Here comes the Carnival

Mark Yee has given
Kia some inside swag
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

When playing coach Manny Pacquiao openly declared that his Kia Motors Carnival (then Sorento) is in the PBA to compete and serve as a reflection of his boxing fire, many brushed it off as false bravado. Admittedly, we were just waiting for any trade patterns so we can proclaim this expansion team as yet another "farm" team for the PBA powerhouses.

Well, guess we were wrong on that one.

They managed to win a game versus Blackwater in the PBA Philippine Cup before, predictably and expectedly, sucking the rest of the way. This conference, they brought in a giant of an import in Puerto Rican behemoth P.J. Ramos (who is better than advertised, props to his agent Ms. Sheryl Reyes) while adding some firepower by way of former ASEAN Basketball League MVP Leo Avenido and point guard Rudy Lingganay-- so yeah, they're not in this league to simply make Pacquiao an even bigger household name than he already is. They're actually in the PBA to win games and compete (which a few years ago shouldn't be an issue, but thanks to the likes of Barako Bull, GlobalPort and the original Air21, is already a feat in itself nowadays).

So how are the Carnival doing?

The Hangover

Where to, Captain?
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

What's going on with the San Miguel Beermen?

The newly-minted PBA Philippine Cup champions find themselves winless in three games so far in the PBA Commissioner's Cup, despite the superhuman efforts of 6"9 reinforcement Ronald Roberts and the supposed "powerhouse" frontline pairing of him and reigning PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo.

To make things worse, their most recent defeat came at the hands of newcomers, then-winless, BlackWater Elite which are more and more looking like their rivals, Team MVP's, farm team.

Head coach Leo Austria was reported to have said something like being "embarrassed" about his team's display so far.

As he should.

Natural Born Killer

He shoots, he scores.
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

The last of a seemingly dying-breed in this day and age of social media marks and "experts," GlobalPort Batang Pier's resident star Terrence Bill Romeo continues to shine for his team this PBA Commissioner's Cup with one sterling performance after another.

It's hard to be a natural born killer, scorer, like Romeo nowadays since if ever a basketball player would score 30 points in a hotly-contested game, marks would look at the other numbers-- how many shots did he take, how many misses, the number of assists he issued and what not (specially if his team is on the losing end). This scenario has caused a lot of superstars, here and abroad, to change their game to try and please the masses. Some specialists are even left off teams simply because they're dismissed as one-trick ponies who are of no good to anyone when unable to score or do a certain task that they're known for.

Romeo continues to open the gates to superstardom when the "experts" leave him off the discussion because "he's too ___" or "he doesn't do ____."

The Right Fit

The real deal. Sorry Ms. Sheryl!
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

It's that time of the PBA season once again wherein teams try their very best to remain (or be) competitive by adding a foreign reinforcement. The trouble with this set-up is that it's a hit-or-miss affair, since you're never truly guaranteed of having the right chemistry or wins, not until the import comes over and actually plays a few games with the team.

There are those who have solid credentials but never really lived up to the hype, some who were able to deliver, and other unknowns and sleepers (Terquin Mott, Devin Davis and Damien Owens from an era ago, Diamon Simpson, AZ Reid, Marqus Blakely) who pretty much take their teams to the promise land and even come back several times to help their team keep that winning tradition. Sometimes, it's not all about the credentials. Sometimes, you just have to take a leap of faith when it comes to adding an import. But it would be absurd for a team to throw team chemistry and addressing certain needs out the window if only to get a name. Right?

Well, some times.

Here's our take on the PBA imports that we've seen so far:

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?

Barangay Schizophrenia

Should they run? Go big?
Or maybe, they should play a little D.
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

"A mental disorder that makes it hard to: Tell the difference between what is real and not real; Think clearly; Have normal emotional responses; Act normally in social situations"

How hard is it to be a member of the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel family? The pressure to deliver, put on a show for fans, please the management and hope not to be traded/ fired after a tumultuous conference-- just how hard is it to be #LahingGinebra?

After letting go of Jeffrey Cariaso and his Triangle Offense, Ginebra openly declared that they will return to the old, "run and gun" system that has made them a household name, loved by thousands (or millions) of kabarangays here and abroad. Expectations were high following this piece of news, since it meant that no longer will established scorers such as former PBA MVP Mark Caguioa, L.A. Tenorio, Joseph Yeo and even a Josh Urbiztondo be shackled and forced to "make the extra pass" or the "correct play" in the half court. It also teased the possibility of breakout conferences for 6"9 Japeth Aguilar and wingman Chris Ellis. Yes, a run and gun system does not fit into prized 7"0 center Greg Slaughter's strengths per se, but what is 1 man, even at 7"0, when you can, theoretically, get production from basically 3/4 of your roster?

Instant classic

Pampanga's, no, the PBA's BEST.
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Kindly excuse us for this rather late reaction to what has turned out to be an amazing, "instant classic" PBA Philippine Cup Finals between the eventual champs San Miguel Beermen and hard-fighting Alaska Aces.

To be quite frank, we were simply left in awe about how the Best-of-Seven series (which went the full distance) captured the magic of true Filipino basketball. Nothing fancy, no shootouts or one team trying to showboat over the other, but just quality, grind-it-out, matira matibay basketball. What was first being sold as a "vintage" match-up between two of the most dominant teams in the mid 1990s, quickly became a series of its own with the Aces' inspiring run to the top behind a battlecry that preaches #wenotme and the Beermen's quest to quash any #larongmayaman tags and to exorcise whatever demons and drama it has had to deal with the last two or three years.

For the champions, the Beermen, Arwind Santos stood tall when his young fellow PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo was under attack. He set the tone early in the series by not letting the Aces' and its star Calvin Abueva get into any of his teammates' heads by way of physicality. Santos let his game do the talking, even when he wasn't exactly taking the lead role on offense. He battled like the Arwind Santos of old. He was probably pushed into going back to his old self by the challenge that is the young Abueva. We were all reminded, in a span of seven games, why every one thought of Santos as a one of a kind talent in the whole Philippine basketball world. At the same breath, we were also left to rue what could have been, had this Santos showed up the previous years, and maybe joined Gilas Pilipinas as arguably the best and most versatile wing/high post defender in the land.

