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The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) has invited the Gilas Pilipinas cadet team to play in the upcoming Philippine Cup that will usher in Season 46 this April 2021. The gesture is a welcome development as it not only puts the young cadets in the spotlight that will make them household names, but it will also spur their progress and development as a team as they build up for the 2021 FIBA-Asia Cup and ultimately, the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) President Al Panlilio has lauded this move and thanked the PBA for extending its assistance to the national cause. While there is no confirmation yet from the SBP if the team will participate, there are positive signs that they will.

Not counting the 1998 Centennial and the 2002 Selecta national all-pro teams that participated in the 1998 Centennial Cup and the 2002 Governors' and Commissioner's Cups, respectively, there have been nine PBA conferences when an all-amateur national team participated as a guest team. Recent interviews of former national players on the podcast An Eternity of Basketball revealed that their PBA stint played a pivotal role in speeding up the cohesion and development process.

In this two-part series, we'll look back at how these national teams performed in the PBA. The first part covered the four PBA conferences participated in by the RP-NCC teams of Ron Jacobs. This is the second part, and covers the national teams of Joe Lipa and Rajko Toroman, as well as the one-conference stint of Derick Pumaren's national team in 1988.

RP-Magnolia Team - 1986 All Filipino Conference (7th place)

Roster: Alvin Patrimonio, Ronnie Magsanoc, Jojo Lastimosa, Elmer Reyes, Allan Caidic, Samboy Lim, Dindo Pumaren, Eric Altamirano, Glenn Capacio, Harmon Codiera, Jerry Codiera, Jack Tanuan.

Coach: Joe Lipa

After a turbulent political year that started with the snap elections that moved into the historic EDSA Revolution in February 1986, the BAP decided to dissolve the NCC national team as its benefactor, Danding Cojuangco, went on exile. Forced to field a team for the Asian Games slated in September, then-BAP President Lito Puyat announced the appointment of Joe Lipa as head coach sometime in May. With less than four months to prepare, Lipa formed a roster made up of top players from the Philippine Amateur Basketball League (PABL) and standouts from the UAAP and NCAA, as well as veterans from the defunct NCC national team. To enable them to play against quality competition while developing chemistry, the team decided to play as a guest team in the PBA All Filipino Second Conference that was to start in July and end just three weeks before the Asian Games.

The RP-Magnolia squad lost a couple of close games to Shell, 100-98, with Samboy Lim pouring 34 points, and Alaska, 117-112, before pulling off its first and only win against Ginebra, 97-88. They suffered their biggest loss against eventual champions, the Mon Fernandez-powered Tanduay Rhum, 117-90, then lost to Manila Beer, 104-92, followed by a heartbreaking defeat to Great Taste, 109-108, that saw Allan Caidic waxing hot with 35 points. The loss to the Coffeemakers was particularly painful as a win would have carried them over to the quarterfinals. Instead, they ended up with a 1-5 card, and played a knockout game against Alaska for the last QF seat. They fought to the end, only to lose to the expansion but veteran-laden Alaska Milkmen, 100-96, to finish their PBA campaign.

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The team then went to Seoul and became one of the most unforgettable national teams in the modern era. They started off well, beating darkhorse Japan, 81-78, before pulling off a rout against hapless Hong Kong, 109-75. They faced the heavily-favored Chinese team for their third game and couldn't keep up with their taller opponents, losing 112-84. The Philippines recovered three days later with an easy 90-74 victory over Kuwait - a fitting warmup to their next game against rivals, host South Korea. In that battle, the Sokors jumped to an early lead, but the Philippines fought back and kept the game close despite being in front of a hostile crowd and contending with calls favoring the hosts. In the final seconds of the game and the RP Team down, 103-102, Caidic got hold of possession and spearheaded a fastbreak. He went for the layup but was called for a charge despite replays showing the Sokor player not having established defensive position. Despite the loss, the Filipino heroes ended the tournament on a positive note, beating Malaysia, 84-68, and Jordan, 83-81, to win the bronze medal.

While their PBA stint may have been forgettable, credit must be given to the squad aptly described as the Golden Bronze team for their heroic performance in the Asian Games. Given that they only had a few months to prepare, the one-month, seven-game experience in the PBA provided them with the competitive spirit to go toe-to-toe with their more favored Asian rivals.

RP Team - 1987 PBA Open Conference (7th place)

Roster: Joey Mendoza, Ronnie Magsanoc, Jojo Lastimosa, Joey Guanio, Alvin Patrimonio, Bong Alvarez, Dindo Pumaren, Nelson Asaytono, Glenn Capacio, Benjie Paras, Jerry Codiera, Zaldy Realubit.

Coach: Joe Lipa

Coming off an impressive stint as head coach of the "Golden Bronze" team in the 1986 Seoul Asian Games when it won the bronze medal, Coach Joe Lipa was the toast of the basketball community. He was immediately reappointed by the then Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) as national team mentor for the 1987 ABC tournament to be held in Bangkok in November that year. Lipa was eventually hired as head coach of the Formula Shell Spark Aiders at the start of the 3rd Conference but could only join the team after the ABC.

