The Dream Match: Gilas I vs II

PG: Jimmy Alapag/ JVee Casio/ Mark Barroca vs L.A. Tenorio/ Sol Mercado/ Gabe Norwood


Advantage goes to Gilas I owing to Alapag and Casio’s marksmanship. They are able to spread the floor more than the current PG rotation who are mostly dribble-drivers by trade (except Tenorio). Of the lot, you’d say that I will have a hard time stopping II’s bigger and stronger guards, but this is a team game and PGs aren’t needed to drive inside in the FIBA games, they’re meant to shoot from deep and play safety on defense. You can argue for Gilas II by saying that Mercado and Norwood are best suited to play alongside Chan and David, but three points per trip is still three points per trip.

Adv. Gilas I

34th Jones Cup: Pilipinas' grades

Stay aggressive Gabe!

Today's 88-84 win over Japan marks yet another come-from-behind win for Team Pilipinas, pulling out all the stops to erase a 4th quarter 11-point deficit. Not only where the Japs shooting the ball with Korean-like precision, but their ball movement was the best this writer has seen from that country in years.

Fortunately for us, Marcus "Big Daddy" Douthit came through with a stellar 26 points, 13 rebounds performance to carry us throughout the game in time for the locals to regroup defensively and wax hot in the 4th. Our top gunners, Gary David and Jeffrei Chan, provided the needed long bombs with Gabe Norwood-- who is having a "Cyrus Baguio-like" series, just playing the best basketball we've seen from him so far.

We have to commend Coach Chot Reyes for his awesome shuffling and also that impressive switching on defense which just about everyone on the floor for Pilipinas appears to have embraced whole-heartedly. Not only were they being active, but screens and picks by the Japs were being taken out of the equation because there was always a guy rotating inside or outside to meet them.

So without further ado, let's move on to the grades so far:

34th Jones Cup: Gilas now 3-0

Hello Asia, his name is Gary David.
He plays shitty defense, but on offense?
Well, ask Korea. :) 

Regardless if South Korea opted to send a club team (think of it as the Philippines sending Petron or Talk 'n' Text plus two reinforcements) to the 34th William Jones Cup, let us all enjoy and savor this sweet and hard-earned 82-79 victory over our FIBA tormentors.

Though we coasted to a quick 14 point lead in the first quarter, the Koreans fought back behind their two imports Juan Patillo (think of him as a more athletic, stronger and young version of Jordan's Rasheim Wright) and 7"0 giant Gary Stutz. Their locals, physically taller and stronger than the Pilipinas select team, were also playing like they usually do-- calm, knocking down shots and moving the ball around instead of dribbling the shotclock off (which we kept on doing).

The Air21 Rebuilding Project

Forget Baclao. If Air21 lands Wilson,
they'll get Gary David 2.0-- with more defense.

Following last season's embarrassing performance, which is expected of such a young team, the Air21 Express set their sights on rebuilding the roster in order to make a dent in the PBA. Laughable as that may seem, since Management's best interest has always been on making profit off trades, let's give the Franz Pumaren-coached squad the benefit of the doubt.

Now this is all according to newsreports (and some rumors) since the trade hasn't received the nod of PBA Commissioner Chito Salud so everything is still up in the air. What we do know at the moment is that the team isn't high on Elmer Espiritu, Paolo Hubalde, Magi Sison, Eric Salamat and nuisance Ogie Menor. Chances are, these guys will be sent elsewhere or have their contracts left to expire.

PBA Draft 2012: Top 10

Mahangin ba sa labas?

10. Those college ties run deep
Alaska getting Calvin Abueva (they have his college coach Topex Robinson on staff). Simon Atkins to Air 21 (Franz Pumaren). Jason Escueta to Talk 'n' Text (Norman Black).

9. Height is might  
Don't know if this will stick, but the first and second rounds' average height must be around the 6"3-6"4 area. A lot of wings and bigs there.

8. Petron has the best and worst hairstyles in the league
Yes to Alex Cabagnot's I don't know. Pony tail? No to Alex Mallari's bed hair.

PBA Draft 2012: The Others

Okay, so we've written about the First Round picks and how they could help their respective teams earlier. Now it's time to take a quick look at the second to sixth round picks and playfully predict where they might be at year's end.

