1 Japeth Aguilar 6'10 C
This pick is a no-brainer. Burger King has already expressed their desire to select the athletic, versatile center from Western Kentucky University. The 6’10 Aguilar is already being touted as the league’s next dominant big man, though Powerade Team Pilipinas and Burger King coach Yeng Guiao feels it will take some time before Japeth hits his stride. There are rumblings of a trade for the rights to Aguilar, with practically every team pitching offers to Burger King. Whether or not they keep him doesn’t matter, but you don’t pass on Aguilar in this draft.
3 Chris Ross 6'1 PG
Purefoods has been going back and forth on this pick but their recent reacquisition of defensive-minded forward Marc Pingris raises the likelihood of them taking PBL MVP Ross at #2. Ross will address a key team need at PG while bringing some tremendous upside. He also brings size to Purefoods backcourt, and the ability to defend either guard position, allowing James Yap to cheat off of his man in certain situations. His presence will surely take some pressure off of Purefoods' superstar duo of Yap and Kerby Raymundo.
4 Rico Maierhofer 6'5 F
Ateneo and La Salle fans were robbed off a budding big man rivalry between Aguilar and Maierhofer when Aguilar moved to the US NCAA to pursue NBA dreams. Maierhofer has since turned himself into one of the more versatile big men in the country. Few bigs can run up and down the floor with Rico, and his ability to hit the outside shot can give defenders fits. But any team drafting him will do so for his very long arms, above average athleticism and great defensive instincts that would wreak havoc on any opponents offense. Losing Arwind Santos to SMB will hurt, but the drafting of Maierhofer will help lessen the sting.
5 Jervy Cruz 6'3 F
Rain or Shine will be looking to draft the best player available at this spot, and there's no one better than Cruz, who dominated the college ranks in his brief stay there. Jervy might not be able to run with the high octane Elastopainters often but his rebounding will help fuel the running and his strong post moves will come in handy in the halfcourt. The former UAAP MVP will face concerns about his size as he transitions to the big league, but his PBL averages of 18.3 points and 9 rebounds and a spot on the Mythical Five should dispel any doubters.
6 James Sena 6'4 F/C
Alaska will have several options for the 6th pick but no one fits the triangle offense better than the JRU star who is currently playing in the NCAA. The big man has shown great passing ability, averaging over 5 assists per game in the first few games of the season, as he faced double teams on every possession. He also has a slew of post moves and is a very good rebounder and will give the Alaska frontline some much needed help.
7 Ronnie Matias 6'3 F
After Barako Bull pretty much traded away their best weapons in Gabby Espinas, Larry Rodriguez, Jeff Chan, Jojo Duncil and Mike Hrabak, the team is badly in need of a scorer who can carry the team through what will be a rough period coming up. PBL Mythical Five member Matias can provide that offensive boost, although the team is going to need many more pieces if they want to remain competitive in the PBA.
8 Ogie Menor 6'1 G/F
Ginebra already has a lot of guards and wings but considering that most of the good bigs have been taken early in the draft, it would be best to take the best players on the board and make deals to make the roster fit later. Menor is a hard-nosed defender who can benefit from learning beside Ronald Tubid and he isn't bad on offense either, averaging 13.1 points and 4.5 rebounds in his final season in the NCAA. He's a proven winner, too, closing his college career with 3 NCAA titles and a Finals MVP trophy.
9 Josh Urbiztondo 5'9 PG
Burger King needs a solid backup to Wynne Arboleda at the point, and Urbiztondo fits the bill. He is a very good defender, once winning the PBL defensive player award, a rarity for little guys like him. He fits the type of player who can thrive under Yeng Guiao and this could be a good win-win situation for both the team and the player. Urbiztondo could learn from one of the best defensive guards in the PBA and the Whoppers could end up with an eventual replacement for 'the Snatcher'.
10 Edwin Asoro 6'3 F
It's hard to tell where the Beermen are deeper: the frontcourt or the backcourt. But it's hard to envision them taking another guard with guys like Bonbon Custodio and Chris Calaguio struggling to find any court time. One thing's for sure, the last thing the Beermen need is another superstar to mess with their chemistry. Asoro could be a good fit as a guy who can go after rebounds and loose balls and score occassionally. He could be insurance should Danny Seigle and Lordy Tugade continue to be unavailable due to injury and could play a similar role to the departed Pingris, backing up Arwind Santos. Most likely, though, he'll end up glued to bench like the more talented Ken Bono used to be.
Second round:
1 Chris Timberlake, Barako Bull
2 Richard Ian Saladaga, Sta Lucia
3 PJ Walsham, Barako Bull
4 Orlando Darroya, Burger King
5 Francis Allera, Rain or Shine
6 Benedict Fernandez, Alaska
7 Jim Viray, Sta Lucia
8 Roel Hugnatan, Ginebra
9 Marcy Arellano, Talk N Text
10 Bryan Faundo, Burger King
Friday, July 31, 2009
Patay Ang Butiki 2009 PBA Mock Draft
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Butiki Bullets: Thursday July 30
- The Philippine basketball community mourns the untimely loss of former JRU Heavy Bombers captain Jayson Nocom.
- Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is in town, but he still can't escape questions about Dwyane Wade's future with the team. Some interesting things about his interview on Hardball, Spoelstra swears he almost played in the PBA. Also, he is willing to help out with the Philippine national team, as long as it's during the offseason.
- Quite a bit of action leading up to the draft. Let's see if we can recap. SMB gets Arwind Santos for Marc Pingris and Ken Bono. Burger King ships Pingris back to Purefoods for draft picks. Meanwhile, Red Bull is having a fire sale, trading Jeff Chan and Mike Hrabak to Rain or Shine for Mark Andaya and Rob Wainwright, Gabby Espinas to Sta Lucia for the 6th pick of this year's draft, Larry Rodriguez to Burger King and Jojo Duncil to Coca-Cola for players yet to be determined.
Andretti Stevens is in your head
Now, I don't really know which players counts as rookies this year. On TV, every single player on the three guest teams (EAC, AUF and AU) have been listed as rookies. But traditionally, rookies are meant to mean freshmen and as far as freshmen go, the Mapua Cardinals seem to have picked up a gem this year in a kid named Andretti Stevens. Not to say he's going to win rookie of the year - San Beda has the terribly athletic Sudan Daniel, after all - but Stevens has been very promising this season.
He plays the toughest position for a rookie to learn - point guard - and has been fighting to earn a spot on the rotation beside last year's ROY Allan Mangahas. In the spotty minutes Mapua coach Chito Victolero has given him, though, he's done enough get himself noticed.
