Fire and Ice.

Terrence Bill Romeo. Mercurial and exciting, his engine is in full throttle the moment he steps in the court. He torches hapless defenders with his blazing-fast speed. He is explosive, he is exciting, and he's eager to burst into a star in just his rookie season.

Ryan Roose Garcia. Always calm and composed, he plays with the maturity of a seasoned cager. He usually defers to the veterans, but is not afraid to take the big shot when needed. Cool as ice, he's already providing stability to this young team in just his rookie year.

Romeo's game is as fiery as his hairstyle. 

Fire.

Although Romeo won the UAAP MVP plum this year, he did it on 37% FG, 27% 3-point FG, and 73% FT. Cringe-worthy numbers, which led me to believe that although Romeo is oozing with talent, he's quite raw and it might take a while for him to adjust to the PBA.

I'm eating those thoughts now.

Nobody expected him to hit 7 threes en route to 34 points in just his second professional game. Nobody expected him to go head-to-head with Mark Caguioa. Nobody, except Romeo himself. He's full of confidence and he believes he belongs to the PBA. That's the reason he decided to forego his final season of UAAP eligibility. He knows he is capable of balling with the big boys now.

All these things tend to make us forget that he's still a rookie, and he's only 21. He is full of talent, but he still has a lot to learn as well. Just like flame, he's combustible and could easily get out of control. That's why the coaches are cautious in handling him. As awesome as Romeo's one-on-one skills are, he still needs to play within the system, and the coaching staff are doing a good job in making him understand that.

He scored 34 in one game, and scored 1 in another. He's as streaky as most scorers go, and he needs to work on his consistency. But there's no doubt about his immense amount of potential, and he's ready to set the league on fire.

The guy you can count on to hit the cold-blooded trey.

Ice.

The moment Garcia was drafted, I was certain that he is ready for the big league. He's got good size for a pointguard, he can defend, and he can shoot. Although he struggled a bit in his first couple of games, it didn't take long for him to have a breakout game, scoring 20 points against Ginebra.  Since then, he has scored in double-figures in 4 of 5 games. He can indeed shoot the three, evidenced by his impressive 43% shooting from behind-the-arc. He ranks second in the league when it comes to threes made. Even more impressive, most of those threes came in the fourth quarter, just when the team is needing a big shot or when the opponent is threatening to come back.

Garcia plays with a sense of control. His composure is outstanding for a rookie playmaker. In 4 out of the 7 games he's played, he did not commit a single turnover, and only committed 1 turnover in the other 2 of those games. That's uncanny for a rookie guard who's expected to be relatively erratic. Garcia's transition to the PBA has been as smooth as silk.

Green for Life.

Fire and Ice.

Garcia and Romeo has been teammates for 5 years now. They have had their share of success in the amateur ranks, and now they're groomed to be GlobalPort's backcourt of the future.

Fire and Ice, Yin and Yang. Two players with very contrasting playstyles, but both equally vital towards GlobalPort's future success.

Roar Out.

The Fall and Rise of Jay Washington

It's amazing how a simple change in scenery can do so much to a player's floundering career.  Case in point is GlobalPort forward Jay Washington.  Just a year ago, people were dismissing Jay-Wash as washed-up (no pun intended), a has-been.   After all, how many players over 30 get to jumpstart their game again after years of injuries?  Not too many.  It takes special players to do just that.

A player like Jay Washington.

(photo from the PBA)

Anthony Jay Washington entered the league as the top overall pick in 2005. Washington possessed a rare mix of size, athleticism and shooting, and players with those attributes are almost always surefire to dominate (Danny Seigle anyone?). You see, you don't often come across a 6'7" guy with incredible hops and a smooth shooting touch to boot.

However, Washington struggled in his rookie year, averaging 5.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and only 15 minutes per game in a stacked Talk n' Text team.  He began displaying his potential in his second season, upping his averages to 13.5 points and 7 rebounds.  After 3 seasons with Talk n' Text, he was traded to the San Miguel Beermen, where he soon flourished into a superstar.

In his first couple of seasons in San Miguel, he was named to the PBA 1st Mythical Team 2 times, won Best Player of the Conference twice, and led his team to the 2009 Fiesta Conference title.  Washington was primed to be the new face of the franchise.

