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The Holster Feature: Not Always This Way: Part 1

The Bacoor Forum
21:40

As of this writing, the Bacoor Blades are on a 21-game winning streak. And regardless if they win their final assignment against their archrivals, Berds Cage, this coming August 4th, it will be a history-making feat that only four other teams in League IV.6 History have been able to achieve.

But four seasons ago, it was hard to imagine this team even making it to the playoffs. And I believe it can also be justified that it was hard to simply breach to double-digit victories.

"Naaalala ko pa yung first game ko para sa Bacoor. First game ever talaga ng team yun." recalls Mark Louis Hugos, the only remaining player from the original roster for the Bacoor Blades.

"Lahat kami baguhan pa sa liga. Baguhan pa sa sistema tsaka sa isa't-isa." Hugos furthered.

The game that he pertains is that fateful first game of the Bacoor Blades as a franchise: an October 8, 2011 baptismal of fire for them as they faced the number one seed at the time, A2:Revenge.

"Ang lalakas talaga nila, halos hindi kami makapuntos. Talagang blankong blanko kami simula pa lang" Hugos further recalled.

They did not breach double-digit scoring for the first three quarters, while allowing their opponents to continually pound them on all fronts.

"Ayoko na ngang alalahanin eh." Hugos exclaimed, followed by a mild chuckle.

Nevertheless, the result of that game was an absolute beating to the tune of a 102-36 beating from the team which would eventually win it all that season.

"Sila yung nagchampion nung season na yun eh. Dalawa lang naman talaga silang naglalaban noon. A2 tsaka Bagonhon." Mark Hugos recalled the rivalry between A2:Revenge and the Bagonhon Slashers. The two teams were promoted to Division III since then, with the Slashers being relegated back to Division IV.6 as Dream Team 4.

Mark, who was an awe-struck 20 year old at the time, scored eight points, grabbed three rebounds, dished two assists and stole the ball twice.

Since then team manager TheDogMan began the effort to making the team better. He took over the team with three games remaining in the elimination round, and with the previous team being at the bottom of the standings, TheDogMan had no choice but to inherit the futility of the previous manager and build the team from the ground up.

"It was a very tough stretch. Although I was very excited in managing my own basketball team, I understood that success will not come as early as when you want it to be." said team manager TheDogMan, recalling his early days handling the team.

"And the good thing about it was that since we were at the very bottom, there was nowhere to go but up."

TheDogMan would go on to improving his team's facilities as well as providing them with a newly-renovated arena that held up to six thousand people.

But the most important thing that TheDogMan did was to bring in players from the Transfer Market that made the team competitive in future games.

On October 12, 2011, the Blades acquired 19 year old Kelly Paul from Shooter Tutors, who came off a championship stint in Division V of one of the American Leagues as a rookie.

"I remember that day when I got word that I was going to the Philippines. I was anxious." Paul blatantly admitted. "It was going to be a different culture, multiple adjustments were to be made that I thought was risky at the time since I wanted to just focus on my game." he further added.

But it was eight days after Paul's acquisition that the team would really turn their franchise around.

to be continued...

The Holster Feature: Not Always This Way: Part 2

The Bacoor Forum
12:18

On October 10, 2011 they would acquire free agent Insa Saady, who last played for tbilisi dinamo in the French League, where he won a championship.

"I was beginning to fall out of interest with the team, to be honest." said Saady, who wanted to leave dinamo due to off-court issues with the team. "I was performing well, we won the championship and the promotion. But they were not treating me well back there. I wanted out so bad." vented Saady, who chose not to disclose any specific reason as to his desire to leave his previous team.

Saady came to the team at the peak of his prime. And the Blades were ready for whatever it is that he was to bring to the table.

"I wanted the team to compete immediately, to at least give its fans reason to cheer. And he became that reason." said TheDogMan.

"Nung dumating si Insa, hindi namin alam yung gagawin namin eh." said Hugos, who admitted his doubts over Insa at first. "Kaso nung pinakita niya yung laro niya, napahanga niya kami. At dahil siguro dun, nakuha niya respeto namin."

