#KangCone

To put things in perspective, polarizing sports writer/ reporter Snow Badua was the first to hint at a possible coaching change that could greatly affect the PBA landscape. Today, Badua's "tweeter hint" actually made it to the mainstream media, with no less than veteran sports guys from Nelson Beltran of The Philippine Star to Fidel Mangonon III of Spin.Ph writing about this quite sensitive and surprising topic.

"Tim Cone to Ginebra."

That's basically how we can best sum it up. It hasn't happened, there are no announcements or formal statements yet, but you know what they always say about there being fire when there's smoke in the area. When reached for comment, even Coach Tim said something along the lines of him "serving at the pleasure of Mr. Ang."

Which means, it is possible. It isn't true, at least not yet, but it is possible if San Miguel big boss Ramon Ang wants it to happen.

Will it work for Ginebra though?

Yes. Of course it will. It may take a while, or maybe they'll be champions overnight, but it will work. Tim Cone's 18 PBA championships among other impressive feats say it will. Triangle? He's been running more motion offense with STAR Hotshots as of late. So he can switch to that. Or he can just stick to his Triangle, which Ginebra's already familiar with thanks to former 1-conference coach Jeffrey Cariaso, and have Greg Slaughter look like the dominant 7"0 he's hyped to be (instead of looking like the Andy Seigle to Junemar Fajardo's prime Marlou Aquino).

Sucks for STAR, but they have the names on that roster, plus championship pedigree to rise above it with any veteran or young coach.

Ginebra?

They need a lot of coaching and managing.

Tim Cone's just the guy. The veterans will listen to him. L.A. Tenorio won't stomp his foot on the hardcourt, make stupid faces and throw tantrums. Coach Tim knows how to massage L.A.'s ego. Mark Caguioa? He'll respond to Coach Tim. The championships will make him respond. Plus, he's in that age and point in his career wherein he'd be a perfect Jolas option.

So we're not worried about Ginebra, and or STAR.

We're worried about Coach Tim.

We kind of saw this coming.

When he chose to leave Alaska and sign "with the devil," we knew that it was only a matter of time before he was made into a pawn by the SMC umbrella. This is the very same Team SMC that rotates coaches for fun, declares "co-coaches," hires Team Consultants in the guise of Coaches, and what not.

Purefoods has a long, lasting legacy and great integrity when it comes to sticking to coaches. But at the end of the day, whoever is there, is still under Team SMC. And if Mr. Ang wants you to move, you move.

Or you hope that you can land a gig with Team MVP.

So what about Coach Tim?

Well, if he is indeed to move to Ginebra, then this should be a fun project for him. To jumpstart a perennial losing basketball program, and reward its millions of fans all over the world (you won't believe how popular Ginebra bench players are even here in the Middle East). It's a challenge-- specially after jumping from Alaska to STAR, and winning a grandslam and just knowing that he could win more titles with that roster.

But how about his legacy?

He'll move to Ginebra. But will he be in control? Who's to say if one day, Mr. Ang wants him to move yet again-- to San Miguel, back to STAR, or we'll be damned, Barako Bull or Global Port?

Worse, what if one day, Mr. Ang and whoever is calling the shots make Coach Tim "co-coach?"

This is the drawback when it comes to making deals with the "crossroads demon."

#KangCone ?

Trust us, it won't stick. Because Coach Tim will turn Ginebra into a multi-title team should he really move there.

But, we just hope he'll be the one calling the shots and that Ginebra will be his last stop.

PBA GC QF: (1) Alaska vs (8) Ginebra

Whichever team controls the paint,
controls the series
(Photo credits to Sports5)

This is not going to be pretty.

For the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel faithful, there's no harm in entertaining thoughts of an upset. Basketball is a fair and just sport-- the ball is round, shots can go in or out, players can get sick/ hurt/ cause drama on any given day. There is always a chance of winning.

But in this series? Versus a healthy and well-oiled Alaska Aces squad that quietly snuck its way atop the PBA Governor's Cup standings with arguably the most low-profile, no, under-rated import in Romeo Travis leading the way?

