Yeng Guiao 3, Tim Cone 1

Uhm, hi Coach Tim. My name is Jonas.
Read the plaque. KTNXBYE.

At some point, you'd have to raise some concerns about San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone and his ability to bring out the best from his players. We know that he can coach the Xs and Os, we know that he can work wonders, but his Rain or Shine counterpart Yeng Guiao sure as hell is making him look amateur-ish this series.

There's the over-reliance on his starters, failing to draw up any other play for any other guy who just so happens to be open on the floor. The ball movement is slow and predictable, the offense is always run through 1) James Yap 2) PJ Simon 3) Mark Barroca and that's pretty much it. Joe DeVance is there, but he only gets his touches when he's the one bringing the ball up (have to give the man props for trooping to the paint, but still). Where's JC Intal? Where's the bench-- they still have guys that can contribute beginning with the returning Jonas Villanueva, big man Yancy de Ocampo (who appears to have lost whatever hard-earned confidence Cone had in him early this Philippine Cup), rookie Aldrech Ramos and Wesley Gonzales.

No rebounds, no rings

One for UST!

The San Mig Coffee Mixers had an absurd height advantage highlighted by 6"8 slotman Yancy de Ocampo and 6"7 point-forward Joe DeVance among other members of the vaunted "Sampayan Brigade." So how did the Rain or Shine Elastopainters-- known for having the league's most bruising, able WIDE bodies, out-rebound them in Game 1 to win 91-83?

All heart.

We knew who would score for both teams, though James Yap had an off night (might be playing hurt) and PJ Simon was being his usual inconsistent self (same can be said for DeVance) for the Mixers while there's Paul Lee (too big, too strong), Jeffrei Chan (started off hot) and the pick-your-poison frontline for the Elastopainters.

Grudge Match: Rain or Shine versus San Mig Coffee

Simpleng sahod
sabay sorry by Papa Chris

The Rain or Shine Elastopainters successfully dispatched the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and their retarded coaching staff. Say what you will, but never did we doubt our earlier pick after Ginebra's over-rated "Never Say Die" performance in Game 2 of their quarterfinals match-up.

We're not hating on Ginebra, we're just as frustrated as their unwavering faithful that's all. This is a powerhouse team, they have the reigning PBA Most Valuable Player and arguable the league's best point guard the last year and perhaps the next three to four more. They feature an enviable combination of skilled wingmen and some All Star veterans who've won at every stop. They were playing against a team whose notorious bruisers were enjoying a rare off-series and a Negros Sniper whose been even more way off the mark.

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.

Into the PBA Philippine Cup Quarters

Too many guns for TNT vs Air21

Talk 'n' Text vs Air21
No matter how great Air21 has looked the previous matches since the acquisition of point laureate Mike Cortez (and the renewed love-fest with coach Franz Pumaren), there is no denying Talk 'n' Text of advancing to the next round. Jayson Castro, Jimmy Alapag and Ryan Reyes all look healthy (okay, still waiting for Alapag who looks to be hurt in tonight's match vs Ginebra) and then there's Ranidel de Ocampo doing his thing. And if those guys aren't enough, there's still the steady Kelly Williams, Larry Fonacier, Jarred Dillinger and Ali Peek all ready, willing and able to take over. Nino Canaleta's having the time of his life looking like an all star out there, but his 5 minutes of fame will be and are up.

Fearless Forecast: TNT

The Next Attraction

Helterbrand: Vintage Fast

While our idols (boss FireQuinito and Sir Mico Halili) over at the AKTVCenter will continue to hype any and all Manila Classico matches from here on out, same with any game that features Calvin Abueva or the famed/sickening Petronovela-- there's one under-the-radar PBA match-up that intrigues us the most: Barangay Ginebra San Miguel versus the Rain or Shine Elastopainters.

If last Sunday's instant classic is to serve as a taste of things to come should these two face off, say, in a seven-game series, then the ratings/ social media activity would blow straight through the roof. There's one team that says they're still "Never Say Die" and try to play the underdog card despite their obvious souped-up line-up (only a blind, ignorant Ginebra die-hard would think that his/her team is not a title favorite or hasn't been one since The Living Legend left) and there's the other one-- cheered and jeered for the very same things that the old Ginebra wore proudly night in and night out.

