When Asi Taulava first went to the ASEAN Basketball League in what many thought would be his "swan song" after two unimpressive seasons in the PBA with the Meralco Bolts, it was met with nary a whimper. There he was, a former PBA Most Valuable Player, probably looking for one last paycheck and maybe to cash in on his name/brand.
There's nothing wrong or shameful about it, business is business. Some guys are able to quit when they are ahead, others, keep on pushing until either their minds or bodies break. At the end of the day, these men (old, injury-riddled or in-denial) are just that, men-- men who need to provide for themselves and their loved ones. What good is looking back in a once illustrious career if you can't enjoy the fruit of your labors all the way to retirement?
So when his handlers coined "Team Ageless," we were part of the many who dismissed it and just said: "best of luck to you Asi, for all the years playing for flag and country and just being an all-around good guy despite your larger-than-life size, thank you."
One ASEAN Basketball League season, championship and Most Valuable Player later, we were all proven wrong.
Showing posts with label SMART Gilas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SMART Gilas. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Blurred Lines
The Blur (Photo courtesy of Sports5) |
Talk'n'Text Tropang Texters' lead point guard Jayson Castro (William) has been on a tear this conference and his team could've easily been 4-1 instead of 3-2 (no thanks to old teammate and now Ginebra star Japeth Aguilar). It's pretty clear that Castro is trying to put the past behind him-- unable to "follow up" on his FIBA Asia "Best point guard in Asia" tag upon his Texters return last conference. There are no excuses really, since the guy who is now considered his full-on rival and widely recognized today as the "Best point guard in the Philippines" L.A. Tenorio, served flag and country just the same.
Surely, you can't be the "Best in Asia" if there's someone else who is considered better in your own country right?
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Coming of Age
Aguilar has been dominant (Photo courtesy of Sports5) |
Japeth Aguilar is such a man. Even if it took him roughly 4 PBA years to get there.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Top 10 Story-lines in the PBA Philippine Cup
Doesn't get any bigger than this (Photo courtesy of Sports5) |
Be it through off season trades, rebuilding efforts, PBA Draft shockers or free agency acquisition, we rattle off the "Top 10 story-lines going into the PBA Philippine Cup."
10. Barako Bull Farm Team a.k.a. The Henry Sy Watch
The team "fired" their world champion-level "consultant" just days before the PBA Draft. They then proceeded to prostitute their way out of that same draft by opting to let go of ALL of their 1st round picks. At one point in the off season, the team had over 20 players and maybe about five or six point guards. The owners have denied "tanking" the season for better picks next year. Rumors have it that Henry Sy will finally make his PBA entry through buyout (his Banco de Oro team is already in the PBA D-League to maybe "test the waters"). One thing's for sure, this team is going to have a difficult time in winning games versus the top-tiers of the league.
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Widening the Gap
Dating back to the inclusion of the sport of basketball in the South East Asian Games in 1977, the Philippines has successfully brought home the gold medal in every single edition held save for 1989 wherein we lost to host country Malaysia (2005 was held in the Philippines but scrapped owing to our FIBA suspension while in 2009 Indonesia nixed the sport due to lack of facilities).
So there is some truth when Filipinos proudly declare that the country is the "Kings of Southeast Asian Basketball."
So there is some truth when Filipinos proudly declare that the country is the "Kings of Southeast Asian Basketball."
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Certified: Arwind Santos, PBA MVP
Game recognize game (Photo courtesy of Sports5) |
Living at my mama's house we'd argue every mornin'
Nigga, I was trying to get it on my own
Working all night, traffic on the way home
And my uncle calling me like "Where ya at?
I gave you the keys told ya bring it right back"
Nigga, I just think it's funny how it goes
Now I'm on the road, half a million for a show
- Started from the bottom, Drake
The odd jobs, countless afternoons and evenings spent in minor basketball leagues playing on pavement where hustling for the basketball means a sure chipped tooth, scraped knees and a boat load of cheap elbow shots to the mid section—all that has come to this moment.
When the Petron Blaze Boosters’ Arwind Santos was hailed as PBA Most Valuable Player, fans were divided. Some cheered while others jeered. Other names were thrown around with their own merits and arguments. Some enjoyed a better season than Santos, some put up eye-popping stat-lines that would solidify their claim. Hell, some would even argue that Santos’ best seasons came in the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011.
