Tried, tested... and waiting

AZ and Black Sakuragi
(Photo credit: GMAnetwork.com)

Welcome to PBA fandom limbo.

While we cannot fault the PBA for taking an extended break between conferences to help turn the spotlight on Gilas Pilipinas' FIBA Olympic Qualifiers' journey, we often catch ourselves wondering why the league couldn't just proceed with the Governor's Cup and maybe take a two-week break come FIBA time?

Pardon our selfishness, but isn't that why the imports (plus Asian imports) are there? To cover for the locals-- specially the ones on loan to Gilas?

Okay, okay. Sorry. Moving on.

PBA head coaches have opted to bring in old names to reinforce their teams, though only Marques Blakely (Star) and Arizona Reid (SMB) will suit up for their original teams.

PBA CC SF: 1 San Miguel vs 5 Rain or Shine

Grudge Match
(Photo credit: Spin.Ph)

In a grudge match of the PBA Philippine Cup Semifinals, San Miguel will need to overcome bullish Rain or Shine once again if they are looking to continue their Grand Slam bid. The only problem here is, they are facing a team that appears to have found a wide body, literally, to even out the playing field.

Oh, and that SMB's 2x PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo is coming off an injury (caused by RoS' Jireh Ibanes in that same Semis match-up mentioned above).

So here is what we know: RoS beat SMB in the eliminations thanks to then import Mo Charlo's 35 points and 13 rebounds debut. It was also a close 108-105 match, which could've easily been in favor of SMB had Fajardo been in the shape that he is in now (still not 100%, but definitely getting there).

In that match SMB's Tyler Wilkerson posted 33 and 10, Marcio Lassiter and Alex Cabagnot provided 18 a piece and Chris Ross had 12. On the flip side, it was JayR Quinahan with 15, Chris Tiu and Maverick Ahanmisi with 13 each and Jeff Chan with 12-- basically, typical RoS stats with just about everyone who saw action scoring a point or two.

So how does SMB beat RoS?

Life goes on

Front and center: The Beast
(Photo credit: PBA.Inquirer.net)

Proving to one and all that there is more to life than being sweeped in a Finals and historically overturned in the next, the Alaska Aces are back in the hunt this PBA Commissioner's Cup with a 6 wins and 3 losses record. The Aces even has a chance to make the top spot, if they can salvage their last two games versus the league-leading Meralco Bolts and NLEX Road Warriors.

Leading the charge is import Shane Edwards (37mp 23ppg 13rpg 3apg) who appears to be here to stay after replacing Rob Dozier, Jr. early this conference. He is followed by Calvin Abueva (27mpg 17ppg 8rpg 3apg), Vic Manuel (22mpg 14ppg 5rpg 1apg), Sonny Thoss (24mpg 10ppg 4rpg), Chris Banchero (26mpg 9ppg 3rpg 4apg) and RJ Jazul (24mpg 10ppg). Save for old hand Thoss, the Aces are going with a new approach it seems as we no longer see heavy minutes given to the likes of Cyrus Baguio, Tony dela Cruz and Dondon Hontiveros. Starting point guard JVee Casio is still on the sidelines nursing an injury, if we remember correctly.

Now here is the question in everyone's minds: do the Aces have enough to challenge their grandslam-seeking tormentors, the San Miguel Beermen?

Legendary

Championship # 3
(Photo credit to PBA.Inquirer.net)

What the San Miguel Beermen were able to accomplish just a few nights ago versus the Alaska Aces in Game 7 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals goes beyond historic.

How can you not call and recognize it as something more, when the team was all but left for dead following a zero wins to three losses predicament heading into Game 4? That even if they had won Game 4, historically speaking, the leading team usually ends it in the 5th (while in a few cases, in the 6th).

Still, no comebacks. Never. No team in the history of the PBA has forced a Game 7 after falling 0-3. No team in the history of professional, documented basketball, has ever come back and won four games straight en route to a championship.

