One by one they emerge from the tunnels of the San Juan Arena. Clad in royal blue practice jerseys, the hand-picked members of the Philippine Men’s Basketball Team saunter on the court. Most of them land on the hardwood, relaxed, with a ball in hand. A few engage in small talk with friends along the sideline. Although masked by the levity of the moment, all of them carry the burden of redemption.

In their first ever practice session last November 24, 2008, the team is almost compelete. Only Kelly Williams misses day one. The Tokushima veterans - Asi Taulava, Mick Pennisi, Jayjay Helterbrand, Gabe Norwood, Ranidel de Ocampo, Kerby Raymundo and James Yap (who was an alternate for that team) - mingle in a casual shoot-around with National Team rookies Jared Dillinger, Sonny Thoss, Ryan Reyes, and Cyrus Baguio. Willie Miller and Arwind Santos actually played in some games for the National Team under Chot Reyes but they never made it to Tokushima.

Yeng Guiao finally surfaces from the locker room. He surveys the floor with a coach’s analytical glare. It’s not the customary staredown referees normally receive during games.  It’s really a quick scanning of what he has and what needs to be done. Guiao carefully adjusts his titanium glasses to take a snapshot of the National Team. His National Team. Read the rest of this entry »

On a gray afternoon in Lucena, the PBA’s newest backcourt tandem electrifies anew. On a thundering two-on-one Rain or Shine fastbreak, the fiery shooting guard with upper body strength tosses the ball over a hapless defender. The basketball is served on a silver platter for the 2008 Overall Number One Pick. The dimpled one easily plucks the ball in mid-air and slams it home. Although Rain or Shine lost the game down the stretch, they’re still busy winning-over fans in the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup.

Rain or Shine, by all indications, will enjoy their finest conference thus far in their young PBA existence. The Elasto-Painters have a nice mix of hungry veterans (Jay-R Reyes, Rob Wainright and Eddie Laure), relatively young players with something to prove (Ryan Arana, Mark Isip and Jireh Ibanes) and an exciting troika of rookie guards (Sol Mercado, Gabe Norwood and TY Tang). Read the rest of this entry »