Trade reactions/ free agent signings

This guy just keeps getting traded
and traded and traded...

We are literally just five days away from the opening of the 42nd season of the PBA; with fans already buzzing in excitement and anticipation of what's to come.

Can San Miguel defend their crown? Is Ginebra good enough to unseat their sister team minus Justin Brownlee? Will Alaska break the curse of The Kraken? Who can lead his new team to more wins: James Yap, Paul Lee or Coach Yeng Guiao?

But before that, here are a few other trades/ signings that happened just recently and what we think of it all:

Nico Salva joins Mahindra
Salva was reportedly on his way to Meralco (which would reunite him with his Ateneo brethren and head coach Norman Black) before Ginebra opted to send him to the Mahindra Floodbusters. Honestly, we still think that this was something of a good fortune to Salva although he went from being able to join a contender to a cellar-dweller. See, the Floodbusters decided to go on a frontline fire sale in the off-season (they lost Aldrech Ramos, Nino Canaleta AND Bradwyn Guinto to trades) which left Coach Chris Gavina scratching his head and looking at: Jeckster Apinan, Mark Yee, Rob Reyes and rookies Russel Escoto and Joseph Eriobu (who is a small forward by trade). If Salva is lucky and works hard enough, he could be of some use as a rotation 3 or 4 although we are not too sure how he'll fare minus a key big man (his best years in ADMU, including his Finals MVP, was brought about by playing the weak side, opposite a dominant big).

All hands on deck

"You reach, I teach"
(Photo credit to the owner)

Once the curtain unfolds and the spotlight is at its brightest to signify the PBA's 41st season, it would be very wise to consider the GlobalPort Batang Pier as the true darkhorse should things go as planned.

Yes, Coach Pido Jarencio still needs to watch more film and yes, Terrence Romeo will probably never pass the ball to someone who doesn't know what to do with it, but no, this team will definitely not stay in the cellar in any of the next three conferences.

Why?

Because this is a team. Despite the media hype, hoopla and hate thrown towards the polarizing Romeo who finds himself with a veteran sage now at his disposal by the name of Joseph Yeo.

Isn't Yeo a mirror image of Romeo and how his career might pan out?

Cruising along

Teamwork.
(Photo credits to Sports5)

We could still recall when GlobalPort Batang Pier team owner Mikee Romero proudly declared that he was going to bring his basketball winning ways from the amateurs (PBL, ABL) into the PBA. We met it as just another positive statement, from a greenhorn who doesn't really understand how the true yet dirty hierarchy of the league works.

Specially for a farm team.

Which they said they were not. Which their fans bought into. Until of course, trades started to become the norm and elite or promising names (players and coaches) walked in and out of their team practices.

But lately, they've been winning.

All thanks to one man's vision, and another man's growing love/ hate reputation.

Pido Redux

Depensa muna bro
(Photo credits to the owner)

"Pride, puso, palaban."

These three words served as Global Port Batang Pier head coach Pido Jarencio's battle cry when he first made a name for himself, outside of playing amateur and pro-ball, along the sidelines with the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers from 2006 to 2013 (with three UAAP Finals appearances and a championship to display). The same battlecry was what Jarencio said he will bring into the PBA when he was hired by the Batang Pier in 2014, only to finish the season with an abysmal 2-16 win-loss record.

They "fired" him, brought him back as team consultant, and is now promptly back calling the shots in the PBA Governor's Cup wherein the Batang Pier are surprisingly ahead of the pack with a 3-0 win-loss slate which is arguably the best start in Pido's young PBA coaching career. For stat lovers, the Batang Pier are averaging 94 ppg on 42% 2-pt, 40% 3-pt, 52 rpg and 18 apg (with 15 topg) versus their opponents' 79 ppg, 37% 2-pt, 13% 3-pt, 47 rpg, 14 apg and 16 topg.

So what changed between Pido's first time out and this one?

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.

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.

No more drama (?)

Uh-oh. They're bringing the "back hand slap" back!
(Photo courtesy of PBA InterAKTV)

Picking up where they left off pre-choke gate, the Petron Blaze Boosters are humming like a well-oiled machine (sorry, couldn't help it) in the on-going PBA Governor's Cup with an impressive 4-1 win-loss slate.

Newly-installed head coach Gee Abanilla and co. have done a tremendous job in evening out the minutes and assigning roles in their solid nine-man rotation which features import Elijah Millsap, Alex Cabagnot and Arwind Santos as their steady 30+ minutes guys to end-guy Chico Lanete playing for about 12. This, after former coach Olsen Racela would constantly introduce change looking for a "winning line-up" once they were without NBAer Renaldo Balkman (Millsap is good, but there's a reason he has yet to make an NBA season roster).

