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.

Trade reaction: Joseph Yeo to Meralco

The Ninja
(Photo credit: pba-online.net)

Don't you just love a busy off-season?

The Meralco Bolts have reportedly acquired the services of shooting guard Joseph Yeo in exchange for Rey Guevarra in what is definitely a steal of a trade. Yeo, despite being "called out" by GP team owner Mikee Romero, still managed to average 24mpg 9ppg 3rpg 3apg last season while Guevarra, 6mpg 2ppg 1rpg, has been in Coach Norman Black's doghouse and with good reason.

What is the reason you ask?

Real talk: Guevarra is just not that good a PBA playe; and is definitely not on the same footing as Yeo.

KKS Trade Reaction: Cortez to GlobalPort

Back in green... NEON green, that is.
(Photo credit: Aktv)

GlobalPort Batang Pier recently acquired the services of veteran point guard Mike Cortez from the Blackwater Elite for Ronald Pascual in what has mostly been an under-the-radar sort of trade.

Under-the-radar, since there was little to no fanfare surrounding the deal involving an oft-injured 35-year-old and the little-used sophomore. Though this could very well be a "low risk, high reward" type of deal should things go as planned for both teams.

Why, you ask?

On the wings of love

Trade looming?
(Photo credit to Rappler.com)

With the recent acquisition of Barako Bull Energy Cola by newcomers Phoenix Petroleum, we cannot help but feel the budding romance in the air.

Romance, in the sense that the next two conferences (and or more) will probably be a Team San Miguel Corporation lovefest by way of most of the guys on the Phoenix roster being sent “back” to the one they truly love be it San Miguel, Ginebra or Star. This in turn will corroborate and confirm everyone’s hunch that yes, Barako served as a true farm team and that most of its players were simply out on loan (remember Joseph Yeo’s “Gentleman’s Agreement?”).  Bye-bye Barako farm team, the players get to be sent to winning franchises and we are finally (hopefully) rid of lopsided trades from here on out.

Unfortunately, not everyone will enjoy a happy-ending, or we don’t see ALL of the guys from Barako going back.

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. 

On the offensive

Your team or mine?
(Photo credit to the owner)

How many players does it take to score a basket?

This is going to be Coach Pido Jarencio's biggest challenge as he leads a retooled Global Port Batang Pier squad that does not only feature elite scorer Terrence Romeo and the promising Stanley Pringle, but also veteran assassin-by-trade Joseph Yeo, trigger happy point man Jonathan Uyloan and rookie Roi "I'm not a basketball diva" Sumang. 

Granted, the Batang Pier squad enjoyed some success when they played a three guard unit with Asian import Omar Krayem-- but that was more to Krayem's versatility and efficiency than Coach Pido's Xs and Os. Krayem pretty much covered for Pringle and Romeo, sliding comfortably at the small forward spot.

Yeo? We are not too sure he can play defense like Krayem. We don't think he will have any troubles deferring to the younger guys on offense (having played with Mac Cardona early in his career), but it's on defense where this Romeo-Pringle-Yeo troika might fail. Remember, Batang Pier had Krayem AND Denok Miranda last conference to "save" Romeo and Pringle.

Eat. Sleep. Trade. Repeat.

Is it wrong to call Intal...
The Franchise? Tagal ma trade e.
(Photo credit: Sports5.ph)

My name is Angel Velasco, and I am the advocate for the bastard incarnates, Barako Bull Energy Cola. Our mantra is Eat. Sleep. Trade. Repeat.

Denok Miranda? Eat. Sleep. Trade. Repeat.

Sol Mercado? Eat. Sleep. Trade. Repeat.

Dave Marcelo? Eat. Sleep. Trade. Repeat.

Joseph Yeo? Eat. Sleep. Trade. Repeat.

Eat. Sleep. Trade. Repeat.

EAT.

SLEEP.

TRADE.

REPEAT.

