[PBA PH CUP] Pringle-led GlobalPort dispatches Barako Bull

This time, there were no breakdowns.

GlobalPort, banking on the brillant quarterbacking of top rookie Stanley Pringle, made sure that no fourth-quarter meltdowns will occur, en route to a resounding 91-81 win during the 2014-15 PBA Philippine Cup.

Pringle, the first overall pick in the 2014 PBA Draft, showed everyone why he is the top rookie, compiling 19 points, 8 rebounds, four on the offensive end, and two assists. Alex Cabagnot led the Batang Pier with a near double-double of 21 points and nine boards, along with four assists. Yancy de Ocampo and Mark Isip, two newly acquired big men for the team, also contributed fairly, scoring 12 markers apiece.

With this win, Pido Jarencio of the Batang Pier may have another lease on his coaching life, after dropping a 101-96 heartbreaker against the NLEX Road Warriors, despite leading after the end of three quarters.

Meanwhile, Barako Bull falls to the cellar, after similarly losing a double-overtime contest against Meralco, 112-108, in their opening game. Burly guard Denok Miranda led the charge for the Energy with 16 points, while RR Garcia, who was with GlobalPort two conferences ago, and Dave Marcelo both had 12 points. (GS)

The scores:

GLOBALPORT 91 – Cabagnot 21, Pringle 19, Isip 12, De Ocampo 12, Romeo 9, Jensen 7, Bacalao 6, Semerad 5, Taha 0, Buenafe 0, Duncil 0, Ponferada 0, Nabong 0.

BARAKO BULL 81 – Miranda 16, Garcia 12, Marcelo 12, Fortuna 10, Intal 8, Lastimosa 6, Salva 5, Pascual 5, Lanete 5, Wilson 2, Salvador 0, Paredes 0, Pennisi 0.

Quarterscores: 25-21, 48-47, 74-67, 91-81

[VIDEO] Eric Bledsoe sends defender shaking to the stands

We know Eric Bledsoe of the Phoenix Suns can rattle defenders pretty well. We didn't know he could send them to the crowd.

On a preseason game at the Staples Center, the "mini-LeBron" of the Desert showed off his handles. After crossing over Jared Cunningham, Bledsoe immediately does a hesitation move, leaving poor Jared crashing to the cameraman. He, however missed the three-point attempt that followed.

Personally, I think Jared was extremely lucky that the camera-man was there, or else we would see him stumbling to the other side of America. Also, this is a PRE-SEASON GAME. Only a basketball-crazy fan will watch an offseason game, much less the second half of that game.(GS)

[INJURY] Ian Sangalang latest victim of the injury bug

Looks like Purefoods' title defense will get a little bit harder.

Purefoods' sophomore big man Ian Sangalang suffered a devastating injury in his right in the 73-93 Star Hotshot defeat against Alaska.

Sangalang awkwardly landed on his right foot after a rebounding battle against Sam Eman. After grimacing in pain on the floor for a few minutes, he got up, shot (and missed) both charities, and limped back on defense. He was substituted afterwards, and immediately went straight to the locker room to get checked on.

Initial readings of the big man's MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) showed two partial tears in the ACL, the same ligament that Derrick Rose tore in 2011, and the MCL, another crucial ligament of the knee .He would have to undergo surgery, and will be sidelined for five to eight months.

“Bad break. First game of the season and he’s out. I have to talk to coach Tim (Cone). Do we need to cut short Ping’s (Marc Pingris’) vacation now. Kung sa akin, ayoko. Ping deserves that vacation.” Purefoods' top official Rene Pardo stated.

With a Grand Slam under their belt, the Star Hotshots have a target behind them. And this latest injury seems to widen the bulls-eye on that target. (GS)

Blatche is the second highest scorer in World Cup

It may be over, but Andray Blatche continues to impress fans around the globe. And a few NBA scouts.

The naturalized big man was the second ranked scorer in the recently concluded FIBA World Cup.Blatche was tied with Croatian Bojan Bogdanovic with 21.2 points per game. Spain's Pau Gasol came at fourth with 20.0 points per outing. Rounding out the top 5 was Argentinian Luis Scola with 19.2 points.

But the leading scorer will surprise you. It's not France's Nicolas Batum, who torched Serbia and Lithuania in his last two games. It js also not tournament MVP Kyrie Irving, who waxed hot in the final game. And no, Jimmy Alapag is NOT the leading scorer.