The 2016 PBA Philippine Cup San Miguel Beermen are legendary.

On the wings of love

Trade looming?
(Photo credit to Rappler.com)

With the recent acquisition of Barako Bull Energy Cola by newcomers Phoenix Petroleum, we cannot help but feel the budding romance in the air.

Romance, in the sense that the next two conferences (and or more) will probably be a Team San Miguel Corporation lovefest by way of most of the guys on the Phoenix roster being sent “back” to the one they truly love be it San Miguel, Ginebra or Star. This in turn will corroborate and confirm everyone’s hunch that yes, Barako served as a true farm team and that most of its players were simply out on loan (remember Joseph Yeo’s “Gentleman’s Agreement?”).  Bye-bye Barako farm team, the players get to be sent to winning franchises and we are finally (hopefully) rid of lopsided trades from here on out.

Unfortunately, not everyone will enjoy a happy-ending, or we don’t see ALL of the guys from Barako going back.

On History and Pressure

The jugular
(Photo credit to PBA.Inquirer.net)

Coach Alex Compton erred when he said that the pressure was not on his Alaska Aces but rather the defending champions, Coach Leo Austria and his San Miguel Beermen.

See, when news broke out that the Beermen would be going into the PBA Philippine Cup Finals minus 2x PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo, which is currently tied at three games apiece with the deciding Game 7 to be held Wednesday, no one had them winning versus the number one seeded Aces. Most experts, bloggers and amateur social media commentators were raving about the Aces’ teamwork and hustle, which could only be thwarted by the giant presence the 6”10 Cebuano. Take him out of the game and suddenly, the Beermen find themselves on even ground as the Aces man for man—only, the latter has been playing on a high level together for so long under Compton from guys 1 through 15 while the Beermen pretty much run everything, offense or defense, through their big man.

Asterisk

Should an asterisk really be placed on this 2015-2016 PBA Philippine Cup Finals? Because one of the many combatants is out with an injury? But isn't basketball a team sport won, lost and above all, played, by 5 men on the court and about 7 to 9 more on the bench?

As an Alaska Aces fan, why would you rob yourself of glory when it appears that fate itself is rewarding you for your efforts?

As a San Miguel Beermen fan, why would you discredit the 13-14 other men on the roster for all they have done this conference just because 2x PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo is sidelined?

This is just how things turned out. It is quite a bitter pill to swallow (specially for SMB fans), but what can anyone do? Pretty sure that the Aces would want to face SMB both at full strength, but wouldn't it be a disservice to SMB if the Aces were to say "wala si Fajardo e, so walang kwenta sila kalaban." 

PBA Finals Preview: Alaska vs San Miguel

#smcbetterworld #grandslamdreams
(Photo credit to PBA.Inquirer.net)

In the end, it was all but a matter of time for these two great PBA franchises to once again lock horns in the PBA Finals.

On one side are the Alaska Aces, the very epitome of selfless team play and current proof that you do not always need to have the best players in the league to win big (though it sure as hell helps to make life a lot easier).  The Aces are banking mostly on Vic Manuel (24mpg 16ppg 8rpg 1apg), Calvin Abueva (21mpg 13ppg 9rpg 2apg) and Sonny Thoss (24mpg 11ppg 6rpg 2apg) while maximizing whatever they can get from JVee Casio, Cyrus Baguio, Chris Banchero and the rest.

On the other are the powerhouse San Miguel Beermen, armed to the teeth with arguably some of the best at their respective positions today. They are led by the reigning, defending 2x PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo (36mpg 23ppg 14rpg 2apg), 1x PBA MVP Arwind Santos (34mpg 16ppg 7rpg 2apg), Alex Cabagnot (32mpg 15ppg 4rpg 5apg) and Marcio Lassiter (24mpg 10ppg 4rpg 2apg) while getting ample support from Chris Ross (21mpg 5ppg 3rpg 4apg 1spg), Ronald Tubid and Ryan Arana to name a few.