Then injuries happened.  J-Wash missed over 50 games in over 2 seasons due to an assortment of injuries. San Miguel also landed Arwind Santos in 2009, and with Washington in sick bay, the Beermen found themselves another alpha dog.  Last season, Washington posted a career-low 8.9 points per game.  Saddled by injuries and a reduced role, the 31-year-old suddenly found his career spiraling down.

But sometimes, for a player that's trying to get back his confidence, all he needs is an opportunity, and that came to Washington when he was traded to GlobalPort.  Like a breath of fresh air, J-Wash rediscovered his old form.  He was finally in a team that really needed him to produce.  He was getting heavy minutes, a big role, and these helped him get back to playing at the highest level.

In just his first conference with GlobalPort, he averaged 13 points and close to 10 rebounds.  He is even better this conference, averaging 19 points, 11 rebounds and 38 minutes so far, all career-highs.  In addition, he also now serve as a leader in a very young team, and he seems to relish in that role.

At 32, J-Wash is playing some of the best basketball of his career, and he continues to showcase the skills and talent that made him the most intriguing prospect in 2005.

Nobody is calling him washed-up now for sure.

Roar out.

Tidbits: Oh, Romeo!

This boy was on FIRE!

A star is born.

Terrence Romeo, in just his second professional game, went Gary-David-mode en route to game-high 34 points on a blistering 6/9 shooting from three.  And he didn't only score, he scored very efficiently.  His shot selection was excellent and he didn't force shots.  He was aggressive, forcing hapless Air21 big men into fouls.  He picked his spots well, especially from outside the arc.  Step back J's, swishing threes, Romeo really brought on his A-game tonight.

We all knew that Romeo was good, but no one saw this coming.

Check out this statline:

34 points, 10/17 FGs (59%), 6/9 3-point FGs (67%), 8/9 FTs (89%), 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, only 2 turnovers, in 32 minutes.

Wow.

FACE-OFF:

Asi Taulava - 21 points, 15 rebounds, 35 minutes.

Erik Menk - 7 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 27 minutes.

Asi won this one, but does it even matter?

KEY PLAYER:  Terrence Romeo

I chose Romeo as my key player pre-game, and boy was I on-point in this one.

(Ex) TIGER WATCH:  Joseph Yeo

Yeo had an excellent game, scoring 24 points, with 7 rebounds and 6 assists.  This guy is a legit scorer, and I just can't help but wonder how much greater he would've been if he was plunged into a main scorer role like this much earlier in his career.  He was really held back in all those years he spent with Petron.

FLINTSKY PREDICTS:

1.  If GlobalPort limits Air21 to below eight 3-pointers, they win the game.

 Air21 was only 4/14 from behind the arc.

2.  GlobalPort rookie RR Garcia only shot 1/5 in his pro debut.  He will be able make at least 3 field goals in this game.

RR was only 2/7 in this game.  He did add 4 assists and solid quarterbacking in 22 minutes.

3.  If Joseph Yeo and KG Canaleta are limited to a combined 30 points or less, GlobalPort wins the game.

Yeo scored 24, Canaleta added 11, for a combined 35.  Still, GlobalPort won thanks to a certain wild-haired rookie.

4.  The game will be decided by 8 points or less.

Game was close at halftime, with GlobalPort only ahead by 2, but then Romeo happened.  Final margin was 14.

5. If Global Port scores 20 or more in at least 3 out of 4 quarters, they win the game.


GlobalPort did better than that, scoring 20+ points in all 4 quarters, including a 36-point explosion in the 3rd canto.


FlintSky's score - 2/5 - Failed.

I've never been happier to get a failing score.

Roar Out.

FlintSky Predicts: GlobalPort vs Air21

Prepare for maximum nostalgia.

FACE-OFF:

Asi "The Rock" Taulava versus Eric "Major Pain" Menk. The two best centers of the past decade meets up once again for 535th time. Party like it's '99.

KEY PLAYER:  Terrence Romeo

We got a taste of Romeo's exciting brand of basketball last game, and we expect him to do more in this game, especially since Air21 really doesn't have Lassiter/Lutz-type lockdown defenders.

