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#HumbleBlog #5 — Turning Trenta
Whaddup Tobs,
As seven-plus years of friendship will attest, you shouldn’t be surprised that I’m replying only after two weeks. What can I say, life’s been kicking my ass around as of late (as it always does every September), and most of it is because of the UAAP.
The same exact thing that you, me, everyone in HB, and our respective friend groups love to infinity, yet always stress about when the time comes. It’s almost always for good reasons to.
The fact of the matter is that we’re not getting any younger. All of us are entering new phases in our lives (both in a personal and professional setting), and I love that for us. I fondly remember our group spending days and weeks talking about anything and everything about basketball like which rules would be best applied in the Philippine context, what we expect from the upcoming UAAP season, and whether Karlo’s offensive “bag” is really just him elbowing opponents and teammates alike. (To be fair, it isn’t, but it’s like 75% of it, so make of that what you will.)
If you remember at one point, most of us were convinced that we will (in a way) outgrow the UAAP and focus on our career paths as the adults from the generations ahead of us did — mainly to focus on building and sustaining families of their own. But for us special group of idiots, the UAAP men’s basketball tournament is a yearly spectacle that we can expect to occur in the latter half of the year — come hell or high water.
Season 89’s been an absolute banger thus far, I have to agree. Here’s what happened this past weekend if you missed out:· Reinhard Jumamoy led the NU Bulldogs in handing the UP Fighting Maroons their first loss of the campaign, ensuring that there would be no stepladder playoffs come late November.
· The FEU Tamaraws earned their first win with a 23-point drubbing of the UE Red Warriors. It was confirmed just hours before the game that head coach Chris Gavina had resigned.
· Jared Bahay, Travis Roberts, and Ian Espinosa combined for 42 points of Ateneo’s 73 to edge out Adamson. (my personal pick for game of the season so far) (editor’s note: Of course it is)
Regarding the Bulldogs, I said on Naveen’s podcast that they’d end up with a 6-8 record. With what I’ve seen from their first three games, I think I’ll end up being wrong here. Despite losing top talents Jake Figueroa, Steve Nash Enriquez, and Jolo Manansala, they’re making up for it by fully going all-in on head coach Jeff Napa’s guidance. Jumamoy continues to impress. The frontcourt dual big boys of Kenshin Padrones and PJ Palacielo play hefty, but have great finesse, and decent three-point shooting. Paul Francisco remains an important JR Smith-esque player that can turn up the scoring and play good perimeter defense. Hell, even rookie Mac Alfanta is showing early signs of being a “hooper’s hooper”.
Meanwhile, the UE Red Warriors are going through yet another transition phase, as Paulo Hubalde steps in as interim coach following Gavina’s departure. My problem with that is this: Gavina isn’t the only problem with the program. Buti sana kung LAHAT ng may kasalanan sa losing streak mawala na sa programa because the university, its storied history in the tournament, and the ever-supportive students deserve showrunners that will put the right things at the forefront. I have no idea what the hell is happening behind the scenes, but as someone who appreciates history in all its forms — they need to get the f- outta here.
As for my Ateneo Blue Eagles, I’m happy to see Travis Roberts start to get his groove. Flev mentioned in the same podcast ep with Navs that he’ll be the key to unlocking Ateneo’s ceiling, and I fully agree. Jared Bahay and Kieffer Alas (who had an off game in this one) will always get their numbers somehow. With them operating as the 1A and 1B, there needs to be a clear No. 2 for Season 89, and good Lord, I wish for it to be Roberts. The Blue Eagles’ success always hinges on having an elite-level winger, and the one-and-done forward needs to put up these types of games against DLSU, UST, FEU, and especially UP.
One more thing before I move on. I’ve been checking people’s thoughts on the season thus far over at r/UAAP, and man. People need to chill out a bit.
We’re not even done with the first round, and I’ve already seen some crazy takes. (Paraphrased for your reading sanity)· Topex Robinson deserves to be fired after losing to UST
· We’re not surprised that Ateneo beat Adamson
· Rhey Remogat is a liability and coach Goldwin Monteverde is overrated lol
· NU is lucky to be where they are
It might be the trentahin in me speaking, but the online discourse has practically revolved around hot takes and overreactions. Sure, we’ve had our fair share of overreactions in the past, but not to this extent. The negativity will always be a part of online discussions, we can’t turn back at this point. I think there needs to be a bit more positivity and grace extended when talking about the UAAP.
