Trade Rumors

Nice Photoshop skills. But trade still in limbo
(Photo credits to the owner)

While we await the final decision/ approval of the PBA Commissioner's Office, let's take a seat and digest the possible transactions that have already seen the light of Internet day (which, in reality, sounds more like gossip than news but hey, whatever sells right?).

First up is the blockbuster deal that would involve sister teams Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and San Miguel, and conduit Barako Bull Energy Cola. In this trade, Ginebra will get the services of Marcio Lassiter, San Miguel gets JC Intal and Barako lands Mac Baracael.

Sure, it involves sister and farm teams but when was the last time we had a trade of almost equal value in the PBA?

Exercise in futility

At the start of the PBA season, it was agreed upon by the PBA board that teams will be allowed an optional, secondary import of Asian lineage as long as he stands 6"3 and below (the first being the "regular" import of 6"5) for the season-ending PBA Governor's Cup. Truth be told, the idea in general is more of a marketing/ public relations-driven campaign to further the brand instead of improving the level of play in the league.

We already know that the Filipino basketball talent is at par (if not better) than most in the East Asian region. We have known this for so long, specially if we are talking about guys who stand 6"3 and below. This is why every one from Johnny Abarrientos, to Kenneth Duremdes and now Jayson Castro and Paul Lee are able to make their foreign counterparts look a step and skillset slower and lower. So we could fully understand why some of the PBA teams deemed it unnecessary to add another name on the roster, limit their locals' minutes and add to the payroll.

Why?

Because it is "optional."

2015 PBA Mock Draft V 2.0

Top 5 sleeper
(Photo credits to owner)

Remember when we said that it was a bit early to be writing about the 2015 PBA Draft, given the scarcity of names that are sure to apply? Well, we are starting to hear more and more of young, collegiate talent that are foregoing their final UAAP/NCAA years if only to try their luck at the pros (UE's Roi Sumang being the biggest newsmaker to date).

Just bear in mind that the PBA Draft order isn't final (we'll know at season's end) but here's more or less something to work with (thanks to that PBADraft website whose owner I don't know, but props to him/ her).

Let's go.

KKS Fantasy: If Team MVP were to trade within

Just a few days ago, two teams under the San Miguel umbrella engaged in some player trades/ acquisition with the aide of two other "rumored" sister farm teams to increase their chances of winning moving forward. This has been a constant (a rather tiring one, even) for Team SMB which has led us to wonder why the teams under the great Manny V. Pangilinan umbrella aren't doing the same.

You could argue that it's because Talk'n'Text, the Team MVP's flagship and answer to San Miguel Beermen, has been winning so much that trades aren't really all that necessary,but we feel that Meralco and NLEX could use a little help here and there as far as some pieces are concerned.

Basically, since we have time to spare (our team-  Rain or Shine already booked a seat in the PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals and is just waiting for the Purefoos - Talk 'n' Text winner), here's something of a fantasy trade scenario that we feel could help all Team MVP franchises right away:

PBACC The Quarterfinals: NLEX vs Meralco

Blue collar basketball
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

"Walang kapatid-kapatid, walang kaibi-kaibigan."

Sorry. Couldn't help it. Couldn't help quoting a former President turned Mayor-on-redemption on this one simply because it will be the first time (in recent memory) that we'll see two of Team MVP's squads facing one another in the Playoffs (something that we've been quite used to with Team SMC). Basically, this is the Team MVP version of a Purefoods vs Ginebra, with Talk'n'Text playing the crown jewel San Miguel role.

Two teams that are built on fundamentally sound basketball, no superstar plays, no isolation-heavy star guards trying to carry his team onto greatness. Just good, clean almost college-like basketball featuring two of the more disciplined coaches out there today in Meralco's Norman Black and NLEX's Boyet Fernandez.

The Right Fit

The real deal. Sorry Ms. Sheryl!
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

It's that time of the PBA season once again wherein teams try their very best to remain (or be) competitive by adding a foreign reinforcement. The trouble with this set-up is that it's a hit-or-miss affair, since you're never truly guaranteed of having the right chemistry or wins, not until the import comes over and actually plays a few games with the team.

There are those who have solid credentials but never really lived up to the hype, some who were able to deliver, and other unknowns and sleepers (Terquin Mott, Devin Davis and Damien Owens from an era ago, Diamon Simpson, AZ Reid, Marqus Blakely) who pretty much take their teams to the promise land and even come back several times to help their team keep that winning tradition. Sometimes, it's not all about the credentials. Sometimes, you just have to take a leap of faith when it comes to adding an import. But it would be absurd for a team to throw team chemistry and addressing certain needs out the window if only to get a name. Right?

Well, some times.

