Blackwater's Defense

Despite their bad record this conference, as a basketball fan, I'm happy with the way Jeff Cariaso is using the resources available to him. Jopia is a defensive revelation. I think he got more defensive stops using Jopia than when he had Rosario. And I like how Blackwater is defending as a team. I hope Cariaso can instill this team minded defense in his players so that when Barefield is healthy, they might get back on the winning track.

I believe Cariaso has a lot of love for Casio. But it is time to pass on the point-guard responsibilities to a younger generation - in the same way Magnolia is trying to build a future after Mark Barroca. TNT believed in Tungcab and Montalbo. And Ilagan was also promising. But if their playing time is being taken up by an import, then, they will have a hard time developing. Give Escoto's playing time to Tungcab or Suerte.

Which leads me to the question, why hire a guard when you have a conference where the maximum import height is unlimited? This is the conference where you can get a big more dominant than Fajardo, and yet you still stick with King? Chemistry ... it's not like King has already won a conference for Blackwater in the same way Brownlee has for Ginebra and Hollis-Jeferson has for TNT. When an import has one a title, then you consider him for the long term. NLEX found a gem of an import in Watkins and the same goes for Northport and Converge. Isn't finding the right import more of a scouting issue? Whose job is it to find these guys?

And I thought David would blossom in his role as center / power forward once Rosario left. But David is lazy, settling for 3-point shots when he should be developing his body to become like a Danny Ildefonso powerhouse inside the paint. Big's should be learing how to shoot the three-point shot when they are near retirement, not before. Who is gonna rebound if they miss their three-point shot? Only Coach Guiao believes in three point shooting big men. But when was the last time he won a championship using a 3 point shooting big? Probably during his days with Penisi.

SMB Jabari Narcis

This guy was amusing to watch. He was taking three point shots as if he were a better option than Marcio Lassiter, the PBA's all time leader in 3-point shots. He would also carry the ball coast-to-coast as if he were RJ Abarrientos only for it to get stolen, or lost as an error. And when he posted in the paint, he could not pivot like a natural center even though he was taller than Jun Mar Fajardo. Sure he could dunk, but that's expected when you have a guy his height. But watching him feels like San Miguel ran out of a budget to find a Professional athlete, so they opted for one from the Amateur ranks. 

But at least he has more energy than Quincy Miller. And he solves some of SMB's biggest problems right now - rebounding and defense in the paint. You'ld say, well don't they have Jun Mar? But I'm afraid Jun Mar isn't the defensive presence he used to be. And small guards easily run circles around Fajardo at this point in his career. Narcis solves that problem since Tautua and Brondial aren't defensive minded enough. And Narcis helps relieve some of the pressure on Fajardo in the paint by being another post option.

I still believe in Coach Leo Austria despite being benched for some time. I do hope he uses Rosales, Enciso, Teng as additional 3-point options. They surely would have a better shooting percentage from long range than Jabari Narcis. Even Cahilig has a better chance at making threes than Narcis. And Austria used to pride himself in establishing player roles - and Narcis is a rebounder and defender first, and probably a scoring option when no one else is open. Stop giving him point guard duties. Give him the ball when he is established inside the paint.

Pros were amateurs before they became pros. Maybe Narcis needs this experience to become one. 18 points in the last outing was decent - but with the number of attempts he had - if he made them, that SMB vs Magnolia game would have been a blowout. Let's see if he gets another chance in SMB's next game.

Converge Could Win Quarterfinals

In 2014, a young San Miguel Beermen team did the impossible. It was down 0 - 3 in the finals against Alaska. But they came back and won 4 straight to win the All Filipino Championship.

10 years later, Converge (formerly Alaska) could give SMB payback of sorts. They were down, 0 - 2, in this current quarterfinals series, but they came back with 2 straight wins, and could potentially upset the reigning MVP's team and head to the semifinals.

This could also be the moment Alex Cabagnot has been waiting for, ever since being traded to the Terrafirma Dyip, despite being part of the Death 5, and in my opinion, was probably the glue and the source of positivity in that old San Miguel Beermen team that won so many championships.

It remains to be seen, hours from now, if these musings are true.

But it is amazing what belief - the belief that you can win over a giant, even though you are a younger and more inexperienced team. And that game winning shot by Alex Stockton was all it took to start that small fire. The belief that they can take down the SMB Juggernaut has started. And even if they don't do it this conference, that far can only grow and burn brighter in the future.

LTO Car Registration Renewal 2024

 

Emission Testing 500

Insurance at LTO 1250

Cashier 1610

Total Spent 3360

I have to say that for the first time since I've went to the LTO years ago to handle the car's registration renewal, the corruption feels lessened. Gone are the stencil personnel asking for money. In their place are just people who take photos of the vehicle as it undergoes tests.

