Let them know

Babysteps for Alab
(Photo credit: Arvin Lim)

Though we were not able to watch the ASEAN Basketball League debut of Ray Ray Parks (19p 4r 7a) and his Alab Pilipinas LIVE, there was simply no way in hell that we would miss it altogether. So, despite our busy schedule, we patiently waited for the delayed telecast to air (a big shout out to our Middle Eastern cable provider: OSN and our OSN Pinoy Package PLUS) so we could share our thoughts afterwards.

Now where should we begin?

Alab Pilipinas lost 66-71 to the visiting Singapore Slingers; despite the efforts of Parks, Lee Seung-Jun (13p 10r) and Jeric Fortuna (10p). The Slingers were led by imports Justin Howard (22p 20r) and Xavier Alexander (15p) and followed by ABL local MVP Wong Wei Long (17p) and Leon Kwek (11p 11r). It was a solid debut for Alab as they led by as many as 12 points in the first half before losing steam in the 2nd.

Okay, that’s the game in a nutshell. Now, we nitpick.

It's official

The Beast
(Photo credit: FIBA.com)

Better than nothing.

The Philippine Basketball Association has finally agreed (and put into writing) to lend at least one active player to the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas' Gilas men's pool. This pretty much assures us that we will no longer have to bear witness to this ugly Team MVP vs Team SMC "Silent War" which has robbed the national cause for (at least) the last four to five years.

Obviously, we opened this entry on a bit of a negative light because some teams (from the SMC fold) have more than one player who could be of use to Gilas. But hey, it truly is better than nothing, right?

Assured to be on loan are the Gilas cadets:

Opening Day Game(s) notes

Come at us, brodies.
(Photo credit: Spin.ph)

The new PBA season is upon us!

Here are a few game notes from two days' worth of games, missed out on today's 2nd game: the Rain or Shine-TNT match, so you'll have to make do with the Blackwater vs Phoenix one for now. Will catch the game later on replay (thanks OSN and Aksyon International)!

Also, if you've been paying attention, it seems like they found a strong digital marketing arm to help keep in step with the times which is a good thing (someone send us free tickets or something! Lol)

San Miguel 96 - Star 88

- Alex Cabagnot, shooting guard. This is going to be fun.

Homecoming

Welcome home.
(Photo credit to the owner)

Though it may have taken a while, and may even only be temporary, but for the time-being 2x UAAP MVP and NBA hopeful RayRay Parks is finally “home.”

Home to strut his wares for neophyte Alab Pilipinas in the coming ASEAN Basketball League season; home to showcase just how far he has grown as a basketball talent and person; home to prove all of his critics and those he deem as “haters” wrong.

Parks will be joining an Alab team that badly needs his starpower, though it is not exactly lacking in terms of talent or firepower. Joining him are Paulo Hubalde, JR Cawaling, Robby Celiz, Jeric Fortuna, Anthony Gavieres, Jens Knuttel, Jovet Mendoza, Val Acuna, Hans Thiele and imports: (ASEAN) Laurence Domingo, Igee King, (World) Lee Sueng Jun and Lee Dong Jun.

Trade reactions/ free agent signings

This guy just keeps getting traded
and traded and traded...

We are literally just five days away from the opening of the 42nd season of the PBA; with fans already buzzing in excitement and anticipation of what's to come.

Can San Miguel defend their crown? Is Ginebra good enough to unseat their sister team minus Justin Brownlee? Will Alaska break the curse of The Kraken? Who can lead his new team to more wins: James Yap, Paul Lee or Coach Yeng Guiao?

But before that, here are a few other trades/ signings that happened just recently and what we think of it all:

Nico Salva joins Mahindra
Salva was reportedly on his way to Meralco (which would reunite him with his Ateneo brethren and head coach Norman Black) before Ginebra opted to send him to the Mahindra Floodbusters. Honestly, we still think that this was something of a good fortune to Salva although he went from being able to join a contender to a cellar-dweller. See, the Floodbusters decided to go on a frontline fire sale in the off-season (they lost Aldrech Ramos, Nino Canaleta AND Bradwyn Guinto to trades) which left Coach Chris Gavina scratching his head and looking at: Jeckster Apinan, Mark Yee, Rob Reyes and rookies Russel Escoto and Joseph Eriobu (who is a small forward by trade). If Salva is lucky and works hard enough, he could be of some use as a rotation 3 or 4 although we are not too sure how he'll fare minus a key big man (his best years in ADMU, including his Finals MVP, was brought about by playing the weak side, opposite a dominant big).