(Ex) TIGER WATCH:  Joseph Yeo

Last game, former Tiger Marcio Lassiter shot the lights out and top-scored Petron against GlobalPort.  This time, we will have another Tiger in the opposite side of the bench in Joseph Yeo, who the Coca-Cola Tigers picked 3rd overall in the 2006 draft.  He spent only one season with the Tigers before being shipped out to the Sta. Lucia Realtors in exchange for Cesar Catli and Mark Isip.

FLINTSKY PREDICTS:

1.  If GlobalPort limits Air21 to below eight 3-pointers, they win the game.

* Asi is no longer the offensive beast that he was, and Air21 really has no post player to watch out for.  They're going to rely heavily on outside shooting (they attempted 30 threes last game), especially with guys like Canaleta, Yeo, and Ritualo, among others. GlobalPort should be wary of that.

2.  GlobalPort rookie RR Garcia only shot 1/5 in his pro debut.  He will be able make at least 3 field goals in this game.

* With the first game jitters hopefully out of the way, RR will have a better showing this time.

3.  If Joseph Yeo and KG Canaleta are limited to a combined 30 points or less, GlobalPort wins the game.

* Yeo and KG scored 40 points between them in a losing effort against Barako Bull.

4.  The game will be decided by 8 points or less.

* I just have a feeling this will be a close game, hopefully with GlobalPort emerging victorious.

5. If Global Port scores 20 or more in at least 3 out of 4 quarters, they win the game.

* I'll try to make a habit of formulating my fifth predictions randomly and basically out of nowhere.

Roar Out.

Tidbits: GlobalPort vs Petron

Image courtesy of the PBA.

GlobalPort may have dropped their season-opener to the Petron Blaze Boosters 97-87, but I saw lots of positives.

Romeo is a baller.

Man was I impressed with this kid. I didn't get to watch many Romeo games when he was in college, but judging from his first PBA game, he's good as hyped! This kid, who by the way is currently the youngest in the league, was aggressive from the get-go.  He can really get into the lane at will and though he got denied a couple of times, he just kept on attacking.  He's flashy, he's got swag, and he's exciting to watch, and he can only get better.

Major Pain can still play. 

Eric Menk was a pleasant surprise.  He looks to be in tip-top shape and performed fairly well in his first PBA game after spending some time in the ABL.  He connected on a baseline jumpshot and scored on a nifty drive to the basket, finishing with 6 points and 5 rebounds.

Soul Wash.

Sol Mercado and Jay Washington will be GlobalPort's go-to-duo this season, and they showed in this game that they're capable of carrying the load.  Sol top-scored with 20 points and added 6 assists, while J-Wash was equally impressive, finishing with 15 points and 15 boards.

BATANG PIER OF THE GAME



Solomon Mercado - 20 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 8/13 FGs.

Sol was off to a hot start, scoring 17 points in the first half, but managed only 3 in the second half.  Still, he kept the team within striking distance early on and overall had a great game.  He seemed to have transitioned well to the 2 spot.



FLINTSKY PREDICTS

It's time to see how my predictions for this game went.

1.  If GlobalPort scores more than 90, they win the game.

 GlobalPort only scored 87, and lost.

2. The GlobalPort rookies will combine for at least 30 points.

 LA Revilla was demoted to the reserved list and Justin Chua received a DNP.  Romeo, Salva and Garcia combined for 20 points.

3. Jay Washington will post a double-double.

 Washington held his own against Petron's big men, finishing with 15 points and 15 rebounds.

 4. If Junemar Fajardo and Arwind Santos are contained to a combined 25 points, GlobalPort wins.

 Santos scored 16, Fajardo added 15, for a combined 31 points. GlobalPort failed to hold them below 25, and lost the game. This one's a check for me.

5. If Sol Mercado scores more than 20, GlobalPort loses.

 Sol scored exactly 20 points, and GlobalPort loses. I did say 'more than 20' though, so this one's an X.

FlintSky's score - 3/5 - Passed.

That's a good start for me at least, but it would've been nice if GlobalPort grabbed the win.  Nonetheless, I'm quite satisfied with their showing.

