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...

The People Vs Calvin Abueva

Wouldn't be surprised if they
called this foul on Abueva.
Seriously. (Photo courtesy of Sports5)

What's in a name?

Turns out, a season's worth of flops, aggressive play and unapologetic behavior on way to a PBA Rookie of the Year citation is going to get you under a bad light in terms of PBA sanctions and what not. To make matters worse, it seems that this ill reputation is something that can't be shed after a season-- the blasted thing carried over to the on-going PBA Philippine Cup apparently.

So when the subject of this piece, the Alaska Aces' reigning PBA ROY Calvin Abueva and the Meralco Bolts' Jared Dillinger figured in an awkward scuffle just days ago, everyone in the room knew that fines were going to come in by way of the diligent PBA Commissioner Chito Salud.

What we didn't expect was how ridiculous the penalties would be.

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.

Rookie watch: The Beast vs Cliff Hodge

You reach, I teach

We'll be the first to admit it.

While we always thought that the Alaska Aces' Calvin Abueva is the better player overall, we sided with the Meralco Bolts' Clifford Hodge and the latter having the better conference given his size. In case you're living under a rock, the current PBA Commissioner's Cup features a barrage of 6"9 and up imports that could only make life for the 6"1 (no way he's 6"3, have you seen him standing next to teammate Cyrus Baguio?) Abueva a living hell. Hodge, who stands at a legit 6"5, should be excelling this conference and playing at his regular power forward spot with ease.

Right?

Wrong.

Down to a two-man race for ROY

Sayo ang Pilipinas, akin ang Tondo!

JVee Casio, Paul Lee, Chris Lutz and Marcio Lassiter.

This season's top four draft picks have more than lived up to the hype; after the Philippine Cup-- the race couldn't be any tighter. Petron's Lutz' crazy efficiency was off the charts, Powerade's Casio was putting in clutch performances left and right when called upon, Rain or Shine's Lee quickly took control of a franchise while Lassiter trumped them all with a stellar two-way display in leading his team (along with Casio) to the Finals.