SYDMAN’S POWER RANKINGS: THE FANTASY LEAGUE EDITION (OCT 22-26)

For last week’s rankings… click here

Hello! This is week three and I’m going to mix my PBFANTASY TIPS with my rankings. So sit back and relax as we start this F’N UNBELIVABLE SHOW!

** credit to my new catchphrase to Rob Van Dam… and Slam Dunk’s resident statistician Hikoichi Aida (I heard they are going to restart the Slam Dunk manga).

SAY GOODBYE TO… Rob Wainwright (LW # 16) and Nelbert Omolon (LW # 14) found themselves lost in the shuffle because both played like crap.

LOOK FORWARD
Ali Peek played his first game back from injury and he scored 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 block. His entry might decrease some stats from TNT’s big men but his entry would provide a sure player to get those stat points from.

Sorry for the delay… work was hard this week.

Anyway…

GAME STARTS NOW!

25. BEERMEN – DORIAN PENA (NEW ENTRY) – 235,000Php
The guy almost averages double-double in points and rebounds although at 235,000Php, I doubt if you’ll pick him. He piles 26 minutes a night for a team with an overcrowded roster. Nonetheless, when he is fielded, expect quality minutes from the Big Dawg.

24. REALTORS – RYAN REYES (LW # 7) – 205,000Php
The guy fared 2.5ppg, 3.5rpg, 2apg, 1.5spg in their last 2 games. Simply put, he was god-awful this week. While whatever was inserted in his food could have triggered a negative reaction in his season, this could be the perfect time to get hold of the player. This phase will end and when he blossoms anew, expect stat gains in four categories.

23. TROPANG TEXTERS – HARVEY CAREY (LW # 15) – 175,000Php
Carey will suffer the effects of Ali Peek’s comeback. But on a plus note, Peek is 50,000Php pricier than Carey. With the Man-mountain back to decrease his minutes, points, and boards, this week could probably drop the Bulldog out of the rankings.

22. ELASTO PAINTERS – SOLOMON MERCADO (LW # 23) – 125,000Php
The rookies are basically freebies for the interactive GM’s. Mercado is a cheap player if you want to grab two 300k guys for your team. However, there are a lot of big names in the SG spot that cannot be possibly overlooked. His stats are high but this is mainly due to his excellent first game.

21. BARAKOS – LARRY RODRIGUEZ (LW # 22) – 135,000Php
This player I think is a great choice in the PF spot. Playing great in a team ran by has-beens and never-wases, the former PMI titan gets major points, rebounds, and blocks! Sure, Yeng Guiao’s style could bench the guy, but after five games and still consistently claiming stats… picking this guy is a budget dream.

20. GIANTS – JAMES YAP (LW # 19) – 245,000Php
First of all King James is priced too big. He plays more minutes than any other Giant. But nowadays he could only pile up points. Plus, PJ Simon is taking over the scoring chores for Purefoods. Granted he scored 12 points in ten minutes against Ginebra… suiting up for their next game… remains to be the big question.

19. BEERMEN – DONDON HONTIVEROS (NEW ENTRY) – 255,000Php
The Southern Hotshot’s debut in the Power Ranks is mainly for being the most consistent scorer for the club. 14.2ppg, 4.3rpg, 2.3apg are great numbers for the ex-Cebu Gem. But in fantasyland, he needs to pile up bigger numbers in the rebounds and assists department if you want to get your money’s worth if you pick him.

18. GIANTS – PETER JUNE SIMON (LW # 21) – 155,000Php
He has been the Giants’ most prolific scorer in their last six games. These are indications that Pistol Pete is a force to be reckon with. While he is not priced high, people should know that they’ll be only getting his points… and nothing else.

17. EXPRESS – JR QUINAHAN (LW # 25) – 145,000Php
The 8-rank rise is making Baby Shaq an incoherent player. However, he still delivers the goods. The problem is, the return of Homer Se and the surge of Arwind Santos is making his presence a tad misused. But fantasy owners should love Quinahan since he’ll likely give out at least 7 points and 7 boards a night.

