Sunday, June 29, 2014

Filipinos and the World Cup

Jonathan de Guzman (Feyenoord)
Jonathan de Guzman (Feyenoord) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The 2014 World Cup is being held in Brazil.  It is now in its knockout phase. When I say World Cup, I am not talking about that World Cup that the Smart Gilas will be participating this August.  That basketball World Cup is just trying to copy the blueprint of the original World Cup which is in the sport of football or soccer (for Americans).

The World Cup is held every four years and players would wish to participate in it at least once in their lives. For Filipinos, it will probably be just a fantasy.  Our country did not even qualify for the Asian Cup. 

The Philippines only started to have a decent team in 2010.  There is a spike in local interest for the sport but being practically a newbie, we are not expected to contend in major international competitions for a couple years, decades, and hopefully, not centuries.  Maybe in 2030 or 2034, we will get a shot.  How old would I be then? 

Will we ever have a team in the World Cup???

While we would not expect the Azkals to be in World Cup soon,  two players with Filipino blood  know how it feels to be in Brazil 2014.  At least, this two somehow proves that there will always be a Filipino in any big event. The two players are Jonathan de Guzman of The Netherlands and Team USA's Nick Rimando.

Jonathan de Guzman is a midfielder and he has a Filipino dad and a Jamaican mom.  De Guzman acquired Dutch citizenship in 2008. Nick Rimando is the back-up goalkeeper for the Team USA and he has a Filipino dad and a Mexican mom.

It is funny that other countries are willing to give their citizenship to excellent athletes or professionals.  In the case of the Philippines, we always complain when a mix blood or a foreigner comes to our place and take away a job of a Filipino.  It is hard for someone with no Filipino blood to become Filipino especially the high profile ones. 

I read many times how coaches complain about foreign coaches and other imports.  We forget that our best is actually playing for other flags. We see many "Filipino" Olympians winning medals for other countries. Our best doctors are working in the hospitals of other countries serving other nationalities.  So, why can't we "steal" talent from other countries.  I am sure there are too many basketball "centers" in Nigeria, football "strikers" in England, Olympic-level swimmers in Australia,  Taekwondo jins in Korea or badminton stars in Indonesia.  So, why can't we give those extra talent of other countries a chance to play in the biggest stage of their chosen sport. I am sure there is an excess of players for a country where the sport originated. 

I am not saying that our national will have to look like an International Colours of Benetton commercial but it is actually looking like one but we are not winning.  We need better talent. We need to make it easier for others to be Filipino.  I am sure there are only very few who would want to be Filipino but we should not make it too hard especially for the talented ones. Getting Andre Batche to be Filipino is like our little way of getting back at America for getting players like Rimando, Tim Lincecum, Brian Viloria, Natalie Coughlin, Tiffany Roberts, and more. 

If we want to fast track our participation in a World Cup or getting an Olympic gold then our leaders should start to think differently.  Let's send our scouts to other countries to look for players willing to play for the Philippine flag.  Many Filipinos are resilient and they would respond positively to added competition by stepping their game although more would just like to complain.  The best NBA team is a multinational mix and the Americans are not complaining that NBA's best has just a few Americans.

Time to make our fantasy a reality! Let's do to them, what they do to us!!!!

What if JVee Casio did not slip???

Starting next week the finals of the PLDT Home Telpad Governors’ Cup will commence. It will be between the grand slam-seeking San Mig Coffee Mixers and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. The Mixers are actually looking for their 4th straight Philippine Basketball Association title while the Painters have made it to the finals in 4 of the last 7 conferences. But before we talk about the finals, let's talk about how they got there.

San Mig Coffee had a gritty series against the similarly star-studded Talk N' Text Tropang Texters.  The Texters fought back from being down 0-2 to force a deciding Game 5.  The Mixers survived and their chance to give Tim Cone another grand slam is alive.

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters had a harder route.  Their series against the Alaska Aces has been very physically and full of drama. The turning point of the series was in Game 4 when "The Slip" happened. 

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Kia appoints Manny Pacquiao as Head Coach and what should KIA's nickname in the PBA

Wow! The pambansang kamao has really transformed himself from a one dimensional brawler he became a world champion then became an all-time great then he became a governor then a congressman and now a PBA coach.  The KIA franchise of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) has just named him as their inaugural coach. Manny Pacquiao will be the coach of a team composed of discards and rookies next season. 

A lot of fans are not happy with the decision.  Many felt that they are more suitable than him as the head coach of Team KIA. What does KIA have to lose in hiring Pacquiao? Nothing, I guess, because next season the new teams in the PBA like KIA, Blackwater and possibly, NLEX will be getting scraps as players.  They are not expected to contend for a championship as the old PBA teams would not allow them to directly hire rookies. Not even one. Unlike when Tanduay, Red Bull or Rain or Shine joined the league, they were allowed to bring in the top non-professional basketball players. Don't expect these teams to reach the final 4 unless some freak trades happen. 

KIA who happens to have no nickname yet has everything to gain with this stunt. Pacquiao has several assistants anyway.  Who is the head coach of San Miguel Beer? Isn't the Beermen ran by a coaching consultant instead of a head coach?  Head Coach in the PBA can just be title just like a Chairman of the Board of some companies.  Pacquiao will probably look cute wearing a coat and tie or barony while shouting or cheering his KIA boys to score.  I hope he develops a temper like Yeng Guiao and start shouting some Visayan invectives to players or challenge opponents and referees to a fistfight.  I am sure no referee will try to mess around when KIA is playing. 

So if you were to name the KIA team, what should be the perfect nickname? Kings are taken by Ginebra already.  Kamao is the nickname that the Pacman is pushing for. They could be Kidlat but Meralco are the Bolts. Maybe Kangkong for they will probably spend most of the season at the cellar of kangkongan. Kalabasa? They can name it after of their brands like KIA Carnival because their team and season will be like a carnival so many interesting sites to see. They can name it after car parts like Pistons -- although they will be like that militant jeepney drivers association, Turbo -- Shell used it before, Tambutso, Radiator, Alternator or Side Mirror? If you have thought of a nice name, KIA has actually a contest to name their name.  The person behind the best 5 names will win a trip to NBA game.  Nice prize! It could attract many Filipinos who wants to be TNT to try to name the KIA team. Go, go, go before your unique name will be entered by someone else.