My Insight for the Again Revamped BGSM

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel has gone again into a coaching revamp.

Jeffrey Cariaso was named as the BGSM's head coach for the next conference and also reportedly he will also bring Asst. Coach Olsen Racela. 

Photo Owned by Spin. Ph

Coach Ato Agustin was moved back to SMB but as an assistant coach again, Assistant coach Art Dela Cruz will also be moved to Barako bull energy alongside with Coach Siot Tangquincen (Which is now the head coach of the Barako Bull replacing Bong Ramos). While Coach Juno, Allan Caidic and Abuda will now focus more on DLSU.

Also reportedly Cariaso and Racela will ought to bring the triangle offense at ginebra and will replace the old Run & Gun.

Now the Question is will Ginebra strive in the triangle? are they going to be like the San Mig Coffee Mixers which perfected the triangle?

My answer will be yes, Ginebra got the pieces for the triangle but it's going to be a different style of triangle because it is Cariaso who will be the one teaching it not the original maestro: Tim Cone. 

Why Do I say Ginebra got the pieces for the triangle to work? because first and foremost they got LA Tenorio which back then was a former point guard of Tim Cone during his stint in alaska.

So when we are talking about familiarity of the Triangle, I guess LA still remembers a thing or two about the offense. secondly Ginebra got Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar who will be the focal point of the offense. The coaching staffs just need to teach the two bigmen on their court vision like Marc Pingris and JDV which are great passers even at the post. 

But (Yes there is a 'But') there will also be guys who will have a hard time on adjusting on the new system. And those are: Mark Caguioa and JJ Helterbrand. 

Why?

Because in their entire career in Ginebra those two played the old Run & Gun system which is the perfect system for those two and which brought back-to-back championship in the 2004-2005 Philippine Cup and Fiesta Conference. They even got their monicker because of that system, "The fast" and "The Furious". 

Now with their old age how would they cope up with the big changes? Now it's going to be a problem for them and the coaching staff but I'm sure they'll find a way to fix it.

With the impending changes on the coaching staffs and system, Fans have just one thing in mind and that is just to reclaim the throne and end the 8-year title drought for their beloved team. 

In My case I think ginebra will be just fine with the new system and new coaches but I hope this would be the last changes in ginebra for a long time. Just like I said Everything needs time to be perfected. So I hope Cariaso and company won't be changed immediately when their run falls short this govs cup, I hope the Corporation would give them at least 2 seasons to fix things up for ginebra because I see a good future in ginebra with these staffs and also with the system.

"Good things come for those who know how to wait"

PBA Playoffs 2014: Air 21 Vs. San Miguel Beermen The battle that should be on the books

It was Playoffs already in the PBA and the teams are already ready to fight for the spot for the semis and eventually the finals. 

there are already a lot of predictions on who will win the 1st round and Air21 is none of those predictions. 

I too did not expect that Air 21 would have a chance to beat San Miguel Beermen in the playoffs. I will tell you why:

First San miguel beermen has a loaded lineup composed of Sol Mercado (PG) Chris Ross (PG) Marcio Lassiter (SG) Chris lutz (SG) Arwind Santos (PF/SF) JuneMar Fajardo (C) Doug Kramer (PF/C) Ronald Tubid (SG) and Rico Maierhofer (PF/C)

Not to forget their notable bench players like Chico Lanete and Paulo Hubalde

Now tell me How will you beat a team with that kind of Lineup? 

Second: They have the twice-to-beat advantage 

Now for some teams this is a intimidating factor because once you lose one you'll be eliminated

Now we all have the reason to bet on SMB that they will really win against Air21 easily

But that didn't happen

Air21 won the 1st game with the help of the Reluctant effort of Sean Anthony

Many were shocked when they found out that the Beermen lost against the Express

I too was shocked, I mean with that caliber? how would someone beat a team like SMB? 

but then it hit me, I totally Forgot the word "Heart".

Air21 used Heart and Determination to win that 1st game and by that time I am now questioning the caliber of this SMB team. (But to be honest I love underdogs) 

Now with that thought set. I assumed that SMB will be more hungrier and focused on their next game for it would be a huge shame if they're just going to let them be beaten by team like Air21

With the 2nd game on I see a JuneMar Fajardo more focused than the 1st game and I just got a hunch that the Kraken will be released in that night. 

So at the 1st and 2nd quarter the game was tight. There was even an altercation in the mid 2nd quarter because Yeo Hit Chris Ross below the belt which caused his ejection and it ignite the run of SMB. After the 1st half SMB were leading and they said they will use that 'altercation' as their spark for the whole game. 

