Ok, crowning him king may just be a tad bit premature – after all, it was only one preseason game – but we haven’t seen a legit college freshman this exciting since… LA Tenorio? James Yap? And those guys are two of the best, if not the two best, homegrown players in the PBA right now.

Continue reading "All hail King Kiefer!"

In the latest episode of From the Stands, Chuck Araneta, Polo Bustamante, and Carlo Pamintuan talk about the two biggest surprises of the ongoing Commissioner's Cup: the league-leading Smart Gilas and the cellar-dwelling San Miguel. In this week's old school vs. new school, they compare two of the best sharpshooters in PBA history: Allan Caidic and James Yap.



Click on the player to listen, or download the file, or subscribe to it on iTunes or on RSS. And leave a comment, the From the Stands boys just might discuss them in the next episode, or even invite you to come along.

For the second straight year, I had the privilege of speaking with the coach of the Philippine Cup champions shortly after winning the title. Over dinner and beer last Tuesday night, Coach Chot Reyes joined me and bloggers from Patay Ang Butiki and From the Stands to shoot the breeze and talk hoops. Because we were all basketball nerds, we ended up talking about everything from the series against San Miguel to his MBA stint to what happened between him and Jun Limpot.

But most of our conversation focused on Talk N Text, Smart Gilas, and the Ateneo Blue Eagles. Here’s the stuff (I think) I can publish:

Continue reading "A dinner with Talk N Text coach Chot Reyes"

Haven’t done this in a while, but before we get to the bullets, I enjoyed this comment from reader Jowana Bueser last week:

Have you seen Kris Aquino's Dalaw? Just bothered with Diether Ocampo's role as her husband. Seems like potshots against James Yap. He's the almost spineless, not so good with English husband who earns less than his better-educated wife.

Okaay. On to the bullets:

Continue reading "Wednesday bullets, starring Jeron Teng, Jerry Codiñera, Younghusbands and Dalaw"

Yesterday, Ronnie Nathanielsz reported that the referees who worked Sunday’s game between Derby Ace and Talk N Text were suspended by the PBA for calls that affected the outcome of the match.

Later that night, however, the Inquirer published a story correcting the earlier item. Salud said that only one of three suspended refs were actually part of the crew that worked the Derby Ace-TNT game, and the reasons for their suspension was totally different from what the original story said. So the initial report was, well, wrong. It is unclear who wrote the follow-up, Nathanielsz himself corrected the details on Twitter too.

Continue reading "Is Talk N Text being screwed by the refs?"

Hehe, who would have ever thought “Kris Aquino” and “Lou Gatumbato” would appear in the same headline? Only on Fire Quinito! Also, a reminder for everyone that the Philippines vs. Burma game tonight will be broadcast on ESPN at 8:30 PM.

Anyway, here are some interesting reads to get you through humpday:

Continue reading "Wednesday bullets starring the Azkals, Kris Aquino’s leading man, and Lou Gatumbato"

This cracked me up:

There was a report that you have had a noselift kasi papasok ka na sa showbiz.

“It’s not true!”

Kay Dr. Vicki Belo ka raw nagpaayos.

“Kay Vicki Belo? Bawal yata ako doon, eh!” (Laughs)

A, oo nga pala. I’m sorry, I forgot.

Here’s the whole interview, but that was my favorite part.

Can I just share that, while you are reading this, I have spent the last couple of nights in Koronadal, South Cotabato. Koronadal is also known by its other name Marbel. Yes, I spent the last two evenings in the hometown of 1998 PBA Most Valuable Player, Captain Marbel Kenneth Duremdes. Anyway, quick takes on each of the PBA teams in the Philippine Cup so far:

Continue reading "2010 PBA Philippine Cup first impressions, part 1"

In a previous post, I talked about the changes being introduced by new PBA commissioner Chito Salud, which he passes off as innovation but are actually recycled ideas. While in the middle writing that entry, I started to think of ideas, from my point-of-view as a fan, that could make my life easier and that could help the PBA. These are all practical ideas that have been done elsewhere, not pie-in-the-sky stuff that the PBA couldn’t possibly do.

I’m sure everyone has ideas as well, so post away in the comments.

Continue reading "Innovative ideas for the PBA"

I let out a chuckle when I read the blurb for Chito Salud’s appearance on the GMANews.TV sports show FTW, which said that the new commissioner’s mantra is “constant innovation.” It was funny because so far, the only real innovation under his tenure has been the changes in the opening ceremony. In fact, most of the ideas the new regime has trotted out, so far, has been recycled.

The “time-tested” three-conference format? It’s obviously a return to tradition, and Sonny Barrios actually proposed the very same thing in 2008.

Continue reading "Constant innovation or recycled ideas? A very early look at the PBA under Chito Salud"