Thursday, January 10, 2013

Jireh Ibañes is The Star Stopper.


Photo credit: Paul Ryan Tan


January 8, 2013

As the buzzer went off at the end of game 3 of the semifinals between Rain or Shine and San Mig Coffee, I went to my phone to tweet about the result and the best player.  “RoS takes game 3, 98-72. Player of the game is…” I paused. Did Jireh Ibañes really get the Player of the Game with a stat line of 4 points, a rebound and a steal?


In a game where the main objective is to put the ball in the hoop, it’s not often that a guy who only made a single basket and a couple of free throws gets recognized for his efforts. Not unless he lorded over a different statistic. Not unless he hit the game winner. Or not unless those four points were all his team had.

Jireh did not make the winning basket of game 3. He only contributed 4 of Rain Or Shine’s total of 98 points. His stat line was pretty much so-so. Yet, no one disagreed when he was chosen Player of the Game. People knew he was the key to that win.

By putting James Yap in a straitjacket, Jireh changed the complexion of that game and, well, the series as a whole. It’s as if none of the million moves of Big Game James works on Ibañes. 

I remember one possession when Yap had the ball in the post. In my mind, like many other fans, I told myself, “Sure two points na ‘to.” James faced up and jabbed right. Jireh stood still. James took one dribble to his right and faked. Jireh stayed grounded.  James pivoted to the other side. Just as he thought he finally got rid of the pesky defender, guess who was there. Mr. ‘Stick-To-You-Like-Glue’ Ibañes. Left with no other option, Yap had to kick the ball out and reset the play.

Here’s the thing. No one ever reaches the PBA without the ability to score. Give anyone in the league an inch of daylight or an open lane and he’ll make you pay. For sure. But not everyone is willing to make the sacrifice of setting scoring aside and contributing in a different way.

Let’s face it. If you want to really make a name for yourself, you have to score. I mean, fans like us know a great defender when we see one. But no one really becomes a household name all due to his defensive skills. No one becomes a superstar because he can stop the best player on the other team.

Thankfully, for Rain or Shine, in Jireh Ibañes’ mind, he isn’t a superstar. Nor is he trying to be. Jireh just wants to win. (He probably uses his Fighting Maroons days as motivation. He even uses the UP Havaianas.) He’s content with his role in Coach Yeng’s system. He embraced the fact that he is the team’s defensive ammo and takes full responsibility for every point scored by their opponent’s superstar.

In game 3 of the semifinals, the entire time Yap had Ibañes guarding him, Yap failed to register a single point and went 0-3 from the field. But it wasn’t those numbers that spoke of Jireh’s defense.

If you watch the game, you’ll see that Ibañes’ activity on the defensive end was best exhibited by the number of shots Yap didn’t take. It was the number of times James had a make-able look, but opted to pass. I guess it just goes to show that, sometimes, the most important statistics are those that aren’t listed down.

Thinking about it, I never got to send that tweet. I never got to give Jireh the credit he deserved oh so well. Then again, that’s his story. Very few people recognize the impact Ibañes has on the basketball court. But that doesn’t mean he’ll stop doing what he does.

When Rain or Shine booked their second consecutive Finals trip by dropping San Mig Coffee in game 6, only one question popped into Jireh’s head – “Who’s next?”
   

Sunday, September 23, 2012

FEU vs NU: A Rivalry In The Brew?



After two ballgames, a couple of appeals, and three weeks of waiting, FEU and NU finally settled the controversy of their earlier meeting. Since the REPLAY of the supposed RR Garcia game-winner was too close to call, they had to RE-PLAY the entire game – right from tip-off.

With the game having implications on the Final Four scenario of UAAP75, many had their eyes set on it. Many also had their own opinions on the game.

I myself had a few observations, which I found out to be shared by others as proven by their tweets.


1.  Romeo needs, NEEDS to get his teammates involved

Terrence Romeo is one of the most talented college hoopers in the country right now. No doubt. But he shouldn't play hero ball. Not when he's in a team with so much talent (read: RR Garcia former MVP). Not in a game as big as this.

Romeo needs to embrace his role as point guard and become a facilitator on-court. Even Coach Bert Flores knows it. As reported by their CSR during the game, Coach Bert told Romeo, “wag ka mang-gigil at mag-tiwala ka sa teammates mo.”