The 2015 PBA Philippine Cup Finals so far

Win or lose, the Aces' loyal fans
are starting to grow in number with each day
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

If only we could extend this 2015 PBA Philippine Cup series from a Best-of-Seven to maybe a Best-of-Eleven or Thirteen or Fifteen or... then we'd be constantly be treated to hard-fought, instant classics akin to the same competitive fire of yesteryears (when players weren't multi-millionaire franchises scared of being called out on social media and played all out if only to make a name for themselves). Oh yes, the PBA Finals that has the San Miguel Beermen ahead 3-2 against the Alaska Aces have drawn in so much interest that even fans of other basketball teams have gone on to either 1) watch the games on television or live or 2) wish that their own teams played with the same intensity and desire.

Here's what we know: the Beermen are an invincible unit when their "Fab 5" are on the court: that's reigning PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo, former PBA MVP Arwind Santos, Alex Cabagnot, Chris Lutz and Marcio Lassiter. These five guys are absolute beasts and could easily be the starting core for Gilas 3.0 (barring any politicking and drama).

Larong Pinoy

Patay kung patay basketball.
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Sa kasagsagan at kasikatan ng Alaska Aces ngayon dala ng kanilang kakaibang laro sa PBA Philippine Cup Finals kontra San Miguel Beermen, marami ang nagsasabi na dapat isama si Calvin "The Beast" Abueva sa susunod na Gilas Pilipinas. Marami ang nagsasabi, at ipinaglalaban, na ang kanyang stilo-- na minsan ay parang barumbado sa mata ng iba,ay ang tunay na uri ng basketball sa Pilipinas at siyang dapat dalhin sa FIBA maging sa Asya o buong mundo kung papalarin.

Yung buong pusong lumalaban, hindi nag aalinlangan, hindi takot masaktan o matamaan, hindi iniisip yung susunod na kontrata, posibleng endorsements o kahit na ano pa. Yung naroroon sila bilang basketbolista, bilang manlalaro, para manalo at hindi para magpasikat.

Pero gagana ba talaga ang mga tulad ni Abueva sa FIBA? Ngayon pa lang, marami nagsasabi na mapapaaway ang Pilipinas. Na posible tayong mapahiya. Na "hindi basketball" ang laro natin mga Pilipino kung hindi "basket-brawl."

Resbak

There is a wise old saying that goes something like: "you will never know who your true friends are, not until you are in the face of adversity."

If you have been paying attention to the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup Best-of-Seven Finals between the Alaska Aces and San Miguel Beermen, "adversity" would be putting what the Beermen are going through a bit too kindly.

See, this is a team whose core has been together for maybe a good two or three years now but has always fallen short-- be it to injuries, drama or personal agendas by certain players. This season however, they have bought into a more "team oriented" philosophy and are actually going out of their own way in standing up and stepping up for a fallen comrade. Now you can see them laughing at one another, with one another. Now they just keep playing when someone takes a bad shot or, like Chris Lutz in Game 1, makes a giant booboo. They are there for one another, there is an obvious bond nowadays that was not always as transparent in recent memory.

O Captain! My Captain!

#ThankYouJimmy

"O Captain! My Captain! Our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people are all exalting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring,"

Write no sad poetry as Walt Whitman for one Jimmy Alapag-- the man who has brought glory to the Philippines through the sport of basketball despite standing 5"9 in a sport dominated by 6"0 point guards and above. Yesterday he announced his retirement in near quiet fashion, being given a press conference in the middle of an action-packed PBA Finals, when his resume would demand at least an hour-long sit down interview with daresay the most popular talk show host today Vice Ganda, erm, Boy Abunda.

We still remember the young Alapag, back when he was brought in for a tryout by now Talk'n'Text head coach Jong Uichico for the national team in 2002. He injured his hand before he could even make an impact with the training pool, so we had to wait another year to see just how good he really was at the time. His stock dropped so bad, that he went 10th in the 2003 PBA Draft wherein a bunch of now long established role/ bit players and forgotten names went ahead of him.

The Expendable

From near-franchise player
to rumored trade bait
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

What started as just another Holiday story from polarizing sports writer Snow Badua to pass the time has suddenly spread like wildfire on social media, with many still trying to make sense of the whole situation. Apparently, the Talk'n'Text Tropang Texters are looking at trading the recognized, still-in-his-prime, Best Point Guard in FIBA Asia, Jayson Castro to Kia Motors for a possible top pick in the coming 2015 PBA Draft.

Just in case you haven't heard yet, already jockeying for the Top Pick honors are 6"7 Fil-Tonggan Moala Tautuaa, 6"4, 2x UAAP Most Valuable Player Bobby Parks, Jr., Ateneo high flyer Chris Newsome (possibly) and even Ateneo ace, reigning UAAP MVP Keifer Ravena.

So what the reports are saying, if there's any truth to it, is that the Texters are looking to use Castro as live bait if only to land one of those three to four high profile names right away. It seems a bit off however, considering Castro is arguably the best combo guard in the PBA today (when healthy) and is looking like he's starting to slowly inherit the team from veteran Jimmy Alapag.

PBA Philippine Cup Finals: San Miguel vs Alaska

Pampanga's Best
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Welcome to the PBA Philippine Cup Best-of-Seven Finals wherein arguably the two most complete basketball teams, San Miguel and Alaska, square off to decide which proud franchise brings home the coveted Jun Bernardino Trophy.

On one side is powerhouse San Miguel Beer, now seemingly exorcised of all its demons and drama, which is looking to win its first All-Filipino championship since the glory days of the now exiled Danny Ildefonso and Danny Seigle in 2001. On the other side are the Alaska Aces, a team that has slowly rebuilt its basketball program to fit the modern era and its new core of mostly blue collar talent.

Here we try to look at the match-ups, where the strengths lie for each team and who can turn the tides when need be. Based on the names on the roster, it's easy to give San Miguel the advantage but then you realize that the Aces feature guys who are just as good yet have managed to fly under the radar owing to their #wenotme battlecry.

The Farm

It won't be long until another "sponsor"
 asks for Garcia
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

"Old McDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O
And on his farm he had a cow, E-I-E-I-O
With a moo moo here,
And a moo moo there,
Here a moo, there a moo,
Everywhere a moo moo, 
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O"

If the PBA does not act on the matter soon, this problem will turn into a cancer that will ultimately rob the league of all of its hard-earned glory and integrity as Asia's "first" organized professional basketball body.

