Loyalty Swap: Commish's Fair Trade Fair

Global Port will be losing youth but will add experience to back Gary David. 

As former PBA governor JB Baylon would have it…

Hooray for direct trades!

This trade is one helluva carousel for the five teams involved and except for Petron’s loot, I’d say all the deals that happened are right on the money.

Starting with Alaska’s idea to ditch the services of LA Tenorio, seven identified and two unidentified (yet) players went merry-go-round on what is to be one of the better trades I have seen in years. Like I said, Commissioner Chito Salud has a clear thought on what the PBA should be all about and the last thing he wants to have here is a label that he is some patsy to some organization.

Whoever said these trades are stupid… go burn yourself.

Anyway, here’s how the trades turned out for the respective teams:

Trade 1:	Barako Bull receives: Enrico Villanueva	Ginebra receives: Willie Miller
Trade 2:	Ginebra receives: JV Casio	Global Port receives: Willie Miller Ginebra’s 2014 first round pick
Trade 3:	Alaska receives: JV Casio Ginebra’s 2015 second round pick	Ginebra receives: LA Tenorio
Trade 4:	Alaska receives: Dondon Hontiveros	Petron receives: Wesley Gonzales Hans Thiele

Anyway to milk the hell out of this situation, I’m going to have an individual team rundown on the various trades and transactions that happened. Looking at the bigness of the names and teams involved, it will be sucky if I just do shitty one-liners.

With that said, this is how trades should be like. This is not like the 2006 Ginebra/Barako Bull/Coca-Cola trade that sent Rafi Reavis, Billy Mamaril, and Rudy Hatfield to Ginebra for a bunch of cannon fodders. This is a trade that required a lot of talent, salary cap restrictions, and mindfucking a lot of people.

The best part of the trade for me is the one that had Global Port in it. They solved their lack of a second scorer for Gary David in Willie Miller and will have a chance for a Top 5 player with the Ginebra pick. At this stage you’re going to be surprised that Ginebra’s bench isn’t that deep anymore and there’s a chance that the retirements and injuries to some of their stars could give them necessary leeway.

I think the worst trade for me is obviously the Petron one – a team that needs to clear their salary space than add more players. Petron’s offseason has been that way and the mighty squad they have now fails in comparison with their other versions.

Game over.

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Arvie Bringas' spitting image

Former DLSU Archer and current FEU Tamaraw Arvie Bringas received a two-game penalty for releasing his mouth fluids on Atenean Justin Chua. That looks good and all but with this act of deviance he terminates his chance of winning the MVP award (haha) just like the atrocity Calvin Abueva did a couple of weeks back.

So what Bringas did was bad for a lot of people but here are five spitters whose actions are well-received.

5 – MILEY CYRUS

It was a tossup between a llama and Miley Cyrus. People love animals and this is why the camel-like creature almost made the list. But the fact that this is Miley, she needs a spot on the list. Plus The Climb isn’t really a bad song (especially when other people cover it).

4 – SPITTER

This Left 4 Dead character is a villain… but seeing your friends shriek like little girls at the sight of her unleashing gaseous acids is enough to love her… unless you are the one getting the damage.

3 – RUSTY CARTWRIGHT

For those who don’t know this guy, “Spitter” is a college geek in Greek who also wants to be a frat boy. He got his name because he hurled on a barely-dressed chick as he was just applying for the Kappa Tau fraternity.

2 – SQUIRTLE

For those who played the game and watched the series, this Pokemon character is an overly happy blue turtle who gets the better of his opponents by blasting them with water. There is another meaning of the word but I won’t state it because it involves female sex organs and the fluids that don’t involve urine.

  

1 – TRIPLE H

Like him or hate him his entrance is one of the best in the history of the WWE. He starts off looking like John Wayne with a water bottle in tow and then when he climbs the ropes, he drinks water and throws the bottle to the crowd. He then looks at the audience before spray everyone with his Game Fountain.

What man has not done this while taking a shower?

With all seriousness, Bringas needs to clean up his act because while Joseph Yeo, Bonbon Custodio and Macmac Cardona managed to play in the PBA amidst their collegiate controversies, unless he does well then I doubt if he’ll have a career after his UAAP stint (ask Brian Ilad). There’s a good way and bad way of getting attention and unless he averages more than 15 points and 8 rebounds after this season, he can kiss his hopes of making a career of basketball especially with the way he is keeping his emotions in check.

