Rising Higher: Thank You Kelly

Thank you Kelly
(Photo: Inquirer.net)

This took a while to compose, mostly because this writer was caught up in all things pandemic and trying my best to keep a sane outlook in spite of the now regular "death alerts" on social media. It's pretty much academic by now, never a day goes by wherein you don't see one of your friends mourning the loss of a loved one.

"Condolence" is the new "Kamusta ka na?" in the year 2020.

So before we all start sulking again, let us celebrate the PBA career of one "Machine Gun" Kelly Williams, the former PBA MVP who opted to retire just a few weeks before the PBA restart instead of suiting up for the TNT Giga.

Overall, Williams' best body of work came in his first few years in the PBA. When he starred for the now defunct Santa Lucia Realtors (later on bought by today's Meralco Bolts) alongside aging stars Marlou Aquino and Dennis Espino. He led a team of underdogs, with teammates Denok Miranda, Bitoy Omolon, Paolo Mendoza and Joseph Yeo to a title and several deep playoff runs. When the Realtors were about to fold, they sent him to TNT with defensive hound Ryan Reyes where they would enjoy even more title runs together while quietly serving as TNT's pillars with Jimmy Alapag, Jayson Castro and Ranidel de Ocampo.

I remember watching Williams in the PBL, where his team (Viva was it?) was bannered mostly by UAAP powerhouse FEU stalwarts Miranda and chief rival Arwind Santos. Williams could run, rebound, and basically do all the things you'd want or dream of from a 6"7 wing. He didn't have much of a jumpshot, but prior to Williams we just haven't seen that kind of monster from a local (if Danny Seigle were a legit U.S. 2, then Williams is a 3 who bullied the smaller Filipino competition).

"Ako ang nagtanim, iba ang umani."

Amazing Arwind

The Pinoy Spiderman
(Photo credit: Inquirer.net)

When it is all said and done, the San Miguel Beermen’s do-it-all forward and former PBA MVP Arwind Santos will undoubtedly go down as one of the best ever.

Is he a small forward? But he rebounds the basketball and often makes his best defensive stops around the paint. Is he a power forward? But he shoots threes, runs the floor and isn’t exactly built like a stocky one as per Filipino traditions.

Tempered expectations

(Photo credit to the owner)

When Tropang TNT rookie forward Moala Tautuaa was picked 1st overall in this year's PBA Draft, expectations were high because of his size, lineage and pedigree. After all, we are talking about a 6"7 beast of a man who could easily be playing a more contact sport such as American football or even pro-wrestling.

The full-on beard just added to the intimidating exterior.

Unfortunately, a lot of TNT fans have been disappointed so far with Tautuaa's performance despite a respectable 21mpg 12ppg 4rpg 2apg batting average. But is Tautuaa really underperforming? Or is he just caught in a roster that is loaded with top-notch forwards, including 2nd overall pick Troy Rosario?

We would argue that it is a little of both.

The road less traveled

Asi needs better passing options
(Photo credits to Sports5)

This is not how a "feel good" story such as the NLEX Road Warriors' 42-year-old starting center Asi Taulava's should be going.

Trying his very best to postpone his retirement and prove his worth to Philippine basketball (which he doesn't really have to, being a certified future PBA Hall of Famer), Taulava finds himself trying to lead a hapless team that suffered yet another setback this PBA Governor's Cup just a few hours ago to the GlobalPort Batang Pier squad. Hell, even his coach (Boyet Fernandez) has been quoted to be missing some of his old wards from another team because he says that he just doesn't have the right tools to get the job done.

Let's see here: imports Kwame Alexander (40 mpg 21 ppg 14 rpg 2 apg) and Michael Madanly (30 mpg 19 ppg 3 rpg 3 apg), Taulava (30 mpg 16 ppg 10 rpg 1 apg), Nino Canaleta (20 mpg 8 ppg 4 rpg 1 apg), a revived Enrico Villanueva, healthy Jonas Villanueva (30 mpg 6 ppg 3 rpg 4 apg), a "one more match" Mac Cardona (20 mpg 9 ppg 4 rpg 2 apg) and under-rated shooter/defender John Wilson. Plus two stretch fours in Aldrech Ramos and Mark Borboran.

So what else is missing?