Here's our take on the PBA imports that we've seen so far:

PBA KO Phase Predictions: RoS Bracket

Business is about to pick-up in the on-going PBA Philippine Cup as we bid newcomers Kia Sorento and winless Blackwater Elite adieu until next conference and see who's the cream of the crop. As you may or may not know, the top two seeds: San Miguel Beermen and Rain or Shine Elastopainters, get a bye until the later round. The rest of the field will have to duke it out, with the lower seeded teams needing to win twice over the higher seeded ones if they would like to advance.

The Rock needs to go to TNT. Now.
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

We're dividing the brackets into two, based on who they will eventually face in the Quarters: The RoS and SMB brackets.

3 Alaska Aces (twice-to-beat) vs 10 NLEX Road Warriors 
The Aces missed out on an opportunity of landing in the top two spots by a hairline, but this match-up with the NLEX should be a quick and easy one considering both rosters. The Warriors have a formidable frontline with Asi Taulava and a suddenly revived Enrico Villanueva but they, unfortunately, do not play with the same intensity as that of Calvin Abueva who is leading the league in rebounding despite being the same size as NLEX star scorer Mac Cardona. If Eric Menk continues with his inspired, "tour de force" play and Sonny Thoss comes back 100% healthy, then it's all over for the Warriors who still need to address some holes on the roster.

A fresh start

Captain Hook is back!
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

It's never easy being The Man then having to unlearn everything and play as part of a "big picture" team, only to be asked to be The Man again but not exactly The Man you were, then go back to being part of another rebuilding effort before finally being asked to revisit The Man you used to be because you're the only legitimate option left on the team.

But for NLEX Road Warriors guard Mac Cardona, he probably wouldn't have it any other way.

Sure, Cardona would probably be a lot happier if he had played and stayed with only one team to further his legacy as one of the PBA's best scorers (along with one-time peers/rivals James Yap and Mark Caguioa), but you know how they say that "in life, you simply need to roll with the cards that you've been dealt." Based on the numbers and history, there's no denying that "Captain Hook" is at his very best when he is allowed to play to his strengths instead of to someone else's. A return to his old, nonchalant on-court demeanor after flirting with a "Rated PG, TV-friendly Mark Cardona" version of himself also doesn't seem to hurt either.

Coaching Carousel: Team MVP Edition (Part 1: Black to Meralco)

For the Meralco Bolts and reportedly soon-to-be former head coach Ryan Gregorio, it was a hard four years.

They inherited a once proud Santa Lucia Realty franchise that saw it's two young stars, Ryan Reyes and Kelly Williams, shipped to their older brother Talk 'n' Text. A couple of promising talents (Joseph Yeo, Denok Miranda) were also sent elsewhere. So, to fill the void, the Bolts opted to bring in Mac Cardona as their franchise player to team up with the likes of aging bigs Marlou Aquino and pre-Team Ageless Asi Taulava.

It was rough. Cardona was dumped, another exiled Texter in Jared Dillinger was brought in and more trades were made to help the Bolts' campaign. This season, the team fielded in a not too shabby starting or best five of Mike Cortez, Gary David, Jarred Dillinger, Reynel Hugnatan and Rabeh Al Husseini.

That's actually not a bad five, with Danny Ildefonso and Cliff Hodge coming off the bench.

Up for sale

Here's a question that the media and those in the know seem to keep skirting around on: which PBA team will Manny V. Pangilinan buy for his NLEX Road Warriors?

We already know that NLEX wants in. Bad. We've heard Alaska rumors. Now we've been hearing a lot of Air21 rumors. Of the "Joseph Yeo Gentleman's Agreement" (didn't know that there was honor among thieves) getting in the way. Of how there are two teams (Air21 and, since their name was thrown out there earlier, Alaska) that are up for sale.

TWO.

Is it too late for either Blackwater or Kia to step in and buy the other one? Or maybe it's just a ploy being used by NLEX to help speed things up. As a bargaining chip against the team that they really want to purchase. Would make a lot of sense really-- say that there's this other team that's also up for sale but cheaper, but you're still taking to the concerned party out of delicadeza and so on.

2013 PBA Draft "Discards" Expansion Team

What might have been for Revilla.
(Photo courtesy of TheLasallian.com)

There are ten teams plying their trade in the Philippine Basketball Association.

Just last year, the league held it's annual PBA Draft wherein bright, young talent were acquired. Some of them were signed to lucrative contracts and have quickly grown to become household names, and then there were those who were not as fortunate.

Come the PBA's 40th Season, the league has agreed to increase their fold by accepting three more teams in NLEX, Blackwater/ Ever Bilena and Kia Motors. This in itself will create more roster spots, nay, jobs for displaced 2013 PBA Draft hopefuls as well as other young (and maybe some old) PBA talent.

Here we try to create a legit 2013 PBA Draft Free Agent basketball team that would only show how deep the pool was or promising some of the unsigned names were. A competitive line-up of young studs who were just unfortunate to have not had the chance to showcase their talents due to already loaded PBA teams.