The game against Letran a few weeks ago was the first sign that this kid had something. In a third quarter that turned into a rout after the hapless Cardinals were able to put only 1 point on the board in over six minutes, Victolero turned to the young rookie. Stevens quickly scored four points, got his fellow Cardinals on the break and stepped up to guard Letran ace RJ Jazul. He got Jazul to engage in a physical mano-a-mano exchange that saw three fouls (2 on Stevens and an offensive foul on RJ) in a span of about a minute. Stevens fouled out early in the fourth after maybe 5 or 6 minutes of action, but it was 5 or 6 minutes that were more memorable than the rest of the beatdown Mapua got in the hands of the Knights.
A superstar vet engaging a young rook? It doesn't matter who got the upper hand in the individual confrontation, the rookie wins just for suckering you in.
But Stevens really got interesting after his breakout game against the JRU Heavy Bombers yesterday. After his showing against Jazul, the freshman drew John Wilson, averagin 20 points per game, as his assignment. Now it's very rare that a rookie gets to guard the opponent's best scorer.
Even rarer when he succeeds.
Stevens outdueled Wilson in the first half. He clung to Wilson, who was able to put up only 4 points and was called for two offensive fouls, both for roughing up Stevens. Wilson had no easy looks and was visibly frustrated on the floor. Stevens, meanwhile, took care of handling the ball, hit 3 three-pointers and found Mangahas twice for 2 assists on top of his stingy in-your-head defense on one of the league's top scorers.
In the second half, Stevens continued to force Wilson into an offensive struggle as the Mapua lead ballooned to 18 points. After a huge block as the help defender, though, Stevens would step on a JRU player's foot and turn his ankle.
The Heavy Bombers went on a huge run, cutting the 18 point lead down to single digits before the quarter ended, and trimmed it down to a one-possession game before Victolero decides to bring back the ailing rook. Stevens switched defensive assignments, though, and never got a crack at Wilson since he was pulled out with the sprain early in the 3rd.
Wilson finished with 25 points after Stevens was taken off of him. JRU pulled through with a 5-point win.
Coincidence that this all happened after Stevens went down with an injury?
Definitely not.
This kid has all the makings of a defensive star. He has the desire; which is probably the most important thing a good defender needs. He has the smarts; he is often tasked to guard players taller than he is to keep Mangahas, who plays the 2 for Mapua, from having to draw the assignments himself. But most importantly, he has the gift for getting into your head.
This is a rare gift, and not something you can teach a player. He has that ability to just mess with you, get you to forget about team goals just so you can show him up. Stevens did it with Jazul, and did it again with Wilson; two of the best players in the NCAA right now. And he did it as a rookie.
I remember a story one source told me about Stevens' high school days. As a player for San Beda Alabang in the NCAA South, he often played against the De La Salle Zobel basketball team. In one particularly intense game, he got on all fours ala Kevin Garnett while waiting for the opposing point guard to bring the ball up. My source couldn't remember when she last heard so many parents throwing obscenities at a high school kid.
Stevens may eventually end up along the lines of a Macmac Cardona or a Ronald Tubid, who can get you out of the game mentally before the game even begins. And if he's doing this to league's best as a rookie, can you imagine how well he can mess with your head when he's a senior?
And his promise is not just on the defensive end. He shows a good shooting touch from the outside, and the ability to take care of the ball amidst heavy pressure. If he keeps working on those things, he'll end up one of the best players at the 1 in the NCAA.
I can't say if he's good enough to turn pro after college. A lot of development happens between the 1st year and the final year of eligibility. But right now, this kid is bursting with potential. And he's shown to be much better than Victolero's other options at the point.
Here's hoping Mapua keeps playing Andretti Stevens on the league's best perimeter players. Whichever way things swing, you know it's going to be a very interesting show.
And you know who's going to be in the middle of things.
Monday, July 27, 2009
NCAA UAAP Power Rankings: Week 3
Biggest jumps: JRU, UST (2 spots); Biggest drops: ADMU, UE (2 spots); New entries: DLSU Green Archers, EAC Generals
1 SSC Stags (Last week: 1st; NCAA; 6-0)
The Ato Agustin-coached squad only had one chance to prove themselves this week, and they made sure it counted with a very impressive 97-65 win over Angeles University Foundation. The very talented Jimbo Aquino scored 21 points as he led five Stags in double figures in the rout. Their biggest game of the season will come next Monday against the similarly unbeaten JRU Heavy Bombers in a blockbuster of a game. Winner takes #1 in the rankings? Very very likely.
2 JRU Heavy Bombers (Last week: 4th; NCAA; 5-0)
Like the Stags, JRU had a single game to make a dent in the rankings. Also like the Stags, JRU crushed the AUF Great Danes 82-53. JR Sena dominated the Great Danes with a 19-point, 9-rebound performance. Monday against the Stags will be their first real test this season, and you can bet JRU coach Ariel Vanguardia will come in with all guns blazing.
3 SBC Red Lions (Last week: 3rd; NCAA; 5-1)
The Red Lions sure make short work of the league’s minnows (which comprises about 60% of the field). But they haven’t been impressive in games against quality opponents like in the loss against SSC and in last week’s win over Letran. Sure, they came out on top, but they hardly looked like world beaters against their rival Knights, a team clearly not in the same class with the NCAA’s top three teams.
4 ADMU Blue Eagles (Last week: 2nd; UAAP; 3-1)
The seemingly invincible Blue Eagles were embarrassed by a 68-58 beating at the hands of the cellar-dwelling UP Fighting Maroons last Sunday. I wanted to give them a larger drop in the rankings but all of the other top UAAP teams (FEU, UE, UST) have already dropped games to the defending champions.
5 FEU Tamaraws (Last week: 5th; UAAP; 3-1)
The UAAP hosts have bounced back from their early setback to Ateneo and have picked up three straight wins, including two in the previous week. They pulled off a squeaker against the better-than-their-record Adamson Falcons before playing up to their potential in a blowout win over the NU Bulldogs. FEU ace Mark Barroca averaged 14 points, 5 assists and 4.5 steals in the two wins.
6 UST Growling Tigers (Last week: 8th; UAAP; 3-1)
The Growling Tigers cemented their place as a legitimate Final Four contender after taking apart the UE Red Warriors last Saturday. Dylan Ababou is a complete stud, averaging 25 points in the last three games. If UST takes one of the top two spots after the eliminations, Dylan should be a cinch for MVP.
7 CSJL Knights (Last week: 7th; NCAA; 3-3)
Letran has been playing much better basketball of late, after dropping their first two games of the season. They lost their only game this week, a 79-74 decision to the San Beda Red Lions, but showed they can compete with some of the better teams. RJ Jazul is quietly having a great individual campaign, averaging 18.5 points 4.2 assists in the last four games.
