Rain or Shine Elastopainters

Looking back: Rain or Shine had a breakout season in 2008-2009, making it out of the wildcards for the first time in the Philippine Cup and, with import Jai Lewis, going all the way to the semifinals in the Fiesta Conference. After getting a pair of dynamic rookies in Gabe Norwood and Sol Mercado, coach Caloy Garcia installed a new system predicated on spacing the floor and dribble-penetration, similar to the dribble-drive motion offense ran by John Calipari.

Continue reading "Fire Quinito 2009-2010 PBA preview, part 2"

Alaska Aces

Looking back: Alaska started the 2008-2009 PBA season well, as the team came a Willie Thriller layup short of winning the Philippine Cup. The loss, however, seemed to weigh heavily on coach Tim Cone’s wards, and an unhappy Aces team finished second to the last during the Fiesta Conference. Things got even worse in the offseason when star guard Miller asked to be traded, a request Alaska denied.

Continue reading "Fire Quinito 2009-2010 PBA preview, part 1"

Just in case you’ve been under a rock lately, an exhibition match will be held tonight at the Araneta Coliseum between Powerade Team Pilipinas, the team that represented the country in the 2009 Fiba-Asia Championship, and the Smart Gilas National Developmental Team, which is being eyed to compete in the 2011 Fiba-Asia tourney.

Proceeds of the event will go to victims of Typhoon Ondoy. The upper sections will be open to the public for free, in exchange for donations of old shoes for the victims. Mico Halili reports that the event will also be broadcast on a delayed basis at 6PM over CS/9.

Continue reading "Tonight at the Big Dome: Powerade Team Pilipinas versus Smart Gilas National Team"

I knew that Team Pilipinas was going to get their second win in the Fiba-Asia Championships sometime in the early in the second quarter. James Yap, who had surprisingly checked in a few minutes earlier but was still trying to find rhythm, received the ball near the top of the key. He went into the triple-threat stance, measured his defender, and went up for a looping three-point shot.

It hit nothing but the bottom of the net.

Continue reading "Fiba-Asia Championships: Team Pilipinas shoots down Japan, notches second win"

Dominoes fall with some big news. Burger King finally completes the Arwind Santos trade, and they receive Marc Pingris back in return, who's apparently headed to Purefoods. I love Pingris as a player, but I hate the fishiness of all of these deals. Patricia Hizon also reports on Twitter that Rain or Shine and Barako Bull are working on a couple of minor trades: Jeff Chan for Rob Wainwright and Mac Andaya, and maybe Mike Hrabak to RoS.

Anyway, I made a terrible mistake in my first mock draft, as two prospects, Josh Vanlandingham and Lance Convento, are not in the draft. I know, really stupid. My apologies. It's really a great move for those two, as the next couple of drafts figure to be shallower, and they'd have a good chance of getting drafted in higer spots.

Continue reading "Fire Quinito 2009 PBA mock draft, version 1.5"

The PBA draft happens this Sunday, and while there's a lot of buzz regarding Burger King possibly selling the rights to draft Japeth Aguilar (as they did with Arwind Santos, Cyrus Baguio, and all their stars), ayoko munang patulan yun. Here's my first mock draft:

Continue reading "Fire Quinito 2009 PBA mock draft, version 1.0"

Ok, before going on with my report on Powerade Team Pilipinas-Korea game in the 31st William Jones Cup, which ended with a 83-80 loss for the Nationals, here’s a message to all Filipino basketball fans:

CHILL THE FUCK OUT.

SERIOUSLY.

Continue reading "Jones Cup day 6: Korean shooters make it rain in the clutch, down Powerade Team Pilipinas"

It’s back to the drawing board for Yeng Guiao and his troops, after perennial Asian powerhouse Lebanon handed Powerade Team Pilipinas their fourth loss in 5 games in the 31st William Jones Cup in Taipei, 95-83. NBA journeyman Jackson Vroman and veteran center Brian Beshara flustered the Philippines, scoring 24 and 29 points, respectively, including 38 of the team’s 50 points in the first half.

The twin tower combination came out firing in the first quarter, which ended with a 30-19 lead for Lebanon. The Nationals were kept at bay for most of the second quarter before James Yap strung together 7 quick points to end the half to cut the lead down to 8, 50-42.

Continue reading "Jones Cup day 5: Lebanon’s twin towers frustrate Powerade Team Pilipinas"

Two more days till the weekend! Game 6 tonight! I can't stop using exclamation points! Some interesting links to get you through hump day:

Continue reading "Humpday links"

What the fuck?

I was enjoying a lazy Saturday after watching the UAAP opening when news broke that Burger King sold away their best player, Arwind Santos, to the San Miguel Beermen. No official word yet on which players BK will receive in exchange, but unofficially they'll be getting benchwarmers Samigue Eman, Ken Bono, and Chris Calaguio. Gee, do you want fries with that?

And here I was just railing about how the team had been selling all their marquee players, and they go ahead and trade one of the top five players in the PBA for the hoops equivalent of isang platitong mani. Fuck Burger King. Fuck Bert Lina, and fuck Lito Alvarez. They should go fuck themselves and then fuck each other, they don't deserve to be in the PBA.

Continue reading "Burger King trades Arwind Santos to San Miguel for a plate of roasted highland legumes"