Built versus bought. Good versus evil. Stars versus super-duper stars.

The story and plotlines are endless.

That being said, let’s get to the numbers and match-ups:

Alaska
101ppg (3), 49rpg, 45% from 2 (2), 39% from 3 (1), 21 apg (2), 7spg

*(ranking this conference)

San Miguel
97ppg, 50rpg,  43% from 2, 31% from 3, 20apg, 7.3spg

PG Casio/ Jazul/ Exciminiano vs Cabagnot/ Ross
This one is going to be tricky for the Aces, since they will need to keep rotating at the PG spot in hopes of neutralizing Cabagnot who is SMB’s linchpin on offense. We wouldn’t be too surprised if Banchero or Exciminiano get more daylight in this series. Ross will make Casio irrelevant.
Adv. SMB

SG Baguio/ Banchero vs Lassiter
How do you stop Lassiter when he’s in rhythm? Pressure.  Lots of it. Fight through whatever screens and stick to him. This basically means that the Aces will have to rotate their guards more actively in this series than the one versus Globalport.  Or, they could just hope and pray that Lassiter goes through one of his notorious funks—you know, the times when he plays so many minutes but does not appear to be interested in playing at all (has happened a few times, once in the RoS series even).
Adv. SMB

SF Abueva/ Hontiveros vs Tubid/ Lutz 
Abueva’s antics will not work on Tubid. Not when they are out in the perimeter. Out there, it is going to be a surefire flop-fest between these two gentlemen. Abueva’s advantage lies when he switches to help down low, where his Cabalen rival Arwind Santos awaits. Hontiveros might make a few shots, maybe they can play him at the 2 spot in stretches to play alongside Abueva.
Adv. AA

PF Manuel vs Santos/ Espinas
The Beermen came prepared. Santos vs Abueva is the dream match-up of course, but we just do not see Manuel switching to 5 and being forced to guard Fajardo (that would be a massacre and waste of Manuel’s contributions). As good as Manuel has been this conference, Santos is even better guarding traditional and not so heavy power forwards. Why? The 4 spot is Santos’ natural defensive position. And if you just so happen to be about the same size and height, he has no problem proving yet again how he built his reputation over the years. Should Coach Leo Austria move Santos to check Abueva, Espinas vs Manuel should be very entertaining; with the advantage going to Manuel.
Adv. SMB

C Thoss vs Fajardo
Is Fajardo hurt or was he just caught with a stinger? As of this writing, Team SMC has been saying that there is no real, serious injury and that they are just waiting for the MRI results. Still, if Fajardo isn't 100%, then Thoss will be able to hold his own against him. If he sits the series out entirely, then that's a different story since SMB will be forced to rely on JayR Reyes and Yancy de Ocampo at the slot. Solid, but not half the threat as Fajardo (unless of course someone dangles a huge bonus in front of Yancy's eyes).
Adv. SMB IF JMF is healthy, tied if not

How SMB wins
If they simply listen to Coach Leo and follow their game plan by moving the ball first instead of dumping it into Fajardo (who still does not know how to kick the ball out) and watching his greatness, this team is near unbeatable. No, they do not need to balance everyone’s minutes out and have their core group play 25 minutes tops. That is not their style. They are a throwback team in the sense that the first five plays a third of the game while the rest play ¼. It’s the same even in the late 90s and early 00s with Olsen, Dondon, Danny S and Danny I. They had solid players off the bench, but the stars are the stars for a reason.

How Alaska wins
Relentless pressure. This is an intelligent team that follows their gameplan to a “T.” They do not enjoy half the firepower of SMB, but because they are a disciplined unit, they are able to make up for each other’s weaknesses by playing together. They have enough bigs to not over-react to anything Fajardo does in the paint, no matter how dominant he looks (yes, we are expecting a borderline 50-20 game somewhere in this PBA Finals). There is no need to double Fajardo, but there is a great need to zero in on Cabagnot, Lassiter and Santos. One failed pick and roll/pop switch, the defense crumbles and the Beermen either finish with an easy Fajardo 2 or an open Lassiter/ Santos 3. 