Rumors have it the Barako Bull Energy Cola, long known in most circles as a conduit team that would rather sell its top players than win a title (and reward what little fanbase it has), is on its way to either be sold to an outside corporation (please let this be the case) or, formally change its name to Air21 with old, notoriously business-minded (read: trade nut) hand Lito Alvarez back calling the shots.

Back in the shadows

Back to basics
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Since it's the holidays and most families are agog over the ongoing Metro Manila Film Festival, we would like to ask you one question: what makes for a great movie hero?

Is it the actor? Or is it the people who allow him to shine brightest? Sometimes it is the female lead who adds depth to the hero, others, it is the villain-- sometimes, it is the sidekick or supporting actor who helps establish the hero and hides his flaws.

Arwind Santos, former PBA Most Valuable Player, is not fit to take the lead. He posts eye-popping, stat-stuffing numbers, but as history would suggest it does not always end up with wins or titles. Hell, he's not even the guy his own fans, San Miguel Beermen fans, would want taking the last shot (do not even try to contest this now known fact).

He is however, an awesome Best Supporting Actor: working in the shadows, doing what is necessary to help make the hero even more heroic, and the film, even better. Dennis Padilla to Robin Padilla. Bayani Agbayani to Cesar Montano. Sorry for having named comedians, as we are not big on serious local drama flicks. Oh, there's one more-- yung bespren ni Popoy sa One More Chance.

Thoughts on The Jet's Firing

The Jet in action
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

After weeks of speculation, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel has finally decided to part ways with Jeffrey Cariaso who was tasked to introduce a new, "winning" culture just April of this year.

The move comes as somewhat of a surprise, considering the fact that almost everyone bought into the idea that the "Triangle Offense" made popular locally by Cariaso's mentor, and Purefoods head coach Tim Cone, takes time to truly show results. Apparently, two conferences and a mediocre 12 wins in 23 games total was all the Ginebra Management could afford to spare for the considerably young head coach.

So what prompted Ginebra Management to pull the plug on the Triangle-preaching Cariaso and return to old hand Ato Agustin?

PBA 1 on 1 King of the Hardcourt

During his heyday, the Kid
was unguardable

Not so long ago, the PBA came up with a brilliant idea to feature some of its best one-on-one talent in a side tournament. Sadly it was not treated with proper marketing and hype, resulting in a rather forgettable sideshow that not so many remember was bested by Letranites Willie Miller Chris Calaguio (for the guards division, besting Mark Caguioa) and Kerby Raymundo (for the bigs, winning over Asi Taulava).

Today, we have an avalanche of basketball talent that may or may not be showcased by their respective teams or are getting the props that they rightfully deserve. A quick look on all of the 12 PBA teams' rosters and it's easy to come up with a solid list of guys we'd like to play 1-on-1 in front of paying, adoring fans maybe during halftimes or even in between games.

With our format, we're not going to separate the bigs from the smalls. We're talking about naming a 1-on-1 hardcourt King here, so what's the point if we are to name two? Plus, you could argue that smalls will get obliterated by bigs inside the paint-- but at the same time, in a halfcourt setup, bigs will have to chase the smalls around the hardcourt and defend them all the way outside.

Chinito

May pagka Rukawa din tong
Chinito ng Ginebra e no? Supladong magaling.
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Kelan nga ba huling nag parada ng kilalang Chinito ang koponan ng Barangay Ginebra San Miguel? Ang naalala ko lang talaga noon, si Wilmer Ong at Benny Cheng. Halos dalawang dekada na ata ang nakalipas, ilang manlalaro na ang nagsuot ng jersey ng Barangay, pero iilan lang ang tumatak sa mga puso at isipan ng madla.

Mapait man ang sinapit na kapalaran ng Barangay, wag sana natin ibaon na lang sa limot na bago pa lang ang sistemang ipinatutupad ng head coach na si Jeffrey Cariaso. Hindi lang bago, kundi komplikado. Hindi ito basta na lang takbo tapos tira. O kaya kasing simple ng basta libre, pasa, tira. Hinde, maraming anik anik ang kinakailangan sa Triangle Offense na kami man ay hindi pa lubos itong naiintindihan. Mga bagong manlalaro, mga bagitong superstar-in-the-making. Pero itong conference na ito, nakita din natin ang isang player na umangat ang laro ng husto.

Si Joseph Yeo, bagong Ginebra player. Swerteng napunta sa Ginebra dahil sa tinatawag na "Gentleman's Agreement." Nag iba ang laro ni Yeo mula ng nabigyan ng puwang maging main man ng Air21 nung nakaraang taon matapos mabaon sa bangko ng San Miguel Beermen (na pinasakit niya sa pagtawag dito na #LarongMayaman.

PBA Semifinals Predictions: San Miguel Beer vs Talk'n'Text

The wild, wild west
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

It's funny how the last four teams and how they are paired in the PBA Philippine Cup Semifinals can be compared to that of the NBA's two conferences. The Eastern Conference is known for its slow, low-scoring and almost ugly grind-it-out basketball while the Western Conference is appreciated more for its gun-slinging, fast-paced action.

You could say that the "uglier, NBA Eastern Conference-style" basketball will be played by the other PBA Philippine Cup pair: Rain or Shine versus Alaska, while the "prettier, NBA Western Conference style" will be captured in the Best-of-Seven series that we are about to tackle, that of San Miguel Beer versus Talk'n'Text.

PG Alex Cabagnot/ Chris Ross vs Jayson Castro/ Ryan Reyes/ Jimmy Alapag 
Nice to have you back on the team Mr. Cabagnot, now let's see you try to exorcise your hero ball demons and try to lead the Beermen into the PBA Finals without disrupting team chemistry both on and off the court. While Sol Mercado would've been a much better match-up against the power point men of the Texters, Cabagnot theoretically will be able to cancel out his counterparts in terms of point production. For every bucket Castro scores on Cabagnot (which he will), Cabagnot can return the favor ten-fold owing to his steady outside sniping and one-on-one ball-handling skills. Ross is going to be his usual, hard-working defensive self but will be overmatched in this series owing to his "average" frame. Ross won't be a threat offensively, which is not something you'd want versus the Texters' guards (you'd want to make them work on both ends as much as possible). We'd love to say that Jeric Fortuna would be a big help for the Beermen's cause, but then you'll have to realize that the Texters' THIRD string point guard nowadays is a guy named JIMMY ALAPAG.

