Miller feels chemistry is the key for Barako turnaround

Originally posted on the PBA website on January 2, 2014

During the pregame shootaround, Willie Miller clowned around with his teammates, distracting them whenever they hoisted a shot. The Thriller, together with his teammates, are about to face GlobalPort, hoping to end their woes as the year nears its end.

A couple of hours after, Barako Bull improved its standing to 3-7 with a 108-95 win.

Miller, as usual, had a ready smile on his face.

Though it really isn’t a surprise to many, Willie flashes his smile all the time, something that is sometimes misunderstood especially when he flashes his pearly whites after a loss.

But the 2002 PBA MVP knows that there’s more to it than just his smile. He also feels the Energy’s struggles, even though he doesn’t show it.

“Lahat pag binigyan ng matagal na time, nagbabago. Lalo na sa amin, nag-start kami November na. Kinakapa pa rin namin yung chemistry namin as a team, at sila coach din, kung sino yung magandang combination sa loob. Ako din personally, kinakapa ko rin yung teammates ko kung saan sila mas komportable,” Miller said. “Yun yung pinakaimportante eh. Dapat yung lima sa loob, alam nila kung paano gagalaw ang bawat isa. Yung mga lapses, dun nakikita eh. Yung mga errors sa huli, missed passing, yung depensa, medyo may lapses pa rin. Sa chemistry yun eh. Sabi nga nila, kahit na nakapikit o natutulog, dapat alam mo kung san pupunta yung kakampi mo.”

Though chemistry is one of the biggest issues Barako Bull is addressing, Miller believes that their crew, composed mostly of wily veterans, can adapt easier to their needs.

“Mas mapapadali yun kasi mas matatanda kami. Kumbaga, mas matanda, maiingay kami, kasi yung veterans salita ng salita. At least, mas madali kaming magkakaintindihan,” he said.

“Medyo ok na naman yung nangyayari sa amin. We’re just trying to pull out the effort para matakpan yung konting mistakes namin. Siguro pag dumating yung time na maganda na yung chemistry namin, napakaganda ng mangayari sa amin,” Miller added.

And they showed glimpses of it in the win over GlobalPort where six players logged double-digit scores.

“Alam ng mga players na may chance kami parati, na kahit tambak kami, humahabol kami. Na kahit natatalo kami, mataas pa rin yung morale ng team. Sabi nga namin, pag ganito lagi yung nangyayari sa atin at binaon natin yung ulo natin, mas lalong sasama yung performance natin,” Miller said.

He added, “Andito yung mga veterans para pagsabihan yung ibang players to take the  responsibility and move in the right way in case mag-commit ka ng error. Kumbaga, kahit mahuli yan nung umpisa, dapat mag-move on ka, next play na. Yun ang importante sa camaraderie ng players, andito kami para i-lift up yung mga players na nado-down.”

“Chemistry lang talaga eh. Ang daming matatanda, ang daming bata na capable. Pag gumanda yung chemistry namin, amuy-amuyan na lang yan at basahan na lang ng feel ng players. Malay nyo, baka wala nang makatalo sa min,” Miller said with the usual jovial grin plastered all over his face.

COMM SPEAK: Salud on 2013

Originally posted on the PBA website on January 1, 2014

PBA Commissioner Chito Salud looks back on the year 2013, the past season, the rookies, the Gilas Pilipinas conquest, and what’s in store for the league in 2014.

pba.ph: The PBA saw the year 2013 as a banner year, as Season 38 proved to be a rousing success and the ongoing season looking like it’s going to pick up where the previous season left off. Commissioner, what are your thoughts on the year that was?

Comm. Salud: 2013 is a banner year for the league in terms of gate receipts and live attendance. That tells me that we’re in the right direction, that we’re able to meet the expectations of the fans, meaning they want exciting games and we were able to give them that.

The players are responding by playing their best at all times. They’re behaving on and off the court, showing the acceptance of the responsibility on being role models. Our tournament formats are successful in which we were able to avoid non-bearing games, which bore the fans which we also do not like. Our everyday games during the quarters and the semis are a hit with the fans. They like it, and the same with the players. They think that the everyday games, or in their case, every other day games for their team, keeps them on their toes and keeps them fit for the games. So all of these combined, with the support of our Board of Governors and our team owners, we’re able to introduce all these innovations simply to make the PBA more responsive to the clamor of the fans.

pba.ph: The immersion of the 2012 batch of rookies and then the new blood coming in 2013. Six different teams reaching the Finals in all three conferences. What can you say about the parity of the league in the past season?

