The agony of defeat

Off to a good start
(Photo credit: pba.online.net)

You wake up at the sound of your morning alarm, ending your peaceful slumber that granted you a few hours’ rest. Today you should be getting ready for the PBA Finals press conference, to be held at some fancy buffet restaurant, ready to trade pleasantries and inside barbs with your opponents and the press. Today should’ve been the day that you take one step closer to greatness.

But it isn’t.

Instead you sit and sulk, wanting to avoid any sports replays or news. You’ll catch the game later, and will definitely attend your next team practice. But today just isn’t the day.

Remember the name

Lethal Star
(Photo credit to the owner)

Paul Lee has always been special.

It was just rather unfortunate that it took being traded to the Star Hotshots for everyone to finally take notice. Real basketball fans know who Lee is and how cold-blooded he is, specially in the clutch. But the casual fans, those who see the points and face value more than the game? Those who don't pay attention to stats and efficiency and all the other nerdy things that make basketball so much fun? Not so much.

How could they cheer for a guy who goes by the moniker "Angas ng Tondo" anyway? Bald head, goat-tee, gangsta-look and all? How could they cheer a guy who barely smiles to the crowd or even notices his own fans, casually shaking-off game winners like it's just something he does regularly, like breathing? Check the tape. Most guys would throw a fist, howl, scream, run to the crowd and go "THIS IS MY HOUSE"-- anything.

Lee?

#putakalma

PBA Ph C SF: 3 Star V 7 Ginebra

Galit galit muna, parekoy
(Photo credit: philstar.com)

Finally, the marketing genius that is "Manila Classico" can finally be able to live up to its own hype.

When the term was brilliantly coined, it was driven more because of the growing popularity of the Star Hotshots (re: Purefoods) which was slowly challenging that of Barangay Ginebra's. Sure, Star always had fans, but it was more because they always had TV matinee idol-looking players who could play very well and resonated more with a specific audience. Ginebra? They're the people's team. They're the team that went from chanting "Diego" towards a heated opponent before showering him with "Pogi" when he joined them later in his career.

But they were never really rivals. Far from it. Star was winning titles left and right and was a perennial contender. Ginebra, was, well, Ginebra.

The script was flipped when Ginebra landed Star's grand slam coach Tim Cone and started putting the pieces together. They won a title in Cone's first year, they're now being taken seriously as a defensive unit. Star suffered a brief setback last season (re: the Jason Webb experiment) but appear to be back on track under new head coach Chito Victolero. So now, we can talk rivalry. Because Ginebra appears to be building towards a new dynasty to challenge San Miguel, while Star still has the grand slam core (a very young one at that) while adding famed Ginebra-killer Paul Lee.

Oh you think we're going over board with the "Ginebra Killer" tag? YouTube: Paul Lee + Ginebra.

You're welcome.

PBA PhC QF: 3 Star v 6 Phoenix

Hotshot.
(Photo credit: purefoodsbasketball.com)

Which team will shine brighter: the Star Hotshots or the Phoenix Fuel Masters?

If take a quick look at the elimination round of the PBA Philippine Cup, it doesn't look too good for Phoenix Coach Ariel Vanguardia and his wards. The Hotshots beat the Fuel Masters 123-79, early in the conference, when Coach Chito Victolero was still tinkering with his line-up and they were trying to establish a new culture.

Today we are looking at a rather dominant Hotshots team that not only scores the basketball, but also plays sound, aggressive defense.

Uh-oh.

Shooting Stars

Puta, kalma.
(Photo credit: inquirer.net)

Contrary to popular belief, the Star Hotshots are not in trouble; transition yes, trouble no.

Despite the 0-2 record under new coach Chito Victolero, this isn't the same as least season's debacle under Jason Webb. This isn't an ominous sign of things to come, at least that's what we would like to believe anyway. No, this team, save for a few Grand Slam leftovers, is a team that is trying to build on and off court chemistry as well as an overall identity.

So who are the Hotshots, exactly?

Well, they were the PBA's token glamour boys. Pretty boys who could back it up on the court. They weren't known for their offense or defense, they were simply known as a solid bunch and a classy organization over all. Like San Miguel's own yellow (then blue) version of Alaska.

