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Serkan Ules: The first 'true' superstar


In recognition of the pending transfer of Fillmore Sabangan and Renald Geonanga - two possible candidate for enshrinement - Absolute Justice will feature players in the coming weeks that will be enshrined in their Hall of Fame.


First: Serkan Ules, 6'6" 198lbs.


Played from: November 19, 2009 to August 22, 2012 (10 seasons)

- He was the first major transaction of the team netting $2,760,400 to be their import.
- Was a four-time allstar in his 10 seasons with the team.
- Part of the Mavs team that advanced in the Philippine Premier League (PPL) - their first ever - in Season 19.
- Played 175/425 career games in Mavs uniform.

Totals:
Points: 2,583
Rebounds: 1014
Steals: 140
Assists: 474
Blocks: 150
- Player average: 14.7ppg, 5.8rpg, 2.7apg, 0.8spg, 0.9bpg and 1.1 TO. 44%FG, 32% 3P, and 74% FT.
Career high (in points): 45

Serkan was the first 'true' superstar of the team according to GM Nicolo Maro. He was the all-around guy who can play multiple position and was able to fit seamlessly in any lineup.

"I think if not for the performance of "Saba", Ules will not be the first to be inducted. However, we felt that during his time, Serkan was the franchise player. Unlike Saba, he was more of the do-it-all forward that is critical to any team." ~ GM

Despite being a 'foreigner', it speaks a lot of volume how Serkan Ules impacted the Dahlia Mavericks franchise as their first hall of fame inductee. He was the best player on the floor during his tenure, and without a doubt having the 'heart' of a Filipino.

We got talent

Akainu's Lair, Fairview -- In their first game after 'cleaning house', Absolute Justice fought valiantly in a televised game against Global 9 with just six players.

"We have to deal the cards we're dealt," Coach Doc said. "I am proud of those guys."

It was a closer game than the outcome as both teams were trading baskets up to the mid-way of the fourth. However, fatigued sets-in as Justice ran out of gas in the fourth as almost all starters played 48 minutes.

"We played intelligent basketball and I couldn't be more happier with the outcome of the game," GM Nicolo Maro said. "we will issue press release as often as we would love to showcase the progress of our players in this rebuild."

Amante Ruben who was acquired just before the deadline last season wasn't dealt in the frenzy and he provided the muscle for Justice with a game-high 28 points and 23 rebounds.

"We were thin and there's no way we would go down without a fight," Ruben said.

Team favorite Santos Verano also had a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds.

"What I like most about Santos is he sacrificed himself for this team," GM Nicolo Maro said. "Rest assured that we appreciate everything he has done for our organization."

Marion Pacete was 'awful' but playing out of position and against Global 9 superstar Eugene Putong, he stood his ground. He went 6-28 from the field but who else is to create for Absolute Justice?

The only consolation was that he was able to limit Putong's output as he scored 12 although it can be argued that Global 9 played a team effort.

Bernard Holganza led the visiting team with 22 points while bruiser Nicholas MacWhirr had a double-double with 17 points and 20 rebounds. The rest of the starters scored in double-figures.

"As long as the team is fun to watch, let these young guys grow and acquire some, we'll support the team," one fan quipped.

Leonard Dyer: The first 'franchise' player

As the Absolute Justice franchise better known as Dahlia Mavericks commemorates their players, there is one who truly stood out during his time playing for the team - his name is Leonard Dyer.

Leonard Dyer, 6'1" 181lbs.

Played from: September 14, 2008 to March 22, 2011 (10 Seasons)

- He was considered the first 'franchise' player of the team.
- Was a two-time all-star in his 10 seasons for the team.
- Played 175/304 career games in Mavericks uniform.

Totals:
Points: 1,788
Rebounds: 726
Assists: 681
Steals: 136
Blocks: 60

Player average: 10.2ppg, 4.1rpg, 3.9apg, .8spg, .3bpg and .8TO in 38% FG, 28% 3P, and 72% FT.

Leonard Dyer is considered the first 'franchise' player of the team. He and Denneb Tampus were the young guns looking to prove their worth in the league as the starting back-court of the upstart Dahlia Mavericks.

"My vivid memory of Dyer was that he was flirting with a triple-double and is the premier rebounding point guard in our league," GM Nicolo Maro said. "he deserves to be in our hall of fame as we can't think of any other player who we called a franchise player back then."

Tinatamad ako gumawa ng 'press release'. Anyway, this is one of the best - if not the best - game of my franchise (despite being in Division III).

(http://www.buzzerbeater.com/match/82691835/boxscore.aspx)

epic match yan idol ah ....

Ravena establishes new scoring record in epic Cup win

Philippine National Tournament Round 4
Bacoor Blades @ PhilippinePride
18:05

In what could be considered an epic game, it is only fitting that a record was set in its midst.

Raphael Ravena, in just his second game back from a week-long injury, created history as he established a new scoring high for a Bacoor Blade with 72 points, including crucial baskets down the wire, in an overtime victory, 164-156, against PhilippinePride at the Mall of Asia Arena to help the team advance to Round 5 of the National Tournament.

A high-octane game from the get-go, the Blades and the Pride were exchanging baskets from the first quarter on, with the Blades eking out a 36-34 lead after one. But the Pride bounced back in the second and thru the efforts of Leandro Cui, the hosts took the lead at halftime, 69-67.

The torrid exchange went on for the rest of the second half, up until the last few seconds of regulation. With just 17 seconds remaining, the Blades were down by four, 137-133. After calling a timeout, Arthur Jeter nailed a three pointer with 11 seconds to go. Blades played the foul game but Juan Ocón made both of his freethrows to increase the gap to three, 139-136.

