Opening Salvo: Brutus The Heckler's Mailbag
(Editor’s note: Philstar.com would like to welcome its latest sports blogger Brutus the Heckler, a fast-rising personality in the Philippine sports blogosphere. Watch out for his hard-hitting commentaries on the hottest sports issues and personalities every Monday on Unblogged)
Okay, okay… I admit it: butterflies are in my stomach right now as I pen this article. As you can see, this is my first time to write for Unblogged so I decided to answer a couple of questions from our letter-senders right away.
This week's featured letters came from two former members of Smart Gilas Team Pilipinas who are in the opposite end of the basketball spectrum. While the first was bleeding for his minutes, the second was given all the time he wanted and even ended as the chief gunner, and main attraction, of his team with the absence of its two key players.
To cut off the suspense, here are the letters of D.A. of Espana and J.A. of Katipunan.
Remember: The answers are real, the questions were fabricated.
*****
Dear Brutus,
Hello!
Just in case you were asking why I wasn't fielded in our game against Petron, my answer is this:
I. Also. Do. Not. Know.
Look, I have been dreaming of making it to the PBA since I was five and relentlessly served as a role model by playing for flag and country. Don't get me wrong; I'm not complaining here. But I have to admit that somehow, it derailed my childhood dream of turning pro.
Everything wasn't rosy with Smart Gilas, either. As the program progresses, my minutes have slowly gone south, and in the 26th Fiba-Asia Championship, I was formally asked to sit out to create roster spot for PBA players like Ranidel de Ocampo and Kelly Williams.
I was hurt. However, at the back of my mind, I was thinking that I still have the PBA to bank on.
Again – I was wrong. Dead wrong.
In fact, in my much-awaited PBA debut, I rode the bench for the entire 4duration of the game – yes, the whole nine yards – with my coach claiming that I'm not yet ready to slug it out with the big boys of the league.
Not yet ready? Hey, why did you, Junel Baculi, drafted me, anyway?
Brutus, my young PBA career is now in limbo. Do you think I am a bad player, or is it just because I am a good kid and people think that it's always okay to take my talent for granted?
I am confused. Please help.
Still sleepless,
D.A. of Espana, Manila
Dear D.A.
My boy, Dylan Ababou… wipe out your tears and listen to me: You are not a bad player, I'm telling you. You are just simply under a bad coach.
Okay, let's put it this way; by benching you, Baculi sent a message that he is a tough coach who wouldn't tolerate any sacred cow – be it Dylan Ababou or Kobe Bryant. It was done before by John Moran; yes, that American mentor who was taped by Shell only to bench 2004 top pick Richard Alvarez in his debut game.
And just like you, Alvarez came into the league with an altar-boy image. He came from a champion team, won an MVP in the UAAP, played for the RP Team and captured the hearts of screaming colegialas. That's why Moran was too hard on the kid. He was trying to make an impression. He wanted to send a message that everybody should kiss his hand before getting the minutes he used to have in college.
Same goes with Baculi – a control-freak who is still searching for a coaching identity in the PBA.
He benched you not because you are not yet ready, but because he wanted to show that he is in control, or that he doesn't care about your MVP plum, Smart Gilas stint and clean-cut image because the PBA is an entirely different ballgame.
Simply put; it was power-tripping.
Don't worry, Dylan, there's always a next time. Just take that incident as a mere challenge, something which you think about before going to sleep. Redeem yourself by dominating both ends of the floor. Stay hungry and play nasty.
Good luck!
All the best,
Brutus
*****
Dear Brutus,
This is my first time to write, but I think you already know me.
Okay, just in case you don't, here are some clues: I am the PBA's first overall pick in 2009 who was described as a freak of nature for my nasty hops and feathery perimeter shooting. After attending Ateneo, I transferred to Western Kentucky University in the US NCAA only to find myself back-slapping Courtney Lee and other American standouts.
Then, when it was time to turn pro, Burger King tapped me. Unfortunately, Yeng Guiao assigned me to his doghouse, prompting me to ask for a trade that sent me to my fellow Atenean, Manny Pangilinan's, Talk 'N Text and, eventually, Smart Gilas Team Pilipinas.
I thought things will change under Rajko Toroman.
But I was wrong.
Instead, Toroman just benched me, believing that my American mentors in the US NCAA had taught me to dunk more than to be part of the team. And in the 26th Fiba-Asia Championship in Wuhan, China, Toroman relegated me as a third-string forward, seeing action only when Ranidel de Ocampo, Kelly Williams, and even Mac Baracael, were already cooling their heels.
Right now, I am back with the Tropang Texters. In fact, with De Ocampo and Williams on leave, I erupted for 27 points, most of which coming off monster jams and short jumpers. However, my production was greatly overshadowed by Paul Lee's 21-point performance in Rain or Shine's opening game against Ginebra.
Do you think it was a sign of good things ahead? Is my misery with disciplinarian coaches finally over? Please shed light.
PS: Do you already know me?
Deeply bothered,
J.A. of Katipunan, Quezon City via email
Dear J.A.
Hey, Japeth Aguilar, I'm so glad that you took the time to seek my advice. As you can see, the PBA had just opened and most of my letter-senders are either bragging about their fantastic debut or simply wallowing in sorrow.
But you? You're simply trying to find redemption. You wanted to know whether you're still needed or not. I can't blame you; Guiao made you feel like you're the ugliest among all of his ducklings, and you can't break into Toroman's rotation because you were trained by American coaches, whose style is a copycat of what we've been seeing in the NBA.
Serbians don't like the Americans, remember?
Anyway, back to your problem; I think your misery with strict coaches is finally over. Now that you're back in the good graces of Talk 'N Text – with Chot Reyes calling the shots as if he's still mentoring Ateneo – you will have more freedom to run, jump shoot and dunk.
The fans will love it.
And you're cash register would keep on ringing.
Now, is that a good way to redeem yourself?
Good luck!
Regards,
Brutus
