Small moves, new beginnings

Still waiting for Jervy to live up
to his Baby Patrimonio potential
(Photo credit to the owner)

Finally, a couple of PBA off-season deals that we could write about!

Who would've thought that it would be the GlobalPort Batang Pier squad of Boss Mikee Romero doing all the wheeling and dealing off/ pre-season? And no, it's not to serve at any of the two giant corporation's pleasure even but to actually try and continue building a legitimate darkhorse contender for the coming season.

There are rumors however that this is only the beginning, and that more trades will follow suit. No worries, the more trades and transactions there are going into next week's 2015 PBA Draft, the more copies we can write, rave and rant about!

Tuloy ang ligaya kahit off-season!

Jervy Cruz to GlobalPort, Jewel Ponferada + 2015 PBA Draft 2nd round pick to Rain or Shine

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?

PBA GC QF: (4) GlobalPort vs (5) STAR Hotshots

Pambansang Ex-Husband
kontra Pambansang Ex-Boyfriend.
Allegedly. Hihi.
(Photo credits to Sports5.ph)

"To be the man, you have to beat the man."

Call it a "rite of passage" for Terrence Romeo, Stanley Pringle and the rest of the "young" GlobalPort Batang Pier squad who are making their first trip into the PBA Playoffs. Standing in the way? The defending champions STAR Hotshots who started the conference (and basically the entire season) jet-lagged from their Grand Slam high from last year.

Lately? We've been seeing Marc Pingris once again pulling his shorts up and crouching low. We're seeing James Yap making clutch plays over the toughest of defenses. Marqus Blakely is back to being Black Sakuragi (which is somewhat racist, when you think about it) though in a more toned down manner.

Romeo has been frothing at the mouth for an opportunity to play at this level of basketball. He's a high stakes player, built for superstar-making games. There are only two teams that you need to be at your best to become a household name in the PBA: Ginebra, and STAR (Purefoods).

It's the Golden Ticket to the PBA's Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory of Superstardom.

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.

Seven foot syndrome

Land of the Giants
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

There used to be a period in the Philippine Basketball Association wherein foreign reinforcements were hired mostly for their high-flying, prolific scoring and ultraelectromagnetic athleticism ways.

Nowadays?

We are seeing less and less of the pure "scorers" and more of the seven foot kind-- a testament to how far local basketball talent has come, and where we are currently left lacking.

Sure, there are 6"5 imports running around the league nowadays who are more do-it-all than gunslingers, but all eyes will always be given to the 7"0 specimens-- be it from the fans, media and even (and more importantly) opposing PBA teams.

There's a new kid in town

Kia's L.A.
(Photo courtesy of Sports5.ph)

Much like how the Clippers have managed to steal some of the Lakers' thunder in Los Angeles, there is a PBA point guard who is slowly turning heads and opening eyes with his heady yet exciting brand of basketball by the name of L.A...

... Revilla, not Tenorio.

Now on his second year of professional basketball after playing only three (!) games last season with GlobalPort Batang Pier, Revilla is quickly making believers out of those who would bother to watch Kia Carnival games as its starting floor general. This year, Revilla is averaging 27 mpg, 9 ppg, 4 rpg and 4 apg which will surely increase if his current run in the ongoing PBA Governor's Cup continues. In the league's season-ending tourney, Revilla is putting up 34 mpg, 13 ppg, 5 rpg and 5 apg taking over a team that's being "coached" by Manny Pacquiao (Chito Victolero needs/ deserves a pay raise IMHO).

Trade Rumors

Nice Photoshop skills. But trade still in limbo
(Photo credits to the owner)

While we await the final decision/ approval of the PBA Commissioner's Office, let's take a seat and digest the possible transactions that have already seen the light of Internet day (which, in reality, sounds more like gossip than news but hey, whatever sells right?).

First up is the blockbuster deal that would involve sister teams Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and San Miguel, and conduit Barako Bull Energy Cola. In this trade, Ginebra will get the services of Marcio Lassiter, San Miguel gets JC Intal and Barako lands Mac Baracael.

Sure, it involves sister and farm teams but when was the last time we had a trade of almost equal value in the PBA?

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?