The best scorer award goes to Puerto Rico's diminuitive point guard, Jose Juan Barea. The guy who broke many a Filipino's heart with 30 points. He normed 22.0 points in 5 games.

Below is the official infographic provided by the FIBA Facebook page.(GS)

Douthit allowed to play in Incheon

After facing contreversy, the Philippines will finally be able to field in a naturalized player.

The Incheon Asian Games Olympic Council has flashed the green light for Marcus Douthit to play at the Asian Games, after Iran and South Korea reportedly seeked to disqualify the said player.

During a technical meeting in Incheon, the decision was formalized. Before the meeting, the Olympic Council of Asia requested that the IAGOC allow Douthit to play.

The IAGOC's rules state that roster changes may be made in an event of an injury, as what happened with Jayson Castro. Since Douthit will come in due to eligibility issues with Andray Blatche, the two teams question the former's qualifications.

With Marcus now allowed to play, Gilas Pilinas will be able to field in a complete 12-man roster comprised of Jared Dillinger and Gary David of Meralco, Jeff Chan and Gabe Norwood of Rain or Shine, Jimmy Alapag and Ranidel De Ocampo of Talk n' Text, LA Tenorio and Japeth Aguilar of Barangay Ginebra, June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel, Marc Pingris of Grand Slam champions San Mig Coffee, and Paul Lee, whose team is still unknown (GS)

He's back: Jimmy Alapag to play once more in Asian Games

Welcome back, Kapitan.

Jimmy Alapag, who has previously decided to retire from international duty, will once again lace his shoes for Team Pilipinas, as per Coach Chot Reyes' tweet

Just finished mtg w Jimmy Alamat, er @JAlapag3 . 2 words - "I'm in." pic.twitter.com/2lbRc2AEuc
— Chot Reyes (@coachot) September 11, 2014

The decision arose from numerous issues, namely, eligibility issues (Blatche, Norwood, and Dillinger), contract issues (Lee), and injuries (Lee again, Pingris, Castro).

The issue-plagued Asian Games start on September 20, though the Philippines will skip the preliminary round as a result of them placing second in the FIBA Asia Championships. They are seeded with continent rivals Iran at Group E. They play a TBA-team on September 23. (GS)

Opinion on Blatche case: If you want the gold medal, then get it by basketball

If you have not been living under a rock for the past few days, you may know that Andray Blatche's nationality is under the microscope right now.

With all the hype surrounding this issue, speculations have emerged that South Korea is blatantly manipulating the rules to win the gold medal.

What I have to say is: If you want it, then get it with basketball.

You (SoKor) want the gold. Everybody loves gold. We'll do anything to get to the top of the podium. But, please, just please, win the medal with basketball. Don't play dirty. Win games to win the gold.

Seriously, you guys are taking it over the top. Maybe you are envious of our achievements, how we managed to stay close against the world's best, while you floundered in your group (no offense, but that's the truth). We know you fear Gilas Pilipinas, admit it or admit it. You know Blatche is a big thorn on your plans. We know you also fear Quincy Davis III and Chinese Taipei.

It's not about Blatche's importance to the team. Heck, we'd be glad to have Big Daddy Marcus back. What we're fighting for is our rights. The rights you have trampled. Give us a solid reason why you disqualified him just now, during the Asian Games you host and not during the 2014 World Cup. (GS)

P.S Shoutout to all G9-Silver reading this!

 

June Mar Fajardo: RELEASE THE KRAKEN!

Since his stint with the Filipino team in the recent FIBA Asia Championships here in Manila, June Mar Fajardo has been a force to reckon with in the PBA. He even won the MVP! Unknown to most of us, the man known as the Kraken has not been this dominant at the start of his career.

Fajardo has been touted as the best rookie of the 2012 draft class. He was a monster during his high school days at the CESAFI tournament in Cebu. His primary rival there was none other than Greg Slaughter, the top center of Barangay Ginebra today. True to predictions, Fajardo was picked first by Petron, because frankly, 6’10 big men are hard to see nowadays.

However, things did not immediately click in place for the Cebuano big man. It wasn’t what many people expected to be. He did not immediately impact the league. Even after a strong Governor’s Cup play, he did not achieve the Rookie of the Year award, losing to Alaska forward Calvin Abueva.

