Against all odds

Talk about having to earn your keep
(Photo credit to the owner)

The late Richard Nixon, the 37th president of the United States, was once quoted for saying that "the strongest steel goes through the hottest fire." While we're not entirely sure that Gilas 3 has gone through the "hottest" of ordeals (yet, or maybe they're in the middle of it), they sure as hell aren't enjoying the cool breeze as they prepare for the FIBA Asia tournament this coming September 23.

Consider the following "challenges" that Gilas 3 has endured/ is enduring: the continued SMC player drama; Andray Blatche being overweight, losing an uncle and needing to tend to his ailing mother; Kelly Williams, on the very first official practice day for Gilas 3, tearing his MCL; JC Intal losing his father-in-law; expected injuries/ player-maintenance and the team's overall inability to practice as one, complete (and healthy) unit.

It would be very wise to temper all expectations, folks.

Let the madness ensue

Saan po yung biyaheng TNT?
(Photo credit to the owner)

Really, let it ensue. Let the madness that is the PBA pre-season wheeling and dealing commence!

Troy Rosario to Talk'n'Text, Kevin Alas to NLEX, Aldrech Ramos, Rob Reyes and Nino Canaleta to Mahindra

How can you not love this trade for TNT? They just landed this year's coveted 1st (Moala Tautuaa) and 2nd (Rosario) picks which basically ensures that they will remain a dominant force in the league for years to come. Don't hate on this so much if you happen to be anti-Team MVP, since this is basically the 2015 version of the 2010 mugging of Air21 wherein San Miguel basically and literally bought that year's 1st and 2nd picks-- Noy Baclao and Rabeh Al Hussaini. What goes around, comes around right? On the flip side, sister team NLEX will have to wait until sophomore Kevin Alas recovers from injury but once he does they should have one of the more exciting backcourts with Alas and rookie Garvo Lanete outside of GlobalPort's looming three-headed monster of Terrence Romeo, Stanley Pringle and Roi Sumang.

Thoughts on RoS' 2015 PBA Draft

Yung itsurang "uhm, sure kayo? Touch move?"
(Photo credit to the owner)

Admittedly, we are Rain or Shine Elastopainters fans.

We never hid it from anyone, though we do try our very best to remain objective anytime we get into the PBA Playoffs (ilista mo na yan!)/ Finals (forever bridesmaids). So this is basically our way of sharing with everyone here, our thought-process and feeling during the 2015 PBA Draft which we monitored online from overseas.

That's how much we love RoS, basketball and the PBA.

Yung tipong nagnanakaw kami ng tingin sa ibang window, kunwari nagta-type o may inaaral habang asa gitna ng office hours, tapos yung amo namin andun lang sa kabilang side ng kwarto patingin tingin kung nag bib0usy-busyhan lang kami o full on petiks ba.

Let's start with our first round draft pick, 3rd overall: MAVERICK AHANMISI

The Search for the Next Filipino Sniper

The GOAT
(Photo credit to the owner)

Time is quickly running out as you just spent what felt like a lifetime watching a brilliantly executed offensive play push the enemy ahead by two and on the cusp of the title.  The whole arena is on fire while your point guard screams at you and your teammates to get into position for one last shot at victory with no timeouts left to call. All the players, offense and defense, rush down the hardcourt. The mood is chaotic. You could barely hear your teammates and coaches on the bench screaming what play should be run and who should bring the ball down.

It doesn’t matter.

While the defenders try to stop the ballhandler, to whom you’ve already decided to put your whole trust on even before the game started, you run to the wings just above the three-point line.  Your man steps in front of you, so you take a strong cut in, only to run back out. You’ve been in this situation before. The math is simple: three is greater than two. This is why you’re here. Your man scrambles back, but is blindsided by a sturdy pick set by your favorite nuthouse of a power forward. Your point guard makes quick eye contact and in that same breath the dotted texture of the basketball is all that you feel on your fingertips.

The crowd is silenced. Every one falls helpless as you let it fly. There is no point in boxing out for the rebound as the buzzer rings.

2015 PBA Draft Complete Results

Our heartfelt congratulations to the following amateur standouts who were selected in the recently concluded 2015 PBA Draft.