The "mandatory" LTO insurance is still around the premises, but they are no longer required. You can actually avail of the insurance at the emission testing center according to some drivers I met. I wonder if the cost is cheaper at the emission testing center. At least the price was back to 1250 from last year's 1550.

The process was a bit disorderly since there was no longer any forms that needed to be filled out. You just submit all the necessary requirements (ORCR, Emission Test Result, Insurance) at Window A before they tell you to have the car checked by their personnel, and after that's done, you wait at the Cashier section to pay LTO fee.

Converge Beats San Miguel

For the first time in the quarterfinals of the current PBA season, Converge finally beats San Miguel after going down 0 - 2 after a buzzer beater by Alex Stockton that broke a tied game. San Miguel was leading by as much as 25 points in the 3rd quarter, but instead of having the killer instinct to end the series, San Miguel fell into the same old habits that cost it the last championship against Meralco.

San Miguel is an aging team with no plans of improving it's roster with fresh young talent. In the last couple of seasons, all it has added are Don Trollano and Chris Rosales, two veteran players who have been in the league for quite some time. San Miguel needs to get a young power forward or center that can help improve its interior defense. Someone who can plug the lanes and block shots, like an Arwind Santos several years ago.

On the other hand, Alfrancis Chua loves Ginebra so much that Ginebra has added Jaime Malonzo, Jeremiah Gray, Maverick Ahamisi, before this year's blockbuster steal of a trade where they got RJ Abarrientos, Stephen Holt, and Isaac Go. And even with Isaac Go getting injured, they get to reactivate Joe De Vans out of a 2 year hiatus.

Even sister team Magnolia has had better reinforcement in that it got 2nd year player Zav Lucero in exchange for Jio Jalalon who was always a defensive liability whenever Magnolia went with a small lineup.

But San Miguel at least won one championship last season and would have won 2 if it had a better killer instinct. One might also surmise that Chris Ross, Marcio Lassiter, and Jun Mar Fajardo probably decided to give Chris Newsome one, after developing a strong bond in the Gilas program, but this is probably just hearsay.

But going back to Converge, one can't help but be excited for this team because they already beat San Miguel without Justin Baltazar. Think Duncan and Robinson. I think that Converge will be a force to reckon with in the future since it will probably have the strongest front court combination if Balti and Arana can work together. And give Caralipio more playing time. He might become what Michael Jhonard is for Rain or Shine.

If I were to make bold predictions, I think Ginebra will win over San Miguel in the Semis. And TNT will win over Rain or Shine (which is a shame since a healthy Aaron Fuller might have given them a chance against TNT).

So a finals with TNT vs Ginebra? I would have to give it to RHJ. But whether or not my predictions come true remains to be seen.

No Video Again

Reseated both RAM sticks. No go. Placed only one RAM stick at a time and tried alternate slots. No go. Brought the tower back to the repair shop and the power supply was diagnosed to be the culprit. Paid  PHP 2500 for the power supply and 600 for the repair.

Revisiting Childhood Places

Yesterday, as we celebrated Mothers' Day, we went back to Mandaluyong to try and retrace the places where we used to live. 

The first place we explored was Santo Rosario. Gone is the old Raymond Theatre where we used to watch movies like Red Sonia or Di Bale Na Lang. My kindergarten school ran by Ms. Walo was also no longer there. The apartment where we used to live is either no longer there or has expanded that we no longer recognize it. The junkshop next to it is also no longer there and has probably been replaced by a house.

The Munisipyo is filled with high rise buildings. I no longer saw the playgrounds where we used to spend our time on swings and slides. And I could no longer see the stage where my kindergarten graduation rites were held. 

We went to R.O. Santos. The street felt more crowded with cars parked left and right. We did not recognize the house of Mrs. Cityar which used to have a Sari-Sari store in front, and a big gate for delivery trucks to pass through. She used to have a packaging plant where they repacked shampoos and other stuff. And our apartment was a small 2 bedroom unit tucked away in their lot's corner.

We saw Good Shepherd Christian School at the end of R.O. Santos. The school has expanded to it's left side. I still saw the school grounds where we held our flag ceremonies in the morning. But the buildings were taller and now made of concrete. We took a picture in front of the old school gate.

The church of the Good Shepherd was still in front. It's façade has been improved. But it still reminds me of the old design. This church building was where we held our recognition rites for grades 1 and 2. It was also where we performed My Little Drummer Boy and Itik Itik sa Manila Zoo.

Thank you Lord for allowing us to revisit the places where I spent some of my childhood years.