Team Pilipinas 2009: Worst PhilippineTeam Ever

Team Pilipinas for Fiba-Asia Qualifier 2009 is finally formed.

Hooray for a team that will be whooped this August in Tianjin.

Argue if you want but based from the final lineup that the bald coach Guiao has formed, the lineup has still loopholes that may hinder in their quest to qualify for the 3 slots for FIBA 2010 championship in Turkey. Countries competing in this tournament has stacked up their roster, making sure to have a balance attack of inside and outside game. The Philippines? I don't think so. Coach Yeng have missed several good players in the PBA that were not included in the Philippine team.

First, they lacked outside shooters. Where is the Alapag, Hontiveros and Ritualo on the team? According to scouts, they are preparing for the worst, meaning facing taller and more dominant inside players in the tournament. And from every basketball coaches and even players standpoint, what is the best weapon when facing these kinds of players? Outside shooting. Does the current lineup have that?

Possibly James Yap and Willie Miller are the best options but are they the pure shooters that every coaches would covet? What in the world would a Cyrus Baguio nor a Jared Dillinger provide for the team? Based from the Jones Cup, you witness how Iran and Lebanon frustrated the team inside the shaded lane. We witness how our biggies gave everything they've got but no support from the outside. We witness how Haddadi of Iran dominated us and yet we didn't give up a decent fight. In my opinion, outside shooting has been our weakest link.

Second, our bigs. Aguilar, Taulava and Raymundo are nice pickups for the team but aside from those three, who in the hell can score underneath the basket? Don't tell me you would rely on Sonny Thoss? Who can guard a Haddadi or a Vroman one on one or even who can play a Haddadi type player on the offensive end one on one? I don't think that the current team have that luxury. In the first place, coach Guiao picked Ranidel De Ocampo as one of his bigs. But based from what he played in the PBA, does the guy can score inside? No. His game is on the perimeter. The guy have been shelved twice from the Philippine team. Now, where the hell is Jay Washington? Kelly Williams and Gabe Norwood are guys who have the height but yet versatile, but picking De Ocampo and Thoss as your bigs? Those 2 guys could not even dominate a single PBA game.

Lastly, what irritates me is how Coach Yeng offers his explanation after a loss. "We're not here to win." Then why would the team join the tournament if winning is not the reason? Why humiliate your country if winning is not your priority? Learning or testing the team's ropes could be the reason but explaning that winning is not your priority is typically bullshit. You're here to compete. So what the guy is saying is that the team went to Taiwan, just to get their ass whopped so that they can learn and develop? Is that it? Is that what our respective coach, who once intentionally tripped and landed his forearm in the face of Hontiveros during a semi-final game is talking about? Is that what a public servant (Pampanga Vice Governor) would ever do to show his professionalism?

Look, if "Baldy Man" couldn't steer the Philippines to victory, then the least he can do is step down and let other coach guide our national team, rather than soaking with different kinds of alibis. We don't need explanations, we need victories. His explanation is quicker than how Stevenson grows hairs on bald people. Obviously, i'm not a fan of Yeng Guiao, in fact I hate the guy ever since I saw him in National TV when he was coaching Swift. And this was the clown who was assigned to steer the National team?!

This August 6, good luck to the Philippine team. Hopefully, they can prove me wrong and qualify for the 2010 Championships in Turkey.

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San Miguel Beermen: Your 2009 PBA Fiesta Champions!

After 4 years of frustration, disappointment and under-achievement, San Miguel Beermen finally put an end to their title drought.

After 4 years of injury problems, trades and rebuilding process, San Miguel put critics all to rest after claiming the one thing that eluded them for a very long time.. Something people expect they could win it easily.

A PBA championship.

Not just a simple championship, but an emotional one as well.

A fitting end to their 2009 season, San Miguel roared past Barangay Ginebra, 90-79 in a game where all hells break lose to claim their first championship in 4 years and 18th title overall. In a game wherein 20T plus Filipinos brushed aside the storm and rainy weather just to foresee the eventful Game 7, people got their money's worth. In a game wherein Basketball gods sit and watch these two teams clash, destiny finally falls on the side of San Miguel.

Showing signs that they are a force to reckon with, the Beermen showed no mercy as they mishandled a depleted Gin Kings as early as the second half started. Booming 17 points leads one after another, Gin Kings finally showed some resilience from Chico Lanete as they trimmed the lead to 8, 80-72 with less than 5 minutes remaining.

But Danny Ildefonso would not give in. Not this time for he waited so long in his injury-prone career to taste another championship.

Danny I, as people used to call him, had a game momentum block on Billy Mamaril and completing a fast break off a nice feed from Finals MVP Jonas Villanueva to extend the lead, 83-72 with less than 3 minutes remaining and more importantly, bringing momentum into their side and crushing any Gin King hopes of a miracle. For a guy who was booed after his Game 2 incident, this is a fitting end for the Pangasinan native.

