Natural born killer

Mamba Mentality
(Photo credit: gmanetwork.com)

Terrence Romeo just dropped 44 points on the Rain or Shine Elastopainters.

We repeat, forty-four points to go with 6 rebounds and the same number of assists. If you took away today's match up versus RoS' angry lot of shooting guards and small forwards, Romeo is still averaging a league-best 27ppg to go with 4rpg and 6apg on an absurd 44% clip from 2-point territory and 43% from 3.

What separates Romeo from all the other gifted scorers that we have seen both past and present, is that he doesn't appear to be quite the forgiving type. He will score at you in bunches, and will not stop pressing down your throat with his foot not until Coach Franz Pumaren yanks him out of the game or reminds him to let Stanley Pringle and friends join in the fun.

KKS Trade Reaction: Cortez to GlobalPort

Back in green... NEON green, that is.
(Photo credit: Aktv)

GlobalPort Batang Pier recently acquired the services of veteran point guard Mike Cortez from the Blackwater Elite for Ronald Pascual in what has mostly been an under-the-radar sort of trade.

Under-the-radar, since there was little to no fanfare surrounding the deal involving an oft-injured 35-year-old and the little-used sophomore. Though this could very well be a "low risk, high reward" type of deal should things go as planned for both teams.

Why, you ask?

Blackwater Rising

Who's the Man?
(Photo credit: PBA.Inquirer.net)

It took about a year or so plus a series of trades (lopsided at the time)  before Blackwater Elite's management and head coach Leo Isaac's patience finally paid off-- and how.

The Elite no longer appear lost on the hardcourt, with an obvious pecking order be it on offense or defense. Veteran point guard Mike Cortez (35mpg 10ppg 4rpg 6apg) leads the team and gets his youngsters Carlo Lastimosa (33mpg 30ppg 4rpg 3apg), JP Erram (18mpg 4rpg 1apg), Reil Cervantes (26mpg 20ppg 3rpg 1apg) and rookie Art dela Cruz (30mpg 12ppg 6rpg 3apg 4spg) in positions where they can be most effective. The addition of selfless, do-it-all import Malcom Rhett (45mpg 18ppg 15rpg 5apg) has also allowed the locals to flourish even more this PBA Commissioner's Cup.

Currently in the middle of the tournamenet with a 2 wins and 2 losses slate, the Elite are looking at making the Playoffs yet again after last conference's breakout performance which doesn't really seem too far-fetched all things considered.

See, Lastimosa has started to blossom as an elite PBA scorer, Erram's quickly becoming a decent, mobile 4-man with a pocket jumper, dela Cruz continues to make smart plays all over the court and, if we can see more of this "efficient" high-scoring Cervantes instead of the old ball-hogging, YOLO one, then the Elite could really do some damage against the more favored teams come playoff time.

If one were to nitpick, the Elite should consider developing a contingency plan should Cortez be sidelined in games (foul or injury). Currently on the roster as Cortez' back-up are Jerick Canada (a bit slow), Raffy Reyes (undisciplined), Almond Vosotros (shooter) and Juami Tiongson (blah)-- none of which, be it in the pros or amateurs, are even near Cortez' level of play. Another area of concern are the minutes being given the players mentioned above (import not included as this is expected of him), though they are all relatively young players so they shouldn't be burning out real soon.

Now if only our boy Almond can get some love from Coach Leo at the 2 spot...

PBAPC16 QF: 3 Rain or Shine vs 10 Blackwater

Photo credit to PBA.Inquirer.net

Talk about having to go through a Rite of Passage for the Blackwater Elite: though they just earned their first playoff appearance in their young franchise history, they find themselves with a twice-to-beat disadvantage versus perennial title contenders, the Rain or Shine Elastopainters.

Elite head coach Leo Isaac will need to squeeze all he can from main guys Carlo Lastimosa (23mpg 16ppg 3rpg 2apg), JP Erram (26mpg 12ppg 9rpg), Art dela Cruz (22mpg 11ppg 4rpg), Reil Cervantes (19mpg 9ppg 3rpg) and whoever among Raphy Reyes, Keith Agovida and Jason Melano are up to the challenge of locking horns with a physical RoS group.

A different air

Trying to live up to the name
(Photo credit to the owner)

It is beginning to smell a lot like Christmas for Coach Leo Isaac and the Blackwater Elite.