16. TROPANG TEXTERS – JARED DILLINGER (LW # 24) – 160,000Php
J-Dil is the second-most expensive rookie in Fantasyland and you can use him either as guard or as forward. He has been great despite TNT’s roller coaster season. While he can be a great find in the guard spot, I’ll use him as a forward, since Dillinger can also swipe and block to go with his points and rebounds.

15. BARAKOS – CYRUS BAGUIO (LW # 17) – 255,000Php
With Yeng Guiao leading all coaches in technical fouls this season, Baguio is tied with Alex Cabagnot as the league leaders in steals. He has been taking a backseat for Espinas, but this does not faze him, as the Bulls ride to reach the upper half of the standings. Fantasy? He is bound to score big. The only thing that would keep him from stat-hunting is himself and always-irritated coach.

14. ELASTO PAINTERS – GABE NORWOOD (LW # 18) – 185,000Php
His 18 points saw critics thinking that Norwood would finally show his scoring prowess. It was a fluke though but he has been scoring almost 15 points in his last two games. Thing is, Norwood is such a multi-dimensional workhorse! He ranks high in assists and he leads his team in rebounds. For people who find Arwind Santos’ salary expensive, you might want to free 185,000 and draft this guy.

13. GIANTS – ENRICO VILLANUEVA (LW # 13) – 235,000Php
The Raging Giant (or insert team name) is one of the marquee players available in the center spot. His presence is most alarming for his opponents. However, you have to wonder if he can massively contribute regularly for the Giants. Well, all bets are off, he has a chance to explode in both points and rebounds with James Yap’s injury. You Rico-pickers hope he’ll score big in this development.

12. BARAKOS – GABBY ESPINAS (LW # 12) – 150,000Php
One of the best choices you could possibly pick to your roster! He is not pricey… and he is always good for 30 stat points. But the thing is, Yeng Guiao trusts the guy. You can never say that this season was a “flukish” one because Espinas has always been known as a guy who puts a premium on minutes. Imagine if he gets Kelly Williams’ minutes (40mpg) instead of the current playing time he is getting (28mpg)…

11. KINGS – JAYJAY HELTERBRAND (LW # 5) – 290,000Php
In their last two games, Helter-skelter has been averaging 14.5ppg, 2.5rpg, 4.0apg, 1.5spg, 12-out-of-36 shooting, and 4-out-of-16 in the 3-pt area in 33 minutes of action. As the leader of the Kings, this is bad. From a two-game surge they dropped their last three games with little arsenal to save their asses. Mr. Fast needs help as he is the only King commendable to highlight. The defense is clamping on him. They cannot wait for their teammates to un-injure themselves. By the way, in case you pick him as your guard, I bet you’re having a hard time getting worthy players to fill the other positions.

10. ELASTO PAINTERS – JAY-R REYES (LW # 20) – 245,000Php
Probably one of the better players to purchase in the C spot, while he is not the best in his position, he is one of those frequently-used guys in Rain or Shine’s frontline-challenged lineup. He gets an ass-load of minutes in the center spot where he gets a lot of touches that often translate to points, boards, and blocks. Considering the inside presence of the Painters, Reyes is the only guy that could give them solid contributions… which is either right or freakishly awkward.

9. TIGERS – NIC BELASCO (LW # 9) – 285,000Php
Proven, tried, and tested… three words that dictates the basketball career of St. Nic. Through the years he has blossomed to become an outside threat. While his reputation in penetrating and on post up is weak compared to other frontliners, he gives a hideous dose of supreme stance disrupting his opponents’ defenses and by hitting those timely troikas. The salary seems to much since the same money could be used to obtain Gabby Espinas. But if you have a credible but cheap lineup, feel free to exercise the option of selecting Belasco.