But then came what turned out to be a turning point in his career. Danny Ildefonso, the former prized center of the San Miguel franchise, took the Kraken under his wing. June Mar then blossomed into a full-fledged center, an intimidating silhouette in the low block. He cashed in 20+ points and 15+ rebounds in every outing.

His stay with the Gilas program also helped him tremendously. Even though he was reduced to a bench-warmer in the Philippine squad, numerous practices with then-naturalized center Marcus Douthit became a factor for June Mar.

After an impressive 2014 season, Fajardo finally received his first hardware: the coveted MVP trophy. By that time, “The Kraken” was practically impossible to stop. Give him single coverage, he’ll dominate you. Put a double or triple team on him, he’ll still score or find an open man. No wonder Coach Chot Reyes decided to include June Mar in his final 12-man roster at the grandest basketball stage of all, the FIBA World Cup.

Of course, the detractors pounced at Fajardo’s ineptness at the international stage. They said “Di uubra yan sa FIBA!” “Bangko lang uli yan!” (He won’t be effective in FIBA! He’ll be a bench-warmer again!) For some reason, I also felt that way.

But my oh my! Fajardo proved his detractors wrong in the World Cup. He showed the Filipinos and the world that he can play ball against top-tier big men. He fought for the loose balls, challenged every shot, and tried to grab every rebound that came his way. Heck, he ranked among the most efficient of all players in the FIBA World Cup. In case you’re wondering, the most efficient player was none other than Spain’s Pau Gasol.

Then came the game against the Senegalese. By that time, the Philippines was out of contention for a playoff spot. They were merely playing for pride. Without key players such as Marc Pingris, Ranidel de Ocampo, and Jayson Castro, and Andray Blatche succumbing to foul trouble, June Mar Fajardo stepped up to the plate. He nearly recorded his first international double-double, finishing with 15 points and 8 rebounds en route to an 81-79 overtime win. It was the Philippines’ first win in the World Cup after 40 years.

Truly, June Mar Fajardo  has cemented his spot at the roster. Its just a matter of how will he improve to be better. By then, the Philippines will already be ready to RELEASE THE KRAKEN! (GS)

OCA rules Blatche ineligible for the Asian Games

Guess we won't see Andray live in Korea.

The Olympic Council of Asia stood firm on its decision that Blatche is ineligible to play for the Philippines, despite a letter from FIBA that states the opposite.

The OCA states that they have a rule that a naturalized player must stay in his country for 3 or more years to be considered a citizen of the country. In this case, Blatche, who was naturalized this summer only, is obviously not eligible, at least according to the rules.

It's still unsure if Coach Chot Reyes will replace Blatche with former player Marcus Douthit, or another PBA cager. However, this move adds fuel to the flaming-hot issue that South Korea is blatantly changing the rules to win the gold medal. Earlier, Quincy Davis III, a naturalized player of Chinese Taipei, was disqualified for the same reason. (GS)

Top 5 players who can be playing for Philippines

Though the next World Cup will be at 2019, the Philippines should be selecting today who will eventually don the blue-and-white jerseys for the Philippines. In this article, I'll be showing you guys who I believe can be going off into the 2019 championships.

5. Calvin Abueva (Alaska Aces, Forward)

Calvin Abeuva was initially denied a spot in the Philippine roster, owing to his emotional tendencies and attitude. But it seems The Beast has finally tamed himself, at least with his attitude.

Before, he'd be somewhat like the Lance Stephenson of the PBA. He'll be in your face, and even though he won't blow on your ear, he will taunt you. Today, he will still play sticky defense at you, but he'll be more level-minded, more composed, less foul-happy.

And with a hard-working guy like Abueva, who'll scrap for the boards, fight for the 50-50 balls, and keep a hand up against the world's finest, on the team, its hard to imagine Philippines losing the rebound battle.

4. James Yap (San Mig Coffee, Guard/Forward)

 

Seriously, who won't put James Yap in their make-believe Philippine Team?

It's not just because of his fame, most likely not because of his "looks", it's because of his scoring prowess. He can score at will. He has a million moves, as Mico Halili will put it. He's also an unappreciated rebounder, getting 4.3 boards per contest in his whole career.

But what sets him apart from other scorers is his uncanny ability to score the important shots, the game-winners, the buzzer-beaters. Gilas' shortcomings in the end-game is well-chronicled around the globe. And James Yap has shown this year that he can be your go-to guy when you need clutch scoring.