The Open Conference kicked off the 1987 season with the RP Team featured as a guest team to help them prepare for the ABC. Having to go up against teams reinforced by imports with a height ceiling of 6'6, the amateurs had to contend with top-tiered recruits like David Thirdkill, Michael Young, Michael Hackett, Norman Black, Francois Wise, and Calvin Thompson.

The nationals made an auspicious debut, trouncing the tournament favorite Tanduay Rhum Makers, 112-107, with Alvin Patrimonio leading the charge with 31 points. After suffering back-to-back shellackings from Magnolia and Great Taste, the RP Team pulled out a 100-99 squeaker against Shell to pull even at .500. By then, the imports were already establishing their presence and establishing chemistry with their respective teams; the nationals lost their next eight games to end up with a 2-10 card, tying Shell at the cellar. They still had a chance to crack the quarterfinal round in a knockout game against the Spark Aiders, but they lost, 120-111, and eventually got eliminated. Lastimosa had a career game, knocking down 32 points, in a 120-117 loss to Ginebra.

The team then went to Jakarta in September for their gold medal-retention bid in the SEA Games and ended up undefeated to win the Philippines' fifth men's basketball gold medal in six SEA Games stints. The victory was a major boost as Lipa announced the team's readiness for the ABC. The team topped the preliminaries by beating Jordan and India, but lost in a close game against China, 97-94, that saw the Philippines coming back from a double-digit deficit in the first half. The loss, though, resulted in a semifinal showdown against South Korea. Led by stalwarts Lee Chung Hee and Hur Jae, the Sokors ripped the Filipinos, 105-88. Disheartened by the loss, they lost the bronze medal game to Japan, 89-75, to end the tournament in fourth place. Patrimonio took consolation by earning a Mythical Selection alongside South Korea's Hur Jae and Lee, Sun Fengwu, and Zhang Bin of eventual gold medalists, China.

The PBA stint not only made superstars out of these amateur players but also clearly established that they were ready to join the pros, particularly Patrimonio, Lastimosa, Capacio, and Codiera. True enough, the year after, when new team Purefoods was given the concession to hire four amateur players directly, it immediately took in these four to make up the first core of what is now one of the most successful franchises in league history.

Philippine Team - 1988 All Filipino Conference (7th place)

Roster: Peter Aguilar, Renato Agustin, Paul Alvarez, Nelson Asaytono, Elmer Cabahug, Romeo Dela Rosa, Hernani Demegillo, Peter Jao, Ricardo Marata, Ferdinand Pumaren, Rizaldy Realubit, Jerry Ruiz.

Coach: Frederick Pumaren

There was no major international tournament for 1988 as both the ABC and the SEAG would be held the year after. Meanwhile, the Asian Interclub just concluded in Jakarta and a PABL selection sponsored by RFM-Swift was formed at the last hour to allow the Philippines to defend its Interclub title, last held and won in 1984 by the NCC team. They succeeded in retaining the title, repeating over China, 84-69.

Seven players from the PABL selection were chosen to be part of the Philippine Team that was preparing for the next year's ABC and SEA Games. These were Aguilar, Agustin, Alvarez, Asaytono, Cabahug, Demegillo, and Marata. The BAP appointed multiple PABL champion coach Derick Pumaren to take over Joe Lipa's role as mentor. Pumaren then added Dela Rosa, Jao, his younger brother, Dindo, Realubit, and Ruiz to the final roster that was to play in the PBA as a guest team in the 1988 All Filipino Conference.

The nationals had an impressive debut in the opening game of the conference, toppling Shell, 105-97, in the first game of a doubleheader. Back-to-back losses to defending champions Great Taste, 114-100, and Alaska, 130-108, put the Philippine team in the middle of the pack with a 1-2 card. But Pumaren's boys roared back with an upset over heavily-favored Purefoods, 111-101, squaring themselves at 2-2, while putting the Hotdogs at .500 with a 3-3 record. It was downhill from there, as the team lost five in a row, before pulling off an impressive 146-113 repeat over Shell under new coach Charlie Favis. They ended their campaign with losses to San Miguel and Aejo, finishing with a 3-9 card.

While the BAP may have been proactive when it opted to prepare the national team one year in advance, the effort went for naught though as the bulk of the team eventually joined the PBA Draft the succeeding year. All but Jao were part of what was perhaps the greatest draft class in PBA history. As such, Coach Pumaren had no recourse but to put up a different team for the SEA Games and the ABC. The results in both tournaments were disastrous: a silver medal in Kuala Lumpur and a ninth-place finish in Jakarta.

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Even though Allan Caidic was called for a dubious foul in a semifinal game against South Korea, the Philippines went on to win a "golden bronze" in the 1986 Asian Games.

