PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals: Texters vs Mixers

When was the last time in PBA Finals history wherein you felt that both teams, namely the Talk ‘n’ Text Tropang Texters and San Mig Coffee Mixers, were so evenly matched from coaching staff to players, that you sincerely felt that the series could go either way and no one would have a problem with the end result?

The Texters and Mixers both feature PBA Hall of Fame Coaches in Norman Black and Tim Cone, are led by some of the league’s “who’s who” when it comes to skills, talent and popularity (with the Mixers’ enjoying love from the average basketball fans and the Texters’ by way of the purists who don’t mind “ugly” wins) and could easily represent the country in any or all international meets right here, right now (an honor bestowed and earned by the core of the Texters’).

This series promises to be an intense basketball clinic, owing to both teams’ ability to play and guard both styles of fundamental basketball: run and gun and halfcourt.

Making the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals even more interesting is the fact that it’s a Best-of-Five affair—which forces both teams little to no time to execute and adjust their respective game planes. 

It’s a well-known fact that Black has mastered the art form of game plane execution probably and most likely built around advanced scouting while Cone is the King of pre/in/post game adjustments so that chess match should be quite entertaining and educational.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals!

2014 Philippine Cup Finals Reaction

Now it can be told.

This writer purposely and consciously refrained from updating this blog simply because we chose to be more fan than analyst. Though we provided some with our Finals Preview over at SolarSportsDesk.Ph, nothing beats just taking a step back and appreciating the beauty of the game-- specially when your team (Rain or Shine Elastopainters) is playing the PBA's "glamour boys" (San Mig Coffee Mixers).

It's good versus evil. The handsome hardcourt heartthrobs doing battle against the gillage (gilid of the village) goons The prince pitted against the pauper.

Going into the Finals, we weren't as sold on our chances as some other fans were. They were elated because they felt the Elastopainters had a legit shot at their head coach's, Yeng Guiao's, first-ever All Filipino championship after dominating the standings. We weren't sold because opposite Guiao is head coach Tim Cone and his quest to win "number 16."

Scripted

Maybe we should all just stop with the conspiracy theories and just enjoy the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals as non-fans of both Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and San Mig Coffee Mixers.

It is a disservice after all, to the hard-working men who wake up in the morning, endure several exhausting routines and drills, and get a cheap shot in the rib or an elbow right on the kisser by day’s end. These are our modern day action stars, nay, heroes. They fight for the names printed on their jerseys, and the adoring masses who take an hour or two of their precious time to cheer them on.

So to the PBA players, fans and our readers, to you we sincerely apologize with all the “scripted” semantics.

Why Manila Classico SHOULD go the distance

Where's Japeth?

Sports-entertainment related conspiracy theories aside, one cannot deny that the on-going semifinals slugfest between sister teams Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and San Mig Coffee Mixers is worth its lofty box-office hype billing.

After all, on one side you have a "reborn" franchise, looking to re-establish itself among the upper echelon of Philippine basketball teams and on the other, an already proud yet "under the radar" dynasty thanks to the unwritten pecking order in their own corporate umbrella. While Petron Blaze/ San Miguel and Ginebra have long been established as Team San Miguel, the "glamor boys" of the PBA are lost in the mix despite just being a few titles short of Petron Blaze/ San Miguel's (Ginebra doesn't even belong in that "who's got more rings" discussion among the sisters).

In Game One, we saw the Mixers lording it over a hapless Ginebra squad which were probably tired from their quarterfinals match-up with the Alaska Aces. The Mixers, thanks to their veteran line-up bannered by 2x PBA MVP James Yap, PJ Simon and Marc Pingris not to mention Hall of Fame coach Tim Cone, simply out-smarted the young yet green Ginebra.

Gun for hire: Canaleta to Talk 'n' Text

KG is taking his talents to TNT
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

And the rich continue to get richer.

The Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters, in an effort to ensure that they are armed to the teeth (if they aren't already) going into their PBA Philippine Cup Quarterfinals Best-of-Three with the San Mig Coffee Mixers, have recently acquired the services of Air21 Express' leading scorer Nino Canaleta. The 6"6, 185 lbs. sharpshooter averaged a team-best 16 points to go with 6 rebounds while not necessarily being the Express' 1st option on offense.

While logic dictates that Canaleta will struggle with the Texters being that he is the "new kid in town," we don't see him having a hard time adjusting to his teammates who, for the last few championship years, are the PBA embodiment of "playing for each other." The Texters thrive in the team concept as evidenced by the success that they've garnered and also with their dribble-drive motion offense (although head coach Norman Black has successfully added some new/old halfcourt elements here and there the last year or so).

Out of sync

Is the playing-injured James Yap
hurting/helping his team?
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Should someone make a quick call to the conspiracy theorists behind the whole "only two of the three San Miguel umbrella teams can have winning records per conference" schtick? Because the way things are going, the San Mig Coffee Mixers are bound to be left off the PBA Philippine Cup title hunt.

How else can you explain the Mixers' paltry three wins in ten games predicament despite having a souped-up roster?

Granted, the Mixers were bit by the injury bug with stars Joe DeVance, PJ Simon, Marc Pingris and 2x former PBA Most Valuable Player James Yap all sitting out games early in the conference. But ten games in, with the stars all back, and still a losing record?

Something's amiss.

PBA GovCup Finals: San Mig Coffee aching for redemption

Ilang panalo na lang at mahahagkan ng muli
ni Barroca si Erika Padilla
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

The San Mig Coffee Mixers are back in the PBA Governor’s Cup Finals after disposing of a gutsy Meralco Bolts squad in their Best-of-Five affair, going 3-1. 

This time around, the Mixers were led by do-it-all import Marqus Blakely, a re-calibrated 2x PBA MVP James Yap, Joe DeVance, steady Mark Barroca and rookie Alex Mallari. Those five did enough for the team that the sub par performances of usually dependable stat-sheet stuffing stalwarts PJ Simon and Marc Pingris.

What’s next for the Mixers? Well, if they can have it their way, a Governor’s Cup championship trophy at season’s end.

Monster-Bowles Returns

Monster Bowles and The Captain
having a moment

After a forgetful return/debut, San Mig Coffee Mixers import Denzel Bowles has powered the team to two consecutive victories including last night's impressive (yet foul-ridden) man-handling of the Global Port Batang Pier in an out-of-town sortie.

Though his rebounding numbers haven't rounded up to the 2012 version of himself, Bowles' is finding ways to contribute by mixing up his now more consistent mid-range game with his face-up moves to the basket. Batang Pier counterpart Justin Williams, who is reportedly on his way out thanks to a string of low scoring performances (hey, he's not the focal point of the offence, he's playing MAD defines, so what's your beef Coach Junel Baculi), was being tested to the hilt in more ways than one. To Williams' credit, he was putting in the work on the defensive end and blocking shots left and right.

Rain or Shine triumphs, heads to Pinoy Cup Finals

Sige mag usap muna kayo jan,
ititira ko muna ito

For the record, the San Mig Coffee Mixers did whatever they could to try and salvage a win and extend the series for another night. And though top gun, 2x PBA Most Valuable Player, James Yap had another rough outing (relentlessly being hounded by the Rain or Shine Elastopainters) their other superstar PJ Simon went to work early to give the Mixers the lead in the first half.

Simon looked to be unstoppable, as he kept draining jumper after jumper right at hapless Paul Lee's grill as though the bald-headed reigning PBA Rookie of the Year wasn't there. Marc Pingris also looked like he was up for another big night, jumping all over the place and hauling down monstrous one-handed rebounds over the Elastopainters' frontline. Then there was also Joe DeVance, taking advantage of the mismatch in skillset and scoring time and again against either smaller or slower defenders asked to guard him. Truly, save for Yap going AWOL, everything was clicking for the Mixers. Even when things started to get chippy the Mixers appeared to be well in control, ending the first half with a Yap triple (which, for Mixers fans, was a great sign).

Then came the second half.