8 UE Red Warriors (Last week: 6th, UAAP; 2-2)
The Red Warriors kept the UST game close despite not getting a single field goal from star Paul Lee. Lee shot 0-12 from the field including 0-6 from three point range. He’s been horrible from that range this season. He went 1 for 10, 2 for 8, 1 for 5 and 0 for 6 in each of the first four games. Thankfully, Pari Llagas has been on a tear, averaging 16.5 points on 63% shooting the past two games.
9 DLSU Green Archers (New entry; UAAP; 2-2)
The Archers sneak into the rankings for the first time this season. They’ve won their past two games against UP and Adamson and look to be part of the Final Four picture again. Concerns? They haven’t had a consistent player this season, relying on heroics of different people in their two wins. More concerns? Prized rookie Arvie Bringas, who has started games for the Archers, is shooting 12% from the field in the last three games.
10 EAC Generals (New entry; NCAA; 2-4)
The Generals barged into the win column with an 80-69 win over Mapua early last week, then topped it off with a 78-73 victory over CSB. They’re beginning to look like a real threat this season, with guard Jay Santos going for 20 points per game in the two wins. Santos and Anrgel Mendoza look like one of the better backcourts in the NCAA this season.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Butiki Bullets: Sunday July 26
- UAAP shocker. The cellar-dwelling UP Fighting Maroons, who have not won a game since a 76-68 win over the Adamson Falcons on August 2, 2008 nearly a year ago, upset the league leading Ateneo Blue Eagles 68-58.
- Burger King may trade the rights to Japeth Aguilar to Purefoods for some marquee names (Enrico Villanueva, Peter June Simon and Rich Alvarez) and the #2 pick. BK board governor Lito Alvarez seems perfectly content in coming away with Rico Maierhofer at #2 in this year's draft.
- Now, this is a rivalry. The Letran-San Beda match last Friday was marred by an incident concerning American recruit Sudan Daniel, the son of Letran coach Louie Alas and a bunch of passionate fans that started throwing whatever they could get their hands on.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Butiki Bullets: Thursday July 23
- The Red Bull Barako franchise is in financial trouble and may be up for sale. They've been behind on payments to players and even ex-players; Cyrus Baguio is said to still have collectibles. On a side note, Barako guard John Arigo, one of the complainants, is "now seeing action with Purefoods." When did that happen?
- FIBA has officially upheld the SBP as basketball's governing body in the Philippines. That means no suspension for the country. The BAP may just have shot themselves in the foot with this stunt.
- PBA rookie camp is drawing near. This should give a lot of teams some insight on the aspiring rookie class led by Japeth Aguilar, Rico Maierhofer and Chris Ross.
- The DLSU Green Archers picked up their first win today, which should relieve some of the bitterness their fans have begun to feel towards them. After their last loss, Tony L. Atayde of inboundpass wrote about guard Bader Malabes: "This player is just unbelievable and not in a good way. He drives to the basket with no idea what he will do. His turnovers are ridiculous and he just dribbles with no sense of purpose. If you watched this game, there are no words to express how badly he messed up again in this game. Whenever he is on the court, my stomach cringes." Malabes scored 14 points in the win over UP. Then again, the win was against UP so I don't know if that tells us much.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Butiki Bullets: Wednesday July 22
- The JRU Heavy Bombers joined the San Beda Red Lions and the San Sebastian Stags - can we officially start calling them the NCAA's big three now? - in handing down beatdowns to the rest of the league.
- News from the FIBA special commission that will be deciding the RP team's fate. Includes updates from SBP executive director Noli Eala.
- Speaking of JRU, anybody remember Keith Agovida, the JRU Light Bomber who scored 82 points in a single game? Well, Agovida's teammate Joshua Saret just crushed that record, scoring 89 points in a 171-43 rout of the Angeles University Foundation Baby Danes. Oh, and he had 11 rebounds, 12 assists and 13 steals, too.
- The best point guard in Asia? Lebanese star Fadi El Khatib is looking for Jimmy Alapag.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
NCAA UAAP Power Rankings: Week 2
1 SSC Stags (Last week: 3rd; NCAA; 5-0)
The Stags have become a very impressive unit in the past week, blowing out guest teams EAC (87-73) and AU (80-49). Anybody who thinks their win over San Beda early in the season was a fluke better start changing their tune now. San Sebastian is 5-0 with an average winning margin of 15 points per game. Jimbo Aquino, meanwhile, is putting together a solid case for MVP after putting up in 27 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in their latest win.
2 ADMU Blue Eagles (Last week: 2nd; UAAP; 3-0)
The UAAP has thrown all its firepower at the Blue Eagles, who have faced their top contender (FEU) and unbeaten teams (1-0 UE and 2-0 UST) in each of their first three games. Their games will only get easier from here, with the possible exception of their arch-rival DLSU, although that may be doubtful as the Archers have limped their way to an 0-2 start. The defending champions have to be considered a strong favorite to retain the crown.
3 SBC Red Lions (Last week: 4th; NCAA; 4-1)
San Beda is a force that the NCAA can’t afford to ignore. In their four wins, they have averaged a mind-blowing 28.5 point margin of victory. This is a team that can make short work of a pretender, but showed they can slip against a contender. Lucky for the Red Lions, their next true test is on Aug 10 against JRU. They get a mildly interesting game against the CSJL Knights on Friday and a chance to feast on guest teams EAC and AUF while waiting for the rematch of last year’s NCAA Finals.
4 JRU Heavy Bombers (Last week: 1st; NCAA; 4-0)
JRU gets the short end of the stick this week; they didn’t get a chance to play any games since the last ranking came out. But the other elite NCAA teams have been so impressive, we didn’t have a choice but to slide these guys down a bit. They’ll get a chance to snatch the top spot back after their Aug 3 matchup with the #1 Stags and the Aug 10 showdown against the Red Lions.
5 FEU Tamaraws (Last week: 5th; UAAP; 1-1)
The Tams bounced back from their opening game loss with a very convincing victory over the DLSU Green Archers. Their defense held the Archers to 51 points on 23% shooting. They also showed some pretty good balance with Mark Andy Barroca leading four FEU players in double figures with 15.
6 UE Red Warriors (Last week: 7th; UAAP; 2-1)
UE will get a little nudge this week thanks to their 73-59 victory over the NU Bulldogs. The Red Warriors definitely showed they have firepower, especially with Val Acuna emerging this year alongside veterans Paul Lee, Pari Llagas and Elmer Espiritu. Their lack of ceiling could eventually doom them, though, as they were thoroughly abused by reigning MVP Rabeh Al-Hussaini.