Who is the Best Pinoy Big Man today?

Where would you rank RDO and The Boss?

One of our friends over at Facebook.com/KiliKiliShot (shoutout to boss Dexter Cumigad and his family, thank you for reading our stuff) asked who we feel are the best big men in the Philippine Basketball Association today. The easiest way out of course is to simply go with the numbers, but contrary to popular belief-- numbers lie.

A guy could average only 6 points and 7 rebounds for his team but still have the most dominating presence on the hard court (think Belga, who makes use of his height, heft and six fouls to the hilt every time). So here's a list of who we feel are the league's best big men- taking one per team of course and ranking them altogether. And just to spice things up, we're not simply going to go with the guy who starts the game at center or is marked as one. We're going to rank the Top 10 bigs who play the position for their teams when the games are tight and shots or stops need to be made.

10. Jay-R Reyes (Meralco Bolts)
How long before we finally give up on the former U.P. Maroon and Gilas Pilipinas campaigner? No matter the extended minutes, international training and exposure, it seems that Reyes just isn't meant to dominate the sport after glimpses of near-Kerby Raymundo potential. He has the post-up moves and range, but as with some players, it comes down to putting it all together and being consistent. The silver lining for Reyes of course is, being a young player in the pros, he has time to find a niche. With all the scorers that the Bolts have on the roster (starting with star guard Mark Cardona), perhaps Reyes can concentrate more on playing defense and grabbing more rebounds (then maybe the offense can come later).

9. Doug Kramer (Barako Bull Energy Cola)
We are big Kramer fans. We fill that he is the most under-rated and under-utilized quality role-playing big man in the PBA today. No, he is not gifted with back-to-the-basket abilities like teammate Enrico Villanueva, but he has found a role in the pros and has stuck to it the last three to four years. Kramer does his best work setting hard screens, boxing out, rebounding and knocking down kick-out/ dump mid-range jumpshots. He's not a guy who'll average 15 and 10 a night, but he'll contribute right away given the minutes.

Team Bully loses 4th straight

Uhm, Danny, me nakalimutan ka ata
 (Photo courtesy of Inquirer.Net)

After a mighty 3-1 romp to kickstart the PBA Commissioner's Cup, the Barako Bull Energy find themselves losing four in a row to drop near the bottom of the standings. This, despite having arguably one of the most brilliant basketball minds on the planet serving as team consultant (can't argue with his FIBA championship now) and a collection of players who are arguably near the All Star level.

While we will not question the "Rajko system" run by Coach Bong Ramos, we find that this team fell victim to their early hot start. That complacency started to creep in as well as over-confidence. When they were winning, they played great defense and moved the basketball to find the open man. In their losses, it was almost always Josh Urbiztondo or a Mark Macapagal and even a come-backing JC Intal who appears to be trying to win games all by their lonesome.

Barako Bull on the rise

Allein Maliksi gets another shot
at superstardom

The team that gets the most number of players is usually the winner of any or all professional transactions no matter the starpower involved. You could always argue in favor of whichever team gets to bring home the former league MVP or All Star, but at day's end, four solid rotation players is still better than a star who has hit the proverbial "glass ceiling" and an under-rated, under-sized four man.

Gone are Ronald Tubid, Leo Najorda and Lester Alvarez from the Barako Bull Energy's roster and in their place are former PBA Finals MVP Jonas Villanueva, UAAP Finals MVP Jojo Duncil, college star JC Intal and PBA D-League MVP Allein Maliksi. As you can see, the letters "MVP" are spread evenly among those young thoroughbreds and that they are all young, athletic, have legit basketball skills (except maybe for Intal who has yet to find a niche in the league thus the inconsistency). Villanueva can orchestrate and, given the minutes, belongs atop the PBA's best floor generals. Duncil is a clutch jumpshooter who has the size and speed to play the two spot. Intal is crazy athletic and can get streaky from time to time. Then there's the other guy, Maliksi-- who is making a "homecoming" of sorts to the team that drafted him last season, who can pretty much hold his own against the league's premier scorers from Gary David to Mark Caguioa.

Swak sa lakas ang Barako Bull

Keep throwin' 'em 'bows Enrico

Better yet, "Oooohhh---sssSSsssWAHK! sa lakas ang BARAKO BOOOL. Swak sa lakas ang Barako Bull!"

