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.

2014 FIBA World On Our Minds

Should Gilas Pilipinas send all 12 to Spain?
(Photo courtesy of PBA InterAKTV)

We know, we know.

It's too early to be posting about Gilas Pilipinas, its 2014 FIBA World campaign, and wether we should change the line-up or not. We also understand that the 12 players who gutted it out through this year's FIBA Asia en route to a silver medal finish are more than deserving to be sent to Spain. That any or all talks about any player from Asia's finest Jayson Castro to little-used big man Junmar Fajardo are to be on the positive slant given their now "revered" status.

But don't bet on foreigners to egg Gary David through another one of his now infamous shooting slumps. Or that Gilas can afford and withstand another mid-game scoring drought against NBA to EuroBasket-level competition.

Gilas Pilipinas needs tweaking. But not as much as some would think. They don't need an overhaul of talent, they just need some upgrades here and there when it comes to personnel. Here's a shortlist of players we feel can help the Gilas cause at the Worlds and who we're "okay" with taking out of the current line-up:

Here comes the BOOM

Locked and loaded.
(Photo courtesy of PBA InterAKTV)

As though mimicking a used FPJ-storyline in which the valiant hero gets his ass-handed to him early by the bigger, moustached-wearing baddie before finally serving up an ass-whopping of his own, Gary David has finally come through for Gilas Pilipinas in the ongoing FIBA Asia tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

It took a lot of missed shots and gimmes, constant cheering from the Arena crowd never before heard of not since the days of the legendary Sonny Jaworski, Sr. and most of all- patience for David to finally lay claim as the team's chief gunner on the floor. Making up for lost time, David was in a clear rhythm right off the bat (22 points, 4/6 on 3s) , knocking down contested and uncontested threes, driving to the rim and just having this air of confidence in him that was missing the last few days.

Gilas is No Iran

Someone finally caught up with The Blur
(photo courtesy of Interaksyon.com)

With the FIBA Asia Group E top seed already secured (thanks to manna from heaven a.k.a. Qatar winning over Chinese Taipei, 71-68), Gilas Pilipinas only had to play up to its standards to dispose of an outmatched Hong Kong team that is already on its way out of the tournament.

Only it didn't.

True, Gilas still won 67-55, but not in the manner that everyone thought, hell, KNEW, they would. Here's a team (HK) that's being constantly blown out by their opponents since the start of the tournament. Now, we see them hauling down rebounds (Duncan Reid with 12 points and a game best 19 rebounds) and knocking uncontested three pointers to take early leads. To say that it was mind-boggling would be an understatement.

Gilas puts Jarvis Hayes, Qatar on Lockdown

Photo courtesy of Philip Sison

So much for Qatar's undefeated FIBA Asia campaign.

Gilas Pilipinas brought the Qataris back to earth with a dominant performance of their own, leading the entire night and just putting on the pressure. Be it points coming from Marcus Douthit, long bombs c/o Jeffrei Chan, Gary David finally deciding to join the fun or Japeth Aguilar turning the game into his personal resource for a future YouTube mix tape, Gilas was not going to be denied.

We needed the win because we can't allow the Group E leaders, Qatar and Japan, to break away. We needed the win to continue to validate the whole Gilas basketball program and show its worth versus top tier competition. We needed the win because hey, this is the Philippines and basketball games mean as much to us as life itself.

Gilas Pilipinas: Instant offense

Photo courtesy of Interkasyon.com

Make no mistake about it, come the FIBA Asia tournament this August, Gilas Pilipinas' Gary David will be ready to drop buckets or die trying.

There is no way to go about it really, David is a scorer by trade. He puts the "shooting" in "shooting guard." He is cut from the same cloth as the likes of Vergel Meneses, Nelson Asaytono, Mark Caguioa and lately of upstarts Jericho Cruz, Kevin Alas and Terrence Romeo.

Belga knows basketball

Enforcer ba kamo? Watch the "sipit."

Minsan lang tayo mag-Filipino sa blog na ito na alay natin sa ating mga kababayan. Hindi dahil sa galing tayong elitistang iskwelahan na hindi marunong bumigkas ng "R," kundi para maipabot natin sa ibang lahi ung galing at husay ng Pilipinas basketball.

Hindi namin lubos na maisalaysay yung kagalakan namin nung napabalitang isasama sa Gilas Pilipinas tune-up si Rain or Shine 6"6 big man Beau Belga. Matagal na namin itong kinakampanya. Marami nagsasabing barubal at marumi maglaro si Belga, madalas ung mga fangirls/gays na ang mga iniidolo kasi ang tinatamaan ng mala-Brazo de Mercedez BENZ ni Belga.

Pero lingid sa kanilang kaalaman, si Belga ay marunong maglaro ng basketball. Sabi nila, ito daw ang pinakamalaking line-up ng Gilas. Siguro nga. Pero kung sina Japeth Aguilar at Greg Slaughter lang din, aanhin mo ang height kung kulang pa sa diskarte (lalo na kung ung isa e allergic sa poste)?