Despite having a timeout remaining TheDogMan elected to keep the game going, which started to look like a bad idea as they could not find a good shot. Out of desparation, Ravena fired a three pointer with a second to go over the outstretched arms of Ocón and connected to tie the game. A successful defensive stand saw the Blades prevent a driving layup attempt by Cui from going in, affirming the extra session.

In overtime, Baltazar Sotero and Ravena connived to give the Blades the early edge before Arthur Jeter nailed a three to make it 156-145 with over 90 seconds to go. With the game nearing the end the chances of a comeback was becoming bleak for the hosts.

Aside from the scoring record, Ravena also had eight assists and four rebounds across his name. Jeter had a monster performance as well, flirting with a triple-double with 41 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists. Sotero rounded up what weirdly enough as the only three double-digit scorers for Bacoor. In contrast, it was a team scoring effort for the hosts, with four of their players scoring at least 30 points.

"It's an amazing achievement." said team manager TheDogMan. "We were asking him before the game if he's okay."

"I guess he's okay." he further added.

"Hindi ako makapaniwala na nagawa ko 'to." Ravena admitted. "Sa sobrang bilis ng takbo ng laro hindi ko na napapansin yung score ko."

The Blades will return to League action next as they face Great 8 team Baltimore Murderers.

The Curse is Over

After 15 long seasons in league 2.4 Zebu Mayas finally won the finals in their third try defeating Philippine Pirates in a two game sweep. Long time suffering fans were jumping like crazy as their team finally graduates from league two to the PPL after all these seasons of trying. Lolo Smithz was calm and composed as he was mobbed by players and given a congratulatory ride.

Interviewed by reporters Lolo Smithz was seen wiping tears of joy and had this to say. "The "Forever 2.4" curse has finally been broken today. 15 seasons in league 2 is a record of sorts in BB Pilipinas that will be hard to break. I wish no team will go through the same suffering season after season wondering when will their team ever succeed in winning it all and go up in league."

"Next season will be a challenge. Whether or not we will succeed in surviving the top league time will tell. One game at a time. Thanks to the BB Gods who finally took pity on this suffering old man."

Happy for you man! Congratulations!! I lost to madafucka dakdakers. He swept our division III.

The Ghost of the Blades: A Primer

Departures: Raphael Ravena, Baltazar Sotero, Graciano Sales

Additions:
Transferees: Dendo Jardeleza, Dello Pizarra, Abdul Sakkar Molanida, Jessie Orejola
Draftees: Kurtis Willis, Uri Montero, Graham Nadal

Holdovers: Luke Andrade, Cyro delos Santos, Zhou Honggui, Arthur Jeter, Pepito Orale

The Bacoor Blades re-emerged from mediocrity last season only to fall back into the same playoff pattern.

Since notching back-to-back League Finals appearances in Seasons 26 and 27, the Cavite five have had ups and downs. They returned to the knockout stages after a season’s absence wielding an 18-4 card, tied for the best record in the League. But the Blades looked tentative to begin proceedings; after getting pummeled early in their clash against #4 seed DLS Heat, they clawed back and won the game, 102-97. But they ultimately got booted out of contention when they allowed themselves to fall by as many as 15 points in the game before falling short in their comeback attempt to defeat second seed Ding-a-lings, 119-117.

“It was an uncanny season” said team manager TheDogMan. “It was the season that would test if our revamped approach would work and it did show some potential up to this point”.

What he was mentioning though was the team’s sudden inclination to acquire tried and tested local veterans to try and get them over the hump: a move that they started almost two seasons ago.

The move received mixed reviews, being that although the talent on the court is relatable to the Bacoor community given that they’re locals, the player’s ages meant that they had a shorter shelf life as compared to younger, foreign players that was done in the past by the Blades.

“It did expose us to a more frequent player turnover than before” admitted TheDogMan. “Usually, we’d have four or five guys that we holdover for a long period of time and we try to provide them with pieces to work around with.”

“Now we’re like a revolving door with players coming and going quicker than before.”

The Blades’ gaffer seemed to have admitted this flaw and addressed it with the acquisition of young talent from the transfer market, with the likes of Pizarra, Molanida and Orejola in an attempt to build a foundation for the future.

“There should always be young talent to try and contemplate the veterans in the game. These past few seasons since we began this approach there has been a high level of professionalism in the locker room. But since there are no young talent to try and absorb the knowledge and experience of the older guys, it has been a feedback-less atmosphere.”

But the biggest splash of the offseason for the Cavite-based franchise is the departure of arguably the most experienced backcourt rotation in the League of Sotero, Sales and Ravena, all in one swoop.

“We made the tough decision of letting them go for we thought that the transfer market, as well as the draft pool that was to come, would better fill in the void that those three would leave behind.” TheDogMan justified. “These are painful pills to swallow, but it is what’s needed. Change is inevitable and as good of a ride that this team had last season, it was time to move on.”

The reins to be left behind by lead guard Ravena shall now be handed over to blue-chip acquisition Dendo Jardeleza, who has expressed his excitement over the prospect.

“Yung makauwi ka sa Pilipinas para makapaglaro sa isang koponan na bibigyan ka ng pagkakataong kagaya ng ganito. Masarap sa pakiramdam.” said the 37-year old veteran, who last played in China.

“Naintindihan ko na yung papalitan ko magaling, pero susubukan kong punan kung ano man ang nagawa nya para sa team na ‘to.” he further added.

The challenge now for TheDogMan is to try and balance the veteran capabilities and vigorous youth that has now become the composition of his roster for his 9th season in League III.13