KKS Fantasy: If Team MVP were to trade within

Just a few days ago, two teams under the San Miguel umbrella engaged in some player trades/ acquisition with the aide of two other "rumored" sister farm teams to increase their chances of winning moving forward. This has been a constant (a rather tiring one, even) for Team SMB which has led us to wonder why the teams under the great Manny V. Pangilinan umbrella aren't doing the same.

You could argue that it's because Talk'n'Text, the Team MVP's flagship and answer to San Miguel Beermen, has been winning so much that trades aren't really all that necessary,but we feel that Meralco and NLEX could use a little help here and there as far as some pieces are concerned.

Basically, since we have time to spare (our team-  Rain or Shine already booked a seat in the PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals and is just waiting for the Purefoos - Talk 'n' Text winner), here's something of a fantasy trade scenario that we feel could help all Team MVP franchises right away:

Life after Petron

Different jersey, same game.
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

When Anthony “Jay” Washington first came into the local basketball scene, people noticed him more for him being LeBron James’ “kalokalike” in more ways than one. Not only did he resemble the Basketball Hall of Fame bound NBA superstar, but he also played the game in an almost similar way (with James’ playing it inter-galactic, across the universe, notches higher of course).

So when the Talk’n’Text Tropang Texters (2006-2008) and later on San Miguel Beermen now Petron Blaze Boosters (2008-2013) took him to the fold, you just knew that this guy was special—special in the sense that he could decide the outcome of any game in whatever capacity or role is given him.

Certified: Arwind Santos, PBA MVP

Game recognize game
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

I done kept it real from the jump
Living at my mama's house we'd argue every mornin'
Nigga, I was trying to get it on my own
Working all night, traffic on the way home
And my uncle calling me like "Where ya at?
I gave you the keys told ya bring it right back"
Nigga, I just think it's funny how it goes
Now I'm on the road, half a million for a show

- Started from the bottom, Drake

The odd jobs, countless afternoons and evenings spent in minor basketball leagues playing on pavement where hustling for the basketball means a sure chipped tooth, scraped knees and a boat load of cheap elbow shots to the mid section—all that has come to this moment.

When the Petron Blaze Boosters’ Arwind Santos was hailed as PBA Most Valuable Player, fans were divided. Some cheered while others jeered. Other names were thrown around with their own merits and arguments. Some enjoyed a better season than Santos, some put up eye-popping stat-lines that would solidify their claim. Hell, some would even argue that Santos’ best seasons came in the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011.

But none of them can lay claim to having done the same things, at a very high level, as Santos who has proven himself worthy of being an MVP frontrunner since his 2006 rookie season.

The Beast: Chasing History

Can The Beast mirror The Tower of Power?
(Photo courtesy of PBA InterAKTV)

Ever found yourself in a race against time? Trying desperately to catch up to someone or something you love or hold dear, finding yourself now at only an arm's length-- may be less. The dream is almost at hand, literally.

The Alaska Aces' mercurial rookie power forward Calvin "The Beast" Abueva, in just two PBA conferences (41 played games to date), has already proven himself worthy of his collegiate moniker. He has already hushed even the harshest of critics. All his haters are now busy just ignoring his antics, or simply waiting for the next epic "flop" that they can blow up over social media.

They no longer question his game. His mental toughness. His desire to be the best. They question the flops, but they no longer question Abueva.

Hustle like Hatfield

Photo courtesy of interaksyon.com

After 14 years (on and off) with the Philippine Basketball Association-- from Tanduay Rhum to Coca Cola and finally to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, Rudy "The H-Bomb" Hatfield is finally calling it a career. This, after a so-so campaign in recent conferences following his nth comeback in the professional ranks.

We were not mistaken when we Tweeted the other day that Hatfield "reinvented" the way Filipino small forwards played the game. Back in the old days, small forwards were cast as one of the following: spread the floor wing shooter, defensive stopper or Mr. Intangibles. The guy who does the little things that almost go unseen by the not so educated basketball mind. It was almost, always one of the three. Can't be all (even the great NBA legend Magic Johnson had to concede on playing great lockdown defense, while Larry Bird lacked athleticism so there's always something holding small forwards back).

Rounding out the Gilas 12

No Kelly? Bring in Arwind.

Kelly Williams. Jared Dillinger. Sonny Thoss.

Of the initial 15-man Gilas Pilipinas pool released by the Philippines' men's basketball team head coach Chot Reyes, only 12 remain standing. Not because they were the shoo-ins or favorites to make the spot, but because after potentially having what seemed to be the greatest frontline combination in the history of Philippine basketball Gilas finds itself short of three key players.