8. BEERMEN – JAY WASHINGTON (LW # 8) – 275,000Php
The only Beermen that matters putting in your lineup (with the exception of the “economical” Bonbon Custodio) is this guy. First up, he leads the Beermen in three categories. Add the fact that he is the only SMB player to register 30 minutes a night. And put in to favor his consistency, stepping up for the injured Dannys – Ildefonso and Seigle. In fantasyland, the only drawback Jay-Wash could give you is his price tag. And I guess in the long run you have to trade him for a marquee guy because for some reason, he often shies out of the spotlight.

7. EXPRESS – ARWIND SANTOS (LW # 11) – 340,000Php
Moving four slots up is the Spiderman. Yes, the MVP runner-up is seriously a great guy to have in the roster. With him around, you can expect all five categories to flourish. Last year, Santos was the only player to have a “1.0” in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. He is also a great choice to play if you long those steals and blocks. The downside of the Spiderman is his overprice-ness. Yes, the guy alongside Asi Taulava are the two highest-paid guys in fantasyland. Upon Asi, its understandable because he is the only rightful behemoth in all of the league. On Santos, there are a lot of guys that could give them forward goodness that’s right on the money.

6. ACES – WILLIE MILLER (LW # 10) – 280,000Php
The Thriller has been thriving to secure his primetime spot last season. Now he has been owning the other players from the other positions. He scores heavily and add that to his almost double (or triple) –double performances. For fantasy goers you could give up a few dineros to claim the Thriller. Unless he becomes injured, no one can possibly get his minutes. He is Alaska’s best known scoring option. At the guard spot, you can always choose on either him, Baguio, Caguioa, Yap, Helterbrand, and even Ryan Reyes among others. Miller will always average above 35 minutes a game and that means he’ll have at least a stat in two possessions with or without a shot selection.

5. GIANTS – KERBY RAYMUNDO (LW # 6) – 275,000Php
It would have been cool if The Kid could be used in the center spot. Fact is, it solves the lack of choices for that position. Raymundo is pricey but he is so productive that you have to get him if you do not want to pick either Santos or Williams. He has points and he has rebounds. The most important stat he has though is assists, as he is one of those players that could actually dish the ball and block shots also. With James Yap out, Raymundo will get more scoring possibilities.

4. EXPRESS – RANIDEL DE OCAMPO (LW # 2) – 255,000Php
Last week, De Ocampo has become the second fiddle for the Arwind Santos-dictated Express. It’s not like he sucked this week, but Santos really played better. He was a very hot commodity at the start of the season because he was averaging consistent double-double figures. He will still average big but with the Spiderman, Se, and Quinahan playing well there’s no doubt that his numbers will slide. But nonetheless, whenever he is in the court I doubt if 25 stat points would be enough for his contributions.

3. TROPANG TEXTERS – MACMAC CARDONA (LW # 4) – 220,000Php
He is a known scorer and he is also known for his turnovers. But never let that measly flaw cause you to look against Captain Hook. The other stat we don’t see from the DLSU alum is his ability to grab those rebounds and assists. Currently, he is averaging on top of everyone in terms of scoring. He has widened his dimensions to the point that he could rival Renren Ritualo in terms of 3-pt shooting capacities. He can slash and he can hit those mid-range jumpers with great ease. And if you look at his salary, he barely makes enough what Miller and Helterbrand has. Actually, Mark Caguioa, a player that has yet to play a game, makes almost the same as Cardona.

2. REALTORS – KELLY WILLIAMS (LW # 1) – 300,000Php
When I made the rankings, I didn’t factor in that horrible game he played against SMB. Anyway, Kelly Williams is the barometer of Sta. Lucia. They have a fighting chance when he scores above 20, but they regress when he fails to deliver the goods for the current, reigning, and defending Philippine Cup titlists. For the top forward spot, it’s a tossup between him and Santos. Santos is much expensive than Williams. However the Machine Gun has slightly unreliable other factors. Sta. Lucia’s current state of blowing hot and cold is the reason why Williams was displaced in the top spot. He is not the type of player that would forever suck. I assure you he’ll game steam sooner than expected.

