Chris Pacana

By: Zean Macamay

WHICH team now has the best backcourt combination?

If Jay-Jay Helterbrand is healthy, which coach Jong Uichico says that he should by the time the Philippine Cup kicks off on Oct. 4, Ginebra is still right up there. Rain or Shine – which has No. 1 draft pick Gabe Norwood and burly Solomon Mercado — looks promising, but untested.

And don’t forget Talk ‘N Text, which had just transformed from a near-aging team into one of the youngest after acquiring three new faces from last month’s Draft.

Jason Castro is the man under watch whether what he did in the PBL could be carried onto the PBA as he is now a part of the Phone Pals’ solid backcourt crew, a cast of swift scoring ballhandlers that also include Jimmy Alapag, Mac-Mac Cardona and Ren-Ren Ritualo.

“He can play alongside Jimmy and can also play the point,” said TNT team manager Frankie Lim of Castro, the No. 3 pick. “We’re a faster team right now and we’re more of an exciting team to watch.”

Castro was one of the players Talk ‘N Text snatched from the Aug. 31 Draft along with No. 2 Jared Dillinger, the Fil-German, and Rob Reyes. The Phone Pals also got Pong Escobal of San Beda, but was the only one left out in the contract-signing process.

Castro, Dillinger and Reyes were all given the maximum P8.7 million, three-year pact allowable for rookies.

But there’s no question that Castro is the player everyone wants to succeed in a line-up that’s filled with stars, having been a three-time Most Valuable Player in the PBL and who is fresh from an overseas stint with the Singapore Slingers.

Castro and the two other draft picks Talk ‘N Text’s snatched have just made the Phone Pals’ average age at 26, coming from 31. They traded Jay Washington to San Miguel and then unloaded Khalani Ferreria.

But is youth really the difference?

“I think it’s a good move,” said Lim. “May mga bagong dugo na nadagdag. We’re a younger team right now.”

Castro’s entry into a team that has had disappointing results that past two conferences would surely make Talk ‘N Text’s backcourt cast deeper, but not necessarily the one that could break the grip of Ginebra as the ball club with still the most fearsome cast.

That would, of course, depend on whether Helterbrand, who played only two games in the Fiesta Conference Finals after being named the tournament’s best player, would fully recover.

“He (Helterbrand) should be healthy by then,” said Uichico.

Helterbrand suffered a delicate hamstring injury in Game Two of the Finals against Air21. It did not, however, stop the Gin Kings from collecting their eighth title as Paul Artadi, Ronald Tubid, and Chris Pacana all stepped up in a series that shattered gate attendance counts, with Game Seven drawing more than 22,000 fans.

Chot Reyes, the Talk ‘N Text coach, believes that the team he has right now is competitive.

“Presently, we are competitive,” he said. “But we also have this promise for the future.”

The Phone Pals will be aiming to bounce back from dismal, unmemorable stints. On both tournaments in the 2007-08 season, they failed to make it past the wild card, beginning in the Philippine Cup when they traded ex-franchise player Asi Taulava to Coca-Cola.

They still couldn’t make it into the quaterfinals the following tournament despite tapping Reyes as their new head coach in place of Derrick Pumaren, bowing in the wild card stage topped by Philippine Cup champion Sta. Lucia.

In a related development, Bonbon Custodio, San Miguel’s lone draft choice, was given a two-year deal, according to his manager Danny Espiritu. Details of the pact, such as the amount, were no longer revealed.

After what JayJay Helterbrand had mentioned in Game 7 that he (Chris Pacana) should have another contract with Barangay Ginebra Kings (BGK), a questions pops in my mind. 'Will BGK renew his contract?' 'Would other teams offer him contracts?' 'Would you like Chris to stay in BGK?'