PBA Semifinals Predictions: Rain or Shine vs Alaska

98-95.

Matira matibay basketball
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

That's how close the initial and only meeting between PBA Philippine Cup Semifinalists, the Rain or Shine Elastopainters and the Alaska Aces, was which basically decided which team will get a bye to the Semis and which will fall into the Knockout Phase.

After taking care of business against the hapless NLEX Road Warriors and the overwhelmed Meralco Bolts, the Aces are looking to continue building on their success with head coach Alex Compton. It seems like all the patience and trust is finally paying off for the once conservative franchise, with 3rd year pro Calvin Abueva putting up career numbers while also toning down all the crazy antics and flopping. It wouldn't be that much of a stretch to conclude that Abueva's increase in minutes is probably a product of his "good behavior" on the floor.

On the other side, the Elastopainters are off to prove two things: 1) they can finally win the Philippine Cup (All Filipino title) that has seemingly eluded head coach Yeng Guiao and 2) that the Gilas-topainters foursome of Beau Belga, Paul Lee, Gabe Norwood and Jeffrei Chan have all reached that legitimate "higher level" in terms of basketball skill and IQ.

So here we are, in a seven-game series featuring the league's most credible "independent" teams.

Matira matibay.

That New, Old Black Magic

The Bolts are winning despite David's struggles,
just as Black designed
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

And just when you thought that the professional game has passed Norman Black after looking every bit like a coach who just spent the last near decade or so in the amateurs, the man turns things around after what was initially deemed a "demotion."

See, Black was coming off a surreal five-peat championship quest with the Ateneo De Manila University-- a feat that probably won't be matched very soon. To reward him for his winnings and loyalty, he was handed the keys to run the college team's financier's crown jewel in the Philippine Basketball Association: The Talk'n'Text Tropang Texters. He made good in his first season back in the pros, winning a title and all-- but then it became pretty obvious that the title was more a "last hurrah" for his predecessor's system rather than Black's.

What followed was a series of disappointing finishes, with the Texters losing out on PBA Finals appearances and even semifinal showdowns which they're almost always a part of during the Chot Reyes Era.

PBA KO Phase 2 Predictions: SMB Bracket

Ellis will need to elevate his game
to battle the Texters' wings
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Just as most pundits called it, the higher seeded teams in the "SMB bracket" made quick work of the alleged PBA "farm teams" with the Talk'n'Text Tropang Texters blowing Barako Bull Energy Cola off the face of the earth and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel being able to weather a Terrence Romeo storm in the 1st quarter en route to a Friday night massacre.

In the second phase of the Knockout Quarterfinals of the PBA Philippine Cup, Texters' head coach Jong Uichico finds himself trying to overcome ghosts of Christmas past with his old team Ginebra standing in his way to facing yet another old team of his, San Miguel, should he wish to take his team to the PBA Finals. For Ginebra, it's going to be an acid test for head coach Jeffrey Cariaso and co. as they are still trying to learn the Triangle Offense on the fly while providing increased minutes for their younger players.

4 Talk'n'Text Tropang Texters vs 5 Barangay Ginebra San Miguel
If you're a Ginebra fan, you should be warned that this knockout match could end up as a mismatch on the floor. Not because your team enjoys an obvious height advantage, but because the team on the other side of the court has loads of experience-- hell, even rookies Kevin Alas and Matt Ganuelas Rosser play at a very mature level owing to their Gilas experience.

PBA KO Phase Round 2 Predictions: RoS Bracket

Expect fireworks.
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Well look what we have here: for the first time in a very long while, one of the teams that will advance to the PBA Finals will not be the Purefoods franchise. This, after a heart-breaking loss to a balanced Meralco Bolts franchise that didn't even have a superstar game from main man Gary David (where did that perfect game from James Sena come from?!).

Now, in a rather odd ball of a set-up, two teams will slug it out for the right to face the waiting PBA Philippine Cup 2nd seed Rain or Shine Elastopainters. On one side there's the Alaska Aces, a team that could've easily finished 1 or 2 if not for some lapses and the other, the Bolts.

3 Alaska Aces vs 6 Meralco Bolts
The first and only time that these two teams met in the elimination round, the Aces put on a 105-64 ass whooping of a clinic on the hapless Bolts. The Bolts were never really in the game, with Vic Manuel, Dondon Hontiveros, Calvin Abueva and rookie Chris Banchero all takings turns just scoring at will and the Bolts clearly out of form with Gary David going 2/10 from the field.

PBA KO Phase Predictions: SMB Bracket

Here's the thing, you scrap and claw your way in knockout games versus quality teams... only to win the chance to face a well-rested (and by then Alex Cabagnot incorporated), top seeded San Miguel Beermen squad.

Sucks.

Well, if you were one of the four teams under the SMB bracket, you'll take your chances considering the opposition. The Texters are the only solid team here, with Ginebra still in a funk and learning the Triangle on the fly and both farm teams Barako Bull and Global Port (oh hush now) well, ready to just roll over and die at the whim of some higher power.

4 Talk'n'Text Tropang Texters vs 9 Barako Bull Energy Cola

Life after Romeo
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

With all due respect to some of our favorite PBA players: Denok Miranda, Dorian Pena and RR Garcia, the Energy do not stand a chance on God's green earth against a recommitted Texters camp that is looking to continue on adding to its championship legacy.

For the Texters to win, they just need to play solid Texters basketball (which is like asking for the sun to come out each and every day so yeah, sucks for the Energy) and not fall into the trap of playing down to the opposition. They'll be able to let their aging core catch a breather with this one, but only after a defiant stand by the Energy's veterans who are sure as hell going to try to go out with a loud bang. We hope to see more of rookies Matt Rosser and Kevin Alas, to gauge where they are at this point in their young careers and for coach Jong Uichico to see if they can be called upon to contribute more minutes as the team goes deeper into the PBA Philippine Cup.

PBA KO Phase Predictions: RoS Bracket

Business is about to pick-up in the on-going PBA Philippine Cup as we bid newcomers Kia Sorento and winless Blackwater Elite adieu until next conference and see who's the cream of the crop. As you may or may not know, the top two seeds: San Miguel Beermen and Rain or Shine Elastopainters, get a bye until the later round. The rest of the field will have to duke it out, with the lower seeded teams needing to win twice over the higher seeded ones if they would like to advance.