Trade Reaction: T.M.B.T.M.

The Prototype returns
(Photo credits to the owner)

Too many bigs to mention.

In an unforeseen and yet unsurprising summer trade that is about as crazy as #LaBoracay when you consider how ho-hum player transactions have been the last few years (no thanks to farm teams), Ginebra, Global Port, San Miguel and Barako Bull engaged in a six-player deal that basically rotated the teams' back-up big men.

We're calling it "crazy," if only because it gave us something to talk about on social media and grants our wish to "free" some of the players involved. "Crazy," because the trade practically unmasked the whole FARM TEAM concept out for even the most nitwit-test of nitwits.

Sinong hindi farm team?

Natural Born Killer

He shoots, he scores.
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

The last of a seemingly dying-breed in this day and age of social media marks and "experts," GlobalPort Batang Pier's resident star Terrence Bill Romeo continues to shine for his team this PBA Commissioner's Cup with one sterling performance after another.

It's hard to be a natural born killer, scorer, like Romeo nowadays since if ever a basketball player would score 30 points in a hotly-contested game, marks would look at the other numbers-- how many shots did he take, how many misses, the number of assists he issued and what not (specially if his team is on the losing end). This scenario has caused a lot of superstars, here and abroad, to change their game to try and please the masses. Some specialists are even left off teams simply because they're dismissed as one-trick ponies who are of no good to anyone when unable to score or do a certain task that they're known for.

Romeo continues to open the gates to superstardom when the "experts" leave him off the discussion because "he's too ___" or "he doesn't do ____."

The Right Fit

The real deal. Sorry Ms. Sheryl!
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

It's that time of the PBA season once again wherein teams try their very best to remain (or be) competitive by adding a foreign reinforcement. The trouble with this set-up is that it's a hit-or-miss affair, since you're never truly guaranteed of having the right chemistry or wins, not until the import comes over and actually plays a few games with the team.

There are those who have solid credentials but never really lived up to the hype, some who were able to deliver, and other unknowns and sleepers (Terquin Mott, Devin Davis and Damien Owens from an era ago, Diamon Simpson, AZ Reid, Marqus Blakely) who pretty much take their teams to the promise land and even come back several times to help their team keep that winning tradition. Sometimes, it's not all about the credentials. Sometimes, you just have to take a leap of faith when it comes to adding an import. But it would be absurd for a team to throw team chemistry and addressing certain needs out the window if only to get a name. Right?

Well, some times.

Here's our take on the PBA imports that we've seen so far:

Two can play at that game

Just the other day it was announced that long-time Team MVP affiliate/ Gilas Pilipinas reinforcement Marcus Douthit was going to suit up for Blackwater Elite in lieu of the injured Chris Charles in the newly-opened PBA Commissioner's Cup.

How easy it was to acquire Douthit's services, who has gone on media to openly admit that he's not in game shape, is not the issue here. It's the team he plays for, and the uniforms that they've suddenly gone on to wear this conference that's a bit bothersome.

You may call us out for counting our chickens before they hatch here, but those blue and yellow colors do not exactly fit the "BLACKWater Elite" mold now does it? They wore black, white and red last conference, much like their product colors, so where on earth did this yellow and blue print come from?

Did Team MVP finally do it?

PBA KO Phase Predictions: SMB Bracket

Here's the thing, you scrap and claw your way in knockout games versus quality teams... only to win the chance to face a well-rested (and by then Alex Cabagnot incorporated), top seeded San Miguel Beermen squad.

Sucks.

Well, if you were one of the four teams under the SMB bracket, you'll take your chances considering the opposition. The Texters are the only solid team here, with Ginebra still in a funk and learning the Triangle on the fly and both farm teams Barako Bull and Global Port (oh hush now) well, ready to just roll over and die at the whim of some higher power.

4 Talk'n'Text Tropang Texters vs 9 Barako Bull Energy Cola

Life after Romeo
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

With all due respect to some of our favorite PBA players: Denok Miranda, Dorian Pena and RR Garcia, the Energy do not stand a chance on God's green earth against a recommitted Texters camp that is looking to continue on adding to its championship legacy.