1. TIGERS – ASI TAULAVA (LW # 3) – 325,000Php
Inmates running the asylum: this is what we are seeing in the Kenneth Duremdes-mentored Tigers. One constant is Taulava, who averaged 27 points in their last two games. I think this was the same time last year when he was traded by TNT to Coke and he went berserk! The Rock did his 24 points despite the chaos that surrounded the coaching change. He erupted for 30 amidst playing sparingly because he was favoring an injury. For you fantasy owners, you have to get this guy if you need a sure presence in the middle. The center spot in PBFANTASY is insanely weak. Of course, there are only ten starting centers but merely half of those players actually contribute heavily for their team. With Norwood being the cheap option at guard and Espinas being the cheap option at the forward spot, you have to seriously pimp up your center spot. And this guy… is bar none… the best pickup you can find in fantasyland.

Sorry for the delay and for the crappiness of the piece, the Power Ranks will return to normal next week.

Until then, SURF PORN!

Gary David’s Buzzer Beater

I was out last night and didn’t see the Alaska-Air21 game. I searched for the end game finish by Gary David. Here’s the clip, it’s a TV capture but still semi-ok for those who missed it. Strong legs, strong arms/wrist action, moves well without the ball and not afraid to take the last shot, that’s Gary David.

(Paging BTV-Solar, when will you have your own channel over at Youtube?)

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Pilipinas Hoops Poll: Are You Solarized?

Throw your comments about the Solar Sports coverage using the comments section.

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A Nike To Share

We got some NIKE Stuff to share.

More than 20 items of Nike Bags, Nike Cases, NIKE DVDs My Game and Nike Water Bottles.

(Thanks NIKE PHILIPPINES and OGILVY for providing the freebies)

Two ways to get this. (1) Join the conversation via comments section and (2) joining the polls (see the polls below each page).

Each week, we’ll be giving away one item for “best comment” as chosen by the readers and the contributors/admin of HooPh.

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Hoops Bounce!

The redesign of our site is almost over. We’ll continue to improve this here and there.

Quick X and Os…

• Featured articles at frontpage.
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• We’re gonna be using Google Search as the search tool exclusively. See at top right.
• If you have time, please sign up for those cute little comment gravatars. It’s easy to get one and you can use this on other blogs.
• Slowly, we’ll be filling up the site with other sports articles.
• We are still accepting 1 to 2 writers/contributors. Please contact us.
• You may now click the authors link, to get more posts from the author. Sample: CHRISANGELO
• Pilipinas Polls is at bottom of the page. Cast your vote.
• FYI, we’ll still improve the video feature and the bottom part of the page.
• Support our sponsors please as they make this blog go.
• And, please don’t tell ESPN, we’re modeling our site after theirs.
• Finally, we have FREEBIES to share. (Thanks NIKE PHILIPPINES and OGILVY for the free stuff!). Click HERE to learn how to get the NIKE Items.

Your inputs are welcome…

Advisory Group Meeting - Part II - Jaworski, In The House

Part I here.

After the break, here are further details about the so-called Advisory Meeting. We were able to get access to this event.

Robert Jaworski was able to make the meet and Tim Cone hurriedly left the building to attend to something.

LEGEND: (<— Not the Jaworski Legend)

• Sonny Barrios - (SB)
• Robert Jaworski - (RJ)
• Yeng Guiao - (YG)
• Jong Uichico - (JU)
• Norman Black (NB)
• Chot Reyes (CR)

SB: Good thing Bobby, you made it.