Sorry, but the catchy jingle never fails to humor us as it does seem pretty apt for such a testosterone-laden product and basketball team. If you want Pinoy macho on the hardcourt, then look no further than the Barako Bull Energy Cola's intimidating frontline of Enrico Villanueva, Doug Kramer, Jondan Salvador, Mick Penissi and rookie Dave Marcelo. Throw in bloodhounds like Josh Urbiztondo, Ronald Tubid and Roger Yap, and you could pretty much overlook the on-and-off performances of arguably the team's best player (on a good, healthy day) "Dynamite" Danny Seigle. Oh, and nothing speaks Pinoy Macho more than head coach Junel Baculi's slick-back hairdo and 80s porn-moustache.

SMART Gilas 2 needs to muscle up

Doug Kramer deserves a look

What's done is done, and yesterday's loss-- no matter how painful, will and should be treated as just another learning curve that our SMART Gilas Pilipinas men's basketball team has to go through to reclaim our once mighty status this side of the world.

Though the loss cost as a shot at the FIBA Asia title, let's all remember that there's still the 2013 FIBA Asia Championships which serves as qualifier for the FIBA Worlds. Let's not get ahead of ourselves now, and just stick to trying to win in Asia no matter the level of competition or play. Here are some guys, Team SMC or MVP, who should or deserve a look when it's time for Coach Chot Reyes et. al. to reassess the team and see where we need beefing up.

Hopefully, when we say "reassess and build," Mr. Manny V. Pangilinan is still at the forefront of our courageous efforts and not divorcing the program like he did with his Alma Mater.

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.

Stubborn Energy

Di pa sila tapos!

Just when we were ready to write them off, the Barako Bull Energy won over the Meralco Bolts in a pulsating Sunday afternoon game, 81-79. The victory created a playoffs scenario for the 6th and final semis slot among the Energy, Bolts and Powerade Tigers.

This could've and should've been prevented outright by the Energy had they managed to hold on to their 17-point in-game lead. Of course, Coach Junel Baculi and his boys led by a motivated Danny Seigle will take the W and it's not everyday that you can weather a 40-point explosion from Bolts import Mario West.

Time to pull the plug on Manong Brigade (?)

Ang Tumanda, Higa.

What a difference a simple trade makes.

Though the Barako Bull Energy are still in the Governor's Cup semis hunt with a respectable 3-3 win-loss slate, their collective inconsistency shouldn't be taken lightly. Not with 2x PBA Most Valuable Player Willie Miller looking every bit like the 35-year-old that he is, Danny Seigle once again out of commission and Mick Pennisi also on a downward spiral.

Clearly, Father Time remains as the only unbeaten entity of all of professional sports and last conference's inspiring run by the "Manong Brigade" might have been this team's last push at greatness. With the loss of gritty guard Wyne Arboleda and "hulk smash" rebounding brute Dorian Pena to trades, the Energy are struggling to find balance with its younger looking team.

Act a fool

Coach Bo Perasol is losing his guys one by one

After going on public to dismiss any other and all trade rumors concerning the Powerade Tigers in the PBA after sending Marcio Lassiter to Petron, team executive Ronnie Ascuncion (the guy who replaced the respected JB Baylon) went back on his word and did what should be Phase 2 to the "master plan."

Big man Doug Kramer, who enjoyed a prolific Philippine Cup before struggling to find minutes in the big import-flavored PBA CC, was sent to the Barako Bull for undersized veteran power forward Jondan Salvador. Now, by all accounts, there was a time that Salvador could be argued as the better and more polished post player of the two. But as far as their PBA careers go, Kramer is on his way up the ranks of solid bigs in the mold of Dorian Pena and Sonny Ali Peek, while Salvador is being shipped from one team to another as an end-of-the-bench rotation player ala  now new Tigers teammate Alex Crisano.

If at first you don't succeed...

Rabeh: big man who could
balance the Tigers' attack

After PBA Commissioner Chito Salud vetoed the initial trade that would've sent the Powerade Tigers' super rookie Marcio Lassiter to the Petron Blaze Boosters for little used sophomores Noy Baclao and Rey Guevarra, a new deal is reportedly in the works.

Clearly, both teams are in connivance to somehow make sure that Lassiter ends up with the Boosters regardless of the names that they have to send over to the Tigers. As of this writing, rumors have it that temperamental power forward Rabeh Al Hussaini will take Baclao's spot in the revised offer.

