HOWDY!
The PBA Philippine Cup has been off and running for only two weeks, but the twists and turns, the action and the drama seem like a scene borrowed from a phony Mexican telenovela.
Where have you seen a league where opposing coaches almost came into blows in a no-bearing, pre-season contest?
Or an injured gunner tweeting, wondering why this untested rookie is being hyped as a game-changer right after seeing action in his first professional game?
Or a seasoned playmaker who, after announcing that he is ready to retire, suddenly had a change of heart after an impressive stint in what was heavily billed as his final conference as a pro.
Only in the PBA.
So while I am glad that the league is slowly getting back its brilliance, some players, especially the rookies, are still wondering what's happening around. Take the case of one of my letter-senders, a hot rookie from Morayta Street, Manila; he was asking the reason behind his subpar performance and obviously fears for his spot in the rotation of a seasoned mentor.
On the contrary, another letter-sender was jubilant. Why? Because after spending his professional debut in the doghouse, he was finally set free, having a chance to show his real value to the team that once doubted his ability. It was a sweet redemption.
Four letter-senders, four different problems.
All that and more in this week's edition of Dear Brutus.
(And as always, the answers are real, the questions were fabricated)
***
Dear Brutus,
Hello!
As we all know, the 2012 NBA season has yet to open due to the ongoing labor standoff between the owners and the players. From outside looking in, they look like two stray dogs battling over a piece of meat. Nobody wants to give up; everybody has their own stand.
I am writing not because I am interested in the ongoing lockout, but because I want to be part of the NBA someday. No, I'm not trying to sound arrogant. I just want to motivate myself even further, hoping to hear it straight from you that, yes, I can be the first Filipino to play in the world's most prestigious league.
Look, Brutus, I am a strong, lefty point guard who has a above-average outside shooting. My decision-making maybe a suspect sometimes, but I can say that I am the guy coaches go to down the stretch.
And oh, before I forget, I am the newly crowned Most Valuable Player of the UAAP!
I also used to ball in the States. Actually, I was headed for Georgia Tech before my chief recruiter, Paul Hewitt, got fired. It changed everything. All the plans that were lined up were suddenly scrapped. So instead of suiting up for other powerful basketball programs like North Carolina, Duke or Louisville like Austin Rivers, Anthony Davis, Bradley Beal and other members of Class 2012, I decided to play in the Philippines to sharpen my knife under the watchful eyes of my dad.
Yes, my dad is a legendary figure in Philippine basketball. I know you know him.
So my question is: After winning the UAAP MVP, do you think I can make it to the NBA, say, in two or three years' time? If not, what do you think the future holds for me; will playing in the Philippines put me on the right track?
Thank you so much, looking forward to your response.
Confused,
R.P. of Melrose, TN via e-mail
Dear R.P. of Melrose, TN,
Hey there, Ray Parks… I know you!
After hearing so many good things about you, I can say that yes, you're on the right track. By playing in the UAAP, you have chosen the right path to the NBA.
No, I'm not saying that the competition in the UAAP is more superior than what you have in the ACC, but since you're the main man for the NU Bulldogs, getting used to be the center of defensive attention will turn you into an offensive machine once you throw your hat into the NBA arena.
And more importantly, a year or two in the UAAP will establish your strong connection with the Filipino fans, giving you the chance to carry the hopes of 90 million Filipinos the way Dirk Nowitzki did for the Germans.
I heard a handful of NBA scouts were greatly intrigued with your size and talent. A Western Conference scout even branded you as somebody who plays like Memphis Grizzlies' Mike Conley – a big, lefty quarterback who can light up the scoreboard at any given night.
Somebody from Sports Illustrated also called you as the "lost boy of Class 2012" for declining to join the Yellow Jackets or any other US college with powerful basketball program.
He was wrong. Dead wrong.
You are not lost. The Philippines is your home, and you are proud to be its own.
(PS: Say hi to your dad, Bobby, for me)
Cheer up,
Brutus
***
Dear Brutus,
Am I overrated?