2015 PBA Draft 1st pick overall
Moala Tautuaa - Talk n Text
(Photo credit to the owner)

View the full list of draftees and which team they went to here:

Talk'n'Text Tropang Texters
1.1 Moala Tautuaa (PF)
3.9 Michole Sorela (C)
4.7 Joshua Cobillo (SG)
5.5 Emilian Vargas (SG)

Mahindra Enforcers 
1.2 Troy Rosario (PF)
2.2 Bradwyn Guinto (C)
3.2 Leodaniel de Vera (SF)
4.2 Michael Vincent DiGregorio (SG)
5.2 Alexander Austria (SG)

Small moves, new beginnings

Still waiting for Jervy to live up
to his Baby Patrimonio potential
(Photo credit to the owner)

Finally, a couple of PBA off-season deals that we could write about!

Who would've thought that it would be the GlobalPort Batang Pier squad of Boss Mikee Romero doing all the wheeling and dealing off/ pre-season? And no, it's not to serve at any of the two giant corporation's pleasure even but to actually try and continue building a legitimate darkhorse contender for the coming season.

There are rumors however that this is only the beginning, and that more trades will follow suit. No worries, the more trades and transactions there are going into next week's 2015 PBA Draft, the more copies we can write, rave and rant about!

Tuloy ang ligaya kahit off-season!

Jervy Cruz to GlobalPort, Jewel Ponferada + 2015 PBA Draft 2nd round pick to Rain or Shine

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?"

Gilas 3

No Kraken? No problem!
(Photo credits to the owner)

The Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP) has finally sent an official request to the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) for the following players to be part of head coach Tab Baldwin's Gilas 3 men's basketball team:

Jayson Castro, Ranidel de Ocampo, Gary David, Gabe Norwood, Aldrech Ramos, Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, Kelly Williams, Asi Taulava, Terrence Romeo, JC Intal, Sonny Thoss, Dondon Hontiveros, Calvin Abueva, June Mar Fajardo* (injured/recuperating), Marc Pingris* (on official leave-family matters), LA Tenorio* (health reasons)

* - already begged off

Ladies and gentlemen, your Gilas 3 (more or less) for the coming FIBA Asia tournament this September 23 in China.

#BeerYear

Dynasty.
(Photo credit Sports5.ph) 

It has been a very good harvest for the San Miguel Beermen at the close of the PBA's monumental 40th PBA season. We saw two more teams added into the already unpredictable mix of PBA franchises duking it out conference after conference, not to mention us having to bear with the "joke" that is Manny Pacquiao, certified PBA playing-coach, plus the first ever jam-packed opening game held at the jaw-dropping Philippine Arena in Bulacan.

So in a way, it is only fitting that the league's oldest remaining ballclub has finally rid itself of its demons a.k.a. Petronovela and has continued its winning tradition. This year, the Beermen took home both the PBA Philippine and Governor's Cup though in contrasting styles versus the same opponent (Alaska Aces). In the first conference, while you could say that the Beermen looked dominant, they traded for old hand Alex Cabagnot to replace starting point guard Sol Mercado. This didn't have much of an effect, and the Finals dragged on to the whole seven games that took an Arwind Santos ballsy clutch triple to seal the deal.

In the third conference, versus the very same Aces, the Beermen just steamrolled right through with Cabagnot being a huge factor on both ends. Sure, they had the services of super import AZ Reid, but the Aces were armed by Best Import awardee Romeo Travis and we doubt that they would use his shortcomings as an excuse.

Life at the crossroads

Is Almazan the future for RoS?
(Photo credit: Sports5.Ph)

Before we begin, we would like to share with you a piece of trivia from Takehiko Inoue's Slam Dunk manga about a team that made it into the Inter-High competition. No, we will not touch on Shohoku's triumphs but rather the team that they first faced in the IH-- Toyotama.

In the series, Toyotama is a rough and tough team from the Osaka prefecture. They were known for their run and gun offense, which helped them through the years with previous head coach Kitano Jiei. Problem is, making it into the Inter High and finishing in the Top 8 was as high as the team could go for years and years until Coach Jiei was removed in favor of a defensive minded coach.

Let's stop with the trivia right there, and switch to real life, PBA action.