2.  This game refuses to end

At the end of their September 2 meeting (aka the game that doesn’t exist), RR Garcia won the game with a buzzer-beating layup. Then NU protested. Commissioner Ato Badolato denied it. NU lifted it up to the board. The board overturned the previous decision and ordered a re-play of the entire game.

When they finally met again, the new game was just as crazy as the match that led to the it. And of course, it went to overtime. Seriously, it felt like it could go on forever.






3.  Ray Ray Parks is TOO DAMN GOOD

Bobby Ray Parks has simply taken over the UAAP. For a good stretch from midway the 4th quarter to early overtime, FEU seemed to have the reigning MVP on check. NU couldn’t even get the ball to him.

But damn, when Ray Ray decides to put matters into his own hands, there's no stopping that man. Sabi nga nila sa DotA, GG na.

The moment he drained that clutch three, something in me knew he wasn't gonna let FEU get the last laugh.

Cold-blooded. Cold-freakin’-blooded. 

‘Nuff said.








Thursday, August 23, 2012

Calvin Abueva's NCAA days are numbered. That's a good thing.


photo credit: University Basketball League


(via http://micohaliliblogs.blogspot.com)
August 21, 2012


“He’s outgrown this league.”

Those are strong, brave and candid words. Or was it just Coach Topex Robinson trying to hype up his best player who will soon play in the PBA? Or is it simply the best way to explain Calvin Abueva’s performance in the NCAA?

There isn’t much that Calvin has not accomplished in the NCAA. In his rookie year, San Sebastian bagged the championship. Last year, he brought home the MVP trophy. Now in his fourth and last year in the league, Abueva has not slowed down a bit.

Calvin has been nothing less than dominating. He has posted a double-double in nine of the ten games that they have played in season 88 so far. That includes two triple-doubles. That includes two 23-rebound games. Seriously, who the hell does that?

The only time those numbers happen is when, in your inter-barangay league, a 20-year-old kid is playing in the mosquito division. It’s not like that’s the case, right? Right?

With the way he plays and the stats he posts, Calvin makes the NCAA look like a videogame on ‘rookie’ difficulty and quarter minutes set to 12. In his worst game of the season, he managed to get 9 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. That was his worst game. Those numbers are others NCAA players’ career-highs already. Then again, that’s the point. Calvin isn’t just any other player.

It’s understandable why people love to hate on Abueva. He’s just too damn good. One bit of a problem, though – he wants you to hate him. He wants you to despise him. The more you jeer and heckle him, the more pumped up he gets. 

What haters don’t understand about Calvin is that his game is not about the numbers. It’s about the work he puts into it. The one time that I got to visit a San Sebastian practice, I became a witness to persistence. They were prepping for their JRU game. Calvin was down with the flu. It was a bad case. But it had no chance of keeping him away from the court. When he was not part of the group practicing the plays, he was either working with the medicine ball, doing push-ups or sit-ups. He worked his ass off. Right after the session, he rushed out of the gym telling Ronald Pascual, “’Maya na lang bro. May check-up pa ko eh.” Now that’s dedication right there.

When Calvin fails to register a double-double in a game, it makes me smile a little. Not because I’m against Baste or anything, but it reminds me that he can have ‘bad games’. It reminds me that basketball can still be a fair game after all. Ang daya kasi pag may Calvin Abueva ka. You have the league’s leading scorer, rebounder, and assists man. Then the basketball gods decided to give him Pascual and Ian Sangalang as his support crew. Un-freakin-fair.

It’s understandable, however, if people look back at that 2009 San Sebastian Championship team and say that it was Jimbo Aquino who led that team. Furthermore, I probably won’t argue with someone who says that until Calvin leads Baste to a championship this year, we can’t call him dominant.

Coach Topex’s statement might just be pure hokum. But the truth is, basketball at the college level just seems so easy for Abueva. From what we’ve all seen so far, it’s probably safe to say that there are three kinds of players in the NCAA right now – the good, the better, and The Beast.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Stop the discussion. Caguioa is my MVP. by Jutt Sulit


THEN and NOW of Ginebra.

July 29, 2012


The Most Valuable Player. It has to be the most debated award in the history of basketball. There are just too many angles to consider. That’s why people get into insane arguments. Yet it’s not that complicated. Take it from the name. The award should go to that one player whose team won’t win if he doesn’t play. Kaya nga siya MVP eh. Kasi pag nawala siya, sa kangkungan pupulutin ‘yung team niya. And yes, winning is a requisite. If a team keeps on losing, it shouldn’t matter if one of their players scores all their points every single game. He’s not valuable. Last time I checked, the goal in basketball is to win. And that’s just what the MVP has to do.


I don’t understand the discussion. Seriously, how can you ask “David or Caguioa?” For me, it’s pretty clear. It has to go Caguioa.

Allan Caidic said it himself, “Caguioa is the heart and soul of this team.”  He said it. Even though he didn’t have to.

Ginebra is no pushover. It’s actually quite solid. Up until the twelfth man, walang tapon. Offensively and defensively, the team should stand on its own. On paper, even if you erase Mark Caguioa from the list, you would still say it’s a pretty strong team. It’s true. But no one would dare do so.

As talented as their lineup is, when nothing goes the Gin Kings’ way, Caguioa remains to be their best bet for a sure two points. In late game situations, the faith of the Barangay rests on him. They want the ball in his hands. Because when it doesn’t end up with him, what they get is a desperation Kerby three that hits nothing.

Mark is the glue that keeps the Barangay together. As cliché as it is, it’s the truth. We saw this when he went out with his eye injury. After a decent run towards the semis, a Caguioa-less Ginebra fell in the hands of B-Meg. That tells the whole story.

Hindi naman sa walang kwenta ang Ginebra ‘pag wala si Mark. Pero, hmm, kulang ng kwenta ang Ginebra ‘pag wala siya eh.

At this point of his career, Mark understands that he’s not exactly the talk of the town anymore. Soon enough, it will be time to give way to the likes of Paul Lee and JV Casio. But he also recognizes the fact that he still is Ginebra’s superhero.

The retirement ceremonies of Jawo’s jersey featured one of the most goosebumps-inducing moments in Philippine basketball – a fist-bump between the Living Legend and the legend-in-the-making. In this generation’s Ginebra, ‘Never say die’ exists because Caguioa exists.

Mark Caguioa isn’t just The Spark. He’s the whole ignition of Ginebra. No one deserves the MVP trophy more than Caguioa. That’s why the debates have to stop.

Sunday, June 24, 2012

The Heart of Winning.


THE SAN BEDA SUPER SIX


Winning is everything. We hear players throw this around all the time. But whether they mean it or not, winning does feel good. Really, really good.

This leads us to a common question: what does it take to win in basketball? It’s a fair query. All players (at least, I’d like to assume) have pondered upon what they have to do to win games. That’s the first step – knowing what it takes. However, I think the better question is: what does it take to not lose?

I believe winning basketball starts from a disgust for losing. This feeling creates a drive to overcome defeat. It generates an urgency to win. And that’s what we saw from San Beda against Arellano.

After the infamous brawl between the San Sebastian Volleyball Team and the San Beda Basketball Team, more than half of the Red Lions were given suspensions. They ended up having only six players for their season 88 debut against the Chiefs. Thus, this group was labeled the “Super Six”.

It was a crazy game. Arellano came off a hot start. But in basketball, the start alone does not define the outcome. As hard as it is to say, the best example would probably be the Lakers. In fact, they deserve recognition. Perhaps the NBA record for ‘most games led by halftime then lost’.

Neither talent nor skill won San Beda the game. Heart did. That’s the only thing that could’ve.

When you play with six players, you’re not supposed to win. You’re expected to be crushed, demolished. But the Super Six found a way. They just would not accept defeat.

Three of the Super Six are fresh from high school. Two are tranferees. The other just got called up again from Team B. None of the veterans were on this squad of six. None of the Red Lions' usual go-to guys were there.

During the game, one of the six Red Lions even fouled out.

The Chiefs did play hard. It was obvious that they wanted to win. However, those six Red Lions simply refused to lose. And that made all the difference.

Coach Ronnie Magsanoc said it himself, “It was all heart.”

It all starts in the gym. That’s what they usually say about winning – that it starts in practice. But heart isn’t something you can practice. It’s innate.

It’s usually hard to differentiate ‘wanting to win’ from ‘refusing to lose’. It’s can also be difficult to determine which team is playing with more heart. But when a team of six players overcomes the odds and comes out victorious, it becomes a little easier to tell.