And also, if Fajardo doesn't play, advantage goes Alaska. If he plays at 50-70%, Thoss can take him. 

X-factors
SMB: Gabby Espinas, Ronald Tubid and Ryan Arana
The Aces will try to get rough and physical at some point, it’s up to SMB’s enforcers to respond in kind

AA:  Chris Banchero
Either versus Cabagnot or Lassiter, Banchero’s under-rated defense will be put to the test in this series

Prediction: SMB if Fajardo is 100%, Aces if Fajardo sits the series out.

Who do you think wins? @kilikilishot on Twitter

A tale of two semifinals

Surprise X-factor for Aces
(Photo credit to PBA.Inquirer.net)

You will have to excuse us at some point if we are unable to post entries about the must-see semifinals matches: Globalport vs Alaska and San Miguel vs Rain or Shine. How can we, when both series have proven to be quite riveting and entertaining thus far while also being played consecutively?

Hindi mo pa na-aabsorb yung nangyari dun sa isang series, maglalaro na yung sa kabila.

Honestly, we feel that they could space the games a bit more, by a day even. But then we understand that the PBA is probably rushing the schedule a bit to hopefully fit in their Gilas-related efforts. That being said, here are a few notes that we have taken from both match-ups.

Alaska vs Globalport

- Alaska will let Terrence Romeo have fun, because they recognize that when his shots are not falling he will force the action and alienate his teammates completely

New Year’s Resolutions and Wishes

Season's greetings!
(Photo credit to Inquirer.net)

Happy New Year everyone! Hope that you are all safe and happy (with all ten digits on your hands). Here is our fantasy-list of resolutions/ wishes for all 12 PBA teams moving forward:

Alaska Aces – let the kids play!
For a team that plays with so much hustle and tenacity, we have always admired the Aces for still being able to hold on to that overall team discipline both on and off the court. They are the PBA’s greatest asset IMHO, and a franchise that is worth emulating from coach to player. This being said, we would like to see less of the aging Tony dela Cruz and more of Rome dela Rosa and Kevin Racal please.

PBAPC SF: 2 San Miguel vs 3 Rain or Shine

On the path to greatness
(Photo credit to PBA.Inquirer.net)

This semifinals encounter my friends, will not be for the weak of heart. While the other series between the Alaska Aces and GlobalPort Batang Pier will probably be high octane and flashy, this one will be for the grown-ups. Think of that series as John Cena, and this one as Brock Lesnar. Spice Girls and Mocha Girls. Ana Roces and Rosanna Roces.

You get the picture right?

Okay, from our perspective the only way for RoS to win versus SMB is for a repeat of their gameplan in the Elimination round which was to have their bigs play outside, their smalls, inside. It didn't matter to RoS head coach Yeng Guiao if Beau Belga, Raymond Almazan and JayR Quinahan were missing from deep. All that matters was that Junemar Fajardo kept over extending himself all the way to the outside leaving Arwind Santos all by his lonesome in protecting the paint versus RoS' big-bodied guards Jericho Cruz and Maverick Ahanmisi.

#FearTheBeer

The Architect
(Photo credit to PBA.Inquirer.net)

It took a lot of downsizing, some roster and coaching changes to get to where the San Miguel Beermen are now today; with last season's two-titled campaign proves that it is all worth it. And to be very honest with you, we do not see them stopping at any point in this season barring any serious injuries.

Currently sitting atop the standings with only a single defeat to their name, alongside Alaska and Rain or Shine, the Beermen are dominating the league yet again behind the fearsome foursome of 2x PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo (37mpg 20ppg 15rpg 2apg), 1x PBA MVP Arwind Santos (33mpg 15ppg 7rpg 2apg), Alex Cabagnot (32mpg 15ppg 4rpg 6apg) and Marcio Lassiter (27mpg 13ppg 5rpg 2apg) while getting ample support from the bench led by *surprise, surprise* Ronald Tubid (26mpg 9ppg 5rpg), Chris Ross, Gabby Espinas and Ryan Arana to name a few.