The Rain or Shine Elastopainters under head coach Yeng Guiao has continued to be quite the competitive squad in the PBA. They've made at least 1 PBA Finals appearance in the last three or four seasons, and have almost always finished deep in the Playoffs before bowing out to some Team SMC/ MVP super group. They employ a run and gun strategy, anchored on hard-nosed rough and tough defense but not the Xs and Os type.

Saging lang ang may puso

Hindi ko na kayang itago yung pagkadismaya ko sa mga paborito nating koponan at manlalaro sa PBA kaya kesa pagandahin ko pa sa wikang Ingles, sa sariling wika na lang natin isulat ang lahat. Para mas maintindihan ninyo ang pagkainis naming mga Pilipino. At para malaman na lang din ng lahat na may pakailam din naman po kami sa Gilas Pilipinas, sa estatura ng basketball sa bansa at kung paano tayo makaka angat muli sa mundo-- o kahit papaano, sa Asya man lang.

Eto ang alam ko: hindi tayo makaaangat, o mas liliit ang ating pag-asa kung hindi natin ipadadala yung mga nararapat. Kung hindi natin ipadadala yung pasok sa sistema. Kung hindi natin padadala yung naturingan pinaka magaling sa bansa.

Oo, hindi All Star team kundi National team ang dapat nating buoin. Pero kingina naman, andyan na e. Nanalo na tayo noon. Silver. Pilak. Ang sarap pare. Bakit pa tayo bababa ulit? Bakit kailangan basagin pa natin ulit yung andyan na, sasaksakan na lang natin ng mas magagandang mga piyesa?

Hindi na naman pwede magpahiram. O sige, pwede, pero iisa lang. Naka-sama pa ata. Dati, San Miguel lang ang may ganoong pautot. Ngayon, sumali na din yung Rain or Shine. Alaska din pero nagiba ata ng timpla, pwede ng dalawa.

Sa naulat, eto yung mga imbitado na at pawang kumpirmado mag ensayo: Jayson Castro, Ranidel de Ocampo, Matt Rosser, Larry Fonacier, Cliff Hodge, Kelly Williams, Jared Dillinger at Gary David. Yung mga may konting pabebe pa, sila Terrence Romeo, Dondon Hontiveros, Sonny Thoss at Beau Belga.

Asaan yung Marcio Lassiter? Yung L.A. Tenorio daw pinayagan. Si Junemar Fajardo injured daw. Si Greg Slaughter wag na yun, bagal nun. Si Calvin Abueva? James Yap? Si Chris Lutz? Alex Cabagnot? Asaan yung mga superstars? Paul Lee? Gabe Norwood? Jeff Chan?

Ano to, last minute na naman? Kelangan binyagan si bagong Kume Chito Narvasa, at siya naman magmakaawa sa mga teams na baka pwedeng unahin ang Gilas?

Asaan na yung #Puso natin? Bakit pahirapan na lang lagi kung magpapahiram para sa bayan? Hindi naman ganito noon a? Yung hinawakan ni Yeng Guiao na Powerade Pilipinas, samut sari din naman sila noon a. Wala naman issue. Kasi Team MVP ang sponsor? Kingina naman. Bakit, pag ka Team SMC ang sponsor, sigurado kayo na hindi din sila mamimirata? Pera pera lang din naman iyan di ba?

#Puso hindi #Bulsa

#Bayan hindi #Sarili

Eat. Sleep. Trade. Repeat.

Is it wrong to call Intal...
The Franchise? Tagal ma trade e.
(Photo credit: Sports5.ph)

My name is Angel Velasco, and I am the advocate for the bastard incarnates, Barako Bull Energy Cola. Our mantra is Eat. Sleep. Trade. Repeat.

Denok Miranda? Eat. Sleep. Trade. Repeat.

Sol Mercado? Eat. Sleep. Trade. Repeat.

Dave Marcelo? Eat. Sleep. Trade. Repeat.

Joseph Yeo? Eat. Sleep. Trade. Repeat.

Eat. Sleep. Trade. Repeat.

EAT.

SLEEP.

TRADE.

REPEAT.

To infinity and beyond

Sino Coach ko ulit?
(Photo credit: Sports5.ph)

Where do we go from here, STAR Hotshots?

