CA 44's Drama, Comes To an End.

Former PBA Best Import Chris Alexander is making another drama in his basketball campaign in the Philippines. After posting tweets against SMC's  Noli Eala for his "pink slip", he now leaves his new team the Philippine Patriots to go to the United States. 

    During the start of the Commisioner's Cup,  CA44 was tapped by Ginebra's coach Siot Tangquincen to be their import. In 3 games he averaged 14 points, 20.33 rebounds, 2 assists, and almost 2 blocks in 3 games. In that span, the Gin Kings tallied 2 wins and a loss.

      

     But after the win against ROS in Dubai, the news broke out that he will be changed by Action Jackson Vroman. It became a nightmare for Chris Alexander. His barrage of tweets in his twitter account (@chrisalexander29) was a testament of how frustrated this behemoth is.

     After spending time in the US, he accepted the offer of the Philippine Patriots and his Philippine Agent Ms. Sheryl Reyes to play for the ABL. He agreed to play for the  Patriots and promised to get the team in the promised land. But after Ginebra got eliminated last Tuesday Night, it seems that CA has also no plans to stay in the country anymore. He quietly book a flight and LEAVE the Patriots.

What's next for CA44?

     News broke out that the Patriots wants Alexander to be banned in all FIBA sanction tournament in the world. If FIBA granted the request, it will bad news for this big guy. He will not be allowed to participate in any major basketball league in the world. Will that be the end of a prosperous career of Alexander the Great?

BarberSpeak's Take:

     Personally, I'm not a fan of his twitter barrage for 2 reasons alone. First, it makes the BGK fans hate Jax more ( which i thought was a reason of having Jax PRESSURED). Lastly, BGK was still active in the tournament when he started tweeting against his "pink slip".

     Yeah, I agree that maybe he got depressed, but it's not a reason to be unprofessional to his work. What will now happen to the campaign of the Patriots? Instead of them concentrating to the tournament, they will again find another replacement.

" Philip Zuñiga is a Software Engineer at NetworkLabs Inc. He is a certified sports fan since 1996. "

*This blog does not own the image.

Who can forget the 2 second shot of the Flash?

Let us reminisce this PBA Quarter Final Game of Ginebra and Mobiline. One of my favorite game of the Ginebra Kings. How we miss this little guy named Bal David. What a clutch player during his time, he is not that big time scoring player, but his big heart made him a crowd favorite.

Barber Speak Notes:

• The Funny look of Ginebra's jersey during this time.
• Being a long time assistant coach, I'm happy with the success of Coach Salazar even though he didn't have that championship ring.
• Asi Taulava's crying moment.
• One of my favorite pair of announcers, Yeng Guiao and Chino Trinidad. 

" Philip Zuñiga is a graduate of Philippine Normal University. He is a certified sports fan since 1996. "

PETRON: The Winner of the Draft

After Barber Speak blog conducted a poll about what team is their "winner" of the Draft, the results showed that Petron Blaze Boosters was the clear winner of the draft. Definitely, the movement done by the recent Governor's Cup Champ was really an A. Powerade was close 2nd place in the poll followed by the Aces.

Poll Summary:

1. Petron = 42%
2. Powerade = 29%
3. Alaska = 15%
4. Rain or Shine = 7%
5. Others = 7%

Let us discuss the draft summary:

Petron Blaze Boosters:

• The return of the Cebuano Hot shot provide them the missing piece to their team, a scoring, shooting guard.
• The acquisition of Gilas Player Chris Lutz gave them a hardworking small forward. This gave Arwind Santos more freedom to play at the 4th position without sacrificing talent at the three position. 
• Without Jaywash and Rabeh for the All-Filipino Cup, and with the trade involving Mick Pennisi, Carlo Sharma is a welcome addition.Especially that Sharma was having a good PBA 36th season, there is no doubt that this former green archer will have playing time for the next season.
• Filemon Fernandez and Gerard Lapuz will definitely add depth to the team especially with the departure of Duncil, Hubalde and Tugade.

Powerade Tigers:

• Drafting Casio and Lassiter gave the Tigers  more scoring option. Definitely, the lone scorer of the Tiigers last season Gary David is really happy with the addition to their team.
• Without Rob Reyes and the trade to Jr Quinahan gave Powerade problems in their middle. Only Will Antonio( originally  guard/forward) and Doug Kramer are manning the Middle.
• A problem for the Tigers: Yes they can score, but with their small line up, can they rebound?
• Maybe the big man issue was the turning point why the Tigers was not the clear winner of the draft. Their team improve, but not a top 5 team.

" Philip Zuñiga is a graduate of Philippine Normal University. He is a certified sports fan since 1996. "

The story about the Llamados and Coach Tim Cone

Barber Speak TIME FRAME:

Before the draft:

• There are rumors about Coach Tim Cone was being eyed by the Bmeg Llamados to be their coach. 
• Coach Jong Uichico was also eyed as the next head coach.
• There are also rumors pointing that Jojo Lastimosa or Joel Banal will be the next head coach of the Aces.