PBA Draft Class 2012: Young and restless

The Kraken more role player than star?

Now that Calvin Abueva, picked number 2 overall by the Alaska Aces and arguably the most feared/ revered player of the lot, made his PBA debut with last night's 88-86 triumph over the Petron Blaze Boosters, we can proceed with an initial report on how the rookies have fared so far.

1. June Mar Fajardo (Petron)
He's been solid, but obviously still raw. Not to say that he doesn't know what to do with the basketball unlike big guys before him such as E.J. Feihl, James Walkvist and Samigue Eman, but right now it would be safe to say that Fajardo is more on the track to be the next Sonny Thoss than Danny Ildefonso (not that it's a bad thing). Petron's been wasting some of its sets in trying to get the big man ready down low, but they're better off running and Fajardo doing the dirty work.

Pinoy Cup Finals Preview? Ginebra wins dogfight over Rain or Shine

That. Was. Intense.

Ginebra won 98-94 over RoS.
E pano kung naglaro tong 2 to?

So intense that we had to give it a day to sink in and just look at the ramifications of it all. Here are the Rain or Shine Elastopainters, fresh off a title romp and an utter and complete domination of season favorites Petron Blaze Boosters, looking to add another souped up team to its "hit list" (and we use that term very loosely).

Then there's the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel squad, brimming with athleticism, superstar/ household names and a fanbase-count that would make PNoy's 2010 voters blush with envy. The game was rugged, physical but highly entertaining. It was eerily reminiscent to the early days of reigning PBA MVP Mark Caguioa's Barangay Ginebra and current RoS' head coach Yeng Guiao's old spit-firish Batang Red Bull Thunder team.

Rain or Shine survives The Kraken

Basta si Jeff Chan ang sumipat, ilista mo na

With all due respect to the so-called powerhouse teams (on paper) in the PBA, the Rain or Shine Elastopainters look like they're the most complete team in the league today. First to go down are the heavily-favored Petron Blaze Boosters who not only have a bunch of guys who could easily fill out a Team Pilipinas/All Star roster, but also the league's number one overall draft pick and a guy expected to dominate for years, 6"9 June Mar "The Kraken" Fajardo.

The game started out real close, but come the second half the Elastopainters buckled down to work and started flexing their muscles-- literally. There were hard screens and fouls that appeared to have knocked the wind out of the Boosters-- unable to keep in step with the Elastopainters who were either driving to the rim or just passing the ball all over the court to find the open man.

Ginebra picks Chris... Ellis (over Tiu)

Solid pick-up... for the future

Potential versus prime, promise versus reality, necessity versus want.

When Barangay Ginebra San Miguel head coach Siot Tangquincen was asked weeks back who he'd like to pick 6th in the PBA Draft 2012, the fiery Thomasian uttered the name "Chris Tiu" all without batting an eyelash. There was no hesitation in his answer, and it pretty much played into the Ginebra faithful's liking.

Here was a guy who spent the last couple of years wearing PILIPINAS on his chest as a starter, knocking down shots and holding the fort as a back-up point guard. THAT, plus his other praise-worthy endeavors such as TV host, model, brand(SSssss) ambassador and being an all-around good guy.

The Dream Match: Gilas I vs II

PG: Jimmy Alapag/ JVee Casio/ Mark Barroca vs L.A. Tenorio/ Sol Mercado/ Gabe Norwood


Advantage goes to Gilas I owing to Alapag and Casio’s marksmanship. They are able to spread the floor more than the current PG rotation who are mostly dribble-drivers by trade (except Tenorio). Of the lot, you’d say that I will have a hard time stopping II’s bigger and stronger guards, but this is a team game and PGs aren’t needed to drive inside in the FIBA games, they’re meant to shoot from deep and play safety on defense. You can argue for Gilas II by saying that Mercado and Norwood are best suited to play alongside Chan and David, but three points per trip is still three points per trip.

