Random thoughts Part 2

Dear Bloggers,

Hi! I know, I know, I haven’t been blogging for a while and I think you missed me. Sorry, I was busy. No, I just got lazy. So what’s up? How you guys doing? Here’s to hoping you’re in the pink of health.

Anyways, a couple and one events had passed and as much as I want to share my thoughts with you, because I got too busy with something else, I wasn’t able to do so. So here I am, trying to pick up where I left off, giving a piece of my brain.

First, James Yap has won his first MVP. As a fan, I’d really want to go out in the street and shout his name till my voice would grow hoarse in sheer delight but no, it looked like things were not as perfect as I expected it to be. Unfortunately, there were screaming individuals trying to “question” the man’s ascent to the thrown, so to speak. Some were saying Kerby Raymundo or Enrico Villanueva deserved the award more. Some were faulting Kris Aquino for weaving her charms and magic to lure the press to vote for her husband. But I thought otherwise. James might’ve won because of media votes but let’s not forget that he was the leader in statistics, second placer in player votes and the “unanimous” choice of the 4-man committee. Granting that the PBA removed all the “subjectivity” factor and retain the stats, James would still have won it. Numbers don’t lie. Those who don’t want to believe in that argument might only mean two things: 1.) They envy James Yap and, 2.) They hate Mathematics!

But more than the numbers, who is JY in the Giants roster? A mere scoring machine? Well, yeah, he’s a scoring machine. But more than the points he put up every game, JY, admit it or not is the Giants co-leader along with Raymundo. He doesn’t speak much, but he leads by example. He’s not the one who’ll throw fireball in the locker room, but he’s the one willing to take and make the shot when the game is on the line. I just don’t know why some people cannot take that. Some are even threatened by that even when they shouldn’t be. The equation is not about Giants = Raymundo. The equation is Giants = Raymundo x Yap x Pingris x (rest) + management! It’s about a bunch of guys combining their efforts to achieve team goals. They should all co-exist and not treat each other as rivals. The last time I heard, a tri-captain is now the current trend in sports. The USA National Team for example has James, Anthony and Wade as captains. With our team, the future is in the hands of Kerby, James and Mark. Let’s accept that fact.

Moving along, let’s go with the next event: the AFC Championship. Original Purefoods fan wouldn’t fail to note that the Alvin Patrimonio led-Hotdogs team in the 90’s dominated the All Filipino tourney. The Hotdogs were perennial contender way back until the emergence of a new PBA force: the Filams. With Cap ushering his heydays at the door, compounded by the influx of foreign blood, the Hotdogs failed to maintain it’s illustrious showing in the AFC at the beginning of the new millennium. But on July 21, 2006, Friday, the Hotdogs, now called Giants came back where it once belong and bagged the PBA’s most prestigious title. In the process, the Giants have stamped it’s mark in the history books as one of the last two active ball club who has won at least 4 AFC title. Not bad for a team which is relatively young and new. And they did that at the expense of their equally young and talented rival, the Red Bull Barako.

I was there in front of the TV not wasting any single pixel that depicts the tears, the cheers and the celebration of the newly crowned champs. I was there when Raymundo also broke into tears thanking his family and friends. I was there when the crowd chanted MVP while JY was taking his free throws. I was there when Mark won the Finals MVP and in his speech thanking his family and his baby Danica Sotto. I was there when Jun Limpot was given a victory ride after 13 years. Believe me that was something I would cherish for the rest of my life. Not only because they won a championship, but also because in the process, they made a believer out of everybody. They won so many people’s hearts.

Lastly, the D-day! I was pleasantly surprised when the Giants chose Boyet Bautista. If you would remember, I have been lobbying for the guy in some message boards. Without batting an eyelash, Boyet is the best point guard in the draft minus the hype. Lewis Tenorio is a great player, but Bautista is an all-business type of guy. He’s a proven winner and though he only stands about 5’6, he’s a guy who’s got a big, big heart.

If ever Purefoods would sign him up, he’ll contribute in terms of scoring, playmaking, a little bit of defense and hustle. He’ll be a great threat from the outside that should help in unclogging the lanes for the bigs. Purefoods doesn’t need to give him the starting guard position because he can come off the bench and be a spark.

As for Paul Artadi, I don’t think he’ll be the odd man out. In a team, which thrives in defense and quickness, a three-point-guard rotation is just enough. Roger Yap, Artadi and Bautista can co-exist because they are assets of the team and they bring different facets of the game. Roger can run our half-court offense. Boyet can be used to ignite our running offense. Paul can be utilized for defensive purposes. Thus, having three point guards would make us very formidable in the backcourt.

Well, that’s about it bloggers. I hope I didn’t bore you! I’ll write you again next time!

Pie

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