Roar Out.

FlintSky Predicts: GlobalPort vs Petron

GlobalPort opens up their PBA season campaign against powerhouse Petron Blaze Boosters tomorrow. For this conference, I'm trying out a new segment (sort of) called 'FlintSky Predicts' where I try to make 5 predictions prior to each game, and see how I fare with those predictions later on.

1.  If GlobalPort scores more than 90, they win the game.

* In a Philippine Cup match, 90 is considered quite high-scoring already.  Interim coach Richie Ticzon stated that the gameplan is to run and shoot 3's. To beat Petron, we need to score, score, and score.

2. The GlobalPort rookies will combine for at least 30 points.

* I believe Terrence Romeo, RR Garcia, Nico Salva, Justin Chua and LA Revilla are more than capable of doing such.

3. Jay Washington will post a double-double.

* Will not be easy against an imposing Petron frontline, but I think Jay-Wash is up to the task.

 4. If Junemar Fajardo and Arwind Santos are contained to a combined 25 points, GlobalPort wins.

* Sure, Petron has lots weapons in their arsenal, but limiting those 2 could be vital for GlobalPort.

5. If Sol Mercado scores more than 20, GlobalPort loses.

* Yeah I know, this one's a bit random. Uhm.. maybe if Sol scores less, it means other teammates will be more involved? Or something like that.


Check back here tomorrow as I discuss which ones I got correctly. Until then, roar out.

GlobalPort: Previews and Predictions

As the 39th season of the Philippine Basketball Association draws near, let's take a look at the changes that GlobalPort Batang Pier have underwent and try to assess our chances for the upcoming conference.

GlobalPort will miss El Granada's production.

ROSTER CHANGES:

Additions:
- Terrence Romeo
- RR Garcia
- Nico Salva
- Justin Chua*
- LA Revilla*
- Jopher Custodio*
- Enrico Villanueva
- Leo Najorda
- Eric Menk
(* - yet to be signed.)

Subtractions:
- Yousef Taha
- Gary David
- AJ Mandani
- Willie Miller
- Hans Thiele
- Bryan Faundo

Holdovers:
- Sol Mercado
- Rudy Lingganay
- Jondan Salvador
- Jay Washington
- Jaypee Belencion
- Marvin Hayes
- Mark Yee
- Chad Alonzo
- JR Buensuceso
- Kelly Nabong

Quick Analysis:
We lost our best player, Gary David, but we got a few talented youngsters through the draft. The team just got significantly younger. Miller's production is replaceable, though we'll miss Taha's tenacity and energy.  Villanueva, Menk, and Najorda are all tested veterans with multiple championships between them.  I doubt Revilla and Custodio's chances with making it to the team, given our logjam at the guard spots.

The Sol-Train looks to take on the scoring cudgels.

PROJECTED ROTATION: 

PG - Garcia / Lingganay / Buensuceso
SG - Mercado / Romeo / Belencion
SF - Salva / Najorda / Hayes
PF - Washington / Salvador / Chua
C - Villanueva / Menk / Nabong

STAT LEADER PREDICTIONS:

Leading Scorer:  Sol Mercado.

With Gary out of the picture, Sol undoubtly becomes the team's leader. He's also expected to shoulder more offensive load, resulting in an increase in field goal attempts.  Depending on Garcia's progress and Romeo's ability to play point, we may see Sol slide to the 2 spot to focus more on scoring.

Leading Rebounder: Jay Washington.

Jay Washington had a resurgence in his career last conference, and he showed that he still is a very effective player, capable of contributing in multiple areas. His 13 points per game average will likely increase as a result of Gary's departure, though it will be his rebounding prowess that will be huge for this team.  He led the team locals in that department last conference, averaging close to 10 rebounds per game.

Assists Leader:  Sol Mercado.

I wanted to go out on a limb and say that rookie RR Garcia will lead this department, but there is still uncertainty on the minutes and how big of a role RR will have in his first year. Sol is the current league-leader in assists, and even though he'll be tasked to score more, he will still be handling majority of playmaking responsibilities, at least until the rookies prove themselves to be ready.

Major Pain is ready for one last ride.

Best Post Defender:  Eric Menk.

