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.

The 2016 PBA Special and Regular Mock Draft

Get Belo-fied
(Photo credit: interaksyon.com)

Ugh.

The Gilas boys need to come out with red dots on their foreheads. Green for the regulars. Siopao-style.

Special thanks to ABS CBN Sports for the Draft order, as per this report >>> click here.

1 Blackwater - Mac Belo, SF
Arguably the most sound Gilas player to date be it on offense or defense. Though he is not a go-to-guy per se, Belo almost, always ends up being his team's leading scorer (and rebounder) by sheer hard work and simply working efficiently without the basketball. If you were to compare him to any current PBA player, then the guy his game closely resembles is that of TNT's incoming sophomore Troy Rosario-- only with a better dribble game. Belo works the glass relentlessly, has a pocket set-shot from 15 feet and out, and best of all can put the ball on the floor on the pick and roll which makes him an even bigger threat than Rosario. We honestly like what Blackwater is looking at here, since they will be able to parade a blue chip foursome of Roi Sumang, Carlo Lastimosa, Art dela Cruz and Belo right away, with the center position hopefully addressed in the later conferences (via an import).

Come Rain or Shine

Southern Sharpshooters
(Photo credit to the owner)

What now, Rain or Shine Elastopainters?

First, Coach Yeng Guiao opted to bolt for the NLEX Road Warriors which basically offered him the real difference between an RoS “max contract” and that of a well-financed team. No, there was no under the table scheming here and there. Only an opportunity for Guiao to work on other things “outside of the basketball court” such as handling NLEX’s Corporate Social Responsibility program which would most likely help him win (back) a political seat in the future.

Second was JayR Quinahan, this season’s most consistent player and leading scorer at times, being dealt to Globalport Batang Pier for Jay Washington. The beefy forward reinvented himself this season, in hopes of securing a longer deal perhaps, averaging 14 and 7 as compared to Washington's 8 and 8. When the negotiating period came, both sides couldn't agree on the length and well, here we are now. We respect Washington's body of work, but Quinahan's intimidating defense and shot blocking will be missed.

Finally, came the biggest trade of them all: 27-year-old superstar guard Paul Lee for the “face of the PBA,” 34-year-old, 2x MVP James Yap.

A Star is born

Show me the money!
(Photo credit to the owner)

Paul Lee wanted out in 2014.

It was all over the news back then, with his now former coach Yeng Guiao even asking (through the media) what the difference was between Rain or Shine's max contract offer and those of other teams. Lee ended up signing the extension, but not after a heart-to-heart with Guiao.

Well, we are almost at the end of 2016, Guiao has opted to transfer to the NLEX Road Warriors, so...

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 1)

Lahing Ginebra, laking Ginebra
(Photo credit: Inquirer.net)

The Philippine Basketball Association appears to be at a complete loss when it comes to trying to achieve even a quarter of the Manila Classico live audiences for games that do not feature Barangay Ginebra (and in some ways, Star Hotshots).

Just how on earth did Ginebra grow into such a cash-cow, given the fact that it has hardly been in the PBA Finals while also being a non-family friendly brand in itself? Is it really because of Robert Jaworski, Sr.’s magic? The man dubbed as the “Living Legend” has been retired for nearly two decades now. Is it because of the “masa” charm of their players? Greg Slaughter, Sol Mercado and Chris Ellis do not exactly connect with the stereotype.

So what gives?

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?

KKS Trade Reaction: STAR Reloaded

Garcia the STAR
(Photo credit: Interaksyon.com)

Once there was a wide-eyed young man named Jason who was given a champion car by his parents, who were both established champion racers. At the prodding of his parents, Jason quickly signed up for a race with the same car only to find himself falling short-- again and again.

That was when Jason realized that it might not be as easy as inheriting a simple champion car. That maybe, the driver needs to be up to that level as well.

Which brings us to the STAR Hotshots.

