#NarvasaResign

Man on fire
(photo courtesy of Rappler,com)

It has been a while, and we are quite thankful that there are some of you who still patronize this page and digest whatever understanding of Philippine basketball we have to offer despite the dwindling number of entries.

We have apologized quite a few times already, so there is no point in adding yet another paragraph just to do so. Long story short: life happens.

That being said, PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa has recently come under fire after 1) approving a "lopsided" trade that sent the 2017 PBA Draft 1st pick Christian Standhardinger to the San Miguel Beermen and 2) revealing that it was TNT personnel Magnum Membrere who processed Standhardinger's Draft Application, which put TNT under a bad light obviously.

For flag and country

Against all odds
(Photo credit to the owner)

While we do not condone the actions of those who begged off from being part of the Gilas 3 men's basketball team, we cannot and will not crucify them for it either

As we have previously mentioned, we will just keep moving forward with the names that we have. From top to bottom, "PBA wish list" aside, we are looking at Jayson Castro, Terrence Romeo, Gary David, Dondon Hontiveros, Matt Rosser, Calvin Abueva, Gabe Norwood, JC Intal, Ranidel de Ocampo, Troy Rosario, Moala Tautuaa, Aldrech Ramos, Sonny Thoss, Asi Taulava and Andray Blatche.

You could throw in retired/unretired Jimmy Alapag, and you are looking at 16 proud and willing basketball players who should be celebrated rather than questioned.

Two can play at that game

Just the other day it was announced that long-time Team MVP affiliate/ Gilas Pilipinas reinforcement Marcus Douthit was going to suit up for Blackwater Elite in lieu of the injured Chris Charles in the newly-opened PBA Commissioner's Cup.

How easy it was to acquire Douthit's services, who has gone on media to openly admit that he's not in game shape, is not the issue here. It's the team he plays for, and the uniforms that they've suddenly gone on to wear this conference that's a bit bothersome.

You may call us out for counting our chickens before they hatch here, but those blue and yellow colors do not exactly fit the "BLACKWater Elite" mold now does it? They wore black, white and red last conference, much like their product colors, so where on earth did this yellow and blue print come from?

Did Team MVP finally do it?

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.

What's next for ABL San Miguel Beermen?

New league, new life for the ABL MVP

Congratulations to the newly-crowned ASEAN Basketball League champions, San Miguel Beermen!

After an impressive campaign that saw the team finish the eliminations atop with a 25-4 record, the Beermen have not only exalted revenge on the Indonesia Warriors but also reclaimed a bit of national pride for the Philippines as a whole. Though opting to carry their brand rather than the name Philippines or Pilipinas, the Beermen are our own and it is only right that each and every player on the roster be recognized for their efforts.

Leading the charge is this season's ABL Most Valuable Player Asi Taulava, who at 40 years of age was still able to play 22 games and put up 10 ppg and 7rpg in about 27 minutes of action a game. This, after being dismissed as a "washed up, has been out for a big paycheck" by some circles. We admit to feeling the same way-- but never to the extend that the beefy 6"9 Taulava can no longer contribute to a winning team.

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?

Room for Arwind

Disrupting Gilas Pilipinas’ hard-earned and –fought chemistry would be the last thing we’d like to do. Hell, even dividing the online (hardcore) Pinoy basketball community is not something we wake up wanting to do either. But if there’s anything that the recently concluded PBA All Star Game showed, it’s that Gilas might be missing a superstar (or two) in its fold.

We don’t have to discuss the history and all the drama in detail, we know the back story more or less: “The Silent War,” “One player per team,” and “Injured or risk of injury.” Oh, and there’s also the “we’ve done our part before, so let’s see the rest do theirs” shtick.

Of the PBA All Stars that competed last Sunday night, Petron Blaze’s Arwind Santos stood out with his double-double effort of 27 points, 13 rebounds and 2 steals in 40 minutes of action.

Building PBA San Miguel Gilas

Sila? Lalaro sa SMART Gilas? WEH.
San Miguel Gilas pa, pwede.

We already know the story and no matter how frustrating and "head-scratching" it may be, we are bound to see another FIBA-bound Philippine men's basketball team that features only half (a third even) of the league's best players (if any, depending on their availability).

Fortunately for us, we live in a world of Freedom of Speech and Expression. This allows us to conjure such discussions that may or may not see the light of day. It's not a secret, the PBA has allowed its players to be on loan to the national team-- depending on their respective mother team's of course. That's why Arwind Santos, arguably the PBA's best two-way basketball player the last three-four years, will not wear PILIPINAS on his chest any time soon (unless he gets traded elsewhere).

So, in the name of Christmas cheer, here's our "fantasy" All-San Miguel "Gilas" basketball team which looks to be pretty stacked on all fronts (making it even more frustrating):

And nobody does it better

The PBA's Knicks-era Isaiah Thomas?

Or so he said.

There was a time when one Noli Eala was hailed as the savior of Philippine basketball-- the guy who will carry the torch after the great commissioner Jun Bernardino and those before him into the new millennium. But tragedy struck and the world came crashing down on the former prosecutor. We won't judge him for his actions off the basketball court, this is not what we stand for at KiliKiliShot.Com. We will however, judge his past and current actions as one of the driving forces for the San Miguel Corporation's basketball teams competing in the PBA.

34th Jones Cup: Gilas takes down Asian champs

KKS calls a ceasefire
on all "Norwood is soft" jokes
...for now :)

For only the nth time since the Iranians zoomed into the upper echelon of Asian basketball, Pilipinas was able to raise its hands in victory at game's end. It was ugly early; sluggish and brutal-- both teams recognizing what was at stake and not wanting to give any advantage thus milking the shot clock and causing some of the most amateur-ish (and botched) sets before turning the intensity up in the second half.

Like a box office title fight, both teams didn't play their cards outright. Iran was happy with feeding the ball down low and not really looking to work around the center with their guards who are truly Euro-league worthy (Nikkhah Barrami is a beast!) while Pilipinas' dreaded "dribble drive" offense was being held at bay for halfcourt sets. Though the first half ended locked at 33 a piece, the game was physical, competitive and highly entertaining. The referees were doing their part to mess up the game for both teams, calling the quickest three second violations you'll ever see on television and missing some chippy plays inside.

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.

Thank You Chot

Coach Chot: Fashion
and basketball-forward

We all have a disliking for outgoing Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters head coach Chot Reyes be it his maddening borderline metrosexual fashion sense, the way he carries himself like most Ateneans (you know this via that cocky, sense of self-entitlement/ "better than you" demeanor) or the way he complains to the referees and milks every single call that doesn't favor his beloved team.

But beyond all that douchery, from a strictly basketball sense, there's been no one quite like Coach Chot in the last two to three years. He has effectively redeemed himself from a disappointing stint with the Philippine National Team a few years ago. Working his ass off day and night to augment his coaching philosophies by virtue of playing a relentless, run and gun style that shares the wealth among his superstar-laden roster which is easier said than done.

Pingris continues to earn Cone's trust

Pingris: Always Ready to Battle

When Hall of Fame-worthy BMeg Llamados head coach Tim Cone first came into town, talks of him developing established 2x PBA Most valuable Player James Yap captured headlines. There were dreams of multiple titles, unmatched greatness and a dynasty that was just waiting to happen.

For a time, people even toyed with the idea of how Cone could make his own present day "Alaska circa 1996" with Llamados with guys like Yap, Roger Yap, PJ Simon and Kerby Raymundo all in the fold. What people didn't really bother to talk about in those stages, was where defensive and rebounding bloodhound Marc Pingris fits in the Triangle Offense and Cone's gameplan altogether.