7 CSJL Knights (Last week: 8th; NCAA; 3-2)
The Knights have emerged from their three-way tie for fourth place after they manhandled the CSB Blazers 86-79. RJ Jazul continues to be solid as he posted 16 points and 5 assists in the win. The dilemma for Letran? They definitely look like they’re much better than the NCAA teams ranked 5 through 10, but they don’t quite look like they’re in the same league as SSC, JRU and SBC either. They get a chance to change that – or prove it true – when they face San Beda later this week.
8 UST Growling Tigers (Last week: 6th; UAAP; 2-1)
The Tigers took their first loss of the season in a spectacular manner, as they got blown out by the ADMU Blue Eagles. They need to put that loss behind them real quick, because they play the UE Red Warriors on Sunday in a game that will show whether or not they belong with the big guns of the UAAP. A win would be big for their campaign for the Final Four, something they’ve currently got an inside track on.
9 ADU Soaring Falcons (New entry; UAAP; 1-1)
Good news for the Falcons? They just notched their first win of the season. Bad news? It didn’t mean much because it came against the UP Fighting Maroons. Adamson University actually looks like a decent team this year with solid big men Jan Colina and Michael Galinato and a very good young point guard in Jerick Canada. Can they build on this first win? We’ll find out very, very soon. They face the FEU Tamaraws on Thursday and the DLSU Green Archers on Sunday.
10 AU Chiefs (Last week: 9th; NCAA; 2-3)
The Chiefs barely hang on to this last spot by virtue of what they’ve done in the previous weeks. All of the remaining UAAP and NCAA teams are coming off losses so this kind of falls on AU by default. It came down to CSB and these guys, but the Blazers got trashed by a CSJL squad that the Chiefs have already beaten. Advantage: AU Chiefs. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Butiki Bullets: Monday July 20
Apologies for missing out on some major events over the weekend. Patay ang Butiki was out with the flu. Back in action today and ready for some more basketball.
- The San Miguel Beermen won their 18th PBA championship last Friday. Coach Siot Tanquincen declares Gabe Freeman their new resident import, something we haven't seen since the days of Sean Chambers.
- Powerade Team Pilipinas dropped to 0-2 in the ongoing Jones Cup. After a 90-59 beatdown at the hands of Jordan in their opening game, foreign journalists suspect the RP team did not come here for the Jones Cup title. Musong Castillo of the Inquirer reports that veteran reporter Chen Chin-hung asked the Philippine journalist contingent: "So tell us, did you come here to not win at all?"
- The Beermen may have just been crowned champions, but they're already hinting at some changes. With the impending Arwind Santos trade and the return of Danny Seigle and Lordy Tugade from injury, it does look like some players are going to be moved. Noli Cortez of Malaya (via ngetstudio.com) quotes SMB head coach Siot Tanquincen: "Iyun nga lang ang mahirap... Kung kailan nabuo ang chemistry ng team, saka naman papasok ang ganito na you have to make changes."
- Ateneo point guard Emman Monfort, who spent last season demoted to team B, led the Blue Eagles to a 93-77 win against the UST Growling Tigers.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Butiki Bullets: Friday July 17
- Japeth Aguilar is applying for the PBA draft but SBP head honcho Manny Pangilinan, more popularly known as MVP, just might have found a way to bring the young big man to the pros and have him play for the Smart-Gilas Developmental Team at the same time.
- UST rookie Jeric Teng scored 13 points in the first quarter of the Tigers' game against the NU Bulldogs. 13 points in one quarter? That's on pace for 50 points in a game. He looked a little slow for his size, but he isn't averse to contact and drew several fouls in his time on the court. He also got a couple of rebounds and assists. His game kind of resembles that of former UAAP Rookie of the Year Ryan Buenafe of Ateneo. With this game, Teng probably just put his name out there for this year's award.
- A brief look at PBA Finals Game 7 history. Nelson Beltran of the Philippine Star reports: "For the record, 13 of 17 teams which took a 3-2 lead in a best-of-seven went on to win the championship. However, in the last four PBA Finals, three teams blew 3-2 leads and lost the championship." Who does history favor in tonight's Game 7? Your guess is as good as mine.
- Speaking of MVP's Developmental Team, the Smart-Gilas boys are tearing up their leagues as of late. RJ Jazul of Letran has averaged 19.5 points in the past two games, both Letran wins. FEU's Aldrech Ramos had a monster line of 15 points, 16 rebounds and 5 blocks in his team's opener. And yesterday, Dylan Ababou put up 30 and 10 in a UST win hours before Rabeh Al-Hussaini led Ateneo to its second win with 27 points and 11 rebounds. Smart-Gilas head coach Rajko Toroman must be proud.
NCAA UAAP Power Rankings: Week 1
Obviously, we know that the NCAA has gotten a headstart and is not on Week 1 anymore, but you can't have a combined NCAA-UAAP Power Ranking without a UAAP so this is technically, Week 1 for us all.
Expect the regular Power Rankings to come out on Tuesdays, which is the only day of the week where college basketball takes a break. The Power Ranking week will begin on NCAA Wednesday and end on NCAA Monday.
Here are the opening thoughts:
1 JRU Heavy Bombers (NCAA; 4-0)
Last year’s runner-up and this year’s NCAA title favorites looked, by far, the most polished team in the NCAA on their way to a strong 4-0 record. John Wilson has emerged as the NCAA’s top scorer (22.0 ppg) and JR Sena is quietly averaging 15 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists while facing double teams every time he touches the ball.
2 ADMU Blue Eagles (UAAP; 2-0)
They were given a hell of a schedule, opening against top contenders FEU and UE in their first two matches. Reigning MVP Rabeh Al-Hussaini posted averages of 22.5 points and 10 boards in the two Blue Eagle wins. After knocking off their main competition, though, only real area of concern is their tendency to start off slow – they were down 17 points in the 1st half before mounting a huge comeback to win the game against UE.
3 SSC-R Stags (NCAA; 3-0)
Not a lot of people expected the Stags to be a true contender after they missed the Final Four last year AND lost two-time Defensive Player of the Year Jason Ballesteros. Jimbo Aquino (21.0 ppg) is having a breakout season, though, as SSC-R has stormed to a perfect 3-0 record that includes an upset over defending champions San Beda.
4 SBC Red Lions (NCAA; 3-1)
San Beda should really be rated higher considering, if you take away that hiccup against San Sebastian, they’ve crushed their opponents (MIT, AU and CSB) by an average of 30.3 points per game. Hard to justify ranking them higher than the Stags, though, who have not only remained unbeaten but also gave the Red Lions their only loss of the season.
5 FEU Tamaraws (UAAP; 0-1)
Ranking an 0-1 team this high? Whether or not the Tams won their showdown against the Blue Eagles on opening weekend doesn’t matter. What matters is the fact that they proved to be a real threat to the UAAP crown this year, keeping in step with the defending champs every step of the way. Aldrech Ramos held his own against the Ateneo bigs with 15 points, 16 rebounds and 5 blocks in their lone game so far.