For those questions, I can only answer one, the title of this post. And that would be 'YES'. I definitely wanted Chris to stay in BGK. It was in BGK that he had given the playing minutes and exposure for him to show-off what he got. But, if ever he would stay in BGK, will he be given the same quality playing minutes come JayJay is back on shape? *shrug shoulders* I really don't know. I do hope that he would stay in BGK AND be given the same exposure as he got in the finals. Hope to see more of him next conference even though JayJay and Paul Artadi are back in shape.

How about you? What's your point of view? Vote in the poll. And don't forget to leave a comment. ;)

For those who missed the awarding ceremony of the 2008 Smart PBA Fiesta Conference, here you go. There's not much that I can say. All I know is, of all the awards one can get, it was always the runner-up who takes his trophy with a frown.

It was so nice hearing the song 'We Are The Champions' by the 'Queen'. It was even more nicer since the song was for the Barangay Ginebra Kings (BGK).

Eric Menk and Ronald Tubid had been awarded as the Finals MVP. Tubid had been so emotional. And I believe all BGK fans would have wanted to shed a tear as well. It was an unbelievable classic win for the BGK.

Paul Artadi, 2nd PBA Title, 'Puso lang talaga nagpapatakbo ng team na 'to'.

Eric Menk, 21 pts, 14 rebs, 7/14 GF, 'I found my honey out there...'

Alex Crisano, 1st PBA Title, 'I still can't feel it right now, I was just amazed. Dream come true'.


Chris Pacana, 1st PBA Title, 'We're the number one team right now'.

Billy Mamaril, 3rd PBA Title, '... never say die, Ginebra win again the championship'.

JayJay Helterbrand, 4th PBA Title, 'We're all soldiers...He (Chris Pacana) needs to get another contract...'. And a kiss for Chris Pacana. *jealous*

Raffy Reavis, 'Only the USA Dream Team can stop us from winning'.

From PBA Online
Click to enlarge

We Are The Champions - Queen Music Code




Coach Bo Perasol, before the Finals started, told that it would be Air21 vs The Philippines in the 2007-2008 Smart PBA Fiesta Conference Championship. If this is so, I believe The Philippines slept last night and woke up today very happy, for BARANGAY GINEBRA KINGS (BGK) ARE THE CHAMPIONS OF THE 2007-2008 SMART PBA FIESTA CONFERNCE.

I can't really explain the happiness the championship had brought not only to me, but to my BGK JAMSHIPS as well. Kinda funny that we all end up emotional. It's as if that in all the BGK Players had been through, the BGK JAMSHIPS are there as well.

I remember in my previous post, I leave a question on "Who really deserved this championship? Is it Air21, who, from the start of the eliminations landed the top spot. Or is it BGK who travel its way from the bottom?" And I believe, it was really BGK who deserved the championship crown. As what everybody says, they played purely by HEART.

Almost everyone had been injured. In the eliminations, Mark Caguioa had been injured. Before the eliminations ended, Ronald Tubid had been injured. At the start of the Finals, JayJay Helterbrand and Paul Artadi had been injured. Game 7, Junthy Valenzuela had been injured. All of the star players had suffered injuries. But with their NEVER SAY DIE SPIRIT, they managed to dig in their bench, reached the Quarter Finals, Semi Finals, and finally, the CHAMPIONSHIP.

BGK lost Ronald Tubid since the last game of the eliminations. BGK surely missed his classic defense. But Chris Pacana and Junthy Valenzuela stepped up to fill in Tubid's loss. In Game 4 of Finals, losing JayJay could mean nightmare to BGK, but Tubid's comeback had been a surprise for Air21. This then had given him the personal achievement of being Eric Menk's co-Finals MVP.

JayJay, the Best Player of the Conference was not able to play in the Finals since Game 2, 3rd Quarter. Paul Artadi, even though hurting from a pulled hamstring in Game 1 of Finals, uses his pure heart to fill in JayJay's place. He mentioned touching words such as "kaya nga kami nasa ginebra kasi never say die ang puso namin" and what about "PUSO LANG TALAGA ANG NAGPAPATAKBO NG TEAM NA 'TO" It's as if those words are enough to win the championship.

