Archive for the ‘ PBA ’ Category

Yeng Guiao squeezes Orange Juice out of Calamansi

Guaio's personality harks to legends like Charles Barkley and Bobby Knight

Yeng Guiao sat smiling inside the PBA media room while watching his upstart Elasto Painters beat up the hapless Clickers. No. His smile did not seem to be one of pride. It was a smile worn out of shame.

“Ganun talaga, kailangan pagdusahan ang pagkaka-mali. May kasabihan nga na ‘ang pumatol sa sira ulo, mas sira ulo.” said Guiao who was ejected early in the game after being called for a second technical foul for a two-forearm shove on Shopinas’ Ogie Menor (the latter taunted the whole Rain or Shine bench with claps after connecting on a three).

Add that ejection to the one back in October in a game against Alaska and there you have your league-leader, not only this season, but all-time. According to an article by Ding T. Marcelo for Manila Bulletin earlier this July, the fiery coach has amassed a total of P650,900 in fines (P100,000 for Red Bull’s infamous walkout in 2006), 7 ejections (excluding the two he recently had) and 3 suspensions.

Because he is as real as one coach can get, pinapatulan niya talaga lahat and sometimes he crosses the line. If and when he does, he literally pays for it dearly. P650,900 is no joke and it shows Yeng Guiao’s propensity to lose himself.

But more importantly, it shows the extent to which he is willing to fight for his team. This, along with being a really good X’s and O’s guy are the reasons why Rain or Shine is sitting atop the standings at 6 wins and 1 loss.

On paper, the Elasto Painters should only be as good as Ginebra and Powerade, teams with 4 and 5 losses already. Tell me if you think they are stronger than B-MEG or Petron because I don’t. Despite missing the services of TY Tang and a big man who can effectively be a post threat night in and night out, they are arguably the second best team (TNT beat them with a depleted line-up) at the halfway point of the Philippine Cup. Credit should go to Coach Yeng Guiao for maximizing his players’ talents.  When Sol Mercado was still in the team, they looked like Shopinas plus the aforementioned and Gabe Norwood. The doubter in me at that time thought that Arana, Tang, Ibanes and Jeff Chan would all have short careers like the Macky Escalonas and the Ranier Sisons of the PBA. Fast forward to today, Guiao has turned college standouts into very reliable contributors, and one-dimensional players into all-star type of players. Most notably is the development of sharpshooter Jeff Chan who has benefited from the exploits of rookie hotshot Paul Lee and veteran playmaker Gabe Norwood. The supporting cast of Ronjay Buenafe, Jervy Cruz, Larry Rodriguez and the “Extra Rice” brothers have been very consistent.

 

FEU alum Jeff Chan is in the top 5 race for Best Player of the Conference

FEU alum Jeff Chan is in the top 5 race for Best Player of the Conference

 

If you observe how these guys play, you will see a semblance of streetball. As the people I talk to would say, “para silang larong-kanto maglaro”. Of course larong-kanto would not cut it in the PBA but if you may, I affectionately describe their play as organized chaos. We all know that Yeng Guaio is as strict as Mrs. Trunchbull (Matilda’s terror principal) and that is the reason why they play organized and disciplined. But contrary to what people think, for me, Yeng Guiao gives his players enough freedom to play their game and that is why his players have blossomed. Guiao requires a certain level of discipline from his players and once his players reach that, he allows them to be chaotic.

The depth of Rain or Shine’s talent is up for debate. Maybe I am selling them short. But what’s undeniable is Coach Yeng Guiao’s ability to make the whole team greater than the sum of its parts.  You give him calamnsi, he will give you orange juice.

Is he the best coach in the PBA? Maybe. Maybe not. I know his players believe so because he would protect them from bad guys like Ogie Menor.

2011
11/10
CATEGORY
PBA
2 comments

Si Caguioa at ang Plano ng Barangay Ginebra

When Ginebra played its first game this 37th PBA season, Tanquincen utilized Mark Caguioa off the bench. I thought then that the Gins’ “co-coaches” were just trying to limit his minutes due to injury. I believed otherwise when I saw that he had no problem with his movements; he was the same old “Spark” with the funky hair and the mean teardrop. After a few more games I was still looking for reasons why he came off the bench and worse, why he was only playing around 25 efficient minutes. Maybe the coaching staff was just trying to preserve his 32 year-old body (he turns 32 on November 19) for the deep postseason run they expect to make.
NO. Those weren’t the reasons why he was riding the bench. After playing 12 and 19 minutes respectively in two straight losses that put the beloved Barangay Ginebra near the cellar at 3-4, Caguioa was a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. Tangquincen and Uichico’s biggest fears have just happened. Their so-called “franchise player” has just publicly blasted them for his limited playing time.