6 UST Growling Tigers (UAAP; 2-0)
The new-look Tigers have gotten off to a good start in acing their first two games with Khasim Mirza and Dylan Ababou emerging as an impressive one-two punch for UST, each top-scoring for their team against NU and Adamson, respectively. Both wins came at the expense of middling-to-bottom teams but the Tigers get their first crack at a contender on Sunday against Ateneo.
7 UE Red Warriors (UAAP; 1-1)
The Red Warriors and their freewheeling (read: undercoached) play was devastating against the DLSU Green Archers on opening weekend, as they rolled to a 19-point victory. Credit for that was somewhat diminished as they blew a 17-point 1st quarter lead in a loss to the Blue Eagles that had them crashing right back down to earth.
8 LC Knights (NCAA; 2-2)
The Letran Knights have been hard to get a read on: competing against the number one-ranked JRU Heavy Bombers before losing to the upstart guest team Arellano University to start the tournament 0-2. Something easy to get a read on: RJ Jazul is averaging 19.5 points in the last two games, both Letran wins.
9 AU Chiefs (NCAA; 2-2)
The Chiefs have been a pleasant surprise in the NCAA. They crushed fellow guest team EAC Generals in the opener, upset the heavily-favored Letran Knights in their second game, and kept things close for most of the game against the JRU Heavy Bombers before falling in the endgame. Hard to argue that they have to be the current favorites to be named an official NCAA member next year.
10 CSB Blazers (NCAA; 2-2)
The Blazers have been largely unimpressive in their wins over league-doormat AUF Great Danes and the very young Mapua Cardinals and especially so in their blowout losses against San Beda and SSC-R. However, they currently stand at .500 – something not a lot of other teams can say for themselves at the moment.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Butiki Bullets: Wednesday July 15
- Wynne Arboleda was named a last-minute addition to the Powerade Team Pilipinas roster.
- PBA Legends on Mikee Romero's Asean Basketball League team? Names being floated around include Alvin Patrimonio, Benjie Paras, Samboy Lim and Johnny Abarrientos. Time to see if the legends still got game.
- The Arellano University Chiefs put a scare on NCAA-leading JRU Heavy Bombers behind the exploits of 5'1 Leonard Anquilo, who scored 18 points on acrobatic drives, twisting layups and a bunch of free throws. This guy needs a better nickname than his current one: Little Chief. Like the commentators said, though, Jimmy Alapag is already 'Mighty Mouse' and San Beda guard Borgie Hermida is called 'Mighty Kid'. So those names are already taken.
- Introducing the Patay Ang Butiki Kiefer Watch! Here at Patay Ang Butiki, we like to keep an eye on the son of ex-PBA player Bong and current Ateneo Blue Eaglets star Kiefer Ravena - whom we think is the future of Philippine basketball. Kiefer opened the season with 27 points in a loss to DLSZ.
View from the Backboard: watching the never-say-die squad say die
This had all the makings of another classic. A high-stakes game that neither team could afford to lose. The most crucial game of the series so far.
Too bad only one team decided to show up.
Technically, Ginebra could afford to lose this one. That’s the advantage of being up 3-2 in a best-of-seven series. They could give this one away and set their sights on winning it all in Game 7, which is the real do-or-die decider.
San Miguel, on the other hand, needed this one. Win or go home. Lose and one of the most decorated San Miguel teams in the past decade, a team that was ranked the number 1 team the entire conference, would end the season in yet another disappointment.
Both teams knew these were the roles they each played. But who would’ve thought both teams would play them as willingly as they did?
The Beermen came out strong and built a 10-point halftime lead. In the second half, they were able to keep import Gabe Freeman out of foul trouble as he posted 24 and 12 to lead his team to 98-84 victory. They played with fire, passion and energy. They outrebounded the Gin Kings 47-39. They did everything they needed to do to force a seventh game. (And additionally, they got the win that would ensure that they would not lose back-to-back games at any point this conference.)
Ginebra, meanwhile, was the team that couldn’t shoot straight. For a team that relied so heavily on the three-point shot to win games in these Finals, well, this performance was nothing short of pathetic. They competed, sure, up until the Beermen blew the game wide open in the 3rd quarter. They made the token rally in the 4th, but nothing that really threatened San Miguel. This was a team that came out flat, with no energy and no signs that they actually really wanted this game. This was a team that looked complacent.
And the result? 6 for 25 (24%) shooting from beyond the arc, including a measly 2 for 17 (11%) from the locals. 13 assists to 19 turnovers. Even David Noel was underwhelming with 16 points on just 30% shooting.
That never-say-die attitude that everybody loves about Ginebra? It was dead, at least for one night.
But what did this game tell us? Not a whole lot.
This isn’t the Ginebra team that will show up for Game 7. No matter what defense San Miguel throws out there, they aren’t expecting the Gin Kings to shoot 24% from the three point area. And even in an injured state, Jayjay Helterbrand is better than the 8-point, 1-assist guy who shot 0 for 5 from long range.
But this is, quite possibly, the San Miguel team you can expect to see in the decider. Mike Cortez has built on his spectacular 23-8-5 line from Game 5 to post 12-7-4 in Game 6. This was a threat they missed most of the year. Freeman figured out a way to stay on the floor, and was able to score efficiently (9 of 13 for 69% including 1 for 1 from three point range) for the Beermen. Dondon Hontiveros hit three-pointers (3 times) and Danny Ildefonso got to the line (8 times). Jay Washington had a respectable 8 points despite being hounded by Willy Wilson. They came out with the desire to win this one tonight, and I see no reason why they won’t come out with the same fire on Friday.
Ginebra can be a scary team when they wax hot, but you don’t bet on San Miguel when they have all guns blazing. If San Miguel puts everything together the way they did tonight, this team will not be losing Game 7.
Friday night’s game will be a war. And while the Gin Kings will undoubtedly be better than they were tonight, I don’t see them stealing this one game from the heavy favorites. Not with Helterbrand playing hurt. Not with Freeman finding court time. Not when the Beermen will have all of their weapons available.
Ginebra will have the crowd’s support. And they’ll have enough firepower to stay competitive, or if San Miguel comes out soft, maybe enough to pull off a win.
And that never-say-die attitude everybody’s talking about? Well, after tonight, I’m not so sure this particular Ginebra team really has it.
But it sure would come handy Friday night.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Butiki Bullets: Tuesday July 14
- The final lineup for Powerade Team Pilipinas in the Jones Cup has been released. Kelly Williams remains unavailable, opening up a spot for Japeth Aguilar.