Game over.

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Who knew playing for flag and country is a bad idea?

A couple of hours ago, people are castigating veteran sportscaster Ronnie Nathanielsz for his false accusations that LA Tenorio will be shipped out of the Alaska Aces as payback for telling everyone that Alaska wanted to bar him from playing in the Jones Cup.

A few hours later, people are probably thinking that he’s Rufus from the Bill and Ted series… or Doc Brown from the Back to the Future trilogy.

Tenorio, the 2012 Jones Cup MVP, is probably right in his words… but he could have just shut his mouth had he known that he will open up this kind of predicament.

Alaska has been going Spartan nowadays in their attempt to regain their former glory. As Luigi Trillo heads for his first full PBA season as coach, he has instructed his players to concentrate their powers for the betterment of the squad. This is why we saw the sudden exodus of Topex Robinson in the San Sebastian forefront and Leo Austria leaving the team than relinquishing his throne as coach and athletic director of the Adamson Soaring Falcons.

A three-way trade is in the works that could probably involve Tenorio, Enrico Villanueva, Wesley Gonzales, Mike Cortez, Hans Thiele, Elmer Espiritu, JV Casio, and Josh Vanlandingham. This is a way for Ginebra to fill their need in the point guard spot and at the same time make Tenorio’s attempt to play for Smart-Gilas in the 2014 FIBA-Asia Championship difficult.

It’s also a tool to enhance the talent depth of Global Port.

But it’s not as if people care about them right now.

This trade revolves around Tenorio’s ouster from Alaska, his future with the Smart-Gilas squad, and why did Alaska deal Tenorio to a team that isn’t that willing to lend their players to the National Team.

I had a classmate who acts like this. He would rather act like I douche than save a friend.

His tummy then grumbled and he went to the bathroom and the bullies ganged up on him as he was shitting and good name was zapped in an instant because no one wanted to get on his side.

High school is bad for some people.

And just like high school… wait… kindergarten… people love it when at an early age, kids learn to share their stuffs.

Anyway, I hope Ginebra San Miguel (the team that would likely get Tenorio) will use him well because it seems as if Alaska could care less of what will happen to him. I thought Alaska was in cahoots with Team MVP because when Luigi Trillo cried foul in MVP’s plan to keep Cliff Hodge and Chris Ellis in the Smart-Gilas PBA D-League pool, the Piltel group answered back by “liberating” the two players. And yet, despite all directions pointing to Hodge getting the nod at number 2, Trillo suddenly took Calvin Abueva. Had the two stayed for a year and judging from how the 2012 PBA Draft turned out, Chris Tiu could have been the clear choice of Meralco (Piltel is currently pleading to the Rain or Shine owners to release Tiu from their cudgels).

Maybe Alaska has other plans but seriously how I wished they timed their move well. Their timing is as off as tourists visiting Nagasaki and Hiroshima in time for the atomic bomb drop. If they want to be branded as random slurs by the PBA fans, try visiting the various forums and the sports websites when this deal pushes through.

Game over.

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Act responsibly in order to be dealt responsibly

Senator Tito Sotto wants to regulate blogging.

This is a very unpopular decision for most of my blog-mates. I have been writing blogs in Multiply, Wordpress, Live Journal, and Blogspot for a decade now and I have had my share of ups and downs.

I actually have severed a lot of ties because I wanted to dish out the facts “as I see it”.

Hell, the effort I put on my page just to have a consistent 300 or more visitors is super tiring. If you’re frustrated when you visit my site filled with pop up ads, you should see my face when I see how much my site earns in a day. A typical article can be written as quick as five minutes and as complicated as five days… and more.

But I am doing this to make my voice be heard… as well as making an online portfolio for future financial opportunities. I just discovered that blogging can make me popular and the importance of writing with stats and research gave me a chance to write in Hoops Basketball, Unblogged, and NBA Philippines.

However I have my own set of rules as well. One of these rules has me declining any false information. Unlike news reporters who tell the actuality of an incident, bloggers are restricted to merely comment on a rumor or a real news story.

I do not hate Tito Sotto for his statement. He is also entitled to speak his mind because all of us have the right to speak our minds. However I think he is barking up the wrong tree. Bloggers are partly responsible for cyberbullying but he also needs to look at the commenters. Try looking at the AKTV website and check out how the readers with their absurd callsigns call out uproar by saying hurtful things on a particular team or player. They will write a very cute argument on how cute and mighty their favorite player is and curse their most hated player even if he is not part of the story.