It is now obvious what Tanquincen and the whole Ginebra Franchise is trying to do; REBUILD.

(Pasensya na “co-coaches” I’m with Mark Caguioa on this one. I’m about to respectfully BLAST you!)

Wala namang masama sa ginagawa nila. I agree with Coach Siot that every team goes through the rebuilding process, pero are they rebuilding the right way? O baka naman mas magandang tanungin kung dapat ba silang mag-rebuild ngayon or dapat ba silang mag-rebuild at all?

For the past few games, ganito ang itsura ng starting line-up ng Ginebra: Labagala, J. Wilson, Canaleta, W.Wilson, Villanueva. Sa tingin ko they’ve got positions 1, 2 and 3 wrong. Alam ko super inconsistent si Mike Cortez pero isa sa mga malalaking rason kung bakit is he keeps on starting then after a few games bangko na naman. He is the best point guard on the team and is relatively young. He should start instead of Labagala. John Wilson was 1st-Team All-Defense last year, pero sa totoo lang mas magaling ba siya dumepensa kay Ronald Tubid? Kung oo, baka kaunti lang ang angat niya at alam naman nating lahat na mas magaling si Tubid offensively.  Hindi lang yan, Tubid represents the attitude of the whole Barangay, matapang, masipag at palaban!

And last but definitely not the least, dapat mag-start si Caguioa and more importantly play at least 32 minutes a game. Depende sa kalaban kung sino ang dapat palitan ni Caguioa; kung teams with length and quickness at the 4-spot ang kalaban nila dapat si Canaleta, kung teams na may malalakas na kwatro, dapat si Willie Wilson. Alam ko puwedeng mali ako diyan pero walang debate na dapat mag-start si Caguioa

Perennial MVP Candidate

(Caguioa’s Career Stats)

Noong 36th season, madalang bumaba sa beinte kung mag-score si Caguioa and more importantly ginawa niya ang lahat at nananalo sila. Somehow hindi pa pababa ang laro niya. Absolutely no coach would put their franchise player who at the same time is the team’s best player without question and who just came off an MVP-type season, off the bench. Kung sa NBA, parang binangko mo si Iverson noong unang salta niya sa Philadelphia.

Kung magpatuloy pa ito, it’s either si Tanquincen and/or si Uichico ang aalis or si Caguioa at ang milyon-milyong fans ng Ginebra. If Tubid represents the attitude of the whole Barangay, Mark Caguioa represents the identity of what Barangay Ginebra is all about. Sa kanya ipinasa ni Jawo ang bola. He was the next enigmatic figure after the greatest basketball player of all-time in the Philippines.

Last year, umabot sila sa Finals sa Commissioner’s Cup at dalawang beses sila nag-semis. Arguably, nasa Top 3 parin sila dapat.

So sa tanong na dapat bang mag-REBUILD ang Barangay Ginebra, ang sagot ko HINDI! Rebuild is not the right term. Sa palagay ko they should just RENOVATE or REFORMAT. Sa palagay ko it is not right to rebuild kung wala kang players to build around. Maraming beses na nabigyan ng tsansa si Canaleta at lalung-lalo na si Intal pero hindi talaga sila magiging franchise players ng Gins. They don’t have the attitude for it. Si Labagala? Si J.Wilson? Seryoso ba kayo? The way I see it, dapat tamang balanse lang ng mga beterano at ni Caguioa kasama ang mga bata nilang players. Yan ang tamang paraan. I think that’s the way for Intal and Canaleta and Co. to achieve proper growth. Dapat matuto sila kasama ang mga mas nakakaalam. Kung papabayaan lang sila, para silang mga batang pinalaki mo na walang magulang, kuya, ate, lolo at lola.

Hindi naman ako Barangay Ginbera fan pero I have been around basketball all my life. Hindi sa pagmamayabang, marami akong alam sa basketball kasi I don’t only watch it, I also analyze it and read about its history. So sinulat ko ito objectively na walang bias.