Now that’s out of my system, the women’s basketball tournament has also begun, with the defending champions, the UST Growling Tigers, beating the UE Lady Warriors, 103-58. I mean, what else would you expect from them at this point?
Three women’s basketball games are slated for Wednesday, September 30, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena: NU-Adamson (8 AM), Ateneo-UP (10 AM), and FEU-DLSU (12 NN). I’ll be there for the first couple of games, so I hope to see you there — should schedules align.
Also, regarding that special end-of-round-one project we’ve been discussing, I think me and the Doc have the perfect first guest for what we aim to do.
I was always told that turning 30 would bring great changes to my life, and to an extent it already did. Man, I had a couple of fans ask for a photo with me during a UAAP game. Absolutely cool experience, because seven years ago I was told I wasn’t cut out for sports journalism. I’m eternally grateful for your belief in me when I doubted myself three years ago. I owe a lot of who and where I am now to you and The Boys. Here’s to the next 10 years of The Boys and me in the industry.
It’s always gonna be HB over everything.
The man who (barely) has a plan,
Karl Batungbacal
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HumbleBlog #4 — You are Loved
Hey there Divine,
How’s heaven treating you? I bet it’s a real-life Bikini Bottom for you up there.
So much has happened since you passed. First, Lionel Messi did not win the World Cup on his last ride with Argentina. He announced his retirement months after.
Spain won it all, so that’s a huge consolation given the number of Barcelona players on that squad. Oh, and we added a huge one, Mr. Ballon D’or winner himself, Rodri.
FC Barcelona have been absolutely COOKING. 33 goals in 7 games, all wins. All that without Julian Alvarez. We have an absolute unit on attack. Hopefully we get la sexta this season.
Oh, and we already started the UAAP season. They’ve got your name and Rene’s on their jerseys. They won comfortably against the UE Red Warriors, and it was a great first game altogether.
I met your parents too, Dee. They are so nice, it’s no wonder you were such a nice person too. I almost teared up seeing them in Ateneo jackets, raising their fist up for the Alma Mater Song, and holding up your shirsey from GetBlued.
How I wished they went here to watch you. All the same, I know you are watching over the team now as they go through the season.
You are loved by so many people and I hope you knew that. We are doing our best to give the best experience to your mom and dad while they are here. All I know is that they love the team as you have.
Next game is against the UP Fighting Maroons. This one, as well as the next games will be for you. Your parents are watching again, and I hope they wear your GetBlued shirt.
Talk to you again soon big man.
Your friend,
Docpapicture
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HumbleBlog #3
Hi Karl,
UAAP men’s basketball is back, and boy was it a fun opening Sunday. DLSU found a new gem in Joaquin Tovera who led the Green Archers with 22 points in a tense showdown against the NU Bulldogs. Tovera sure didn’t look like a rookie in that game, putting their offense on his back, giving them the needed production to win in a close game.
The NU Bulldogs look like they’re still adjusting to life after Enriquez and Figueroa. There were times that they strayed from their trademark grit and discipline which led to them sinking in a hole, which they promptly climbed out of when they remembered how to play their style of basketball.
Then there’s the Adamson-FEU game. Pasaol and company looked like they were going to go super saiyan and just outscore everyone early in the game. But Nash Racela had other plans, quite literally, lots of defensive plans thrown at Mo Konateh, Bautista and Pasaol to limit their production as the game went on. Adamson’s defense still remains sharp as ever, but recent additions of Precious Jonah and Maht Edding provide much needed offensive production to fill the Manzano-sized hole in this team.
Then again it’s not the first time the Soaring Falcons have had to fill a player-sized hole. Previously it was a Lastimosa-sized hole, they got by and adapted without too much drop off. No reason this season should be any different. No use lamenting what could have been, the only thing that matters is now.
But what’s this I hear about you predicting a four-win season for the Falcons? You should have known by now that the boys in blue love proving those kinds of predictions wrong (just ask Flever). In case you’re right, though, at least I’ll have three more wins to look forward to this season, and that ain’t so bad.
Gilas Pilipinas had a whirlwind week. Playing in the Asian Games, Gilas Pilipinas split their first two assignments losing by 4 to Bahrain, but exacting a 31-point bounceback win against Kazakhstan. That big point cushion might just be what Gilas needs to make it to the quarterfinals, win or lose against China. Notably, against Bahrain, Calvin Oftana’s scoring ability went on full display, practically leading the charge for a Gilas team that was hard-pressed to find any offense. Against Kazakhstan the expected players took over, Bolick finally matching the hype around him, while Jerrick Ahanmisi did Jerrick Ahanmisi things, letting it rip from beyond the arc especially in the 4th, starting the three-point party that turned into the 31-point lead.