His career has been slowed by injury from his foot, but this time around, he returned and carried his team on his back when the team needed him the most. An emotional Ildefonso pumped his fist in celebration with still 1:24 remaining with the Beermen up 85-74 after knocking his 2 charities.

This simply shows you who badly he wants the title.

As the buzzer sounded, Siot Tanquincen was carried into the court, with tears flowing from his eyes. For a coach who has a power-laden lineup to cry upon winning a title is simply classic. For 2 years that Tanquincen was put into the head coaching job, for 2 years that he had to endure the "Fire Siot" slogan from different San Miguel forums, he finally proved that he can lead this once mighty franchise into power once again.

A fitting end to the team destined to win one, a team aging but still determined to win one for their aging veterans (Racela,Ildefonso,Seigle), San Miguel defied all odds to chalk up their first title in a convincingly fashion.

And this ain't going to be the last one folks.

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Do or Die PBA Finals

It all boils down to one game.

2 sister teams going all out for one goal, the PBA championship.

2 talented imports and 2 respectable coaches going at each other, it doesn't get any better than this.

San Miguel Beermen face off with Barangay Ginebra in a fitting climax tonight for Game 7 of PBA Motolite Fiesta Conference at Araneta Coliseum. After watching the classic six games of the finals, Game 7 promises to be an all-war affair between the 2 ballclubs. "It's now a jumpball" Ginebra coach Jong Uichico said after their Game 6 loss.

Critics have said that the odd favorite to win the PBA championship is San Miguel, whose lineup has been the envy of every coaches. With the core of Hontiveros,Racela, Washington,Pena,Freeman,Cortez,Pennisi,Ildefonso and Villanueva, many dubbed that San Miguel has a lineup that can form 2 starting units in the PBA. What makes this even more surprising is that even with a fully loaded lineup, how can the Beermen struggle against a Ginebra team without a Mark Caguioa?

Ginebra on the other side has nothing to lose. Who would even expect that this team can reach up to PBA finals after starting the season 1 win 5 loss? Certainly, their import, David Noel carried them for the entire season while MVP JayJay Helterbrand continues to play despite a hamstring injury but who will step up in the absence of Caguioa? Who will be the force when the 2 is down? Eric Menk has done a pretty decent job in supporting the duo but Valenzuela, Baguio, Salvacion and Mamaril is struggling. In their 3 victories, Noel played a monster game in each game. In those 3 losses, Noel and Helterbrand were hand-cuffed enabling San Miguel to force a Game 7.

My take? San Miguel. It's been 5 years since their last championship and this will be a fitting victory for Olsen Racela. It's about time that San Miguel wake up and win another one. Their lineup is stacked and there's no excuse of losing this one to Ginebra. One more thing awaiting San Miguel is their newly acquired forward Arwind Santos, who will join them next season.

Should San Miguel win tonight, the Beermen badly deserves it. This will give Washington his first PBA championship. It could be a fitting end for Beermen after what they have gone through last conference against Talk and Text. This could also give coach Siot Tanquincen his first championship with San Miguel.

This is our time, Beermen. It's simply time to fulfill their destiny.

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Marcin Gortat Offseason Analysis

Marcin Gortat, be satisfied of being a backup for Dwight Howard, for now.

As i opened NBA page for yahoo, my eyes caught up on the headline section quoting "Magic match offer from Mavs To Retain Gortat". Since I'm a big Gortat fan, I can't help but wonder how this guy going to develop his game if he's playing behind Dwight Howard? Orlando matched Dallas offer of 34 million for 5 years but the main difference that could spell between these two teams is simply playing time.

Gortat's playing time will surely be deminished, thanks largely to Dwight Howard, the team's franchise player. According to his agent, Guy Zucker, said that Gortat is disappointed that Magic matched Mavs offer. Dallas promised Gortat to have a shot at their starting center slot, competing time with Erick Dampier. With the departure of Brandon Bass from Dallas made Gortat's desire to play more minutes possible.

Then came the fall-out.

Playing for Magic for 5 years is a long time, considering that you're backing up Superman. How can one player blossom if he's playing behind a great player? Here's some player who have blossomed since departing their mother teams: 1.) Jermaine O'Neal. Remember playing behind Arvydas Sabonis and Brian Grant during his Portland days? 2.) Tracy McGrady was just a shadow of Vince Carter before he exploded his career in Orlando and Houston. 3.) David West was a rookie waiting for a shot before Byron Scott gave him the job by relieving Vlade Divac and PJ Brown of their respective jobs.

For Gortat, the guy have the tools to become a great player. It's just a shame that Otis Smith would want to retain the guy for additional frontcourt depth but ruining one's career. His salary has increase dramatically but his career might not. Stan Van Gundy revolves players around their wingmen, namely Rashard Lewis and Vince Carter. What are the chances that they would run a play for Gortat?

Marcin Gortat reminds me of Vlade Divac. Only Divac was successful in the NBA as a starter. Will Gortat follow that lead?

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