For the Texters to win, they just need to play solid Texters basketball (which is like asking for the sun to come out each and every day so yeah, sucks for the Energy) and not fall into the trap of playing down to the opposition. They'll be able to let their aging core catch a breather with this one, but only after a defiant stand by the Energy's veterans who are sure as hell going to try to go out with a loud bang. We hope to see more of rookies Matt Rosser and Kevin Alas, to gauge where they are at this point in their young careers and for coach Jong Uichico to see if they can be called upon to contribute more minutes as the team goes deeper into the PBA Philippine Cup.

Crunchman for Sol Train: Fair or not?

"You reach, I teach son"
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Just in case you thought that competition is lost among the PBA ballclubs owing to all the "feel good" camaraderie that was shared just a few weeks back owing to the Gilas' program's success, here comes the PBA Philippine Cup Quarterfinals and the realization that the PBA is still a "dog eat dog world."

How else could you explain the PBA teams', some of which are comfortably seated atop the standings, frantically looking to plug some roster holes and address their personnel issues through trades and free agency? Purefoods went looking for a serviceable big man and found one in Mick Pennisi, San Miguel wanted to add a young point guard and got Jeric Fortuna and just this morning, San Miguel went and traded Sol Mercado for old hand Alex Cabagnot of GlobalPort in a shocking, devil-may-care deadline deal.

Here's what we think of the whole deal between San Miguel and GlobalPort and why we feel that it is a rather unnecessary trade for both parties:

2014 PBA Draft 1st Round Rookie Report Card (Part 2)

Born Ready: Kevin Alas
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

On part 2 of our Rookie Report Card, we take a closer look at the Top 5 picks of the 2014 PBA Draft, where they are and where they want/ need to be. Is the race for this season's PBA Rookie of the Year really over? Or are we being led astray because of the discrepancy in minutes per game, the number of touches and other factors?

All statistics gathered from pba-online.net, because pba.inquirer.net doesn't carry the full stats (only the leaders) which is depressing really in this day and age. (Come on guys, you have ONE job.)

5. Chris Banchero, PG, Alaska - B+
18.44mpg 6.11ppg 2.89rpg 1.89apg
Banchero is slowly coming into his own as a PBA player and could arguably be the best, traditional point guard of the whole 2014 PBA Draft class. His size allows for the Aces to play him at SG (even SF) at times with the more offensively-gifted yet forced to share the wealth JVee Casio. Defensively, Banchero has shown tendencies of being a hard-nosed runt despite his White Collar Neil Caffrey, 50 Shades of Grey worthy looks which has obviously won the hearts of his more blue collar teammates Calvin Abueva et. al. At the moment, Banchero's mature game and court vision reminds me a lot of the Lakers era Derek Fisher, maybe minus the lefty three point bombing.

2014 PBA Draft 1st Round Rookie Report Card (Part 1)

And your 2014 PBA Rookie of the Year is...
(Photo courtesy of Sports 5)

With the PBA Philippine Cup elimination round near its end (and some teams already, clearly, out of contention) Kilikilishot.blogspot.com pays the 1st round picks of the 2014 PBA Draft a nice visit stats-wise to see how well they're doing so far. While some people are already proclaiming number one pick Stanley Pringle of the GlobalPort Batang Pier as the runaway winner for the prestigious PBA Rookie of the Year, we feel that he still has some legitimate competition in what is proving to be a rather deep and serviceable first round.

But before we proceed, we cannot help but give a special shout out to BlackWater Elite's Brian Heruela, formerly known as the DLSU Mike Cortez to the reigning PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo's Don Allado over at the University of Cebu. Picked in the 3rd round (!), Heruela has fought for his spot on the Elite's rotation and is now averaging a sweet 25.50mpg 9.25ppg 4.75rpg 5apg which is pretty solid for an unheralded rookie point guard. We're calling it right now, he's our sleeper pick to be either a breakout star for the Elite OR traded to whichever money franchise is looking for a backup point guard.