Second round

1. Air 21 - Yousef Taha (will battle Bitoy Omolon for minutes... and find that he's still soft around the corners)
2. Barako Bull - Dave Marcelo (most likely to be traded to an MVP team)
3. BMeg - Jewel Ponferrada (kiss Jerwin Gaco's minutes goodbye)
4. GlobalPort - AJ Mandani (is going to shock the world and steal JVee Casio's minutes)
5. Barako Bull - Lester Alvarez
6. Barako Bull - Emman Monfort (traded to Talk 'n' Text or sent to the ABL)
7. Meralco - Kelly Nabong (will have friendly encounters with Marc Pingris, Beau Belga, Ogie Menor, et. al. all his sixth game in the PBA)
8. Barako Bull - Woody Co (will wish that he didn't lose all that weight but would also do a Ken Bono-- good offense + so-so defense = bench/ ABL)
9. Alaska - Raphy Reyes (will make Cyrus Baguio look soft)
10. Talk 'n Text - Jaypee Belencion (gunner! Needs to bulk up and play defense)

Rain or Shine gets Tiu

Mukha lang choir boy pero mabagsik
din sa gulangan si Chris Tiu

After last year's masterful selection of eventual Rookie of the Year Paul Lee, the Rain or Shine Elastopainters found yet another gem in SMART Gilas alumnus/ TV host/ model/ entrepreneur/ heart throb Chris Tiu.

Not only will Tiu's addition boost the team with a capable rotation player, but he alone would uplift the Elastopainters' fanbase and improve their overall PR slant. As a player, Tiu will have time to develop and shine since Lee will be sidelined at the start of the Philippine Cup due to his shoulder injury/ surgery. A natural shooting guard, look for Tiu to play the point and steal minutes from his Xavier teammate TY Tang.

PBA Draft 2012 1st Round Grades

Can't teach height.

What a day for the future of Philippine basketball! Arguably one of the most potent and star-ready lot in the last decade, the PBA Draft 2012 went all six rounds-- with the rechristened Barangay Ginebra San Miguel out to try point guards by the dozen.

First round

1. Petron Blaze - June Mar Fajardo
This was a no brainer, though Fajardo is a three-year project at best, the guy stands 6"10 and has actual muscles that Bonel Balingit, E.J. Feihl, Marlou Aquino and Andy Seigle COMBINED could only dream of. Don't look for Fajardo to dominate the game ASAP, since there's a solid reason why he was glued to the bench in the ASEAN Basketball League. In the PBA, he's job has been defined for him before he was even called out to the stage: intimidate, rebound and block shots. If Coach Olsen Racela and 2x PBA MVP Danny Ildefonso could work their magic on Fajardo and speed up Fajardo's basketball IQ, then look for Petron to be a playoffs fixture for years to come.

Grade: A (Fajardo addresses the one position that Petron doesn't have a bunch of guys to choose from)

34th Jones Cup: Pilipinas wins, still sloppy

Pilipinas goes only
as far as Douthit takes them

The new-look men's national basketball team are off on the right track with a hard-earned 88-80 victory over a sluggish Jordan squad led by a clearly out of gym shape Rasheim Wright. While we were able to hack out the W and even post a double digit lead in the first quarter, the lapses (mostly in the second quarter) need to be taken addressed ASAP.

Coach Chot Reyes stuck to what has become his teams' identity over the years: run to the rim basketball. Drive and kick. Nothing fancy, just a plain "get the ball to the rim as close as you can" mentality that rubbed off even on the putty-soft Gabe Norwood.

Bright spots for the team are naturalized center Marcus Douthit who finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds after spending most of the 1st quarter on the bench due to foul trouble. Then came the shooters Jeffrei Chan, Gary David and Larry Fonacier who found themselves open one too many times on the floor. Call it a lack of scouting on the Jordanians' part, but they went with a traditional zone defense obviously banking on the Philippines' old reputation of being an "all drive, no J" team.

Petron dumps Ato, hires Rah-Rah

Coach O

In a move seen as soon as mid-way of the PBA Governor's Cup, the Petron Blaze Boosters unceremoniously gave the boot to sophomore head coach Ato Agustin and brought in another prized alum in Olsen Racela.

While Agustin was able to steer a then-depleted Boosters squad to a Governor's Cup crown in his first season, he failed to make the necessary adjustments required once the superstars came back. The tough task of having to spread minutes to a loaded line-up that features two elite PBA first five-worthy guys was just too much for Agustin, whose bread and butter as a coach has always been in squeezing out the best of his players who already have marked roles on the offense.

Welcome to the PBA Global Port Batang Pier

The dream has finally turned into reality.

Champion sports aficionado and shipping mogul Mikee Romero has finally turned his boyhood dream into reality: earning the PBA Board of Governors' nod in acquiring the Powerade Tigers franchise thus joining Asia's pioneering basketball league of over thirty-five years.

