Building blocks

Sino ba bebenta?
(Photo credit: DZRHnews website)

Three more teams have been eliminated in the on-going 2016 PBA Governor's Cup: the NLEX Road Warriors, Alaska Aces and Rain or Shine Elastopainters. Their exit also officially puts an end to their season, which was pretty much successful for both the Aces (back-to-back Finals runners-up) and Elastopainters (2016 PBA Commissioner's Cup champions) while a bit mediocre for the Road Warriors.

So what is next for these three teams? Where did they succeed (and fail) on the court from our perspective?

Also, and what is up with all these rumors?

PBA GC SF 2 San Miguel Beer vs 3 Ginebra

The Kraken vs The Aguila(r)
(Photo credit: Sports5.ph)

We are going to be in for quite a #TeamSanMiguel slobber knocker of a semifinals clash between sister teams: defending PBA Governor’s Cup champions San Miguel Beer and the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

In a sense, this is the basketball God’s way of “testing” head coach Tim Cone’s Ginebra squad: should they wish to further themselves and live up to championship expectations, then they will have to go through arguably the most dominant team in the last two seasons. It won’t be easy, since the Beermen appear to have (re)embraced a certain “win now, win big” philosophy anchored on making the most out of 2x PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo’s (still young) basketball career.

So who will win the Best-of-Five affair (which, in all honestly, would most likely command audiences worthy of any PBA Finals or All Star Game all in itself)? Here is our take:

PBA GC QF 1 TNT vs 8 Phoenix

Can the Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters stop the TNT Katropa juggernaut? Can Eugene “El Destructor” Phelps muscle his way against TNT’s formidable frontline? Can Simon Enciso hold his own against the supernatural Jayson Castro?

It is definitely going to be an uphill climb for the Fuel Masters, with TNT in a groove that has helped them land 1st place in the elimination round after winning 10 games versus 1 loss. Whatever buttons Coach Jong Uichico has pushed, it appears to have definitely worked in his favor after TNT's woeful exit last conference.

Here is our take on the match-ups:

PBA GC QF 4 Meralco vs 5 Mahindra

Don’t be surprised if this match-up will largely go under-the-radar, basketball hype-wise, considering the styles of both teams involved.

The Meralco Bolts, though they have athletic wonders Chris Newsome (32mpg/13ppg/4rpg/4apg) and Cliff Hodge (32/12/7/2), mostly rely on their blue collar approach on the defensive end while the Mahindra Enforcers, still cannot (and most likely will not) shake the shadow cast by their “head coach” Manny Pacquiao.

Still, this should be a fun and exciting match-up if you consider how Enforcers’ point guard L.A. Revilla (30/9/4/5) will be pitted against veteran Jimmy Alapag (27/9/3/6). In wrestling parlance, if TNT Katropa’s Jayson Castro is the current gold standard, Triple H, then Alapag would be Ric Flair. Batista (the next-in-line) would be a toss-up between Ginebra’s L.A. Tenorio and San Miguel’s Alex Cabagnot while Revilla would be the wide-eyed, snot-nosed kid Randy Orton.

*High-fives to all of our sports-entertainment brethren*

2016 PBA GC QF: 2 San Miguel vs 7 NLEX

SMB's Spiderman and Crunchman (ugh, Quinito)
(Photo credit: PBA.inquirer.net)

Is NLEX ready for the semis? Is Coach Boyet Fernandez going to be around for next season? Will he call another ill-opportune timeout and have his assistant Adonis Tierra save his ass through the media?

Or will San Miguel move one step closer to defend their remaining title from last season?

Check-out our QF preview/ prediction and hit us up @kilikilishot on Twitter!

2016 PBA GC QF: 3 Ginebra vs 6 Alaska

It's Japeth's time
(Photo credits to the owner)

Paki taas lang po ng kamay yung mga Alaska fans na nakahinga ng maluwag na hindi San Miguel ang napares sa kanila sa Quarterfinals. Seriously, we wouldn’t blame the Gatas Republic if they have developed some sort of Beermen-trauma by now.

That being said, it should be rather entertaining to see the “Never Say Die” heirs squaring off with the “No Quit Squad” with much of the focus squarely on Calvin Abueva. It is no secret that Abueva loves to play against Ginebra (and their legion of fans); and that since he has been inserted into the starting unit the Aces have been on a roll in the PBA Governor’s Cup.

Here is how we see the match-ups playing out:

Season of learning

The Slash Brothers
(Photo credit: cnnphilippines.com)

You win some, you lose some.

Now that the PBA has expanded to twelve teams (soon to be thirteen), winning a title—let alone staying competitive, is becoming a much more difficult task. There are a lot of factors that affect a team’s chances of winning, none more than the possibility of high caliber players (even coaches) being pirated by big-money franchises.

Heck we even learned this season that even big-money, sister, franchises are not safe from “cannibalizing” one another; a fate suffered by the Star Hotshots, who lost both their grand slam coach Tim Cone and versatile wing Joe DeVance, at the hands of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

Three teams have already been officially eliminated in the season-ending PBA Governor’s Cup: the Hotshots, GlobalPort Batang Pier, and Blackwater Elite. Here are some of the things we noticed in their respective campaigns, where they went wrong and could build on moving forward and through the 2016 PBA Draft.

