Since the end of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, the Internet has been abuzz with blind items and rumors about trades that were being discussed by teams around the league. The first domino fell last night, as Waylon Galvez of the Manila Bulletin reports that the Alaska Aces have sent do-everything forward Joe Devance to the Air 21 Express in exchange for the talented if underachieving Jay-R Reyes, pending approval from Commissioner Chito Salud.

Continue reading "Alaska trades Joe Devance for Jay-R Reyes"

I’ve been a fan of SLAM since high school, and up until a few years ago I still bought the magazine every month, until the hefty price tag (~P500-P600 a pop) made me reassess its place in my life’s list of priorities.

Continue reading "SLAM Philippines out now!"

The PBA hasn’t had a particularly interesting All-Star Game since 1989, the year when the midseason matchup became an annual event. For most fans going into the game, the big storyline was the reunion of Ramon Fernandez and Robert Jaworski, stalwarts of the old Toyota powerhouse team who had since been estranged.

As a diehard 7-year-old Purefoods fan, however, I couldn’t care less about the Veterans; my heart was for the Rookies-Sophomores team through and through. The youngsters included five players from my favorite team: sophomores Jojo Lastimosa, Alvin Patrimonio, and Jerry Codiñera, and rookies Nelson Asaytono and Dindo Pumaren. Conversely, the Veterans were comprised mainly of stars from my team’s hated rivals San Miguel, then in the middle of its Grand Slam season, featuring Fernandez, Samboy Lim, Elmer Reyes, Yves Dignadice, and Hector Calma.

Continue reading "The 1989 PBA All-Star Game"

Manny Pangilinan and his Talk N Text Tropang Texters really would have wanted to close out its best-of-seven PBA Commissioner’out last Friday. The problem with winning last night was that Manny Pacquiao was fighting earlier in the day, which meant that news of Talk N Text’s second straight title would be buried under the headlines of the pound-for-pound king’s victory.

Continue reading "Talk N Text survives Ginebra in game 6 epic to win 2011 PBA Commissioner’s Cup"

In the latest episode of the From the Stands podcast, Chuck Araneta, Polo Bustamante and Carlo Pamintuan look back at the last three games of the ongoing PBA Commissioner's Cup finals between Talk N Text and Ginebra. They also look ahead to the All-Star Game, and discuss ways to fix the annual classic. In this week's old school/new school, they take a look at the maddening careers of two of the most gifted PBA big men ever, Jun Limpot and Jay Washington.

Continue reading "From the Stands: PBA finals talk, All-Star game, Jun Limpot vs Jay Washington"

Chuck Araneta, Polo Bustamante and Carlo Pamintuan were in the house for game 1 of the Commissioners Cup Finals last night between Talk N Text and Ginebra. After taking in the action, literally, from the stands, they caught up with winning coach Chot Reyes and import Paul Harris after the game. The boys take on a different tack in this week’s old school and new school, comparing the powerhouse Texters squad to two different dynasties: the legendary Crispa Redmanizers and the winning machine that was the ’90s Alaska Milkmen.

Continue reading "From the Stands: PBA Finals talk with Chot Reyes & Paul Harris, TNT vs Alaska/Crispa"

Here’s what’s going to happen: Talk N Text will win this series handily. Ginebra will be able to steal one or two games, probably through sheer force of will by Nate Brumfield or Mark Caguioa aided by the tactical brilliance of Jong Uichico. But while I will be rooting for the underdogs here in the finals, I can’t imagine this series ending without Manny Pangilinan and his Tropang Texters holding up their second straight championship trophy.

Continue reading "Talk N Text versus Ginebra: 2011 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals forecast"

On Twitter last night, I wrote that Ginebra’s win over Smart Gilas last night to advance to the finals followed the template of Gary Granada’s (and Bayang Barrios’) original song about the team, “Pag Nananalo Ang Ginebra”. The team trailed in the first half as their fans slowly fell into the grips of despair:

Ngunit ang aga nilang nagkalat,
bawat diskarte nasisisilat
Nagkasundo kaming magkakampi
na ang labo kasi ng referee
Ang barangay parang napeste,
natambakan agad kami ng bente
Parang bansa'y nagkaleche-leche,
at nareelect ang president

Continue reading "Ginebrang Ginebra"

Polo Bustamante and Carlo Pamintuan are back this week alongside Chuck Araneta in time for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals. But first, they recap Air 21’s upset of Alaska and the heroics of Mark “The Spark” Caguioa in Ginebra’s win over Rain Or Shine. For this week’s old school versus new school, the guys pit two of the greatest point guards in Ateneo Blue Eagles history: Olsen Racela vs. LA Tenorio.

Continue reading "From the Stands: Air 21’s upset, Mark the Spark’s return, Olsen Racela vs. LA Tenorio"