Rejoice! Pacquiao has finally scored a point in the PBA!!!

A few months back, I was wondering how much points will Pacquiao will score this season.  Well, the answer was 0 for the whole first conference and it was bound to be zero for a while until last night when some sort of miracle happened.  Against Purefoods, Congressman Manny Pacquiao got fouled and he went to the line for 2 free throws. He made 1 and I guess he can finally say that he is a professional basketball player. Basketball player and coach/Boxing World Champion/ Actor/ Congressman / Preacher...  I would say that I would pay good money to see and listen to him as a motivational speaker and the topic: "Everything is Possible!"

NBA playoffs were amazing happens! PBA is where the real amazing happens. Where can you see a professional boxer score a point and then coach his team to a victory over the defending champions.  It was so amazing that Purefoods import and NBA Veteran Daniel Orton became so mad that he remarked that the game was a joke. Orton thought he was like playing against Harlem Globetrotters and got played. Joke or not, Purefood's loss was not a joking matter to the fans and the team management.  Kia now has 2 victories this conference.  They 2 victories more than the suddenly woeful San Miguel Beermen.  Daniel Orton, by the way,  got sacked by the Purefoods Hotshots after his lone PBA game.  He was also fined 250,000 pesos for his post game remarks.  Hopefully, Manny Pacquiao will given a shot next season as KIA's import as a peace offering. 

I would like to congratulate the first pick of the second round of the 2014 PBA Draft for defying my expectations for him and his team. I am quite glad that KIA change their nickname to the one I suggested in my earlier post.  Carnival is so fitting then because their team was like a Karnabal. A few months later, they are not the joke that I thought they would be. I am really happy for them but I want Pacquiao to start the Chinese New Year right.  I want him to announce that bout against Floyd Mayweather or if it will not push through I will ask Pacquiao to make Floyd to be KIA's import next conference. ;) By the way, Pacquiao-Mayweather I will be on May 2. Yipee!!! Finally, I got to see him as a boxer again rather than endure his 6 minutes a night playing time in the PBA.

Here is an update about my questions about KIA at the start of the season:

1. Who will have the ignominy of being the first ever team beaten by KIA?   BLACKWATER!
2. How many seasons will pass before KIA ever beat San Mig Coffee?  Just a conference... They beat them last night!
3. How many points will Pacquaio make this season? 1 so far 
4. Who will be guarding Manny Pacquiao when he scores his first career point in the PBA? It was a free throw
5. Who will have the guts to be the first to foul, block, and steal the Pacman? 
6. How much Pacquiao's insurance against injury?
7. How many wins will Pacquiao have as a coach? His team has 3 wins I don't  know how many is for him but at least he has 1 win
8. How many years will it take before Pacquiao gets fired or retires from either coaching or playing?

Related articles

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And the First Pick of Kia will be ....

The first pick in the second round of the 2014 PBA Draft will be ... the Pambansang Kamao Congressman Manny "The Pacman" Pacquiao!

What the ....

It can happen you know. As long as Kia is in the Philippine Basketball Association, anything as in anything can happen.  After their application for a PBA franchise was approved, the team appointed Congressman Pacquiao as their Head Coach. And now Manny, who could also a future Philippine President, is applying in the 2014 PBA Draft so that he can be a playing coach for KIA just like the Living Legend Jaworski who was Ginebra's playing coach a generation ago.

PBA where amazing  err RIDICULOUS happens! 

The 2014 PBA Draft would be the a perfect time for Gerald Anderson, Jose Manalo, Vice Ganda, Piolo Pascual or any other famous John Does to apply as a  PBA player because there is a big chance that KIA will draft them because of their star power.  Bobby Pacquiao can actually join the fray to make KIA more of a family affair. Heck, Mommy Dionisia could even join just make the KIA family complete. If ever this showbiz line-up materializes, I would call the team as KIA Carnival or Karnabal to make it more Pinoy and sound appropriate. 

Until now, I cannot fathom why KIA joined the PBA but here are some outrageous conspiracy theories:

1. KIA is financed by Floyd Mayweather because he wants Pacquiao to just concentrate on coaching and playing basketball rather than challenging him every time the Greatest Filipino Boxer gets interviewed about boxing. It is in the interest of Mayweather that Pacquiao will risk having a high ankle sprain while defending a Mark Caguiao crossover. Maybe Mayweather will probably next pay the Extra Rice pair of Belga and Quinahan to give Pacquiao a rude welcome.
2. KIA was ordered by the South Korean Government to destroy the PBA brand of play. The South Koreans are still brokenhearted because they are not able to participate in the 2014 World Cup in Spain. They were eliminated by the Smart Gilas during the FIBA Asia Cup semifinals which a win would have sent them to the World Cup. 
3. KIA actually stands for Kilusan ng Intelihenteng Atleta which will become a national party in the 2016 elections. Manny Pacquiao will run for President under the KIA banner.  His VP candidate will be Jaworski. His senatorial line-up will include Bata Reyes, Paeng Nepomuceno, Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, Phil Younghusbang, Cong. Yeng Guiao, Onyok Velasco, Jimmy Santos, and Joey Marquez. 

