The agony of defeat

Off to a good start
(Photo credit: pba.online.net)

You wake up at the sound of your morning alarm, ending your peaceful slumber that granted you a few hours’ rest. Today you should be getting ready for the PBA Finals press conference, to be held at some fancy buffet restaurant, ready to trade pleasantries and inside barbs with your opponents and the press. Today should’ve been the day that you take one step closer to greatness.

But it isn’t.

Instead you sit and sulk, wanting to avoid any sports replays or news. You’ll catch the game later, and will definitely attend your next team practice. But today just isn’t the day.

PBA Ph C SF 1 San Miguel v 4 TNT

Country's best players 1A, 1B
(Photo credit: pba-online.net)

Thank you Alex Cabagnot.

This corporate rivalry that has spilled on the hardcourt badly needed that "arrow" of yours, if only because Team MVP (through TNT Katropa) wasn't holding up its end of the bargain. While San Miguel Beer kept winning title after title, post-Chot Reyes TNT started to pile up the losses and early playoff exits.

Even their last title romp, over Rain or Shine just a few conferences back, can be marked with an asterisk because San Miguel's key players were hurt during that same conference so they can never really lay claim supremacy. Also, then TNT import Ivan Johnson simply went berserk against the whole league (in a good, basketball way of course)

So yeah, shoot those arrows and post those tweets. Keep them coming (because we sure as hell know that most of the guys on the roster, specially from TNT, won't really look to exchange violent, non-basketball related blows). Would love to see Gabby Espinas and Ranidel de Ocampo get into it. Maybe Arwind Santos and Kelly Williams. Ross' pesky defense versus Castro's genius.
Light up the fireworks.

Here are the match-ups:

PBA PhC QF: 4 TNT v 5 GP

To be the Man, you have to beat THE Man
(Photo credit: smartgilasbasketball.com)

This match-up is going to be quite interesting: a re-calibrated championship team going up against young up-and-comers who want to take over the basketball world.

Ladies and gentlemen the PBA gives to you: 4th seed TNT Katropa versus the 5th seed GlobalPort Batang Pier. On one side is the King of the Jungle, FIBA Asia all-star guard Jayson Castro, and on the other stands the young lion, Terrence Romeo.

But if you are expecting a plain, old school shootout between the two, we doubt that TNT's going to be a willing dance partner given their spread-out, "collegiate" approach.

Katropa U

Trying the college approach.
(Photo credit: Inquirer.net)

When Nash Racela took over for Jong Uichico as head coach of TNT Katropa in the off-season, he made two things clear: 1) the return of the dribble drive offense and 2) TNT will play like a college team.

So far, both points have come into fruition though the team is currently standing on a shaky win-loss record. Honestly, they could have easily been closer to the top, but they were surprisingly bested by cellar-dwelling sister teams Meralco (Ed Daquioag went HAM) and NLEX (Pampanga homecourt).

A closer look at TNT shows that 10 guys are playing 20+ minutes per game with six scoring in double digits. What is even more surprising is that Larry Fonacier is leading the team in minutes with 28mpg 11ppg 3rg 2apg followed by star guard Jayson Castro 27/19/3/6, while both coming off the bench. They are supported by Troy Rosario 25/13/7/1 , Ryan Reyes, 24/7/3/3, Roger Pogoy 23/6/3/1, Ranidel de Ocampo 22/13/6/3 and Kelly Williams 21/10/6/1.

2016 PBA GC SF: 1 TNT vs 4 Meralco

Ready to rumble
(Photo credit to the owner)

A magnificently blonde-haired, former 16-time world wrestling champion was once famously quoted as saying: “to be the man, you have to beat THE man.”

The above is something that we feel best captures the Meralco Bolts’ current state: in order for them to achieve PBA royalty they must first go through their big brothers: TNT Katropa—the the crown jewel among their owner’s three PBA franchises. While the Bolts have spent the majority of the season trying to start a winning culture, TNT has managed to remain near the top of the standings each conference despite battling injuries (Kelly Williams and Ranidel de Ocampo) and some on-court chemistry issues (incorporating their prized rookies, the messed up/ redundant frontline, finding a backup for Castro, etc.).

