Meralco solves Ginebra's Gulpi de Gulat style

No Asi, No problem for Bolts
with Hodge a.k.a. Kelly Williams 2.0

Gulat kayo no?

To the weak of heart, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel's newfound run-and-gun, "let all hell break loose" open court style would mean an immediate end to whatever fight one could muster. After all, what's there to do when L.A. Tenorio brings the ball downcourt in a little under 5 seconds, finds Allein Maliksi cocking for a jumper, Chris Ellis looking for an alley oop, Rico Maierhofer doing all sorts of crazy and energetic things and Billy Mamaril waiting for drop passes.

And if that wasn't enough, reigning PBA MVP Mark Caguioa is just waiting in the wings like the king lion of a pack followed by buddy Jayjay Helterbrand, Kerby Raymundo, Rudy Hatfield and solid role players Mike Cortez and Willie Wilson.

Lito Alvarez: Hari ng Padala

With Alvarez back on board, no one's safe.
The guy managed to trade all the household names
in this picture for nothing.

Just for the sake of parity and respect, this writer won't even bother with returning Air21 Express team governor Lito Alvarez' non-basketball (read: political) interests and ventures. Let's just stick to how we fans know him: someone who'd trade his own mother if it meant making more money and getting future picks (which in turn will end up being traded, again, for money) all at the cost of his team being remotely decent.

Pingris continues to earn Cone's trust

Pingris: Always Ready to Battle

When Hall of Fame-worthy BMeg Llamados head coach Tim Cone first came into town, talks of him developing established 2x PBA Most valuable Player James Yap captured headlines. There were dreams of multiple titles, unmatched greatness and a dynasty that was just waiting to happen.

For a time, people even toyed with the idea of how Cone could make his own present day "Alaska circa 1996" with Llamados with guys like Yap, Roger Yap, PJ Simon and Kerby Raymundo all in the fold. What people didn't really bother to talk about in those stages, was where defensive and rebounding bloodhound Marc Pingris fits in the Triangle Offense and Cone's gameplan altogether.

Alive and Ready

The MVP's teaching Sol Train how it's done

The Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters are still in the hunt for the Governor's Cup Finals.

This, after they easily disposed of sister team Meralco Bolts who were already out of Finals contention and looked every bit like a team that didn't deserve to advance to the next round. For all his resurgence and brilliance, Bolts' anchor Asi Taulava finally ran out of gas and couldn't do much to stop the Texters' tall front act of Ranidel de Ocampo and *gasp* Japeth Aguilar.

Playing his stretch four role to the hilt, RDO was making Taulava and whichever Bolts big man assigned to him look like patsies-- drilling in jumper after jumper after jumper. To keep things interesting, RDO also made some nice inside forays just to remind everyone that when he's on his game, he's the best damn power forward in the league today.

Gary David is no LeBron. And he shouldn't be.

He shoots. They follow.

While this writer strictly adheres to his own "No NBA" policy (because "there are other, more interested men" as said by Thomas Wayne on Batman Begins. And seriously, who needs another NBA blogger when we have friends like Voltaire Lozada who's one of the under-rated yet rising minds out there?), let's just use the high and mighty, 3x NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James to better quantify or argue for/against the perceived reputation among fans/haters of one Gary David.

What uniform he'll be donning by next season is up in the air, but this we all know for sure-- he'll definitely be suiting up for PILIPINAS this coming FIBA Asia tournament. He will also be expected to provide the outside shooting opposite Smart Gilas 2 teammate Jeffrei Chan of the Rain or Shine. Now, the thing that has grown bothersome/ tiresome really is some fans perception of David as being a glorified ballhog. To the point that they've made fun of Mico Halili's "El Granada" moniker and changed it to "El Buwaya."

Pass the torch: Cardona is no longer The Franchise

Two scorers with so-so D
will always spoil the broth

As much as it pains this writer to come to terms with this sad and undeniable reality, there's just no other way around it. For the Meralco Bolts to continue building on the success that they currently enjoy (breaking into the semifinals after six conferences), they need to shift the offense away from "franchise player" Mac Cardona.

When Team Manny V. Pangilinan bought out the Santa Lucia Realtors, Cardona was immediately sent from mother team Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters to headline the Bolts. After all, he was the one guy that people either loved or hated with such passion-- someone who magnetized and captivated fans by his sheer passion for the game. That, plus he tends to be an island all to himself-- needing to dominate the basketball which oftentimes alienated teammates and reduced big names such as the mighty Jimmy Alapag to mere spectators.

Meralco finally beats Kuya

Ross' rising PG play is key

Meaning, the Meralco Bolts can now wake up in the morning, wash their faces, look in the mirror and say that yes, they finally have a victory over their big brothers in the PBA, the Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters.