KIA is fast becoming my favorite team and I will devote so many posts in this blog for the PBA's Koreanovela (KIAnovela). Petronovela is so 2013. In a marketing standpoint, KIA is actually doing all the right moves. The are probably the most talked about team in the PBA right now save for the Gilas whose supposed "Last Stand" became a glorified warm-up. 

I wonder how many wins will KIA get in their first season? Will they be KIA every night? KIA meaning Killed In Action???  Will they be the "UP Maroons" of the PBA?

I have so many questions now about KIA that I will definitely write about as the season goes.

1. Who will have the ignominy of being the first ever team beaten by KIA? 
2. How many seasons will pass before KIA ever beat San Mig Coffee? 
3. How many points will Pacquaio make this season?
4. Who will be guarding Manny Pacquiao when he scores his first career point in the PBA?
5. Who will have the guts to be the first to foul, block, and steal the Pacman?
6. How much Pacquiao's insurance against injury?
7. How many wins will Pacquiao have as a coach?
8. How many years will it take before Pacquiao gets fired or retires from either coaching or playing?

I have so many questions already and I am very excited that it will all be answered soon. I really hope that Ginebra San Miguel will not spoil the master plan of Kia by drafting Pacquiao in the first round since they can claim that Pacquiao is also an endorser of their product. They might just do it and hold Pacquiao hostage and force KIA to trade their first round picks in the next 3 years to get Pacquiao. 

What would stop them? Well, anything can happen in the PBA and the league has grown leaps and bounds with the entry of Kia! Mabuhay ang KIA!!!

**This post is a satire and a result of an imaginative mind

Related articles

• Pacquiao officially applies for PBA Rookie Draft
• Pacquiao still has to enter PBA draft even as 'playing coach'
• Pacquiao mulling island retirement in Palawan
• Pacquiao beats Bradley via unanimous decision
• 2011 Espy Awards: Manny Pacquiao is the Best Fighter

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. 

Related articles

• Guiao tells Pacquiao: Coach, but don't play
• Pacquiao Named By KIA as Pro Basketball Head Coach
• Coach Pacquiao? New job humors Spoelstra
• Pacquiao beats Bradley via unanimous decision
• June Mar Fajardo Chronicles: Kraken did Very Well in First PBA Finals Apperance

What is Barako Bull up to?

Barako Bull has a notorious reputation among die hard PBA fans. Some fans brand them as a farm team of the rich clubs like Petron and Talk 'n Text. They seem to hate their first round picks that they usually trade it to other teams even months before the draft. Gone are the days when the club was known for its fighting spirit and toughness.

I was a big fan back when Yeng Guiao was at the helm. I enjoyed the spunk of Jimwell Torion and Junthy Valenzuela. So much has changed after the franchise was taken over by the Lina Group. From being contenders, they are now pretenders. They pretend to be a PBA team. I don't what they are up to.

Before the 2013 draft, the team had a good thing going. They reached the quarterfinal round in the recent Governor's Xup, they have a good coach in Rajko Toroman, and they had three picks in the first round of the draft. What happened next would have even the most faithful fans shaking their heads. The coach was fired and all three picks were traded. Are they effing serious?

Here are some moves that could help them salvage their season:

1. Hire a fresh grad to be their team manager. Even casual fans could probably make a better team than the current management who probably have MBAs from prestigious universities.

2. Make a mini tourney over the weekend with the team playing against dleague teams and DLSU. They should show fans that they can beat those teams.

3. Just get UP alums like Woody Co, Mike Silungan, Alvin Padilla, Mark Lopez and Magi Sison. Get Ricky Dandan as coach. At least they are used to having 0 to 2 wins per season.

4. Offer a 5 million peso bonus to all players if they reach the final 4 in any conference. That could make players think about winning.

5. So that PBA will not be mad, the team will only get its revenue share if they win the game. By doing this, they can earn some credibility.

Links:

Barako Trades Draft Picks

2013 PBA Draft Results

Kraken did very well in his first PBA Finals appearance

Posted via Blogaway

Petronovela: Renaldo Balkman out of the PBA

One of the main stars of this conference's Petronovela Renaldo Balkman is "banned for life" in the PBA. His sentence was handed Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner Atty. Chito Salud.  Salud not only banished him from the league but he was also fined 250,000 pesos. Wow, that's a over year's salary for an average Juan de la Cruz.

The drama at Peron continues as many die-hard fans felt that PBB's (Petron Blaze Boosters) "telenovela" is hindering the ascent of the team. Last conference, they had a coaching drama leading them to almost at the bottom of the standings after being touted to be one of the strongest teams on paper. This conference after a great start, one of their leading men chocked a fellow leading man causing the producer (commish) to implement a harsh punishment.  The show was supposed to be rated PG but what Balkman and company did rivaled the unknown stars of "face to face" or "personalan".  After seeing the video of what happened last friday, many sarcastic fans were reminded of Claudine Barretto vs. Mon  Tulfo. 