Smart-Gilas - 2009-10 Philippine Cup

Roster: CJ Giles, Chris Tiu, Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Japeth Aguilar, Mark Barroca, JV Casio, Dylan Ababou, Mac Baracael, Aldrech Ramos, JR Cawaling, Jason Ballesteros, Magi Sison.

Coach: Rajko Toroman

A quiet storm was already brewing when Smart-Gilas formalized its entry as one of the eleven teams set to play in the PBA Philippine Cup that debuted in October 2009. A few days before the start of the season, the same Smart-Gilas team that was to take over national team duties embarrassed the Yeng Guiao-mentored Powerade Philippine national team that had recently placed eighth in the FIBA-Asia Championship in Tianjin, China, 98-69, in a benefit game for Typhoon Ondoy victims at the Araneta Coliseum.

Then, after playing on opening day for the Burger King Whoppers in a loss to Purefoods, 93-80, top rookie pick Japeth Aguilar wanted to leave the Lina franchise and rejoin the national squad. Team manager Lito Alvarez and head coach Guiao decided to trade Aguilar, his rights landing with Talk 'N Text, who loaned him to Smart-Gilas.

When Burger King faced the nationals five days into the season, the hostilities became evident. Aguilar had rejoined Smart-Gilas and Guiao came out with a game plan learned from the humbling Powerade loss. Unfortunately, at one point, BK's lead point guard, Wynne Arboleda, was assessed his second flagrant foul against a driving Baracael and was heckled endlessly by a Smart-Gilas fan who sat at ringside. Arboleda assaulted the fan and was initially slappeda 20,000-peso fine and, after three days, was suspended for the entire season, costing him close to 2.3 million pesos in salary. When the smoke cleared, the Whoppers won, 115-105.

In addition, there were complaints from other PBA teams about how Coach Toroman utilized his key players against "sister" team TNT. Giles played for only five minutes in that game, resulting in a 103-70 defeat at the hands of the Texters. In the end, the PBA decided to not render any bearing on all Smart-Gilas games against the PBA teams. At that time, Gilas carried a 1-2 card, losing to Burger King and TNT and winning over San Miguel Beer, 109-96. Gilas' campaign ended with a 3-6 card.

This was the first official tournament that Smart-Gilas participated in after assuming the national team functions. Despite the controversies and the sour ending, the experience hastened the maturity process, especially when dealing with adversities. Giles, who was initially regarded as a gem of a find for naturalization, was eventually replaced by Marcus Douthit.

Smart-Gilas - 2011 Commissioner's Cup (4th place)

Roster: Marcus Douthit, Chris Tiu, JV Casio, Japeth Aguilar, Mark Barroca, Mac Baracael, Jason Ballesteros, Dylan Ababou, Chris Lutz, Marcio Lassiter, Magi Sison, Aldrech Ramos.

Coach: Rajko Toroman

When Barako Energy opted to take a leave of absence in the second conference of the 2011-12 season, the PBA was more than willing to accommodate the Smart-Gilas team that was preparing for the 2011 FIBA-Asia Championship to be held in Wuhan later that year. The young turks were quick on the block in this import-laced conference, displaying their speed, chemistry and outside shooting, to finish second at the end of the elims with a 7-2 card, just behind TNT's 8-1 record. The team could've easily swept the eliminations as they lost to the Derby Ace Llamados and the Meralco Bolts in overtime. That second-place finish earned them an automatic semifinals seat where they faced the Nate Brumfield-led Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings that had beaten Rain or Shine, 2-1, in their quarterfinals series. Ginebra used its vast experience and defeated Gilas, 3-1, in their best-of-five series, earning a trip to the Finals against eventual champions TNT.

Douthit was particularly impressive in his first PBA stint, dominating the stats categories in rebounds (18.3), blocks (3.3) and FG% (54.8%). Casio, Tiu, Lassiter, and Baracael also had highlight games, but it was also evident that the lack of collective experience took its toll on the team. This eventually led the SBP to include pro players in the final roster of the national team for Wuhan. Asi Taulava, Jimmy Alapag, Kelly Williams, and Ranidel De Ocampo became part of the team that placed fourth overall.

There was no denying that Gilas' PBA stint was a major boost to the team's performance. Individually, the core of this team went on to be selected in the first round of the 2011 and 2012 PBA Drafts - a testament to how these players were able to nurture their skills with the national team.

Now, today's Gilas cadets may be young and promising, but they need all the experience they can get to tangle with the region's, and the world's, top teams. With only two and a half years remaining before the 2023 FIBA World Cup to be held here in Manila, the SBP need not look far to fast-track the development of this young team. Under the able guidance of coaches Jong Uichico and Tab Baldwin, participating in the PBA as a guest team would be a first, but important, step in the right direction. After all, no matter how one looks at it, regardless of record and final standing of the all-amateur national teams that competed in the PBA, there is no denying the overall benefit of their participation.

