa loob ng court. Kung sino lamang, diskarte. Kung sino ang mainit, doon tayo. Walang pa-MVP. Kung gusto mo magpaka star, magpaka star ka sa loob lang ng sistemang tinatakbo ng Coach. Yun nga pala isa pang malaki, iisa lang ung nasusunod ngayon sa bench, si Coach Leo Austria.

From the ABL to the PBA for Leo Austria

Will Austria have the reigning
PBA MVP's support?
How about the other MVP?
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

It pays to be loyal.

Formerly “disgruntled” ASEAN Basketball League San Miguel Beermen champion coach Leo Austria has recently been rewarded for his patience and trust with the franchise, being signed to a one-year pact to coach the “original, iconic” team of the same name in the Philippine Basketball Association.

If he’ll be able to finish the aforementioned contract is another story altogether.

See, the Beermen (formerly Petron Blaze Boosters) has run through a gauntlet of coaches since 2010: from Ato Agustin, Olsen Racela (with Rajko Toroman as active consultant), Gee Abanilla and the now axed Biboy Ravanes (with Todd Purves as active consultant). For all the on court drama of the so called “Petronovela,” there’s really not much you can expect from a team that has no continuity from the sidelines.

Of pride and chemistry

Another season of woes for SMB
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

With yesterday's PBA Governor's Cup Quarterfinals loss, the San Miguel Beermen's 2013-2014 campaign has finally come to a merciful end.

At the start of the season, penciling the Beermen in as one of the title favorites for any conference was as acceptable as dipping fishball in Mang Jose's secret recipe sarsa. It was that much of a no brainer.

They had the reigning PBA Most Valuable Player Arwind Santos in tow, freed from the redundancy that is Jay Washington. Bigger things were on the horizon for 6"9 Junemar Fajardo. Gilas standouts Chris Lutz and Marcio Lassiter were at the brink of legitimate PBA superstardom. Alex Cabagnot, point guard extraordinaire, would have so many weapons at his disposal for the easy, text book passes (and even the fancy ones that he breaks out from time to time).

And yet they finished the PBA Philippine Cup third.

THIRD.

Let it go

Photo courtesy of Sports5

No one saw this happening.

Air21 Express, the lowly PBA Commissioner's Cup 7th seed (and unheralded, unpublicised "sister" team), beat the San Miguel Beermen not once, but twice. For two straight games, a team of PBA discards and some collegiate fraternity boys looking to relive the good old days beat one of the recognised powerhouses of the PBA.

Ouch.

On the bright side, the Beermen made it to the Playoffs as the 2nd seed while going through a MAJOR off-season retooling by way of acquiring Sol Mercado and making Chris Ross (who was acquired just a conference or two back) the lead guard. They still have the reigning PBA Most Valuable Player (which keeps on feeling more and more like a joke these days) in Arwind Santos and the league's potentially most dominant player in the young Junemar Fajardo so the pieces are still there.

PBA GovCup Finals: Game 7

Mukhang nagkakasawaan na tong dalawa
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

It's not every conference that fans are treated to a classic, winner-takes-all game seven in the PBA Finals pitting the conference's best and second-best teams. Somewhere along the course of the excruciating playoffs, one usually bows out to exhaustion and pressure, allowing a darkhorse to come out of the woodwork.

First seed Petron Blaze Boosters versus the second seed San Mig Coffee Mixers for the right to be called the 2013 PBA Governor's Cup champions.

There are no darkhorses here.

PBA GovCup Finals: Petron deals first blow

If Game 1 of the PBA Governor's Cup Finals is a preview of things to come, then we're going with Petron Blaze's Alex Cabagnot and Marcio Lassiter when they said that they'd prefer a sweep of San Mig Coffee.

Lutz and Lassiter proved to be
a handful for San Mig Coffee
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Riding on the hot hands of Chris Lutz late (12 points) and the superb triple double effort of import Elijah Millsap (35 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists), Petron Blaze had control of the game save for a mini San Mig Coffee run in the 3rd canto. The disparity in personel became quite obvious early when Petron Blaze's 6"10 rookie Junemar Fajardo was pretty much having his way inside versus 6"5 counterpart Marc Pingris.

San Mig Coffee tried to address the Fajardo conundrum by fielding in little-used 6"9 big man Yancy de Ocampo, but he proved a little too skinny. Also, instead of pulling Fajardo out of the paint by staying by the high post to three point line area where he is more effective, de Ocampo went with his pride and opted to challenge the youngster mano-a-mano (in which he failed rather miserably).