Saady, along with Hugos and Paul, as well as center acquisition Sascha Eckert back then, would form the team's core of players. Saady would show that his former team was wrong in doing the things they did to him and took over the league by storm.

"It was a big favor what they did to me, getting me out of my previous predicament and giving me a warm welcome to this team." said a grateful Saady. the 6'7" French forward would average 24.8 PPG, 6.1 RPG and 6.0 APG in his first year with the team, leading them to a 13-9 record that season.

"He was obviously the biggest reason why the team made that huge jump from the previous season." says Paul, who did not have a bad season as well at the time, averaging over 14 PPG and nearly 10 RPG.

Although the jump was impressive, the following season saw the Blades full of expectations. As they were dead set on improving their standing from the previous season and contend for the playoffs.

The team went on an impressive run, winning its first two games, them dropping its next two. Followed by a rollercoaster of a season that inflicted injuries to some of their key players and players coming in and going out. It was around this time when they began adding more pieces by acquiring Iliya Dimov and Eladio Martin.

Through it all, it saw them end the elimination round with the same record as lat season, a 13-9 win-loss slate.

"It looked bad from our perspective, but nevertheless it was the sign of things to come" says TheDogMan.

And boy was he right. The Blades were actually the third seed entering the playoffs. And they embarked on a playoff run that would see them beat the odds of home court disadvantage in the playoffs and win against interface to advance in the Great 8 conference finals. However, they ultimately lost in that stage against El Tigre Chino.

"It was a sweet victory for us. To be able to make it to the conference finals. We could have done better had we had a better run in the elimination round. But it was a good learning experience." said Eladio Martin, who was a starter for his last team but accepted the role of sixth man backing up Saady at the Small Forward position.

"We were defeated by the eventual champions. That's something we can look positively. That we could have done what they had done had we put ourselves in that same position"

That was last season, as they were able to make use of what they had gone through from that playoff run. Now, as they embark on this journey throughout the elimination round unscathed so far, they will have to do whatever it takes to make it to the promised land. With a strong lineup and an integral rally point in Insa Saady, the improved play of Hugos and Paul, as well as their key additions, it is not hard not to count them out of the title hunt.

end

Last edited by TheDogMan at 7/31/2012 12:19:22 PM

The Holster Feature: The Rivalry Part II Primer (Part I)


It might be just fitting that in the second edition of The Holster Feature, we are to bring in to focus the incoming second round encounter between Great 8 Conference bitter rivals Berds Cage and the Bacoor Blades. And it is just as fitting that these two teams would face each other to close out their respective elimination round duties.

Both Teams are assured of entering the playoffs, with the Blades coming into playoff competition with a sure hold of the #1 seed of the Great 8 Conference and home court advantage for the entire playoffs due to their superior record compared to their Big 8 Conference counterparts The Blackout, meaning that the only time that they will have to play as a road team is Game 2 of the League Championship round, if they can get there. While Berds Cage, after going through the early stages of the tournament as the #2 seed will have to settle for the #3 seed and would be at a home court disadvantage when they face the #2 seed The Dynasand Midges in the League Quarterfinals.

For all we know, if things go well for both teams in their Conference Quarterfinal assignments, this could also be a prospect of how the League Semifinals could look like for the Big 8 bracket.

Where they are now

Many have called this incarnation of the tournament the “Season of the Blades” as Bacoor had breezed through most of the competition en route to their currently immaculate 21-0 win-loss record. They have been led all the way by their two top scorers; shooting guard Iliya Dimov and the outgoing small forward Insa Saady. This season however, might not have been as successful as it was for the Blades had it not been for the improvement of the rest of the team’s core players: The improved shooting and point guard play of Mark Louis Hugos, the development of Kelly Paul into a lethal inside-outside weapon as well as the emergence of Eugenio Genco as their top center after taking the cudgels from Gustas Cvanovas, who, along with Sascha Eckert, were put on transfers by the team earlier in the season.