What this means:

1. No more drama
Last season's magical, Cinderella story run to the Finals and superstar Gary David's "takeover" of the league was marred by rumors of the Tigers' demise. There were reports that the team was for sale and worse, on the verge of being disbanded with all of its players, coaches and staff left under the cold and lonely rain. Well, Romero's multi-million Peso acquisition assures us all of continuity in terms of the players-- since the core guys; David, JVee Casio, Rabah Al Hussaini and Sean Anthony are signed to long-term contracts while the reserves led by Rey Guevarra, Rommel Adducul, Rudy Lingganay and Jondan Salvador.

SMART Gilas 1: Revisited

What if?

Now that the season is over and we know where each of the concerned pieces stand, this writer can not help but picture what might have been had all the original, dreamt players taken part of the highly successful SMART Gilas program. Though there were about five or six players who chose to skip the national program and move on to the pros, let's single out three who could've improved our chances: Rabah Al Hussaini, Noy Baclao and Paul Lee.

Al Hussaini, at a beefy 6"5, would've been a joy to watch offensively for Gilas. A traditional post big who can knock down mid range jumpers, the former King Eagle would've commanded respect and helped open up the floor for naturalized center Marcus Douthit. Anyone who's ever played the game would tell you that having a big who can anchor the offense down low is always a plus, because it makes things easier for everyone. Guys can roam freely and choose their spots on the floor and makes the defenders extend outside if used correctly.

PBA GovCup Finals: RoS' locker room celebration

Newly-crowned Governor's Cup champions' Rain or Shine Elastopainters' wet and wild locker room celebration.

What else did you expect?

PBA GovCup Finals: A Review

Nawala ung laro ni Sakuragi

Now that the dust has settled a bit and some of the euphoria has faded into the rainy evening, let's look back at some of the things we learned from the highly competitive PBA GovCup Finals that opened a lot of eyes.

First, there's the fact that the champions-- the Rain or Shine Elastopainters, managed to win big the old fashioned way: "Built not bought." The title was six years in the making, took some retooling and a more aggressive stance (thanks to Coach Yeng Guiao who took over for the meek Caloy Garcia) but it was arguably a breath of fresh air in a league dominated by powerhouse teams with endless financial exploits.

So without further adieu...

PBA GovCup Finals: Na-delay lang pero amin ito

Finals MVP: Jeff Chan 

Sa sobrang pagkaka-delay ng kampeonato para sa Rain or Shine Elastopainters, muntikan ng masilat ni 2x PBA MVP James Yap at ng BMeg Llamados. Buti na lang bumalik sila sa dati nilang porma at hindi nagpadaig sa libo-libong Llamados fans (kasama na referees) na dumagsa sa SMART Araneta Coliseum.

Matapos ng ilang taong pagkaka bwusit sa potensyal na taglay ni Gabe Norwood, sa wakas natauhan din siya at namalayang 6"5 ang height nya kumpara sa bumabantay sa kanyang si Josh Urbiztondo. May mga ilang beses na nalulusutan sya ni Urbiztondo at tinitirahan, pero agad namang bumabawi si Norwood sa opensa-- oo, sa opensa, para panatilihing angat ang Elastopainters.

PBA Draft 2012: The Chris Tiu Factor

Tiu: Petron, Alaska or Meralco?

We already know where 6"9 big man June Mar Fajardo is going. The KKS Vince McMahon has already gone public with the Petron Blaze Boosters' choice for the number one overall pick of the promising PBA Draft 2012. It's not rocket science, they brought him in from Cebu, nurtured him and gave him international experience battling mostly American giants in the ASEAN Basketball League so  let the Boosters have their man.

What's becoming even more of a conundrum is who gets picked next. The Alaska Aces appear to be opening up to the idea of bringing in "The Beast" Calvin Abueva of the NCAA's San Sebastian Golden Stags. Arguably the best, most decorated and widely respected player among the applicants given his monstrous efforts on the basketball court.

PBA GovCup Finals: Do-or-die Sunday

To win game 7: Yap needs to dominate.
Norwood needs to play smarter.

For one night, let's forget that the upstart Rain or Shine Elastopainters over-achieved this conference and jumped to a 3-1 Finals lead.

For one night, let's all forget that James Yap, 2x PBA Most Valuable Player, has been playing like a king not to be denied of his throne the last two-three outings.

For one night, let's just enjoy the last game of such an entertaining 37th PBA season that has provided us with joy, heartbreak, frustration and even hope wether you are a Barangay Ginebra fan or a masochistic Air21 hopeful.