If you are a STAR fan who had to endure two conferences worth of abysmal coaching and subpar play, then please allow us to congratulate you. Your team was supposed to suck for a few more years owing to the title romp you enjoyed under the Tim Cone (and Joe DeVance) era. That was supposed to be the tradeoff for all those championshipsssss. But well, head Coach Jason Webb just found himself a few more "championship" pieces, young ones at that, to hopefully get back in the title race.

On the wings of love

Trade looming?
(Photo credit to Rappler.com)

With the recent acquisition of Barako Bull Energy Cola by newcomers Phoenix Petroleum, we cannot help but feel the budding romance in the air.

Romance, in the sense that the next two conferences (and or more) will probably be a Team San Miguel Corporation lovefest by way of most of the guys on the Phoenix roster being sent “back” to the one they truly love be it San Miguel, Ginebra or Star. This in turn will corroborate and confirm everyone’s hunch that yes, Barako served as a true farm team and that most of its players were simply out on loan (remember Joseph Yeo’s “Gentleman’s Agreement?”).  Bye-bye Barako farm team, the players get to be sent to winning franchises and we are finally (hopefully) rid of lopsided trades from here on out.

Unfortunately, not everyone will enjoy a happy-ending, or we don’t see ALL of the guys from Barako going back.

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?

In the clutch

Nobody said it was easy.
(Photo credit to the owner)

Thirty-four minutes played, 4 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 2 turnovers all while looking lost in the scheme of things.

Life is not going to be easy this season for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel star guard and former PBA MVP Mark Caguioa- not under coach Tim Cone, the Triangle Offense and his (Caguioa's) brittle 35-year-old knees. But if he truly intends to see his beloved red and white back in the PBA Finals or at least get them by its doorstep, it is a challenge, a sacrifice, that he needs to embrace.

Call it a hot take on yesterday's Manila Classico wherein Ginebra lost to STAR 78-86. Call it a small sample that should not be taken with much ado and fervor. Call it what you like, but we will still call it as we saw it.

Back to the one we love

The PBA is BACK!
WOW! Fantastic baby.
(Photo credit to the owner)

Though we were definitely upset over all the drama that still, fortunately, led to a silver medal finish for our Gilas 3, there is no point in denying that we will always be fans of the Philippine Basketball Association by default.

One; because we do not really see another Metropolitan Basketball Association rising out of the woodwork (until of course either Team San Miguel or Team Manny V Pangilinan pulls all of their teams out of the Asia's first basketball league), and two; because Filipinos in general are a fickle, forgiving lot (we are generalizing here, because this basically explains how and why troublemakers and borderline idiots get seats in the government).

So yes, we forgive you PBA for the Gilas 3 drama. But only because we are left with no other alternative (at the moment, once the NBA starts holding Global Games in Manila then all bets are off). Now that you've named a 17-man pool for the Olympic Qualifiers, we kinda, sorta, hate you guys less. We still hate some of the guys in charge, but not as much as before.

And we will forgive you for making up-and-coming emcee Abra look like a complete tool last Wednesday.

On to STAR vs Rain or Shine, NLEX vs Blackwater and Alaska vs Talk'n'Text then.

The PBA is BACK!

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.

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?

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.

#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.

Dethroned

Old timers need some help
(Photo credit to Sports5.ph)

As you get older, there are certain things that you slowly realize:

Your timing is off; your mind knows what you want to do, but there seems to be a split second lapse between judgment and action.

You find yourself needing to exert more effort, to something that you would routinely perform. Be it running, jumping, hustling.

And when you find yourself in front of a wide-eyed youngster, who you know will always go left on a crossover, which he does, and you smile to yourself thinking "I got you!" only to hear the whistle-- or worse, lose your man completely as you turn your around and see him waltzing in for an easy lay-up.

Age. It happens to the best of us.

With yesterday's unceremonious sweep at the hands of the Alaska Aces in the Semifinals of the PBA Governor's Cup, the Purefoods STAR Hotshots find themselves officially dethroned in the 40th season of the league after taking home all three titles just the year before.

Is it time to rebuild?