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: (3) Rain or Shine vs (6) Barako Bull

Belga ain't got no time for that
(Photo credit to Sports5.ph)

So much for the JC Intal two-week love-fest.

Since Intal, Dylan Ababou and later Joseph Yeo all took turns winning the PBA Governor's Cup Best Player of the Week award, Barako Bull Energy has stagnated somewhat losing most of their last games which cost them the twice to beat incentive. For some inexplicable reason, a team that looked like it had the league's best defense anchored by the most dominant presence in the PBA today (Liam McMorrow) complimented by young and hungry talent, basically fizzled out and lost sight of the big picture (making the Playoff; winning a title).

Yeo has slowed down. Intal has disappeared. Ababou is back to playing spot minutes.

Yep, same old Barako Bull.

Which doesn't bode well going up against a now in-tune Rain or Shine Elastopainters that has finally learned to play with a legitimate post-up threat in import Wendell McKines.

Step up to the plate

Under-rated Coach Koy
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Call this the ex-Barangay Ginebra, now Barako Bull revenge tour.

How else would you call it after a former Ginebra reserve turned Barako star has been cited as the PBA Governor Cup's Player of the Week for the third straight time? JC Intal was the first, Dylan Ababou next and now, Joseph Yeo (who was probably, the one guy that Ginebra fans didn't want to see go after his sterling first two conferences with the team)

Koy Banal has done a masterful job coaching this team to a clean 4-0 record, making full use of their prized import Liam McMorrow (38 mpg, 25 ppg, 22 rpg) )who is basically a faster version of what PJ Ramos was to Kia in the PBA Commissioner's Cup. For the most part, Intal (29 mpg, 15 ppg, 7 rpg, 3 apg) has been pretty solid before all the trade rumors started popping up while Joseph Yeo (29 mpg, 13 ppg, 3 rpg, 4 apg) is slowly starting to feel comfy back in a "designated scorer" role that he used to have almost exclusively with DLSU and as an off-the-bench weapon with Santa Lucia (the Petron/ San Miguel years were rough, and we only have 2 conferences to enjoy with Ginebra). Ababou (18 mpg, 10 ppg, 2 rpg) on the other hand is proving all of his doubters wrong and is just being the most efficient player on the floor at all times regardless of who is up against (only Chris Tiu and Larry Fonacier, IMHO, play as smart or smarter given the same "limited" athleticism).

Trade Reaction: Sol Train to Ginebra

Palit jerseys.
(Photo credits to the owner)

Call it a "new lease on life."

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel has chosen to send spitfire shooting guard Joseph "The Ninja" Yeo to sister team Barako Bull in exchange for point guard Sol "Sol Train" Mercado, in a deal that benefits both squads instead of the usual "highway robbery/ blatant PBA fan trolling" that we have grown accustomed to whenever the Bert Lina franchise is involved.

Since Ginebra is the more popular of the two teams, let us discuss what adding Mercado to the mix means to the franchise moving forward, before we get to Barako Bull.

First and foremost, we cannot help but be delighted for Mercado who has received some unfair treatment and criticism the last few conferences. Basically, Mercado went from being "white hot" with Rain or Shine and Meralco, only to lose his way bouncing around with GlobalPort (wherein he tried to play nice and do the whole "mentor" thing), Petron/ San Miguel Beer (where he pretty much "bought in" to "fit in" which they turned out not to like) and finally with Barako Bull (which you could say is his "That Thing Called Tadhana" soul-searching phase because he was asked to go back to his Sol Train ways after flirting with being a full-time role player).

So what is next for the Sol Train?

Lassiter to Ginebra?

Super Marcio
(Photo credits to the owner)

In this report by Snow Badua as seen on Spin.ph, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel's newly installed head coach Frankie Lim is exploring the possibility of adding sister team San Miguel Beer's Marcio Lassiter into the roster.

And you know what? It would make perfect sense.