Comm. Salud: What I’m saying is that we’re taking steps in the right direction. The entry of new and fresh blood – that means that the game will be more exciting because our veterans will be challenged. They will be asked to bring their game to the next level because of the rookies who will continually try to prove themselves, and in so doing, push the veterans also to elevate the game. The rookies are always the lifeblood of the league. Without them, there will be no new challenges and new flavor. So in terms of if they are able to adjust to the type of play that we have in the PBA, some take a while and some hit the ground running, but in the long run, because of their talent and their skills, and of course, their basketball I.Q., they are able to adjust and help make the PBA more exciting.

pba.ph: One of the highlights of the year was the silver medal finish of the country in the 27th FIBA Asia Championship. What kind of help will the PBA extend to the national team with the FIBA World Cup and the Asian Games coming?

Comm. Salud: The FIBA World Cup is a commitment for the part of the PBA. The team that played in the last FIBA Asia tournament and won silver will be kept, at least the core, as I understand it from coach Chot Reyes, will be kept. And the PBA is fully supportive of this. And we’re looking forward to that along with the Asian Games.

pba.ph: Personally, what was your favorite moment for the whole year?

Comm. Salud: Marami eh. One, being how rookies were able to blend into the league, and I have to mention Calvin Abueva and the vast improvement of June Mar Fajardo. Second, the close fight for the Most Valuable Player award between two top stars of the PBA in Arwind Santos and LA Tenorio. Third, of course, that very, very inspiring second place finish that we had in that FIBA Asia Championships. All of these, and day-in and day-out, the excitement of the games that bring joy to our fans – these are the moments that I am thankful for.

pba.ph: Commissioner, looking forward to 2014, what can the fans expect from the PBA?

Comm. Salud: It’s simple. Our team owners have one instruction for me – Make the games more exciting and make the league more responsive to the desires of the fans. And everything that we do here emanates from that instruction from the team owners. So let’s just hope that our format works again this year, and our players continue to respond to their obligations to play their best at all times. And that we fare well, and that’s a relative term, in the incoming FIBA World Cup and Asian Games. And I believe, all of that will contribute to another successful 2014.

*****

POSTSCRIPT: It was a delight to talk with the good Commissioner in the final playing day of 2013. It was the third time I had a chance to speak to him and thankfully, it wouldn't be the last. We'll be doing a monthly version of this in the PBA website wherein I ask "Kume" the ramblings within the league and it would start this month. Here's to another successful year for the PBA this 2014!

Sol embraces leader's role

Originally posted on the PBA website on January 1, 2014

Young and dangerous. That’s what the GlobalPort Batang Pier are.

Flanked by a cast of young veterans, gritty defenders, and of course, rookies, GlobalPort is slowly finding its footing in the league after a dismal first season.

And who better to lead the Batang Pier than the Sol Train himself, Sol Mercado.

The five-year veteran has embraced the role given to him by the squad, and has always been a go-to guy for GlobalPort in the end game.

“Management wants me to be there. They called me to be the leader and I don’t mind doing that,” Mercado said. “Its just tough at times. We got so many young players. It takes time with any team to build that chemistry. You get new players, and it takes time to build that team. But we’ll get it together. I’m excited to see how we’ll be down the stretch.”

He added, “We have to learn how to win in those crucial times. I have to allow myself to take over. It’s a learning process, and you become better from it. You think of what you could have done and you come back and become better.”

The six-foot guard from Biola University also said that though criticisms have been fired their way, he doesn’t really listen to them, opting to improve his game more than just silencing his doubters.

“People say stuff about me and Mark (Cardona) can’t coexist before, me and Gary (David) can’t coexist in the past,” Mercado said. “There are teams who have been successful by having scorers, but were not just scorers. We do other things. Once we solve it, it’s still a journey. We’re still in the process of building chemistry and knowing each other.”

“Mark my words. Once we learn it and once we come together, we’re gonna be a dangerous team and it’s going to be scary for the league. It’s a journey and I’m excited to see what happens in the future."

'The Ninja' on his Christmas triple-double, newfound role

Originally posted on the PBA website on December 30, 2013

With Air21 Express sitting at the bottom of the standings with a 1-8 card, Joseph Yeo wanted nothing more that Christmas Day than a win over GlobalPort, their opponents that night.

But at the end of the day, he got more.

The Ninja had the first triple-double of his career in the 109-103 overtime win over the Batang Pier with his 19 points, 14 assists, and a career-best 10 rebounds.

“Nagulat ako actually,” Yeo said. “Siguro I had one nung high school pa, but as far as I can remember, never pa (ako nagka-triple-double).”

Lacking a pure point guard in their line-up, coach Franz Pumaren is putting the ex-Green Archer in the one position, a role, Yeo said, that he is still getting familiar with.