I am not a fan of the RH Bill but I will endorse that bill just to rid myself of irrational, unintelligent, foul-mouthed trolls.

I honestly think that yeah, bloggers could tone down their emotions a bit but I don’t think blogging needs more restrictions. For one, bloggers are already in the deep end of the online writing food chain. Like I said, the thought that you need to write a slew of words just to interest 100 or more readers is painstaking. It doesn’t help that bloggers just take out materials on the internet where there’s a possibility to anger people. And finally there are laws like libel, harassment, copyright infringement and a lot of things that could lead to jail time. A nice way to “soften the blow” is by being less harsh when delivering criticism. By writing words like “forgive me”, “pardon my intrusion”, and “people will hate me” means I am accepting that I may be writing an unpopular sentiment. Also, by politely informing the people of the reason behind the blog, you are free from prejudice from your subject. This move is not cowardly, especially if you want people to take your message seriously. Honestly, there are a lot of people online that mistake bravery with stupidity. 

And just like “drunk dialing or texting”, a person must be sane enough to understand that nothing good comes out from “angry blogging”.

Chot Reyes is one personality that has seen hell on Twitter but while there are hecklers, there are also a lot of Chot fans online. The same goes to Snow Badua and in some ways PBA diehard fans versus PBA diehard fans. I don’t want to say anything about Tito Sotto’s opinion (especially the reason behind it) but I believe fads fade away.

People are entitled to give out their opinions whatever way they want to deliver it.

Game over.

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Pingris to Smart Gilas 2: Make it happen!

Original photo from the AKTV website (Paul Ryan Tan) 

With Chot Reyes’ recent Jones Cup victory, it will be ludicrous to badmouth him.

His harshest critics need to stop pissing on him because he’s basically in the alley of Ron Jacobs right now… and Tim Cone as the coaches who stirred Team Pilipinas to Jones Cup glory.

So when Reyes talked to the media and told them that he wants San Mig Coffee Marc Pingris in his squad, his usual naysayers thought this idea is logical. Undoubtedly, Pinoy Sakuragi is one of the worst kept secrets of B-Meg’s success. As James Yap and Peter June Simon helped Denzel Bowles in scoring, Ping made it known that he is Tim Cone’s man on the inside. Pingris has Dennis Rodman-like tendencies when it comes to hounding the ball and he fared extremely well against the 7-foot imports of the Commissioner’s Cup.

And perhaps the most important trait of Pingris is that he is a team player. He will hustle for the ball, protect his teammates from their tormentors, sacrifice whatever it takes to win, and unselfishly pass the ball to an open ally. Whether he plays forty minutes or four minutes, expect this guy to give the people a run for their money.

When Reyes called out Pingris to join Smart-Gilas, it was a farfetched idea. A secret to no one, Pingris is part of the San Miguel Corporation. Of the SMC players that joined Smart-Gilas, Enrico Villanueva is the only player to heed the call. SMC had no problem seeing E-Vil in a Smart-Gilas jersey because he is merely a second string center with the Barangay Ginebra Kings. Not Pingris though.

Anyway with the outcome of the Smart-Gilas campaign, a lot of SMC players saw light – Marcio Lassiter and Arwind Santos included. This Smart-Gilas squad lacked size and preparation… but these guys were armed with tremendous heart.

So should Ping join Smart-Gilas?

More than anything else, he will be an important part of the Smart-Gilas system. He will give Marcus Douthit the help he gave Bowles and Reyes would love this. Of course, Ping won’t be like Ranidel De Ocampo who can score beyond the charity stripe but at least Reyes could refrain from using Gabe Norwood and even Larry Fonacier as power forwards.

It will also give SMC a part of the action… with MVP getting the dibs of the love because of his continued commitment for the re-rise of Philippine basketball in the international scene. For SMC though, they need to convince Chot to at least add two more players in their talent pool. This move will at least give SMC a 25 to 33 percent of making people think that they indeed give a damn for flag and country. James Yap is one player that should be in Chot Reyes’ wish list because he loves to hit the clutch shots and he is well aware that he needs to unload a lot of three-point bombs.

The other? I think Marcio Lassiter is talented enough to play three positions for the squad.