Go here to see the original:
National teams in the PBA (Part 2): The Joe Lipa and Rajko Toroman eras - ESPN

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) has invited the Gilas Pilipinas cadet team to play in the upcoming Philippine Cup that will usher in Season 46 this April 2021. The gesture is a welcome development as it not only puts the young cadets in the spotlight that will make them household names, but it will also spur their progress and development as a team as they build up for the 2021 FIBA-Asia Cup and ultimately, the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) President Al Panlilio has lauded this move and thanked the PBA for extending its assistance to the national cause. While there is no confirmation yet from the SBP if the team will participate, there are positive signs that they will.

Not counting the 1998 Centennial and the 2002 Selecta national all-pro teams that participated in the 1998 Centennial Cup and the 2002 Governors' and Commissioner's Cups, respectively, there have been nine PBA conferences when an all-amateur national team participated as a guest team. Recent interviews of former national players on the podcast An Eternity of Basketball revealed that their PBA stint played a pivotal role in speeding up the cohesion and development process.

In this two-part series, we'll look back at how these national teams performed in the PBA. This first part covers the four PBA conferences participated in by the RP-NCC teams of Ron Jacobs. The second part will cover the national teams of Joe Lipa and Rajko Toroman, as well as the one-conference stint of Derick Pumaren's national team in 1988.

RP Northern Cement (3rd place, 1984 1st All Filipino Conference)

Roster: Jeff Moore, Chip Engelland, Hector Calma, Franz Pumaren, Jong Uichico, Elmer Reyes, Yves Dignadice, Rey Cuenco, Alfie Almario, Naning Valenciano, Peter Aguilar, Jun Tan, Tonichi Yturri.

Coach: Ron Jacobs

After an unceremonious debacle in the 1983 ABC in Hong Kong where the Philippines ended up ninth overall brought about by a controversial technicality that forfeited the team's first two games in the preliminary round, NCC forged an agreement with the PBA to serve as guest team for the first time in the 10th season of the league. With the disbandment of Toyota at the end of the 1983 season and the number of teams down to seven, the arrangement became mutually beneficial.

At the end of the eliminations, the Nationals surprised everyone by topping the field with an 11-3 card, one game ahead of Crispa and Great Taste, the latter welcoming Toyota stars, Arnie Tuadles and Chito Loyzaga in its fold. Crispa then defeated GTC in the playoff for the automatic second semis seat, 124-120. The two teams that benefited most from Toyota's disbandment, Beer Hausen and Gilbey's Gin, ended up with 8-6 slates, apparently still adjusting to the new environment. Gold Eagle, led by their franchise player Abe King, closed the elims with a 4-10 record to join the Coffeemakers, the Brewmasters and the Gin Tonics in the single-round robin quarterfinals. Tanduay and Countryfair were eliminated.

Gilbey's and Beer Hausen joined NCC and Crispa in the semis as both teams won two of their three games. Great Taste, considered one of the favorites to win the title, shockingly lost to Gold Eagle, 103-97 that virtually spelled their doom. They also lost to Gilbey's in overtime, 151-145, before ending their campaign with a 142-126 victory against previously unbeaten Beer Hausen. Gold Eagle filed a protest after their 106-104 loss to the Gin Tonics, and the league ordered a re-play to determine the second semifinalist. Gilbey's eliminated the Beermen, 115-106.

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Fresh from a grand slam conquest the previous season, the Redmanizers turned up the juice, winning four straight games after an initial loss to Beer Hausen, 109-108, at the start of the semis. After conquering NCC, 96-94, for their fourth victory and a seat in the Finals, Coach Tommy Manotoc resigned because of health reasons. Many-time national team member and assistant coach Narciso Bernardo took over. NCC, on the other hand, lost their first two games against Gilbey's and Crispa before pulling even with victories over Beer Hausen, 115-109, and Gilbey's, 135-124. The nationals lost steam in the end, losing a heartbreaking game to Crispa and against Beer Hausen, 119-107, leading to their elimination as they finished the semis with a 2-4 card. In their shortened series battle for 3rd place, NCC toppled Beer Hausen in five games, 3-2.

NCC's first stint in the PBA was only the third time since 1980 that a guest team played in the PBA. The Nicholas Stoodley-backed South Korean national team played in the Invitationals and finished third overall. They were also aiming to replicate another Nicholas Stoodley-backed foreign team made up of American professionals (led by former 1979 Royal Tru Orange import Larry Pounds) to win a PBA title as a guest team - a feat the Jeansmakers accomplished in the 1980 Invitationals against the Toyota Tamaraws. While they may have failed to accomplish this goal, there were obviously more gains, none more important than the mainstream acceptance of the team to the discriminate Filipino basketball fans. Their ability to go toe-to-toe against the top pro teams earned them more fans and considerable respect.

RP Northern Cement (4th place, 1984 2nd All Filipino Conference)

Roster: Jeff Moore, Chip Engelland, Hector Calma, Franz Pumaren, Yves Dignadice, Jong Uichico, Jun Tan, Elmer Reyes, Alfie Almario, Peter Aguilar, Rey Cuenco, Naning Valenciano, Tonichi Yturri.