RJ: Well, pare, alam mo ang basketball, laro ng limang tao yan na nagtutulungan. Iisang grupo, na may iisang hangarin, na manalo na hindi iniisip ay ang sarili lamang. Kaya tayo nandidito ngayon ay para pag-usapan ang mga bagay na sa bandang huli, tagumpay ay mararating nating lahat. Para sa ikaliligaya ng bawat Pilipino.

NB: WTF!

SB: Before the break, Mr. Senator, we were on the topic of us hiring foreign coaches to handle our team. What do you have to say about this? Also, on the issue of enlisting naturalized players, what’s your stand.

(The following are REAL statements from Robert Jaworki as picked up from various news reports.)

RJ: Hiring a foreign coach is a little way off. Honestly, I hope you don’t mind, I don’t have anything against foreign coaches, but we have to have some degree of pride at the right time.

What if you have a foreign coach and the national team wins? What do you achieve? ‘Champion kami!’ Who’s your coach? ‘A Scaramooch.’

A two-month seminar where the foreign mentor can pass on his “best attributes and best messages” to local coaches who already have international experience can produce very, very good results.

With regards to the naturalization, there are available legal arenas for help. We have so many overseas Filipino workers. Spread the word around for a 20-, 25-, 30-year old half-Filipino player who didn’t qualify, say, for the German national team. Then have him come over.

Naturalizing a foreigner would always involve a question of law.

(Back to PHONY conversations now.)

JU: Yeng, make him stop! He misses the senate floor so much, if we allow him to talk law and legalities, he’ll recite the preamble. Pagpa-practisan tayo nyan.

YG: Ok, ok, ok, Mr. Senator we got your 2 points. Since I am for signing up of foreign seven footers and NOT for foreign coach hiring, I’ll be on the middle ground with you. You back me up with my anti-foreign coach and I’ll back out of my 7 footer (AKA, Adam Parada chase) wish. Deal?

RJ: Deal. And, don’t worry too much about Japeth Aguilar Yeng. If you want him, he’ll be here. I’ll contact my former goon, Peter, to send his boy back here to help us.

SB: So, that’s the consesus. No to foreign coach for PBA backed team and no to naturalization of player for now.

CR: (whispering to JU) Parang si Jawo lang ang nasunod ah.

YG: Good thing you mentioned Japeth Mr. Senator. I’d really love to have him on board this basketball quest. But who are your other players in mind?

RJ: I’d like to have Billy Mamaril at center, Jun Jun Cabatu and Japeth Aguilar at forwards, Dudut and Paolo Hubalde as my guards.

JU: What the?! That’s new-gen Ginebra players!

NB: It aint right Sonny.

RJ: Well, it aint right but at least it’s historic.

NB: Speaking of history, Sonny and I coached the best finishing PBA backed team, a sweet silver finish. Now Yeng, top that.

YG: You know what Norman, I think top 2 finish then is equal to top 5 finish now. Considering the East Asian teams are still powerful and that West Asia teams have caught up with the basketball fever. And it gets tougher guys… Did you know that FIBA is considering merging FIBA Asia and FIBA Oceana? That could mean, welcome Ausies and Kiwis.

JU: Wow! Top 2 without Australia and New Zealand is already tough. Adding the two Oceana teams, top 2 is virtually impossible to re-accomplish.

RJ: Pare, alam mo ang basketball, walang imposible. Nasa tamang paghahanda, dedikasyon ng grupo, sa iisang hangarin manalo kahit sino pa o gano kalaki at kabilis ang kalaban.

JU: Here we go again. Enough of the pep-talk Coach.

RJ: This is not pep talk Jong. This is the truth. We were down 1-3 in 91 against Shell and people said, it’s impossible. And looked what happen? Game 7, last play drawn up, a bucket of by an unlikely fellow, Rudy. Boom, we were champions. Against all odds.

YG: I wholeheartedly agree. And I can attest to this. A rag tag team can win it all if basketball is played the right way and with passion. Add to the mix, the patriotism, we can make this work.