Lassiter has been very inconsistent over at SMB, in a loaded wing rotation that features Chris Lutz, Ronald Tubid, Arwind Santos and even rookie Ronald Pascual. Most of the time he's on the bench nursing an injury, and when he is indeed healthy, he often finds himself getting in and out of rhythm simply because SMB head coach Leo Austria needs to spread the minutes for all the above-mentioned wing guys (so that he doesn't hurt any one's feelings).

Over at Ginebra though?

Resbak ng Barangay

Ang gulo ng barangay ninyo.

Pero hindi namin kayo masisi, maraming turuan, bulungan, palakasan at anjan na din yung "ano ang nagawa mo para sakin/ samin" na pag-iisip. Ngayon, susubok na naman kayo ng bagong liderato na ang paniniwala ay magbabalik sa dating sigla ng barangay. Ilang beses na ba kayo nagpalit ng pinuno sa loob ng isang kampanya? Paanong magkakaroon ng pagbabago at progreso kung halos tatlong buwan pa lang e palit na agad ng sistema?

Mabuhay ka, bagong Ginebra head coach Frankie Lim!

The kids are all right

You either die a hero,
or live long enough to be the villain
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Last night the PBA Commissioner's Cup 8th seed Barangay Ginebra San Miguel was dealt yet another crushing quarterfinals loss, this time by their new-found box office adversaries, Rain or Shine Elastopainters.

We are going to leave the uncertainty of how the endgame played out to the experts (Mike Dunnigan didn't have possession, Jeffrei Chan poked the ball at maybe a millisecond before the shotclock buzzed, was out of bounds, went in to chase after it while every one else was waiting for a whistle that never came, took a step into the court from outside, took another step, retrieved it and went for the easy lay-up), what we'd like to discuss is every thing else that was wrong for Ginebra moving forward.

Like Mark Caguioa and Jayjay Helterbrand, two former PBA MVPs, playing heavy minutes despite their mileage (Caguioa is 35, Helterbrand 38). You say that they were making baskets out there for the team, sure, but so would a Joseph Yeo and L.A. Tenorio had they been given the minutes and touches.

Barangay Schizophrenia

Should they run? Go big?
Or maybe, they should play a little D.
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

"A mental disorder that makes it hard to: Tell the difference between what is real and not real; Think clearly; Have normal emotional responses; Act normally in social situations"

How hard is it to be a member of the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel family? The pressure to deliver, put on a show for fans, please the management and hope not to be traded/ fired after a tumultuous conference-- just how hard is it to be #LahingGinebra?

After letting go of Jeffrey Cariaso and his Triangle Offense, Ginebra openly declared that they will return to the old, "run and gun" system that has made them a household name, loved by thousands (or millions) of kabarangays here and abroad. Expectations were high following this piece of news, since it meant that no longer will established scorers such as former PBA MVP Mark Caguioa, L.A. Tenorio, Joseph Yeo and even a Josh Urbiztondo be shackled and forced to "make the extra pass" or the "correct play" in the half court. It also teased the possibility of breakout conferences for 6"9 Japeth Aguilar and wingman Chris Ellis. Yes, a run and gun system does not fit into prized 7"0 center Greg Slaughter's strengths per se, but what is 1 man, even at 7"0, when you can, theoretically, get production from basically 3/4 of your roster?

Thoughts on The Jet's Firing

The Jet in action
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

After weeks of speculation, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel has finally decided to part ways with Jeffrey Cariaso who was tasked to introduce a new, "winning" culture just April of this year.

The move comes as somewhat of a surprise, considering the fact that almost everyone bought into the idea that the "Triangle Offense" made popular locally by Cariaso's mentor, and Purefoods head coach Tim Cone, takes time to truly show results. Apparently, two conferences and a mediocre 12 wins in 23 games total was all the Ginebra Management could afford to spare for the considerably young head coach.

So what prompted Ginebra Management to pull the plug on the Triangle-preaching Cariaso and return to old hand Ato Agustin?