Encore

#ThankYouJimmy

We could hear the trumpets blasting with the soulful musings of one Shawn Corey Carter spreading what is as close to ghetto gospel as possible on the microphone:

Now can I get an encore, do you want more/
Cookin’ raw with the Brooklyn Pinoy boy/
So for one last time I need y'all to roar/

Now what the hell are you waitin for/
After me, there shall be no more/
So for one last time, nigga Pinas make some noise/

Come next PBA season when the Meralco Bolts take the floor, they will no longer introduce one of our beloved players. The team will be playing minus 11-time PBA All Star, 1x PBA MVP, 6x champion and more importantly, Gilas captain, Jimmy Alapag who has chosen to retire after “unretiring” last January 2015.

PBA Ph Cup/Season Preview

The Face That Runs The Place
(Photo courtesy: philstar.com)

The new PBA season opens this November 20 and while official line-ups have yet to be announced, we could more or less predict who is coming in as conference/season favorites (unless a league balance shaking scenario happens i.e. Tim Cone moving/being moved to Ginebra last pre-season).

The Favorites

San Miguel Beermen
The defending PBA Philippine Cup champions will once again rely on 3x PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo to spearhead their title defense, with veterans Chris Ross, Alex Cabagnot, Arwind Santos and Marcio Lassiter all ready to chip in. Honestly, the way the league is being officiated at the moment, there is just no way to stop Fajardo in the post. This basically means that teams will have to keep more than one guy on Fajardo, which in turn opens up the floor for SMB’s shooters to pick their spots. They lost little used Ryan Arana but somehow ended up with former high school phenom Keith Agovida AND, more importantly, UAAP MVP RR Garcia. Arnold Van Opstal won’t be a threat right away, but anytime you can have another warm body—standing at an athletic and well-cut 6”9 at that, is always a plus.

Trade reaction: Mahindra makes its move

Nimes' time to shine
(Photo credit: mapua.edu.ph)

Don't look now but unlike fellow expansion team Blackwater Elite, which has been constantly saying to the media that it is trying to build a competitive line-up while ironically trading away top picks and assets for next-to-nothing, the Mahindra Floodbusters is keeping itself preoccupied with preparations for the coming PBA season.

Based on the people that they released and acquired, it is pretty obvious that head coach Chris Gavina is trying to build a free-flowing, running team and not one that simply, overly relies on point guard L.A. Revilla's wizardry and dies when he's not around.

Trade 1: Josan Nimes for a PBA Draft 2018 - 2nd round pick (Rain or Shine)
As a rookie at RoS, much was expected of Nimes under then head coach Yeng Guiao. The problem was Guiao gave his rookies a specific role: score and play defense in spurts; which didn't really fit Nimes' game. Nimes is a crafty point-small forward whose overall effect in a game is felt only when he is able to play long minutes AND facilitate, NOT jack up shots. At Mahindra, we hope that Coach Chris allows Nimes to run with it and take some of the pressure off Revilla. Also, Nimes needs to work on his defense if he wishes to make a name for himself in the pros.
Grade: B

PBA Draft 2016 Grades

Dem boyz
(Photo credit: inquirer.net)

The 2016 PBA Draft has finally come to an end and with it, the start of promising PBA careers for about 30 or more draftees. Though we will have to admit that some of the proceeding's luster was offset by the whole "special/ regular" thing and the fact that the Gilas picks were revealed by "insiders" as early as Friday morning.

You will have to bear with us regarding the order of the picks, since we were just as dumbfounded as the next guy. From what we have gathered, the "Gilas round" was the "first round" though the players were not called in order of selection (the PBA agreed to call the teams up to the stage alphabetically, which is probably a first in all of pro-sports). To avoid confusion, we are just going to put a "G" next to the names of the Gilas draftees, and start with 1 for Blackwater's Ael Banal and so on.

Here's our team grades:

Trade reaction: Joseph Yeo to Meralco

The Ninja
(Photo credit: pba-online.net)

Don't you just love a busy off-season?