I MAY BE WRONG BUT I DOUBT IT!!! –Sir Charles and Robi Raya-

2011
11/08
CATEGORY
"FOUL REF!" (Robi Raya's Rants)
PBA
53 comments

Norman Black leaving Loyola

The Blue Eagles are poised to make it 5 straight.

If reports from sources hold true, Ateneo Blue Eagle fans might say their goodbyes to Mr. 100%. According to a report in the Inquirer, there is a deal in place for Norman Black to move to the TNT bench and for Chot Reyes to handle the next Gilas team. Rajko Toroman will awkwardly move to a seat behind the bench as a Team Consultant if he accepts the position that is being offered to him by MVP.

At least the good part of the deal for Ateneans is that it will only take effect after the 2012 UAAP Season, which gives the Blue Eagles more motivation to go for a 5-peat considering it will be Black’s last year. The bad part is the fact that it will be his last year. Although the Eagles will still be arguably strong by Season 76 (especially with the arrival of another prized recruit), “iba parin yun Norman Black”.

On the Gilas side of the deal, I personally do not like MVP’s move to put Rajko Toroman behind the bench. I just think

there is no better coach for Gilas right now than the Serb. Chot Reyes is a very good coach (and I think he may be the best choice to coach Gilas if you are choosing from PBA coaches because TNT’s style of play resembles the international game in terms of drives and kick-outs) but his understanding of the international game is not that deep compared to Toroman. If I may say once again, “iba parin yun Rajko”. This move also seems politically motivated because I have heard rumors directly from the Gilas bench that there are coaches who want Rajko’s post.

The positive thing of having Chot Reyes as the Gilas coach is that the players would get more motivation from him (Alapag and Tiu did most of the motivating in the Fiba-Asia Championships, not Toroman) Iba rin talaga kung Pinoy ang mag-momotivate.

2011
10/12
CATEGORY
Gilas
PBA
UAAP
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PBA 37th Season Opening Day: One Big Hot Debut!

 

Meralco Ambassador of Light

In case you missed it last night, the 37th Season of the PBA started with a bang! It definitely was the best Opening Day in recent memory. Save for the opening dance that we all hate (and for some reason the PBA production team sticks with it every year), last night was simply amazing.

The opening ceremonies were like a summer league opening, an awarding ceremony and a beauty pageant rolled into one crazy-ass event. I know we all loved the muses; Solen, Bubbles, Iya, Maricar, Rhian, etc. Saan ka pa diba? Pero talbog silang lahat sa Tsunami Walk ni Shamcey! It’s simply crazy how one girl and the way she walks can outshine the opening day muses. That’s just simply why she was tapped by Meralco to be the Ambassador of Light. While Ms. Supsup and the muses provided the elegance that is required for the opening ceremonies, the Hall of Fame inductees made us nostalgic. Headlined by The Captain Alvin Patrimonio, this year’s class is truly one of the best. I’m sure with the high-flying memories that he gave us, and that cool halftime speech, we can all agree that Billy Ray Bates stole the show.

The Black Superman

The first part of Opening Day was very appetizing. It led up well to what the day was all about; the first game of the 37th

The Swagger Name with a Swagger Game

Season: Ginebra vs. Rain or Shine, Mark Caguioa vs. Paul Lee. Rain or Shine won 94-93 behind 21 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists from Paul Lee. The University of the East Alum backed up his swagger name with a swagger game. He had poise and confidence beyond his years and sometimes you’d think that he feels that he‘s the best player on the court with how he conducted himself throughout the game.

I won’t write the last word of this article without recognizing the new television partner of the PBA, AKTV.  The brand new PBA coverage was like a breath of fresh air; more interactive, more interviews and better overall presentation.

Malamang Puro Atenista yung courtside reporters and yung pregame and postgame analysts eh! (Jessica Mendoza, Erika Padilla, Sel Guevara and Mico Halili)

2011
10/03
CATEGORY
PBA
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Random Basketball Thoughts

In comparing MJ and Kobe, it's noticeable that MJ didn't commit the mistakes Kobe is committing 16 years into his career. After his first championship, MJ was almost infallible, rarely committing mistakes on offense and defense.