Though they are currently near the bottom of the PBA Philippine Cup standings with a 1 win - 4 losses record, the sophomore ballclub is starting to look and play like a legitimate professional basketball team instead of a whipping-boy expansion one. Save for that blowout loss to the streaking Rain or Shine Elastopainters, the Elite have managed to keep most of their games quite competitive and close with an average end game deficit of only 7 points per.

We do not really feel the need to remind anyone about the team's maiden campaign, and how brutal it was to watch them play on the court save for one Brian Heruela.

Oh Captain, Our Captain

The Mighty Mouse Returns
(Photo credit: Sports5.ph)

Even with news of his "un-retirement" making most of the local sports headlines, we will remain adamant  in our belief that there is not a single thing that Jimmy Alapag, retired Talk'n'Text Tropang Texter and soon to be Meralco Bolts point guard for 2015-2016, could ever do that would change our opinion of him as being one of the best point guards in the history of Philippine basketball.

He could slit a little puppy's throat in front of a bunch of toddlers, right now, and we'll still be like: "still one of the best point guards in the history of Philippine basketball" (although we sincerely hope that Alapag doesn't get any ideas with us saying that BTW).

So why did Alapag decide to unretire and lace up his sneakers after all the ceremonies and festivities January of this year? Why on earth would you give up a managerial position, to lead one of the league's best teams that require little to no rebuilding at the moment, to go back and be "one of the boys?"

Wired towards the future

How many solid point guards
do you have as back-up, Cool Cat?
(Photo credit Sports5.ph)

Since its inception in 2010 after buying out the Santa Lucia Realty franchise, the Meralco Bolts have always been known or regarded to as Manny V. Pangilinan's "other PBA team." They are not as decorated as sister team Talk'n'Text Tropang Texters, they hardly make deep playoff runs despite being given some TNT pieces to work with (at one time or another: Mac Cardona, Asi Taulava, Marlou Aquino, and now Jared Dillinger and Gary David). And even when they managed to snag a legitimate PBA grand slam coach in Norman Black for this season, it was widely received as Black's demotion for not continuing in Chot Reyes' TNT's championship ways, than the Bolts moving in the right direction.

Well, after Season 1 of the "Black Magic" Era, we can all say that they were wrong.

It wasn't a demotion for Black, it was a challenge. A new project wherein he can build the foundations of a competitive basketball team that plays the right way. Those who paid enough attention to the Bolts would tell you that they are no longer the team of yesteryears' and that they are playing true to who they are, with a definitive character or team identity.

Power Surge

The sitcom can wait for now,
welcome back El Granada!
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

After a mediocre first few years in the PBA after buying out the Santa Lucia Realty franchise, the Bolts are finally looking like a Manny V. Pangilinan-owned team thanks to their hot start in the PBA Commissioner's Cup. Head coach Norman Black has done quite a remarkable job in being able to find balance in what was once a predictable one-man show squad (first it was supposed "franchise" player Mac Cardona, then it was Gary David's turn, then they tried it again with Jarred Dillinger but that didn't pan out quite well).

This time, every one gets to touch the basketball despite or in spite of David's current "return to form" (pwera bati). The Bolts play defense first, mostly on hustle and hunger thanks to import Josh Davis who everyone thought was a bad fit at first (probably still is, because of redundancy in talent and the failure to address the team's need for a legit center, but you can't argue with results which is shown on the win column), the offense second. Their sets aren't that complicated when you look at it, just good old-fashioned textbook basketball plays run on a very high level which is a testament to Black's coaching genius.

O Captain! My Captain!

#ThankYouJimmy

"O Captain! My Captain! Our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people are all exalting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring,"

Write no sad poetry as Walt Whitman for one Jimmy Alapag-- the man who has brought glory to the Philippines through the sport of basketball despite standing 5"9 in a sport dominated by 6"0 point guards and above. Yesterday he announced his retirement in near quiet fashion, being given a press conference in the middle of an action-packed PBA Finals, when his resume would demand at least an hour-long sit down interview with daresay the most popular talk show host today Vice Ganda, erm, Boy Abunda.

We still remember the young Alapag, back when he was brought in for a tryout by now Talk'n'Text head coach Jong Uichico for the national team in 2002. He injured his hand before he could even make an impact with the training pool, so we had to wait another year to see just how good he really was at the time. His stock dropped so bad, that he went 10th in the 2003 PBA Draft wherein a bunch of now long established role/ bit players and forgotten names went ahead of him.

