Chris Ranks: Who really has the best system in College basketball? (UAAP Edition)

Yeah, unless you’re illiterate or Korean (Inside joke here) you’ll probably get what I mean in the title alone. The question is, how can you say your school has the best basketball system in the country? Well, it’s easy.. let’s look at who produced the best players in the PBA since the new millennium!

Sorry NCAA guys! You’ll have to wait. I’ll do the NCAA edition tomorrow.. right now, let’s give the UAAP kids some attention first.

I compiled the names every single one of the draftees from a UAAP school since the year 2000. I only included players who were drafted in the first two rounds except for two notables who were drafted in the third round. (FEU’s Celino Cruz and ADMU’s Jec Chia)

The scoring system will be simple. The number of the asterisks on the players name would be the indicator of the points they will be having. The school with the most number of points wins! (Well duh)

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Dream Team 92 vs Redeem Team 08

A dream showdown between Dream Team 92 versus Redeem Team 08, to which team you’ll put your money on?

Answer 1: Dream Team 92 (Jordan, Magic, Bird, Pippen, Barkeley, et al) - 70 votes
Answer 2: Redeem Team 08 (Kobe, Lebron, Kidd, Wade, Howard et al) - 30 votes

Total Votes: 100

SYDMAN RANKS THE TEAMS: UPSIDE-DOWNSIDE… ADDITION-SUBTRACTION - RED BULL

RANK NUMBER NINE: RED BULL BARAKO

UPSIDE:

No one wants the notion of being an underdog more than Yeng Guiao, thus I’ll give him this spot. Unlike Rain or Shine, the coach is the focal point of Red Bull. That is why the players’ egos are automatically being thrown out of the window once they wear a Red Bull jersey (unless they want their selves to be thrown out of the team). While they will miss Mick Pennisi, Topex Robinson, Paolo Bugia, and Kiko Adriano, you can expect more from their new key players. Cyrus Baguio (18.2ppg, 3.6rpg, 3.7apg, 1.3spg in 48 games) is Red Bull’s top dog and expect him to rise in every occasion that matters. Rich Alvarez (6.7ppg, 3.4rpg in 22 games – all in the Fiesta Cup) has the chance to show the critics that he could be a PBA superstar now that he has fully healed from the injury that sidelined him for a season and a half. Same goes for Mike Hrabak (7.5ppg, 5.3rpg, 1.3bpg in 48 games), who saw his career experiencing rebirth after dismal stints that made him a journeyman. Celino Cruz (8.0ppg, 3.3rpg, 2.6apg in 46 games) is finally the team’s main quarterback and you can be sure that he will continue to play the role that Junthy Valenzuela, Robinson, and Pennisi left off (as the trash-talking blabbermouth opponents love to hate). Of course you can lean on the other guys like Leo Najorda (9.4ppg, 3.5rpg in 46 games), Jojo Duncil (6.4ppg, 2.3rpg in 33 games), Magnum Membrere (4.6ppg, 1.3rpg in 19 games), Warren Ybanez (3.6ppg, 1.7apg in 44 games), and Carlo Sharma (5.5ppg, 4.8rpg in 45 games) to burst whenever necessary. The addition of rookies Larry Rodriguez and Jeff Chan, as well transferees Gabby Espinas (2.6ppg, 1.7rpg in 20 games) and Paolo Hubalde, would make the Bulls an even stranger team to get those hard-fought W’s.

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SYDMAN RANKS THE PBA TEAMS: UPSIDE-DOWNSIDE… ADDITION-SUBTRACTION - RAIN OR SHINE

RANK NUMBER TEN: RAIN OR SHINE ELASTO PAINTERS

UPSIDE:

The entry of Gabe Norwood (first overall), Solomon Mercado (fifth overall), and TY Tang (twelfth overall) should give the Elasto Painters a new look, and a new set of following. Norwood and Mercado could actually rival the Caguioa and Helterbrand following with a couple of years of seasoning. Jay-R Reyes (12.4ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.0bpg in 31 games) would assume leadership in the paint. Old reliables like Rob Wainwright (9.6ppg, 5.4rpg in 34 games), Ryan Arana (7.7ppg, 3.3rpg in 34 games), Mark Isip (2.9ppg, 2.4rpg in 33 games), Don Dulay (3.8ppg, 2.0apg in 33 games), Allan Salangsang (2.0ppg, 1.4rpg in 11 games – all in the Fiesta Cup) and Jireh Ibanes (4.6ppg, 1.8rpg in 32 games) would have to double their efforts in contributing. The veteran leadership of Eddie Laure (3.1ppg, 2.0rpg in 31 games as an Ace) will be vital as he will be placed in a much bigger than what he had last season.

DOWNSIDE:

The team still lacks depth, as you have seen. Choosing the underachieving Denver Lopez (7.7 ppg, 2.1rpg, 2.7apg in 15 games – all in the Philippine Cup) over the overachieving Froi Baguion (now trying out for Coke) was dubious. The lack of big players would also tinker their hopes on grabbing a respectable finish. I mean, Isip and seldom used Mark Andaya (2.7ppg, 2.1rpg in 13 games) are nobodies compared to the frontline other teams will use against them. Although come to think of it, Joe Devance shocked the Dragons by settling more on the outside than on the inside which perhaps made the trade to Alaska doable. Also, they solved their problem of having excessive shooting guards but they got stuck with having excessive small forwards. Reyes will have to double his efforts in rebounding, especially when pitted with teams like TNT or SMB that owns humongous combos or players like Asi Taulava, Sonny Thoss, Kelly Williams, Eric Menk, and even Homer Se. Pitting Norwood as a big man would be a stupid move if they opt to use his size more than his skills.