Some folks call this one “TNT A vs TNT B,” with all the TNT “discards” over at the Bolts’ front: Jimmy Alapag, Jared Dillinger, John Ferriols, Rabeh Al Hussaini including Coach Norman Black.

Here are the telling match-ups:

PBA GC QF 1 TNT vs 8 Phoenix

Can the Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters stop the TNT Katropa juggernaut? Can Eugene “El Destructor” Phelps muscle his way against TNT’s formidable frontline? Can Simon Enciso hold his own against the supernatural Jayson Castro?

It is definitely going to be an uphill climb for the Fuel Masters, with TNT in a groove that has helped them land 1st place in the elimination round after winning 10 games versus 1 loss. Whatever buttons Coach Jong Uichico has pushed, it appears to have definitely worked in his favor after TNT's woeful exit last conference.

Here is our take on the match-ups:

The Revival

Calling the shots
(Photo credit: Inquirer.net)

We owe TNT Katropa head coach Jong Uichico an apology.

For a while there, when Coach Jong appeared to be running everything through Jayson Castro reminiscent of how his mentor Ron Jacobs rode “Da Bull” Nelson Asaytono in the late 90s at San Miguel, we started to believe that this guy was nothing more than a relic. A relic who insists on running outdated hero/ isolation plays in an ever-evolving sport of spread-out offenses and taller three-point specialists.

What made it even worse is that, he seemed to be changing the philosophies and culture of the very team that pioneered and mastered this new, Euro-style of play in the PBA.

Again, we owe him an apology.

Supernatural

Peerless.

We have simply run out of adjectives for TNT Katropa’s Jayson Castro at this point.

From averaging 32mpg, 19ppg 4rpg 4apg in the first two conferences of the PBA season, the FIBA Asia recognized “Best Point Guard in Asia” has gone absolutely berserk in the ongoing PBA Governor’s Cup with a 25mpg 23ppg 6rpg 8apg clip. Let those numbers sink in for a minute. Castro has been so good that he has helped his team go undefeated in four games despite the insipid play of import Mario Little.

Starpower

Encore
(Photo credit: Aktv)

While we have always been critical of the PBA All Star Game format for some of the players who are voted/ selected, we will be the first ones to admit that we don’t mind a fun-filled weekend wherein we are able to see our favorite players ham it up, dance, dribble and dunk with the 4th d, defense, being the last thing in play.

Voted as the North All Stars starters are:  Terrence Romeo, Mark Caguioa, Calvin Abueva, Marc Pingris and Japeth Aguilar. They will be joined by Jayson Castro, Alex Cabagnot, Gabe Norwood (Marcio Lassiter’s replacement), Paul Lee, Ranidel de Ocampo, Stanley Pringle and Troy Rosario, and coached by Rain or Shine’s Yeng Guiao.

For the South, it will be San Miguel’s coach Leo Austria and starters James Yap, Scottie Thompson, Greg Slaughter, June Mar Fajardo and Joe Devance. Coming off the bench are Jeffrei Chan, JR Quinahan, Jericho Cruz, Chris Ross, Mark Barroca, RR Garcia, Carlo Lastimosa and Asi Taulava.

Do we like the rosters?

PBA CC Playoffs: 3 Alaska vs 6 Tropang TNT

He's baaaaaack
(Photo credit: PBA.Inquirer.net)

We are in for a basketball classic.

Before we proceed, was there ever a need for the Alaska Aces to switch back to original import Robert Dozier, Jr. after his replacement Shane Edwards masterfully led them, technically, all the way up to the 3rd spot in the PBA Commissioner's Cup?

Well, Coach Alex Compton appears to think so as he chose to activate Dozier, Jr. in yesterday's game versus the NLEX Road Warriors. The Aces will rely mostly on the exploits of Calvin Abueva (28m/18p/8r/3a), Chris Banchero (25/9/4/1), RJ Jazul (25/11/3/2), Sonny Thoss (24/10/4/1) and Vic Manuel (21/14/5/1), since based on the NLEX game it appears that Dozier, Jr. will need maybe another game or two to really get back into the scheme of things.