The Meralco Bolts have reportedly acquired the services of shooting guard Joseph Yeo in exchange for Rey Guevarra in what is definitely a steal of a trade. Yeo, despite being "called out" by GP team owner Mikee Romero, still managed to average 24mpg 9ppg 3rpg 3apg last season while Guevarra, 6mpg 2ppg 1rpg, has been in Coach Norman Black's doghouse and with good reason.

What is the reason you ask?

Real talk: Guevarra is just not that good a PBA playe; and is definitely not on the same footing as Yeo.

Trade reaction: Carlo Lastimosa to NLEX

The Yeng Guiao era is slowly dawning upon us.

In what we feel is only the beginning of more roster changes, the newly-installed NLEX head coach has acquired the services of rising star Carlo Lastimosa from the Blackwater Elite in exchange for little-used James Forrester and a 2016 PBA Draft 2nd round pick (which in essence is really a 3rd rounder no thanks to the Gilas "special" draft).

Basically, they lost a 6mpg 1ppg 1rpg guy and gained a 2nd generation talent who is coming off a breakout season by averaging 26mpg 18ppg 3rpg 2apg while shooting 43% from the 2-pt and 32% from 3.

The 2016 PBA Special and Regular Mock Draft

Get Belo-fied
(Photo credit: interaksyon.com)

Ugh.

The Gilas boys need to come out with red dots on their foreheads. Green for the regulars. Siopao-style.

Special thanks to ABS CBN Sports for the Draft order, as per this report >>> click here.

1 Blackwater - Mac Belo, SF
Arguably the most sound Gilas player to date be it on offense or defense. Though he is not a go-to-guy per se, Belo almost, always ends up being his team's leading scorer (and rebounder) by sheer hard work and simply working efficiently without the basketball. If you were to compare him to any current PBA player, then the guy his game closely resembles is that of TNT's incoming sophomore Troy Rosario-- only with a better dribble game. Belo works the glass relentlessly, has a pocket set-shot from 15 feet and out, and best of all can put the ball on the floor on the pick and roll which makes him an even bigger threat than Rosario. We honestly like what Blackwater is looking at here, since they will be able to parade a blue chip foursome of Roi Sumang, Carlo Lastimosa, Art dela Cruz and Belo right away, with the center position hopefully addressed in the later conferences (via an import).

F8 rewarded

It's been a long day...
(Photo credit: inq.net)

It took eight years and what now seems like a platoon of coaches before Barangay Ginebra San Miguel won another PBA championship, but last night everything just fell into place.

Coach Tim Cone was outsmarting his counterpart on every turn; the team held a 3-2 series lead; the other team’s (Meralco) most defiant soldier—Jimmy Alapag, was hurting; Ginebra’s aging duo of Mark Caguioa and Jayjay Helterbrand were rallying the "kids";  and no less than the Ginebra beloved Robert Jaworski, Sr. was in attendance. 

The near buzzer-beating triple by import Justin Brownlee, to break an 88-all lock, was icing on the cake.

May liwanag ang bukas

The Future
(Photo credit: bleachersbrew.BlogSpot.com - Sir Rick TY)

Sing no sad songs for the Meralco Bolts.

Despite losing the 2016 PBA Governor’s Cup crown to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, the future is brighter than ever for head coach Norman Black and his unheralded Bolts. After all, they started the season with an abysmal 1-11 record before working their way up the standings (and eventually the finals) in the last two conferences.

So what is next for the Bolts?

Come Rain or Shine

Southern Sharpshooters
(Photo credit to the owner)

What now, Rain or Shine Elastopainters?

First, Coach Yeng Guiao opted to bolt for the NLEX Road Warriors which basically offered him the real difference between an RoS “max contract” and that of a well-financed team. No, there was no under the table scheming here and there. Only an opportunity for Guiao to work on other things “outside of the basketball court” such as handling NLEX’s Corporate Social Responsibility program which would most likely help him win (back) a political seat in the future.

Second was JayR Quinahan, this season’s most consistent player and leading scorer at times, being dealt to Globalport Batang Pier for Jay Washington. The beefy forward reinvented himself this season, in hopes of securing a longer deal perhaps, averaging 14 and 7 as compared to Washington's 8 and 8. When the negotiating period came, both sides couldn't agree on the length and well, here we are now. We respect Washington's body of work, but Quinahan's intimidating defense and shot blocking will be missed.

Finally, came the biggest trade of them all: 27-year-old superstar guard Paul Lee for the “face of the PBA,” 34-year-old, 2x MVP James Yap.

