Mula sa sampung magigiting na pulutong anim na koponan na lamang ang natitira upang ipagpatuloy ang laban na naumpisahan sa Phil. Cup dito sa ika-35 edisyon ng PBA.
Ang dalawang koponan na nagpamalas ng nakahihigit na lakas at giting noong Eliminasyon ang Alaska Aces at ang San Miguel Beermen ay puspusang naghahanda na habang nag-aabang ng makakalaban sa Semifinals.
At ngayong Quarterfinals ay may apat na koponan ang kasalukuyang na nagdidikdikan at nagpapasiklaban upang kamtin ang natitirang puwesto sa SEMIS at mapabilang sa FINAL 4.
Hehe hirap mag-isip ng adjectives 'pag tagalog.
PUREFOODS vs RAIN OR SHINE:
The Purefoods TJ Giants had beefed up their lineup during the off-season, adding-on the old & familiar names such as Marc Pingris and Paul Artadi (who have been gems on Giant's glorious days in the PBA) and the story doesn't end there, they also hired lengthy & athletic forwards like Rico Maierhofer & Rafi Reavis.
They were A POWER-HOUSE TEAM before this season begins but they even become more POWERFUL with those additions.
Though they took a roller-coaster ride at the early stages of the Season and the lack of chemistry & familiarity was somewhat culprits of their sub-par performances. They we're able to silently pull-out their big guns and come into play at the toes of the El.-Phase. They are never known for being impressive on defense but they just did, in this conference; "D" was one of their big guns indeed. And James Yap is beginning to take charge once again.
They were also able to took advantage on their height advantage against their opponents, instead of using the usual mix of players 2-guards, 2-forwards & 1-center they oftenly use 1-guard, 3-forwards & 1-center [minsan pa nga eh (1)guard + (2)forwards + (2)centers].
On the other side of the coin, the road to the Quar'Finals for the Elasto Painters was never easy. They started the season as a regular cellar-dweller of the team-standings and they even ended the El.-Phase in that way. Though it is also understandable that they lose a vital point-producer in Rob Wainwright but they also gained good acquisitions like Jervy Cruz, Mike Hrabak, Jeff Chan & Mark Telan (unfortunately though they weren't able to live up to the expectation during El.-Phase) and for me it is like -1 + 4 which should have resulted positively.
But heroes have come out to rescue their bid this conference, in the persons of Sol "The Soul" Mercado and the dependable old warrior Eddie Laure. Ryan Arana, JR Reyes and Gabe Norwood have been steady factors in the team but it has been Sol's & Eddie's game that turned the wheel towards their goal.
Ngayon sa kasalukuyang ginagawa ko ang blog na ito naka-ISA na ang PUREFOODS. Will the Giant's minced-meat the shorter Elasto Painters or will the Rain Or Shine continue to paint their way towards their ultimate goal?
My prediction it will be 3-2 (hehe safe answer). Honestly ayoko mag-predict kaya bahala na kayo.
TALK N TEXT vs GINEBRA
The Talk N Text Tropang Texters had no major changes on their lineup. But in my opinion adding Nic Belasco is already a major plus for them. This grizzled veteran had always been a huge contributor to any team. He played for SMB & Alaska both taken home Championship/s nung nag-ROS naman siya kahit hindi nakpasok ng Finals ang team niya ay nanatili pa rin mataas ang na-tally niya sa stats-sheet (in pts & rebs).
Though the TNT failed to reach the expectations of the basketball aficionados especially during the young-age of the conference they had an amazing run at the middle of the El.-Phase which helped them to maintain their post at the middle of the pack.
Mac Cardona had improved tremendously on offense; he is not just the use-to-be (most effective) Exclusive Hook-Shooter only he also hike-up his 3pt% and his assts. per game. He is not playing the role of a primadonna (at all), he still scores big, at the same time he effortly works hard to play defense and also involve his teammates in every play. Pero kung talagang kailangan kumana, kakana siya.
And Jimmy Alapag is beginning to be his usual self, the ultimate conductor of their orchestra. Kapag playoffs na iba talaga yung Mighty Mouse.
Sa sobrang lalim ng lineup at sa sobrang sipag na team ng Talk N Text kahit sino makakaharap nito in any series hindi magiging madali.
Let's go over to the side of the Kings, unlike the other 3-teams they had a strong start this conference and had some shaky moments during the middle part then strikes harder and played more intensed at the last stages of the El.-Phase.
Ronald Tubid had been a constant element on their bid. He fill-in the shoes of Jayjay & Mark at most part of the conference. They lose Reavis during off-season and gain Villanueva in return, though it didn't quite resulted to a better showing on the El.-Phase on Game 1 of the QuarFinals they were able to saw a semblance of the familiar "Raging Bull".
Though Cyrus Baguio, JC Intal and Willie Wilson had started to stepped-up they still waiting for a MAJOR HIT of the MAJOR PAIN Eric Menk.
Power vs Power, Firework vs Firework, Experience vs Experience and Heart vs Heart, I believe that this team is just equal. Ang pinagkaiba lang sa NGAYON, mas kumpleto ang PG's ng Talk N Text (with healthy Jimmy & Jason).
My prediction: 3-2 din, ayoko talaga mag-predict bahala na kayo.
Pero kahit anong series patas man o hindi ang lakas, patas man o hindi ang galing, patas man o hindi ang taas, patas man o hindi ang dami ng star players, patas man si bossing ref o hindi, patas man o hindi ng playoffs experience at patas man o hindi ang dami ng fans... ay PATAS pa din ito, walang dehado at walang llamado... KUNG PARA SA TEAM MO, PARA SA TEAM MO... kaya TALO KUNG TALO at PANALO KUNG PANALO.
Kaya be sport! Enjoy the PBA!