Coach: Ron Jacobs

The PBA was forced to have a second All Filipino conference in one season because of the economic crisis besetting the country. With the value of the dollar rising significantly against the peso, the PBA teams decided not to hire imports to manage costs.

There were eight teams bracketed into two groups, with NCC, Crispa, Gold Eagle and Tanduay comprising Group A, and Great Taste, Gilbey's, Beer Hausen and Countryfair rounding up Group B. Teams in the same group would play each other once while facing the remaining four teams in the other bracket twice, for a total of eleven games. At the end of the eliminations, Great Taste and Northern earned automatic semifinals seats, ending up with 9-2 and 8-3 cards, respectively. Crispa beat Gold Eagle, 2-0, Gilbey's came from behind to defeat Tanduay, 2-1, while Beer Hausen swept Countryfair, 2-0, to join GTC and NCC in the semis.

GTC topped the double round semifinals with a 6-2 slate, losing only to Beer Hausen, 105-89, and Tanduay, 136-131. The Brewmasters, led by eventual MVP Ramon Fernandez, and NCC tied for second with 5-3 cards each, while splitting their semis games, 123-98 in favor of NCC in the first round and a 118-107 revenge from Beer Hausen in the second round. In their knockout game for the second finals seat, the Brewmasters won the game, 122-117, amidst controversy over allegations of one-sided officiating favoring Beer Hausen. Coach Jacobs was vocal about his disgust as he felt that the league didn't want an all-amateur team to succeed in the PBA.

In protest, Jacobs hardly played Moore and Engelland in their best-of-five series for third place against Tanduay, losing 135-121 and 127-95. Game 2 even saw rookie reserve, Dennis Abbatuan scatter a career-high 51 points, mostly from at the post and underneath, as NCC's defense seemed half-hearted. Deputy Commissioner Tommy Manotoc summoned Jacobs to his office and admonished him for shortchanging the fans. In Game 3, NCC vented its ire on a hapless Tanduay team with a 148-110 demolition led by Engelland's 60 points. With Great Taste already sweeping Beer Hausen in the Finals, Tanduay copped third place by virtue of a 2-1 series win.

The nationals were at the cusp of making it to the Finals for a battle royale with the Coffeemakers. They had an excellent chance of achieving this feat, but because of the relative youth and inexperience of the local talents, they succumbed to the pressure, losing back to back games in the second round against GTC and Beer Hausen. Yet, it was a major accomplishment as the finalists were led by the best players of the country in Brown and Fernandez.

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Allan Caidic's exposure with the Northern Consolidated program in the mid-80s was the foundation for his storied PBA career.

RP Northern Cement - 1985 Open Conference (3rd place)

Roster: Dennis Still, Jeff Moore, Chip Engelland, Hector Calma, Samboy Lim, Allan Caidic, Yves Dignadice, Elmer Reyes, Franz Pumaren, Tonichi Yturri, Benjie Gutierrez, Jun Tan.

Coach: Ron Jacobs

The NCC RP team had a full slate for 1985 given that the SEA Games and the ABC would be held in December. In support of the national cause, the PBA adjusted the sequencing in its calendar, with the All Filipino sandwiching the two import-laced conferences. With NCC going overseas in Gerona for the World Interclub and Taipei for the Jones Cup in June and July, the league accommodated the national team for the Open and Reinforced Conferences. Similarly, Still was finally inserted into the lineup alongside Engelland and Moore but with the provision that only two naturalized players were allowed to play at the same time.

The Open featured reinforcements with unlimited height, with returning imports like 6'11 Lewis Brown (who replaced Doug Harris), the 6'5 Norman Black, and 6'9 Rich Adams (replacing Kevin Graham), while newcomers were 6'9" John Campbell of Ginebra (replacing Harold Driver), 6'7" David Pope of Tanduay (who replaced Merlin Wilson), and Great Taste's 6'9" Joe Binion (replacing Napoleon Johnson).

Great Taste and Tanduay topped the elims with 8-4 cards. NCC, Magnolia, Manila Beer, and Shell duked it out in the quarterfinals for the last two semis slots, while Ginebra dropped out of the race with a 3-9 record. The Ice Cream Makers won two games in the single round robin quarterfinals to gain the third semis slot. The Brewmasters were particularly impressive as they swept their three games by an average of 15.6 points to tie NCC for second. In their knockout playoff game, NCC extracted vengeance with a convincing 98-75 victory to knock out the Lucio Tan franchise.

NCC started well, beating Great Taste, 100-97 in their first semis game. The Coffeemakers, though, went on a roll, led by eventual MVP Ricardo Brown, and won five in a row to earn the first Finals seat. While the national team dominated Tanduay in their two games, they couldn't get past their tormentor, Magnolia, losing both games, 97-95 and 94-84. In their conference head-to-head duel, the Ice Cream Makers won four of their five games. In the last game of the semifinals, NCC had to beat GTC to forge a three-way tie for first at 4-2, but suffered an overtime loss, 102-94, to end up in the battle for third, where they demolished the Rhum Makers, 4-2 in a best-of-seven series.