Slim to none. The chances are slim. To. None.

Kamusta mga ka-Barangay?

Even when he's trying to be physical,
Slaughter still looks SAWFT
(Photo credits to Sports5)

We will be very honest with you:

We love head coach Frankie Lim for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. Because he's like the "daddy" that a team loaded with egos, and fans who are borderline fanatics and sometimes even, illogical, need. While some circles were busy ranting about who should and shouldn't have been traded, or how Player A should get more minutes than Player B because "he is good-looking and could dunk so he should be a borderline PBA superstar, right?"-- well, CFL has basically stuck to his guns, played the guys he wants to play, and still doesn't give a rat's ass what you think of the team's first Asian import and how much he should've/ should've not played.

Eight games. Three wins. Five losses.

They score 93. Give up 95. Rebound 49. Give up 50. Dish out 18 versus 15. Foul 26. Get 27. Turn the ball over 14. Force 13.

The numbers are close.

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).

A Captain for the Barangay

How will Slaughter respond to CFL?
(Photo credits to the owner)

Admit it or not, Ginebra fans have long flirted with the idea of having Yeng Guiao as its coach: an old school cat, much like their legendary Robert Jaworski, Sr., fearless, charismatic and all-around Pinoy macho on the sidelines.

But they also want someone who is approachable and accessible, who knows his Xs and Os, calls out referees but then accommodates #selfie requests and open practices.

It seems that they have found just the man for the job in Coach Frankie Lim.

Though Barangay Ginebra San Miguel is still a few wins and a healthy Greg Slaughter short of looking like a legitimate title contender in the on-going PBA Governor's Cup, Coach Frankie has succeeded in taking full control of an otherwise proud yet flailing, egocentric individual-filled franchise while keeping expectations of arguably the toughest and most demanding fans in the country at bay.

A special thanks to our friends at HumbleBola.com for providing us with the numbers which shows Ginebra averaging 93 ppg, 42% 2 point field goals, 31% 3 point field foals, 42 rpg, 16 apg, 13 topg and 8 spg versus 96 ppg, 47% 2, 34% 3, 48 rpg, 18 apg, 18 topg and 5 spg (in four of the five games played-- give them a break, it's the weekend lol) under Coach Frankie. Basically, while the numbers are down (because of the initial losses suffered early), the team is starting to respond well defensively in terms of getting more steals and forcing turnovers (which would and should, theoretically, ignite their running game).

KKS Gilas 26 man pool

The Face of the PBA but not of Gilas? Why?
(Photo credits to the owner)

Word is out that Gilas head coach Tab Baldwin has already listed 26 PBA superstars and will start courting their respective mother teams in an effort to do an anti-Chot and establish good will.

We love this low-key approach, since it doesn't put any pressure on the already strained relationship between Team MVP and Team SMC (and even the other "independent" teams). It should be remembered that Coach Chot went to the media to air his side: on how hard it was for him to attain the services of some Team SMC players which put those under that umbrella in a bad light. Sometimes airing your dirty laundry out works, sometimes it doesn't.

It is what it is.

Here, we try to name the 26 active PBA players who we feel are being eyed by the well-traveled head coach.

Trade reaction: Ginebra's Ababou, Forrester for Barako's 1st round pick

Kampihan na talaga.
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Well, so much for newly-installed head coach Frankie Lim's Ginebra youth movement.

In a trade that comes as manna from heaven in the middle of some Arabian dessert for those involved and their supporters, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel has sent the little-used pair of Dylan Ababou and James Forrester to Barako Bull Energy Cola for the team's 2015 PBA 1st round draft pick (which is projected to be somewhere from the 4th to 5th).

For Ginebra, this spares the new coach from the burden of being asked by the thousands of kabarangays in having to play the two when they still have some more established, somewhat "immovable" veterans on the roster. Now, the team's rotation of shooting guards and wings involve "only" Mark Caguioa, Jayjay Helterbrand, Joseph Yeo, Josh Urbiztondo, Mac Baracael and Chris Ellis. And based from what we saw in the Rain or Shine quarterfinals game, it seems that management is still convinced that Caguioa, Helterbrand and Urbiztondo have a lot left in the tank and deserve to play together some more (ugh).

