The Forgotten

Denok takes the lead
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

In the proud basketball hierarchy of Filipino point guards today, where would you rank Barako Bull Energy Cola's Denok Miranda?

Scoring wise, there are more explosive guards out there who are probably going to be mentioned ahead of the 6"0 former Far Eastern University stalwart. But did you know that the defensive-specialist is averaging a team high 15.29 points per game for the Energy Cola while still being his same, lockdown, blue collar self?

If you want to talk speed, then yes, Miranda isn't as cat quick. Size? Miranda's been asked several times to cover the opposing team's shooting guards who are usually around the 6"0-6"3 range (something that he's done quite well really).

So why is Miranda still not considered as one of the league's prized point guards despite winning titles for two different teams and being a proven leader on the court?

Ang Binangga, Nagiba

Parang kelan lang nung unang sumabak ang Barako Bull (Red Bull noon) sa PBA dala ang kakaibang kalibre ng basketball sa pangunguna ni ngayong Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao. Matatapang, pisikal, agresibo at walang takot. Karamihan ng mga player nila hindi kilala at galing kung saan pero walang takot kung makipagsabayan sa mga superstar ng liga. Nauna sila Jimwell Torion, Junthy Valenzuela at Davonn Harp, sumunod ung era ni Enrico Villanueva.

Yun ung Barako Bull na gusto naming balik-balikan sa ilang taong pamamayagpag ng PBA. Hindi yung Barako Bull ngayon na walang bayag. Barako Bull na walang magawa tuwing magkakaroon ng magagaling na manlalaro kapag naglalambing na ang mga "Kuya."

Hindi naman kami tanga, alam naman namin ang kalakaran at naiintindihan ito.

Pero huwag naman sana bastusan.

On the shoulder of giants

Emman Monfort stands tall
(Photo courtesy of PBA InterAKTV)

In a decade long war,  an army already on the losing end lies in wait. Grizzled veterans, keeping an eye out on any semblance or opportunity for greatness. Underlings, green and raw, bold and battle crazy looking to make a name for themselves.

One of them watches the trenches, waiting for daylight. One of them breathes in the thick and heavy air of dawn, unshaken, unnerved. His name is Emman Monfort, he of the Barako Bull Energy Cola, drafted and almost forgotten because of his diminutive 5"7 frame and limited skill set. He was over-looked because at the time, he deserved to be. He was picked 16th overall in the 2012 PBA Draft because there were more established collegiate names before him. All that was really going for him was his Ateneo de Manila University pedigree, the winning tradition, the championships.

Barangay Phi Slama Jama

Japeth like it's hot!

After weeks of speculation, 6"9 wunderkind Japeth Aguilar finds himself with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel-- his 4th team in a very young, up-and-down PBA career. Will he finally find a niche in Philippine hoops and breakthrough as every one hopes him to, or will he plateau as a slam dunking, sweet shooting athlete who bites at every pump fake thrown his way by guys shorter than him?

If you thought that Aguilar had everyone watching him succeed/ fail his first few years, then things are about to get even crazier from here on out.  

PBA Commish Cup Semis: A different look

What was supposed to be a walk-in-the-park for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel ended up a nightmare that opened a can of worms no thanks to the ever-defiant Talk ‘n’ Text Tropang Texters.

Playing minus Gilas Pilipinas shoo-ins and resident superstars; PBA MVP Jimmy Alapag, Jared Dillinger and another former PBA MVP Kelly Williams, the Texters rallied around their trademark defense paired with some sweet shooting courtesy of new import, the smallest of the current lot, 6”5 Tony Mitchell.

Just when everyone with half a basketball brain thought that Ginebra would be able to unleash the full fury of their 7”0 monster Vernon Macklin, the Texters showed the locals could take care of business on their own. Ranidel de Ocampo was Macklin’s primary defender, but then came a barrage of Texters’ reserve big men in Rich Alvarez, John Ferriols and the ever-reliable Ali Peek (who’s coming off a back injury) not to mention the great adjustment made by Coach Norman Black.

PBA Commish Cup semis: Proud Texters fight back

Before RDO's clutch 4th quarter and Castro's blurry ways,
Alapag was there to save the day for TNT

For the first three quarters, it appeared as though the resurgent Barangay Ginebra San Miguel were well on their way to having one foot placed at the PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals' doorstep. They were cohesive on the floor, scoring from all angles and getting major contribution from just about anyone and everyone that Ginebra head coach Alfrancis Chua brought in.

Then came the 4th quarter.

That's when the battle-tested (or should we say "weary") Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters, down 0-1 in the Best-of-Five and already at the brink of suffering yet another defeat, took a gallant stand. At the forefront was future PBA Hall-of-Famer Jimmy Alapag, our bet to make the save, finishing with 17 points and 8 assists while playing a team second-best 35 minutes. Jayson Castro also showed up, appearing to have realized that while LA Tenorio is a passable defender, Castro has a few inches and pounds over his Ginebra counterpart. That, plus noone would ever confuse Tenorio's backup, Josh Urbiztondo, with a young Wyne Arboleda.