For Berds Cage, most of the damage caused by the team come from a lethal duo: Monster rebounder Triantafillos Polichronos, who currently grabs the most rebounds in the league for the second straight season, and reigning League Most Valuable Player Gianmaria Caccamo, who is currently on pace to be the leading scorer of the league for the second straight season as well as being one of the top candidates once again this season for the MVP plum. Whenever the leading scorer and leading rebounder of the league are in the same team, they are almost always likely to make it to the playoffs, as these two players have wreaked havoc towards the rest of the league with their two-punch combo. Polichronos is a capable scorer himself especially on the inside while Caccamo won the MVP trophy last season not just by scoring alone, as he is also a terrific passer. Caccamo is currently the second best passer in the league today stats-wise with over 7 dimes per contest.

How it fared the last time

One of the main reasons for the hype that this next game receives is that these two teams gave the league a show when they first met for the season last June 6 at The Cage when Bacoor and Cage went toe-to-toe until the final seconds of the game. Both teams were entering the game undefeated, so it only meant that one of them must walk out of the game with and umblemished record. The result would be a 128-127 thriller of a game as Berds Cage missed out on a chance to win it at the buzzer.

The Holster Feature: The Rivalry Part II Primer (Part II)


From almost all fronts, it could be seen that the Blades were leading on most of the categories, with the Blades and Cage even canceling each other in terms of rebounding and turnovers, meaning that both teams did not let each other get that much of a chance to pull away from the other. Both teams had five players in double digits at the end of the game, with the two top performers from both teams in Saady and Caccamo.

The main story of the game however, would come at the last two minutes of the game. As the warning was announced, Kelly Paul would nail a crucial three-pointer with 1:55 to go to give the Blades a 126-116 lead. And just as the game was to be considered out of reach for Berds Cage, MVP Caccamo happened, as he went on a shooting rampage from beyond the arc. He scored 9 points during the time span as he willed his team to a chance to win the game. It was also a combination of bad end-game play by the Blades as they were unable to score on their end and when fouled, were unable to buy themselves points from the free throw line. Nevertheless, the Blades escaped with the win despite their end-game woes off of a split from Iliya Dimov that punched the final score.

Aftermath

As mentioned, the Blades would go on to a win streak that is still alive up to this point. While the Berds Cage would hang on to the second seed until the end of the first round of the eliminations before suffering setbacks that tripped them down the #3 seed in the playoffs. But regardless of where they are now as per team standings, both teams are actually experiencing a better season than last year, when the Blades were the #3 seed and the Berds Cage would be the #4 seed of the Great 8 conference. The Blades and Cage would both end their playoff participation at the hands of eventual champions El Tigre Chino, with the Cage losing in the League Quarterfinal and the Blades losing in the League Semifinal.

By the season numbers

These two teams are some of the best that League IV.6 has to offer. And as we get ready for their showdown this upcoming August 4, we are to look into their season averages to see how they fared throughout the first and second rounds of the tournament.

Just looking at the two teams’ point production alone, we expect to see these two teams explode on offense, with their average points per game being the two best in the league. But where they differ most glaringly is their defense: the Blades defend better on average, with their 85.6 points allowed per game being 3rd best in the league. Although Berds Cage shot better from the three point line in their last encounter, the Blades shoot better on average from that department and from the field overall, though Berds Cage are not far behind in field goal percentage. Triantafillos Polichronos is a beast on the boards, underlining the Berds Cage superiority on the rebounding end. However, in terms of execution, the Blades are better with an average of over 24 assists per game, league’s 6th best so far as well as averaging lesser turnovers than their rivals, with a norm of 13.8 giveaways per game. But in terms of efficiency points per game, Berds Cage edges out the Blades for the season. Both teams are decent shot blockers at best, with the Blades slightly winning the statistical comparisons.

