PBA Bubble Season Awards Reaction

Once again, hats off to the PBA and everyone who was involved in bringing back the league during the pandemic to help inspire and really give fans a sense of normalcy and outlet. They are all MVPs in our hearts.

That being said, here's our take on the Special Awardees who were recognized by the league in yesterday's online awarding:

Outstanding Rookie - Aaron Black (Meralco)

The 2nd generation PBA star performed quite well under the tutelage of his father, Meralco head coach Norman Black. While his numbers do not really stand out, he was pretty solid as a small forward/ shooting guard running mate to Meralco's resident go-to-guy Chris Newsome. 

Honestly, felt that Roosevelt Adams, though a bit underwhelming, made a good case for himself this season while playing for TerraFirma (lost in the mix after being forced to play center on numerous occasions). Ginebra's Arvin Tolentino was also pretty solid and IMHO if you're a rookie, and you can somehow crack Coach Tim Cone's starting five for whatever reason and not look like a tool, you should instantly be recognized for it. 

Post-PBA Bubble Thoughts

The Return of the Comeback in 2021

Happy New Year!

Here's a virtual hug and fist bump to all of our friends who continue to push through and soldier on in spite of the pandemic and this prolonged quarantine. This is probably for the best, although from where we're seated we could only hope and wish that our government continues to improve and learn where it can to be of better assistance to our countrymen. 

Okay, so we kind of blew it with the PBA Bubble Finals prediction. Though I did say that my gut feel was for Ginebra. I simply went with the more logical choice which was TNT who was rolling at the time and Bobby Ray Parks, Jr. who was looking every bit like the PBA superstar we all thought he'd become-- as early as what, four, five years ago?

Unfortunately, Parks, Jr. went down with an injury. The veteran anchor Jayson Castro followed suit and though RR Pogoy put up a valiant effort he was also hit by the injury bug. Ginebra? They stayed the course. Coach Tim Cone went to his trusted leader, L.A. Tenorio, to break down the TNT defense by outclassing his defenders.

The Fireman and his Batang Pier

I never really got to watch the "real" Pido Jarencio. The man, the legend, the UST Glowing Goldie and PBA "Fireman" whose shooting was almost (legend has it) at par as PBA Hall of Famer Allan Caidic.

Instead, my mental image of Jarencio was a short-shorts wearing veteran who would come in to either spell a winded Vince Hizon or Jayvee Gayoso and knock down a "legs wide open" three from the corners every now and then for Barangay Ginebra in the mid-90s. He was out of basketball shape, appeared to be on his last legs, but was just a feel-good favorite because he looked like someone I'd bump into in pick-up games (you know, that village vet who is always hanging by the playground waiting, preying on the young ones).

When he finally retired and resurfaced as a head coach in college, it was during my 2nd year with the Black-Gold, Black-White. He took a team of several unheralded wingmen and a center to the Finals, much to the surprise of the college ranks (and every single Thomasian who weren't expecting much post-Cyrus Baguio and Alwin Espiritu or better yet, post-Aric del Rosario).

KKS Scouting Report: 2013 PBA Draft Favorites (Part 2)

Continuing our Scouting Report on the 2013 PBA Draft “Favorites” with the exception of Carlo Lastimosa, SG, 5”10 and James Forrester, SG, 6”0 because, quite frankly, we didn’t know where Destiny Cable put AksyonTV not until maybe three weeks ago. 

And that’s only because we reset our television and put it on auto programming.

In case this is your first time to drop by our page, please feel free to check out Part 1 of our Scouting Report. We're going with the 2013 PBA Draft Favorites-- their Strengths and Weaknesses plus the PBA player that they remind us of (Ceiling would be who or what they could become and Basement would be, well, the basement).

Ryan Roose Garcia 5”9.5

Strengths: gifted with range, made giant leap from shooting guard to point guard, able to play off the ball and defer to superstar teammate/s, solid ball handling skills, heady point guard, savvy, can create own shot 

Weakness: man to man defense, late on switches, average frame might be a problem against stronger guards and fighting through screens, any questions pertaining to his relationship with a former teammate and a famous TV personality

Ceiling: More offensively potent Mark Barroca, minus the stingy defense  

Basement: Shorter RJ Jazul