PBA KO Phase Round 2 Predictions: RoS Bracket

Expect fireworks.
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Well look what we have here: for the first time in a very long while, one of the teams that will advance to the PBA Finals will not be the Purefoods franchise. This, after a heart-breaking loss to a balanced Meralco Bolts franchise that didn't even have a superstar game from main man Gary David (where did that perfect game from James Sena come from?!).

Now, in a rather odd ball of a set-up, two teams will slug it out for the right to face the waiting PBA Philippine Cup 2nd seed Rain or Shine Elastopainters. On one side there's the Alaska Aces, a team that could've easily finished 1 or 2 if not for some lapses and the other, the Bolts.

3 Alaska Aces vs 6 Meralco Bolts
The first and only time that these two teams met in the elimination round, the Aces put on a 105-64 ass whooping of a clinic on the hapless Bolts. The Bolts were never really in the game, with Vic Manuel, Dondon Hontiveros, Calvin Abueva and rookie Chris Banchero all takings turns just scoring at will and the Bolts clearly out of form with Gary David going 2/10 from the field.

El Granada looks to detonate anew

Gary David to Meralco 

After a year of frustrations and injuries, PBA scoring champion Gary David has been sent by GlobalPort to Meralco in a trade that also includes rookie A.J. Mandani for point guards and former PBL rivals Chris Ross and Chris Timberlake.

From the outside looking in, we love the trade solely for two reasons: it reunites David with a more "shooter-friendly" offense with Meralco's Dribble Drive and two, it gives him a new lease on life after "regressing" this 38th PBA Season. By that we mean, his scoring clip was going up the last five seasons-- scoring average of 15, 17, 18, 21 and 25 before going "down" to 18 again.

PBA GovCup Semis: Meralco - Designed to Fail?

Nag mukhang unggoy yung Meralco
sa pangit ng rotation
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Before anything else, we would like to give a shoutout to the Meralco Bolts for their gutsy stand despite the huge disparity in personnel and firepower in their series against the San Mig Coffee Mixers. Import Mario West put in an impressive and valiant effort despite clearly being hobbled by a shoulder injury he suffered the game before. 

But what we want to touch on this entry is to openly question just what the hell happened with the Bolts. Did they push and ride the “underdog” tag too much? Were players being withheld from being fielded in? What the hell kind of rotation and game plan was Bolts head coach Ryan Gregorio trying to play the entire series?

The way the series unraveled, the Bolts played small ball most of the time with veteran Reynel Hugnatan duking it out with San Mig Coffee’s Marc Pingris, Marqus Blakely and Rafi Reavis underneath. Spelling him was JayR Reyes, a 6”8 warm body with six handy fouls to give out at best.

Let the madness begin... The Return of Asi

Can the Cool Cat shine anew in a different system?
(Photo courtesy of PBA InterAKTV)

So the two camps have finally reached a middle ground.

After weeks of endless discussion and possible (and fantasy) trade scenarios, the Meralco Bolts have agreed to give its rights to inactive (re: moonlighting/ reigning ASEAN Basketball Most Valuable Player) big man Asi Taulava to the Air21 Express in exchange for the (equally) resuscitated career of point guard Mike Cortez.

Now if you're naive enough to believe that Taulava is going to stay put and suit up for the Express and is in it for the long haul,  well, good for you. But it doesn't take much rewinding, research and exploring to connect the dots and see where this is going to.

Air21's Farm Team Problems

Tonichi Yturri does not approve.
(Photo courtesy of PBA InterAKTV)

Air21 Express head coach Franz Pumaren is in a bind.

And not only because his team is currently (as always) at the cellar with a sad 1-4 slate with the only silver lining is a looming trade that will reunite him with his college star (Joseph Yeo) who hasn't really been making any waves in the pros the last three years.

Pumaren is in a bind because he only has two players, Mike Cortez (10,3,4) and Nino Canaleta (16,5) who are borderline PBA contender team rotation players. The rest are either too young, too old or just not good enough to win games despite the system.

PBA Trade Rumor: The Ninja to Air21

Ritualo. Atkins. Sharma. Yeo. #ibalikangbigote
(Photo courtesy of PBA InterAKTV)

If reports are correct, then arguably one of the most prolific collegiate scorers in history is going to get a chance to resuscitate his PBA career in the next few days. Joseph Yeo, the now de facto 11th to 12th man of the Petron Blaze Boosters, is part of a looming semi-blockbuster trade that also indirectly involves long time PBA All Star and national team player Kerby Raymundo of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

Next is our attempt at breaking down this possible trade, naming winners and losers, and even looking at what's in store in the near future.