Nineteen eighty-five may yet be the best year of the NCC national team in terms of accomplishment and performance. Apart from achieving their final objective of winning the ABC title, the PBA crown was a major accomplishment as well, given the daunting odds. When the PBA agreed to have Still play for NCC, it showcased the league's willingness to take risks - the odds of seeing an all-amateur team win a PBA title were high with the 6'8" Jolly Green Giant beefing up the Northerners. While the Open Conference may have yielded only a third-place finish, the invaluable lessons of playing against the pro teams beefed up by a tall import made the nationals more than ready to face challenges in the coming months.

RP Northern Cement - 1985 Reinforced Conference (1st place)

Roster: Dennis Still, Jeff Moore, Allan Caidic, Hector Calma, Samboy Lim, Elmer Reyes, Yves Dignadice, Pido Jarencio, Franz Pumaren, Jerry Codiera, Tonichi Yturri, Alfie Almario.

Coach: Ron Jacobs

This was the most successful national team to ever play in the PBA. And, they did this in dominant fashion, making them only the second guest team (after Nicholas Stoodley in the 1980 Invitationals) to win a PBA title. After a successful conquest of the 1985 Jones Cup in Taipei where they beat the US Golden Eagles team in overtime, 108-100, as well as a valuable experience in the 1985 World Interclub in Gerona, Spain, the PBA was NCC's last preparation for the ABC tournament to be held in Kuala Lumpur starting December 26, 1985.

With Chip Engelland still ineligible to play in the ABC because of residency requirements, Coach Ron Jacobs opted to sit the sweet-shooting naturalized player and fielded his final 12-man lineup for the tourney. They went up against teams reinforced by one import no taller than 6'6" - the likes included Michael Hackett, Ronnie Valentine, Francois Wise, Norman Black, Lester Rowe, and Corey Blackwell.

Manila Beer and Ginebra topped the eliminations to earn the first two seats in the semifinals. Magnolia, NCC, Great Taste, and Tanduay figured in the quarterfinals for the last two slots, with Shell being the only team to be eliminated. NCC and Great Taste won two of their three games, while Tanduay and Magnolia only won once, catapulting the Coffeemakers and the national team to the semis. In the double round-robin Final Four, Manila Beer came out on top with four wins to earn the first Finals seat, with NCC taking the long route by beating Great Taste in a playoff, 123-107.

NCC went unbeaten after losing to Manila Beer in the second round of the semifinals, 99-93, racking up five wins in a row, including a sweep of the Brewmasters, 4-0, in their best of seven Finals series, winning by an average margin of 25.5 points in what is regarded as the most lopsided series in league finals history. While Moore and Still dominated in both scoring and rebounding, it was the more superior local support of NCC that carried them to victory. Calma scored 26 points in Game 2 to back up Moore's 28, while Caidic tallied 25 to backstop Still's 31 markers in Game 3.

That win streak, coupled with an immaculate slate in both the 1985 Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok and the 1985 ABC proved how dominant and merciless Jacobs made this team. At that time, they were already regarded as the country's best basketball team, even better than any PBA franchise.

The marked improvement of NCC as compared to their previous PBA performances may also be a testament to their international stints prior to the conference. They played in Spain, Taiwan, and Malaysia (Asian Interclub) where they were able to go up against future stars like David Robinson, Chuck Person, Harold Pressley, Kenny Gattison, Joe Wolf, Jay Bilas, Tommy Amaker, Marcel de Souza, and Drazen Petrovic, among many others. But, more importantly, it was the team chemistry that led to the Reinforced title as Jacobs parlayed the roles of each player to the hilt, maximized their individual strengths while working within a disciplined system, and introduced one coaching innovation after another. The 1985 PBA Reinforced stint may have only validated how good everyone, including themselves, knew they were.

Originally posted here:
National teams in the PBA (Part 1): The Ron Jacobs-NCC era - ESPN

Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo is set to oversee his first European knockout game in Ronaldos home country of Portugal when they face Porto on WednesdayPicture: Emilio Andreoli / Getty Images

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In the years since, the Turin club have lost five finals, most recently when Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in a 4-1 win for Real Madrid in 2017.

A year on from that night in Cardiff in Wales, Juventus made a huge statement to the world that they wouldnt settle for second place again: they signed Ronaldo.

When the Portuguese superstar landed in Turin in the summer of 2018, the club had won seven consecutive Serie A titles and four Coppa Italias in a row.

Juve had proven that they didnt need a superstar on staggeringly high wages to dominate domestically, but there was hope that he could take them to the next level in Europe, and for good reason.

Ronaldo has won the Champions League five times and is the competitions all-time top scorer with 134 goals.

Two-and-a-half years later, Juventus are still waiting for their transformation into a Champions League superpower.

READ:Neymar missing in action again, but timing is questioned

In Ronaldos first season, Massimiliano Allegris charges were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Ajax Amsterdam.