Pressured,
P.L. of Tondo, Manila
Dear P.L. of Tondo, Manila
Yes, Paul Lee, you are overrated. Blame it on your handler and some members of the media who keep on trumpeting your name as if you're God's greatest gift to Philippine basketball.
You have long way to go, young boy. Just take it easy.
Stay hungry,
Brutus
***
Dear Brutus,
If you have seen our previous game against Ginebra, maybe you already have an idea why I am writing to you for the second time.
Yes, after a forgettable professional debut, I bounced back, torching the Kings with 15 of my 20 points in the first half to tow the Energy Boosters to an 88-75 win.
And it was made even sweeter by my coach, Junel Baculi's statement that I am an intelligent player and I showed that I fit perfectly well into their system.
Brutus, what do you think was my coach's motivation in saying that? Was his decision to bench me on what could be my first official PBA game meant to motivate me, or does he not trust me at all? Is a 20-point performance enough to earn his respect?
Your immediate response will be greatly appreciated.
Still searching for answers,
D.A. of Espana, Manila
Dear D.A. of Espana, Manila,
Congratulations on such an explosive performance, Dylan Ababou. I know the gods sitting on top of the UST main building were jubilant seeing their most admired son kicking the ass of Mark Caguioa and Jayjay Helterbrand in the PBA.
But do not over-analyze things. If I remember it correctly, Baculi was saying kind words about you when you were still playing for Harbour Centre while he was serving as team consultant. He even vouched for your competence, prompting Harbour Centre boss Mikee Romero to you in the squad that saw action in the 2008 SEABA Champions Cup in Jakarta, Indonesia.
You are special, Dylan. And Baculi knows that.
I think he assigned you to his doghouse in your first PBA game because he was trying to squeeze out the best in you. Yes, Baculi made a dick move, but sometimes, a baby needs to be spanked to mold his character, turning him into a good person someday.
So quit bitching around, put the past behind and keep up the good work.
Still impressed,
Brutus
***
Dear Brutus,
Hey! I heard you churn out good advice, so please, help me with this one.
Hopes were high when Derby Ace tabbed me as the fifth pick in the 2011 PBA Draft. And why not; after a three-year stint with Smart Gilas – the squad that toured the world to prepare for the 2011 Fiba Asia Championship – I was tagged as one of the most PBA-ready aspirants.
But a few games later, hopes turned into disaster. Because while all rookies already had their breakout performance, I am still searching for my bearing. Sure, I am sharing the backcourt with cold-blooded gunslingers like James Yap and PJ Simon as well as defense-minded combo guards like Josh Urbiztondo and Roger Yap, but does it mean that I have no place in Tim Cone's offensive rotation?
Under Rajko Toroman's system, I am scoring in bunches. At one point, during the 2009 Fiba Asia Champions Cup in Jakarta, Indonesia, I scored 30 points, most of which coming off floaters and short-stab jumpers.
But look at my numbers in the PBA: In a lost to Petron, I scored only two points; in a win over Alaska, I ended up without a single marker; and in the lost to Meralco, I was used down the stretch until fouling out with only five points next to my name.
Brutus, this is ridiculous. Am I being cursed or what? What the hell is going on?
Badly needs to shrug off the bad luck,
M.B. of Morayta Street, Manila
Dear M.B. of Morayta Street, Manila,
Mark Barroca, don't be upset; you are not a bad player, okay? Simply put: You are just adjusting and paying your rookie dues.
Look, Mark, all rookies go through this shit called rookie "transition". I have seen your performance in the past three games and it was obvious; you were simply nervous. You're like a small boy lost in a maze filled with figures from Cone's uber complicated triangle offense.
Don't be too hard on yourself, young man. Remember; it took Larry Fonacier an entire conference to transform from being the main gunner in Ateneo into a mere role player in Yeng Guiao's squad while your teammate, the undrafted Simon, took few years before blossoming into a legitimate scoring threat.
So what I am saying is that basketball fate follows a special script. But for as long as you keep on busting your ass, kissing the floor and skinning your elbows in practice, luck would eventually smile at you.
After all, it is not important how you started your career. What's more important is how you finished it.
Hoping for the best,
Brutus