2016 PBA Mock Draft Version 1

Who will be the 2016 PBA Draft Top Pick?
(Photo credit: Spin.ph)

The 2016 PBA Draft is just around the corner (October 30 to be exact) and we cannot help but feel excited with the names available. Sure, there is the possibility/ threat of a Gilas 5.0 pullout, but we are simply going to operate under the impression that the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and the PBA will be able to come to an understanding by then.

Also, the PBA will be welcoming its 13th franchise—the Hapee Fresh Fighters which should provide us all with even more games to look forward to and stars to cheer for.

A special shout-out goes to the folks over at PBADraft.net, as we have admittedly lost track of “who picks where” because of our day jobs.  Trust that this is only the first version, and that we will most likely come up with updates in the coming weeks before D-day.

Stand proud

Good job, Gilas 5.0
(Photo credit FIBA.com)

Though we were one of those who were quick to point out Gilas 5.0's mistakes on social media during the FIBA Asia Challenge Cup; calling the players out and sometimes even openly questioning the rotations, we will always be proud and respectful of the players and coaches from top to bottom.

We will leave the ass-kissing and lip-service to those who are too afraid to point out the wrongs, if only to protect their chances of one day becoming a professional writer/ commentator/analyst working inside the pro league. Here, all we want to share is the truth. So as harsh as some of our tweets sounded, none of it was made to attack any player personally-- only his game, and what he brought or did not bring to the table.

That being said, THANK YOU to Gilas coach Josh Reyes and his motley crew of amateur standouts: Mac Belo, Kevin Ferrer, Mike Tolomia, Ed Daquioag, CJ Perez, Roger Pogoy, Russel Escoto, Chris Javier, Carl Cruz, Von Pessumal, Alfonso Gotladera and Arnold Van Opstal.

No gentleman

E DI WOW!
(Photo credit: Spin.ph)

Well that was funny.

In case you missed it, the entire Globalport Batang Pier coaching staff and management opted not to shake the hands of their conquerors, the NLEX Road Warriors, after their game last night. The Warriors won 114-98, but not before calling a timeout in the dying seconds which drew the Batang Pier's ire.

See, there are two unwritten but universally observed "gentlemen's" basketball rules:

adidas launches adidas Athletics

adidas, the world’s leading sportswear innovator, has recently announced the launch of a brand new category – adidas Athletics. The category will deliver a fresh new take on traditional pre- and post-match outwear, specifically engineered to remove distractions and maximise athletes’ focus in the make-or-break period before they compete and when it really matters.

The category, which officially launches on pitch on Saturday 10th September with the adidas Z.N.E. Hoodie - the first product in the revolutionary new range. For any athlete, maintaining concentration immediately before they take to the field or when they’re in the zone is vital to their performance. The adidas Z.N.E. Hoodie was designed with this need in mind, helping athletes stay mentally strong thanks to three key elements; reduced noise distraction, minimal visionary interference and protection from discomfort. It combines cutting-edge craftsmanship with luxe fabric and a striking aesthetic to make it a sportswear essential, whether for performance or leisure.

First game highs and lows

Keep on fighting!
(Photo credit: FIBA.com)

Make no mistake about it, the FIBA Asia Challenge Cup Gilas 5.0 is a well-coached team... just a mildly inexperienced one at that.

Still, the all-local squad was able to keep in step with "Asia basketball's rising giants," India, to the tune of 83-91. We were able to take the lead in the first quarter; but once the Indians were able to settle down and use their size to their advantage it became just too difficult for the young Gilas to overcome.

That is where having veterans (say, PBA stars) come in handy. Despite the height disadvantage, those who have played the game long enough on higher levels know how to limit opponents with proper positioning, discipline, underhanded tricks, and what not.

The Ginebra Blueprint (Part 2)

Team continuity and good looks help too.
(Photo credit to the owner)

(... continued)

Here’s a rundown of the PBA teams who could try to be like Ginebra/ build a fanbase like Ginebra (if they haven't already):

Alaska – they almost came close to becoming the new Ginebra until Management decided to pull in the reins a bit and go back to their identity as prim and proper, clean-cut subdivision basketball players (aided by a few trabahador imports, of course).

Blackwater, Phoenix, Mahindra – young franchises who; if they play their cards right and not be involved in lopsided deals, could build on young, proven collegiate talent + established veteran names who are looking for one last shot at the limelight, could  go somewhere. Manny Pacquiao's popularity certainly gave Mahindra a bit of an early lead though.

The Ginebra Blueprint (Part 1)

Lahing Ginebra, laking Ginebra
(Photo credit: Inquirer.net)

The Philippine Basketball Association appears to be at a complete loss when it comes to trying to achieve even a quarter of the Manila Classico live audiences for games that do not feature Barangay Ginebra (and in some ways, Star Hotshots).