The Rock needs to go to TNT. Now.
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

We're dividing the brackets into two, based on who they will eventually face in the Quarters: The RoS and SMB brackets.

3 Alaska Aces (twice-to-beat) vs 10 NLEX Road Warriors 
The Aces missed out on an opportunity of landing in the top two spots by a hairline, but this match-up with the NLEX should be a quick and easy one considering both rosters. The Warriors have a formidable frontline with Asi Taulava and a suddenly revived Enrico Villanueva but they, unfortunately, do not play with the same intensity as that of Calvin Abueva who is leading the league in rebounding despite being the same size as NLEX star scorer Mac Cardona. If Eric Menk continues with his inspired, "tour de force" play and Sonny Thoss comes back 100% healthy, then it's all over for the Warriors who still need to address some holes on the roster.

Crunchman for Sol Train: Fair or not?

"You reach, I teach son"
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Just in case you thought that competition is lost among the PBA ballclubs owing to all the "feel good" camaraderie that was shared just a few weeks back owing to the Gilas' program's success, here comes the PBA Philippine Cup Quarterfinals and the realization that the PBA is still a "dog eat dog world."

How else could you explain the PBA teams', some of which are comfortably seated atop the standings, frantically looking to plug some roster holes and address their personnel issues through trades and free agency? Purefoods went looking for a serviceable big man and found one in Mick Pennisi, San Miguel wanted to add a young point guard and got Jeric Fortuna and just this morning, San Miguel went and traded Sol Mercado for old hand Alex Cabagnot of GlobalPort in a shocking, devil-may-care deadline deal.

Here's what we think of the whole deal between San Miguel and GlobalPort and why we feel that it is a rather unnecessary trade for both parties:

Ginebra die hard ka ba?

Bagong Ginebra.
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Talaga?

Bakit sa tuwing nagmimintis yung idol mo, sa tuwing kumakagat sa peke ng kung sinong mas maliit sa kanya si Japeth o kaya naman e natatalo sa pwestuhan si Greg Slaughter sa ilalim, kung maka rant ka sa social media akala mo e isinanla mo ang kaluluwa mo sa demonyo sa laki ng ininvest mo sa Ginebra?

Ano ka, stockholder?

Pasintabi sa mga nakararami, pero sa tuwing masama ang timpla ng Ginebra sa PBA paulit ulit ko na lang nababasa yung sinisisi ang lahat. Ang coach. Ang sistema. Si LA Tenorio. Yung referee. Kulang na lang talaga e isisi natin ung sunod sunod na talo na sinasapit ng Ginebra ngayong PBA Philippine Cup sa balbas kambing ni Mark Caguioa para matapos na ang lahat.

The ABL's Filipino Imports

#CanadaSaPBA
(Photo courtesy of sports-asia.com)

While the Philippine basketball world quietly (and anxiously) waits for the time when promising 6"7 Fil-Tonggan center Moala Tautuaa is able to complete his stint with the PBA D-League and all other requirements to apply for the PBA Draft next year (or the one after that), cellar-dwelling teams need not wait that long to address their PBA Philippine Cup woes.

Six talented Filipino basketball players are currently included on different rosters in the neighboring ASEAN Basketball League which saw a drop in game play this last season (with the Philippine-representative, San Miguel Beer, opting to pull out and probably the reduced number of ASEAN imports as two possible culprits). With the ABL season now at a close, we wonder why the PBA teams haven't come knocking at these gentlemen's doors. We understand contracts and all, but surely teams that are in a bind and looking to salvage their season before it gets any worse (Kia Sorento and Blackwater) can manage to shell out a few extra bucks if only to save face.

You'll have to bear with us on this one, since the ABL seems to be in a deteriorating state and seems to have lost their online stats-updating team for some reason so we're going with purely basketball scouting and our own two cents here.

Jerick Canada, PG, HiTech Bangkok City
Let's start with the ABL Finals MVP and how great he looked for head coach Jing Ruiz (also a Filipino). Canada's shooting is still iffy at best, but the way he is able to control the floor and his teammates is not something you'd take for granted considering they're mostly Thais and American imports who're mostly out for stuffing the stat sheet and angling for bigger pay. Put Canada on a team like Kia Sorento and he'll prove to be the most heady point guard in the rotation right from the start. On Blackwater, he'll be a perfect mentor for up-and-coming Cebuano playmaker Brian Heruela while possibly sending Juami Tiongson back to the D-League and Paul Artadi near retirement. If Jeric Fortuna can make it into the pros, there's no reason why Canada shouldn't be given a second look. Basically, he's the guy that-- when a younger hot-off-the-plane Stanley Pringle was busy going 100 mph for the Indonesia Warriors, made sure that they actually won a title that one year together.

The Beast and The Bull

Is the PBA's newest Bad Boy
bound to be like the Bad Boys of old?
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

One look at the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup and it's easy to say who's been the most solid performer of them all on both ends of the court. With averages of third league best 17 ppg, league best 15 rpg and league 8th best 3 apg while playing a career-high 29 mpg, Abueva has continued to silence the critics (owing to his more toned down theatrics) and make a strong case for a huge, max contract once his rookie deal is up.

The only concern here now is if Abueva will ever get the nod of the PBA Board and Media and maybe at some point in his career, earn individual accolades that are usually not given to players with a "bad rep." You don't have to look that far, there's Mark Caguioa sometime in his career wherein he should've been the runaway PBA MVP but didn't get the love from the league (the year he did win the award, was probably a "do-over" by the league, but should've gone to either a TNT player or Gary David). There are others as well, most notably one of the more controversial superstars in Nelson "The Bull" Asaytono.

The PBA's 26th to 40th Greatest Players

The Face of the modern day PBA
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

The Philippine Basketball Association, in celebration of its 40th season, has opted to name 40 of its "Greatest Players." Now, since the league has already named its initial 25 (for its 25th season in early 2000), the not so simple task has been eased somewhat with the PBA's special selection committee set to name "only" 15 other names.

On this report from the Philippine Star, they have listed the names of #TheNext15. Personally, we'd have loved for the Star to have made the announcement on a separate, wordy article instead of just a filler but hey, we have love for our friends over at the Star (they probably didn't have enough space and just tied two articles together).

