Salamat Kots Yeng

Hanggang doon na lang pala.

2017 NLEX head coach
(Photo credit ABS CBN)

Nung huling conference, nung natapos yung nine-straight playoffs appearances ng Rain or Shine, bilang isang fan parang may mali kaming naramdaman. Kaka champion lang ng team namin noong PBA Commissioner's Cup, partida binuhat pa ng mga local yung import, pero bakit ganun, bakit ang asa balita e hindi pa nagsisipirmahan ng mga kontrata yung players?

Pati pala yung si Kots Yeng Guiao, hindi din pumirma.

Pumirma, pero para tapusin lang yung season. Hindi para mag extend ng isa o dalawa o tatlong taon. Lahat sila na core, sa pagkakaalam namin: Paul Lee, Gabe Norwood, Jericho Cruz, Beau Belga at JayR Quinahan. Damay din ata si Jeff Chan. Parang may kakaiba. Siguro alam na nung mga players, alam na din siguro ni Kots. Hanggang doon na lang yung samahan nila, at hanggang doon na lang yung kwento niya sa RoS na kanyang itinaguyod.

A Necessary Evil

Fan or not, you have to feel for these two
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

At present, there are over twenty names on the Barako Bull Energy roster including their late draft picks Jeric Fortuna, Carlo Lastimosa, Darwin Cordero, Jett Vidal and Mike Silungan not to mention new recruits through draft day trades Denok Miranda, Willie Miller, Magi Sison and Mark Isip.

We’ve considered all angles and arguments for and against this much-maligned franchise which, if it hasn’t been before, has been branded as a clear-as-egg-white “San Miguel Corporation farm team.” We’ve already touched on how this team was a darkhorse contender during its early years in the PBA, now there’s just no denying how it’s only in the league for the best interests not of its players or fans but for its benefactors.

Ang Binangga, Nagiba

Parang kelan lang nung unang sumabak ang Barako Bull (Red Bull noon) sa PBA dala ang kakaibang kalibre ng basketball sa pangunguna ni ngayong Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao. Matatapang, pisikal, agresibo at walang takot. Karamihan ng mga player nila hindi kilala at galing kung saan pero walang takot kung makipagsabayan sa mga superstar ng liga. Nauna sila Jimwell Torion, Junthy Valenzuela at Davonn Harp, sumunod ung era ni Enrico Villanueva.

Yun ung Barako Bull na gusto naming balik-balikan sa ilang taong pamamayagpag ng PBA. Hindi yung Barako Bull ngayon na walang bayag. Barako Bull na walang magawa tuwing magkakaroon ng magagaling na manlalaro kapag naglalambing na ang mga "Kuya."

Hindi naman kami tanga, alam naman namin ang kalakaran at naiintindihan ito.

Pero huwag naman sana bastusan.

Sophomore Jinx for Angas ng Tondo?

Hanggang dito na lang ba si Lee
o kaya nya abutin si Mark Caguioa?

Reigning PBA Rookie of the Year Paul Lee of the Rain or Shine Elastopainters was supposed to make the leap from good to great this year.

This was the year that he was supposed to take full control of the Elastopainters, the way a blonde-haired, ankle-breaking, young Mark Caguioa took over Barangay Ginebra San Miguel years back regardless of playing with established names such as Vergel Meneses and Jun Limpot.

It was his year, it was his time, it was his team.