I know it's too early to say, as TNT is not at full strength and that Meralco has yet to play an EASL game, but I really feel cheated that BGSM chose to opt out of this year's edition of the games. Like the prevailing sentiment here, I also believe that they're the only PHL pro team that can go toe-to-toe with any of the other Asian league champs and runners-up.
I think MERALCO could stand a chance. They have good support scorers in Black, Newsome, and Maliksi, and a good defensive team. It all comes down to the right choice of imports that will carry the load.
But yeah, Ginebra should have continued on. If there are concerns about fatigue, they should manage minutes and rotate their squad in the PBA. That's how it is in European leagues. Those who go deep have squads that are deep in talent.
I know it's too early to say, as TNT is not at full strength and that Meralco has yet to play an EASL game, but I really feel cheated that BGSM chose to opt out of this year's edition of the games. Like the prevailing sentiment here, I also believe that they're the only PHL pro team that can go toe-to-toe with any of the other Asian league champs and runners-up.
Vargas and TNT will definitely use the excuse of not having Mikey Williams, Calvin Oftana, Roger Pogoy, Poy Erram and Justin Chua for getting blown out by Chiba lol. You can see the quality of the teams is like night and day, Chiba as a team is very disciplined on both ends while TNT is playing like its a pick up game and their go to play was the RHJ iso ball lol
Yeah, TNT were really shallow. Castro was the only viable local scoring option, without Pogoy, Mikey, and Oftana.
The coach was Jolas.
BGSM needs its tall and long wings (Malonzo and Grey) healthy in order to match up properly with other teams' perimeter players.
Yeah, we can add Brownlee to that list of effective wings, too. Would have been great to see the core of JB, Malonzo, Scottie, Cstand, Japeth, Malonzo, Mariano, Pinto, Gray (knee injury sucks), and another 6'9"+ world import duking it out against other Asian pro league teams. I think it can even hold its own against a playoff CBA team.
Here is my take regarding the PBA don't take EASL seriously.
"Win some, lose some"
I think this is the mindset of the teams representing us in the EASL. EASL teams may be using the tournament to strengthen their squad, other want to prove that they are the best team in EAST ASIA. That's why it's understandable to see Ginebra back out of the tournament. Especially, the real competition is in their domestic league.
It is the same with Japan, they choose the tournament where they focus or give their 100% and where they can send their B Team.
Like this past few months, they focus on WC to get into the Olympics, and they have a choice to send the same squad to Asian Games to capture the Gold, but they opt-out and just sent the B Team.
They also have a thinner frontline with the absence of Eram and Chua..rookie Galinato was also DNP last night
I know it's too early to say, as TNT is not at full strength and that Meralco has yet to play an EASL game, but I really feel cheated that BGSM chose to opt out of this year's edition of the games. Like the prevailing sentiment here, I also believe that they're the only PHL pro team that can go toe-to-toe with any of the other Asian league champs and runners-up.
BGSM needs its tall and long wings (Malonzo and Grey) healthy in order to match up properly with other teams' perimeter players.
I think pba teams can learn a thing or two in easl like making our gods more accurate three point shooters.. doable as it will make the lane wider for quincy and rhj to score
Yeah, we can add Brownlee to that list of effective wings, too. Would have been great to see the core of JB, Malonzo, Scottie, Cstand, Japeth, Malonzo, Mariano, Pinto, Gray (knee injury sucks), and another 6'9"+ world import duking it out against other Asian pro league teams. I think it can even hold its own against a playoff CBA team.
sana next year they won't pull out. They are the only PBA team that has a legit chance @ EASL
Here is my take regarding the PBA don't take EASL seriously.
"Win some, lose some"
I think this is the mindset of the teams representing us in the EASL. EASL teams may be using the tournament to strengthen their squad, other want to prove that they are the best team in EAST ASIA. That's why it's understandable to see Ginebra back out of the tournament. Especially, the real competition is in their domestic league.
It is the same with Japan, they choose the tournament where they focus or give their 100% and where they can send their B Team.
Like this past few months, they focus on WC to get into the Olympics, and they have a choice to send the same squad to Asian Games to capture the Gold, but they opt-out and just sent the B Team.
Thanks for the input.
I, for one, would be very excited when the day comes that SMB, BGSM, and TNT set their sights beyond PBA; take on all comers from the East Asian pro basketball circuit and aim to regularly win the EASL, or whatever continental-level club competition that may come after it when it becomes defunct. I feel that PBA top teams' participation is highly needed to make every EASL tournament successful. Without top-tier PHL pro league representation, such continental/regional tournament will be bland and devoid of flair.
Here we go again with IBNers' expected knee-jerk reaction just because of one freaking loss in a freaking meaningless game. Everybody now thinks that the PBA quality is subpar when just a week ago, mostly PBA players played for the team that won the Asiad gold. Jesus Christ, man. PBA teams will just use the EASL as a pre-season tournament and rightfully so. Why would TNT go balls-deep here when the primary goal is to win the Commissioner's Cup? Ginebra backed out too because it's far more important to rest and recover than to risk injury in a worthless tournament.
Can't call continental tournaments worthless, though. That's prestige for clubs and for their mother leagues, and a cash prize to boot once the tournament's coverage gets bigger. I think we can call the EASL our version of a continental for the time being. Can't just try to win domestically. Prove that you're the best club in the region.
If Ginebra wanted to not risk injury, maybe use the end-of-bench guys if they were going to treat it like a preseason game. But, that's already moot. I'll judge the teams once we're in the middle of the group stage. But as for TNT, I still think they should have made it closer given the ability of the players.
That's just how it goes in the PBA. This is simply a preseason tournament for PBA teams and I wouldn't blame them. SMC spends a billion pesos each year just to maintain its basketball operations, so I doubt if they'll even take the EASL seriously. PBA teams will get a pass if they perform poorly here. Their guys just won the Asian gold last week.
Carl Tamayo scoring a total of 6 points and grabbing 2 offensive rebounds in 16 total minutes this weekend. Foul trouble did him in yesterday.
Still up to 6.3 PPG on 53% shooting (71.6% from 3), 4.3 ORPG (1.5 ORPG), 1.3 BPG. Hope he can increase his scoring output and stay on the floor as the season goes long.