But none of them can lay claim to having done the same things, at a very high level, as Santos who has proven himself worthy of being an MVP frontrunner since his 2006 rookie season.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
El Granada looks to detonate anew
Gary David to Meralco |
From the outside looking in, we love the trade solely for two reasons: it reunites David with a more "shooter-friendly" offense with Meralco's Dribble Drive and two, it gives him a new lease on life after "regressing" this 38th PBA Season. By that we mean, his scoring clip was going up the last five seasons-- scoring average of 15, 17, 18, 21 and 25 before going "down" to 18 again.
Friday, October 11, 2013
Come Rain or Shine (A Fan Commentary)
Beau Belga or not, Yeng Guiao needs to take a look at Jervy Cruz in 2014 (Photo courtesy of Sports5) |
Why wouldn't they? They were coming off a hard-earned and well-fought for PBA Governor's Cup 2012 championship, three of their starters were "good enough" to crack the prestigious Gilas Pilipinas national team pool and they were going to have the reigning PBA Rookie of the Year Paul Lee back for the season after his debut got cut short by injuries.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
The kids are all right
Alas & co vs South East Asia (Photo courtesy of Sports5) |
Already announced to call the shots is Meralco Bolts assistant coach Jong Uichico (who, at this point in his career, is really over-qualified for the job but hey) to be aided by Far Eastern University’s brain thrust Nash Racela and Josh Reyes. Naturalized center Marcus Douthit will also suit up which pretty much guaran-damn-tees us to be one of the medal favorites.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
System under maintenance
Teams are actually OUTWORKING the Texters (Photo courtesy of PBA InterAKTV) |
Lend your core players and staff for flag and country, try to create a stop-gap in the PBA by bringing in some young talent and a high-scoring import in Tony Mitchell, then have them all come back together to try and make another playoffs push as is the Texters norm the last three years.
Except, instead of a power surge that would lead to productivity in all fronts, the Texters overall system came crashing down on their way to the bottom of the PBA Governor's Cup standings.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Pakitang Gilas: Life after FIBA Asia 2013
Back to the crazy that is the PBA (Photo courtesy of PBA InterAKTV) |
We take a look at how the Gilas Pilipinas roster is doing in the on-going tournament, ranking them from 11 to 1 based on their performances.
11. Jimmy Alapag, PG, Talk 'n' Text
The captain has been busy chilling with family in the U.S. Having played for the country for so long the last decade, who's going to complain if Alapag opts to sit out the rest of the conference?
10. Jeffrei Chan, SG, Rain or Shine
4 games 22mpg 6ppg 2rpg 3apg
Did Chan shoot himself dry in the FIBA Asia? The Negros Sniper is going through a lengthy shooting slump as of late, dating back to the last conference (good thing it didn't show as much in the FIBA Asia tournament). Fortunately for Chan, he has guys like Paul Lee and Ryan Arana picking up the offense. If he's not too careful, Chris Tiu is going to take his spot as his team's best shooter from deep.
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Watch the throne
It's good to be King (Photo courtesy of PBA InterAKTV) |
I am King.
L.A. Tenorio put the whole of Philippine basketball on notice with tonight's 34-point masterpiece over the latest to challenge his lofty position as the country's premier point guard. Barangay Ginebra San Miguel won over the Meralco Bolts, 98-85. Tenorio put any of Meralco's Chris Ross' ascension and claim to the point guard throne on hold.
Not tonight. Maybe not for a little while.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
2014 FIBA World On Our Minds
Should Gilas Pilipinas send all 12 to Spain? (Photo courtesy of PBA InterAKTV) |
It's too early to be posting about Gilas Pilipinas, its 2014 FIBA World campaign, and wether we should change the line-up or not. We also understand that the 12 players who gutted it out through this year's FIBA Asia en route to a silver medal finish are more than deserving to be sent to Spain. That any or all talks about any player from Asia's finest Jayson Castro to little-used big man Junmar Fajardo are to be on the positive slant given their now "revered" status.
But don't bet on foreigners to egg Gary David through another one of his now infamous shooting slumps. Or that Gilas can afford and withstand another mid-game scoring drought against NBA to EuroBasket-level competition.