When Tim Cone took over, he built a new culture. When he left, everything fell apart. Some guys wanted to change the blueprint, others were not sold on the idea. In comes Victolero, who is no Webb but is definitely no Cone either, plus a new star in Paul Lee. Of course there is going to be a rough period.

James Yap; Rain or Shine Elastopainter

May resbak na si Yap
(Photo credit: AKTV)

There are no sacred cows in the PBA.

It doesn't matter if you (literally) broke your back carrying a team for 12 seasons en route to multiple championships and 2 PBA MVP recognitions; if the team wants to send you elsewhere, then that is exactly what will hapen regardless if your name just so happens to be James Carlos Yap-- the man widely accepted as the "face of the PBA."

Today we learned that the Star Hotshots were sending their 34-year-old star to the Rain or Shine Elastopainters for the much younger Paul Lee, also a certified PBA star in his own right. Business-wise, this is what was best for the Hotshots. They got a 27-year-old Gilas standout, probably for a more reasonable price than Yap's long-rumored "max++" contract, who has yet to really hit his prime in a league that favors attacking, combo guards.

Emotionally-speaking however, this was shit. The whole trade was, no, IS shit.

Season of learning

The Slash Brothers
(Photo credit: cnnphilippines.com)

You win some, you lose some.

Now that the PBA has expanded to twelve teams (soon to be thirteen), winning a title—let alone staying competitive, is becoming a much more difficult task. There are a lot of factors that affect a team’s chances of winning, none more than the possibility of high caliber players (even coaches) being pirated by big-money franchises.

Heck we even learned this season that even big-money, sister, franchises are not safe from “cannibalizing” one another; a fate suffered by the Star Hotshots, who lost both their grand slam coach Tim Cone and versatile wing Joe DeVance, at the hands of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

Three teams have already been officially eliminated in the season-ending PBA Governor’s Cup: the Hotshots, GlobalPort Batang Pier, and Blackwater Elite. Here are some of the things we noticed in their respective campaigns, where they went wrong and could build on moving forward and through the 2016 PBA Draft.

The Ginebra Blueprint (Part 2)

Team continuity and good looks help too.
(Photo credit to the owner)

(... continued)

Here’s a rundown of the PBA teams who could try to be like Ginebra/ build a fanbase like Ginebra (if they haven't already):

Alaska – they almost came close to becoming the new Ginebra until Management decided to pull in the reins a bit and go back to their identity as prim and proper, clean-cut subdivision basketball players (aided by a few trabahador imports, of course).

Blackwater, Phoenix, Mahindra – young franchises who; if they play their cards right and not be involved in lopsided deals, could build on young, proven collegiate talent + established veteran names who are looking for one last shot at the limelight, could  go somewhere. Manny Pacquiao's popularity certainly gave Mahindra a bit of an early lead though.

When you wish upon a STAR

Keep on
(Photo credit: Inquirer.net)

Other than Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s Japeth Aguilar, we have grown fond of mocking and ridiculing STAR Hotshots head coach Jason Webb at every chance we get on social media. To be clear, we are making fun of them NOT as human beings, but rather as ill-equipped basketball personalities.

Aguilar being the “has all the athletic gifts of an NBA talent but the IQ of a JV player” and Webb, well, let us talk about how Coach Jason’s first season as a legitimate PBA head coach went shall we?
To recap, STAR finished the season with a 10 wins and 19 losses record: 4-7 in the Philippine Cup, 5-6 in the Commissioner’s, and finally 1-6 in the Governor’s. It could very well be concluded that the mid-season acquisition of RR Garcia, Rodney Brondial and Jake Pascual distorted whatever mediocre-level chemistry was present in the team. Sure, Garcia suddenly emerged to play big minutes, but it is not like they gave up any of their core rotation guys to acquire his services (they traded away rookies Mark Cruz and Norbert Torres if we remember correctly).

Should everything be blamed on Coach Jason?

PBA CC Playoffs: 1 San Miguel vs 8 Star

Ngiting Gary D.
(Photo by: PBA Inquirer)

It is funny how life, truly is, shaped like a wheel-- or a basketball even.