Menk may be nearing 40, but you can never tell by the way he looks physically.  He may have lost some of his athleticism, but he's still strong enough to hold his own down the paint.

Top Bench Scorer:  Terrence Romeo.

This really depends on whoever between Terrence and RR will start, though I think it will be Garcia since his game seems to be more PBA-ready.  In that case, Romeo will serve as the sparkplug off the bench, which also means more scoring opportunities for him.

ENDNOTE:

The team is entering a new era of basketball post-Gary David, and a lot of the team's success lies on how quickly our decorated rookies develop.  While we will certainly miss David's scoring, we can expect a more balanced team with more offensive weapons.  The acquisition of veteran big men will try to assume this team's defensive identity.

This is a team that just underwent a major overhaul, so it may take some time to develop chemistry, as with integration of the rookies into the team's system and the physicality of the big league in general.   Nonetheless, it's going to be one exciting season, folks.

Roar out.

The Raging Bull: A Welcome Addition

The Raging Bull is now a Batang Pier.

All the excitement generated by the GlobalPort rookies during draft day overshadowed one small transaction that could significantly benefit the team just as much as the arrival of young blood.

GlobalPort acquired veteran big man Enrico Villanueva in a trade with Barako Bull that sent out guard Willie Miller and forward Hans Thiele.

This deal was a huge win for GlobalPort for several reasons. One, Miller has been in a terrible slump recently, and the trio of rookie guards coming in (Terrence Romeo, RR Garcia, and LA Revilla) are going to need playing time. Sending out 2 players in exchange for 1 could also help in managing the potential roster logjam once the rookies are signed. Most importantly, the squad got a seasoned center to bolster the frontline.

In 2009, Villanueva was almost traded to then-Coca-Cola Tigers for center Asi Taulava, though that never came to fruition.  Four years later, the Raging Bull is set to join the franchise that took over the Tigers.

At 33, Enrico is years past his prime already, but he still can play.  He was even a part of the National Team that captured the Jones Cup Championship just a year ago.

After having a resurgence in his career when he got traded to Barako Bull, Enrico suffered an ACL injury that took him out of the court for almost a year. He came back and played 4 games last conference and showed that he has recovered quite nicely from the injury.

What Enrico will bring to the team is inside presence, not necessarily through scoring, but through rebounding and defense.  He still is a wide-bodied 6'6" after all.  He can still bang bodies against opposing bigs and once in awhile we might even see some neat low post moves.

At this point in his career, his biggest asset is no longer his athleticism, but his veteran savvy and leadership.  So while expecting vintage Enrico dunks may be a bit of a reach, he will still be a very valuable piece to this young GlobalPort team.  Even though age and injuries have caught up with him, we hope he still has the fire and tenacity of a Raging Bull within.

Roar Out.

GlobalPort's Super Draft

Wow. To say that I was pleasantly surprised with how the 2013 PBA Rookie Draft turned out for GlobalPort would be a huge understatement.

Current UAAP MVP Terrence Romeo, former UAAP MVP RR Garcia, multi-titled former UAAP Finals MVP Nico Salva, and Isaac Holstein. If titles were won by drafts, GlobalPort would be champions by now.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves. First, I really wish they'd keep these 4 guys.

So, we got arguably the draft's most exciting scorer in Terrence, the best point guard in RR Garcia, and the best shooting big man in Nico.  I admit that I've never heard much of Holstein, but hey, he's 6'9"!

For me, this draft is a much larger haul than the 2011 draft, when we got both JV Casio and Marcio Lassiter. Heck, we got 3 potential franchise players, all in one draft!

Now, quick analysis, how would each player fit in this team?

Terrence Romeo - the mercurial guard who'd either single-handedly lead a team to a win or chuck them off to a loss. He's a high risk, high potential pick, but one thing is for certain, he's one helluva talent. The first thing he needs to learn upon coming to the big league is learning to control his game. He should understand that he does not need to hoist up a lot of shots to become effective and he needs to vastly improve his shot selection. Other from that, he's a very exciting player who can score in multiple ways. He's still very young (born in 1992), so his game is still developing and that's the scary part.