SB: The only problem we got is more than half of our team are filams and just landed in the Philippines 1 to 3 years now. How can we instill the patriotism thing and the love for Pilipinas.

RJ: Easy!

CR: How Senator?

RJ: Let’s enroll them to a remedial “Araling Panlipunan, Sibika at Kultura” classes for grades V and VI. Let’s do trips to Intramuros, Coreigidor, Libingan ng mga Bayani and all those historic places. While we are educating our filams with these trips, we’ll get more media exposure and publicity. That should solve the lack of patriotism of some of our guys.

YG: Galing mo talaga coach.

RJ: Who’s yor daddy now?

YG: You! BTW, Tim texted me Coach, he’s asking if you’re still here.

RJ: This is OT, but tell him, I am here and I got one good offer for him. I am proposing an exhibition game between his 96 Alaska Team (Jolas, Bong, Johnny, Poch and Cariaso) and my Gordons Gin 96 team (Noli, Marlou, Bal, Pido and Vince). That’s enticing eh?

SB: Hey Sonny that’s intriguing. Your basketball wisdom never fails to amaze me. BTW, I’ll propose that to Joaqui Trillo as an undercard for the 08-09 Season All-Star game. Since we are into agreement with some of the most important aspects of the team build-up, may I close this meeting. You’ll all get the minutes of the minutes at Hoops.Blink.Ph.

Ball Hog: Coke Spirit & Favis Fired, Miller Time & Raul Says Beware!

Coke Spirit

Looks like Coke is running out of spirit.

Reportedly, some of the players are tuning out coach Binky Favis. News link here.

“There has been disagreement with some of the players regarding our game plans,” said Favis on Tuesday. “While we try to resolve the issues, management and I agreed that I take a leave from the team for [tomorrow’s] game.” Read more

FINALLY FANTASY - PBA LEAGUE ONLINE

** As of October 21, 2008

I just registered in the online fantasy league site called pbfantasy.com. Its kind of a big deal site since it gets exposure in the actual PBA coverage. It’s simple… could be boring… but it could morph to bigger things once you cash in on its dividends.

Hey, you know me… I love to research my stats so this is something that I like. If you want to see where I’m playing, search the Chicago Balls team in the cap’n kids’ league section. Damn right, I mocked the name of the best NBA team in the 90’s. The problem I find with the game though is that once you register, you can’t change leagues. However, for all you PBA addicts, this is the best way to become a PBA franchise owner.

Here’s the thing: I am going to mimic Rick Kamla and try to lure you in making the right choices for your fantasy team. You have 1,000,000 pesos and you have to get a starting five worthy for your budget. You can’t have an all-superstar lineup since one superstar would probably get 300,000. Judging from their current stats and their price list, here are the best deals you can get. Read more

2008 - 2009 PBA Philippine Cup ASTIG RANKINGS - Week 2

Alright, as a few of you have said in my previous ranking, there are indeed a lot of flaws on my scoring system. One could be my formula, on what to add to a team who won with a negative ranking. (See previous ranking)

Anyway, I still wouldn’t change my formula because you know, that would mess up the rankings, including last week’s ranking. I’ll just add some more things to spice up the Astig Rankings.

Again, let’s review the scoring system…

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SYDMAN’S POWER RANKINGS (OCT 15 – 19, 2008) - Reigning MVP Kelly Williams Tops

The first Power Rankings had everything crazy on it. Benchwarmers ranked higher than the big guns… rookies reign supreme… and teams that could win last season are looking to tremendously outdo their selves.

Now everything’s back to normal. Sure, we could see surprises here and there but the best players are leading the pack. And now, the teams that win could also dictate the rankings. Who will lead the Power Rank? Last week Kerby Raymundo outlasted Kelly Williams, Ranidel De Ocampo, and Jayjay Helterbrand.

Now let’s see what matches what but FIRST…

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