- Quick analysis on the blockbuster Ateneo-FEU game on opening weekend. Rick Olivares of Bleachers Brew reports: "(FEU) got outplayed down the stretch with (Rabeh) Al-Hussaini establishing himself down low. He had five attempts in the final quarter and scored 6 points including 4 in the final 74 seconds of play." The reigning UAAP MVP finished with 18 points and 9 rebounds in what may have been a strong statement game for the Blue Eagles.
- Speaking of UAAP opening weekend, diehard La Salle columnist Henry Atayde of Inboundpass rips on his team after being on the wrong end of a 19 point blowout against the UE Red Warriors.
- The PBA is looking to expand to 12 teams by 2011. SM, Hapee and Phoenix Fuel have all been mentioned as candidates. SM, in particular, is intriguing because of reports that they are building a new coliseum on the SM Mall of Asia grounds. A new home for the PBA, maybe? And should we be talking about the Mikee Romero-owned Harbour Center team? A record seven PBL championships. They could be a strong contender, and have been looking into getting into the league before.
View from the Backboard: where the imports look really REALLY important
Funny how much things can change in so short a time.
In the previous game, San Miguel pretty much did everything right but still had a chance to lose it all in the end. This time around, they did so many things wrong, yet stayed in the game long enough to have a shot in the fourth quarter.
They turned the ball over too much (22 turnovers). They allowed Ginebra to get out to a big halftime lead. They allowed three-pointers. They allowed fastbreak points. Mick Pennisi got himself thrown out of the game. Gabe Freeman got into foul trouble for most of the game. Jay Washington disappeared (6 points despite averaging about 17 per game in the series).
But they had a chance up until the last few minutes.
Up until, maybe, the time Freeman fouled out.
Gabe had very humble stats – 16 and 10 in 24 minutes – compared to what he normally gives his team. But as long as he was out there, you were expecting one big San Miguel run where he goes on one of those unstoppable tears and gets those numbers closer to his averages. When the whistle blew on his sixth and final foul, though, you knew it was over. 16 and 10 isn’t enough. Not against Ginebra. Not against David Noel.
The Gin Kings won 106-98, in a game much closer than the final score indicates.
But for all the things Ginebra got right and all the things the Beermen did wrong, this was the one glaring stat of all: Noel, 44 minutes. Freeman 24. In those 44 minutes, Noel contributed 29 points (including 6 of 10 from beyond the arc), 11 rebounds and some very good defense. In Freeman’s stint on the floor, he gave 16 and 10 and some game-changing defense himself. Had he played a similar number of minutes, the scoring probably would be close, but Freeman would have blown Noel’s rebounding numbers away. But beyond the stats, these two imports, undoubtedly the best in this conference, provide a presence on both ends of the floor that is incredibly difficult to replicate. Unfortunately, Freeman just couldn’t find a way to keep himself on the floor long enough to affect his team’s fortunes.
The referees didn’t do him any favors either. He was called on ticky-tack fouls, none more crucial than his fifth foul; on the very first possession after he sat out most of the third and part of the fourth quarters. He was a lot more tentative on defense then, shying away from any rough contact, although he did get a couple of stops by just raising his hand straight up.
Noel, meanwhile, hit big baskets. He was huge from long range, giving his team a big boost from the outside. They really needed someone to step up with MVP Jayjay Helterbrand obviously not at 100% (3 of 12 from the field, 1 of 8 on 3pt FG).
The locals pretty much cancelled each other out tonight. Eric Menk scored 18 and Chico Lanete and Ronald Tubid both scored 14 for the Gin Kings. Mike Cortez starred for the Beermen with 23 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists.
But Freeman showed how much you can hurt your team by not being available for them. If they want a shot at extending this series to a Game 7, they need their import, the Best Import of the Conference, to be out there playing.
San Miguel coach Siot Tanquincen already started complaining about the officiating, and this one might have been worse than the last game. The bad calls came early though, leaving the team more than enough time to overcome it and win the game. They couldn’t find a way, not without Freeman on the floor.
If that happens again, then Noel is going to power his way to another dominant performance. One more win, and that means Ginebra will be celebrating another championship.
But that won’t happen; not if Freeman can do something about it. The big question is: can he?
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Report: Arwind Santos to join San Miguel Beermen
The San Miguel Beermen, amidst a dogfight with sister team Ginebra for the championship, has something good to look forward to. Burger King team manager Lito Alvarez has just confirmed to GMANews.tv that multi-talented forward Arwind Santos is being traded to SMB.
"We've agreed to send Arwind to San Miguel right after the battle for third place," said Alvarez. "Right now, pinag-uusapan pa namin sinong kapalit." A GMA source revealed it would likely be center Samigue Eman, forward Ken Bono and shooting guard Chris Calaguio. Those three are the Beermen who see the leat action on court for the multi-titled franchise.
For San Miguel fans, rejoice. Santos is a great rebounder and defender that makes his presence felt even without the ball in his hands. This deal would make the Beermen even more formidable; although it hardly solves their problem of distributing playing time among their insanely talented players.
Burger King is going feel this loss, after earlier sending Cyrus Baguio to Ginebra in a similarly lopsided deal. Could this have more implications for the Whoppers in the future? They've made a promise to Japeth Aguilar that they'd take him with the first pick in an attempt to woo him to declare for the upcoming draft. Would Aguilar be as eager to join Burger King now that Santos is out of town? I don't know about wanting to be part of a team that sends your best teammates away to make a quick buck. Then again, it might just be a matter of time before he himself is traded away for another team's scraps.
That's not the worst thing in the world. Just ask Arwind Santos.
Alaska 'Thriller' Nightmare; Miller demands trade
The Alaska Aces' 5'11 guard is no longer happy with his current team, as expressed by his manager to GMANews.tv. Danny Espiritu said "he's no longer happy playing for Alaska, that's why he wants to be traded. Worse, napagbibintingan pa siya ng hindi maganda ng ibang tao. He is a two-time MVP and has brought his teams championships."
Alaska coach Tim Cone says they are not entertaining any offers. Both Purefoods and Coca-Cola are reportedly interested.
Purefoods is an intriguing fit for 'Thriller' Miller because of his good relationship with Giants forward Kerby Raymundo. Adding the exciting guard would give Purefoods a very dangerous and highly-marketable 'big three' in Raymundo, Miller and fan-favorite James Yap.
Alaska is said to be looking for a big man to build their team around, and Purefoods may make former UAAP MVP Enrico Villanueva available. The Giants also own the second pick in the 2009 PBA draft, and could dangle this to sweeten the pot further for the Aces. PBL MVP Chris Ross, DLSU forward Rico Maierhofer and UAAP MVP Jervy Cruz are all expected to be available at that pick.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Butiki Bullets: Friday July 10
- In Game 4 of the PBA Finals, Jude Turcuato said that the officiating has been pretty good, evidenced by the fact that no one has been complaining about it yet. Well, San Miguel Beermen coach Siot Tanquincen just started complaining.