Chinito

May pagka Rukawa din tong
Chinito ng Ginebra e no? Supladong magaling.
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Kelan nga ba huling nag parada ng kilalang Chinito ang koponan ng Barangay Ginebra San Miguel? Ang naalala ko lang talaga noon, si Wilmer Ong at Benny Cheng. Halos dalawang dekada na ata ang nakalipas, ilang manlalaro na ang nagsuot ng jersey ng Barangay, pero iilan lang ang tumatak sa mga puso at isipan ng madla.

Mapait man ang sinapit na kapalaran ng Barangay, wag sana natin ibaon na lang sa limot na bago pa lang ang sistemang ipinatutupad ng head coach na si Jeffrey Cariaso. Hindi lang bago, kundi komplikado. Hindi ito basta na lang takbo tapos tira. O kaya kasing simple ng basta libre, pasa, tira. Hinde, maraming anik anik ang kinakailangan sa Triangle Offense na kami man ay hindi pa lubos itong naiintindihan. Mga bagong manlalaro, mga bagitong superstar-in-the-making. Pero itong conference na ito, nakita din natin ang isang player na umangat ang laro ng husto.

Si Joseph Yeo, bagong Ginebra player. Swerteng napunta sa Ginebra dahil sa tinatawag na "Gentleman's Agreement." Nag iba ang laro ni Yeo mula ng nabigyan ng puwang maging main man ng Air21 nung nakaraang taon matapos mabaon sa bangko ng San Miguel Beermen (na pinasakit niya sa pagtawag dito na #LarongMayaman.

A fresh start

Captain Hook is back!
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

It's never easy being The Man then having to unlearn everything and play as part of a "big picture" team, only to be asked to be The Man again but not exactly The Man you were, then go back to being part of another rebuilding effort before finally being asked to revisit The Man you used to be because you're the only legitimate option left on the team.

But for NLEX Road Warriors guard Mac Cardona, he probably wouldn't have it any other way.

Sure, Cardona would probably be a lot happier if he had played and stayed with only one team to further his legacy as one of the PBA's best scorers (along with one-time peers/rivals James Yap and Mark Caguioa), but you know how they say that "in life, you simply need to roll with the cards that you've been dealt." Based on the numbers and history, there's no denying that "Captain Hook" is at his very best when he is allowed to play to his strengths instead of to someone else's. A return to his old, nonchalant on-court demeanor after flirting with a "Rated PG, TV-friendly Mark Cardona" version of himself also doesn't seem to hurt either.

Up for sale

Here's a question that the media and those in the know seem to keep skirting around on: which PBA team will Manny V. Pangilinan buy for his NLEX Road Warriors?

We already know that NLEX wants in. Bad. We've heard Alaska rumors. Now we've been hearing a lot of Air21 rumors. Of the "Joseph Yeo Gentleman's Agreement" (didn't know that there was honor among thieves) getting in the way. Of how there are two teams (Air21 and, since their name was thrown out there earlier, Alaska) that are up for sale.

TWO.

Is it too late for either Blackwater or Kia to step in and buy the other one? Or maybe it's just a ploy being used by NLEX to help speed things up. As a bargaining chip against the team that they really want to purchase. Would make a lot of sense really-- say that there's this other team that's also up for sale but cheaper, but you're still taking to the concerned party out of delicadeza and so on.

The Cinderella Man

Air21's Cinderella Man
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

If you were to tell us at the start of the PBA Commissioner's Cup that the Air21 Express would make a run to the PBA Finals, we'd just give you a dismissive look. Or whatever counts as one on whatever social media platform.

More so if you were to tell us that it would be journeyman Sean Anthony, leading the Express' to glory. Then we'd probably not give you the time of day. At all.

Nothing against the career "8 points, 5 rebounds in 23 minutes" averaging, energetic small/power forward, but he has always been more of what former PBA player and UAAP Most Valuable Player Rich Alvarez should've been had he opted to get stronger for the pros and maybe address some facets of his game.