An asterisk could be put on this opening day conquest though, with most of the Texters' starting unit inactive (Jimmy Alapag, Jayson Castro, Ryan Reyes, Harvey Carey and Kelly Williams) and the remaining guns like Ranidel de Ocampo, Jarred Dillinger and Ali Peek not at 100%. Whatever, this is basketball-- if you can suit up, then you can play as the greats would always say.

Llamados come of age, advance to semis

HUGOT? Hinde, BIG TIME
player lang talaga.

What a game.

Marc Pingris on Mac Cardona early. Joe DeVance cutting backdoor for gimmes. Sol Mercado having a Rain or Shine relapse. Earl Barron owning Denzel Bowles. Reynel Hugnatan owning the offensive glass. Jonas Villanueva checks in. Marc Pingris slides back to power forward. No more rebounds for Hugnatan. Bowles mans up versus Barron. Mercado tires out.

Again.

What a game!

Easter Sunday Knockouts: Bet Money

B-Meg Llamados vs Meralco Bolts (series tied 1-1)

Mac Mac needs to stay focused for the Bolts

James Yap looks like he's back in the groove, Marc Pingris has resurfaced to provide the heart and hustle and everyone's pretty much on the same page and focused on winning. Problem is, can they overcome a Bolts squad that is just primed to advance to the Semifinals barring any more unforeseen ejections or even suspensions?

Earl Barron is slowly proving to be the best and most polished import in the league today now that Nick Fazekas and Marcus Douthit have all gone home in the eliminations. Constantly dropping 30 and 20s, the NBA champion reserve is proving to be too much for the lengthy Llamados frontline (which has surprisnigly been downplayed this QFs by the commentators) and counterpart Denzel Bowles. Bowles has all but come undone and unglued in the match-up, being schooled repeatedly and looking more like a JV player rather than a true blue reinforcement.

Do I have your attention now?

Return of the Hook

Mac Cardona.

UAAP champion. PBA champion. Scorer. Closer. Swagger. Villain.

Back on the game's bigger (biggest would be the Finals, which isn't that far off the way things are going) stage after a year and a half wallowing with the young Meralco Bolts franchise, Cardona finds himself basking in a chorus of boos and jeers yet again.

As it should be.

Power surge: Meralco zaps Powerade, enters QF

The Franchise: Mac Cardona

Score one for the Hook, and how he proves yet again that he isn't the one-dimensional scorer most picture him to be. At least, not when matched against the PBA's elite scorer Gary David- the KKS Bataan Bomber.

By "Hook," we refer to Mac Mac Cardona who continuously leads the team that he has been billed "Franchise Player" of no matter the circumstances or odds. Just a few games ago, the Meralco Bolts were down 1-4 with import Jarrid Famous and were looking for yet another early exit-- a far cry from over-achieving, powerhouse sister team Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters.

No room for the Hook?

Hay brad, ano pa ba kelangan kong
gawin para masali sa Gilas?

The way things are going, the Meralco Bolts’ franchise player- MacMac Cardona needs to go on a scoring binge ala KKS Bataan Bomber Gary David to ever be considered into the National team training pool. 

In 2009, Cardona made a case for a spot in the National team (that ultimately went to Cyrus Baguio who then proceeded to make a superstar out of himself in FIBA play) by going berserk for the Talk ‘n’ Text Tropang Texters. They weren’t the dominant team that they are the last two years, but they were damn good with Captain Hook proving to be an elite scorer in the PBA. 

A matter of pride

Miller: too good not
to play for a title

The Barako Bull Energy continue to win behind its veteran superstar cast bannered by National team standouts Willie Miller, Mick Pennisi, Danny Seigle and Wyne Arboleda. There are also other stellar names such as Ronald Tubid, Dorian Pena and Don Allado who are putting in the work all for the same cause.

To win.

But we've seen this movie before. Different title but with the same script, cast and major players. We know where this is going, and chances are, it will never end with a title for any of the players currently making strides in the PBA. One (or two) will be traded back to a powerhouse squad where he rightfully belongs. The rest would be milked until they are able to reach that same level, and sent off to the highest bidder.

Love him or hate him, RESPECT the Hook

Respeto! Ang kailangan ko.
Kung di nyo bibigay nanakawin ko.
- Ghetto Doggz

While this writer belongs to the proud De La Salle system (spent more years there than with the Royal, Pontifical University of Santo Tomas so go figure) and has always held one Mac-Mac Cardona in high regard, it is quite refreshing to see that the PBA’s lead “villain”, outside of KKS Vince McMahon/ PBA’s San Miguel Corporation’s Noil Eala, is finally being rewarded with the respect he deserves.

A fierce competitor often branded as a ballhog—Cardona has always been on the wrong end of popularity contests since coming to the league in 2005. Known for his unforgiving, assassin-like ways, Cardona was coming off a stellar collegiate and amateur career that most of his peers and now superstars James Yap, Rico Villanueva, JC Intal and even L.A. Tenorio could only dream of.