This team has been so good as of late that no one is really missing Chris Lutz or has bothered to go look for the Monstar responsible for taking the former SMART Gilas I standout's talent on the hardcourt.

Show of force

This image might be a
common thing for years to come
(Photo credit to the owner)

Did you catch yesterday's out-of-town match pitting the defending PBA Philippine Cup champions San Miguel Beermen and darkhorse pick GlobalPort Batang Pier?

It was brutal.

While the final score of 97-86 would hint at a close game (even if you look by quarters: 20-27, 49-37, 71-58, 97-86), what we witnessed on the floor would suggest otherwise. The Batang Pier didn't stand a chance once the Beermen buckled down to work and got into a steady rhythm. 

Trade reaction: Arana to SMB, Pascual to Barako, 2016 2nd round pick to RoS

Underrated
(Photo credit to the owner)

Being a true blooded Rain or Shine fan (and a proud La Sallian for about the bulk of my life in the academe), this one stings quite a bit since Ryan Arana has always been a favorite of mine. Drafted 12th overall in the 2nd round of the 2007 PBA Draft, Arana has found a niche in the PBA even before Coach Yeng Guiao introduced his gung-ho style to the team (which all but liberated Arana).

Here's how the most recent PBA deal went:

Let the madness ensue

Saan po yung biyaheng TNT?
(Photo credit to the owner)

Really, let it ensue. Let the madness that is the PBA pre-season wheeling and dealing commence!

Troy Rosario to Talk'n'Text, Kevin Alas to NLEX, Aldrech Ramos, Rob Reyes and Nino Canaleta to Mahindra

How can you not love this trade for TNT? They just landed this year's coveted 1st (Moala Tautuaa) and 2nd (Rosario) picks which basically ensures that they will remain a dominant force in the league for years to come. Don't hate on this so much if you happen to be anti-Team MVP, since this is basically the 2015 version of the 2010 mugging of Air21 wherein San Miguel basically and literally bought that year's 1st and 2nd picks-- Noy Baclao and Rabeh Al Hussaini. What goes around, comes around right? On the flip side, sister team NLEX will have to wait until sophomore Kevin Alas recovers from injury but once he does they should have one of the more exciting backcourts with Alas and rookie Garvo Lanete outside of GlobalPort's looming three-headed monster of Terrence Romeo, Stanley Pringle and Roi Sumang.

#BeerYear

Dynasty.
(Photo credit Sports5.ph) 

It has been a very good harvest for the San Miguel Beermen at the close of the PBA's monumental 40th PBA season. We saw two more teams added into the already unpredictable mix of PBA franchises duking it out conference after conference, not to mention us having to bear with the "joke" that is Manny Pacquiao, certified PBA playing-coach, plus the first ever jam-packed opening game held at the jaw-dropping Philippine Arena in Bulacan.

So in a way, it is only fitting that the league's oldest remaining ballclub has finally rid itself of its demons a.k.a. Petronovela and has continued its winning tradition. This year, the Beermen took home both the PBA Philippine and Governor's Cup though in contrasting styles versus the same opponent (Alaska Aces). In the first conference, while you could say that the Beermen looked dominant, they traded for old hand Alex Cabagnot to replace starting point guard Sol Mercado. This didn't have much of an effect, and the Finals dragged on to the whole seven games that took an Arwind Santos ballsy clutch triple to seal the deal.

In the third conference, versus the very same Aces, the Beermen just steamrolled right through with Cabagnot being a huge factor on both ends. Sure, they had the services of super import AZ Reid, but the Aces were armed by Best Import awardee Romeo Travis and we doubt that they would use his shortcomings as an excuse.