But maybe Reyes needs to ask SMC to help him sway Pingris. There is a reason why Pingris did not sign a letter of intent and while being part of the SMC is one thing, maybe there’s another. Contract issues did not stop LA Tenorio from play for Smart-Gilas and he was rewarded for his decision.

With the FIBA-Asia Champions Cup (Stankovic Cup) right around the corner, Chot Reyes hopes that his best impersonation of the Pied Piper will land him of the missing piece he wants to exist in Japan.

Game over.

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Sydrified Special: Top Ten Coca-Cola Tigers of All-Time

As the 38th PBA Season nears, we say adieu to the team that shocked and awe a lot of PBA fans – the Coca-Cola/Powerade Tigers. The exit of JB Baylon, the exodus of Marcio Lassiter and Doug Kramer, and San Miguel Corporation’s re-acquisition of Coca-Cola Bottlers were enough reasons to signal the end of the Powerade Tigers franchise.

Taking over the ruins of the RFM Franchise in 2002, the franchise were powerhouses especially when they used the name Coca-Cola Tigers. When the team debuted, their coach was Chot Reyes who previously worked alongside Tim Cone in Alaska and claimed a couple of championships at the helm of Purefoods. Chot Reyes is one of the many Alaska members in the roster that also included 1996 Alaska grand slam members Johnny Abarrientos, Poch Juinio, Chris Bolado, and Jeffrey Cariaso. They also had a couple of MBA veterans in Rafi Reavis, Ato Morano, Estong Ballesteros, and Rudy Hatfield and a few college upstarts in Leo Avenido, Allan Gamboa, Gilbert Lao, and Jojo Manalo. They also had Pop Cola holdover William Antonio and San Miguel’s defensive specialist Freddie Abuda and this was the core of the 2002 PBA All-Filipino Champions. Their title win was the first time a PBA team won a title during their maiden season. The entry of former Alaska superstar Bong Hawkins, former MBA veterans Reynel Hugnatan and Rob Wainwright, Atenean Jeck Chia, and import extraordinaire Artemus “Tee” McClary gave the team their second and last championship.

The closest attempt for the title the franchise got after the 2003 PBA Reinforced Conference was the 2011-12 PBA Philippine Cup where Gary David, JV Casio, Marcio Lassiter, Sean Anthony, Doug Kramer, Coach Bo Perasol, and others tried their best to fight off the Talk N Text surge. This is to think that this was Powerade’s finest lineup ever since their slump in 2004.

When SMC relinquished its grip on Coke, they raided the team with its players. We all know that SMC is a rich corporation but maintaining four franchises was a burden for them. In 2005, Cariaso returned to Alaska alongside Hugnatan for Ali Peek and John Arigo and Rudy Hatfield was still in the United States ticked off at the Philippine government for branding him as a Fil-Sham (he proved his citizenship is legal). In 2006, Ginebra made a superbly imbalanced trade when they acquired the comebacking Hatfield, Billy Mamaril, and Reavis for a couple of not-so-big time players. Abarrientos signed with the Kings as well as a free agent while Poch Juinio will now see action in Talk N Text.

The Tigers tried luck with young stars like Alex Cabagnot, Ronjay Buenafe, Joseph Yeo, and Denok Miranda, as well as hiring a couple of established veterans like Kenneth Duremdes, Dennis Espino, Norman Gonzales, and Asi Taulava to no avail.

I will break down to you my Top Ten Coca-Cola/Powerade Tigers of all-time after this important message.

Feel free writing your thoughts and suggestions but I hope you know that your comments reflect on how your parents raised you.    

TABLE 1: Coca-Cola/Powerade draft picks since 2002  

2002	2 – Rafi Reavis 10 – Leo Avenido 11 – Gilbert Lao 17 – Jojo Manalo 25 – Jason Misolas	2007	11 – Ronjay Buenafe
2003	9 – Reynel Hugnatan 28 – Jeck Chia 35 – Jeffrey Sanders	2008	None
2004	10 – Gary David 19 – Manny Ramos 24 – Rhagnee Sinco 27 – Warren Ybanez	2009	14 – Francis Allera 20 – PJ Walsham
2005	3 – Denok Miranda 11 – Neil Raneses 12 – Al Magpayo	2010	18 – Jai Reyes
2006	3 – Joseph Yeo 12 – RJ Rizada 14 – MC Caceres 15 – Chris Pacana 16 – Mike Gavino 17 – Ronjay Enrile	2011	1 – JV Casio 4 – Marcio Lassiter 21 – Marc Agustin

Note: Amongst the draftees only Rhagnee Sinco, Al Magpayo, and PJ Walsham didn’t play in the PBA.