Gilas Pilipinas: Take the lead

Photo courtesy of Interaksyon.com

Following in the footsteps of all the great Filipino point guards before him, Lewis Alfred Tenorio will spearhead Gilas Pilipinas’ medal-finish dreams in the coming FIBA Asia tournament this August.

Tenorio has earned the mantle from Gilas teammate Jimmy Alapag the last two years. He is the top Filipino playmaker today given his ability to play different styles. He can play uptempo like Alapag and Alex Cabagnot, he can slow it down in the halfcourt a la Wynne Arboleda and Mike Cortez or he can even call his own number and score at will like Paul Lee and Jayjay Helterbrand.

The Dream Match to end it all

Dream Match III: if only to see
Kiefer vs Mac/Yeo/Cortez

There you have it.

The PBA Green Archers were able to repeat versus rivals PBA Blue Eagles in this afternoon's ho-hum battle at the SM MoA Arena dubbed "Dream Match II: The Revenge." Well, if the script were to be followed, the Eagles were supposed to win this one to force a nail-biter of a third and deciding match (ala celebrated promoter Don King's brand of boxing).

But the Archers wouldn't have any of it. Mac Cardona, free from the burden of having to play a passive role with his mother team Meralco's three-ball happy Dribble Drive Offense, played like he had a score to settle with everyone from the Eagles' side of things. He dropped in threes, made his patented tear drop hook shots and even threw in some mean mug swag "anong height mo" theatrics here and there for good measure.

So should a third match be played, with the Archers now up 2-0 in this mini cash cow of a side event by the PBA? Yes. But IF and WHEN current amateur superstar known to most as "The Phenom" Keifer Ravena turns pro (or is eligible to do so).

Into the PBA Commish Cup Playoffs (part 1)

God Mode?
Don't they know I invented "COOL?"

Alaska Aces (1) vs Air21 Express (8)
Make no mistake about it, no matter how promising the players on the court are this match-up will be decided on the coaching end. It's going to be the Aces' upstart Luigi Trillo versus tried-and-tested collegiate coach Franz Pumaren for Air21. At first glance, you're already looking at a highly entertaining series with the following match-ups:

PG JVee Casio vs Mike Cortez
It's going to be the guy that was embraced and loved by the Green-and-White going up against the one that was controversially disowned/disgraced/disavowed (before time healed all the old wounds). Both guys are coming off injury concerns, but of the two, it's going to be Cortez who will prove to be more invaluable to his team rather than Casio. Though Casio is continuing to learn and excel as a PBA-level point guard, he has the luxury of having RJ Jazul and even rookie Raffy Reyes to spell him and steer the Aces' offense. Cortez on the other hand, will have no reprieve in this one and is the one true catalyst should Air21 ever hope of stealing a game. Casio needs to look for his shots to keep Cortez honest, while the latter needs to use his height and heft to the hilt and keep on attacking the rim like the Cool Cat of old.

Adv. Air21

Air21 started from the bottom...

The Cool Cat cometh

... now they're here.

Following tonight's victory over the injury and drama-challenged San Mig Coffee Mixers, the Air21 Express are on a three game winning streak and have slowly climbed back into playoff contention. Spearheading the cause are monstrous import Michael Dunigan (26 ppt, 15 rpg), sweet-shooting Nino Canaleta (11 points, 4 rebounds) and the return to form of point guard Mike Cortez (10 ppg, 5 rpg, 5 apg).

As much as we'd like to dismiss tonight's victory over the Mixers as a fluke owing to the latter's 2x PBA MVP James Yap's off-court drama and the injury to point-forward Joe DeVance, we just cannot ignore how efficient and sound the Express has been looking on the floor as of late.

On the prowl

Still COOL like that

When Mike Cortez first took the country by storm as a high-socks wearing, crossover wielding 6"0 point guard for the mighty De La Salle University Green Archers in the UAAP, expectations of him being the next "great Filipino point guard" became rampant.

Near triple doubles were the norm, as Cortez would make the game look easy for himself and his teammates on a daily (nay, yearly) basis. He would slice into the lane when the opportunity is presented him (finishing with his trademark "jump straight up, ball palmed on his overly extended right arm *hand*, wait for the contact before laying it in" move) or would simply look for his scorers Ren Ren Ritualo and MacMac Cardona on the wings for the easy deuce.