RR Garcia -  The best pointguard in this year's draft class, by FAR.  He is the complete polar opposite of Terrence Romeo. If Romeo's game is defined by excitement and energy, Garcia's game revolves around poise and control.   Pointguards win you titles, and the last time our franchise drafted an elite PG, we got to the finals.  I would envision RR immediately plunged into the starting lineup because at this point, his game is more PBA-ready than Terrence. Either way,  Garcia is going to be our pointguard of the future.

Isaac Holstein - I was surprised by this pick. Isaac himself was surprised with this pick. Heck, everyone was surprised with this pick! I've never seen him play prior, but given that we already drafted 2 guards, it makes sense to get a big man this time. Still, he's 6'9" and from what I've heard, he's a good shot-blocker. He's a big body that we can throw on the Fajardos and Slaughters of the league. I can't complain much about this pick.

Nico Salva - This, for me, is the absolute steal of the draft. This guy is a top-5 pick talent and one of the most polished in this draft. A couple of teams would surely regret passing him up. He's a tweener that can play both forward positions.  He'll fit in a very nicely to this team and he may even start at the 3 spot.  He's a guy who knows how to win and he's going to be big for GlobalPort. And him teaming up with 'bro' Terrence is just an icing on the cake.

Well, there we have it. I still can't believe how things unfolded. Once again, I hope we keep them all, because all these four can contribute right away. Exciting days ahead for the Batang Pier, and the future is certainly bright!

Roar Out!

Game Report: GlobalPort Beats Air21

I love talking about games we won, so don’t expect a game summary from me in losses, and I’m quite sure you wouldn’t want to hear about it anyway.

I was pretty excited for this game since it’s been awhile since we all saw GlobalPort in action. I was looking forward to seeing our biggest new acquisition Jay Washington and our import Markeith Cummings. Well, I wasn’t disappointed.

The team underwent some changes to its roster during the off-conference:

Holdovers:
Gary David, Sol Mercado, Willie Miller, Rudy Lingganay, AJ Mandani, Kelly Nabong, Jondan Salvador, Jaypee Belencion, Mark Yee, Bryan Faundo.

New Acquisitions:

Jay Washington, Yousef Taha, Marvin Hayes, Chad Alonzo, JR Buensuceso.

Gone:

Reed Juntilla, Alex Crisano, Rommel Aduccul, Will Antonio, Yousif Aljamal.

Of note, Rommel Aduccul has joined the coaching staff.

GlobalPort started the game with Sol Mercado, Washington, Cummings, Jaypee Belencion and surprisingly, Marvin Hayes. If you look at that starting 5, there really isn’t a true center.  Either coach Junel Baculi wants a speedy 5 with good shooting, or he’s just trying to match up with Air21, a team that doesn’t really have a potent post player themselves.

GlobalPort pretty much led throughout the whole game.  Cummings started the game with some scoring in the paint, and he seems really comfortable playing at the post.  He also made jumpshots and even connected on a 3-pointer, so he’s quite the complete package.  He finished the game with 37 points and 11 rebounds.

Hayes played some major minutes and was tasked to cover Air21 import Zach Graham for most of the game, which he did pretty well.  Graham still got his 31 points, but Hayes was all over him and really challenged his shots. Hayes also grabbed 6 rebounds and scored 6 points, making up for a solid debut. He looked like a poor man’s Calvin Abueva.

With Gary David sitting this one out, Jaypee Belencion started at shooting guard. “Junior Granada” did his best David impersonation, scoring 14 points on four 3-pointers.

But perhaps the most impressive local in this game was Jay Washington. After missing on his first couple of shots, Washington started showing his old form, connecting on midrange jumpers and grabbing rebounds. He didn’t force shots and played well on defense. Jay-Wash finished with 15 points and 9 boards.

It’s just the first game, but it was nice to get a win, especially in a really short tournament like this. David could suit up next game, which could only spell good things for GlobalPort.

Roar out.

Tonight, The Basketball Gods Were On Our Side

I normally don't post stuff not related to GlobalPort in this blog. Check that, this is the first time I'm about to, but I just can't let such a momentous victory like this pass without sharing my thoughts.