Junthy Valenzuela absorbed the never say die spirit of BGK. Game 6, he shed a tear as he was ejected from the game, being called for his 2nd Technical Foul. Game 7, nobody knows that his knees are hurting, not until he cried for pain. And then, everyone knew that his knees are all wrapped up. But his desire to win the game is much greater than the pain in his knees. No wonder why BGK JAMSHIPS' Meriel got too emotional with this one.

Eric Menk, no wonder, he is hailed Finals MVP. The Finals series is his come back. More particularly, Game 7. Ranidel de Ocampo nor Kramer cannot stop 'Major Pain'. Can't wait for the All Filipino, the MVP Eric Menk is back!!!

Chris Alexander, 'The Greatest'. The Best Import. I was so speechless. I knew you also have the heart of the champion. You even told everyone "I just can't go home without winning this one" BGK fans will surely miss you. Hope to see you next Fiesta Conference.

And what about Mark 'The Spark' Caguioa. He promised this championship. And in the dying minutes of the game, he uses his heart above all the pain he's feeling in his knees, both knees. He really can't make the basket due to his injury, but his heart helped him grab rebounds in the crucial moments of the championship. You can see in his face that he is aching, but you can feel in his heart that he wanted to win the championshiop. *sniff*

Of course, I won't forget Chris Pacana. After all the doubts many had in you. I salute you for the confidence you had. The steals against Air21's star player, Gary David shows that you don't have any first time jitters. Although a point guard you never hesitated in rebounding the ball. And a never say die attitude defense from Air21's fastbreak is in you. You just stand there against Gary David, or Homer Se, or Arwind Santos, establish your position, raise both hands, then the opponent can't get the basket. Makes me admire you more. *blush*

We started at the bottom, now we're on top of the world. CONGRATULATIONS BARANGAY GINEBRA KINGS!!! WE ARE THE CHAMPION!!!

Credits: DJ Rbjslimm

Man it was the toughest series ever for the Barangay Ginebra Kings. The team's leading scorer and Most Outstanding Player of the conference was out due to an injury that he sustained during Game 2 of finals. And to make it worse, his other half & partner in crime known as The Spark was also hurting, same goes with their center Eric Menk, and the 2 guards that made a huge impact during the finals, Chris Pacana and Paul Artadi who reminds me of Bal David. He's more like the second coming of one of the finest point guards of the franchise which represents the team using the number "1".

Being in the finals made the team realize that stepping up big time will definitely define if the team has matured since most of their players are new and young. Man I was really impressed when Artadi and Pacana's game improved, what they did for their team was big and it helped the team a lot since their marquee players were down because of injuries. Coach Jong Uichico who used to be the Top Dawg of the Green Archers and San Miguel franchise was a coaching genius. He basically lived up to the expectations given to him by Ginebra management and what a way for him to capitalize on the opportunity.

7'1 Chris Alexander was a force in the middle, even funny man and energetic Alex Crisano made his presence felt, from Raffy Reavis to Billy Mamaril, my school mate and batch mate Sunday Salvacion, to Junthy Valenzuela, everyone basically stepped up to the challenge. When Jayjay Helterbrand got injured, I'm like "that's it! end of the road for them" But the players responded pretty well, astig sobra! I was actually at work during game 7 but I made it sure I get to watch it (talking about time management) hehehehe! Ibang klase ginawa ng Ginebra this conference, ibang klase talaga.

Mark was definitely right when he said "we might even reach the finals and be the champions" and he was damn right about that. So I'm pretty sure all the naysayers are now thinking like paano kaya nila nagawa yun? When The Spark made that statement, the team was 0-5 man! no wins and 5 loss, and now they are the champs!

Big Ups to Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings man! Big ups to the entire team. And to Chris Alexander, Thank you for helping the Barangay bagged their 8th championship. Astig ka Chris! And if I were to use one word on how I can describe how the Gin Kings did it, there's definitely one word that fits the bill for the Barangay.

Phenomenal!

Nuff Said.