3. Terrence Romeo (GlobalPort, Point Guard) 

 

Romeo is a 5'11 guard, roughly the same height as other point guards of the Philippine team. While the other guards of the Philippines bring their shooting touch and driving skills, Romeo has both, plus a really nasty crossover set.

Romeo can SIZE (pun not intended) up his defender in more than a hundred ways. He can cross you over then step back for a shot, or do a behind-the-back then a crossover. The possibilities are endless. He also has minor international experience, having played for Manila West, the champs, in the recent FIBA 3x3 Manila Masters tournament. Plus, he also possesses a nasty shooting touch, adding more venom in his already potent arsenal.

Now if he can play better defense...

2. Joachim Thoss (Alaska, Forward/Center)

 

Thoss has been part of the Gilas program for a few years, taking part in the 2012 Jones Cup tournament that the Philippines won. He proved he can play internationally, using those hook shots and others.

I wouldn't wonder if the SBP decides to bring back the Boss to the program, even if he won't play. Heck, he could mentor "The Kraken" June Mar Fajardo, teach him a few tricks Danny Ildefonso forgot in his lesson plan.

But if the need arises, Joachim Gunther (I like that name) Thoss can contribute big time for the Filipinos.

1. Greg Slaughter (Barangay Ginebra, Center)

 

Surprised? Don't be.

All of us probably expect Gregzilla to enter the Philippine training pool if he is invited, and we have every reason to be excited.

Slaughter is a 7-foot behemoth with a soft outside touch, and honestly, having a 7-footer is your lineup is a luxury. Think about it: Gilas can trot out a starting 5 of:

G - LA Tenorio
G - Paul Lee
F - Gabe Norwood
F - June Mar Fajardo
C - Andray Blatche

Then when you sub out Fajardo, you get Greg, effectively creating a twin tower combination. However, he lacks a low post move set, which he should work on sometime.

What is your opinion? Do you agree with these picks? Is there someone you want to be here? (GS)

Blatche cleared to play for Asian Games, says FIBA official

Looks like we'll be seeing the Andray Blatche show live in Incheon.

Top FIBA official Patrick Baumann has confirmed that Blatche is indeed eligible to play for the Philippine squad in the upcoming Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.

“The player that you have prohibited entry is registered in FIBA’s eligibility system as a player for the Philippines and has, in fact, just played several games this past week at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain for that country,” FIBA said in a letter addressed to IAGOC secretary general Kwon Kyungsang, director general Jo Youngha and director Mun Hosung. “It is quite confusing to hear that he is not allowed to compete for the same team just a few weeks later."^[1]

^{The big man, who previously played for the Brooklyn Nets as a back-up for center Brook Lopez, has had a stellar showing in the recent 2014 FIBA World Cup, even though it was his debut in the international stage. He was one of the few people to average a double-double, garnering 21.2 points and 13.8 rebounds per contest.}

^{Without Blatche in the line-up, and the Filipino team nursing injuries with Paul Lee, Jayson Castro, and Marc Pingris, our gold-medal run may turn out to be as hard as winning in the World Cup.}

^{Thankfully, FIBA has said that their rules are implemented in the FIBA-sanctioned tournament, and therefore Blatche can suit up in blue-and-white come September 19.}

^{“I am sure therefore that there must be a misunderstanding and I would kindly request that you review your decision and apply FIBA’s regulations on eligibility for all teams participating in the basketball tournaments at the Asian Games and re-enlist the Filipino player,” the letter wrote. “This would certainly be fair for the athlete concerned and his country. Equally, if the same set of eligibility rules, namely that of the International Federation, is being applied to all international basketball events for national teams across the world, it ensures clarity for the media and the fans alike and credibility for the sport."[1]}

^{For the same reason, Chinese Taipei's Quincy Davis III was also disqualified. (GS)} 
 

^{[1]http://sports.inquirer.net/163506/andray-blatche-should-be-eligible-for-asian-games-says-fiba} 

Who should replace JImmy Alapag?

courtesy of: fiba.com

It's a known fact around the Philippine archipelago that Gilas captain Jimmy Alapag may have played his final game against Senegal. The question that lies ahead of the SBP is: Who can replace The Mighty Mouse? Who can duplicate his outside shooting? His knack for the big shots? His passing proficiency? And more importantly, who can emulate his leadership and attitude? Who will be Gilas Pilipinas' captain?