Anyway… Game starts now!

10 ALEX “CRUNCHMAN” CABAGNOT

2006 – 10  

Cabagnot’s Powerade stint was an important shot in the arm for his playing career. While he was the guy that conquered all of Mark Caguioa’s high school records, his PBA career is nothing but turbulent then. He went AWOL twice as a Sta. Lucia Realtor and it ticked off Buddy Encarnado. For Encarnado, having another Rob Parker is overkill as it is… even if he is the second pick overall of the 2005 PBA Draft. Cabagnot was packaged to the Tigers to make the super expensive contract of Kenneth Duremdes enticing (the only big name that the Realtors got was Miranda). Playing in Coke, he blossomed and he was happy handing out the assists and playing extremely heavy minutes. Sure the Tigers barely saw playoff action but it was a nice way for teams to check out Cabagnot’s improvement. Cabagnot would then be dealt to the Air21 Express where he played briefly before moving to the San Miguel Beermen.

9 EDWARD “POCH” JUINIO

2002 – 06

2x PBA Champions

4x Finals appearances

In 2001, Alaska traded aging starters Johnny Abarrientos and Poch Juinio (both from Alaska’s grand slam squad of 1996) in a blockbuster trade that also involved Ali Peek and Jon Ordonio. As part of the Pop Cola Panthers, Juinio saw his evolution as the fifth option to a key post up figure. Finally people are seeing Juinio as if he’s the reincarnate of Abet Guidaben, who is also a late bloomer in terms of superstar status. Sadly, Juinio’s attempt to become a basketball A-lister was tarnished when the Panthers became the Tigers and the team took in Cariaso, Abuda, and Reavis. He is an extremely reliable inside threat though (he is an underrated post up scorer) and his feats helped the Alaska “refugees” crush their opponents during the height of their powers. Juinio didn’t get into any Mythical selection in the span of his career but to everyone’s eyes his name is synonymous to winner.

8 WILL ANTONIO

2002 – 12

2x PBA Champions

5x Finals appearances

Players came and went but Will Antonio is one of the constants of the franchise. He came to the team when Pop Cola traded Nic Belasco and Dwight Lago to San Miguel for him and “The Bull” Nelson Asaytono (I’m not sure if Boybits Victoria was also part of this trade). When the team went from Panthers to Tigers, Antonio became an integral part of the team’s slasher and shooter rotation. Injuries sidelined him in the mid-2000s and he made an important decision to retire in 2007. He was still part of the squad as assistant coach though (this is probably the same deal Gerard Francisco got) and his conditioning became handy when in the 2010-11 season, he was asked back by Bo Perasol to suit up again for the squad. While his comeback is a success, he is wise enough to know that he can always return to coaching when he has served his purpose. He is the only Tiger to play in all of the five finals series they have participated in.

7 ALI “MAN MOUNTAIN” PEEK

2005 – 08

It is no secret that Ali Peek started his career with Pop Cola when he was drafted third overall in the 1998 PBA Draft. Picked behind Danny Ildefonso and Noy Castillo, you can see that the man built like a weapon of mass destruction has the tools to make it big. Tim Cone saw his potential and he’d rather see two of his grand slam boys away than miss out the chance on the Man Mountain. Cone did let go of Peek alongside John Arigo for Cariaso and Hugnatan following his all-Fil-Am squad failed to give him titles. Peek was also the person Coke needed since Rudy Hatfield has yet to return from his citizenship woes and Arigo then was a white hot scoring sensation. Peek would leave again after three and a half seasons in a one-on-one deal for Asi Taulava (a trade that shocked people). Peek might have bounced from team to team in his career but at least he always gets traded with the best players.

6 “RAPPING” RAFI REAVIS

2002 – 06

2x PBA Champions

4x Finals appearances

1x Most Improved Player

Reavis is the blurred guy. 