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So, Yeng Guiao is the Man

GMAnews has this… after months of suspense, the verdict is out and Yeng Guiao is the head of the PBA - Philippine National Team. Well, not really surprise there. It’s obvious, it’s Yeng turn.

Yeng Guiao is the 6th PBA coach to get this honor. After Jaworski, Black, Cone, Uichico and Reyes.

Even before Chot got the job, I was already for Yeng Guiao leading the charge.

Rewind 2006 - To begin with, let’s settle as to whom the coaching job should be entrusted to. I want a seasoned tactician. I want one that can act as a de facto manager. I want a hard-nosed one. I want a home-bred coach. I want to have a coach that has the respect of his players, his assistants and the Philippine basketball community. I want one that doesn’t carry a lot of baggage in doing his job. I want one who doesn’t have God Father. I want one who can engage opponent’s team manager without hesitation. Naaaah kidding there. I want Yeng Guiao to handle the team. As much as I respect coach Chot Reyes ability, I still think Yeng Guiao edges him a little bit on other criteria I gave above. Chot Reyes is just a little too scientific a coach for me. Of course, it’s all set, Reyes is the coach but I just wanted to give my preference still.

Yeng Guiao says we need to bite the bullet and sign-up naturalized players like what other are doing and like what Ron Jacobs and company did in the past. But wait, being member of BCAP (BTW, BCAP stands for Basketball Coaches Association of Protectionists), is not Yeng the same guy who’s not into hiring foreign coaches. Now he’s open up to signing up players? How about coaches coach? By the way, as of this writing, Serbian coach Toroman has standing offer from SBP to coach the non-PBA backed national team for various competitions, like SEA games, etc. I wonder what’s Yeng Guiao stand on this. Import Players - OK. Import Coaches - Not?

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Prospect watch: Josh Vanlandingham

Remember this post? Well.. I’m sure you do and I’m glad to say that that post came all the way to the US and a guy named Josh Vanlandingham actually had the time to read it.

After reading my breaking the pros entry, he asked me for some guidelines on how to actually break into Philippine basketball and after a few conversations and some kick ass videos, I think he could be one hell of a player here in the Philippines.

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Off the couch: The UAAP finals aftermath

First up, Congratulations Ateneo! It was one heck of a run (15 and 1) and it was a well deserved win. Anyone who thinks otherwise either goes to taft every morning for school or is affiliated with one of the players from the Green side.

Now to clarify things and to avoid further internet confrontation lemme say I am not a student of Ateneo (My mom doesn’t have that kind of money to send me to that school. lol) and as a basketball fanatic, I was actually hoping that the finals would go to Game 3. I even told my younger brother that if it goes to game 3, we’re going to watch it live.

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WRONG MOVE - ATENEO WINS UAAP CROWN

62-51. That was the score. After three months of awesomeness, everyone witnessed the fact that Ateneo in this season is better compared to La Salle.

But yeah, it didn’t help that Rico Maierhofer played stupid.

One DICKHEAD move, motivated an outburst of emotions that triggered a chain of events that made the Eagles soar and the Archers plummet.

CONGRATULATIONS ATENEO!

Sorry DLSU fans, but you have to wonder how Rico Maierhofer would fare had he played in that pivotal fourth quarter. JVee Casio was the only gun working for the Archers but he is saddled with foul trouble. Rico had the tendency to come up big during the last salvo. Remember the 2007 Finals? If it wasn’t for him grabbing those loose balls and rebounds, UE would have accomplished their 16-0 season. Instead, UE played listlessly. Mark Borboran, Kelvin Gregorio, Elmer Espiritu, and the rest of the Warriors became Maierhofer’s zombies. Whenever he’s on the inside, no one mattered.

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The Araneta Chronicles: San Beda College vs Jose Rizal University

How about this for a change huh? Ever since last week, it has been all about La Salle vs Ateneo, Ateneo vs La Salle, Green vs Blue, Blue vs Green, Chris Tiu on TV, Rabeh for MVP, Shawarma Parties, Bonfires and so forth. That’s why I’m feeling a bit down for the guys over at the other side of the world, just so you know, the NCAA had it’s craziest season so far. And it’s not over yet.

On one side, here’s a team looking to create a dynasty. On the other, a team trying to break a 38 year drought. How’s that for a change huh?

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On the Philippine Blog Awards

First up, I would like to congratulate my fellow writers and the people behind Blink. Despite not winning the PBA Finals, making it to the finals is already one hell of a feat. To the people who nominated us and our readers who never ceased to support us thank you!

Second, I would like to extend my hand to The Bull Runner team, who won both awards under the category of sports. You guys rock ass! I visited your site last night and you definitely deserved the award. To all the other finalists, better luck next time guys. See you at the awards night next year.

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