The coach departed, and his successor Maurizio Sarri could only guide them to a last-16 elimination by Olympique Lyonnais, a result which resulted in him being sacked the next day.

Now Andrea Pirlo hopes to make it third time lucky, with the rookie coach set to oversee his first European knockout game in Ronaldos home country of Portugal when they face Porto on Wednesday.

Juves recent struggles in the knockout stages havent been for a lack of effort from their 36-year-old great.

Ronaldo has scored all seven of their goals in the knockout stages since he arrived in Italy: a hat-trick against Atletico Madrid, two against Ajax in 2018/19 and two against Lyon in 2019/20.

READ:LaLiga not worried about life after Ronaldo and Messi

Ronaldo is also the record holder for goals in the Champions League knockout stages, with 67 strikes in 81 games 20 more than second-placed Lionel Messi of Barcelona.

Age appears to be no concern for the forward, who is enjoying another prolific season for Juventus with 23 goals in 26 appearances in all competitions.

But with his contract due to expire at the end of next season, time is of the essence in Juventus efforts to harness the power of the competitions most prolific player. Reuters

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Juventus look to Ronaldo to carry them to the Promised Land - News24

Liverpool won an important Champions League game but the main story for the Reds was Kylian Mbappe and those very specific omens.

In for the KylWhat to do when by far the biggest development from Tuesday evenings Champions League games was neither linked to the Premier League nor a transfer story?

The Daily Mirror website has the answer:

KING KYLIAN! Mbappe makes declaration on PSG future amid Liverpool and Real Madrid transfer interest after netting hat-trick at Barcelona

Perfect. The word Liverpool is mentioned literally once, and the declaration on PSG future made by Mbappe is literally that it would be stupid to decide my future on a single match.

Not as stupid as it would be to crowbar Liverpool and Real Madrid into a story about a PSG striker scoring a hat-trick against Barcelona and then telling the media he is happy at his current club.

Blind updateThe Liverpool Echo go down a similarly predictable route. They cover one club andmined those Mbappe clicks long ago. But at lunchtime of the day after the Reds win the first leg of a Champions League knockout game, should this really be the headline atop their website?

Liverpool news and transfers LIVE Kylian Mbappe update, Jurgen Klopp claim, Virgil van Dijk latest

You won a game! A quite important one! Never bloody mind the Kylian Mbappe update of him still not joining.

Real them inThe thing is that Liverpool were really good against Leipzig on Tuesday, reducing the need to make everything else about them, too. They were very professional. Ruthless. David Maddock of theDaily Mirrorwas undeniably impressed.

Salah inspired a remarkable Champions League victory, with a devastating performance that reduced the Leipzig defence to a shivering, ruined wreck.

A remarkable Champions League victory? It was very good indeed, but that seems a bit much. It wasnt even the most remarkable Champions League victory of the night. And that devastating performance required two relatively unforced mistakes for Liverpool to establish a two-goal lead.

That shivering, ruined wreck of a Leipzig defence did not allow a single shot after Sadio Manes goal just before the hour. Two errors in five second-half minutes doth not a shivering, ruined wreck make.

Leipzig had 12 shots to Liverpools ten yet Maddocks only mention of the German sides attacking is that Alisson made a fine save. From whom is not made clear, nor when.

He writes 581 words without ever referring to Dani Olmo hitting the post, Christopher Nkunku almost scoring at the start of the second half and Hwang Hee-chan coming awfully close to making it 2-1 at the end. All in the name of pretending that suddenly, they looked like the real Liverpool again when it was much better than the last couple of months but so very far from the real Liverpool of old.

Its a bit strange.

The omenHe adds:

There were hints of triumphs past too, not least in the deadly impact of their forward line. On the last two occasions they have met German opposition at this stage, they went on to lift the trophy. And those are omens to cling to, with this quality up front.

Why is everyone else even competing this year? Dont they know what happens when Liverpool play German teams in the last 16 of the Champions League? Never mind that it has literally only happened twice before because that is a very particular set of circumstances that excludes them losing to Bayer Leverkusen in the quarter-finals in 2002, or beating Augsburg and Dortmund in the last 32 and quarter-finals of the Europa League in 2016 before losing in the final.

Mbappe is good and everything but Mediawatch isnt sure even he can cope with such powerful and incredibly specific omens like that.

Cherry go roundMartin Samuel of the Daily Mail at least recalls the Olmo, Nkunku and Hwang chances for Leipzig in his match report. But he is rather disparaging otherwise of last seasons semi-finalists, who are suddenly lacking the care required to progress at this stage in the tournament.

He writes that there are considerably better teams left in the competition, while if Jurgen Klopp could have cherry-picked an opponent, it may well have been this one.

They are second in the Bundesliga, beat PSG in November and held Bayern Munich to a 3-3 draw at the Allianz Arena in December. Theyre quite good. Two costly mistakes in an otherwise close game doesnt make them rubbish.