Whatever happened to Paul Lee

Asan na ung Angas ng Tondo?

Basketball is a team sport, it is not played by any certain individual no matter how dominant he may be on the hard court. A guy can score 100 points, average 50 for his career and still have only about a handful of rings while other, lesser talented individuals win more than you have fingers (Wilt Chamberlain: Bill Russel). There are times however, when these "superstars" stand out just because of what they can do and how others need to adjust to them.

For the San Mig Coffee Mixers, there's James Carlos Yap. The 2x PBA MVP who has become so unparalleled that it took a highly-motivated, vastly improved Jireh Ibanes of the Rain or Shine Elastopainters (with some help from today's "loose" PBA officiating that allows holds, grabs, bumps and what not) to keep him at bay (not even stop him, just enough to keep him from blowing up and dropping 30 points). Yap has been the barometer for his team in the on-going series between the Mixers and Elastopainters. When he's off, they lose, and the only time they won with him having an awful game (Game 5), it took a concerted effort among his teammates to do so.

Mental Toughness key for Mixers

Instead of working the refs,
Mixers need to go to work

The San Mig Coffee Mixers blew out the Rain or Shine Elastopainters just a few days ago, everyone thought that it would help turn the series in their corner and that they were in control. Well the "Nightmare on Christmas" happened, as the Elastopainters easily and handily returned the favor and sacked the Mixers in a demoralizing 98-72 fashion.

Elastopainters' head coach Yeng Guiao was right on two accounts: that his team had "more stoppers than they (Mixers) have scorers (James Yap and PJ Simon)" and also that the "burden of adjustments" fall squarely on Mixers' head coach Tim Cone et. al. There's no other way to go about it, it seems as though all the Elastopainters have to do to win the series is to "stay the course" which is to play to their trademark: aggressive, physical and relentless style. When they're sticking to the Mixers, hustling for the basketball and doing the little things such as Jireh Ibanes getting into Yap's face even when the 2x PBA MVP isn't even the focus of a play, it will translate to an Elastopainter victory no matter how close/ far the scores are.

As for the Mixers, they have no one else to blame but themselves.

Ready for a battle

From one King Warrior to another

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a series.

San Mig Coffee Mixers head coach Tim Cone stepped up to the plate to once again prove why he is arguably the league's best bench tactician (which was only in jeopardy the last couple of years because of the rise of now SMART Gilas head coach Chot Reyes), making the correct adjustments to stifle the Rain or Shine Elsatopainters' attack and equalize their PBA Philippine Cup semifinals showdown 1-1.

Of course, credit goes to hurting star James Yap for coming up big and knocking down shots while appearing as though he's hardly broken a sweat. The Mixers won 106-82 behind Yap's explosive 34 points built around an avalanche of long range shots while getting able and ample support from Mark Barroca, Joe DeVance (our pick as series X-factor for the Mixers) and PJ Simon.

No rebounds, no rings

One for UST!

The San Mig Coffee Mixers had an absurd height advantage highlighted by 6"8 slotman Yancy de Ocampo and 6"7 point-forward Joe DeVance among other members of the vaunted "Sampayan Brigade." So how did the Rain or Shine Elastopainters-- known for having the league's most bruising, able WIDE bodies, out-rebound them in Game 1 to win 91-83?

All heart.

We knew who would score for both teams, though James Yap had an off night (might be playing hurt) and PJ Simon was being his usual inconsistent self (same can be said for DeVance) for the Mixers while there's Paul Lee (too big, too strong), Jeffrei Chan (started off hot) and the pick-your-poison frontline for the Elastopainters.

Looking for the "Lee Stopper"

100% Effort

We all know the value of defensive stoppers in the game of basketball. Some players have built a career around it, averaging no more than five points a game but still being an invaluable part of his team's rotation and game plan.