Slowly but surely the PBA is evolving into a mini-teleserye.  TV5 even interviewed Balkman a few days after the incident which was handled like Boy Abunda or Lolit Solis interviewing a movie star.  By the rate they are going, the PBA could soon dislodge Ina, Anak, Kapatid as the top telenovela in the country. 

The PBA could use the incident to evolve into like WWE.  They could probably add chairs and blood to increase the ratings further. Next would come costumes since they already have nicknames like Kracken, Ninja, Spark, Lieutenant, Captain Hook, and Extra Rice Inc.  With the incident garnering over a million hits already , the PBA somehow became viral.  Bad publicity is still publicity.  

As for Petron, they are now looking for a new leading man.  If you want to audition the requirements would be you must be over 6-8 in height, choir boy looks and manners, no tattoos, and the type who would hug teammates instead of pushing them away.  If you qualify or if you know someone you can act as his manager and make tons of money.

Links:

Balkman gets banned for life

Classic Game 7 still talked about... for the wrong reasons

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) has just concluded one of its best championships series ever. The B-Meg Llamados took the 2011-12 PBA Commissioner's Cup title by beating the hard-fighting Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters in a memorable Game 7.

It was a great series indeed as the PBA is boasting of high ratings and very high gate receipts. Those are not the reasons though why a lot of people is still talking about the series.  Many fanatics are talking about the foul that happened with 1.2 seconds left in regulation in Game 7 of the series.

With TNT leading by 2, James Yap threw a pass to Best Import awardee Denzel Bowles who was then "fouled" by Kelly Williams while attempting a hurried shot. Many fans are angry while many as well as are laughing because the TNT dynasty and their dreams of total domination has been obliterated by a single whistle by a referee. Tears of joy were replaced by tears of sorrow. A lot of bettors are screaming Yes and No simultaneously. Here is a video of the most memorable play of the series:

Was there a foul? The PBA says yes while TNT officials are still fuming about the "bad" officiating.  Are they just sore losers or is there really a problem in officiating. Foul or not, this supposed classic series will be remembered by that call. People will forget how Bowles made the 2 biggest free throws of his life or how Alapag played his hearts out in this game, but the foul defined the game and it made the PBA somewhat relevant once again.

Hurry up with the next conference already!!!

Links:
Super Ending: B-Meg "Bowles" over TNT
TNT players absent in the All-Star festivities
Game 7 beckons!

Jordan ends Gilas' dream run

News: Jordan beats Gilas in the FIBA Asia Semis

The winning streak of the Pilipinas Smart-Gilas 5 in the FIBA Asia Championship for Men in Wuhan, China ends at 5. The Philippines missed a chance to be in the finals after it crashed against a very experienced Jordanian team. A lot of people had high hopes for a breakthrough for the Pinoy ballers as Jordan eliminated the seemingly unbeatable Iran. Jordan fell to the Gilas in their first meeting in the 2nd round. It was not meant to be.

The Olympic dream might never be over though as they can still qualify for the final Olympic qualifiers if they win the bronze medal in Wuhan. There is still hope but historically, the Gilas do not fare well in 3rd place matches. They also seem to lose to a team that they beat in previous rounds (another example was in the Jones Cup against Iran). I hope that they can get out of the emotional rut and win the battle for 3rd place. The Gilas has shown that they can compete with the best of Asia.

If they lose tomorrow, will there still be a Gilas program? With the core going pro, what happens to the team? Our past performances in Asian level competition has been badly affected by the constant rebuilding of teams. Instead of continuously improving, we prefer to start from scratch often. Once the PBA starts, a lot of basketball leaders forget about the national team. They always say that there are new players waiting on the wings but these players need to develop chemistry and learn the system. The system of coach Toroman somehow works and we got a gem with Marcus Douthit. It is just sad that Lassiter and company will be donning different colors as early as next week.

Is the Olympic dream really over? We will surely find out sooner than later. ;)

May the Gilas win 3rd place so that there will be a flicker of hope for the program to continue.

Related Links:
Gilas stuns Japan (sportsreaktor)
Rebuilding the Gilas (past article)

Tim Cone leaves Alaska

It's a sad day for the fans of the Alaska Aces in the PBA as Tim Cone his 22-year tenure in the Uytengsu franchise. I remember the days that I hate Alaska because they were so good. I remember the days that they battle my favorite team then the Ginebra San Miguel.

Great Pinoy players like Jojo Lastimosa, Johnny Abbarientos, Bong Hawkins, Poch Juinio, Jeffrey Cariaso, Ali Peek, Tony De la Cruz, and LA Tenorio have donned that the Alaska jersey under Coach Tim Cone. The 22 years resulted to 13 titles and countless finals appearances. They even won a grand slam in 1996.

Coach Tim has been a fixture in the PBA. He popularized the triangle offense in the Philippines and his emotional coaching style is a joy to watch. I wonder, where will he coach next. It would be exciting to see a coach of his caliber develop the next batch of Smart-Gilas. I think he can give Philippine National cager a basketball identity. It will also be surprising to see him in a rival PBA team but anything can happen.

To Coach Tim, good luck!