- The Inquirer Sports Staff just concluded a four-part feature on game fixing in college basketball in the Philippines. Check out all four parts here, here, here and here. Nice to see college basketball officials acknowledging the problem and not simply pretending it doesn't exist.
- Jayjay Helterbrand might miss Game 5 of the PBA Finals. The scary thing? Nelson Beltran of the Philippine Star (via ngetstudio.com) reports: "Helterbrand has been hobbled by that injury for at least two years now. It was the same injury causing him to sit out almost half of the 2006-07 season. And it was also for the same reason that he, as member of the Powerade Team Pilipinas, missed the recent SEABA championship in Medan, Indonesia."
- More trouble for Powerade Team Pilipinas. Jared Dillinger of the Talk n Text Tropang Texters is missing.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Maierhofer draft stock rising
De La Salle University big man Rico Maierhofer has been receiving a bit of draft buzz lately. The teams with the top picks in the 2009 draft are all seemingly interested in the athletic 6'5 Puerto Galera native. Burger King is said to be interested in drafting him with the top pick should frontrunner Japeth Aguilar keep his name out of the draft.
Purefoods, picking third, is reportedly looking at Maierhofer to provide the defense and rebounding they've lacked at the forward spots since they traded Marc Pingris to San Miguel. Rain or Shine picks fifth, after another Burger King pick, and they've also expressed interest in taking Maierhofer with their first round selection.
The Elastopainters would be a great fit for Maierhofer. It's a successful, young unit that can be a power for years to come. He'd fit right in with their athletic style of play and he'd lend size to a team that badly needs it. He'd look great running alongside Gabe Norwood and Solomon Mercado, and would reunite with old La Salle teammates TY Tang and Ryan Arana.
It's probably a long shot that he remains on the board for the fifth pick, though. If Purefoods passes on him to nab PBL MVP Chris Ross, I don't see Burger King letting him slip any further than fourth. Especially with scouts revealing they think Maierhofer, who played in both the UAAP and the PBL, would have greater impact on a team than Aguilar in their rookie seasons.
Maierhofer averaged 13.1 points, 10.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks for La Salle and 11.9 points, 10.6 boards, and 1.1 blocks for Oracle in his final year as an amateur.
View from the Backboard: looks like San Miguel was lucky to escape that one
You know that term, “greater than the sum of its parts”?
That does not describe the San Miguel Beermen at all.
And with a core like that, filling up the rest of the guys on the floor is easy. The Gin Kings have a load of guards and wings that can play beside these guys – and San Miguel, with all that crazy talent, looks like they’re outclassed out on that floor simply because they get to play only five at a time.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Butiki Bullets: Tuesday July 7
- Smart-Gilas import CJ Giles cracks the Orlando Magic summer league roster. His NBA-level talent is noted, but unfortunately, so are his off-court troubles.
- Trouble for the rest of the UAAP? Christian Soler of Inboundpass reports that Ateneo Blue Eagles captain Nonoy Baclao, the current UAAP Finals MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, has bulked up over the off-season.
- Burger King picks #1 in the upcoming PBA draft, but no team picks second. Quinito Henson explains that Coca-Cola sent that pick away in a previous deal and it is owned by: Shell. The now-defunct franchise failed to include that pick in their sale to the Rain or Shine group and league rules state that draft picks are not automatically transferred to the new team once a sale is completed. That means Rain or Shine will not be receiving the second pick. #3 Purefoods will essesntially be picking second, with every other team moving up a slot.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
PBA Finals Update: Ildefonso, Pingris Suspended One Game
It looks like Danny Ildefonso and Marc Pingris are going to be suspended after all.
Despite the PBA booking Sta Lucia's Marlou Aquino with just a P20,000 fine for a similar offense, the two Beermen who figured in an altercation will both be suspended for Sunday's Game 3 of the PBA finals. On top of the suspension, Ildefonso was fined P30,000 and Pingris P10,000.
This possibly neutralizes whatever advantage San Miguel had in size and depth, at least for one game. They will still have Jay Washington, Doria Pena and Mick Pennisi, as well as Best Import of the Conference Gabe Freeman, to man the frontcourt, so Game 3 will be no gimme for the Gin Kings. Not by a long shot.
The missing Beermen will probably be kicking themselves for this one, especially if they go on to lose this game and the series.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Ildefonso reaction to fan could land him in a lot of trouble
The San Miguel Beermen played a masterful game in Game 2 of the PBA Finals last night. They addressed their rebounding issues from Game 1 and thumped the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings on the boards, 57-40. They capitalized on their advantage in the frountcourt with Jay Washington and Marc Pingris combining for 31 points in support of newly-minted Best Import of the Conference Gabe Freeman, who topscored with 23 points and 17 rebounds.
This was a game they couldn't afford to lose and they didn't. In the end, they came up on top 95-78 and tied the series at one game apiece.
Yet they may end up paying for it anyway.
After the hardfought battle that included San Miguel guard Olsen Racela getting clobbered by a Ronald Tubid elbow, former MVP Danny Ildefonso and Pingris were spotted rushing into the stands to confront a fan.
Exact details weren't available yet. Some reports claim that the fan had been shouting obscenities at the SMB bench and Washington, in particular. Some rumors claim that the rowdy Ginebra fan targetted Ildefonso's children. Even the extent of the confrontation was unclear, although most claim it was very similar to the Marlou Aquino incident earlier this season.
Ildefonso and Pingris, regardless of their motives, could end up in hot water for this. If it were judged that they roughed up the fan, they're looking at suspensions at the least. If proven otherwise, they could be slapped with a similar penalty as Aquino, which was a fine but no suspension. At this stage of the competition, both players should have known better than to put their teams at risk this way. Even without a suspension, this is a distraction the Beermen could do without.
As documented in the old Malice at the Palace brawl, where Ron Artest scharged into the stands after a fan threw a cup of beer at him, athletes are at the losing end of deal here. Professional athletes have a responsibility to their league and to their teams not to engage in any trouble of this sort with the fans. Many make the point that these pros make millions of dollars, or pesos, to put with this sort of rowdy fan behavior. But I understand how difficult it can be when they verbally abuse you with curses against your family.
I agree that athletes should have responsibilities towards the fans, and that they should never confront in the way that Ildefonso did. However, I think the PBA should also have responsibility towards their players, and assure that they do not have to endure this kind of abuse from fans. In the aftermath of Artest's outburst, issues of whether alcohol should be allowed during NBA games were brought up. The man who took that first swipe at Artest, of course, had a cup of beer which he used to throw at the former Indiana Pacers star.