Tiu-day's the day

The PBA needs Chris Tiu

Apologies for the elementary-level title. Had second, third, fourth and even eight thoughts before letting it be. There's really no other way to say it so... If Chris Tiu, former captain of the SMART Gilas men's national baskteball team, Ateneo Blue Eagle, magazine coverboy, posterboy, TV host, barangay kagawad and entrepreneur, wants in to the PBA, then there's no other time in but now.

Most of his Gilas teammates have moved on to the pros and enjoyed much success (JVee Casio, Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz) and even carried their respective fanbases with them. Tiu, ever the patriot, opted to stick it out with the Gilas team believing he'll still be an integral part of it (read: play heavy minutes) regardless of coach, teammates and other unseen factors.

Problem was, once Coach Chot Reyes took over for the sacked Rajko Toroman, Tiu faced even stiffer competition by virtue of the PBA veterans that were all set to join in.

PBA GovCup Finals: The James Yap Rises; Series now 2-3

Hindi pa ako tapos!

The PBA's most celebrated two-time Most Valuable Player just wasn't ready to go on vacation.

Not with the reigning NBA champion Miami Heat's coach Erik Spoelstra watching intently in the stands. With a beauty like Venus Raj and other celebrities hooked into what has become an overly physical series that has surprisingly been nothing short of entertaining for basketball fans and non-fans alike.

The games are heated, BMeg Llamados and Rain or Shine Elastoplayers aren't smiling at one another like they do in the NBA where everyone's a friend. There's a growing sense of hatred once the ball is tossed until the buzzer sounds. There's intensity, tenacity and fire from both camps. And tonight, it was Yap who shone brightest and torched the hapless Elastopainters.

Luigi stays with Alaska

Trillo: Full time coach

So the (surprising) Luigi Trillo era continues amid reports that he was going to be given the boot after an unimpressive interim coaching debut last conference. Granted, he only had a few days to get acquainted with the Alaska Aces as its new head coach and an even shorter PBA GovCup elimination round to run anything so the two-year deal isn't as hard to comprehend as it seems.

Also, Trillo already enjoys the public support of his star point guard L.A. Tenorio-- which says a lot and seems to be on good terms with the rest of the guys having played assistant for so long. Here's a short list that this writer came up with that Trillo will face head-on now that he's the full-time head coach of the Aces.

Sold! Mikee Romero buys Powerade franchise

Casio needs to be THE man

According to reports, champion sports figure Mikee Romero has officially bought the Powerade Tigers' from Coca Cola through his company, Sultan 900. This finally rids us all of the unwanted drama that marred what was a beautiful and eye-opening season for the Tigers, who could've been built into a title contender had it stuck to its Philippine Cup core.

With star Gary David leading the pack, the Tigers looked every inch like a title team with guys like Doug Kramer, Sean Anthony, Rommel Adducul, Alex Crisano and rookies JVee Casio and Marcio Lassiter. All the team really needed back then was more time to jell and who knows just how far they could've gone had Lassiter not been pressured with all the trade rumors come 2nd conference before finally being dealt to Petron in the 3rd and Kramer sent to Barako Bull Energy.

37th PBA Leo Awards: And the winners are...

MVP! MVP! MVP!

First off, did we call it or what? Okay, so we missed the most important one because we took the outside factors a little too seriously-- forgetting that Kris Aquino et. al no longer cares for who wins the award *cough, cough, wink wink*.

All Defensive Team
PG Ryan Reyes, SG Jireh Ibanes, SF Arwind Santos, PF Marc Pingris, C Doug Kramer
Okay, didn't really see the Ibanes pick not because our boy from UP isn't a good one-on-one defender (he is, just under-rated and little played) but because you don't really see darkhorses pop up out of nowhere in these sort of awards nights. Well deserved for everyone.

PBA GovCup Finals: RoS a win away

RoS: Winning behind "balut" chemistry

Beat.

Just, plain, good old-fashioned beat.

That's how the BMeg Llamados are, now down 1-3 after losing a 17-point first quarter lead and losing all sense of composure best embodied by newly-minted Defensive Player of the Year Marc Pingris' silly headbutt on Rain or Shine Elastopainters' kiti-kiti guard Ryan Arana.

PBA GovCup Finals: You Dare Question Cone?

Cone: Always the "big picture" thinker

"@manilacone: My responsibility is to try to win another championship for them. I rested James and PJ last night so that they could be fresh for Sunday."