Okay, breath in, breath out. As of this writing, I'm still breathing heavily with excitement and adrenaline. In, out, in, out.


First, let's put things on perspective. Korea has been breaking our hearts since the 80s

1986 Asian Games - Korea def. Philippines 103-102 
2002 Asian Games Semifinals - Korea def. Philippinse 69-68
2009 FIBA Asia - Korea def. Philippines 82 - 80
2011 FIBA Asia (for a World Cup berth) - Korea def. Philippines 70-68

It's not just that they beat us each time, it's how they're doing it, beating us by just 1 or 2 points, buzzer-beaters and late minute comebacks.  For 27 years, Korea has been breaking our hearts. For almost 3 decades, the Koreans have been making us their bitches.

Not tonight though. Not tonight.

Not when the basketball gods are finally on our side.

Wait, what? Basketball gods? That's ridiculous, right?

I thought so too. But think about this.  After losing against Taiwan, we were on a collision course with basketball giants China. Well, the "gods" helped us sweep the second round, and lent a hand in helping Qatar beat Taiwan, securing for us the top spot and more importantly, avoiding China in the quarterfinals.

We demolished Kazakhstan after our very own Gary David, averaging 2.6 points per game in the tournament, went bonkers and dropped 22.

Next up? A date with Korea. Our most bitter of rivals. The monkeys that we just can't seem to get off our back.

I saw that infamous 2002 Asian Games semis game on TV with my dad. Racela's big 3 to give us a 2-point lead, his subsequent 2 misses from the free throw line, and the heartbreaking game-winning 3 from the Koreans.

I also saw our 2011 meltdown against the same team, squandering an 8-point fourth quarter lead, and witnessed JVee's last second heave went far right.

Time for payback, right? Not quite. Naturalized American Marcus Douthit went out early, possibly bringing down with him the hopes of an entire Filipino nation.

No problem. The basketball gods just went back to work again.

A 6'4" Pingris playing like a 7-footer, Jayson Castro letting Korean guards eat Filipino dust, Ranidel De Ocampo with his deceptively slow-mo penetrations and dish-offs.  Yep, there's little doubt whose side the basketball gods were on tonight.

I wouldn't even be the least surprised if those gods guided home Ranidel and Jimmy's triples in the final 2 minutes.

Enough of the heartbreaks, enough of all the heartaches. It's time for them gods to reward a nation that has uncomparable passion and heart for the game despite the lack in size.

Now, we finally exorcised our Korean demons, 27 years in the making.

We're on to Spain in 2014. It's not even relevant if Gabe Norwood gets dropped 40 by Carmelo Anthony, or Kyrie Irving breaking Jayson Castro's ankles, or Pau Gasol posterizing Marc Pingris.

Getting there is a victory in itself. A chance to show the basketball world that we exist. Little guys from the pacific playing with big HEARTS.

I don't even care what happens tomorrow against Iran. Whatever the outcome is, it certainly won't take away the glory of this moment.

Roar Out.

I'm Back! Now Let's Talk about J-Wash.

Yep, I'm still alive and this blog is still kicking. Talking about being alive, the addition of Jay Washington could breath new life to a team that has lost all but 2 games last conference.

I, of course, was heavily disappointed with the trade that saw promising forward Japeth Aguilar going out in exchange for Washington, center Yousef Taha and a 1st round pick in the upcoming draft. I had high hopes for Japeth, as he was one of the very few bright spots for the team last conference. Well, it's been months since the trade was consummated so I've long since moved on.

Now, J-Wash. A 6'7" stretch forward who had accomplished quite a lot already in his career but has been saddled with injuries for the past couple of seasons.  He was drafted 1st overall in 2005, a 3-time Mythical First Team member, and 2-time Best Player of the Conference.  Make no mistake, J-Wash is one heck of a player.

But, there is a big IF. As mentioned above, J-Wash have struggled with injuries for the last couple of years.  Playing with Arwind Santos, who played basically the same position as him, might have also affected his playing time and role in his previous squad.

When healthy though, Washington is one of the biggest match-up nightmares in the league. At 6'7", he is a center in PBA standards.  He can post up, put the ball on the floor, or hit the outside shot. His range extends way up to the 3-point line, where he shot 35% in the 2011-12 season.  He might have lost some of his athleticism, although he has never really relied on that attribute. What makes him a dangerous player is his array of offensive skills and multiple ways to score.