The problem becomes difficult here, where there was no evidence of alcohol in the situation. It could be a man with no class and no character - which of course, makes it worse. Banning of alcohol would be an easier thing to do than to ban people with no character, least of all - how does one judge that sort of thing?
Still, PBA officials should be quick to protect their athletes as well as their fans. Some fans feel that since they are paying customers and the athletes are, well, employees of the PBA, then they have the right to say anything to these people, no matter how vulgar. How quick we forget that these multi-millionaires, rich as they may be, are people too.
At least Ildefonso and Pingris can protect their team from having to incur a suspension for the two stars. Like mentioned earlier, this was hardly unprecedented with Sta Lucia's Aquino having to go through the same thing and getting a mere slap on the wrist. I wonder if athletes can be given the right to protect their dignities some time soon as well.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Butiki Bullets: Friday July 3
- The loss of an identity? Rick Olivares of Bleachers Brew observes: "This Ginebra team isn't what it once was -- a collection of discards, has beens, and never wasses. They were the loveable losers who we wanted to win. Now they have become San Miguel Beer. How they got Cyrus Baguio was well... Sige na nga. While we're at it, is there anyway we can add James Yap to this Ginebra line-up?"
- Japeth Aguilar had 8 points, 6 rebounds, 4 blocks and a steal in 24 minutes of action.
- One of the guest teams, Arellano University, with a rookie head coach and possibly the smallest player to ever play in the league in 5-1 point guard Leonard Anquilo, finds itself on top of the NCAA standings.
- Waiting for the Purefoods Giants to make a major move. The word 'star' here, though, I feel is used very loosely. Practically every PBA player these days are considered stars.
What To Do With Japeth Aguilar?
Japeth Aguilar at WKUAs of the moment? Appreciate.
Appreciate and be grateful for the fact that Team Pilipinas, whether it's Yeng Guiao's Powerade Team or the Rajko Toroman-coached Smart Gilas squad, suddenly has an athletic, 6-9 big ready and willing to man the post for flag and country.
The problems will come later - the main one being which team Aguilar plays on. Right now, he's been practicing with the PBA-backed squad but has continued to be linked to the Smart Gilas program. Whether or not he will be allowed to play for both teams, as has been suggested, remains to be resolved. But it's a good problem to have.
Aguilar, a former Ateneo Blue Eagle who played for Western Kentucky University in the US NCAA, brings size, athleticism, and versatility. Even in his younger days at Ateneo, he was already a shotblocking presence. Back then, though, he was just a reed-thin teen with good instincts. Since then, he has added weight and seems to better understand how to bring his God-given gifts together. The guy can play three positions, has decent handles, good shooting touch for a big, and is quick.
He will certainly bolster the frontline of either team. His rebounding and defensive presence will be an upgrade on what we currently have. It also gives our teams more depth, with Japeth either coming off the bench, or allowing some of the current bigs like Sonny Thoss or Mick Pennisi to enter with the second unit if he starts in their place. He can also help the team get out on the break - a key philosophy of any Yeng Guiao-coached team - either by hauling in rebounds or by getting out and running himself.
Bottom line is: Japeth helps. A lot.
But you still have to wonder, what should we do with him?
Japeth is young, and a natural fit with with the Smart Gilas team. With a three-year program that culminates right before he hits his prime, he could potentially be at his best right when the nation needs him to be. He'll be reunited there with his former backup, Rabeh Al-Hussaini. The two will barely recognize each other on-court now. Aguilar has made great strides in his game since he went to the US while Al-Hussaini, the reigning UAAP MVP, has become a dominant force in the college ranks. The two are a great complement to each other. In fact, Rabeh has led his school to the UAAP championship with a quick, versatile, defensive-minded big much like Japeth in Nonoy Baclao. Japeth's shooting and quickness will allow him to play off of Rabeh, who plays his best on the low block. In these two, Smart Gilas will also have two big men who are more than willing to run.
Younger Japeth with Rabeh Al-Hussaini at Ateneo FacilityI would hope so because the Smart Gilas team may be our best shot at qualifying for a tournament on the world level, and not merely the Asian level. With quality coaching, lengthy preparation and a good deal of young talent like Al-Hussaini, Casio and Mark Barroca, this is a team that could be very very good.
The key words, though, are "could be". Japeth is good enough to contribute right now. The all-PBA Powerade Team Pilipinas squad has loads of talent but could certainly make room for Aguilar. He is good enough to take minutes away from Thoss or Ranidel de Ocampo. This team represents what may be our most tangible shot at qualifying for a world level, and I would certainly advocate putting all available talent into this pool that already has the country's best in James Yap, Kelly Williams, Arwind Santos and Gabe Norwood. I don't think this team will go into battle as prepared as Smart Gilas, but while the younger team has more potential, this team has more talent right now.
Things are looking good for Powerade to nab Japeth but here is my concern. Reports are coming that Guiao's PBA team, Burger King, has expressed interest in taking Aguilar with the number one pick in the 2009 PBA draft which they own. If Guiao coaches Japeth in the national team, he would own a certain degree of influence on Aguilar. Would he influence the young talent into skipping out on the Smart Gilas team and enter the draft, thus assuring his team of taking what might be the next dominant big man in Philippine basketball? If he does, that would disqualify Aguilar from playing for the Smart Gilas team because the PBA has stated it would only allow PBA players to play for a PBA coach. This act would be extremely selfish on Guiao's part if he does this, especially considering he represents the Philippine basketball community as the coach of the RP team.
But if you were in Guiao's place, wouldn't you do the same? Three years from now, there would be no assurance of Burger King being in the position to draft Aguilar. In fact, there wouldn't even be an assurance of Guiao being the coach of the team three years from now. When you get an open look, you take it. And this is nothing short of an open look on Yeng Guiao's part.
(And hey, RP-Youth Team Coach Franz Pumaren is doing the same thing, recruiting young players to his De La Salle University basketball team.)
So there is a real dilemma here. I want Japeth to play for the national team for as long as we need him. I'd love to see him play alongside Al-Hussaini and the bunch of shooters that Toroman has been training over at the Smart Gilas camp. But I also want him playing for the team that can win soon, especially in the wake of Yao Ming's recent injury concerns. But if that means that Yeng Guiao and Burger King might try to keep Aguilar away from the Smart Gilas team, well, I'd rather hold him out of the Powerade Team and give him a shot with the youngsters.
This is all about flag and country right now. The Redeem Team won the gold in the last Olympics because they came into with a mission. That was something we had not brought in our last few campaigns in international ball. Right now, there is real effort being put into this, and I wouldn't jeopardize that, not even if it means giving up my PBA team's best shot to draft this prodigy.
No matter what happens, though, let's take a step back and appreciate Japeth Aguilar's return to the country. Either way, Philippine basketball is better off with him, than without.