Adv. Gilas I

Rain or Shine gets Tiu

Mukha lang choir boy pero mabagsik
din sa gulangan si Chris Tiu

After last year's masterful selection of eventual Rookie of the Year Paul Lee, the Rain or Shine Elastopainters found yet another gem in SMART Gilas alumnus/ TV host/ model/ entrepreneur/ heart throb Chris Tiu.

Not only will Tiu's addition boost the team with a capable rotation player, but he alone would uplift the Elastopainters' fanbase and improve their overall PR slant. As a player, Tiu will have time to develop and shine since Lee will be sidelined at the start of the Philippine Cup due to his shoulder injury/ surgery. A natural shooting guard, look for Tiu to play the point and steal minutes from his Xavier teammate TY Tang.

PBA Draft 2012 1st Round Grades

Can't teach height.

What a day for the future of Philippine basketball! Arguably one of the most potent and star-ready lot in the last decade, the PBA Draft 2012 went all six rounds-- with the rechristened Barangay Ginebra San Miguel out to try point guards by the dozen.

First round

1. Petron Blaze - June Mar Fajardo
This was a no brainer, though Fajardo is a three-year project at best, the guy stands 6"10 and has actual muscles that Bonel Balingit, E.J. Feihl, Marlou Aquino and Andy Seigle COMBINED could only dream of. Don't look for Fajardo to dominate the game ASAP, since there's a solid reason why he was glued to the bench in the ASEAN Basketball League. In the PBA, he's job has been defined for him before he was even called out to the stage: intimidate, rebound and block shots. If Coach Olsen Racela and 2x PBA MVP Danny Ildefonso could work their magic on Fajardo and speed up Fajardo's basketball IQ, then look for Petron to be a playoffs fixture for years to come.

Grade: A (Fajardo addresses the one position that Petron doesn't have a bunch of guys to choose from)

PBA Draft 2012: The Chris Tiu Factor

Tiu: Petron, Alaska or Meralco?

We already know where 6"9 big man June Mar Fajardo is going. The KKS Vince McMahon has already gone public with the Petron Blaze Boosters' choice for the number one overall pick of the promising PBA Draft 2012. It's not rocket science, they brought him in from Cebu, nurtured him and gave him international experience battling mostly American giants in the ASEAN Basketball League so  let the Boosters have their man.

What's becoming even more of a conundrum is who gets picked next. The Alaska Aces appear to be opening up to the idea of bringing in "The Beast" Calvin Abueva of the NCAA's San Sebastian Golden Stags. Arguably the best, most decorated and widely respected player among the applicants given his monstrous efforts on the basketball court.

Tiu-day's the day

The PBA needs Chris Tiu

Apologies for the elementary-level title. Had second, third, fourth and even eight thoughts before letting it be. There's really no other way to say it so... If Chris Tiu, former captain of the SMART Gilas men's national baskteball team, Ateneo Blue Eagle, magazine coverboy, posterboy, TV host, barangay kagawad and entrepreneur, wants in to the PBA, then there's no other time in but now.

Most of his Gilas teammates have moved on to the pros and enjoyed much success (JVee Casio, Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz) and even carried their respective fanbases with them. Tiu, ever the patriot, opted to stick it out with the Gilas team believing he'll still be an integral part of it (read: play heavy minutes) regardless of coach, teammates and other unseen factors.

Problem was, once Coach Chot Reyes took over for the sacked Rajko Toroman, Tiu faced even stiffer competition by virtue of the PBA veterans that were all set to join in.

Ace(s) up Gilas' sleeve

Taking his talents to Gilas

Sonny Thoss, Mac Baracael, L.A. Tenorio of the PBA’s Alaska Aces have been cleared by all concerned parties to backstop the SEABA Philippine contingent bannered by amateur stars Aldrech Ramos, Dave Marcelo, Garvo Lanete, Woody Co, Chris Tiu, Eman Monfort and Borgie Hermida and naturalized center Marcus Douthit.

While we remain to be the team to beat in the South East Asian regions, it’s always a plus to have guys who are on an elite level to represent the country. The presence of Douthit alone makes the Philippines a sure-fire medal contender, since the man has already made a name for himself on the FIBA-Asia stage as one of the better centers around.

Should PHL Coach Jong Uichico play the pros heavy minutes?