Another day, another L for Batang Pier

Tough luck for Sol
and his "Most Improved" campaign

When was the last time the pre-Commissioner's Cup favourites GlobalPort Batang Pier won a game?

That was on February 15, a masterful 89-80 victory over the then still clueless Barangay Ginebra San Miguel led by an even more clueless Herbert Hill. After that, the Batang Pier would go on one of the ugliest, nay, horrendous losing streaks in all of Philippine basketball by dropping all 11 of their next assignments mostly in blowout fashion.

Weren't they supposed to be the dark horses? Actually, with the souped-up line-up featuring Gary David, 2x PBA MVP Willie Miller, Japeth Aguilar and Sol Mercado plus promising rookies Jason Deutchman and AJ Mandani and a solid bench-- they were more than just dark horses. Hell, they were playoff picks by just about every one who knows their basketball.

Time to break up the MMDA (?)

Hi, I'm Jason Deutchman.
I averaged 6 points and 5 rebounds
in only 20 minutes last conference.

Nine games into the GlobalPort Batang Pier’s PBA Commissioner Cup campaign and we’ve pretty much figured that this team won’t make a run at the next round—not with an abysmal, cellar-dwelling 2-7 win-loss record.

Granted, the team underwent an almost drastic reinvention mid-season, bringing in lead point guard Sol Mercado and athletic beanpole Japeth Aguilar. Though they won their first game and looked mighty impressive on offense thanks to their knack for spectacular, showtime-esque plays, it’s on the defensive end where this team finds itself lacking.

GlobalPort losing steam

I have an idea, let's do away
with the only guy who plays defense
and get a scoring import - JB

For what it's worth, the GlobalPort Batang Pier had to do something to address their current slide. Despite having the most electrifying starting unit in the whole PBA, the scoring bunches, flashy dunks and killer crossovers weren't translating into thus the recent exodus of defensive-minded import Justin Williams.

Williams was reportedly pulled out by his local handlers after hearing how GlobalPort head coach Junel Baculi was not too pleased with the 6"10 Chicago native's offensive output. We would like to remind everyone though who shares Baculi's view that William has and was always a defensive stopper-- and arguably the most logical choice to backstop a team that already features scorers Gary David, Sol Mercado, Willie Miller and even Japeth Aguilar. We're not too sure that those guys would be too happy  (or effective) had they been given a ball-hogging scorer down on the block or even an import such as Air21's Michael Dunigan who is just a beast and arguably the best among all the imports we've seen thus far.

Live by the three, die by the three

Mandani's D makes him better suited
to play alongside David, Mercado

For a minute there, the Global Port Batang Pier appeared to be poised to run roughshod over the competition this PBA Commissioner's Cup.

Ace player Gary David is back to his deadly, gun-slinging ways from deep, rookie AJ Mandani continues to impress and prove to be the steal of this year's PBA draft and new recruits Japeth Aguilar and Sol Mercado are fitting in seamlessly with the latter further solidifying his claim to Most Improved Player of the Year (if they win a title or two this year, Mercado's our vote to cop the Most VALUABLE Player title- real talk). Then there's solid import Justin Williams who has a tremendous work ethic let alone a mean defensive streak dow low (averaging 5 blocks a game) plus grizzled coach Junel Baculi throwing in some of that Pinoy old school macho swag we love and tip our hats to-- yep, the Batang Pier are as solid as they come.

So why the 2-3 start?

Good but not great

So Japeth Aguilar is back in Philippine shores after all the unnecessary and unwarranted off-court drama. In three games so far with the Global Port Batang Pier, the 6"9 athlete is averaging an eye-popping 15 points and 9 rebounds a game to go with 2 blocks in 36 minutes played.

This, despite playing in an import-laden conference featuring some of the world's biggest (literally) athletes who share the same position let alone having a dominant one sharing frontline duties in Justin Williams (who is clearly the barometer for all bruiser-type imports today).

After such a sterling performance, and a Gilas Pilipinas 17-man pool spot, you could very well ask the question "where the haters at?"

Still here folks, still here.

Coach Chot Names Gilas 17

REPRESENT JD and Gabe!

Brace yourselves Gilas Pilipinas fans, head coach Chot Reyes has come out with a 17-man pool for the coming FIBA Asia 2013 World Qualifiers. At first look, we’re loving how the core of the 2012 Jones Cup team was brought back together with a bunch of Coach Chot’s system Talk ‘n’ Text players.

This allows continuity and fluidity of Gilas’ preferred “Dribble Drive Motion Offense” as most of the perimeter players already know the nooks and crannies of it. Tenorio did a masterful job the last time out, able to pick his spots outside and get to just about anywhere he pleases inside.

We dream of Gilas Pilipinas

Best two-way player in the PBA
the last 3 years needs to be
on Gilas Pilipinas

A few days ago PBA Commissioner Chito Salud made it clear that the league is throwing its all-out support to the men's basketball program. With that, Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes pretty much has a free hand on building the best team possible in time for the FIBA Asia tournament to be held in Manila this August.

The obvious concession in exchange of getting the right players is of course the "dropping" of the SMART sponsorship from the team name (which shouldn't even be an issue since they are the ones who are bankrolling the damn thing just like San Miguel does for Spain and Visa does for Argentina). Now that that issue has been addressed, we should all focus on the task at hand.