Rafi Reavis got his first taste of fame as the “other” big guy in the San Juan Knights roster alongside Bonel Balingit and Omanzie Rodriguez. When the Knights folded, he applied for the 2002 PBA Draft and was picked second overall by the Coca-Cola Tigers in their first PBA season (which is why he was the first player to get drafted by the Tigers). His rookie year was so-so and despite being a threat defensively, Poch Juinio was on top of the Tigers’ center position. In San Juan he was almost unstoppable on the inside but in the PBA, he needed to mark his niche because the talent here was far better than the MBA. In 2003, his role got further with the injury to Juinio and up to this day it was the only season that he averaged in double figures in scoring (10.4ppg). He also bagged the Most Improved Player crown in that season. He ended his campaign in Coca-Cola when he got involved in the controversial trade that sent Reavis to Ginebra.  

5 GARY “EL GRANADA” DAVID

2004; 2009 – 12

1x Finals appearance

1x Mythical Five

In 2004, the former Montana Pawnshop ace was drafted tenth by the Tigers. While he was picked lower than expected, being picked tenth was not so bad then especially it was the same position Jimmy Alapag had when he won the Top Rookie honors the season before. David did not finish the season with Coke as he was traded to FedEx where he became the explosive scorer he is now. David then returned to the Tigers with Chico Lanete for Alex Cabagnot and Wesley Gonzales. David considered this trade a perfect fit since it reunited him with the man who gave him the green light to shoot in FedEx/Air21 – Bo Perasol. I think his exploits is still fresh in our minds as he averaged 25 points and more in a season of the first time since Alvin Patrimonio’s feat in 1993. He was one 20-point game short of tying the record for most consecutive 20 points with 19. In the Tigers’ last PBA season, he was voted to the Mythical Five and more importantly helped Powerade back to the PBA Finals.

4 JOHNNY “FLYING A” ABARRIENTOS

2002 – 06

2x PBA Champions

4x Finals appearances

1x Mythical Ten

1x All-Defensive Team

In the 1990s, Johnny Abarrientos was synonymous to basketball supremacy. He was the leader of Alaska’s grand slam drive and in the process he became the first Alaska player to win a MVP award. However constant injuries and “other” problems made his stock decline (he never averaged in double figures in the 2000s). When he was traded to Pop Cola which eventually became Coca-Cola, he had a vendetta with Alaska. While his scoring has diminished, there are still other facets to the Flying A’s game that is a cut above the rest like playmaking and defense. From 2002 to 2003, the Tigers engaged in four finals where they won two and leading the way for them was the orchestrations of Abarrientos. One of his most memorable finals appearances was during the 2002 All-Filipino Finals where he played like the Johnny A of old before he got injured and sidelined in Game 3. The Tigers already with Cariaso, dedicated their game to their injured teammate which clinched the championship for them.

3 ASI “THE ROCK” TAULAVA

2007 – 10

2x Mythical Five

1x Mythical Ten

1x All-Defensive Team

Let’s face it – despite the deportation issues – we knew Asi Taulava will always be synonymous to Talk N Text. Taulava is a former MVP and aside from being an unstoppable force, he is a marketable endorser (Asi had an acting stint in the Viva Films Bewitched-inspired movie Jeannie, Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang which also stars Robin Padilla and Judy Ann Santos). This is why PBA fans’ jaws collectively dropped when The Rock was sent to the Tigers for fellow inside monster Ali Peek. Taulava at 34 was getting fewer minutes under then TNT coach Derrick Pumaren which is why people thought Taulava’s career is going downhill with the move. But the trade angered the giant, especially since he didn’t want to leave. Teaming up with Alex Cabagnot, Ronjay Buenafe, Mark Telan, and the rest of the Tigers, Taulava and company made sure other teams will not underestimate them (eventually Gary David and Nic Belasco will join them). In almost three and a half seasons, Taulava received two Mythical Five and one Mythical Ten citations before returning to Piltel via the expansion team Meralco Bolts.

