Don't call it a comeback

Danny Ildefonso has found a new home in the PBA.

The former two-time PBA Most Valuable Player, now near the twilight of his illustrious basketball career, was left homeless early in the on-going PBA Philippine Cup after his team of xx years-- the Petron Blaze Boosters (former San Miguel Beermen) decided not to renew his contract. To his rescue are the Boosters' umbrella corporation rivals, Team Manny V. Pangilinan by way of the Meralco Bolts which were lacking in skilled, post players.

In a match seemingly made in heaven, Ildefonso had a successful debut last Saturday for the Bolts (winning 92-88 in overtime over the Air21 Express) finishing with 14 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists on top of setting brilliant screens and picks for his shooters and just working like the skilled veteran he is off-the-ball.

Blurred Lines

The Blur
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Consider yourself warned.

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?

2014 FIBA World On Our Minds

Should Gilas Pilipinas send all 12 to Spain?
(Photo courtesy of PBA InterAKTV)

We know, we know.

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:

When Silver really means Gold

Asia's best big man
meets Asia's best little man
(Photo courtesy of InterAKTV)

Words cannot express how euphoric Gilas Pilipinas’ magical run en route to the FIBA Asia Finals was. The goal was simple and clear: to put Philippine basketball back on the map. To have our Asian brethren recognize that we are, and have always been, a formidable opponent on the hard court if not for a just suspension brought about by local megalomaniacs and sycophants who couldn’t let go.

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.

Back in harness

Photo courtesy of TeamPilipinas.nfo

After a heart breaking loss to Chinese Taipei, Gilas Pilipinas knew that its breathing room or margin of error just got smaller. It was with this mentality that they took to last night's drubbing of the proud Japanese team, scoring at will and working both ends of the floor non-stop.

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.

Gilas Pilipinas: True Pinoy Grit

Photo courtesy of damarre.wordpress.com

For all the stories, myths and urban legends thrown around about one Johnny Abarrientos and his exploits in the late 90s, we argue that Jimmy Alapag has earned to be mentioned in the same breath, if not higher.

The body of work, the championships and arguably our biggest Abarrientos VS Alapag tie-breaker: longevity and consistency.

But let's get to the "who's better" debate some other time. We are here to talk about Alapag, no longer in his prime and even a lock to NOT start for Gilas Pilipinas come the FIBA Asia tournament next month. His inclusion was born more out of "experience" and "familiarity" with head coach Chot Reyes' system more than actually being one of the best at his position today (he's still up there, but younger guys have slowly closed the gap-- Gilas teammate L.A. Tenorio, JVee Casio, Alex Cabagnot, Mike Cortez and Paul Lee).

Barangay Overkill. Much.

Dugong Pinoy...
...Lahing Ginebra?

What happens if Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, now blessed with 6"9 athlete Japeth Aguilar, is able to somehow pry veteran 6"9 Fil-Tonggan Asi Taulava from the hands of Team MVP?

Then it only solidifies our claim that this team has nowhere been near it's given "underdog" moniker not since reigning PBA Most Valuable Player Mark Caguioa's blonde-bombing rookie year (when they actually played guys named Ronald Magtulis and Banjo Calpito heavy minutes). Never say die? How can a team that is supposed to win big be "never say die?" The new battle cry should be "play to your standards" if anything.

Seriously, why Ginebra is still in hot pursuit of an aging role player is beyond us. Aside from Aguilar, they already have little (if not mis-)used players such as Rico Maierhofer, Billy Mamaril, Willy Wilson, Rudy Hatfield and not to mention the resurgent Kerby Raymundo.

Is Olsen safe?

Life was probably simpler for Coach O
back when he was playing

In case you haven't already heard, there's a "coaching re-organization" reportedly in the works within the San Miguel Corporation ranks. This, after the abrupt dismissal of Gee Abanilla as head coach of the De La Salle Green Archers in the collegiate ranks (which is banked by Danding Cojuangco of Team SMC).

Some circles say that Abanilla is on his way to playing a role for one of Team SMC's PBA ballclubs, another  have him being given the boot because of a lackluster coaching job in a recently concluded pocket tournament.  How this affects Racela is simple: either Abanilla (or someone flying under the radar) is out to get his spot or as shown with Cojuangco's patience for the former DLSU coach, Racela is next to go given his so-so performance as head coach of the Petron Blaze Boosters in the PBA.

But what did they really expect when they handed Racela the head coaching gig?

Bring FIBA back to Manila

The country’s hopes and dreams of enjoying (tremendous) homecourt advantage come the FIBA Asia Championships took a blow when the FIBA Executive Committee opted to hold the 2013 event in Lebanon.

And while most would sit and sulk with the loss (imagine our Team Pilipinas boys playing before adoring, smart Pinoy basketball fans who would surely treat each game—eliminations or knockout, like a game 7 PBA showdown between San Mig Coffee and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel) and even question the FIBA Asia Secretary General  Hagop Khajirian’s integrity (he is Lebanese after all), let’s all just move forward from this temporary setback.

The Silent War Dream Match

Who's the #1 PG in the PBA?

Just for fun and since most of the teams are on hiatus save for the PBA GovCup finalists Rain or Shine and BMeg, this writer has always wanted to tackle a big "what if" scenario starring the country's two basketball powerhouses-- Team MVP and Team San Miguel.

While both have ransacked the league of major names in hopes of trumping the other-- to the point that they'd even hold out "sponsored" amateur players/ investments from entering the league if there was a possibility that he'd land on a non-Team MVP/SMC squad, both parties have been nothing short of exemplary in their conduct so far. Yes, there's "The Silent War," but that's pretty much it so far. Silent. Just a healthy game of business one-upsmanship and letting one team have its day in the limelight (MVP) while the other rebuilds (SMC).

Since we've been treated to two awesome basketball spectacles in a span of two years (SMART NBA All Stars vs PBA All Stars/ SMART Gilas and the PLDT All Stars vs the PBA 90s Hall of Famers), how about a match pitting Team SMC's best versus their Team MVP counterparts? For parity's sake, this should be held at the Ynares Center. Or even the Cuneta Astrodome. Hah.