What's up Boss Mikee?

Hey Coach Glen, let the kids play!

The PBA's leading scorer the last two-three seasons, Gary David, is finally back for the GlobalPort Batang Pier following a bunch of missed games due to nagging injuries. Though David came up with another brilliant scoring display last Friday versus the struggling Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, it wasn't enough to give the Batang Pier their 2nd win in 9 games.

Expect David to burn the twine yet again alongside 2x PBA MVP Willie Miller and the 2012 PBA Draft "steal"Jason Deutchman-- these three guys can all bury the shot from deep all day when given the go signal. But that's not where we're going with in tonight's entry. We'd like to focus more on the wishy-washy handling of the rotation and the players that are starting to get more minutes on the floor.

New blood for Batang Pier

Loving the hustle of Mandani and co.

Finally. Though PBA neophytes GlobalPort Batang Pier are currently languishing at the bottom of the Philippine Cup standings with a 1-4 record, there's a lot of excitement in the air for Coach Glen Capacio et.al. because of the youth and excitement they're bringing into the games as of late.

At the forefront is old reliable, 2x PBA Most Valuable Player Willie Miller defying father time and even making up for the absence of last year's MVP bride's maid Gary David. Though it took a game or two for Coach Glen to figure it out, it was pretty obvious that Miller as a team player is a better fit for the Batang Pier squad rather than mainstay and team owner Mikee Romero's so-called "franchise player" David simply because he does more (when he's motivated and not running on dead legs).

Tip of the iceberg for Ginebra

Showtime L.A.

The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Gin Kings are going to run the competition to the ground.

If tonight's 110-90 massacre of the GlobalPort Batang Pier is to serve as a preview of things to come, then the good Lord almighty have mercy on the souls of whichever team dares face the souped up Kings with reigning Most Valuable Player Mark Caguioa and National team ace point guard L.A. Tenorio leading the charge.

It's bad enough that Caguioa seems like he's in for another solid run after dealing with nagging injuries the previous years, but now teams have to contend with Tenorio-- arguably the most cerebral and efficient court general (not a fan of GIN-eral but okay, whatever), running the show and making life easier for his guys. With the Kings, outside of Caguioa and sophomore guard Allein Maliksi, there are no legit scorers/ creators one-on-one. What the team has in droves however, are a bunch of guys who are highly athletic and skilled enough to finish at the rim. (Kerby Raymundo used to be a solid one-on-one guy, but we're still waiting for him to come back at full strength.)

Unimaginative offense dooms GlobalPort in debut

Kamay ko inalat!

Jason Webb touched on it during the half time break by saying that the GlobalPort Batang Pier, who were in the middle of an ass-whooping from the hands of the souped-up Barangay Ginebra San Miguel squad, have yet to find their identity on the basketball court.

Are they a run-and-gun, fastbreaking, uptempo scoring team or a grind-it-out defensive team?

Well he got 50% of it right. With guys like Gary David, Rabeh Al Hussaini and new recruit Willie Miller, the Batang Pier squad SHOULD be a high-octane team that can hold their own against a team like Ginebra. David's coming off a stellar,nay, supernova-like season. Al Hussaini's finally gotten his chance to shine as the lead power forward, and Miller looks to be in the best shape he's ever been in the last three years.

Ilang tulog na lang...

Kahit si Doug Kramer may Tiu-fever

The Philippine Basketball Association is all set to open shop this coming Sunday with souped-up crowd-darlings Barangay Ginebra San Miguel versus the retooled GlobalPort Batang Pier serving as the Philippine Cup's official opening combatants.

We should expect a slam bang affair, nothing short of a bonafide shootout with reigning PBA Most Valuable Player Mark Caguioa, former MVP Jayjay Helterbrand and the bevy of athletic wings they brought in going up against an odd yet exciting pair of high-scoring Gary David and another former MVP Willie Miller.

Here's KKS' top storyline picks for each team.

FIBA Asia: Rack 'em up

Tenorio's brilliant dribbling forays
sets the tone early for Pilipinas

With this evening's win over defending champions Lebanon, Team Pilipinas should make the crossover round with expected (with all due respect of course) victories over Uzbekistan and Macau (countries that are still developing their basketball programs). Not to say that our guys should go on auto-pilot or even field in their little used players, but we should take advantage of whatever rest we could afford our   top guns.

Marcus Douthit redeemed himself from yesterday's frustrating episode versus the young Chinese giants with a sterling 25 points, 21 rebounds effort despite early foul trouble (this is starting to become a trend now, one we simply cannot afford against elite teams). The locals chipped in big time, taking turns dismantling the disorganized Lebanese defense.

If there's anything to really nitpick on then it is our continued struggles from the outside. Gary David, Jeffrei Chan and Larry Fonacier have yet to burn the hoops with back-to-back triples, Gabe Norwood has gone back to his old, hesitant self and Ranidel de Ocampo is on the Gary David system-- just settling and jacking up (and missing) threes when he's outside the painted area.