#salamatjimmy

#salamatjimmy

Now can I get an encore, do you want more
 Cookin raw with the Brooklyn boy
 So for one last time I need y'all to roar

 

 Now what the hell are you waitin for
 After me, there shall be no more
 So for one last time, nigga make some noise

- S. Carter, 2003

 

He'll be back, playing in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters. He'll still be crazy-eyed as always, barking out orders zeroed in on erring understudies who have yet to inherit his laser focus and passion. He'll still be the same old Jimmy, ever gracious, smiling at fans even those who doubted his PBA Most Valuable Player award just a few years ago.

 

But last night, when he willed Gilas Pilipinas and the nation of 7,107 islands strong into its first (and for the 2014 FIBA World Cup, last) victory, it was his encore. His swan song. His last shot at glory and immortality on the biggest stage of them all.

Taskmaster Toroman Steps Back for Rah-Rah

Ikaw, pala'y, salawahan

The writing, in thick, bold neon hot pink colors, was on the wall. It was just a matter of the right people taking a step back to see the big picture, that their proposed "coaching partnership" was the equivalent of what we'd all say as being "a great proposal/ thesis, but hardly probable executable."

Serbian and former SMART Gilas Team Pilpinas head coach Rajko Toroman has finally opted to take a backseat from being the annoying, overly hands-on assistant coach/ team consultant of the struggling Petron Blaze Boosters. From here on out, as far as the team is concerned, it's going to be head coach Olsen Racela fulfilling his duties to the letter: supervising drills in practices and drawing plays in-game both offensively and defensively (as what a head coach should be doing in the first place).

While people were quick to point out that this shortened partnership could've mirrored the highly successful "mentor-protege" pair of former San Miguel Beermen head coach Ron Jacobs and understudy Jong Uichico, this writer argues otherwise.

Racela's Team... Or Not

Coach O and "assistant" Coach T

It's only fitting that a team packed with superstars but have yet to discover their true identity on the hardcourt would have two "voices" hollering from the sidelines. There's the "official head coach" of the Petron Blaze Boosters in Olsen Racela and his trusty "assistant/ team consultant," Serbian coach and International basketball guru, Rajko Toroman.

Based on basketball pedigree alone, it's pretty obvious which one should (and would) take the lead as far as handling the team is concerned. It's pretty doubtful to believe that Toroman will just play assistant while Racela, though a winning amateur coach in international meets, takes charge and draws up last-second plays. The San Miguel organization has proven before that they don't really care much about their coaches' feelings or mentality (asking Jong Uichico to "co-coach" with Siot Tangquincen at Barangay Ginebra San Miguel was disrespectful in everyone's view save for San Miguel brass), so it's probably more like keeping a budding and promising mind like Racela in the family (before Team MVP swoops in and asks him to coach Ateneo or a professional affiliate) while milking Toroman's genius within the context of keeping the Basketball Coaches' Association of the Philippines happy.