Unnerved, unapologetic and without any traces of regrets. BMeg Llamados' head coach Tim Cone drew a lot of flak from the Llamados' faithful for opting to sit stars James Yap and PJ Simon in yesterday's 84-93 Game 3 loss to the Rain or Shine Elastopainters. The master tactician went on to the post game press conference and even on Twitter to explain his actions, something almost unheard of in his multi-title and stellar coaching career.

PBA GovCup Finals: Rain or Shine wins without Paul Lee

No Lee means more
ball time for Chan

Save for a few tense moments, the Rain or Shine Elastopainters hacked off a morale-boosting win over the BMeg Llamados in tonight's sleeper of a Game 3.

With star rookie point guard Paul Lee out due to a dislocated shoulder, the "other guys" took the ball and literally ran away with it. Jireh Ibanes, a defensive specialist by trade, buried most of his shots from all over the court in the first quarter. Then came Ryan Arana, Ronjay Buenafe and Beau Belga. TY Tang had his dumb moments but not enough to lose the game as well.

Credit has to go to Coach Yeng Guiao for trusting his boys when they were down early going into the second quarter. The Llamados were even able to stretch the lead a bit, but the fiery mentor didn't bat an eyelash or flinch even-- opting to ride it out when it looked like all the Llamados needed to do was keep trapping Tang midcourt and wait for him to dribble off his foot or pass it to his own bench.

KKS' Leo Picks

As the 37th season of the PBA comes to an end (with all due respect to the teams playing in the PBA GovCup Finals of course), it marks the one day wherein the creme de la creme are recognized and appreciated for their efforts on (and off) the basketball court.


While these guys will always say the right things and push for multiple finals appearances and championships, there's always that human desire to be called the best. To be adorned and praised. That's what the PBA Leo Awards are for, and this writer would like to throw his kwek-kwek's worth of predictions/ picks for the top individual awards.


Let's start things off with the Top 5 defensive guys, followed by the five best players in their respective positions (this season) before ending it with the MVP winner.

Validation for The Spark

Did you know that there are only three active players left from the top-thin 2001 PBA Draft?

The People's MVP

The top pick soon became Rookie of the Year and 2x PBA Most Valuable Player. Another guy, still in his prime, established himself as a Super Sub but is currently making waves as a solid starter. The third, and the most popular of all, has won several accolades and has gotten close to winning the MVP on two-three separate occasions only to fall short by some vote-selection technicalities.

That third guy, picked third overall, is none other than the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings' Mark Caguioa. Then un unheralded, 6"1 faux blonde guard out of Glendale Community Collage-- so unheralded that the trivia-happy Quinito Henson was reduced to blurting out "he's a cousin of Chino Trinidad." That's it. No "his girlfriend is..." or "his hairstyle was inspired by..."trivias out of Henson, which surprises this writer even to this day.

PBA GovCup Finals: With or Without Lee

Can RoS win without Lee?

"We will win this series with or without Paul Lee."

These were the ever-defiant, fighting words of the upstart Rain or Shine Elastopainters' head coach Yeng Guiao when asked about his team's chances of winning the title minus Rookie of the Year race leader Lee who re-dislocated his left shoulder (an old injury that hasn't gotten any better).

Well, what else did you expect him to say? To call it a day, tuck his tail between his legs and go home? To burst whatever remaining bubble of confidence is left on a team that faired miserably last season post-Sol Mercado and pre-Lee?

PBA GovCup Finals: Llamados tie series, Lee hurt anew

Sabi nila me ibang Hari
na daw galing UE? Weh.

Welcome to the B-Meg Llamados' James Yap's show.

The two-time PBA Most Valuable Player reigned supreme on a night where the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings' Mark Caguioa solidified his own PBA Season 37 MVP campaign by scoring back-to-back Best Player of the Conference citations and the Rain or Shine Elastopainters' rugged, do-it-all import Jamelle Cornley was recognized as the best reinforcement in the land.

With his team, once hailed the favorites, surprisingly caught off-guard and seemingly punked by the young Elastopainters, Yap responded with a sterling 24 points, 7  rebounds performance and sinking in the dagger MJ-like fadeaway with 15 seconds left and stretching the lead to four. There were times wherein Yap looked like he was forcing the issue a bit with WTF threes, but he was attacking the basket and helping underneath the boards.

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.

2012 PBA Mock Draft

And this year's number one pick is...

With the 2012 PBA Draft just a little under a month away, it's that time of the year again to have some fun and "predict" which amateur standouts will be selected. Now, this writer won't be as brazen to say that he'll go 10/ 10, but the choices were made by following two simple and logical rules: 1) what the team needs right now 2) best player remaining in the draft.