This, plus the fact that they could possibly get a top-tier rookie in the 2015 PBA Draft-- anyone from U.E.'s Roi Sumang, DLSU's Norbert Torres, San Beda's Garvo Lanete and maybe some hipster pick in one of those ASEAN Basketball League Fil-Ams not named Moala Tautuaa.

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.

PBACC The Quarterfinals: Rain or Shine vs Barangay Ginebra

Angas ng Tondo vs The Spark
(Photo courtesy of Inquirer.net)

For all intents and purposes, there is definitely no love lost in this quarterfinals pairing of the number 1 seeded Rain or Shine Elastopainters, which enjoys a twice to beat advantage, and the 8th seeded Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

The Elastopainters are the league's hottest team, with arguably the most consistent performance in his young career EVER from star guard Paul Lee, while Ginebra just keep on losing winnable games much to the dismay of their fans. There's also the whole "L.A. Tenorio tantrum watch" -- you know, when the man tasked to lead the Ginebra faithful to glory stomps his foot, makes that stink face and just brushes off everyone on the floor including his own coaches and teammates.

Can Ginebra do it?

Yes, they can.

Will they be able to do it?

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.

PBA KO Phase 2 Predictions: SMB Bracket

Ellis will need to elevate his game
to battle the Texters' wings
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Just as most pundits called it, the higher seeded teams in the "SMB bracket" made quick work of the alleged PBA "farm teams" with the Talk'n'Text Tropang Texters blowing Barako Bull Energy Cola off the face of the earth and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel being able to weather a Terrence Romeo storm in the 1st quarter en route to a Friday night massacre.

In the second phase of the Knockout Quarterfinals of the PBA Philippine Cup, Texters' head coach Jong Uichico finds himself trying to overcome ghosts of Christmas past with his old team Ginebra standing in his way to facing yet another old team of his, San Miguel, should he wish to take his team to the PBA Finals. For Ginebra, it's going to be an acid test for head coach Jeffrey Cariaso and co. as they are still trying to learn the Triangle Offense on the fly while providing increased minutes for their younger players.

4 Talk'n'Text Tropang Texters vs 5 Barangay Ginebra San Miguel
If you're a Ginebra fan, you should be warned that this knockout match could end up as a mismatch on the floor. Not because your team enjoys an obvious height advantage, but because the team on the other side of the court has loads of experience-- hell, even rookies Kevin Alas and Matt Ganuelas Rosser play at a very mature level owing to their Gilas experience.

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.

Barangay Ginebra's Growth Spurt

More Air-time for Air Force Ellis
Photo courtesy of Sports5

Standing tall with a 3 wins 1 loss slate, there are several reasons for the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel faithful to celebrate. Though they've been in a similar position just last season, this year's version is looking even more formidable with head coach Jeffrey Cariaso and his Triangle Offense in place.

The young core of Japeth Aguilar (17 ppg 12 rpg 3 bpg), Greg Slaughter (15 ppg 12 rpg 1bpg) and Chris Ellis (11 ppg) are leading the charge while veterans Mark Caguioa (8 ppg 3 rpg 1 apg) and L.A. Tenorio (4 ppg 4 rpg 5 apg) provide the steadying "bail the kids out when needed" presence every now and then. What's different here is how systematic the team looks under Cariaso, how they all know who are their main guys (Aguilar and Slaughter) or basically the guys who can make the whole game easier for every one else. It's no longer Caguioa shouldering all of the offense or Tenorio putting on his Superman cape and doing it all-- it's inside, out, Triple Post, disciplined basketball.

At times, we see Slaughter serving as the Triangle's anchor with Ellis and Aguilar working off him. Some times, we see Aguilar out of that mix and freelancing-- looking for the easy drop pass or just sneaking his way inside for the putback slams and easy deuce.