To infinity and beyond

Sino Coach ko ulit?
(Photo credit: Sports5.ph)

Where do we go from here, STAR Hotshots?

The architect of your 1st PBA Grand Slam (plus two other titles during his tenure), Tim Cone, is now officially out of the door and with him-- his greatness, coaching philosophies, Triangle Offense and so on. In his place will be Jason Webb, as announced in a joint press conference that should've been exclusively for Cone-- but hey, it's San Miguel Corporation, who has little to no coaching experience both in the amateurs and professional ranks.

Great. Just great.

Here is a guy who, among all of Cone's deputies, has the least experience and doesn't really look like he's meant for the part. There's always that one guy who, in team meetings, school group projects, who is the leader. Then there's the other guy, the second guy, who just pushes the rest and makes it happen. You see it in basketball, during timeouts. The coach does his thing and gives instructions, the lead assistant whispers in the ears of the rest. Eggs them on. Tells them what to do. Clarifies things. There are guys in the huddle that would make you think "ah, this guy will be a head coach someday."

But Webb?

PBA GC Finals: (1) Alaska vs (2) San Miguel

Will the Muscle Man
be as effective vs SMB?
(Photo credit: Sports5.Ph)

This is starting to become more than just a rivalry between two stellar Cabalen basketball prodigies.

Welcome to the PBA Governor's Cup Best-of-Seven Finals between the conference's number one ranked Alaska Aces and their Philippine Cup Finals nemesis and champion, second-seeded San Miguel Beermen.

It wasn't a walk in the park then for the Beermen en route to the title, we don't see it being any different now in the season-ending championship series.

This series goes beyond Calvin Abueva and Arwind Santos fighting for the title of Pampanga's Best.

PBA GC QF: (2) San Miguel vs (7) Meralco

Meralco needs another vintage performance
from El Granada to win
(Photo credits Sports5)

"Oh, so you helped oust your sister team? You better make damn sure you win."

Fantasy monologue from Manny V. Pangilinan to his Meralco Bolts team, which lost to Kia and helped close the door on sister team's Talk'n'Text Tropang Texters chances of making the Playoffs.

Uh-oh.

They won against San Miguel, 106-95 with Andre Emmet exploding for 31 points and 11 rebounds plus the aide of a vintage Gary David performance with 23 markers. That being said, AZ Reid was not at his very best (sick), while Junemar Fajardo was left all by his lonesome by his local brethren.

Now?

Fajardo is playing like he always does. Reid is back to being Mr. A to Z. The rest of the crew are delivering, namely Marcio Lassiter and Alex Cabagnot. This Beermen, which finished 2nd overall, look like the same Beermen squad that won the PBA Philippine Cup (only with Reid cast in the Arwind Santos role).

Can the Bolts beat the Beermen?

A (national) cause for concern

Gilas Cadets
(Photo credits to Rappler.com)

Do we keep sending an all star selection, be it of the professional or amateur lot, hastily assembled and asked to achieve great things or do we start building a more concrete program with a more familiar roster?

That is the conundrum that currently hounds the state of basketball in the country. Sure, the Gilas Cadet squad under head coach Tab Baldwin and bannered by promising collegiate stars Kiefer Ravena, Troy Rosario and Almond Vosotros got the job done. But against subpar teams in the South East Asian region (basketball-wise), there was the Thailand and Indonesia games (in the medal rounds) that felt a little too close for comfort.

Both Thailand and Indonesia sent a bunch of veterans who were already familiar with one another. The same could be said for the teams that we will be facing in the FIBA Asia tournament-- Iran and Korea have legitimate basketball programs anchored on guys who are in their prime. China is slowly rebuilding around a younger core. Japan is trying to look for a system that would work for them in this new age of basketball (they just need more shooters, IMHO). India is the sleeping giant (literally and figuratively) once they start paying more attention to basketball and not much on the hours-long cricket matches.