Let's start things off with arguably the worst kept secret in the Filipino basketball community-- Junmar Fajardo being drafted first by the Petron Blaze Boosters. Is he the best player on the list? No. Does he deserve to go number 1? No.

But he will, and he should. 6"9 guys don't just fall off trees, specially a guy who has international experience and actually plays defense and rebounds first before thinking about scoring. Oh, and the guy has actual, ripped bicep muscles-- something you can't say about Ateneo's 6"11 wonder kid Greg Slaughter.


1. Petron Blaze Boosters - Junmar Fajardo
This one's a no-brainer. There's a reason why Fajardo didn't throw his hat into the 2012 PBA draft outright following a so-so ASEAN Basketball League campaign. Team San Miguel had a 66% chance of acquiring the Top Pick while the Aces had a slim 33% chance (thanks to the wonders of the PBA Lottery)-- this was seen too big a risk by Noli Eala et al, so they waited until the last minute to give the Cebuano giant the go signal. Fajardo quickly fixes the Boosters' frontcourt problems with aging Danny Ildefonso and Dorian Pena not as effective as years back. With Fajardo as the anchor, Arwind Santos, Alex Cabagnot, Jay Washington, Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz can pretty much run the floor and not worry about being beaten on the boards.

PBA GovCup Finals: Rain or Shine leads 1-0

Norwood's speed and length
is causing trouble for Big Game James

In a game expected to be in the battle-tested, veteran-laden B-Meg Llamados, the Rain or Shine Elastopainters hacked out an impressive win anchored on solid defense, balanced offense and unbridled confidence and composure.

While the Llamados looked out of sync and a step slower (blame it on them having to play a grind-out game against the Ginebra Gin Kings last Friday), they were flat out beaten by a team that was ready for the big stage. Defensively, the Elastopainters worked hard as a team to keep the ball from moving side to side as the Llamados often do. James Yap top scored for the Llamados with 19, but import Marqus Blakely, PJ Simon and even Marc Pingris (who has been on a recent tear) were held to no more than 12 points each.

PBA GovCup Finals: X-Factors

Uhm. Foul?

Now that the dust has settled somewhat and we're just waiting for the opening tip-off of the PBA Governor's Cup Finals match-up between the Rain or Shine Elastopainters and BMeg Llamados, here are the guys that this writer believes could steal a game or two for their respective teams.

The Llamados' tenacious power forward Marc Pingris is usually associated with lists such as this one, but now that he's been elevated to full-time PBA superstar status, let's move on to the guys who may or may not always be on the scouting report (or Quinito Henson's on-and-off "Dean's List").

PBA GovCup Finals: BMeg vs Rain or Shine

Pisikalan at pagalingan sa pagtira ng tres

Prepare for war.

Though the Rain or Shine Elastopainters enjoy a 2-0 GovCup match-up advantage over the BMeg Llamados, it still wouldn't be wise to cast the Yeng Guiao-coached squad as the instant favorites. Not against a team that just came off a championship run, is peaking at the right time and has a certain individual named Tim Cone hollering Hall of Fame plays from the bench.

From an individual talent standpoint, the Llamados feature some of the league's best while the Elastopainters have guys who are solid but not great. Household names such as James Yap, PJ Simon and Marc Pingris command star power and much leeway from the referees which could ultimately decide the series. On the other side of things, Jeffrei Chan's outside sniping could very well be the key to the series-- how open he gets off brush and backdoor screens and makes his SG counterparts Yap and Simon work on defense.

Thoughts on SMART Gilas 2's Jones Cup roster

Reunited on the SMART Gilas 2 Jones Cup team

PG LA Tenorio (Alaska)/ Jayson Castro (Talk 'n' Text)/ Sol Mercado (Meralco)

Even without Jimmy Alapag and Ryan Reyes, this position has always been the strength of any team Pilipinas when it comes to basketball in Asia. Tenorio is the traditional point man that can set up guys on the team while able to spread the floor with his threes. Mercado brings in size and speed that will be needed when we face the Middle Eastern squads who feature burly guards. Castro is the sparkplug here, given his combo-guard skillset and relentless attack mentality.

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.

Breakthrough!

First Finals appearance in 6 years

The Rain or Shine Elastopainters have finally broken through the glass ceiling and reached the PBA Finals for the first time in the franchise's six years in the PBA. This, after repeatedly failing in advancing early in the semifinals and facing injuries to key players Jeffrei Chan and super rookie Paul Lee.

