This post is originally published by yours truly in the blog site The Hotdog Stand, where I am one of the contributors.
In yesterday's PBA game, we saw how the recent blockbuster trade benefited Air21 in their campaign this Commissioner's Cup. Dondon Hontiveros, Danny Seigle, Dorian Peña, and Paul Artadi have masterfully led the Express to the last playoff spot, effectively eliminating B-MEG from playoff contention. The Express showed great heart and effort to get the win.
And at the same time, I was dumbfounded by how GREAT, yeah, how great Alaska Aces screwed up the game. It can't get any worse than what they showed in the last minute of the ball game.
It's a bad acting job for a team that is raring to get back at B-MEG, which came back from a 1-3 deficit in the '05-'06 Philippine Cup semifinals and eventually won the title, and swept them in the '09-'10 Philippine Cup Finals.
First of all, I can't find any good explanation for how Tim Cone and the Aces wanted to treat the game as a "playoff match" already (as what the courtside reporter mentioned last night). In the third quarter, Tim Cone used Paolo Bugia, Bonbon Custodio, and Brandon Cablay in the crucial stretch where Air21 built it's double-digit margin.
But hey! They found a way to come back into the ball game. Thanks to LD's thunderous jams, Alaska got as within three points. And with a minute left in the ball game, LD Williams may have finally realized what his teammates are aiming to do, after all. And he joined the partey!
Half a minute left in the ball game, the Express leading by three points, LD Williams went for an ill-advised three. Tenorio got the ball and went back to the three point line and threw the ball anywhere near the rim. Then, Borboran got the offensive rebound and went for another trey. Brick.
The Express got the ball and the rest is history.
But wait, there's more! Just when everybody thought that Alaska's show has ended already, there's still another class act waiting for all of the PBA fans. With the Express leading by five points, the Aces were taking time inbounding the ball, and when they did, Mr. Big Shot LA Tenorio SLIPPED awkwardly and lost the ball. With a frown in his face, it signified how sad he was to lose the game. And happy that they won't be facing B-MEG anywhere in the playoffs.
Obviously, it's a bad day at the office for the Alaska Aces. They played a really bad acting job.
Friday, April 22, 2011
As Alaska flops, B-MEG must re-group to fix themselves
This post is originally published by yours truly in the blog site The Hotdog Stand, where I am one of the contributors.
As the Commissioner's Cup ended unexpectedly for the B-MEG Derby Ace Llamados, it's time for them to re-group and lick their wounds from a fierce battle to prepare for the season-ending Governor's Cup.
B-MEG has no one to blame, not Air21, not Rain or Shine, and not even Alaska, but themselves.
The Llamados were facing the battle all-season long with most of their key players nursing their injuries. Raymundo started the season out of the country for his rehab, while Reavis has yet to play this season with his foot injury. Just as Kerby was about to return, Rico Maierhofer suffered a season-ending ACL injury earlier this conference.
To put more insult to the pain, Don Allado and Jondan Salvador, B-MEG's key back-up big men, were injured in the latter part of the eliminations. And as if the basketball gods have cursed B-MEG, James Yap suffered a calf injury that sidelined him in B-MEG's last three crucial games.
If I'm to be asked, injuries has been the root cause of B-MEG's struggles this season. With key players getting in and out of the injury list, chemistry has been a big problem for the Llamados. A key testament to that is their dismal assist-to-turnover ratio this conference. B-MEG ranks last in the assist department while is one of the worst in taking care of the ball.
Poor import scouting has also hurt B-MEG's chances this conference. Sub-par imports has taken a toll on the team's campaign. In connection to the earlier problem, repeated import changing has also caused B-MEG's team chemistry to struggle.
They must take this long break to regroup themselves and prepare for the next conference. Our injured players will have enough time to heal their injuries, especially for James Yap. Rafi Reavis' expected return come June will definitely boost our team's post defense next season. Sadly, Maierhofer will not return until the next season.
This is also the time for our team to scout for the import to fit the team. As much as possible, bring in the import candidates here in the country to practice with the team. Then, the team must decide for their official import as the next conference starts.
It will be a short and busy conference break for the Llamados. And as far as they're concerned, there's no way but to go up for the struggling Llamados
As the Commissioner's Cup ended unexpectedly for the B-MEG Derby Ace Llamados, it's time for them to re-group and lick their wounds from a fierce battle to prepare for the season-ending Governor's Cup.
B-MEG has no one to blame, not Air21, not Rain or Shine, and not even Alaska, but themselves.
The Llamados were facing the battle all-season long with most of their key players nursing their injuries. Raymundo started the season out of the country for his rehab, while Reavis has yet to play this season with his foot injury. Just as Kerby was about to return, Rico Maierhofer suffered a season-ending ACL injury earlier this conference.
To put more insult to the pain, Don Allado and Jondan Salvador, B-MEG's key back-up big men, were injured in the latter part of the eliminations. And as if the basketball gods have cursed B-MEG, James Yap suffered a calf injury that sidelined him in B-MEG's last three crucial games.
If I'm to be asked, injuries has been the root cause of B-MEG's struggles this season. With key players getting in and out of the injury list, chemistry has been a big problem for the Llamados. A key testament to that is their dismal assist-to-turnover ratio this conference. B-MEG ranks last in the assist department while is one of the worst in taking care of the ball.
Poor import scouting has also hurt B-MEG's chances this conference. Sub-par imports has taken a toll on the team's campaign. In connection to the earlier problem, repeated import changing has also caused B-MEG's team chemistry to struggle.
They must take this long break to regroup themselves and prepare for the next conference. Our injured players will have enough time to heal their injuries, especially for James Yap. Rafi Reavis' expected return come June will definitely boost our team's post defense next season. Sadly, Maierhofer will not return until the next season.
This is also the time for our team to scout for the import to fit the team. As much as possible, bring in the import candidates here in the country to practice with the team. Then, the team must decide for their official import as the next conference starts.
It will be a short and busy conference break for the Llamados. And as far as they're concerned, there's no way but to go up for the struggling Llamados
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