Revival

Remember when RDO, today's best Pinoy big man,
was left off the national team years back?
It's because of Kerby. And Kerby's reminding us why.

There's something in the air...

... it stands tall amidst the deafening chants of over 14,000 strong, most of which wear red, black and white proudly as colors. It is enough to rejuvenate tired old bones, wounded and almost forgotten army generals who once stood proud at the forefront of several conquests.

Out of the ashes the forgotten arose, defying the hands of time, ignorant of the way of the basketball. This is a new era, where athletes come in droves taller, bigger, faster and highly trained with new knowledge shared faster and more simpler. The old guards are supposed to stand aside, they're supposed to know their place as they have already paid their dues and paved the way for the next generation as those before them.

But not these soldiers, or at the very least, not yet.

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.

All eyes on the Fireball

The Fireball's running away
with the ball in Rajko's system

Let's get one thing straight: contrary to popular belief, we are actually closet supporters of Barako Bull Energy's Josh "The Fireball" Urbiztondo.

We've written entries about him not being the prototypical point guard, and that he is pretty much the Fil-Am version of shoot-first, pass-later local floor generals Celino Cruz and Rudy Lingganay. But underneath all that, we have no gripes against him having been a former Santa Lucia Realtor (and we always show love to our departed Realtors franchise personnel no matter where they are or go).

Okay, back to Urbiztondo and how he has emerged under the dreaded "Rajko System" of former national team head coach and now Energy team consultant Rajko Toroman. At the moment, Urbiztondo is averaging a league 3rd-best 17+ points (behind premier scorers Mark Caguioa of Ginebra and Gary David of Global Port), 7th best 4.4 assists and 2nd-best 1.8 steals. A chink on his armour of course, that pretty much cancels out his assist averages are his turnovers which is a league-worst 4.2.

#NoBenta

Off night or on purpose?

Last night’s 93-72 drubbing of the Barako Bull Energy squad by then winless Barangay Ginebra San Miguel left a sour taste in the mouths of most non-Ginebra fans.

If you’ve been paying close attention to how the Energy has been playing this conference, there are only two explanations for yesterday’s semi-alarming debacle. The team looked listless and lethargic, the defense was mostly man-to-man with little to no resistance to drives into the lane and the offense couldn’t have been anywhere near a Rajko Toroman-coached, urm, consulted squad.

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.

PBA GovCup Finals: Rain or Shine leads 1-0

Norwood's speed and length
is causing trouble for Big Game James

In a game expected to be in the battle-tested, veteran-laden B-Meg Llamados, the Rain or Shine Elastopainters hacked out an impressive win anchored on solid defense, balanced offense and unbridled confidence and composure.

While the Llamados looked out of sync and a step slower (blame it on them having to play a grind-out game against the Ginebra Gin Kings last Friday), they were flat out beaten by a team that was ready for the big stage. Defensively, the Elastopainters worked hard as a team to keep the ball from moving side to side as the Llamados often do. James Yap top scored for the Llamados with 19, but import Marqus Blakely, PJ Simon and even Marc Pingris (who has been on a recent tear) were held to no more than 12 points each.

Tim Cone, Denzel Bowles reward BMeg planet

Monster Bowles took over in OT

What a game!

It came down to a battle of attrition, with the BMeg Llamados fighting back to force overtime after the Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters started falling down one after the other in the 4th quarter.

Import Donnel Harvey fouled out. James Yap-stopper Ryan Reyes hurt his knee on a drive. Ali Peek fouled out. Ranidel de Ocampo went down. Jimmy Alapag, who was playing like the reigning PBA MVP and was making up for lost time with an efficient and explosive scoring display, was suffering from cramps. Jayson Castro, injured ankles, knees, hamstrings and all, came back to play but it just wasn't enough in the end.

The Fireball Rises

Coach Tim has The Fireball on target

If you were to tell me that a 2009 PBA draft reject were to outplay the reigning league Most Valuable Player in three straight games of the 2012 Commissioner's Cup Finals, I'd slap you silly for the blatant dumbness of it all.

Don't get it wrong, the US 2005-2006 Sunbird Awardee has legit skills for any 6"1 Filipino-American basketball player. When he first came over Philippine shores in 2006, he suited up in the PBL for UST-Kettle Korn and was already making waves as a crack point guard. He bounced around amateur leagues such as La Liga Pilipinas and then back to the PBL before entering the draft which, unfortunately for him, didn't work out.

Tim Cone will never be an underdog

Who's your daddy?!?

Prior to the PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals, people pencilled in the participating teams as how everyone saw them. The mighty Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters as the rightful favorites, going for their 4th title in 5 tries and the rising BMeg Llamados as the underdogs, the "good but not great" squad ready to takeover the local basketball scene.

Three games in, and we couldn't have been any more wrong.