Yes I guess it was a spark for them because SMB fought harder in the 3rd and 4th quarter, man their lead even became a double-digit lead. But in the late 4th quarter the Air21 used their Hunger, Hunger for the win, Hunger for respect, and especially Hunger for that Chip'. they rallied back and erased the double digit lead and made it a close game.

Sadly 3 star players from SMB were already fouled out (Fajardo, Lassiter and Mercado) but they were still confident that they are going to get the win because in the last sequence of the 4th quarter, SMB were up by two and there is only 18 second left in the time but the problem is it is still Air21's ball. 

Now the inbound was coming and the Air21 passed it on their import which took the trey and missed, With that trey missed by Air21's import SMB fans and the players saw a glimer of light that they will win the game. 

But there is Asi Taulava. 

He Grabbed that rebound with 1.8 second left in the shotclock and made the shot in the nick of time. OT! 

All people were amazed and shocked on the sequence. Everyone thought that SMB already won the game because of that missed trey by Witherspoon. but Asi Taulava came like a dark cloud who shuts that glimer of light for SMB and sends the game into overtime.

With the OT coming I can see it's finally becoming in the favor of Air21 for they still have complete lineup (well except for Yeo who was ejected earlier) while SMB will have a big problem because their main gunners are on the bench and can't be deployed already.

the 1st OT SMB was still fighting hard, both teams showed their "Puso" and Determination. No player ever showed signs of fatigue, they still keep running and shooting.

And I guess the basketball gods doesn't want to finish this epic game so they send it again to another Overtime. 

But in this 2nd overtime SMB is now showing fatigue and the effect of the fouling out of their 3 main gunners were already exposing: Asi Taulava eating his defender alive, Mac Mac Cardona penetrating and scoring for Air21 and Sean Anthony... well let's just say he pulled another Sean Anthony. 

And at last! the game ended and everyone was left with shock and awe, Your Air21 express defeated the Mighty San Miguel Beermen! the Impossible became possible for Air21 while the side of the Beermen, Faces of frustration and sadness were in each of the players faces. They might be thinking on why are they beaten by Air21 which is not on their level.

Fans say it's all "Luto" and stuff but I say it's all because of "heart and determination" Players of SMB showed determination but Air21 showed more. SMB battled but Air21 gave it all. maybe if Asi wasn't able to make that shot for the Overtime I guess the speculations would be different.  But just as I say, Asi was able to grab that rebound and make the shot because he got heart. 

Heart.. 

It really changes the game of basketball. If you have heart in every game, you can defy the odds and be like David and defeat a Goliath

"Stay Humbry" - Sol mercado 

Humbry = Hungry and Humble 

Ginebra's Coaching staff's woes

Ginebra is on the losing side right now, yes they've managed to enter the Playoffs but their run on this 2014 PBA Comissioner's Cup is totally an Eye-sore. 

There've been a lot of problem on the part of Ginebra at the start of this Conference.

But I'm going to mention only one: 

there were a 'slight' coaching change (or that's what they call it). Coach Ato Agustin is still Ginebra's Head coach but he won't be calling the shots temporarily, Assistant Coach Juno Sauler became Active since the UAAP is on it's offseason and Assistant Coach Juno was given a task to Handle the shots in the Ginebra Camp. 

In their first game against barako (which is actually a close one) Ginebra fans and Basketball fans quickly pointed that there is something new on Ginebra's new style of play. Ginebra did not rely anymore to their Pick and Roll plays and shows more of a ball movement type of play.

Everyone thought that it's nice to see Ginebra on a new kind of system/play but the side-effects came on to the latter part of their games. 

The Question is, Why change coach/leader when Coach Ato already brought Ginebra on a semi-finals finish? Are they not satisified with his performance? Yes I know there has been a lot of expectations for ginebra but I guess switching of Coach doesn't fit the bill for the team to end the 6-year title-drought. 

I guess they should not change coaches frequently so that the players won't be so confused because all they do is to adjust adjust adjust. How can you be comfortable/Confident when you are always changing the one who's calling the shots? 

It's like you're in a game you are almost at the finish but you erased all your files and you have nothing to do but to start all over again.

long story short, that is the main problem of Ginebra. Coaches don't have any Checkpoints during their stay in the team and when they mess up they will be changed immediately and won't be given another chance, and now players will be having another hard time on adjusting on a new coach. 

why don't they try to give the coaches minimum of 1 season and a maximum of 3 season and see how the team progress on the coaching staffs. I don't see any problems with the players anymore for Ginebra is already complete from PG to C, name it they have it.

So I guess in order for Ginebra to be back on the winning side I guess the "Vast" changes needs to be stopped and give everyone on the team Chances and Time who knows? when they follow my advice They might win a Chip' again and end the so called "Title-Drought"