2 RUDY “H-BOMB” HATFIELD

2002 – 06 

2x PBA Champions

4x Finals appearances

1x Mythical Five

1x BPC

1x Finals MVP

2x Defensive Player of the Year

2x All-Defensive Team

It all started in 2001 when Coca-Cola’s predecessor Pop Cola acquired Rudy Hatfield and Pido Jarencio from Tanduay for Noli Locsin. Locsin was acquired by the Panthers in a one-on-one trade that sent long-time star player Vergel Meneses to Ginebra. Hatfield is an undersized power forward with a nice knack to haul points and rebounds and this stint will be his ticket to fame. In Pop Cola’s final PBA season, Hatfield scored a Mythical Second Team selection he will repeat the feat when the team became Coca-Cola. With the ingredients perfectly placed, Hatfield and the Alaska connection sealed their first title with him as the Finals MVP. During his stint with the Tigers, he reaped a lot of accolades and at this point, people were seeing how awesome his game is. Unfortunately, he over-impressed a lot of people that he was casted out as a Fil-Sham. Hatfield played just 16 games in two seasons as he was suspended indefinitely. When his name was cleared he resented those who thought he was a fake Filipino. He will return to the PBA but this time, he will be part of the controversial trade to Ginebra.

1 JEFFREY “THE JET” CARIASO

2002 – 05

2x PBA Champions

4x Finals appearances

2x Mythical Five

1x BPC

1x Finals MVP

1x All-Defensive Team

#22 retired by team

To understand the impact of The Jet’s entry to Coke, let’s see how he got here. It all started when Cariaso and “The Scavenger” Freddie Abuda were traded to Coca-Cola by the FedEx Express (its predecessor was the trade-crazy Tanduay Rhum Masters) for the number 8 pick of the 2002 PBA Draft and a future second round choice (the number 8 pick turned out to be Renren Ritualo). Before his entry to Tanduay, he was involved in a three-team trade that also included Mark Telan (from Tanduay to Shell) and Victor Pablo (from Shell to Mobiline). Before that he was Alaska’s key wingman in their grand slam run in 1996. Aligning himself with Chot Reyes, Johnny Abarrientos, Poch Juinio, and Rudy Hatfield, they vowed to change the landscape of the league. During Coke’s finals showdown against Alaska, Cariaso was sidelined due to injury. But against the San Miguel Beermen in the 2003 PBA Reinforced Cup, he tormented SMB in seven games and in the process was named Finals MVP. Jeffrey Cariaso despite playing briefly for the Tigers wowed the hearts of the Coke fans and management because he brought an era of good feeling. In some ways, he could have been the MVP if he and Hatfield didn’t battle for the plum (Asi Taulava won the MVP in 2003) Because of his accomplishments he was the only other player besides Kenneth Duremdes to have his number retired.

If I would make a Top 20 list, I’ll probably include the major contributors of the team’s Golden Era like Ato Morano, Reynel Hugnatan, and Robert Wainwright, former Alaska players John Arigo, Nic Belasco, Bong Hawkins, and Kenneth Duremdes, Coca-Cola/Powerade draftees Marcio Lassiter, Ronjay Buenafe, Sean Anthony, Joseph Yeo, Denok Miranda, and JV Casio, and even veterans like Dennis Espino, Mark Macapagal, Doug Kramer, Dale Singson, Ricky Calimag, Jason Misolas, Leo Avenido, and Norman Gonzales.  

Before Ginebra dubbed their selves as the masters of the Christmas Day wars, Coca-Cola prevailed against Alaska and won the 2002 PBA All-Filipino Title on December 25. As I said, 2002 and 2003 were the Tigers’ most important years. After the citizenship row messed up the career of Rudy Hatfield and with Cariaso returning to Alaska, things weren’t the same for the Tigers. There was even a point where the team a lot too much small forwards and shooting guards but only had Mike Gavino as their center.

At least the team went out with a bang. Gary David and the Smart-Gilas tandem (Casio and Lassiter or Casio, Rabeh, and Guevarra) provided new hope for the franchise. As the team transitions to Global Port, we wish the Batang Pier to have the same success the Tigers had.

Until next time.

This is The Sydrified showing off... and thanks for showing up. 

Game over.

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Sydrified on NBA Philippines: Top NBA Nicknames based on flight

Every Tuesday I have a column at the NBA Philippines website.

Premiering this week is my Top Ten most spot on nicknames that has sky, space, and universe revolving on it. This is my basketball-related tribute to one of the biggest icons of the 20th century, Mr. Neil Armstrong. His Airness will definitely be in here but can you see where The Alien, Apollo 33, or the Shaolin Space Ninja will land on?

Click the link here!

Game over!

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College Clash 2012: Second Edition

For Those keeping tabs, I condone players that destroy arena property.

Just kidding.