The Holster Feature: The Rivalry Part II Primer (Part III)

How they may fare now

If we were to base it solely on statistical data, most people may conclude that the Blades would edge the Berds Cage, then again, there are a lot of things to consider rather than the numbers these two teams mustered all throughout the season. First, obviously, is the fact that the first time these two teams met, the Blades barely escaped their rivals. Berds Cage was the team that was closest to beating them during the first round of the eliminations. Another thing that we must consider when these two teams meet again is the chemistry of the teams coming into this game. Now that the Blades have been able to get at least a few games under their belt since they transferred their two top centers Eckert and Cvanovas and acquired Eugenio Genco from the market, you can only expect them to perform better this time around. It is important to note that when the Blades fought Berds Cage the last time, it was already with this lineup in place. One concern for the Berds Cage is that when they faced the Blades last June 6, they had a different roster and has since changed personnel, although this concern is a very small one at best, since they have as well had a few games under their belt. Regardless of how Berds Cage fared this season as compared to Bacoor, it is impossible to count them out of the game that early, despite the statistical advantage for Bacoor, when they face their rivals, you can count that those numbers are out of the equation. Had it not been for that muffed attempt by Berds Cage at the buzzer of that fateful game the last time, it would have been a whole different scenario. Then again, the Blades know better and understand that these instances should not happen again. As for their rivals, Berds Cage, they go into this showdown knowing that they can beat the Blades.

A story of “Always the Bridesmaid”

The main protagonists for their respective teams in this eliminations round closer are undoubtedly the best players on their teams: Bacoor Blades’ Insa Saady and Berds Cage’s Gianmaria Caccamo.
Insa Saady had always been one of the most talented players this league has even seen. But even at the peak of his powers last season and two seasons ago, Saady is not able to come away with the League highest individual honor, both seasons of which were considered his better chances in winning the MVP plum. And the main reason is the presence of Gianmaria Caccamo, who had always shown his abilities on the court. Caccamo and Saady might not be the tightest of contenders for the trophy even in recent seasons, but it will be interesting things to see if which of the two are able to come away with the bragging rights over the other come Saturday.

Those are just some of the stats and stories that we are to feature in preparation for this much anticipated showdown.

Blades ends elimination round unbeaten

Berds Cage @ Bacoor Blades
The Bacoor Forum
22:54

The headline might tell the result, but the game spells otherwise.

The Bacoor Blades thwarted a late-game scare to defeat their archrivals, Berds Cage to end their elimination round undefeated, 111-101 in their much-awaited second showdown this season at The Bacoor Forum.

The Blades, knowing fully well about what happened to them the last time these two teams met, were able to execute better in the dying minutes, with Kelly Paul dishing out to a wide open Insa Saady for a slam with 1:57 left followed by an Utak Peregil putback off a Saady miss with 1:30 left before reigning MVP Gianmaria Caccamo would convert on a jumper to cut the deficit to 9, 104-95. Berds Cage would play the foul game from there. Two freethrows by Eladio Martin and a split from Gustavo Canora gave them a 12-point lead 107-95. Caccamo would try and rekindle his heroic attempt the last time out as he made a three pointer in the ensuing play, but free throws by Puckett and Iliya Dimov would pile the lead back up before Jude Mondoñedo would shoot another three that would eventually be their last hurrah as Kelly Paul would split from the line for the final margin of victory.

Mondoñedo led all scorers in the game with 38 points, followed by Emilian Musiałek with 17. Caccamo, the league's leading scorer would end up having 14 points on 6-19 shooting, highlighted by a meager 2-10 from three point distance.

The Blades would get near triple-double performances from Mark Louis Hugos and Kelly Paul, with the former leading the Blades in points with 24 points, nine rebounds and eight assists and the latter with 19 points 18 rebounds and eight assists. Saady's game-long brilliance churned out 21 points, six rebounds and five assists while center Eugenio Genco would have a double-double himself of 13 points and 18 rebounds.

The Blades enter the playoff with all the momentum that they can get as the #1 seed in the Great 8 Conference as well as home court advantage for the entire playoffs, while Berds Cage would remain as the #3 seed with them having a superior point differential compared to #4 seed interface.

Blades join elite company in feat

The Bacoor Blades won their final game of the eliminations by stopping their arch rivals Berds Cage to finish with an unbeaten record of 22 wins and no losses as they enter the playoffs of League IV.6 as the top seed in the Great 8 Conference.