Now on to the first round picks:

12. Juami Tiongson, PG, Blackwater - C
12.22mpg 4.11ppg 1.33rpg 0.78apg
Here's an honest question: if Tiongson didn't play for Ateneo in the UAAP and won all those titles, would you pick him 12th overall when there's still talent like Rome dela Rosa, Harold Arboleda and even teammate and above mentioned Heruela around? We're not hating on Tiongson (what's there to hate? Dude seems like a stand-up guy), but there's a reason why he went from playing 19 minutes his first game, and 5 his last (against Talk'n'Text). He's not the same firebrand of a scorer as peer Eman Monfort, he's not a specialist on the defensive end either. He's solid, but there are a lot of areas that he can improve on if he is to have a meaningful PBA career.

Trial and error

What now for "consultant" Pido?
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

When Pido Jarencio made the leap back into the PBA, this time as head coach, it was met with a lot of positivity and with an "it's about damn time" hoopla. After all, he pretty much rebuilt the UST Growling Tigers men's basketball program and was able to turn it into the UAAP's Ginebra to counter the DLSU and ADMU (Purefoods and San Miguel-like stature) programs.

Unfortunately, he found himself in the wrong situation and maybe with the wrong franchise.

Jarencio was handed the keys to an up-and-coming GlobalPort Batang Pier squad with a passionate, win-now owner in Mikee Romero. However, he was unable to get the right kind of players that would fit his, uptempo, old school system (we're giving him the benefit of the doubt here, thinking that Jarencio would want to run his UST sets with the Batang Pier).

But could you really blame Jarencio for "failing?"

The Real Deal Redux

Not yet Stan the Man, but def the Real Deal
Photo courtesy of Sports5

"One game doesn't make a PBA career."

It does, however, offer a glimpse of things to come should every thing turn out the way it's meant to be (barring any injuries, on and or off court issues, etc). This is basically what Boss Mikee Romero and the entire Global Port Batang Pier team and fanbase are hoping for after their prized 2014 PBA Draft 1st overall pick Stanley Pringle delivered last Sunday though in a 96-101 losing effort to the NLEX Road Warriors.
Playing an absurd 40 minutes, Pringle managed a respectable 14 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 3 turnovers and 4 fouls while being asked to keep his two trigger happy backcourt buddies Alex Cabagnot and sophomore star Terrence Romeo.

2014 PBA Rookie Draft - 1st Round Reactions

Easy, ladies. Easy.
Photo courtesy of Philippine Star SUPREME

It's been a few days now since the 2014 PBA Rookie Draft and while just about every other sports writer has offered his two cents' worth of "grading PBA teams" in general, we'd like to take a different route and chip in a few words on the players.

Here we try to discuss the players selected in the 1st round, their possible strengths and weaknesses (based on what we've seen of them and some online statistics) and where they fit in their newfound PBA teams.

And just for kicks, we'll also throw in some grades to the PBA teams: A, B, C or D with A being the best/ wise decision and D the WTF?!? grade.

12. Blackwater Elite - Juami Tiongson, PG
With their rumored original pick Jericho Cruz going early, the Elite went for a projected starting point guard and possible "face" in the Atenean. While there were other, more potent players left in the pool, Tiongson is considered as a proven commodity in most circles owing to his championship pedigree which doesn't come easy. Skills wise, Tiongson has room to improve specially with his outside shooting which is a must for under-sized PBA guards. How he fares against the league's bigger, explosive guards is going to be an issue on defense though. A possible Tiongson-Alex Nuyles would be fun to watch, with the team's "backcourt tandem of the future" being quite easy on the eyes for the ladies as well.

Player comparison right now: No stop and pop TY Tang
Grade: B, a safe pick for the Elite

And the number 1 pick in the 2014 PBA Draft goes to...

Two balls. One well covered box. A dutiful PBA Commissioner who doesn't seem to understand the concept of showmanship.

How appalling.

Where's the drama? Where's the "ït" factor? The surprise?

As you may know, prior to the PBA Governor's Cup Finals Game 1 between the grand slam-seeking San Mig Coffee Mixers and defiant Rain or Shine Elastopainters, there was a "draw" held to choose which among the Elastopainters (via Meralco) and GlobalPort Batang Pier will get to pick first in the next PBA Draft. Now, in the NBA, they do this via lottery. With a lot of balls, and a couple of teams in the running.