On the Sorsogon Bubble and Professional Student Athletes

Bubble popped.
(Photo by: Rappler.com)

If you are reading this, that means you are alive and well, going through the motions of the dreaded Covid-19 pandemic and the now six-month quarantine that has befallen our country. Just being alive, waking up to the voices of our loved ones, seeing their faces either in person or online, that's all that matters. If you have lost someone, my heartfelt condolences to you. 

I had a follower/ friend on @kilikilishot who succumbed to the disease. I just cannot recall his username at the moment ( Rest in Power @kotsleo ), but I was able to exchange a message or two with his loved one. I hope and pray that you are all doing well and safe. 

That's me, Angel V., the author, talking to all of you, with no BS. 

So for the longest time, specially when this blog shot up to fame thanks to a few popular readers retweeting and sharing (and some PBA names), I've shied away from discussing things that I'm not privy to or as well-researched of. For one, I've left the college basket-talk to better men and women-- those from Humblebola, Tiebreaker Times, Salascout, and the rest. Though some of them do sound more like a certain school's sports mouth piece as they mostly cover in-house. 

Amazing Arwind

The Pinoy Spiderman
(Photo credit: Inquirer.net)

When it is all said and done, the San Miguel Beermen’s do-it-all forward and former PBA MVP Arwind Santos will undoubtedly go down as one of the best ever.

Is he a small forward? But he rebounds the basketball and often makes his best defensive stops around the paint. Is he a power forward? But he shoots threes, runs the floor and isn’t exactly built like a stocky one as per Filipino traditions.

Evolution

The Golden Boy
(photo credit: pba-online.net)

GlobalPort Batang Pier’s Terrence Romeo is redefining the way he is known to the local basketball world in two PBA Philippine Cup games played so far. Though the “Golden Boy” is averaging his customary 27 points, he is now actively keeping his teammates involved by issuing 7 assists as well.

Change looks like it’s coming, eh?

Before we proceed, we’d like to ask: who is the better basketball player? A guy scores 40 points or a guy who puts up 15 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists while also deferring to a teammate when it comes to taking the game-winner?

Course correction

Welcome home. Now stay home.
(Photo credit: Spin.ph)

Well, someone has to say it.

Bobby Ray Parks, Jr. is NOT NBA material. Not yet, anyway.

We won't follow other writers who have nothing but good words to say about Parks, Jr. from the sacrifice that he made in playing in the Philippines to help his late father, to his time at National University. Instead, we will give interested readers an honest take on Parks, Jr. the basketball player and NBA hopeful.

He suited up for NU from 2011 to 2013, was recognized as the "face" of its basketball (and probably, at the time, its overall sports) program and averaged a stellar 20 ppg 7rpg 3apg 1spg 1bpg in his UAAP run wherein he was the MVP in seasons 74 and 75. He was that gifted. He was also featured on offense. A lot. NU basically ran everything through and by Parks, Jr. which is and was a far cry from all the stellar and creative offensive sets they ran post-Parks, Jr. en route to a UAAP crown just a few seasons ago.

The Dream Match to end it all

Dream Match III: if only to see
Kiefer vs Mac/Yeo/Cortez

There you have it.

The PBA Green Archers were able to repeat versus rivals PBA Blue Eagles in this afternoon's ho-hum battle at the SM MoA Arena dubbed "Dream Match II: The Revenge." Well, if the script were to be followed, the Eagles were supposed to win this one to force a nail-biter of a third and deciding match (ala celebrated promoter Don King's brand of boxing).

But the Archers wouldn't have any of it. Mac Cardona, free from the burden of having to play a passive role with his mother team Meralco's three-ball happy Dribble Drive Offense, played like he had a score to settle with everyone from the Eagles' side of things. He dropped in threes, made his patented tear drop hook shots and even threw in some mean mug swag "anong height mo" theatrics here and there for good measure.

So should a third match be played, with the Archers now up 2-0 in this mini cash cow of a side event by the PBA? Yes. But IF and WHEN current amateur superstar known to most as "The Phenom" Keifer Ravena turns pro (or is eligible to do so).

Rise of the Collegiate Imports

College imports for hire

We're going to be blatantly honest here: we are not fans of having foreigners, plucked from whichever continent with little to no ties in the Philippines, play for amateur teams.

It just doesn't make any sense for the sport or the institution that they are associated with other than to simply boost the latter's chances of winning a certain tournament/s and holding on to annual bragging rights over their peers. Moreso, it doesn't help Philippine basketball per se since these young players who are being taken advantage of (and vice versa) aren't here to really "play for flag and country" but to simply make the most of their God-given gifts, make a little money before moving on to greener pastures.