During Draft Day:

• Tim Cone was still the head coach for the Aces.
• Jorge Gallent was still the head coach for the Llamados.

After the draft (Aug. 30, 2011):

• The coaching rumor came to end when the Llamados appointed Assistant Coach Richard Del Rosario to be the Acting head coach for the 37th season of the PBA.

Sept. 1, 2011:

• Tim Cone was released by the Aces.
• Joel Banal was named at the new head coach for the Aces.

Sept. 2, 2011:

• Some reports suggests that Tim Cone was having a meeting with some high SMC officials. 
• New Rumor: Tim Cone as the Consultant for the Llamados.

Adding Tim Cone to the talents of SMC means only that the Management was not happy by the way TnT( led by MVP) dominated the 36th season of the PBA that almost gave them a grandslam. If this rumor is true, Bmeg will definitely be a team to beat for the upcoming season. The Llamados using the triangle offense will mean trouble for the opposition.

" Philip Zuñiga is a graduate of Philippine Normal University. He is a certified sports fan since 1996. "

Alaska won't be the same without Coach Tim

13 championships in 22 years, the last team who got a Grandslam, the only PBA team who uses triangle. These are the traits of the team led by Tim Cone. His team is always competitive, Since '96 Alaska is my most hated team because for me, this team is the "contrapelo" of Ginebra.

It's so frustrating to see the last second play of this team. Abbarientos,  Lastimosa, Miller, Tenorio, and even Baguio, why these players are clutch? 

But even though I hate this team, I admire Coach Cone, he's discipline to his team(2 decades) is definitely one of a kind. His team is always known as the team with a system, it looks beautiful for a basketball fan like me to watch this team execute their plays, it likes an orchestra led by a popular musician. 

BUT today was a sad day not only for the Alaska Management and fans, but for all PBA fans, especially the chance that coach Tim will go to SMC, seeing him not in Alaska's bench is like seeing Manny Pacquiao naturalized as an American. That thing will really broke the hearts of Alaska loyalists. Until now I just can't imagine how will that works, but that's the sad thing about life, change is the only permanent thing. 

Goodbye for now Coach Tim. See you again. 

 " Philip Zuñiga is a graduate of Philippine Normal University. He is a certified sports fan since 1996. "

WHO WILL COACH BMEG?

A lot of personalities has been linked as the next head of coach of the Llamados. There are four names floating for the chance of coaching two-time MVP James Yap's team. They are the Petron's assistant Gee Abanilla, Bmeg's assistant Richard Del Rosario, Ginebra's co-coach Jong Uichico and Alaska's mentor Tim Cone, which is for me has the longest shot to take the job. But this is PBA everything can happen. (Nelson Beltran said in his twitter account that Uichico will be the one that will take the job.)

I think that the most logical choice for the Bmeg is Coach Tim Cone, why? now having Andy Barroca, he already have a point guard in his Triangle offense. Andy is ready to take this job, having three years  with coach toroman, it makes Barroca a polished point guard. Also, having Devance, Pingris and Yap will also make the transition of Coach Cone's Triangle an easy one.

BUT as what I said earlier, having Cone is a long shot. And the next logical choice is Ginebra's Jong Uichico, this humble mentor already has 8 championships, and with that alone we can say this man is right for the job. Uichico is a good defensive coach that for me what the Llamados is needed. Also, it will be a nice gesture for SMC to assign Jong as Bmeg's mentor, to avoid the possibility of having him as an assistant for the ginkings, which for me is a sign of disrespect to this multi champion coach.

Meanwhile, Ginebra's former big man Alex Crisano is having a chance of playing in Powerade Tigers.

" Philip Zuñiga is a graduate of Philippine Normal University. He is a certified sports fan since 1996. "

The Ginebra Ginkings' switch: Will coach jong stay?

SOURCES:

Fidel Mangonon's tweet:

Malaya's Sport Article:

http://www.malaya.com.ph/aug26/sports4.html

So it's official, 2 days of speculations about Ginebra's head coach. We thought that "Jawo" may comeback. We also thought of having 2 head coaches. Now after Coach Jong's Text and Mr.Ramon Ang's confirmation, it's now safe to say that Coach Siot is the head coach of the Ginkings this conference. Congrats coach siot!

Now the issue is..

Will Coach Jong be an assistant for the Kings? If he does, it will be an admirable move by this humble guy. Allowing his protege to be the new head coach, gives coach jong a lot of guts of accepting it. And if that happens, it still the same Ginebra Coaching staff. Just a little change of having coach siot's philosophy will be implemented.

Will Coach Jong go to the Llamados? Mr. Ramon Ang also confirms of Coach Jorge being relegated back to assistant coach. The question is will the next head coach of Bmeg will come to its coaching staff, or they will get the the multi champion mentor Coach Jong?

What's your take?

" Philip Zuñiga is a graduate of Philippine Normal University. He is a certified sports fan since 1996. "