Washington is not known much for his defense, but he has always been a good rebounder, averaging about 7 rebounds for his career. He can play both forward positions, though I believe he is better suited at the power forward spot, where he'll have opportunities to post up as well as stretch the floor.

At 32, Washington is just the same age as Arwind Santos, and if he can stay healthy, he may very well still have a good 3-4 years of high level basketball left in him. Given of course, he stays away from injuries. *fingers crossed*

As much as I hate seeing Japeth go, I am excited about this addition of J-Wash.  He provides scoring, veteran savvy, and winning mentality to the team. Will he rejuvenate his game in a new setting? Or will he continue to regress?  I am strongly hoping for the former, and I can't wait to find out.

Welcome to GlobalPort, Jay Washington!

Roar Out.

Snippets: Miller's Struggles, Yee the Enforcer, Ageless David.

Miller Time still looking to regain his timing.

Of GlobalPort's touted MMDA (Mercado-Miller-David-Aguilar) connection, one guy is yet to find his game yet so far in the first 3 games; 2-time MVP Willie Miller.

Last conference, Willie had a resurgence in his game after an injury sidelined main man Gary David for several games. Although the team wasn't winning, Willie was putting up great numbers: 16.7 points (6th in league), 6.2 assists (2nd, behind Sol), and shooting 38.8% from threes (6th).

This conference though, Miller has been on somewhat of a funk, averaging only 4.67 points, 3.67 rebounds, 2 assists and a concerning 3 turnovers; playing 26.67 minutes per game.

20 Questions with AJ Mandani

"The way I motivate my self is by dedicating everyday to my family. Without them I would not be who I am today, so everyday when I wake up I think of them and ways on how can i make myself better, because I want to make them proud."

photo courtesy of the PBA

It didn't take long for GlobalPort fans to be impressed with rookie AJ Mandani. The moment he stepped on the court for the first time as a Batang Pier, he immediately showed some neat ballhandling, connecting on tough lay-ups and made a couple of jumpers. He finished the game with 13 points, and even though GlobalPort fell to Ginebra that night, people were introduced to the exciting brand of basketball that AJ can offer.

AJ was generous enough to grant us a Q&A, where he talks about his personal outlooks, home, and basketball.

Aguilar Stellar in Debut

Expectations were high for the PBA's so-called 'prodigal son.' Japeth earlier demanded a trade from his mother team, the Talk N' Text Tropang Texters, a move that left a bad impression to some. People felt that it's quite immature, for someone who hasn't proven himself much yet, to be asking demands. Well, Japeth eventually got what he asked for, and on his first game as a member of the GlobalPort Batang Pier, all eyes were on him.

We knew what to expect from Japeth's game. Blocking and rebounding. Last night though, he showed much more, proving that his recent ambitious plight to get to the NBA wasn't so much of a failure after all.

Finishing with 16 points, 9 rebounds, 4 blocks, 2 steals and only a single foul in 37 minutes, Japeth surely made a statement in his first game. And while it's quite too early to call him the real deal already, it's not premature to recognize his improvements and potential.

Global Port: Reloaded

What can I say? The higher-ups in Global Port pulled off all the right moves in the offseason. I have always been critical of this new management especially after they traded away 2 future cornerstones in JVee Casio and Sean Anthony. The team's first conference was disastrous, managing only a single win in 14 games and the team looked headed back to being laughingstocks again.

Mandani, Mercado and Miller comprises Global Port's
 new triple "M" guard combo. Be very afraid.

Two colossal deals however totally changed the whole picture. The team acquired Sol Mercado, one of the most dynamic guards in the league, and swapped underachieving Rabeh Al-Hussaini for the talented, albeit controversial, forward Japeth Aguilar. The team also nabbed Kelly Nabong and JP Belencion while letting go of Rey Guevarra, Josh Vanlandingham and rookie Vic Manuel. All 3 have had their moments with the team, especially the impressive rookie Manuel, but it was a undoubtedly a very good deal for Global Port.