The San Mig Coffee- Rain or Shine Elastopainters cannot be weighed accordingly just because "they faced each other a few months ago in the Governor's Cup Finals which RoS won." First and foremost there's RoS' return-to-form reigning PBA Rookie of the Year Paul Lee who is looking like an elite level point guard-- a combination of Jayjay Helterbrand's IQ and Mark Caguioa's scoring smarts wrapped in a bald, baby fat-filled frame. Over at SMC, Yancy de Ocampo is putting on quite a conference thus far under Coach Tim Cone. Spending most of last season as an almost fogotten, third string center, YDO is proving his worth and showing the league that (when highly motivated) he is arguably the 2nd best game-changing big man there is (next only to younger brother Ranidel).

Lastly, and where this entry will come down to, is one Jean Marc Pingris.

Grudge Match: Rain or Shine versus San Mig Coffee

Simpleng sahod
sabay sorry by Papa Chris

The Rain or Shine Elastopainters successfully dispatched the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and their retarded coaching staff. Say what you will, but never did we doubt our earlier pick after Ginebra's over-rated "Never Say Die" performance in Game 2 of their quarterfinals match-up.

We're not hating on Ginebra, we're just as frustrated as their unwavering faithful that's all. This is a powerhouse team, they have the reigning PBA Most Valuable Player and arguable the league's best point guard the last year and perhaps the next three to four more. They feature an enviable combination of skilled wingmen and some All Star veterans who've won at every stop. They were playing against a team whose notorious bruisers were enjoying a rare off-series and a Negros Sniper whose been even more way off the mark.

Shrinkage Syndrome for Llamados

James Yap needs to step up. Now.

Isn't it ironic how the B-Meg Llamados, pre-season favorites with the acquisition of Hall of Fame coach Tim Cone, is led by a man touted "Big Game" only for them to keep falling short in, well, big games?

James Yap hasn't scored over 20 points in what feels like forever and this night's 103-81 loss is no different regardless of the 21 he scored on a 7/17 shooting clip. Most of his points came early, and when push came to shove, he couldn't do anything but hoist up those nice-form threes that kept bouncing off the rim.

San Miguel Gilas: The dream

Can't win FIBA games on style points

Philippine basketball fans know this by now though some have a hard time grasping its notion, the SMART Gilas Pilipinas basketball team is owned by Manny V. Pangilinan, its head coach is Talk 'n' Text's Chot Reyes, and most of its players will be from the very same PBA team.

There are no arguments to be made there, it's quite clear now that there are two basketball powers in the country (which we love as long as they keep it clean) and that. much like it was San Miguel's turn a decade ago, the ball is now with Team MVP. Simply put, if they can bring in players of equal caliber without jumping ship or having to stoop and beg their rivals, then so be it. Fortunately enough, this country is stacked with basketball talent and that there will always be a star (or more) who are not under their employ.

SMART Gilas 2: PG candidate heavy

Don't look now, but there might be
no room for Alapag w/ SMART Gilas 2

Here's a tough nut to crack, do you drop Alapag to make room for younger PGs? Don't bet on it. Not with Alapag playing like the MVP he is this season, and definitely not with his Talk 'n' Text head coach Chot Reyes manning the helm for SMART Gilas 2.

Still, would it really be that much of a problem if we were to take Alapag, future Hall-of-Famer, out of the SG2 PG list?

This writer thinks and believes that we'll be just fine with the younger guys listed below who are just as SMART Gilas 2 worthy as the Pinoy Basketball Icon (when it's all said and done, Alapag should be mentioned in the same breath as Abarrientos, and just a notch above Hector Calma):

B-Meg Llamados: Up to the task

No questions asked.
This is Cone and Yap's team now.

Slowly but surely, future Hall of Famer and current two-conference-old B-Meg Llamados coach Tim Cone is taking control of the team as-a-whole. Altering its genetic make-up from the league's isolation-heavy posterboys, Cone has transformed the Llamados into a more balanced squad that puts an onus on team play.

It wasn't easy, but they are starting to reap the benefits of the seeds that they've been sowing at a short period of time. Rookie Mark Barroca is slowly emerging as a great, change-of-pace point guard who Cone doesn't have problems with playing exclusively in the 4th over his starters at the position.