Sure, Jayson Castro William or LA Tenorio can (and most probably will) replace Jimmy at the point. William is the Best Point Guard in Asia, as shown in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championships. But is he capable of leading this squad at a young age? Can he take and make the game-winners? We have seen him "choke" during the Argentina game, where he miffed a potential game-winner by double-touching at the peak of the jump.

Tenorio, on the other hand, is accustomed to the role of a leader. He's the primary point guard in Barangay Ginebra. He can make those buzzer-beaters. He'll pass the ball like a maestro. The question is: Is he willing to take up the cudgels as a captain? Can he lead an elite group composed of the best players in the league?

Outside of the current squad, we have more players to select from. We have Jayvee Casio and Mark Barroca from Alaska and San Mig, respectively, both of which have represented us with the rest of Gilas 1.0. Then there's Alex Cabagnot, Mike Cortez, Chris Ross, and a lot more. With regards to the youngsters, we'll see Kevin Alas (part of the Philippine cadet pool), Stanley Pringle, the highly touted point guard out of Penn State, and Chris Banchero, a San Miguel (ABL, not the PBA team) team member who was instrumental to their success.

However, one question will still linger around, even if you take in account their skill. Can they lead the now-revitalized Philippine team?

We won't know for sure who will be the Philippines prized point guard, but it will be exciting to see the battle for that spot. (GS)

[VIDEO] Watch Gilas do a cameo in FIBA's official theme song.

Since we're less than 24 hours away from the 2014 FIBA World Cup tip-off, I'd like to give all of the Filipino fans a special treat.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, the official 2014 FIBA World Cup Theme Song "Sube La Copa", by Spanish singer Huecco

While this song is worthy of the Last Song Syndrome, what makes this song special (for Filipinos) is the cameo roles of Gilas stalwarts Gabe Norwood, Ranidel de Ocampo, and Japeth Aguilar. 

Wait, where's Gary David? ANd who knew de Ocampo can bust out some serious dance moves? --GS-- 

Rating the first round of the Draft

IN ANY DRAFT, YOU SHOULD EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED.
Basically, that was the case with this year’s PBA Draft. Only the first overall pick (and to some extent, the eleventh pick) was assured. The rest was in total chaos, so to speak. The only thing left to do is to wonder, how did these teams fare out.
I’ll be handing out report cards on every pick in the first round. In the future though, I may give a grade on every team’s performance in the draft. The grading system is largely based on the team’s needs, the quality of the player, and in the event of a trade, the significance of the traded asset for the draftee.

Round 1 Pick 1 – Stanley Pringle (GlobalPort Batang Pier)

Grade: A-
Pringle was, undeniably, a lock for this spot. After deciding to join the draft, a lot of hype surrounded him, and what lucky team will be able to get hold of him.
Alas, GlobalPort is very, very lucky indeed.
Though Pido Jarencio must find a way on how to rotate him, Alex Cabagnot, and Terrence Romeo in the line-up, Pringle will obviously contribute in his own way, whether it may be in the form of scoring, passing, or rebounding.

Round 1 Pick 2 – Kevin Alas (Rain or Shine Elasto Painters)

Grade: A+
With the imminent departure of star guard Paul Lee, Terry Yu needed an immediate replacement for him.
Then comes Kevin Alas, the Letran standout.
Kevin, having tons of international experience on his belt, has Lee’s upper body strength, the uncanny ability to create for his teammates, and his fearlessness in attacking the rim, whether its a 6’10 center or a 6’0 guard.
His three-point shot, though, is an entirely different story…

Round 1 Pick 3 – Ronald Pascual (Barako Bull Energy, traded to San Miguel Beermen for Duncil, Lanete, 2014 2nd-rounder and 2016 first rounder)

Grade: B+
Honestly, I never expected Ronald Pascual here at #3.
Pascual, an athletic forward with a deadly outside shot, is a great 3rd pick for the Beermen. However, he may find himself scrapping for minutes against the likes of Arwind Santos, Doug Kramer, Justin Chua, Rico Maierhofer, and June Mar Fajardo. Best-case scenario is Pascual  playing alongside Kramer and Fajardo in a big line-up, while at worst, he’ll be SMB’s James Forrester.

Round 1 Pick 4 – Matt Ganuelas (NLEX Road Warriors)

Grade: B+
Although Ganuelas is one of the cornerstones of Sinag Pilipinas, he does not fill NLEX’s (then called Air21) greatest deficiency: a true point guard.
Ganuelas can dish the ball all right, and with that, he is able to play a point forward role. However, his inconsistency within the game, lack of confidence, and a shaky mid-range jumper makes him more of a liability on the offensive end. His defense though is his calling card. He can swat shots like a flyswatter with incredible timing.

Round 1 Pick 5 – Chris Banchero (Alaska Aces)

Grade: A-
Alaska needs a back-up point guard for JVee Casio. Luckily, Chris Banchero fell down the draft ladder this far.
While initially pegged as a top-3 pick, other teams had other things in mind on draft day. It’ll probably be a blessing in disguise for Banchero, as he will have a lot of playing as a primary back-up to Casio.
In any case, Alaska may opt to start Casio and Cyrus Baguio, then Banchero and RJ Jazul will be the relievers.

Round 1 Pick 6 – Rodney Brondial (Barangay Ginebra San Miguel)

Grade: B
Barangay Ginebra fans, rejoice!
Finally, someone who can ably back-up on any of the feared twin towers. Brondial is a 6’5 forward with a rebounding tenacity that rivals that of Marc Pingris. He can also bang bodies with other big men. However, his lateral quickness may be an issue, but that is hardly needed in a triangle offense that Juno Sauler is implementing.
 
Round 1 Pick 7 – Anthony Semerad (San Mig Coffee Mixers, traded to GlobalPort with 2016 1nd-rounder for this pick, 2016 first-rounder, and 2018 second-rounder)

Grade: A-
One-half of the Semerad Twins, Anthony is a strech forward capable of shooting the three-point shot. However, unlike other strech forwards (Jay Washington, Mick Pennisi), Semerad is perfectly capable of posting up against big men, which puts him in a huge advantage.
Surely, Anthony Semerad is an upgrade from the likes of Jewel Ponferada.

Round 1 Pick 8 – Jake Pascual (Barako Bull Energy)

Grade: B+
The man widely known as “The Snake” is probably your average big man: scoring from the post, crashing the boards, occasionally swatting shots. But one thing sets Pascual apart from other bigs; his passing sense. He is 6’5 big man, yet he passes like Gabe Norwood or any other point forward.
And in a team that has an extremely stagnant offense that lacks an efficient reserve big man, Pascual is water in the middle of a desert. A really dry desert.

Round 1 Pick 9 – Jericho Cruz (Rain or Shine Elasto Painters)

Grade: B-
Knowing Rain or Shine already has a lot of go-to guys (Jeff Chan, Gabe Norwood, Beau Belga, to name a few), it’s hard to think where Cruz will go with this team.
With that being said, Coach Yeng Guiao has a knack of making players effective with minimal playing time. Just ask Jervy Cruz and other Rain or Shine bench players. And there is always a place for a scorer in any team.

Round 1 Pick 10 – David Semerad (Barako Bull Energy)
 

Grade: A-
Given the lack of young big men in this team, it only seemed natural that Barako got their hands on David Semerad.
And for good reason.
He may be a bench-warmer in San Beda, but given the minutes, he sure can play. Once upon a time, he led San Beda in a title-clinching match in ’86 with 15 points, 3 boards and a block in 22 minutes. Isn’t that enough proof?

Round 1 Pick 11 – Manny Pacquiao (Kia Sorentos)

Grade: B+
In case you’re wondering, Sorentos is now Kia’s official monicker, derived from one of their car model’s names.
Back to the draft, Kia made a good move getting Pac-man. Why? Because, obviously, Pacquiao is the face of this franchise. He may not play as well as his cousin (who was also drafted by Kia), but he’s probably the only guy the average Juan may know.
Now to prove he can be a good playing coach…

Round 1 Pick 12 – Juami Tiongson (Blackwater Elite)

Grade: A
Though Tiongson never suited up in the D-League, he played in a few ligang labas games for the Elite. And, boy, he did impress! With Blackwater getting two brick-throwing-from-rainbow-country quarterbacks in Paul Artadi and Chris Timberlake, the sweet-shooting guard from Ateneo will prove to be an excellent choice. (GS)

Team USA: An Abundance of Guards

First of all, I would like to apologize to any John Green fans who may have felt insulted with the teeny-tiny reference. However, that is what most defines Team USA today.

The undisputed favorites of this tournament, USA trots out an 15-man lineup with 9 guards. 9. EFFIN. GUARDS. Though you can count some as swingmen (SGs who can play the 3), that is still an awful lot of guards. So how did this situation come about? Lemme tell you how.

Before anyone else, LeBron James, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, and Carmelo Anthony called it quits, deciding to watch the tournament on their screens rather than from the bench. Then came Blake Griffin’s (injury), Kevin Love’s (free agency situation), and LaMarcus Aldridge’s (no one knows) decision to leave the team. Afterwards, Paul George suffered a horrific leg injury that made him miss not only the FIBA World Cup, but the entire NBA season. Lastly, things may have took a turn for the worst when Kevin Durant exited the team for some reason.

However, the overpopulation of 1’s and 2’s in this lineup isn’t as bad as it sounds. If anything, it makes me want to watch USA more (though I support my home team). Any basketball fan will drool when you combine two of these sights:

    a) Kyrie Irving’s insane handles

    b) Steph Curry’s lights-out shooting and overlooked dribbling

    c) Damian Lillard’s athleticism and clutch shooting

    d) Derrick Rose’s energy. ‘Nuff said

What might happen if: you  take all four of them, along with any of two terrific three-point gunners (Kyle Korver and Klay Thompson), a creative offensive specialist (James Harden), a handful of energetic big men (DeMarcus Cousins, Andre Drummond, Paul Millsap, and Kenneth Faried), and one uni-browed freak of nature (Anthony Davis)? You get an automatic semi-final slot in the FIBA World Cup!

 

The reason why I only granted the Americans an assured semi-final slot is because of the gaping hole in the 4 spot. With the absence of notable players such as Love, Aldridge, and James, a void is left at the power forward slot. And if predictions are correct, we may see an early semi-final showdown between USA and Spain, setting up a showdown between the Spanish triumvirate of Pau Gasol, Marc Gasol, and Serge Ibaka, and the American bigs. And frankly, I could not think of how Faried or Drummond can outmuscle Marc, much less his brother Pau.

However, setting aside that notion, I believe that USA still has a strong chance of retaining the title of the world's best basketball nation. Unlike the previous tournaments though, it's not a lock for the crown, mainly because of the lack of natural forwards. -GS-

The Argentines: Powerhouse of Group B

FIBA Men’s Basketball Ranking	3rd
Notable Players	Scola, Luis [F/C, 6’9, 18.8 PPG (2013 FiAm)]
	Prigioni, Pablo [G, 6’3, 4.2 PPG, 6.5 APG (2012 LoOl)]
	Nocioni, Andres [F, 6’7, 10.4 PPG, 4.1 RPG (2011 FiAm)]
	Campazzo, Facundo [PG, 5’10, 13.5 PPG, 6.2 APG (2013 FiAm)]
	Mata, Marcos (F, 6’7, 7.2 PPG, 4.4 RPG (2013 FiAm)]

Argentina is, frankly, the team to beat in Group B. Even without their main weapon, San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili, the roster is completely solid. Though lacking in NBA talent (Nocioni, Prigioni, and Scola are the only NBA players), the remaining team members are able to compete against other NBA-caliber players. Most notable of them is  Facundo Campazzo, who at 5-foot-10 is small compared to other team members. However, his exemplary passing skill, accompanied by a steady three-point shot, to the tune of 41.9 percent from beyond the arc, makes him stand out against the rest of his teammates.

However, if one thing may trip this mighty team, it is their free-throw shooting. Contrary to the popular belief, free throws are of utmost importance to any team, most especially during the end-game. During the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship for Men, where they clinched the 3rd spot, the Argentines shot a measly 68.1% from the charity stripe. This immense free-throw problem may prove to be a wrench in the Argentinian dream for glory.

Notable Player

Pablo Prigioni (PG, 6-foot-3, 185 lbs)

 

Plays for: New York Knicks (NBA)

Prigioni, though not well-known like his teammates Ginobili and Scola, has been an effective contributor to his team, the New York Knicks. Though often seen sitting on the bench, he is already proven to be an effective contributor for his team. He is an effective ball-handler like Campazzo, however, he has a deadlier outside stroke (46.4 percent, mind you), making him the probable scoring leader of this team. Of course, there’s also a chance Scola outwits Father Time and revert to his more lethal form. But until that thought comes to life, the Argentine fans should pray that Prigioni plays his best game every day.