The architect of your 1st PBA Grand Slam (plus two other titles during his tenure), Tim Cone, is now officially out of the door and with him-- his greatness, coaching philosophies, Triangle Offense and so on. In his place will be Jason Webb, as announced in a joint press conference that should've been exclusively for Cone-- but hey, it's San Miguel Corporation, who has little to no coaching experience both in the amateurs and professional ranks.

Great. Just great.

Here is a guy who, among all of Cone's deputies, has the least experience and doesn't really look like he's meant for the part. There's always that one guy who, in team meetings, school group projects, who is the leader. Then there's the other guy, the second guy, who just pushes the rest and makes it happen. You see it in basketball, during timeouts. The coach does his thing and gives instructions, the lead assistant whispers in the ears of the rest. Eggs them on. Tells them what to do. Clarifies things. There are guys in the huddle that would make you think "ah, this guy will be a head coach someday."

But Webb?

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.

Tim Cone to Ginebra

Sorry Johnny, Coach Tim and RdR
will be taking their talents to Ginebra
(Photo credit: Sports5.ph)

When we were first indoctrinated into the world of the Philippine Basketball Association in 1996, it was during the PBA Governor's Cup Finals-- a best-of-seven affair between the grandslam seeking Alaska Milkmen and the crowd darlings, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

On one side was the most charismatic head coach/ player in the history of the game, Robert Jaworski, Sr., commanding the likes of Noli Locsin, Bal David, Marlou Aquino and Vince Hizon. Now while we weren't familiar with the PBA brand of play, we already had a working idea of how basketball players should look and talk like thanks to the NBA. Let's just say that based on body fat percentage and muscle tone alone, none of the Ginebra players fit the mold save for maybe Vince Hizon. Yet they were the crowd darlings, they were fighting tooth and nail with a team that looked so fluid, so sexy, that it was hard NOT to root for the obvious underdogs.

Who exposed us to this title bout? Our mom. Who was an Alaska fan at the time, thanks to Jojo Lastimosa's looks and game. She was probably trying to turn us into Alaska fans too, but we ended up liking the other team. Anyway, Alaska was being coached by a dirty blonde who almost always finished every play drawn in the huddle with an "aight" or "all right?"

His name is Tim Cone.

#MeNotWe

Play him or trade him.
(Photo credit: Sports5.ph)

Dear Alaska,

While we love what you have done in the last few years, primarily what former head coach Luigi Trillo introduced and what Alex Compton is currently trying to perfect, please be assured that we are not at all fond of how one Calvin Abueva is being treated/ utilized.

He is easily your best player. And this guise of #wenotme is starting to look stupid, when all the "comeback" games are born or produced by this very simple reason: your first unit sucks in general, so the second unit has to work double-time to first erase the deficit, and second, win games. And you know who is anchoring that second team?

Calvin "why is he still playing 28 minutes or less" Abueva.

The road less traveled

Someone find Asi a playmate
(Photo credit: Sports5.ph)

Logically speaking, it is never wise to go out on public to say that you're actually considering building your team around a 42-year old center-- no matter how "ageless" he appears to be. It reeks of desperation, of failure to find another, younger, talent to go with.

And that is why the NLEX Road Warriors and their head coach Boyet Fernandez need to make some major changes going into the 2015 PBA Draft and next season.

Sure, Asi Taulava has been nothing short of "PBA Mythical Five worthy" the last two years since his return from the ASEAN Basketball League (wherein he left as the reigning Most Valuable Player), but in today's young PBA there should be more emphasis on running and scoring from all angles rather than just waiting to see what sticks and whoever catches fire.

#KangCone

To put things in perspective, polarizing sports writer/ reporter Snow Badua was the first to hint at a possible coaching change that could greatly affect the PBA landscape. Today, Badua's "tweeter hint" actually made it to the mainstream media, with no less than veteran sports guys from Nelson Beltran of The Philippine Star to Fidel Mangonon III of Spin.Ph writing about this quite sensitive and surprising topic.

"Tim Cone to Ginebra."

That's basically how we can best sum it up. It hasn't happened, there are no announcements or formal statements yet, but you know what they always say about there being fire when there's smoke in the area. When reached for comment, even Coach Tim said something along the lines of him "serving at the pleasure of Mr. Ang."

Which means, it is possible. It isn't true, at least not yet, but it is possible if San Miguel big boss Ramon Ang wants it to happen.