2014 FIBA World Cup: Puerto Rico (17) vs Philippines (34) IR

FIBA version of #chickensad
Photo courtesy of FIBA.com

Isn't it ironic how we keep on saying that we're one of the smallest (if not the smallest) teams competing in the 2014 FIBA World Cup only to fall, once more, against a team led by a man who is generously and graciously listed as six feet tall?

With last night's 77-73 loss to Puerto Rico, our World Cup Round of 16 dream has finally come to an end. We can only hope that Gilas Pilipinas is able to salvage a victory against the 37th seeded Senegal MBT, but even that team has a far superior win-loss slate than us.

So what did us in versus Puerto Rico? Well, the law of averages finally hit our shooters (which, by now, does not include Jeffrei Chan and Gary David). We took 28 attempts and only hit 6, with Gabe Norwood, either by design or by default, TAKING SIX THREES and hitting NONE. Then there's the turnovers-- forced and unforced. Paul Lee had five to go with Andray Blatche's six (with a crucial one down the stretched which led to J.J. Barrea's heroics).

And for all things Renaldo Balkman, the former and controversial PBA import didn't kill us. No, he was even benched for long stretches. Hell, Puerto Rico was pretty much a one-man team on offense in the final stretch with Barrea, who dropped 30 on our heads, seemingly unstoppable.

The Unknown

Will he play with PUSO?
(Photo courtesy of SolarSportsDesk.Ph)

"The boys may not be afraid yet, but we're getting a bad feeling. This passage, with its "decaying coconuts" and forest "darkness" hints that nasty things are on the way. No wonder the littluns start freaking out." - excerpt from "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding

The unknown and our fear of it is the "darkness" that we speak of, of the "nasty things" being on its way.

As Gilas Pilipinas flies out West to Miami, Florida to train for the coming FIBA World Cup tournament to be held in Spain, there's a lingering sense of doubt among fans. Realistically speaking, no one is expecting a podium finish this time around. Logic dictates that our team can win a game or two at best, but overcoming the powerhouse European teams and America might be a little out of the question.

The sense of the unknown or doubt, comes by way of one Andray Blatche. The man who is being touted as our new hero, to replace the one that has spent the last four or five years bringing us back to Asian basketball contention-- Marcus Douthit.

Ang Angas ng Pilipinas

Hindi lang ito tungkol kay Paul Lee, na siyang nag hatid sa Pilipinas ng kauna unahang  medalya ng bansa sa FIBA Asia Cup na ginanap sa Wuhan, China kontra sa home team.

Tungkol ito kay head coach Chot Reyes at sa mga players na sina L.A. Tenorio, Kevin Alas, Garvo Lanete, Gary David, Jared Dillinger, Jay Washington, Japeth Aguilar, Ranidel de Ocampo, Beau Belga, Junemar Fajardo at Marcus Douthit.

May mga pagkakataon na parang hindi naka angkla sa panalo ang koponang binansagan natin na Gilas Pilipinas. Minsan, parang naglolokohan lang sila. Minsan, parang wala ung kumpyansa at tiwala sa sarili. Minsan, parang payag sila na matalo na lang ng basta basta at isugal ang pangalan ng bansa.

Papunta naman na tayo ng Espanya, bakit pa nga ba magpapakahirap?

The Last Home Stand

In retrospect, the failed PLDT Gilas Last Home Stand was meant to raise money for charity and not simply for the enjoyment of basketball fans. Life, real life, is always bigger than basketball. The local organizers, Manny V. Pangilinan et. al., had nothing but great and meaningful intentions.

So to them, we say "thank you" and that we honestly hope that they continue with such efforts in bringing world class talent to the Philippines all for a good cause.

Were we disappointed with the outcome?

Yes, because no one really bothered to clarify that an actual 5 on 5 game was NOT going to happen. PLDT was correct in saying that they never promised a game, although they made a damn good job of teasing it with their faulty marketing exploits.

Maybe we should blame ourselves, yes, us, the Filipino basketball fantards who were spoiled with the Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, Kevin Durant game vs the PBA and Gilas selections that we thought that: "hey, since they're bringing in about 10 to 12 NBA starters, maybe they're going to play versus our Gilas!"

Well, guess not.