When you got too many sporting news on and off the court for the past
week, one can’t help but to talk about it. Let’s go!!!
Thursday noontime: PSL files a
complaint.
A complaint was filed before the NBI on former PSL officials over
alleged embezzlement of league funds. Nothing really to talk about here because
everyone inside the PSL isn’t really that much bothered with all the publicity
the issue will get. From the vibe of what is going on inside the league while
all of these are happening, it’s like a big “wala lang… yun lang.” thing.
Something must be done to correct the mistakes that have committed, and that’s
it… let’s move on. Analyzing it on a deeper level, it seems that this was a
very calculated move and everyone running the league – the board, team owners,
sponsors – knew everything about this before they made this public move, and
we, the people, able to know it last. The reason? Their responsibility to the
fans is to give us the best volleyball competition this country could ever see,
and getting us, the public, involved in this issue will not do anything good to
that responsibility. They won’t make any move that will ruin that
responsibility to us fans, so let’s leave them at that.
Funny thing though… PVL fans who hate the PSL so much found this as a
very big deal, where they got one big issue on their own. We’ll get to that
later.
Thursday afternoon: FIBA sanctions
are served
Suspensions on the 10 players and two coaches of Gilas. Suspensions on
the three players of Australia. Fines on Gilas and Australia. I’m pretty sure
you have read the full details of the sanctions on both countries elsewhere. I’m
just here to tell you that to me, this was a pretty fair sanction. A very
reasonable one. My initial reaction when I have read the whole details of the
sanction was “it could have been worse.” But to further put some more spices on
the recipe, so to speak, here are other things that can be added or further
detailed on those sanctions:
1) The SBP can order the host venue, Philippine Arena, to take a share
on the fine pie. From what I am aware of, the venue provided the security in
that game. So since fans got involved, they have a shared blame on this one.
2) FIBA should give a share of the Boomers’ fine to SBP for the
physical damage because of the decal removal. The cost of reprinting that costs
something too, and Philippine Arena is claiming that it also permanently
damaged the floor because of the errant procedure in removing those decals. So
there, Philippine Arena… you lose some, you get some too.
Before I proceed, take note that the referees who worked that game got
suspended for a year. They won’t be able to work on international and
continental games. Hope they got inter-barangay games on their respective
countries to work on their judgment on calls.
One more thing… high five, Allein Maliksi!
Thursday evening: Future plans
for the SBP/Gilas
First thing we talked about after scrutinizing the sanction was the
venue of the next home game in September against Qatar. Since we are going to
play that in a closed door venue – no fans allowed - there’s no reason to use
those big-ass venues such as Smart-Araneta Coliseum or Mall of Asia Arena. So,
where to?
1) Cuneta Astrodome – also known as Punyeta Astrodome.
2) Ynares Center, Antipolo – favorable for people who are near in
Antipolo who will be working that game. One thing though, there are not enough
rooms there to house different offices during the game.
3) Filoil-Flying V Center / San Juan Arena – a value-for-money venue. It
got kick-ass air-conditioning too.
4) San Andres Gym – if we can’t have it in San Juan, then we could use another
“San”, the San Andres Gym. Favorable to me, because I live in Manila. That’s
just the plain advantage of it.
5) Meralco Gym – a couple of guys from SBP’s suggestion. Gilas home
court.
If you have a venue on your mind where we can play the next home game
which is closed door, drop a comment in this post and also tell a reasonable
yet quirky reason on why the FIBA game can be played there.
Another glaring topic perhaps are the people who’ll fill in for the
suspended players. Our immediate reaction? Ang
daming player! It wasn’t a concern to us. For that reason, let’s save that
issue for another time.
Another high five, Allein Maliksi!
Saturday: PSL Invitationals Semifinals
Three things about the Saturday matches.
1) If Generika-Ayala played the way how they played Sta. Lucia that day
in the quarterfinals against Smart-Army, Petron might have a different opponent
in the semis.
2) The match between F2 Logistics and Cignal is much, much closer than
what it says in the stats sheet. It was an ultimate defensive showdown between
the two teams. Jheck Dionela and Dawn Macandili digging those spikes left and
right, middle blockers at work for both teams; rallies lasting for like an
hour. Too bad Cignal dropped the first set via a 5-0 F2 Logistics run, and
found trouble closing sets since then.
3) Petron and F2 Logistics is now the Manila Clasico of volleyball. “San
Juan Clasico” to say the least, but it sounds too forced. People will find a
name to this rivalry soon in a natural manner.
Saturday: NU dropping out of PVL
CC
The sole reason of me looking forward to this PVL Collegiate Conference
is that damn NU team today which I have been covering since their high school
days. If anything, coach Babes Castillo just did a coach Ramil De Jesus system,
where the seniors coach and coaching staff also handles the high school team in
order to aid the transition of the team every time they will lose a player to
graduation. See the wonder it did for De La Salle. Babes Castillo have a very
strong high school team, they only lost a SINGLE set in the 2017 Rebisco
Volleyball League out of the seven matches that they had. How could I not be
excited to see them face a tougher competition?
Well, they had that Balipure team in the PVL RC… but it didn’t felt
right for me. They got other players and imports in that team. I still wanted that
same team I saw back in 2017. As one friend told me, “bali… pure ang gusto mo.” Exactly!
Press release of them dropping out was apparently “they were not ready”.
It was pure baloney to me because:
1) Someone else is speaking for them.
2) They have been ready for years.
I would understand Ateneo backing out of this because they got a new
coach and understandably, they would need some time to instill a new system
before they can get into actual competition. But for this NU team… no way!
However, I am not pinning the blame to NU. I know that exact team long enough
for me to know that they will not back down from a challenge. Hell, they can be
asked to play against Petron for a tune-up game tomorrow and they will play! It’s
a golden opportunity specially for their young main gunners to get this
experience playing against these seasoned players even for a mere exhibition
match.
There, I said it… young main gunners. Reports have it that a rule
change disallowed those young main gunners to play for the team this
conference. If that is the case, then coach Babes will not really have a team.
NU definitely not to blame.
Sayang lang… I was really
looking forward to watching them play… that is, if it will be shown… AYOKO NGA PALANG MAGSALITA!
All week long: Ateneo De Manila
Gilas Pilipinas
Can we just hand the UAAP Season 81 Men’s Basketball Championship to
Ateneo right now? I mean, they raised a lot of hell in the Jones Cup! They scared
the hell out of the Korean NT core, came close to the Canadians, gutted the
Chinese Taipei’s NT insides that their fans felt ashamed of their own team, and
sent a message to the Iranians that their days as an Asian powerhouse are
numbered.
The only team that can defeat them in the UAAP are themselves. If they
are going to be that pesky in defense… that active and precise in offense… and
that enthusiastic yet humble in every game… there is NO WAY those seven other
teams can beat them.
PBA and PSL finals are coming this week. Plus, I might start seeing
some NCAA Basketball action. Have a good week ahead!
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