Personally, this would be a better deal since it gives the Tigers a reliable, scoring big man and a back-up guard rather than a player whose best (defensive) years were spent in college (the added weight obviously hasn't helped Baclao one bit-- it has only slowed him down and made him even more of a liability since his offensive skills are quite limited inside the shaded lane as a drop-pass/ offensive rebound/ putback option).

Talk 'n' Text closes out Game 5, Pinoy Cup champs anew

In a game that featured Powerade Tigers' Gary David, KKS' Bataan Bomber, scoring 37 points and fighting tooth and nail to salvage another win, the Cinderella run has finally come to an end via a 101-110 loss to the newly-minted Philippine Cup champions (for the third straight year) the Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters.

5x coach of the year Chot Reyes leads Texters to another title

David's "supernova" effort was matched by the now 100% healthy, Ryan Reyes who broke PBA records with 10 steals in this crucial match while also adding 20 points and 8 rebounds. The Energizer was all over the court in this one, bringing back scary images of TNT's 2011 title(s) romp when he served as the team's defensive anchor on the perimeter to complement Jimmy Alapag and Jayson Castro (who also looked to be healthy in this series after starting the conference limping).

In a game that was pretty much a "win or go home" for the Tigers, David failed to receive the usual support he draws from super rookies JVee Casio and Marcio Lassiter who looked a bit tentative and tight before waxing hot in the 4th. Lassiter, for his part, couldn't get into a steady rhythm on the floor because of foul trouble.

Then came Mr. Doug-ble-double, Doug Kramer's vanishing act. 3 points and 3 rebounds after a string of monstrous efforts in the post? Unacceptable. TNT's bigs were challenged to do better after their paltry Game 4 showing, but that doesn't excuse Kramer from doing his part for the Tigers-- being the only serviceable big. Rommel Adducul tried, but he's on his last wheels and can't be expected to outhustle TNT's Kelly Williams, Harvey Carey, Ali Peek and Ranidel de Ocampo.

People are already speculating that Kramer's abysmal performance was "fixed," but let's give the guy the benefit of a doubt. He's been the Tigers' key post player up to this point, and it's just really unfortunate that he suffered his worst outing in such a crucial game.

TNT won the game early, bent on not giving the Tigers a chance but as they've always said, the three point shot is the "great equalizer" and come 4th quarter, David and Casio were knocking them down like men on a mission.

Good thing though, that TNT kept its overall composure and didn't engage the Tigers' in an endgame shootout (as they've done the previous games) and opted to rotate the ball. Ryan Reyes' timely defensive stops, crisp passes, rebounds and nakaw fastbreak play finally broke the Tigers' will which led to Lassiter fouling out of the game.

All in all, Game 5 showed the difference between a team that has the firepower to withstand all odds going up against a team that relied heavily on 3s-- which ultimately, became it's undoing.

Nothing to be ashamed of on the Tigers' front, they over-achieved and were even able to win a game versus a powerhouse team that rallied in time-- hurdling injuries, a gun shooting incident and even an almost insurmountable 1-3 deficit against the heavy favorites going into the semis.

Larry Fonacier being named Finals MVP was well-deserved. Once coach Chot Reyes called his number in an effort to slow down Gary David (easier said than done), Fonacier rose to the occasion and was even able to hold his own and make David work-- averaging 16 points in five games.

Jimmy Alapag, Ranidel de Ocampo and Jayson Castro had their moments, but none as consistently as Fonacier who proved yet again that you just can't teach championship poise and clutch.

Congratulations to the Powerade Tigers and the Bataan Bomber for putting a great show, and to the Tropang Texters for what seems like an even bigger, better grand slam bid now that the guys are healthy.

PS

As of January 29, 2011: TNT Gilbert Lao: 5 6 PBA titles. Powerade Gary David: 0.

Big Doug's House

Big Doug's got the Bataan Bomber's back

Doug Kramer, the Powerade Tigers' anchor in the paint, took time to develop in the pros after being drafted 5th overall by the Air21 Express. Little did everyone know back then that the burly forward/ center would mature and become a key contributor to a struggling franchise's title hopes.

It's not that we haven't seen Kramer play this role before (as he did with the JC Intal-led Eagles), it's just that we had doubts if he was too "pogi" for the PBA's rugged style of play that will have him literally trading elbow shots to the face with the Dorian Penas, Ali Peeks, Beau Belgas, JayR Quinahans and the like.

Then he got his tooth knocked out during a rebound skirmish a few months back.