Here's our instant reaction on the names chosen for #TheNext15 and who we felt were snubbed altogether:

James Carlos Yap, SG, Purefoods, 2x PBA MVP '05, '09
Though we will always put an asterisk on one (or both) of Yap's trophies because of what we'd like to call the "Kris Factor," there's no denying that he was indeed the face of the PBA during its post-Jaworski years. Yap came into the league as a legit, PBA matinee idol who could play the sport at a very high level yet maintained a clean cut image both on and off the court. He was basically the most likable guy out there while the league was going through all the unneeded shenanigans (random drug testing, Fil-shams, PBA commissioner shuffles, etc.) The thing that makes Yap a no brainer here is that, he embraced the idea of being the face of the league. He didn't ask for it, but he carried it with pride. Sometimes we get frustrated with him because of how badly he is being outplayed by his rivals, but then he pulls through in the clutch just to remind every one of how good he really is and then the world is back in order.

Willie Miller, SG, Red Bull/ Talk'n'Text/ Alaska/ Ginebra/ GlobalPort/Barako, 2x PBA MVP '02, '06 
If Yap were the face, which body part are we to make of Miller? Among all of the players in the last decade or so, Miller is arguably the very best and most fundamentally sound. He's quick and agile, yet he is also brute strong and aggressive. He can play outside with the best guards in the league, he can go inside to post-up for the easy macho finish or just spin for his pocket fadeaways. What was lacking from Miller was the aggressive mindset that a Mark Caguioa would always have coming into games. Miller is a fun-loving Filipino through and through, and had he stayed with one team or had a different approach, he'd probably go down as one of the best ever- if not THE very best. But hey, that wouldn't make him our lovable Willie now would it?

2014 PBA Draft 1st Round Rookie Report Card (Part 2)

Born Ready: Kevin Alas
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

On part 2 of our Rookie Report Card, we take a closer look at the Top 5 picks of the 2014 PBA Draft, where they are and where they want/ need to be. Is the race for this season's PBA Rookie of the Year really over? Or are we being led astray because of the discrepancy in minutes per game, the number of touches and other factors?

All statistics gathered from pba-online.net, because pba.inquirer.net doesn't carry the full stats (only the leaders) which is depressing really in this day and age. (Come on guys, you have ONE job.)

5. Chris Banchero, PG, Alaska - B+
18.44mpg 6.11ppg 2.89rpg 1.89apg
Banchero is slowly coming into his own as a PBA player and could arguably be the best, traditional point guard of the whole 2014 PBA Draft class. His size allows for the Aces to play him at SG (even SF) at times with the more offensively-gifted yet forced to share the wealth JVee Casio. Defensively, Banchero has shown tendencies of being a hard-nosed runt despite his White Collar Neil Caffrey, 50 Shades of Grey worthy looks which has obviously won the hearts of his more blue collar teammates Calvin Abueva et. al. At the moment, Banchero's mature game and court vision reminds me a lot of the Lakers era Derek Fisher, maybe minus the lefty three point bombing.

2014 PBA Draft 1st Round Rookie Report Card (Part 1)

And your 2014 PBA Rookie of the Year is...
(Photo courtesy of Sports 5)

With the PBA Philippine Cup elimination round near its end (and some teams already, clearly, out of contention) Kilikilishot.blogspot.com pays the 1st round picks of the 2014 PBA Draft a nice visit stats-wise to see how well they're doing so far. While some people are already proclaiming number one pick Stanley Pringle of the GlobalPort Batang Pier as the runaway winner for the prestigious PBA Rookie of the Year, we feel that he still has some legitimate competition in what is proving to be a rather deep and serviceable first round.

But before we proceed, we cannot help but give a special shout out to BlackWater Elite's Brian Heruela, formerly known as the DLSU Mike Cortez to the reigning PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo's Don Allado over at the University of Cebu. Picked in the 3rd round (!), Heruela has fought for his spot on the Elite's rotation and is now averaging a sweet 25.50mpg 9.25ppg 4.75rpg 5apg which is pretty solid for an unheralded rookie point guard. We're calling it right now, he's our sleeper pick to be either a breakout star for the Elite OR traded to whichever money franchise is looking for a backup point guard.

Now on to the first round picks:

12. Juami Tiongson, PG, Blackwater - C
12.22mpg 4.11ppg 1.33rpg 0.78apg
Here's an honest question: if Tiongson didn't play for Ateneo in the UAAP and won all those titles, would you pick him 12th overall when there's still talent like Rome dela Rosa, Harold Arboleda and even teammate and above mentioned Heruela around? We're not hating on Tiongson (what's there to hate? Dude seems like a stand-up guy), but there's a reason why he went from playing 19 minutes his first game, and 5 his last (against Talk'n'Text). He's not the same firebrand of a scorer as peer Eman Monfort, he's not a specialist on the defensive end either. He's solid, but there are a lot of areas that he can improve on if he is to have a meaningful PBA career.

Don't drink the (Black)water

"Hurricane" Heruela needs
to takeover
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

If you were to tell us at the start of the PBA season, with all things considered, that Kia Sorento would have more wins (one) than Blackwater Elite we would've trolled you from Manila all the way to Muscat in person or on social media.

Seriously, a team of low-ranked players coached by a non-basketball mind in Manny Pacquiao can't possibly have more victories on its present day record than a team that already has a proven winning basketball tradition, legit coaching staff and players who were under-utilized more than undeserving to be in the PBA. A news report came out the other day that the team owner, Mr. Dioceldo Sy, was willing to fork over whatever he must if only to buy out some of the players on the roster if it meant improving their chances of winning.

That's how bad the situation has come for the 0 wins and 9 losses Elite.

Trial and error

What now for "consultant" Pido?
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

When Pido Jarencio made the leap back into the PBA, this time as head coach, it was met with a lot of positivity and with an "it's about damn time" hoopla. After all, he pretty much rebuilt the UST Growling Tigers men's basketball program and was able to turn it into the UAAP's Ginebra to counter the DLSU and ADMU (Purefoods and San Miguel-like stature) programs.

Unfortunately, he found himself in the wrong situation and maybe with the wrong franchise.

Jarencio was handed the keys to an up-and-coming GlobalPort Batang Pier squad with a passionate, win-now owner in Mikee Romero. However, he was unable to get the right kind of players that would fit his, uptempo, old school system (we're giving him the benefit of the doubt here, thinking that Jarencio would want to run his UST sets with the Batang Pier).

But could you really blame Jarencio for "failing?"

The Forgotten

Denok takes the lead
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

In the proud basketball hierarchy of Filipino point guards today, where would you rank Barako Bull Energy Cola's Denok Miranda?

Scoring wise, there are more explosive guards out there who are probably going to be mentioned ahead of the 6"0 former Far Eastern University stalwart. But did you know that the defensive-specialist is averaging a team high 15.29 points per game for the Energy Cola while still being his same, lockdown, blue collar self?

If you want to talk speed, then yes, Miranda isn't as cat quick. Size? Miranda's been asked several times to cover the opposing team's shooting guards who are usually around the 6"0-6"3 range (something that he's done quite well really).

So why is Miranda still not considered as one of the league's prized point guards despite winning titles for two different teams and being a proven leader on the court?

A fresh start

Captain Hook is back!
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

It's never easy being The Man then having to unlearn everything and play as part of a "big picture" team, only to be asked to be The Man again but not exactly The Man you were, then go back to being part of another rebuilding effort before finally being asked to revisit The Man you used to be because you're the only legitimate option left on the team.

But for NLEX Road Warriors guard Mac Cardona, he probably wouldn't have it any other way.

Sure, Cardona would probably be a lot happier if he had played and stayed with only one team to further his legacy as one of the PBA's best scorers (along with one-time peers/rivals James Yap and Mark Caguioa), but you know how they say that "in life, you simply need to roll with the cards that you've been dealt." Based on the numbers and history, there's no denying that "Captain Hook" is at his very best when he is allowed to play to his strengths instead of to someone else's. A return to his old, nonchalant on-court demeanor after flirting with a "Rated PG, TV-friendly Mark Cardona" version of himself also doesn't seem to hurt either.

The Cellar Dwellers

Walang aayaw! Think positive!
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Every one saw this coming with the PBA choosing to expand from 10 to 12 teams this fresh PBA season. That the newcomers, Kia Sorento and Blackwater Elite, will have to go through the dreaded "transition" phase and suffer losses (and blowouts) here and there before they are able to get the right tools to start making waves in the pros.

But to say that we all thought that it would be THIS bad, throw in perpetual bottom feeder Barako Bull Energy Cola, would be an understatement given the supposed "abundance" of available basketball talent in the country (okay, someone pry Patrick Cabahug and Jerick Canada off newly crowned ASEAN Basketball League champions Hi Tech Bangkok City already). Some games, they're in it, others, fans feel like they were robbed of their hard-earned money. This is how a league loses supports on long tournaments and conferences. People do not want to see teams getting blown out of the water on a regular basis. We want to see action, competition-- we want to see fireworks.

Here are our thoughts on the three teams that are currently languishing at the bottom of the 2015 PBA Philippine Cup standings:

Iba ang may pinagsamahan

Larong mayaman?
Basta laro lang.
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Iba talaga yung kasama mo yung mga tropa mo, mga kuya at bunso, mga kakosang alam mo na lalaban kasama ka pagnagkagipitan o kaya pag gumawa ka ng kalokohan at nagkahulihan, e magsisinungaling para sayo kahit hindi mo senyasan. Alam ng mga manginginom yan. Ng tropa. Yun ung mga oras na nahuli ka ni misis gabi umuwi tapos tatanungin niya sempre si kumpareng kasing pulang kamatis at amoy chico mo pero susubukan kang ipagtanggol at ilusot para sa isa pang bagong umaga.

Ganyan ang takbo ng San Miguel Beermen ngayon. Noon, nananalo sila (sa simula) dahil sa likas na galing at talento lang ng mga manlalaro nila. Ngayon, iba na. Hindi na sila nag kakanya kanya, hindi nagdadamutan o nagtatampuhan sa loob ng court. Kung sino lamang, diskarte. Kung sino ang mainit, doon tayo. Walang pa-MVP. Kung gusto mo magpaka star, magpaka star ka sa loob lang ng sistemang tinatakbo ng Coach. Yun nga pala isa pang malaki, iisa lang ung nasusunod ngayon sa bench, si Coach Leo Austria.

Thank you Chot

#ThankYouChot
(Photo lifted from Twitter)

I was never a fan of Vincent "Chot" Reyes.

Personally, he's just not a guy I think I could hang with-- based on his "TV personality." He is fashionable at a fault, back when he was still coaching in the PBA en route to a 5x PBA Coach of the Year award (that he reminds every person who visits his Twitter page). To me, his loud shirts took away from the game. Not that he is not entitled to wear his bright, colorful, fashionista ensemble to the SMART Araneta Coliseum or MOA Arena or wherever, but it came off as a bit of a distraction really.

Then there's his nonchalant attitude. Maybe it's because I was brought up by a rival school. There's just something about the way he talks I guess.

Is he misunderstood? Probably. Most likely.

Laban Pilipinas

Imagine a Romeo - Abueva back court.

With all due respect to the men (and women) behind the much successful Gilas Pilipinas Men's Basketball Team, we feel that the next team that we should built should carry more than just an overly used and well-marketed campaign of "Puso."

We want a more aggressive team, a fighting team. One that doesn't wilt under pressure. One that features basketball players who will do what is necessary to win and not even think of apologizing. One that will not take games off owing to the level of the competition. No drama. They're not actors trying out for showbiz careers. Just pure basketball players who plays the game hard. Not to win. Not to lose. But HARD.

#LabanPilipinas

In search of a leader

New coach means new players
means no more drama yes?
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

I can vividly remember a coaching search not too long ago, wherein the final two candidates being considered were Yeng Guiao and Chot Reyes. There were more to the story, but apparently Reyes won the selection committee's hearts by having a solid, scholastic presentation and development program versus what we'd imagine as Guiao's old school style of simply telling guys what he plans on doing-- MS Powerpoint not included.

As far as possible coaches are concerned, we have a lot to choose from. The only problem is, of the names that are currently leading the coaching search-- maybe two are familiar with FIBA rules and style of play: booted Gilas head coach Chot Reyes and the well-traveled Gilas consultant/ FIBA veteran coach Tab Baldwin.

The rest have some experience on that level such as favorites Tim Cone, Norman Black, Jong Uichico and Yeng Guiao, to name a few.

My concern here is, how much freedom and leeway will be awarded whoever lands the coaching job of the Pilipinas Men's Basketball Team?

Barangay Ginebra's Growth Spurt

More Air-time for Air Force Ellis
Photo courtesy of Sports5

Standing tall with a 3 wins 1 loss slate, there are several reasons for the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel faithful to celebrate. Though they've been in a similar position just last season, this year's version is looking even more formidable with head coach Jeffrey Cariaso and his Triangle Offense in place.

The young core of Japeth Aguilar (17 ppg 12 rpg 3 bpg), Greg Slaughter (15 ppg 12 rpg 1bpg) and Chris Ellis (11 ppg) are leading the charge while veterans Mark Caguioa (8 ppg 3 rpg 1 apg) and L.A. Tenorio (4 ppg 4 rpg 5 apg) provide the steadying "bail the kids out when needed" presence every now and then. What's different here is how systematic the team looks under Cariaso, how they all know who are their main guys (Aguilar and Slaughter) or basically the guys who can make the whole game easier for every one else. It's no longer Caguioa shouldering all of the offense or Tenorio putting on his Superman cape and doing it all-- it's inside, out, Triple Post, disciplined basketball.

At times, we see Slaughter serving as the Triangle's anchor with Ellis and Aguilar working off him. Some times, we see Aguilar out of that mix and freelancing-- looking for the easy drop pass or just sneaking his way inside for the putback slams and easy deuce.

The Untaming of The Beast

#LetAbuevaBeAbueva

The Alaska Aces are currently lording it over the new PBA season thanks to a hot 3-0 start in the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup.

They've dropped the nuances and intricacies of the Triangle Offense in favor of head coach Alex Compton's fast-paced, open-court style that he probably (most likely) inherited from his assistant coach Louie Alas after playing for him in the now defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association with the Manila Metrostars (with a few upgrades here and there owing to Compton's innate love for learning the game). This new style has resulted in higher scores, an uptempo approach that plays to the strengths of the Aces' boat load of high scoring (by career or by rep) guards and basically, because of the higher number of possessions on offense, every one is kept happy because they all get touches.

But none of them are probably happier than Calvin Abueva, who is currently on a tear of the league averaging 19 points and 9 rebounds in TWENTY MINUTES per game. Not to mention that he did put up an insane 26 points and 22 rebounds monster effort against league powerhouse Talk 'n' Text (plus sinking the Sam Cassell "big balls dance"-worthy game winner) just a few days back.

A new day

#ThankYouGilas

A runner-up finish in the 2012 FIBA Asia championships, a Jones Cup title, a lonesome yet historic victory in the 2014 FIBA World Cup and finally, a seventh-place finish in the SouthEast Asian Games...

... and with that, Gilas Pilipinas-- from head coach Chot Reyes to the defiant and valiant captain Jimmy Alapag, is no more. Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas' (SBP) President Manny V. Pangilinan announced it just recently, that we will no longer see this version of the Philippines' Men's Basketball Team lovingly called "Gilas." Others have gone on to social media to express their thoughts. Some call it a travesty, an over-reaction to the Asiad debacle. Others say that it's been a long time coming and perhaps, another camp (Team San Miguel Corporation) should take charge.

Whatever it may be, know that this is not a dark day in Philippine basketball but rather a bright one.

The Great Debate: Johnny vs Jimmy

The Flying A vs The Mighty Mouse
Photo credits to the owner

Two players of different eras, forever remembered for the greatness and passion for the game of basketball.

The game is on the line, fans anxiously hang on to every breath as the coach madly scribbles zigzags and curls on a stained white board. Words are being thrown out in the air while players scramble to focus while gulping on water or energy tonics-- whichever fuels the body faster. There's no time to hesitate, this is "win or go home" and nothing more. The lead referee blows on to his whistle to resume play.

Silence.

The Real Deal Redux

Not yet Stan the Man, but def the Real Deal
Photo courtesy of Sports5

"One game doesn't make a PBA career."

It does, however, offer a glimpse of things to come should every thing turn out the way it's meant to be (barring any injuries, on and or off court issues, etc). This is basically what Boss Mikee Romero and the entire Global Port Batang Pier team and fanbase are hoping for after their prized 2014 PBA Draft 1st overall pick Stanley Pringle delivered last Sunday though in a 96-101 losing effort to the NLEX Road Warriors.
Playing an absurd 40 minutes, Pringle managed a respectable 14 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 3 turnovers and 4 fouls while being asked to keep his two trigger happy backcourt buddies Alex Cabagnot and sophomore star Terrence Romeo.

The Top 10 story lines in the 2015 PBA Philippine Cup Part 2

Author's note: Apologies for splitting the Top 10 list into two. We're not thinking about the hits (we don't have advertising at the moment. *tear* In case you're interested, send us an email or leave a comment with your contact details.), rather, the original format was hellaciously long. Enjoy.

5. #TeamAgeless

Fajardo vs Aguilar
Photo courtesy of Solar Sports Desk

Does Asi Taulava have it in him to lead the NLEX Road Warriors back to another darkhorse run? When will Jayjay Helterbrand buy into the "new school" and admit to himself that Ginebra's "Never Say Die" era is long dead and gone (because, on paper, when was the last time you looked at the Ginebra roster and thought that they wouldn't be a shoo in for at least a 4-5 seed each conference? The Magtulis-Calpito-Cabatu era comes to mind) Will Mark Caguioa ever learn to trust his younger teammates? And finally, when all is said and done, body of work versus body of work, will Jimmy Alapag rank higher than Johnny Abarrientos in the hearts and minds of the every day Filipino basketball fan?

4. The Japeth Aguilar Experiment
Because 18-18 in an opening day game doesn't make an Best Conference of the Player awardee, or even an MVP. What has he learned from Spain? Has he learned any thing at all? Have we given up on Aguilar? Not yet? Why? Which position on the floor does Aguilar really want to play in the PBA? Will he go in hiding again once the PBA's elite defenders rough him up? Or are we on the verge of seeing a transcendent talent finally rise and triumph after all the trials and tribulations?

Oh, and the #KagatSaFakeJapethWatch has officially started.