One day you find yourself atop, enjoying the warm sunshine and the loving caress of a well-trained and highly-skilled athlete, the next you are making ugly, brutal, anal sex with a sweaty, smelly, slimy, hard court with spit, shit and dirt on it.

That is how we can best describe the lives of both the conference-leading, Grand Slam-seeking San Miguel Beermen and the "happy to just win games and save face" Star Hotshots. Just a few years ago, Star was atop the mountain while the Beermen were caught in an ugly basketball-novela.

Now?

A ringing endorsement

The struggle is real for Star
(Photo credit: PBA.Inquirer.net)

When Jason Webb took over the Star Hotshots’ bench in the preseason, we had a feeling that things might get rough at first. Still, we believed that everything will be just fine since he is taking over an already-made group of champions (grand slam ones, at that) and did not really need to make a world of adjustments.

A conference and two games into the second of the PBA season we are just as worried as the next Star fan.

PBAPC16 QF: 4 Ginebra vs 9 Star

Photo credit to PBA.Inquirer.net

Call this a rallying point.

When Coach Tim Cone left Star for Ginebra (taking Joe DeVance with him in the process), the team was left in shell-shocked and in shambles. Guys were not responding to head coach Jason Webb, no matter how fun his free-flowing offense appears to be and you could just see the lack of intensity on the defensive end.

Well, you know what they say about champions and their pride right?

Out of focus

Looking for the D
(Photo credit to the owner)

This is not how a "liberated" Grand Slam team should be performing.

Flirting with disastrous start to the season, rookie coach Jason Webb and his STAR Hotshots are currently sitting ugly with a 2 wins versus 6 losses slate in the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup. It honestly seems that while people were so busy looking at how Webb was supposed to run some Golden State-like, high-octane offense, the team forgot its championship defense somewhere in the middle of exorcising the Triangle Offense from their system.

For the numbers-hungry, STAR is averaging 91 ppg 46 rpg 16 apg while giving up 95 ppg 47 rpg and 19 apg to opponents. They are also committing 19 turnovers a match, which by itself tells you that this team has a lot of problems on so many fronts.

Back to the future

Is Sangalang ready to takeover?
(Photo credit to the owner)

This was supposed to be the year wherein expectations were to be set low while the STAR Hotshots make the transition from Tim Cone's rigid yet winning ways to Jason Webb's free-flowing, youth-oriented attack.

Don't tell that to the veterans.

Led by 2x PBA Most Valuable Player James Yap, the STAR Hotshots are fighting in games despite their current 1 win 2 losses card. Surprisingly, instead of the younger guys on the roster, it's Yap and Marc Pingris who are putting up the numbers and playing like they were freed from whatever shackle it was that held them back. Yap is taking more shots (his % suck, but shooters shoot) while Pingris is roaming and lurking. Sure, PJ Simon is playing less minutes but he is still their 3rd leading scorer behind Yap and Mark Barroca.

So where will the Hotshots go from here?

#PlayMeOrTradeMe

Nice shirt.
(Photo credit to the owner)

Indefinite suspension.

That is the punishment handed down by STAR Hotshots' management on their young small forward Allein Maliksi, after the former UST Tiger posted (now deleted) one of Nike's statement shirts on his personal Instagram account.

Let this be a lesson to all millenials: social media is not a platform for you to be ranting about the work place. Specially if your account is public AND more so if you are a celebrity of sorts like Maliksi.

Free Rein

Make or break
(Photo credit to the owner)

It is a great time to be a fan of STAR Hotshots basketball.

Sure, you can look at it from the other end of the spectrum since they recently lost their grand slam coach Tim Cone and the walking mismatch that is Joe DeVance, but then you should consider that no triangle means more running and gunning. More points. More fun.

At the very least, that is what we feel Coach Jason Webb is going for.

Salamat Gilas 3

#PUSO
(Photo credit to the owner)

Mga kababayan ko
Dapat lang malaman niyo
Bilib ako sa kulay ko
Ako ay Pilipino
Kung may itim o may puti 
Mayroon naman kayumanggi
Isipin mo na kaya mong
Abutin ang iyong minimithi 

- Magalona, F.