It’s a shame that Calvin Abueva had to miss the MVP award with that major lapse of judgment because it looks to me that he will enter the PBA as the top college man. Ian Sangalang will probably get that distinction this year for the NCAA side… while Karim Abdul is powering UST and his bid to become the first foreigner MVP since Anthony Williams in 1980.

Welcome to College Clash – a look at the best individual performances of this college year.

It’s now time to check out the list on who is hot and who is not in the world of college basketball.

Game starts now.

RANK	LSTWK	LEAGUE	NAME	TEAM
1	1	NCAA	CALVIN ABUEVA	SAN SEBASTIAN
2	2	UAAP	BOBBY RAY PARKS	NATIONAL
3	3	UAAP	KARIM ABDUL	SANTO TOMAS
4	4	NCAA	NOUBE HAPPI	E. AGUINALDO
5	6	NCAA	IAN SANGALANG	SAN SEBASTIAN
6	5	NCAA	KEVIN ALAS	LETRAN
7	7	NCAA	EARL THOMPSON	PERPETUAL HELP
8	9	UAAP	GREG SLAUGHTER	ATENEO
9	8	UAAP	TERRENCE ROMEO	FAR EASTERN
10	14	UAAP	ERIC CAMSON	ADAMSON
11	10	UAAP	ROI SUMANG	EAST
12	11	NCAA	MIKE PARALA	MAPUA
13	15	UAAP	JERON TENG	LA SALLE
14	13	UAAP	EMMANUEL MBE	NATIONAL
15	16	UAAP	NORBERT TORRES	LA SALLE
16	21	NCAA	SHANE KO	LYCEUM
17	29	NCAA	JAKE PASCUAL	SAN BEDA
18	25	NCAA	JAM CORTES	LETRAN
19	24	NCAA	BYRON VILLARIAS	JOSE RIZAL
20	27	UAAP	ALJON MARIANO	SANTO TOMAS
21	19	NCAA	JOHN LOPEZ	JOSE RIZAL
22	20	NCAA	KEN IGHALO	MAPUA
23	17	NCAA	RONALD PASCUAL	SAN SEBASTIAN
24	33	NCAA	BASER AMER	SAN BEDA
25	12	UAAP	RODNEY BRONDIAL	ADAMSON
26	23	NCAA	NATE MATUTE	JOSE RIZAL
27	18	UAAP	MARK LOPEZ	STATE U
28	32	UAAP	RR GARCIA	FAR EASTERN
29	22	NCAA	CHRIS CAYABYAB	LYCEUM
30	31	UAAP	KIEFER RAVENA	ATENEO
31	26	NCAA	JETT VIDAL	PERPETUAL
32	34	NCAA	KEVIN RACAL	LETRAN
33	46	NCAA	JOHN PINTO	ARELLANO
34	35	UAAP	JERIC FORTUNA	SANTO TOMAS
35	30	UAAP	NICO SALVA	ATENEO
36	28	NCAA	JOSAN NIMES	MAPUA
37	40	NCAA	JUAN TAHA	ST. BENILDE
38	42	NCAA	CARLO LASTIMOSA	ST. BENILDE
39	38	UAAP	ANTHONY HARGROVE	FAR EASTERN
40	48	NCAA	ROCKY ACIDRE	ARELLANO
41	36	NCAA	ARIYO BABEYEMI	PERPETUAL
42	39	NCAA	MARK ROMERO	ST. BENILDE
43	41	UAAP	YUTIEN ANDRADA	LA SALLE
44	DNQ	NCAA	JAMES FORRESTER	ARELLANO
45	DNQ	NCAA	JOHN TAYONTONG	E. AGUINALDO
46	44	UAAP	LA REVILLA	LA SALLE
47	49	NCAA	MARK CRUZ	LETRAN
48	47	UAAP	ADRIAN SANTOS	EAST
49	DNQ	NCAA	JOVIT DELA CRUZ	SAN SEBASTIAN
50	DNQ	UAAP	MIKE SILUNGAN	STATE U

Gone from the list are UST’s Jeric Teng, San Beda’s Arthur Dela Cruz and Ola Adeogun, and Emilio Aguinaldo’s Jam Jamon. I’ll probably see Jeric Teng back in the list and you’ll probably see more names coming and going on the list depending on how well they do in the coming weeks.

As for the percentages, the NCAA still leads the UAAP, 29 to 21 and hopefully next week, the guys from the rest of the league will step up.

Game over.

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