Will it work for Ginebra though?

Yes. Of course it will. It may take a while, or maybe they'll be champions overnight, but it will work. Tim Cone's 18 PBA championships among other impressive feats say it will. Triangle? He's been running more motion offense with STAR Hotshots as of late. So he can switch to that. Or he can just stick to his Triangle, which Ginebra's already familiar with thanks to former 1-conference coach Jeffrey Cariaso, and have Greg Slaughter look like the dominant 7"0 he's hyped to be (instead of looking like the Andy Seigle to Junemar Fajardo's prime Marlou Aquino).

Sucks for STAR, but they have the names on that roster, plus championship pedigree to rise above it with any veteran or young coach.

Ginebra?

They need a lot of coaching and managing.

Tim Cone's just the guy. The veterans will listen to him. L.A. Tenorio won't stomp his foot on the hardcourt, make stupid faces and throw tantrums. Coach Tim knows how to massage L.A.'s ego. Mark Caguioa? He'll respond to Coach Tim. The championships will make him respond. Plus, he's in that age and point in his career wherein he'd be a perfect Jolas option.

So we're not worried about Ginebra, and or STAR.

We're worried about Coach Tim.

We kind of saw this coming.

When he chose to leave Alaska and sign "with the devil," we knew that it was only a matter of time before he was made into a pawn by the SMC umbrella. This is the very same Team SMC that rotates coaches for fun, declares "co-coaches," hires Team Consultants in the guise of Coaches, and what not.

Purefoods has a long, lasting legacy and great integrity when it comes to sticking to coaches. But at the end of the day, whoever is there, is still under Team SMC. And if Mr. Ang wants you to move, you move.

Or you hope that you can land a gig with Team MVP.

So what about Coach Tim?

Well, if he is indeed to move to Ginebra, then this should be a fun project for him. To jumpstart a perennial losing basketball program, and reward its millions of fans all over the world (you won't believe how popular Ginebra bench players are even here in the Middle East). It's a challenge-- specially after jumping from Alaska to STAR, and winning a grandslam and just knowing that he could win more titles with that roster.

But how about his legacy?

He'll move to Ginebra. But will he be in control? Who's to say if one day, Mr. Ang wants him to move yet again-- to San Miguel, back to STAR, or we'll be damned, Barako Bull or Global Port?

Worse, what if one day, Mr. Ang and whoever is calling the shots make Coach Tim "co-coach?"

This is the drawback when it comes to making deals with the "crossroads demon."

#KangCone ?

Trust us, it won't stick. Because Coach Tim will turn Ginebra into a multi-title team should he really move there.

But, we just hope he'll be the one calling the shots and that Ginebra will be his last stop.

All hands on deck

"You reach, I teach"
(Photo credit to the owner)

Once the curtain unfolds and the spotlight is at its brightest to signify the PBA's 41st season, it would be very wise to consider the GlobalPort Batang Pier as the true darkhorse should things go as planned.

Yes, Coach Pido Jarencio still needs to watch more film and yes, Terrence Romeo will probably never pass the ball to someone who doesn't know what to do with it, but no, this team will definitely not stay in the cellar in any of the next three conferences.

Why?

Because this is a team. Despite the media hype, hoopla and hate thrown towards the polarizing Romeo who finds himself with a veteran sage now at his disposal by the name of Joseph Yeo.

Isn't Yeo a mirror image of Romeo and how his career might pan out?

2015 PBA Draft: Team Needs

Who needs who?
(Photo credit: Interaksyon.com)

While we await the winner of the PBA Governor's Cup Finals Best-of-Seven series between the Alaska Aces and San Miguel Beermen to formally end the league's 41st season, here's a picture of what we can expect come the 2015 PBA Draft.

Based on how the teams fared this season, we already have a working idea of who-picks-where for the coming draft. Some names have already announced their intent (primarily highly touted 6"7 Fil-Tonggan Moala Tautuaa), while some names are still playing in minor leagues both locally and internationally (keep doing what you're doing Bobby Ray!).

Now the fun part: do teams go for "best available talent" or do they address specific "team needs?"

Here's how we think the teams will approach the 2015 PBA Draft, based on their overall performance this season and who they should be looking out for: