The Hornets will change their logo for the Unibrow!

The Charlotte Bobcats, the most whipped team of the NBA this season, lost the chance to acquire incoming superstar freshman Anthony Davis when they placed second in the 2012 NBA Draft Lottery.

The distinction to acquire Davis from the big man rich rookie pool is in the hands of the New Orleans Hornets. The team lost Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers last season and they had to wait for Eric Gordon to heal up… so they can see him test the waters of free agency. That’s all about to change though – with the Unibrow on the verge of going to Mardi Gras City.

Before the actual draft lottery, the odds looked like this:

TEAM	CHANCE
1 - CHARLOTTE BOBCATS	25.0%
2 - WASHINGTON WIZARDS	19.9%
3 - CLEVELAND CAVALIERS	13.8%
4 - NEW ORLEANS HORNETS	13.7%
5 - SACRAMENTO KINGS	7.6%
6 - PORTLAND (VIA BROOKLYN)	7.5%
7 - GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS	3.6%
8 - TORONTO RAPTORS	3.5%
9 - DETROIT PISTONS	1.7%
10 - NEW ORLEANS (VIA MINN.)	1.1%
11 - PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS	0.8%
12 - MILWAUKEE BUCKS	0.7%
13 - PHOENIX SUNS	0.6%
14 - HOUSTON ROCKETS	0.5%

After the lottery, the 2012 NBA Draft looked a little something like this:

PICK	TEAM
1	NEW ORLEANS HORNETS (4)
2	CHARLOTTE BOBCATS (1)
3	WASHINGTON WIZARDS (2)
4	CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (3)
5	SACRAMENTO KINGS (5)
6	PORTLAND (VIA BROOKLYN) (6)
7	GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (7)
8	TORONTO RAPTORS (8)
9	DETROIT PISTONS (9)
10	NEW ORLEANS (VIA MINN.) (10)
11	PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (11)
12	MILWAUKEE BUCKS (12)
13	PHOENIX SUNS (13)
14	HOUSTON ROCKETS (14)
15	PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
16	HOUSTON (VIA NEW YORK)
17	DALLAS MAVERICKS
18	MINNESOTA (VIA UTAH)
19	ORLANDO MAGIC
20	DENVER NUGGETS
21	BOSTON CELTICS
22	BOSTON CELTICS (VIA CLIPPERS)
23	ATLANTA HAWKS
24	CLEVELAND (VIA LAKERS)
25	MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
26	INDIANA PACERS
27	MIAMI HEAT
28	OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
29	CHICAGO BULLS
30	GOLDEN STATE (VIA CHICAGO)

There were no major surprises in the draft order although clearly the runaway winner of this lottery is the Hornets with the Bobcats, Wizards, and Cavaliers moving down.

Like I said, the talent level of this draft is very deep with Davis, Thomas Robinson, Harrison Barnes, Jared Sullinger, and Andre Drummond packing the size and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Bradley Beal, Jeremy Lamb, Austin Rivers, and Marquis Teague employing the athleticism.

Without any question, this draft should wow people.

But then again… we might see a ton of busts in this batch also.

Game over.

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Zhang Ziyi will make you pay (money or reputation)!

Zhang Ziyi is apparently in the headlines today for “crouching” at some Chinese government official.

The 33-year-old who claimed international fame through The Road Home, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, House of Flying Daggers, Memoirs of a Geisha, Hero, 2046, and the epic cinematic masterpiece that is Rush Hour 2 (whatever happened to Chris Tucker) was allegedly paid two million Singapore dollars to sleep with China’s former Ministry of Commerce Bo Xilai.

I wonder how something that allegedly happened from 2004 to 2007 just got exposed now. My guess is that Bo got caught stealing the people’s money. That’s right – the guy might be corrupt especially if he got Zhang Ziyi to “house” his “flying dagger”.

Zhang Ziyi has been barred to leave China and the girl is awfully pissed at this bad news and she is asking some sort of apology from her detractors because the allegations to destroy her name are “completely untrue” and “extremely ridiculous”.

If you ask me I think whatever she does in her spare time is her business. I also think this is a politically-motivated move by officials who want to get something for a high-profile celeb.

Game over.

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The Spurs are too awesome to fear Thunder

The San Antonio Spurs are flying past the Oklahoma City Thunder and I have no idea how the Thunder will contain the Big Three.

Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden combined for 88 points but the rest of the team were only good for 23 points in Game Two. Derek Fisher and Serge Ibaka also combined for 18 points so that leaves the rest of the five players that played for what…

Five points?

Ugh.

One thing the Thunder managed to not mess up in this game is their ability to mess with Tiago Splitter.

Ugh.

Game over.

When the series goes to Oklahoma City, the crowd needs to erupt. Their confidence level needs to explode and Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Gregg Popovich, and the rest of the Spurs need to falter.

When was the last time a NBA team won a series after falling down 0-3?

None.

Zero.

Game over.

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NBA Philippines: Final Four

Check out my article about my playoff predictions at NBA Philippines.

You can read my blog when you click the link.

If you’re trying to accuse me of being biased with Boston… the guy from Red Hot Chili Peppers – Flea – once had a NBA blog and he only wrote about the Lakers!

Game over!

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The Ube Republic craves for The Snatcher

Wynne Arboleda is Air21’s most decorated star. Sure, one can argue that it’s the hot-shooting Gary David… or the hot-shooting Renren Ritualo… or the hot-shooting big man known to many as Ranidel De Ocampo… and even the hot-shooting-in-the-sense-that-his-fists-shoot-on-other’s-faces Homer Se…

But to me, it’s The Snatcher.

Arboleda has been a fixture for the Lina franchise ever since he donned the Laguna Lakers’ colors of the defunct MBA. He has played 10 and a half seasons with FedEx/Air21/Burger King/Barako Bull and it could be more if we count his days with the Lakers and the Tanduay Rhum Masters (FedEx’ predecessor).

By the way, he is also the closest player to have Triple H’s lifestyle. Arboleda is married to Bert Lina’s daughter and like the Cerebral Assassin it entitles him to a possible shot to leading their basketball empire… like SMC Head of Talent Noli Eala is doing right now.

As of this moment, Wynne Arboleda has been released by the Barako Bull Energy. For five days he will have the “luxury” to join any team he wants. This is like Roger Yap’s deal… except that the B-Meg Llamados “released” him to the ABL’s San Miguel Beermen.

But then again, I guess this is a way for Arboleda to go to the Air21 squad.

Let’s face it – Arboleda doesn’t belong in a Barako Bull jersey. That #19 jersey he held for so long looks bad in the Energy uniform which is probably why he changed his number to 28. The current Air21 lineage version of Barako Bull consists of ex-Barakos Willie Miller, Mick Pennisi, and Leo Najorda as well as former players from the San Miguel Corporation like Danny Seigle, Ronald Tubid, Sunday Salvacion, and Don Allado.

For days we have seen Arboleda’s name in different capacities on dirt sheets. The main cause for this is to put Arboleda to either a title-hungry squad or in Air21. When no deals gained fruition, the Lina franchise decided to do this – release.

For five days, teams must court Arboleda and Air21 is the first team to “get in touch” with his services. There are eight other teams that could come up with an enticing offer to lure Arboleda out of the said offer. Talk N Text is one team who is in need of healthy point guards. Ginebra is another team in need of backup with Jayjay Helterbrand out. And of course, he could reunite with former coach Bo Perasol and Gary David in Powerade.

But it seems like Air21 will acquire Arboleda unless a team checks out his services.

This is not the first time I have encountered the release and sign deal between sister squads. Popular San Miguel cager Yves Dignadice, member of their 1989 grand slam team, was left unsigned by the Beermen in 1998. The entry of Danny Seigle, Rob Duat, and Nic Belasco as well as the resurgence of Danny Ildefonso and Freddie Abuda left the former La Salle standout unwanted.

However during free agency, Dignadice was picked up by SMB’s sister team Barangay Ginebra Kings who was then led by a now-uninspired Marlou Aquino, Bal David, and Noli Locsin. Pido Jarencio and Jayvee Gayoso left for Tanduay, Vince Hizon left Ginebra for the MBA’s Iloilo Megavoltz, and Locsin will later be traded to Pop Cola for Vergel Meneses. El Stampita would play two seasons for the Kings but his final season for the Kings and in the PBA was ruined by injuries (and in some ways, a domestic dispute).

It seems like Arboleda’s playing career is almost over. At 35, he is still young for his position but deep inside he wants to end his career just like how Jojo Lastimosa, Benjie Paras, Kenneth Duremdes, and Alvin Patrimonio ended theirs.

If there is one guy who stayed with the Ube Republic through thick and thin… it is this guy.

Game over.

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Loyalty Swap: Alaska gets busy

For those who are saying that the Alaska Aces will roll over and die…

Well they just upgraded their lineup.

In some sort of an imba-like move, the Alaska Aces have acquired second year player and former Smart-Gilas star RJ Jazul from the Air21 Express for rookie Eric Salamat and a 2012 second round pick.

TALE OF THE TAPE
RJ JAZUL	PLAYER	ERIC SALAMAT
LETRAN	COLLEGE	ATENEO
2010 PBA Draft 15th overall – Rain or Shine	DRAFTED / ELEVATED	2011 PBA Draft 13th overall – Alaska
10.1PPG 2.8RPG 2.6APG 1.1SPG	2011-12 PHILIPPINE CUP STATS	3.0PPG 1.6RPG 1.2APG 0.7SPG
9.2PPG 3.8RPG 3.2APG	2012 COMMISSIONER’S CUP STATS	2.8PPG 0.5RPG 0.5APG
(2 games) 4.5PPG 1.5RPG 4.0APG	2012 GOVERNOR’S CUP STATS	(1 game) 0.0PPG 0.0RPG 0.0APG

One might say RJ Jazul has the advantage because Air21 doesn’t have star power. But more than his playing time, Jazul earned his minutes through his skills and hard work. Jazul is an undersized shooting guard but he upstaged Jojo Duncil, Ogie Menor, JR Aquino, and Hyram Bagatsing as the second man off the bench and at the same time, he took a lot of playing time and shooting opportunities away from should-be Air21 superstar Renren Ritualo.

This is why all of a sudden we have Jazul and Bonbon Custodio providing the bench depth of Alaska. And in some ways, he re-forms his Smart-Gilas days now that he's playing with Mac Baracael. This is a good move for the Aces because they are addressing their problems at the start of the season and taking time to enrich their future. Once the season ends, expect the Aces to address their power forward needs in the 2012 PBA Draft especially if they successfully retain LA Tenorio, Cyrus Baguio, and Sonny Thoss.

But what about Air21?

Franz Pumaren will use Eric Salamat with fervor. Salamat is a well-known clutch player with defensive tenacity in the UAAP and while he failed to deliver in Alaska he should do well under the tutelage of the former DLSU mentor. But just in case Salamat won’t work, the 2012 second round selection is enticing. Air21 could use another pick (I don’t know if Air21 has a first-round pick) and I think they could score big time steal a la Cyrus Baguio, Ronald Tubid, Larry Fonacier, Gerry Esplana, and Ronjay Buenafe.

The Jazul acquisition is Luigi Trillo’s second major lineup adjustment – the first being the swap of Gabby Espinas for Jay-R Reyes.

Looks like he’s trying his best to de-Cone Alaska in the best possible way he knows.

Game over.

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Boston needs to win in Game Two

My C’s.

My poor C’s.

My Boston Celtics lost Game One against the Miami Heat. I can’t blame Miami for the loss because Boston had it coming to them also. The moment I saw Shane Battier and Mike Miller unloading triples in the first half, I knew something was up. It didn’t help that Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo were the only players delivering for Boston.

If Boston’s starting five combine for more than 160 minutes and could only churn up with limited numbers… in the opposing team’s backyard… and the guys that don’t usually hit shots do… then it’s bad news for my C’s.

The nice thing about this though is that they had no answer for Kevin Garnett. The bad news is that they need a person to rotate to Battier, Miller, or Mario Chalmers when these pseudo-power forwards try their luck on the three-point area. I saw Miami’s plan to use their lack of size as a bonus and it might be a good idea for Boston to help Garnett in the outside.

The other nice thing about this game is that except for Garnett’s first half, the whole team was horrendous the entire game. Garnett was 9-for-16 but Paul Pierce, Rondo, and Ray Allen shot 14-of-45. Brandon Bass on the same game was good for 4-of-11. Miami’s collective effort is subject to change depending on how Lebron James reacts to the challenge but I don’t see the stars aligning for another all-Celtic meltdown.

James and his sidekicks were at best here. Dwyane Wade seconded James’ 32 points and 13 rebounds with 22 points and 7 assists. Shane Battier scored 10 points and more importantly, unleashed 10 rebounds is unacceptable.

Game Two should be awesome.

Hopefully it will warrant to a different result.

Game over.

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