“Sa totoo lang, hindi pa ako nakakapag-adjust ng mabuti sa bago kong role, kasi ako, gusto ko yung umaatake talaga,” Yeo said. “Pag point guard ka kasi, kailangan mo intindihin yung teammates mo.”

“Kaya minsan, sina KG (Canaleta), Macmac (Cardona), pag minsan di ko sila napapasahan, naiinis sila. Kaya sinasabi ko pasensya kasi naga-adjust pa din ako eh. Ganun talaga eh, pero eventually napapasahan ko na rin sila. Naintindihan din nila na di rin ako sanay sa role ko.”

Yeo said that their Christmas conquest is just one of those games that he was finally able to get their groove going, but he still said that they still need a player who is used to filling that role.

“Ngayon lang naging maganda yung pag-orchestrate ko sa team, pero pag natatalo kami, nahihirapan ako. At least kung may natural point guard kami, wala kong iisipin kundi umatake talaga. Pero may times sa game na pwede rin ako mag-point guard. Pero malaking bagay din kung may natural point guard kami,” he said.

Cardona butted in, saying, “Di namin kailangan ng natural point guard. Kailangan namin natural passer!”

Though he’s still struggling to get accustomed in his new role, Yeo is willing to take the challenge head-on.

“Hindi lang sa akin eh. Para din kila Vic Manuel, Elmer Espiritu, sinasabi ko sa kanila, at least nabibigyan ng chances ibang players kaya kailangan lang natin mag-step up. Chance natin to. Hihintayin pa ba nating kumuha ng ibang players? Might as well grab the opportunity,” he said.

Also, one of those things being brought about in the win was the idea that Yeo and Cardona, both being known as scorers ever since their college days, cannot co-exist on the floor.

“We play the same position, pero in this game, ginagawa ako ni coach na point guard so we can play together,” Yeo said. “Kasi before, palitan kami eh. Kung maganda yung laro ko, di makakapaglaro si Macmac. Kung maganda naman yung laro nya, ako naman yung magsa-suffer. Kaya si coach, gusto nyang matuto ako mag-point guard para pwede kaming magsabay.”

Cardona added, “Since college yata hindi pa kami nakapaglaro ng sabay ng maganda. First time to. Triple-double sya, at maganda naman yung scoring ko. We’re both happy and memorable pa to sa amin kasi Christmas pa nangyari.”

Captain Hook top-scored for the team in that game, along with Asi Taulava, with 28 points.

Yeo is convinced that though the Express is firmly at the cellar, their standings doesn’t really reflect how good they are as a team.

“I think we’re a better team than sa standings namin. Ang dami naming games na dikit, so I think dapat nasa gitna sana kami eh,” he said. “At the start of the conference, mataas yung expectations namin. Confident naman kami sa individual skills namin kaya malaking bagay na yun. Natatalo lang talaga pero until now, makapasok lang kami, may chance pa kami.”

“Yung chance namin, nasa amin pa rin eh. Wala kaming paki sa iba. Pag natalo yung iba, aangat naman kami at sila naman yung bababa,” Yeo added.

“Kami naman, enjoy lang at walang masyadong pressure. Natatalo nga kami pero yung morale ng team, given na medyo mababa pero hindi tulad sa iba na baka mag-give up na lang. Si coach, nagpe-prepare pa rin ng game plan. At least, may extra motivation kami. Kaya naman namin manalo eh. Mahirap talaga kaya kailangan talaga ng team effort.”

Meralco needs to develop 'winner's attitude' - Gary D

Originally posted on the PBA website on December 31, 2013

After finally mustering a respectable 3-2 record early in December, the Meralco Bolts suddenly lost their footing, stumbling in their next four assignments.

The Bolts are now looking for a fresh start in 2014, and one of those in the forefront of the battle for Meralco is Gary David.

After their fourth loss, a heartbreaking 82-83 defeat at the hands of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel last December 28 courtesy of a buzzer-beating Japeth Aguilar trey, the Gilas gunner was clearly distraught when he exited the Mall of Asia Arena.

“Masakit yung pagkatalo namin. Kailangan naming bumawi,” he said. “Dapat pa naming pag-isipan yung mga bagay na makakapagpaimprove sa amin, lalo na sa end game.”

Meralco was up by five in the final 15 seconds, but missed free throws doomed the Bolts, giving Ginebra a glimmer of hope, which they seized.

Though obviously disappointed, David hopes that 2014 will give them a much needed breather as they eye to salvage the season’s campaign in their final four games.

“Siguro ang kailangan lang naming iimprove ay yung mentality at eagerness to win,” he said. “Yung winner’s attitude – yun ang dapat naming pagtibayin, mas lalo na sa end game ng mga laro.”