There's former PBA Most Valuable Player Kelly Williams whose rare combination of size, speed and athleticism on both ends of the floor make him the ideal partner for Gilas anchor Marcus Douthit as a weak side rebounder and help defender (Ranidel de Ocampo comes in more for offense). Unfortunately, Williams' battle with a rare blood disorder has put him on the sidelines (indefinitely we hope) so there's that.

Back to winning for TNT

Guess who's back... back again

The sound you're probably hearing these days is the league-wide chill crawling up the spine of every other team in the on-going PBA Commissioner's Cup and here's why:

After a so-so start with initial reinforcement Keith Benson, the Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters appear to have found their groove now that "old reliable" Donnel Harvey is back in town. Don't take us wrong here, the 6"11 Benson had an impressive five game performance averaging close to 24 points and 16 rebounds a night-- but the Texters didn't really seem to have the same on-court chemistry and cohesion with him on board.

Date with destiny for Texters

Texters: blue-collar
and no-frills basketball

As the mighty Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters set their sights on winning the PBA Philippine Cup for the third straight year and earning for themselves the beautiful Jun Bernardino Perpetual Trophy, let's not forget when this "commitment to winning" all began to take shape.

Granted, no one forms a PBA team to simply be part of Asia's first, premier basketball league (okay, with the exception of any and all Lina franchises)-- they're all here to win titles and contend for years. That's how teams are built, with dreams of confetti raining down the high ceilings of the glorious and historic SMART Araneta Coliseum and fans and supporters of the winning team lost in jubilation. The Texters enjoyed some degree of success during their formative years, they built it around one Asi Taulava-- a 6"9 Fil-Tonggan who is a legit behemoth compared to his peers at the center position.

Texters show poise, tries for 3-peat

Castro was just too fast for Casio et al

We're not sure about the early days, but in the last 20 years no PBA team has successfully defended the Philippine (then All Filipino) Cup for three straight years. History is about to change however if the Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters have their way after dismissing the young Alaska Aces in tonight's "you reach, I teach" Game 6 clincher.

We say and quote the great Michael Jordan simply because that's how the Texters played the game. The Aces were battling, scrapping for points behind rookie phenom Calvin "The Beast" Abueva and were in it despite off nights from guards JVee Casio and Cyrus Baguio but they were never really able to take control of the game thanks to the poise shown by the Texters.

Texters dominant over gun-shy Aces

Machine Gun Kelly

This was as ugly a semifinals basketball game could get.

Players from both Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters and the Alaska Aces were jittery, they were over eager and looked to be out of their collective wits on the floor to start. Thankfully, PBA MVP and the heart and soul of the Texters' attack-- Jimmy Alapag, got the starting nod from Coach Norman Black and decided to take over the game without putting up points.

Alapag went to work early, looking for his bigs and making them work the Aces' frontline relentlessly. Kelly Williams, another former PBA MVP, shone thanks to Alapag always making sure to keep him involved in the offense. The adjustment made by Coach Black was clear: make the Aces' prized big man Sonny Thoss work hard on defense.

On even ground (?)

Ready to rumble!

The "other" PBA Philippine Cup semifinals pairing of the three-peat seeking Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters versus the Alaska Aces was supposed to be a yawner. Save for some fireworks brought about by rookie Calvin Abueva, the Texters are expected to just run right through the Aces and move on to the Finals.

The Aces made a case for themselves in yesterday's, ugly, grind-it-out game.

While we're still sticking to the Texters winning the series, it's just highly entertaining to see the Aces fighting tooth and nail against the league's best team for the last two-three (even more) years. This, from an Aces team that last season looked lost and ready to close shop after the unceremonious divorce with long time coach Tim Cone (who's part of the other semifinals pairing between San Mig Coffee and Rain or Shine).

Grind-it-out Basketball for Black, Texters

Offense wins games,
defense wins championships

Six undefeated games in and we are seeing newly appointed Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters' head coach Norman Black's imprints on a team that has been winning so much the last two-three years. This isn't the same Texters squad that would simply run right through the competition with their high-octane offense solely dependent on their uber-talented roster. This is a team that is learning the beauty of ugly "70-75 points endgame score" basketball.