The feat makes them a member of an elite class of teams that were able to win every assignment at least of the elimination round, joining the Bongston Crocodiles of Season 10, the MMSU Science High School Greats of Season 11, team Azicate of Season 15, and most recently, the team of Añejo from two seasons ago.

"The accomplishment is fancy on paper" said team manager TheDogMan when asked about what they had just done. "But I would have to be honest. It raises a lot of expectations and puts a lot of pressure on the boys to perform well in this year's playoffs" he continued.

"With what we did in the elimination round, the other teams will be more than willing to meet us and beat us in this playoffs. We did our job by gaining home court all throughout. Now, we must reap those efforts with wins." said French forward Insa Saady.

"Hindi ito yung mahalaga." said point guard Mark Louis Hugos. "Ang mahalaga, yung championship at yung tsansa na mapunta sa Division III."

"It's a good feeling to know that you enter the playoffs as the best team. But it would be even better if we walk out of the playoffs as the best team, as the champions." said Kelly Paul, the team's starting power forward.

Although it looks good that the team remained unbeaten during the two elimination rounds, it is not an assurance that they are shoo-in for the championship. Looking back at the previous four teams that were able to achieve the undefeated feat, although all of them reached the League Championship series, only two of them won it all, Bongston Crocodiles and Añejo.

"We have to be ready, there's no other option, we gave our all for this one chance to make it to a higher division, we must make the most of the opportunity." TheDogMan concluded.

The Bacoor Blades begin their quest for promotion facing interface at the League Quarterfinal round at The Bacoor Forum.

Top seeded Blades begin playoff run against interface

interface @ Bacoor Blades
League IV.6 Quarterfinals
17:49

The Bacoor Blades will begin their quest for promotion as they face Conference rival and #4 seed interface at The Bacoor Forum on August 7.

The Blades are coming off a 111-101 win against arch rival Berds Cage to finish the elimination round undefeated in 22 matches. While interface came off a 94-83 loss to The Dynasand Midges in an attempt to claim the #3 seed of the Great 8 Conference.

"We just came off a hard-fought victory. They're coming off a loss. So it is going to be an interesting match knowing that both sides are going to give their all." says Blades team manager TheDogMan.

In their two meetings in the elimination round, the Blades have consistently staved off interface's attempts to creep in closer in games, winning by nine points in their first round clash and by eight in the second round.

The winner of the game shall advance to the League Semifinals to face the winner of the Quarterfinal round between #2 seed The Dynasand Midges and #3 seed Berds Cage.

Blades advance after thrilling win vs. interface

League Quarterfinals
#4 interface @ #1 Bacoor Blades
00:25

The Bacoor Blades bucked a slow start in the first quarter and thwarted a late game rally to defeat interface, 101−93, to advance to the League Semifinals to face the winner of the Berds Cage vs. The Dynasand Midges quarterfinal showdown.

The Blades ended the first quarter down by 11, 29−18. Though they would win the second quarter scoring, 21−18, they would enter the second half down eight, 47−39.

It was at the third quarter where they would start their huge run. Baskets from Insa Saady, Iliya Dimov and Mark Hugos would ignite a third quarter run that would see the Blades take a five point lead at the end of three quarters, highlighted by a half−court heave by Iliya Dimov that went in at the buzzer.

In the fourth, the Blades went to work early, extending their lead to nine points. But baskets from interface’s Erminio Picchio and Mitar Barovic would give the Blades a scare, creeping as close as a single point. Interface could not capitalize however, as they allowed an 8−0 run to take another nine point edge for the Blades, a lead that they would no longer relinquish until the final buzzer.

Key players from interface struggle mightily during the game, highlighted by their All−Star guard Xose De Garcia’s 5 for 25 shooting, including 2−12 from three, for 13 points while Barovic had 14 points on just 6−19 shooting. They were led by Picchio’s double−double of 29 points and 12 rebounds. Alberto Acedo and Selwyn Cabatu also had double−doubles for interface as they combined for 21 points and 26 rebounds.

The Blades were led by Dimov’s 34 points as he looked to be the sole Blade player out there in the first half. Then Insa Saady would explode in the third quarter as he scored most of his 22 points during that canto.