That's where his approach to the league changed from KKS' view. He fought for rebounds before, but never really bothered to dish out cheap shots and use his frame to the hilt. Not anymore. This year, he was released by the same team they just eliminated, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, to the Tigers. He no longer had to play   in a rotation heavy system. He was going to get a chance to shine. He also had veteran bangers to learn from- Rommel Adducul and Alex Crisano.

From the start, Kramer's role was clear: rebound, intimidate and set bruising screens for his superstar guards Bataan Bomber Gary David, Marcio Lassiter and JVee Casio. He played freely under coach Bo Perasol, allowed to take (and make) his pet 15-17 ft jumpers which made the Tigers' even more of a threat if they continue to develop their Pick and Roll play (when that happens, they'd be near impossible to guard because the P&R sucks in a lot of defenders and would open up the floor for the other two knockdown shooters on the court).

During the RoS-Powerade series, Kramer averaged 10 points and 11 rebounds in only 30 minutes of burn. Those are numbers that don't really jump at you from the get go (when compared to elite bigs in the PBA- but then again, who else is left? JayR Reyes?), but considering his place in the Tigers' offensive hierarchy- those are damn near solid.

Heading into the PBA Philippine Cup Finals, Kramer will have his work cut-out for him non-stop. The newly-unleashed Ranidel De Ocampo is wreaking havoc as the Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters' new main man in their re-modeled offense, Kelly Williams is athletic and quick, Japeth Aguilar will have his day jumping all over the place and lastly, Ali Peek is Ali Peek.

But make no mistake about it, while all the attention will rightfully go to the Tigers' high scoring trio of Lassiter, Casio and the Bataan Bomber, Kramer is just as invaluable if they are to win their first championship under the Bo Perasol era.

PS

We're still waiting for that Kenneth Duremdes comeback. One more game. One more game.

Powerade continues Cinderella story, enters finals

In a semifinals match-up that the young Rain or Shine Elasto Painters never fully understood, the Powerade Tigers led by the Bataan Bomber Gary David and his Hitmen won in seven games to march onto the Philippine Cup Finals.

Balik PBA Finals na ako! 

Just when observers thought that the Elasto Painters have finally solved the Tigers' high-octane attack, they fall back into their old habits and allowed the Tigers to shoot freely-- believing in their own coach's philosophy that "shooters are bound to run out of bullets."

Apparently not.

Time and again the Elasto Painters failed to close out on several of the Tigers who survived a rare off night from  star Gary David but had plenty of help from battle-tested rookies JVee Casio and Marcio Lassiter.

And since we're on the subject, Mico Halili, you are starting to become the new Quinito Henson. No one finds "The Smurfinator" cute. Seriously man. We're all basketball geeks/ fanboys here, but a line has to be drawn somewhere.

Was drafting JVee Casio the answer to the Tigers' Cinderella run to the Finals?

Possibly.

Because when David started drawing blanks, Casio was there to pick up the slack and shoot the team back into the fight.

But the real credit should go to Marcio Lassiter.

The hard-working small forward is the sole reason why the Tigers' have made it this far, with his rare combination of lockdown, hard-nosed defense and solid offensive game. Without him, the Tigers' would've been just another trigger happy team with has-been bigs and back-up point guards at the helm.

But the Tigers isn't just about the Big 3 alone. They have solid role players, and arguably another unheralded Atenean alum in big man Doug Kramer.

The beefy center/forward is one of the biggest reasons why the Elasto Painters' guards were unable to slash into the basket at will. He also set up some Grade A sturdy screens for his guards on the other end of the floor.

Congratulations to Tigers' head coach Bo Perasol. He'll probably never be given credit for his coaching exploits, but the man has led two different teams to the Finals and stuck through thick and thin despite hellish, D-League worthy line-ups (Air21) and mish-mash rosters (Powerade).

For Rain or Shine, there's nothing but positives to be gained from this conference. The immaturity is undeniable but with that comes potential. Paul Lee may not be the best rookie in the 2011 PBA Draft, but he is the best fit for this once soul-less team. Jeffrei Chan continues to become one of the league's deadliest snipers while JayR Quinahan and Beau Belga are bound to become top-tier power forwards in the PBA (had they been taller, they'd be beastly as centers subbing for the other).

As for Gabe Norwood, well, he's like the poor man's Lamar Odom. He puts up the numbers, but not when they count. For all the talent that he has, he shies from pressure situation and settles for the easy way out.

There's no point in going around with this, Yeng Guiao was pretty much out oached the entire series except Game 6 when RoS buckled down to work and finally slowed the game down.

Can the Tigers continue their magical run and bag the Philippine Cup title?

We'll touch on that later.