41st Leo Awards Fallout

He's got the whole world, in his hands
(Photo credit to the owner)

What a season it has been for the Philippine Basketball Association-- controversial commissioner, ugly gossips, banned media man, terminated marketing head and all.

We will let certain people worry about it, as we only truly care about the sport of basketball and the players (and coaches) involved. Like we previously said and will forever maintain, we will laugh at all the gossips and rumors (through Twitter), but we will not write about it on this blog as we prefer to keep this one all about basketball.

No backdoors involved.

Yesterday was Game 4 of the 2016 PBA Governor's Cup Finals AND also the 41st Leo Awards which recognized and celebrated this season's best individuals. Here we try to offer our two cents' worth on the winners:

Samboy Lim Sportsmanship Award - Junemar Fajardo
Where did this come from? Fajardo's one of the nicest guys on the court and all, but uh... okay, he gets fouled a lot and hardly retaliates so that's well and good. It also sets a good example and puts a nice spotlight to an otherwise "blah" award that people don't really care about. Here's a high-usage rate player, the PBA MVP, playing the game the right way and not at all concerned with theatrics, show-boating or even the hard fouls.

A Star is born

Show me the money!
(Photo credit to the owner)

Paul Lee wanted out in 2014.

It was all over the news back then, with his now former coach Yeng Guiao even asking (through the media) what the difference was between Rain or Shine's max contract offer and those of other teams. Lee ended up signing the extension, but not after a heart-to-heart with Guiao.

Well, we are almost at the end of 2016, Guiao has opted to transfer to the NLEX Road Warriors, so...

James Yap; Rain or Shine Elastopainter

May resbak na si Yap
(Photo credit: AKTV)

There are no sacred cows in the PBA.

It doesn't matter if you (literally) broke your back carrying a team for 12 seasons en route to multiple championships and 2 PBA MVP recognitions; if the team wants to send you elsewhere, then that is exactly what will hapen regardless if your name just so happens to be James Carlos Yap-- the man widely accepted as the "face of the PBA."

Today we learned that the Star Hotshots were sending their 34-year-old star to the Rain or Shine Elastopainters for the much younger Paul Lee, also a certified PBA star in his own right. Business-wise, this is what was best for the Hotshots. They got a 27-year-old Gilas standout, probably for a more reasonable price than Yap's long-rumored "max++" contract, who has yet to really hit his prime in a league that favors attacking, combo guards.

Emotionally-speaking however, this was shit. The whole trade was, no, IS shit.

The 2016 PBA Gilas Mock Draft

Graduation Day
(Photo credit to the owner)

The 2016 PBA Draft slated for this October 30 is going to be quite… entertaining, since we have been promised TWO rookie draft proceedings. The first one will be the traditional rookie draft with all the hopefuls while the other will feature 12 players from the Gilas Pool picked by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas head Al Panlilio.

We will just have to trust in the SBP and Mr. Panlilio that he will make the best players available and not try to hide this guy or that guy somewhere (as Gilas has a working pool of 24 college players as far as we remember). After all, the SBP brain-thrust is still largely Team MVP while the 2016 PBA Draft, and even the order of the special draft, rewards Team SMC more than anyone else.

That is not a knock on the SBP, Mr. Panlilio, or Team MVP, but rather an acceptance of the current basketball landscape. These Gilas players after all are not only prized college standouts, but “assets” that have already benefited from several trainings and exposure both here and overseas so you can understand if Team MVP is not too keen on sharing their “living investments.”

SPECIAL DRAFT ORDER

On jammed signals and Beeracles

It has been a couple of days since we last saw both the San Miguel Beermen and TNT Katropa strutting their stuff in the 2016 PBA Governor's Cup which has yet to be concluded. This comes as a bit of a surprise to everyone, since both teams were the wise man's bets to make the season-ending Finals based on how they dominated the elimination round.

TNT simply crashed and burned in the semifinals, while the Beermen just couldn't "switch it on" like they thought they could after going on "cruise control" most of the way.

Let us start with Coach Jong Uichico's TNT first, shall we?

We have to apologize to the Katropa fans out there for basically raving about how their team was killing it this conference and that they were already assured of a seat in the Finals. As it turns out, the team nearly swept (10-1) through the Eliminations owing to their solid rotation but once they reached the playoffs and the core guys started going down, well, you know the rest.