Just how on earth did Ginebra grow into such a cash-cow, given the fact that it has hardly been in the PBA Finals while also being a non-family friendly brand in itself? Is it really because of Robert Jaworski, Sr.’s magic? The man dubbed as the “Living Legend” has been retired for nearly two decades now. Is it because of the “masa” charm of their players? Greg Slaughter, Sol Mercado and Chris Ellis do not exactly connect with the stereotype.

So what gives?

KKS Trade Reaction: Cortez to GlobalPort

Back in green... NEON green, that is.
(Photo credit: Aktv)

GlobalPort Batang Pier recently acquired the services of veteran point guard Mike Cortez from the Blackwater Elite for Ronald Pascual in what has mostly been an under-the-radar sort of trade.

Under-the-radar, since there was little to no fanfare surrounding the deal involving an oft-injured 35-year-old and the little-used sophomore. Though this could very well be a "low risk, high reward" type of deal should things go as planned for both teams.

Why, you ask?

When you wish upon a STAR

Keep on
(Photo credit: Inquirer.net)

Other than Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s Japeth Aguilar, we have grown fond of mocking and ridiculing STAR Hotshots head coach Jason Webb at every chance we get on social media. To be clear, we are making fun of them NOT as human beings, but rather as ill-equipped basketball personalities.

Aguilar being the “has all the athletic gifts of an NBA talent but the IQ of a JV player” and Webb, well, let us talk about how Coach Jason’s first season as a legitimate PBA head coach went shall we?
To recap, STAR finished the season with a 10 wins and 19 losses record: 4-7 in the Philippine Cup, 5-6 in the Commissioner’s, and finally 1-6 in the Governor’s. It could very well be concluded that the mid-season acquisition of RR Garcia, Rodney Brondial and Jake Pascual distorted whatever mediocre-level chemistry was present in the team. Sure, Garcia suddenly emerged to play big minutes, but it is not like they gave up any of their core rotation guys to acquire his services (they traded away rookies Mark Cruz and Norbert Torres if we remember correctly).

Should everything be blamed on Coach Jason?

The Revival

Calling the shots
(Photo credit: Inquirer.net)

We owe TNT Katropa head coach Jong Uichico an apology.

For a while there, when Coach Jong appeared to be running everything through Jayson Castro reminiscent of how his mentor Ron Jacobs rode “Da Bull” Nelson Asaytono in the late 90s at San Miguel, we started to believe that this guy was nothing more than a relic. A relic who insists on running outdated hero/ isolation plays in an ever-evolving sport of spread-out offenses and taller three-point specialists.

What made it even worse is that, he seemed to be changing the philosophies and culture of the very team that pioneered and mastered this new, Euro-style of play in the PBA.

Again, we owe him an apology.

The Challenge

Big Mac attack
(Photo credit: philstar.com)

Just when our FIBA ranking went a spot higher (from world-ranked number 28 to 27), here we are shooting ourselves in the foot by not sending our best players (be it in the pros or the amateurs) to an international meet.

Ang kulit naman, oo.

An entirely new set of players will be donning Gilas Pilipinas jerseys in the FIBA Asia Challenge Cup in Tehran, Iran on September 9 to 18. While some are proud alumni of the Gilas Cadets squad, the Gilas 5 team is missing quite a lot: naturalized center Andray Blatche, proven PBA veteran stars, amateur standouts Bobby Parks Jr. and Kiefer Ravena, and more importantly—head coach Tab Baldwin.

Back on track

Sol Train cometh

Historically speaking, we have always been pretty hard on Barangay Ginebra San Miguel's Sol Mercado. If you were to check our Twitter posts about him, we almost always critique him for being the same damn player today as when he entered as the 5th pick in the 2008 PBA Draft.

But that is only because we saw a lot of tools in the Biola University product which could have made him one of the premier players in the league. Hell, he even looked like he was ready to break through the glass ceiling that one season with the Meralco Bolts before they inexplicably sent him elsewhere. Last year with Ginebra, we thought that he could contribute under then head coach Frankie Lim. Not a lot, but there is always some use for a power guard in a league that is known for its physicality.

Graduation day

The Future is NOW.

Ladies and gentlemen, here is your Gilas Pilipinas 5.0 24-man pool: amateur standouts Mon Abundo, Mac Belo, Kemark Carino, Carl Cruz, Ed Daquioag, Russel Escoto, Kevin Ferrer, Alfonzo Gotladera, Jonathan Grey, Jiovani Jalalon, Chris Javier, Ray Parks, Jaymar Perez, Von Pessumal, Roger Pogoy, Kiefer Ravena, Arvin Tolentino, Mike Tolomia, and Arnold Van Opstal; PBA players Yutien Andrada, JP Erram, Matt Ganuelas, and Almond Vosotros; and the ABL’s Matthew Wright.

With the FIBA Asia Challenge Cup all set for September and the PBA locked in its season-ending Governor’s Cup, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) have opted to send amateur stars mostly from their Cadets training pool. While no Olympic berth is at stake in the Tehran tourney, the top five teams in the FIBA Asia Challenge Cup will earn an extra berth for their subzones (i.e. Southeast Asia for Philippines, Thailand, etc.) in the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup.