At the start of the 2010 rookie draft, the PBA played yet another video tribute for Customs commissioner, former PBA board chairman, and former Air 21 team manager Lito Alvarez. With a smug grin on his face – you know, like he had just gotten away with cheating on a round of golf – Alvarez claimed proudly that because of his “savvy” moves, it was the first time that a team, Air 21, had the top three picks in the rookie draft.

Continue reading "Air 21 leads the clusterfuck that was the 2010 PBA rookie draft"

I’ve steadily developed a dislike for San Miguel over the past couple of years. Despite the snarky tone of this blog, this is a rare case for PBA teams; even though I’ve been rooting for the Purefoods franchise since I was a child, I consider myself a fan of the PBA. I usually watch games intently when I’m home and they’re on, whoever might be playing. I like good Pinoy basketball, and the PBA is where you’d find the best Pinoy basketball anywhere.

Continue reading "Love, hate, and the San Miguel Beermen"

GMANews.TV posted the fourth and fifth installment of my 7,000-word email exchange with Pacific Rims author and the new kilabot ng mga kolehiyala, Rafe Bartholomew. In part 4, we discuss a few more issues about Filipino-American players and get into it about the future of the Alaska Aces franchise. The emails were written a couple of months before Alaska’s championship, and Rafe expressed his doubts about the Cyrus Baguio-Willie Miller. I was higher on the trade than he was at the time, and I guess the next Philippine Cup will bear each of us out, without Diamon Simpson available for the Aces then.

Continue reading "On GMANews.TV: The future of Alaska and the ballad of Willie Thriller"

AFTER ITS semifinals series against Derby Ace, I thought San Miguel would have a very hard time in the finals going up against either Alaska or Talk N Text, who at the time were still to figure in a deciding seventh game in their own semifinals matchup. It had a lot to do with how San Miguel, the much fresher and deeper team, had so much trouble putting away a tired and overmatched Llamados squad whose import, Tony Washam, couldn’t even get a shot off Arwind Santos. That it took a superhuman effort for Gabe Freeman – who dominated Derby Ace’s injured big guys Rafi Reavis and Marc Pingris – for San Miguel to finally advance didn’t really inspire much confidence in me as a basketball observer.

Continue reading "Bel13ve! Alaska, the thinking fan’s team, wins championship #13 with heart"

And the Purefoods Derby Petron Tender Llamado Juicy Giant Blazers rollercoaster takes another twist, as it was reported late last night that the team was junking its plans to assign the franchise to Petron, and instead continue playing under the San Miguel Pure Foods banner. My idol Patricia Hizon wrote about it in a blind item on her blog, while GMANews.TV’s Rey Joble had the full details and confirmation shortly before midnight.

Continue reading "SMC retains Derby Ace name, appoints Jorge Gallent coach"

When he’s firing on all cylinders, San Miguel’s Jay Washington is the best forward in the PBA. He glides so effortlessly up and down the court like no other big guy in league history. Not only does he jump out of the gym, but he might have the best second jump among local big men. He has a sweet touch that stretches out well beyond three-point range. He’s got decent handle that allows him to face up and take slower guys off the dribble, and he’s strong enough to punish smaller guys on the block.

This is why, for me, Washington is the single most maddening player to watch in the PBA. He is at his best when he’s comfortable, that is, when the Beermen are up protecting a lead.

Continue reading "PBA Finals Snaphot: Dear Jay Washington, please stop being such a pussy"

It should perhaps come as no surprise to anyone who’s ever watched Pinoy television that on the day James Yap received his second PBA Most Valuable Player award – an honor that effectively cemented his legacy as one of the best Filipino players of all time – he still had to share the spotlight with his estranged wife, Kris Aquino.

Continue reading "James Yap, the 2010 PBA Most Valuable Player, had a crazy day"

Over the last few days, GMANews.TV posted a couple of installments of my best-of-7 email exchange with Pacific Rims author and Internet heartthrob Rafe Bartholomew. In part 2, I argue – convincingly, in my opinion – that the reason the Philippines is such a basketball-crazy country is because of cute colegialas who watch the game. We also get into a discussion about whether PBA players such as James Yap and Dondon Hontiveros can make it to the NBA.

Continue reading "GMANews.TV back and forth with Rafe Bartholomew continues"

The Philippine Basketball Association will be handing out its awards for the season tonight, and James Yap would probably walk away with the season’s Most Valuable Player trophy. Few rational PBA fans would argue with the choice, considering Yap pretty much put his stamp on this season, leading Purefoods to the Philippine Cup championship and carrying his team to a decent showing in the Fiesta Conference despite missing Kerby Raymundo most of the tournament. With this season, Yap also cemented his stature as perhaps the PBA’s last crossover superstar, and while his marriage to Kris Aquino definitely made him a household name, his game all year has lived up to every expectation.

Continue reading "Quick thoughts on the PBA annual awards"

I’d just barely landed in Manila when Rey Joble called me up last night to tell me the big news: San Miguel Corporation had sold its Purefoods business to a venture composed of Del Monte and Century, but the PBA franchise was not part of the deal. The sale has been expected for months, but the fact that the team was not part of a sale came as a bit of a surprise.

Continue reading "Purefoods bids the PBA goodbye, Ryan Gregorio transfers to Meralco"