With tonight's 92-82 victory over the BMeg Llamados, the Elastopainters have achieved what head coach Yeng Guiao was brought in to do: to barge into the Finals despite not having established PBA superstars in the fold and overcoming superpowers such as the San Miguel and MVP teams. Guiao's appointment instantly made the Elastopainters a dangerous squad, with guys being brought in to play specific roles that were to benefit the overall team game. Hot shot Sol Mercado was sent to Meralco in order to balance out the roster while guys like Beau Belga, JayR Quinahan and Ronjay Buenafe were brought in to make the transition from pretty boy Coach Caloy Garcia to Coach Yeng easier and faster.

Lito Alvarez: Hari ng Padala

With Alvarez back on board, no one's safe.
The guy managed to trade all the household names
in this picture for nothing.

Just for the sake of parity and respect, this writer won't even bother with returning Air21 Express team governor Lito Alvarez' non-basketball (read: political) interests and ventures. Let's just stick to how we fans know him: someone who'd trade his own mother if it meant making more money and getting future picks (which in turn will end up being traded, again, for money) all at the cost of his team being remotely decent.

Stuck on Cloud 9

Belga needs to be
on target for Wednesday

The Rain or Shine Elastopainters' dream of making the PBA Governor's Cup Finals outright is now over, with Wednesday's game versus the rising BMeg Llamados to dictate which team advances to the big stage. The loser of that match will have to play again versus the winner of the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings- Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters playoffs in order to proceed to the next and final round.

So, with the Elastopainters needing to secure "only" two to three wins in the semifinals, what went wrong-- given their lofty standings at the end of eliminations and how easily they breezed through the competition game in and game out? It's pretty simple: everyone else improved, superstar rookie point guard Paul Lee hurt his shoulder and the Elastopainters peaked a little too early in this shortened conference.

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.

Star complex or poor coaching?

Should Ato step aside for Rajko?

The Petron Blaze Boosters were once again on the losing end of a crucial PBA Governors Cup semifinals game, this time bowing to their rivals Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters 103-94. Though they made a mini-rally in the third quarter, the game was never really theirs as the Texters regrouped in the fourth to salvage the victory.

Going into the conference, hell, the season even, the Boosters were pretty much pencilled in to make continuous deep playoff runs behind its unmatched roster. While the Texters enjoy a bevy of elite and athletic Fil-Ams, they still have holes to fill as far as getting a true small forward and center are concerned. The Boosters? They have two interchangeable starting units that was only strengthened when they brought in rookie Marcio Lassiter and the returning Dondon Hontiveros this conference.

Finals Preview?

E kung ganito ba
naman idepensa sayo

In a game that could very well serve as a preview to the season-ending PBA Governor's Cup Finals, the Rain or Shine Elastopainters failed to overcome the streaking Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings-- losing 95-86.

While Ginebra lost some of its "Never Say Die" patent to the rising Powerade Tigers, the real budding rivalry is with the Elastopainters who are looking more and more like the old Batang Red Bull Thunder squad of, hey, current head coach Yeng Guiao. Years back, when the Thunder came into the league, they quickly won over some of Ginebra's fans behind the exploits of names such as Jimwell Torion, Willie Miller, Junthy Valenzuela, Davonna Harp and Mick Penissi. Those guys balled and had kanto swag which made them crowd darlings in an instant.

Ditto with the Elastopainters who are rallying around Guiao's old school Pinoy macho coaching style that rewards the efforts of its players while punishing opponents on defense.

Alive and Ready

The MVP's teaching Sol Train how it's done

The Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters are still in the hunt for the Governor's Cup Finals.

This, after they easily disposed of sister team Meralco Bolts who were already out of Finals contention and looked every bit like a team that didn't deserve to advance to the next round. For all his resurgence and brilliance, Bolts' anchor Asi Taulava finally ran out of gas and couldn't do much to stop the Texters' tall front act of Ranidel de Ocampo and *gasp* Japeth Aguilar.

Playing his stretch four role to the hilt, RDO was making Taulava and whichever Bolts big man assigned to him look like patsies-- drilling in jumper after jumper after jumper. To keep things interesting, RDO also made some nice inside forays just to remind everyone that when he's on his game, he's the best damn power forward in the league today.

Gary David is no LeBron. And he shouldn't be.

He shoots. They follow.

While this writer strictly adheres to his own "No NBA" policy (because "there are other, more interested men" as said by Thomas Wayne on Batman Begins. And seriously, who needs another NBA blogger when we have friends like Voltaire Lozada who's one of the under-rated yet rising minds out there?), let's just use the high and mighty, 3x NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James to better quantify or argue for/against the perceived reputation among fans/haters of one Gary David.