The problem here is that, they are going to face the defending CC champions who could've easily been atop the standings had they not been hit with the Ivan Johnson drama early which almost put their campaign at risk. It took time for them to regroup around David Simon (37/24/16/3), but make no mistake, TNT is a lot better than their 6th seeding suggests.

Tempered expectations

(Photo credit to the owner)

When Tropang TNT rookie forward Moala Tautuaa was picked 1st overall in this year's PBA Draft, expectations were high because of his size, lineage and pedigree. After all, we are talking about a 6"7 beast of a man who could easily be playing a more contact sport such as American football or even pro-wrestling.

The full-on beard just added to the intimidating exterior.

Unfortunately, a lot of TNT fans have been disappointed so far with Tautuaa's performance despite a respectable 21mpg 12ppg 4rpg 2apg batting average. But is Tautuaa really underperforming? Or is he just caught in a roster that is loaded with top-notch forwards, including 2nd overall pick Troy Rosario?

We would argue that it is a little of both.

Praying for the best

Our only concern here is,
Pingris, Fajardo, Aguilar AND Slaughter
are all playing HEAVY  minutes this conference
(Photo credit to the owner)

Just a quick update on our Gilas Pilipinas 17-man pool for the Olympic Qualifiers:

Ranidel de Ocampo is out recovering from a near-serious injury. Ian Sangalang has been absent from majority (if not all) of the team's only Monday practices. Paul Lee is still out. L.A. Tenorio for the most part of his PBA run this season, has been off. Collegiate standout and 2x UAAP MVP Kiefer Ravena has officially been added to the pool.

That makes three guys who will have to make up for lost time should they wish to rejoin the group, another guy who seems to be having some trouble getting back to top form and a young blood who fits the bill to a "T" as far as a well-rounded, highly-skilled national player is concerned, but in our honest opinion is probably NOT the guy we wanted to add right now.

Troy 'n' Tautuaa

Good, but not great... yet.
(Photo credit to the owner)

One was hyped to be a dominant, beast-like of a well-traveled basketball player. A human-imagining of a raging bull gifted with size, speed and athleticism. The other was billed to be the second-coming of all the homegrown greats at his position, combining hustle with range and dexterity.

Two games in, we have yet to see the kind of impact that was expected of both men. Two games in, and we could dismiss all the hype right now and say that there is definitely room for improvement.

Maybe, a lot of it.

The 1st and 2nd overall picks of the 2015 PBA Draft, the Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters 6"7 duo of Moala Tautuaa and Troy Rosario have been solid thus far though a bit unimpressive. For one, Tautuaa was already making headlines even before he made it known that he wanted to play in the PBA, strutting his slam dunking, beastly ways over at the ASEAN Basketball League. The transition should've been easier, since TNT was a team without a true center ever since Ali Peek opted to retire.

Tautuaa was supposed to be the answer.

Young, wild and free

So this is Junemar's league, huh?
(Photo credit to the owner)

Just when you thought that the Talk'n'Text Tropang Texters needed a back-to-the-basket center to combat 2x PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo and champs San Miguel...

... they added a face-up, burly "center" who really plays more like a small forward in 6"7 Moala Tautuaa, another 6"7 rebounding sniper in Troy Rosario, and a 6"4 hard-nosed banger (who is arguably their best low post player outside of star Ranidel de Ocampo) in Larry Rodriguez.

Why play traditional when you can play position-less?

Salamat Gilas 3

#PUSO
(Photo credit to the owner)

Mga kababayan ko
Dapat lang malaman niyo
Bilib ako sa kulay ko
Ako ay Pilipino
Kung may itim o may puti 
Mayroon naman kayumanggi
Isipin mo na kaya mong
Abutin ang iyong minimithi 

- Magalona, F.