“This was crazy. Exactly how the playoffs should be.” said Dimov. “I wanted to spark the team offensively. And I think I was able to do that.” He added.

“He looked like the only guy out there in the first half” said team manager TheDogMan. “Probably jitters from the rest of the team. At least they got rid of it as early as the first half. I was happy with their effort defensively in the second half. Xose (De Garcia) struggled with it and it was key. He could not make plays for a consistent basis against us.”

“We must not relax like we did in the first half.” Said Insa Saady. “It nearly cost us this game. We must do a better job next time.”

“And it’s a good thing that we can actually say that there will be a next time.” Saady exclaimed.

While the Blades look to get past the semifinal round in their next assignment, interface are officially eliminated from the competition this season with their loss. They ended the elimination round with a 14−8 record and the fourth seed in the Great 8 Conference.

Blades face revamped Midges in Semifinal

League Semifinals
#2 The Dynasand Midges @ #1 Bacoor Blades
2:48

Following their come-from-behind victory against a tough interface side in their playoff opener, the Bacoor Blades' journey to the top only gets harder as they will play host to yet another tough team in The Dynasand Midges to determine the representative of the Great 8 Conference in the League Championship round.

"This is going to be another battle. We got rocked the last time. We should know better by now that we cannot relax on any of these teams." said team manager TheDogMan. "Although our fightback against interface was remarkable, it would have not gotten to that point had we done a better job in the first half." he further added.

Although the two times that these two teams met in elimination round play, the Blades won handily, it was of different instances: The Blades won in the first round, 92-72, with their experienced twin towers of Sascha Eckert and Gustas Cvanovas still manning the paint. Their second round encounter, a 110-97 victory for the Blades, was a game played by the Midges without their key acquisition Alan Martin, who they got from transfers last June 20.

"Martin might not be able to play their semifinal game on Saturday, but the Midges are still a good team without him. They're not the second seed for nothing." said Kelly Paul, the Blades starting power forward.

"We had our wake-up call against interface. We need to do better this time." said Insa Saady, who officially end his stint with Bacoor after this season.

Dušan Malbašić and Abel Ezquerdo are some of the names that the Blades must be wary of as they are the ones that would play a vital role in this impending encounter for The Dynasand Midges.

"Their backcourt is one of the most potent in the league. They present different problems as compared to De Garcia and Mondonedo of interface, but it would be an exciting match-up nonetheless.

Last edited by TheDogMan at 8/8/2012 2:48:52 PM

Blades secure Finals seat with rout of The Dynasand Midges

League IV.6 Great 8 Semifinal
#2 The Dynasand Midges @ #1 Bacoor Blades
11:34

And they secure their chance at supremacy.

After yet another slow start, the Bacoor Blades used a big second quarter blast to put away The Dynasand Midges, 110-94 to advance to the League Finals for the first time in franchise history.

A tumultuous first quarter saw the Blades down by nine, 27-18 by the end of the period. then the Blades began to kick into a higher gear in the second canto by outscoring the Midges, 34-20 to take a 52-47 lead at the half.

The barrage of points would continue after the interval as they bludgeoned the visitors, 39-23 to blow the game wide open from then on.

Top scoring for Bacoor was Iliya Dimov and Mark Hugos who both had 23 points, with Insa Saady scoring 19 and Kelly Paul with a double-double performance of 17 points and 10 rebounds. Tim Puckett is also in double figures with 10.

"We had jitters entering the game to be honest." said Kelly Paul. "We wanted to win so bad since this was the stage that we failed to take advantage of last season."

"Nakaraos rin kami." said a jubilant Hugos. "Malapit na kami sa pangarap naming mag-champion at ma-promote."

"We won by a comfortable margin, yes. But I did not like how we began this game. We were slow and had to pick up pace midway." said team manager TheDogMan. "This was a concern in the playoff with interface. And although we were able to buck the odds in that game, we could have done better. Same goes to this game"

"We will prepare for our upcoming opponent. This is going to be a great series. We are looking forward to it."

Last edited by TheDogMan at 8/11/2012 11:34:20 PM