What uniform he'll be donning by next season is up in the air, but this we all know for sure-- he'll definitely be suiting up for PILIPINAS this coming FIBA Asia tournament. He will also be expected to provide the outside shooting opposite Smart Gilas 2 teammate Jeffrei Chan of the Rain or Shine. Now, the thing that has grown bothersome/ tiresome really is some fans perception of David as being a glorified ballhog. To the point that they've made fun of Mico Halili's "El Granada" moniker and changed it to "El Buwaya."

After Jawo and Before Caguioa, there was Bal

Jawo entrusted Ginebra
to The Flash

Props to the San Miguel Corporation, the Philippine Basketball Association and everyone who was involved in this evening's successful and nostalgic tribute/ retirement ceremonies for the fabled "Living Legend" Robert Jaworski, Sr. But if there was one thing that stood out among the Jawo-related hoopla, it was the crowd's reception to another guy who doesn't even enjoy a quarter of his old mentor's accolades.

That guy is the 5"9, University of Santo Tomas alumnus, Bal "The Flash" David known best for steering Jaworski's Ginebra/ Gordon's Gin squad in the late 90s that peaked in 1997 by winning the Governor's Cup title. It was an insult when someone (now traded) wore the Number 1 jersey a few years back. And even Mike Cortez (who sported the number before going back to his standard 11) wasn't getting that much love from old school fans for it. To many, Ginebra, and the jersey number 1 belongs to just one guy much like Number 7 is Jaworski's and his alone.

Deal with it

Papa spank for The Don

Half a million pesos and a conference-long ban.

That's the price that Barako Bull Energy power forward Don Allado has to pay because he chose to run his mouth (via Twitter) while in drunken stupor. Quinito Henson of the Philippine Star tried to come to the veteran's defense in one of his columns, but no one's going to hear his or anyone's please for Allado right now.

Was the penalty too stiff? Too harsh?

E-Painters' Hustle and Flow

Yeng Guiao has his team ready 

Despite last night's 90-88 setback to the Petron Blaze Boosters, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters need only to win two of their remaining four semifinal assignments to make a run at the PBA Governor's Cup Finals. That, plus they sure as hell made a valiant comeback from 23 points down and were maybe three to four missed free throws from stealing the game.

Though they started the game rather slugglishly while the Boosters were shooting the lights off the gym, the E-Painters never really looked out of it. The team kept battling, forcing turnovers and making it difficult for the Boosters to score inside specially in the third and fourth quarters.

Pass the torch: Cardona is no longer The Franchise

Two scorers with so-so D
will always spoil the broth

As much as it pains this writer to come to terms with this sad and undeniable reality, there's just no other way around it. For the Meralco Bolts to continue building on the success that they currently enjoy (breaking into the semifinals after six conferences), they need to shift the offense away from "franchise player" Mac Cardona.

When Team Manny V. Pangilinan bought out the Santa Lucia Realtors, Cardona was immediately sent from mother team Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters to headline the Bolts. After all, he was the one guy that people either loved or hated with such passion-- someone who magnetized and captivated fans by his sheer passion for the game. That, plus he tends to be an island all to himself-- needing to dominate the basketball which oftentimes alienated teammates and reduced big names such as the mighty Jimmy Alapag to mere spectators.

An MVP without a ring

What a year for Gary David

It's still too early, and Barangay Ginebra's Mark Cagouia could suddenly lead his team all the way to the finals and at the very least salvage 1st runner-up (tying Powerade's Gary David's feat this season) but based on all the statistics, David is in line to win the PBA's coveted Most Valuable Player award at season's end.

Granted, the one factor that trumps even the greatest of points-rebounds-assists/ efficiency averages: the media and players' votes, could overturn such ruling but you cannot make an argument against David. There's just no point in making one. The man averaged 25 to 30 plus points at different times in all three conferences, the Tigers' offense ran through him and he's the only player in recent memory since San Miguel's Nelson Asaytono that has the green light from the coaching staff to keep shooting 'til his arms fall off.

Don Allado: Cry Wolf

Father forgive him for he has sinned

In case you're not up to speed, click here first to read about Barako Bull Energy's Don Allado now infamous Twitter rants before reading the rest of this entry.

Allado, he of the multiple collegiate (DLSU Green Archers) and professional (mostly with Alaska, Purefoods/ BMeg and Talk 'n' Text) championships and now starting forward for the Energy, is making all the newsrounds with his sweeping claims that the PBA games are fixed to favor certain teams. This, following a horrid 7 point, 3 rebound performance in 20 minutes of play wherein he fouled out and his team lost 99-95 to the Powerade Tigers.