I was talking to a couple of friends and colleagues in the sports writing biz yesterday while enjoying PBA Wednesday at the Big Dome and it made me happy to be in the company of sports nuts just like myself. We broke the games down, came up with our respective wisecracks about this team or the look-alike of that player, and weighed in on the high level of basketball you can enjoy especially when you watch live.
The exhilaration you feel when you watch these titans of the hardwood play live, these Picassos with 94 feet of canvass to call their own, is incomparable. You can literally feel your heart climb up to your throat when you see Arwind Santos streaking down the court alone because you know it's gonna be a slam dunk. You've been part of that Big Dome chorus of "OHHHHHH" whenever Japeth Aguilar swats shots to the 15th row. You've stood in ovation and cheered in awe of speedsters like Jason Castro and clutch shooters like James Yap. And just like me, you can never get enough heroics from Mark Caguioa as you join the throng of fans in chanting GI-NE-BRA as they buck the odds and come back from behind to turn an almost certain loss into victory.
My main man Jaemark Tordecilla summed it up best: "Iba pa rin ang level ng basketball sa PBA lalo na if you watch live. Sa college basketball, take away the fandom, you'll see the difference in skill and talent level." Later in the night, I had a blast with my sportswriting MJ (which makes me Kobe hehe) Rick Olivares talking about the players we liked the most.
Thus the inspiration for this list - my favorite PBA players today.
ARWIND SANTOS - He dunks. He rebounds. He blocks shots and sinks high-arcing pull up jumpers. He can shoot the three, smile at the camera, and always points to The One Above to thank Him for the blessings of basketball in his life, staying humble and hungry. Is there anything else you can ask for in a player? This local boy is certainly The Man right now, a player from the masses, for the masses, dominating in the highest level of hoops in the country.
PAUL LEE - I have been a fan of his since his college days in UE. His game is built on courage and street swag, with a constant need to prove himself and leave his signature on the game. Dynamic guard who will find a way to destroy defenses with his brilliance with the basketball, whether it be scoring inside-out, passing, or rebounding. Relishes the spotlight and pressure moments. You can be Kobe frickin Bryant guarding him and Paul will still do his thing and take you to the rim for his trademark double-pump pasabit shots. I'm still in pain that he didn't go to Ginebra to be its future star, a team that Paul told me was his favorite PBA team growing up.
CHRIS LUTZ - my favorite player from Smart-Gilas. Bullstrong slasher and determined defender, always looking to put the clamps on the opposition's most dangerous scorer. Athletic and a certified basketball junkie, always looking for a way to be on top of his game. A player I'd recommend to kids to emulate. And Chris, I wanna see you dunk in a game, come on now!
GARY DAVID - I've always told people that Gary David is the best scorer in Pinoy hoops. He has an endless arsenal of finishing moves at the rim and a pure stroke to his jumpshot. He will go through you, over you, around you, and will leave you scratching your head at his ability to put the ball in the bucket. I'm glad he's turning heads now. If he can stay consistent at around 20++ ppg, with a couple of monster 30 and 40 point games on occasion, and if Marcio Lassiter continues to play Pippen to his MJ, Powerade can string together some wins.
KERBY RAYMUNDO - I will never forget Kerby yelling to the camera during an interview, after beating San Miguel (I'm not sure), basta Rico Villanueva was BPC for that conference. Kerby was asked how he feels after leading his team to victory. Kerby yelled: "ALAM KO SA SARILI KO, AKO ANG MVP!!!" then walked away. BAD. ASS. That aside, a healthy Kerby is a low-post scoring artist. Drop steps, pump-fakes, fade-away jumpers, and a face-up drive that's difficult to stop because he can take it strong or pull up from 15 feet.
JC INTAL - my favorite Blue Eagle of all time, now playing for my all time favorite PBA team. Has all the tools to be a superstar in the league. At one point, when I think Ginebra's stars were on loan to the national team, JC stepped up and became Ginebra's go-to-guy, carrying Ginebra to the playoffs where the team just fell short. But man was he balling out of his mind. He was slashing and finishing strong at the rim, sinking his mid range bank shots and three pointers, and setting up teammates for easy buckets. I hope he gets his groove back soon.
And of course the finishing touch....
MARK CAGUIOA - The Franchise. He inherited the proverbial torch from Ginebra's past superstars with his unbelievable skills with the leather, his grit, and his heart. This guy plays Never Say Die basketball and does it with flair. This dude was a walking 30, 40 point game waiting to happen. Always willing to strap the team on his back and single-handedly tow them to the finish line. Blessed with the ability to ignite the crowd with his killer crossover, dipsy-do layups, teardrops, and three-point bombs, not to mention his early 2000s blond 'do, Mark The Spark made sure Ginebra was still the toast of the town even after the glory days of the 80s and 90s. As he aged and the killer speed sort of waned, with injuries piling up, Mark being the never-say-die type found a way to refine his game. While he may not be blitzing past defenses like he used to, he refined a part of his game to still be a dangerous scorer: the mid-range pull up j. Coupled with his still razor-sharp ball-handling, The Spark still proves to be a dangerous scorer in the PBA, armed with smarts, experience, and that heart that will never-say-die until he hangs up his sneakers.
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