While former head coach Chot Reyes has led this team to several Finals appearances and titles behind the aforementioned scheme with a defense that was just as okay, Black's version of the Texters is just scarier-- if you could even call it that since we don't know of any team last season and the one before that would openly say that they'd like to face the Texters in a seven-game title series.

SMART Gilas: Drop and give me 20

Pag sumama si Pingris, palitan na ung "Dribble Drive, "
tawaging "Patay kung patay" Pilipinas basketball

Tama na muna ung pagiging maka-"kampihan" natin. Pilipinas muna ulit ang unahin. Wag na natin ipilit ung matatanda na. Yung "mukhang pang NBA" pero puro papogi lang alam. Kunin natin ung talagang magpapakamatay para sa bola. Ung hindi papogi (Hi Alex Cabagnot).

PG L.A. Tenorio/ Jayson Castro/ Ryan Reyes/ JVee Casio
Well duh. Tenorio has proven that he can get just about anywhere on the floor. Castro is as good as they get. Reyes makes shots and plays hellaciously tough D that would make Jaworski proud and Casio is clutch. Wanted to get Sol Mercado, but who'd he bump off? Dribble drive ba kamo? 

SG Jeffrei Chan/ Jarred Dillinger/ Chris Lutz/ James Yap
Pretty solid if you ask me. Wag na natin ipilit ung mga Gary David at Mark Caguioa. 35+ na yung mga yun. Yap's in if only to please the 26k strong San Mig Coffee Mixers planet. No, seriously, Yap's been doing work under Coach Tim Cone-- the best effort we've seen from him not since his UE days.

SMART Gilas: The KKS Reinforcements

So the 34th William Jones Cup championship is in the bag and we've found ourselves back to a position of basketball respectability this side of the world. Should we rest on our laurels and send the same successful unit to the FIBA-Asia tournament this September 14? They are after all, the gold medal -winning bunch that did it via heart and desire.

Yes and no.

This writer argues that we should keep the core players: L.A. Tenorio, Jeffrei Chan, Gabe Norwood, Ranidel de Ocampo, Marcus Douthit, Sol Mercado and Larry Fonacier (yes, Pareng Larry makes the cut as the smartest PBA player today). After those guys, we should consider looking for an upgrade. Not that they're not any good (Gary David is still The Man), but we need a deeper rotation that can be relied upon (Pilipinas has been suffering from long, mid-game lulls which we cannot afford to have against better competition). So here's a short list of the guys who should be considered for the coming FIBA tournament (if they're healthy and in game shape of course).

The Silent War Dream Match

Who's the #1 PG in the PBA?

Just for fun and since most of the teams are on hiatus save for the PBA GovCup finalists Rain or Shine and BMeg, this writer has always wanted to tackle a big "what if" scenario starring the country's two basketball powerhouses-- Team MVP and Team San Miguel.

While both have ransacked the league of major names in hopes of trumping the other-- to the point that they'd even hold out "sponsored" amateur players/ investments from entering the league if there was a possibility that he'd land on a non-Team MVP/SMC squad, both parties have been nothing short of exemplary in their conduct so far. Yes, there's "The Silent War," but that's pretty much it so far. Silent. Just a healthy game of business one-upsmanship and letting one team have its day in the limelight (MVP) while the other rebuilds (SMC).

Since we've been treated to two awesome basketball spectacles in a span of two years (SMART NBA All Stars vs PBA All Stars/ SMART Gilas and the PLDT All Stars vs the PBA 90s Hall of Famers), how about a match pitting Team SMC's best versus their Team MVP counterparts? For parity's sake, this should be held at the Ynares Center. Or even the Cuneta Astrodome. Hah.

Thank You Chot

Coach Chot: Fashion
and basketball-forward

We all have a disliking for outgoing Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters head coach Chot Reyes be it his maddening borderline metrosexual fashion sense, the way he carries himself like most Ateneans (you know this via that cocky, sense of self-entitlement/ "better than you" demeanor) or the way he complains to the referees and milks every single call that doesn't favor his beloved team.

But beyond all that douchery, from a strictly basketball sense, there's been no one quite like Coach Chot in the last two to three years. He has effectively redeemed himself from a disappointing stint with the Philippine National Team a few years ago. Working his ass off day and night to augment his coaching philosophies by virtue of playing a relentless, run and gun style that shares the wealth among his superstar-laden roster which is easier said than done.