Tapos na ang FIBA Asia 2015 kung saan naiuwi ng ating Gilas 3 ang pilak habang ang host country na Tsina ang siyang nag uwi ng gintong medalya. Marami tayong pwedeng sabihin tungkol sa nasabing laro na katatapos lang, pero hindi tayo ganong klaseng basketball fans. Hindi tayo casual lang na biglang sumuporta sa koponan natin kasi nakapasok sa Finals. Manalo o matalo, lamyado o hindi, suporta pa din tayo. Kaya sa Tsina, saludo kami sa mga manlalaro niyo na para bang nagbabadya na kayo na muli ang magiging Asian basketball powerhouse sa susunod na mga taon.

All In

There is more to these two words than just being a new marketing campaign for a local mobile network just so happens to be footing the bill for Gilas 3. These words, though short and straight to the point, reflect how every living Filipino basketball fan- regardless of PBA allegiance, should feel about the Gilas 3 team that is on its way to China for the coming FIBA Asia tournament.

Can the media do us all a big favor and stop featuring outsiders? Can they please stop quoting those who chose not to play for flag and country owing to whatever? We do not care about them, they will not be playing this September 23. They are nuisances, collectively, since they chose not to be part of the task at hand. They chose not to speak up, they chose to sit this one out, and even if we have every right to crucify and chastise them, the mere fact that we aren't, should be enough. So please, we do not care if Junemar Fajardo wants to visit the team in their final practices. Or if L.A. Tenorio, Marcio Lassiter and even Paul Lee get the green light.

The focus should be on Gilas 3.

You're on your own

"Where my teammates at?!"
(Photo credits to the owner)

Sound the alarm.

We only have a few weeks left before the FIBA Asia - 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic qualifying tournament opens in China in September 5. That being said, while other Asian teams have already declared their intended pool and rosters (even participating in several tune-up tournaments as of this printing) we Filipinos could only wonder who's going to even be invited to Gilas camp headed by coach Tab Baldwin.

Here are some of the things we've heard so far: there's a concern among non MVP teams regarding the whole "lend us your players or face media backlash" ploy. Which doesn't help that they (the Gilas heads) have already been accused at one point or another of whispering sweet nothings into the ears of the players that were loaned to them (hello, L.A. Tenorio). Which also doesn't help the fact that we're asking teams to lend their employees, who they pay for and take care of, to play elsewhere-- FREE and risk getting hurt and so on.

Please call again later

Did Captain Jimmy retire a bit too early?
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

So winning a (single) championship DOES take a toll on a team when asked to do it all over again the very next conference.

No one bought it in the PBA Commissioner's Cup with the sudden drop in performance of the San Miguel Beermen but now we see that the same conference's title-winners, Talk'n'Text Tropang Texters, are suffering the same slow-start fate as the PBA Philippine Cup champions. On a side note we'd like to half-heartedly apologize to the San Miguel Beermen (we still think they could've and should've done better, given their overall roster), on another, we'd like to think that if a team like the Purefoods Star Hotshots could manage to rattle off four straight, then so should the other souped up teams like SMB and TNT (at least two consecutive titles, yes?)

So here is where the Texters are, currently:

Three wins and four losses.

#AskKKS on Gilas 3

Because one of our readers asked/suggested/demanded that we should hear their ideas out and discuss certain issues instead of just picking topics by ourselves, here is the first official instalment of #AskKKS.

@PBALOL asked the following:

Win FIBA Asia Gold.

Seriously, if we are talking about what head coach Tab Baldwin and his Gilas 3 will need to accomplish to surpass Gilas 2... well then, it would have to be this very tall order which is definitely a lot easier said than done.

A Cut Above

God Mode.
(Photo credits to the owner)

In life, there is always an instance wherein you encounter someone who is just better than you are on a certain field of expertise. It could be in school, at home, in the office or even among friends-- no matter how good you think you are on a certain skill, there is almost, always someone who is better than you.

Even if you put in the same (if not more) of work.

That is the fate of one Rain or Shine Elastopainters, which lost a heated Best-of-Seven series and ultimately the PBA Commissioner's Cup crown, to the Talk'n'Text Tropang Texters.

They play defense first, they run the floor, they share the wealth, they use all of the guys on the roster and just about anyone can hit the three with consistency.

Only, the Texters do (and did) it better (in four of the seven games, at least).