Tapos na ang FIBA Asia 2015 kung saan naiuwi ng ating Gilas 3 ang pilak habang ang host country na Tsina ang siyang nag uwi ng gintong medalya. Marami tayong pwedeng sabihin tungkol sa nasabing laro na katatapos lang, pero hindi tayo ganong klaseng basketball fans. Hindi tayo casual lang na biglang sumuporta sa koponan natin kasi nakapasok sa Finals. Manalo o matalo, lamyado o hindi, suporta pa din tayo. Kaya sa Tsina, saludo kami sa mga manlalaro niyo na para bang nagbabadya na kayo na muli ang magiging Asian basketball powerhouse sa susunod na mga taon.

Are you not entertained?

EASY! EASY!
(Photo credit to FIBA.com)

After all the drama and hardships leading into the formation of the team, Gilas 3 is back in the semifinals of the FIBA Asia tournament wherein we have a realistic chance of defending our precious "golden" silver or better yet-- winning it all en route to a seat in the 2016 Rio Olympics to do battle with the world's best basketball players.

But first, we need to beat Japan tomorrow before we even entertain thoughts of facing either defending champions and longtime tormentors Iran or the "rebuilt" basketball dynasty that is China.

If the game versus Lebanon is to be of any indication, you could say that we are on the right path though there are some things that we still need to work on if our goal indeed is to not simply enjoy a podium finish but rather facing global basketball superpowers like US, Spain and Argentina, among others. Today, Jayson Castro and Andray Blatche proved that they are arguably the best 1-2 punch in all of Asian basketball, maybe rivalling/ besting Iran's Nikkhah Bahrami and Hamed Haddadi even. Castro was just in a world of his own: finishing with 25 points, blitzing into the lane and besting his young Lebanese counterpart. Blatche? Though he started the tournament out of shape, the 6"11 reinforcement is starting to show flashes of his natural form by dropping 25 points and 17 rebounds on a Lebanese side that just didn't have anyone to match him with.

Blatche is big, quick, strong and finesse but at the same time he doesn't seem to mind getting his hands dirty when called upon.

87 - 73

The Beast, unleashed
(Photo credit FIBA.com)

There are no words at the moment to best describe how our very own Gilas Pilipinas beat the reigning FIBA Asia champions Iran in yesterday's 2nd round match-up of the very same tournament.

On one side, Iran was blowing through the competition by a margin of at least 40 points. They were running their sets, dominating from start to finish, and doing it all despite the relatively subpar efforts from resident stars Nikkhah Bahrami and Hamed Haddadi (Mahdi Kamrani and up-and-coming star power forward Mohammad Hassanzadeh were doing much of the damage early on for German Coach Dirk Bauermann). They were simply that good.

For our Philippine team, well, we started the FIBA Asia tournament by losing a big lead-- and the game to then unranked Palestine. We proceeded to blow out Hong Kong and Kuwait, as was expected, but then struggled against a Japanese side to start the 2nd round-- a team that Iran basically pummelled into submission by a margin of more than 30 points. Oh, and Andray Blatche hurt his ankle in that same game, a night versus this heavyweight match-up with Iran. Also, we have yet to really see Dondon Hontiveros, JC Intal and Terrence Romeo light guys up from beyond the arc.

So yeah, forgive us for not liking our chances against Iran.

For flag and country

Against all odds
(Photo credit to the owner)

While we do not condone the actions of those who begged off from being part of the Gilas 3 men's basketball team, we cannot and will not crucify them for it either

As we have previously mentioned, we will just keep moving forward with the names that we have. From top to bottom, "PBA wish list" aside, we are looking at Jayson Castro, Terrence Romeo, Gary David, Dondon Hontiveros, Matt Rosser, Calvin Abueva, Gabe Norwood, JC Intal, Ranidel de Ocampo, Troy Rosario, Moala Tautuaa, Aldrech Ramos, Sonny Thoss, Asi Taulava and Andray Blatche.

You could throw in retired/unretired Jimmy Alapag, and you are looking at 16 proud and willing basketball players who should be celebrated rather than questioned.