Butiki Bullets: Monday November 2

• The PBA has rendered all Smart Gilas games non-bearing. The small controversy brewing around the PBA about CJ Giles sitting out the game against sister team TNT has resulted in all of the Gilas games scratched off the record. PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios called this move "is in everyone's best interest." Bigshotblog of 40 Minutes of Freedom begs to disagree. Interesting to see if PBA teams will continue to attempt to make Gilas games competitive or if they'll field in reserves since the games don't mean anything.

• In coaching news, JRU head coach Ariel Vanguardia will not be re-signed by the Heavy Bombers. Vanguardia had a nice stint with JRU, making the Final Four three times and the NCAA Finals once in a four-year span. Unfortunately, the Bombers were not able to meet the soaring expectations this year after finishing third in the NCAA tournament. That was all school management needed to return head coaching duties back to one of their own products. Vanguardia replaced JRU alum Cris Calilan, who was part of JRU's only NCAA champion team in 1972. Former JRU superstar Vergel Meneses has been rumored to be the frontrunner for the new post.

• Undrafted rookie Josh Urbiztondo, one of my favorite players to watch in the PBL, won Player of the Week honors after leading the Sta Lucia Realtors to a win over Burger King. His game and attitude reminds me of Delonte West of the Cleveland Cavs. Very nice pickup for Sta Lucia.

• And speaking of surprises, former UE point guard Rudy Lingganay put up 27 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, a block and 5 steals as in import for the Kuala Lumpur Dragons in the ABL. Fantastic line for the young player.