Klopp was able to note how dominant they can be football-wise, how overwhelming they can be in a game from a physical point of view after the match. It doesnt sound like an opponent he would have cherry-picked.

Echo chamberBut back to the Liverpool Echo, for they have the biggest scoop of all from Budapest.

What Jurgen Klopp did on touchline after Mohamed Salahs Liverpool goal

Strap yourselves in, folks. You are genuinelynevergoing to believe this

The relief was tangible on the touchline from Klopp as he celebrated with a trademark fist pump.

Manager celebrates player scoring goal. This means more.

Low rezAfter Monday and Tuesdays breaking news, here is Wednesdays third instalment of the enthralling saga that is gripping the football world. But mostly The Suns website:

Riyad Mahrezs Covidiot wife flouts mask rules in Sainsburys after lockdown breach

At least they arent pretending its the biggest story of the day. Its second behind the revelation that Kylian Mbappe is better at 22 than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were.

Christian beliefBut the most credit of all goes to theDaily Starfor pretending that Chelsea are about to sell one of their many thousand forwards.

Thomas Tuchels comments hint at one of Chelseas big-name attackers being sold, reads the headline to a story in which the only Tuchel quote is that it was a tight decision not to start Christian Pulisic against Newcastle.

He deserves to start, he deserves to come in, he added. And from that we are meant to glean that he may need to offload at least one of Pulisic of Hakim Ziyech in the summer. It really is the only solution.

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Liverpool are back with 'omens' that even Kylian Mbappe cannot handle - Football365.com

Though the Cork footballers won just one Championship game in 2020, Ian Maguire feels his side are making progress.

After the high of beating Kerry with a last-gasp winner in the Munster semi-final, Cork lost to Tipperary in a historic decider.

"It was the fourth year in a row we lost the Munster final," said Maguire, speaking at the launch of Sports Direct's five-year sponsorship deal with Cork GAA.

"These are all missed opportunities. They all hurt. It's not good enough, personally would be my opinion.

"We definitely made strides. We qualified from Division 3. We won all our games. There were a lot of different experiences there. We played teams like, for example, Leitrim, something I never would have thought of five years ago.

"New players came into the panel, the U21s were integrated. You saw from the Munster final lineout how many young players with limited appearances actually played.

"Cork won a knockout game. That's something I feel hasn't happened for a while, or there hasn't been enough of those wins. We won a high-pressure knockout game, which is a great experience.

"It's six of one and a half dozen of another in that we've definitely made progress but ultimately it was disappointing. We're definitely going in the right direction.

"I'm sick of chasing the top, I'd rather be at the top."

Cork GAA football captain, Ian Maguire, pictured following the announcement of Sports Directs new five-year sponsorship deal with Cork GAA that will see Sports Direct support the mens senior, Under 20 and Minor teams in both codes and provide a new personalised boot partnership for the senior panels. Photo credit: INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Maguire feels complacency was not an issue within the panel heading into the Munster final.

"I suppose the complacency element is something youll always consider when you beat a big team but because of Covid - we beat Kerry and while there may have been a few drinks or whatever in other years, that didnt happen because of Covid," said the Cork captain.

"You got dressed, you went home, it was a very different experience and I would have said that protected us against complacency because we were back training, back into a routine.

"Ive watched the game about a thousand times, Tipperary came with an intensity that we just didnt match from player 1 to player 24. They brought the fire.

"They targeted our half back line on their kick-out Colin ORiordan playing half forward obviously, hes an exceptional fielder, hes not in the AFL for no reason. They got good supply into their forward line and they played on the front foot, we were playing from behind and they have some good players.

"What would you do differently? Its a tricky question. I suppose there were missed opportunities in that game and in the modern game, the main KPI is turnovers and we did not mind the ball in that game, we had too many of them. My lasting recollection of that game is how many times did we turn the ball over on their 45, leaving a large amount of space in front of Quinlivan and Sweeney inside which is just easy to attack. I think thats where our main failing was.

"Can you put that down to tactics or down to players? We were far too careless with the ball. We werent quick enough with our transitions. There was a lot of things that we didnt do that we should have done. I suppose Tipperary punished us as a good team would do."

When Maguire joined the Cork panel in 2014, there were numerous players who had been part of the All-Ireland winning team four years earlier. More than a decade on from that victory, Ciaran Sheehan is the only one with a medal remaining.

"For me personally, and obviously representing Cork, the goal is to win an All-Ireland and I know people will probably laugh at that," Maguire said.

"Its something thats always talked about in the dressing room, its always the goal. I could be delusional, and maybe thats a good thing, but ultimately the aspiration is an All-Ireland. It should always be an All-Ireland."

The new Cork GAA jersey was also launched today and celebrates the three core pillars of clubs, schools and county, that together, form the foundation of Cork GAA. The newly-launched jersey is now available exclusively through Sports Direct Ireland online https://ie.sportsdirect.com/, until stores across the country re-open.

Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile

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'The Goal Is To Win An All-Ireland, I Know People Will Probably Laugh At That' - Balls.ie