Gilas Pilipinas needs tweaking. But not as much as some would think. They don't need an overhaul of talent, they just need some upgrades here and there when it comes to personnel. Here's a shortlist of players we feel can help the Gilas cause at the Worlds and who we're "okay" with taking out of the current line-up:
Monday, August 12, 2013
Mi sueno Espanol
Durant vs Norwood. 2014 FIBA World. If we're lucky. Or unlucky. (Photo lifted from the Internet) |
We’re talking about none other than the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup (formerly FIBA World Champsionship). As of press time, already qualified are USA (Olympics), Spain (host country), Australia and New Zealand (representing FIBA-Oceana which, you guessed it, only has two teams to speak of), and of course the Asian finalists: Iran, Philippines (that’s us) and Korea.
So what are our chances, really?
When Silver really means Gold
Asia's best big man meets Asia's best little man (Photo courtesy of InterAKTV) |
We lost our stranglehold on Asia’s Top 5 somewhere at the start of the new millennium, the Middle and Western teams rose into power while we were putting up a circus back home. We didn’t know if our players were progressing or not, because we weren’t looking outside. But once the suspension was lifted, our eyes were opened. Asia has closed the gap—Jordan, Lebanon, Iran, teams that we used to dismiss decades ago (or at the very least, not worry about as much as we do China and Korea), hell, they not only closed the gap but they happily kicked us off the Top5- Top 10 even.
But through the unified efforts spearheaded by Manny V. Pangilinan et. al., Pilipinas basketball is back.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Pilipinas to the (FIBA) World
His name is Jean Marc Pingris. (Photo courtesy of InterAKTV) |
It is the time to DREAM.
When Korea came storming back in the 4th quarter, there was a sudden hush heard all throughout the SM Mall of Asia Arena. It was 2011 all over again. Or the FIBA Asia before that. Or the one prior. All the way back to 1986 and maybe even longer. Forget trying to get over the "Great Wall," it's Korea that has seemingly broken our hearts over and over again with booming triples and their drive and kick game which is arguably on some sort of ninja mastery passed through generations.
But then the crowd started cheering, egging our Gilas players who were already without Marcus Douthit to keep on pushing. They believed. We believed. They were up one. But Jimmy Alapag was on the floor. He of the many Gilas heartbreaks the last decade or so. He was with friends. He was before family. There was no way he'd go down without a fight.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Here comes the BOOM
Locked and loaded. (Photo courtesy of PBA InterAKTV) |
It took a lot of missed shots and gimmes, constant cheering from the Arena crowd never before heard of not since the days of the legendary Sonny Jaworski, Sr. and most of all- patience for David to finally lay claim as the team's chief gunner on the floor. Making up for lost time, David was in a clear rhythm right off the bat (22 points, 4/6 on 3s) , knocking down contested and uncontested threes, driving to the rim and just having this air of confidence in him that was missing the last few days.
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Gilas is No Iran
Someone finally caught up with The Blur (photo courtesy of Interaksyon.com) |
Only it didn't.
True, Gilas still won 67-55, but not in the manner that everyone thought, hell, KNEW, they would. Here's a team (HK) that's being constantly blown out by their opponents since the start of the tournament. Now, we see them hauling down rebounds (Duncan Reid with 12 points and a game best 19 rebounds) and knocking uncontested three pointers to take early leads. To say that it was mind-boggling would be an understatement.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Gilas puts Jarvis Hayes, Qatar on Lockdown
Photo courtesy of Philip Sison |
Gilas Pilipinas brought the Qataris back to earth with a dominant performance of their own, leading the entire night and just putting on the pressure. Be it points coming from Marcus Douthit, long bombs c/o Jeffrei Chan, Gary David finally deciding to join the fun or Japeth Aguilar turning the game into his personal resource for a future YouTube mix tape, Gilas was not going to be denied.
We needed the win because we can't allow the Group E leaders, Qatar and Japan, to break away. We needed the win to continue to validate the whole Gilas basketball program and show its worth versus top tier competition. We needed the win because hey, this is the Philippines and basketball games mean as much to us as life itself.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Back in harness
Photo courtesy of TeamPilipinas.nfo |
Leading the charge and ultimately setting the tone was center Marcus Douthit. He was aggressive right from the opening buzzer, demanding for the basketball and just shooting over counterpart reinforcement JR Sakuragi and Joji Takeuchi. This was the Douthit that we were accustomed to, not the 12 and 10 one we saw in the first rounds who was happy to just wait for his turn in the offense. From jumpshots to jumphooks, Douthit was relentlessly attacking which helped open up the floor for Gilas.
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