China is chomping at the bits to get back at Gilas Pilipinas for beating them in the last Asian Games. Unfortunately, this isn’t a run-it-back situation since key players from that defending Asian Games champion team aren’t back (read as: Justin Brownlee isn’t back). China won’t care, though. They still wear “Pilipinas” on the front, so Gilas has to be prepared for China to go full strength.
Going back to the topic of the UAAP coverage, did you catch the live broadcast on Sunday? Fans were thrilled when the UAAP announced that they would be broadcast live on YouTube, just like any respectable league.
What many didn’t expect was the difference in quality for the YouTube broadcast. One notable difference was that it seemed like there was no ambient sound. All people could hear were the commentators and the jarringly loud sound effects for the promotional segments. These issues were not present in the live broadcast of Cignal’s proprietary app. They even had different commentators for each broadcast. Perhaps it’s just a matter of growing pains in managing a separate broadcast, maybe someone forgot to plug in the ambient noise microphone or something, and it’s definitely not a deliberate decision by the powers-that-be to deliver an inferior product for the sake of pushing their proprietary app.
On the topic of introducing changes this season, Commissioner Jai Reyes was reported to be continuing on his FIBA-ification of the UAAP, adding more emphasis on bench decorum this time. I highly support this move, seeing as the end goal of most basketball athletes is to play in FIBA tournaments, it’s high time they got used to the standards used in FIBA. Although it bears reiterating, when people say FIBA “standard” it’s not meant to be used in the “good” or “bad” term or that anything that isn’t in accordance with their “standard” is automatically inferior (or superior), but just that those are the chosen practices by that one specific organization that just so happens to govern how basketball is played on a global scale.
The common misconception is that aligning with FIBA standard automatically makes officiating better, more accurate, faster or whatever standards fans have made up in their head that officiating ought to be. Instead aligning with FIBA standards just means they follow the rules, guidebooks, interpretations, principles and philosophies. Accuracy of calls is a different matter, one which the Commissioner put emphasis on last season.
These are good moves as what better place to introduce industry standards to a group of young, learning people, than in college? Like anything, there will be an adjustment curve, so as fans, we can at least know there’s something being done about it.
Excited to see Ateneo’s first game in the Louie Alas era on Wednesday.
See you at the games.
Yours,
Toby Pavon
Edit: Well, Gilas just got bounced out of the Asian Games, losing by 41 points to China.
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HumbleBlog #2
‘Sup Tobs,
Took a while— Day job things, minor career switch-ups, and everything else in between.
But yes, we definitely had a fun week of basketball, and I think Gilas Pilipinas deserves its flowers.
We’ve been friends for quite a while now, and I’m pretty sure you know how… apprehensive (for lack of a better term) I can be with the national team. This window, though, I’m proud to say that they proved me wrong.
When Justin Brownlee was ruled out, my immediate and unfiltered reaction was, “Well, what’s new? We’re about to go 0-2.” Then we didn’t. Full credit goes to Kai Sotto for stepping up right when the nation needed him to, plus some timely contributions from guys like AJ Edu, Kevin Quiambao, Carl Tamayo, and even June Mar Fajardo upfront to cover for JB’s loss.
(Sidebar: Glad to have our boy Karlo back in some capacity. Fitting that he wrote the OLR for JMF.)
My concern now with Gilas Pilipinas is: who should we tap for the November window against Syria and Iran?
Syria, I don’t think we should have a problem with, IF (major if) we retain the core that just played.
I’m more concerned with Iran. They’ve kicked our ass six times in the last eight meetings, dating back to 2007. Sure, we beat them in the most recent showdown, but I’d like to think that they’d be out for blood when the rematch comes on November 30.
Will we have Kai Sotto again then? Is Brownlee still going to be our naturalized player? Will we see some new faces suit up? Are we going to have to rely on Quiambao’s heroics once more?
Those are but a handful of the questions that will stay in my mind for the next few weeks, and I just wish we’ll have some positive answers.
In terms of college basketball, the final preseason tournament before UAAP Season 89 has just concluded. If you missed it, the UST Growling Tigers took home the trophy in Pinoyliga Cup’s “The Big Dance” tournament.Preseason can be a double-edged sword for most fans, but I think it’s a credible gauge for expectations on how they should/will perform once the season rolls around.
As early as now, I think the UST Growling Tigers should be among the favorites to win. Second season Collins Akowe is already my pick to win FSA of the year, and I don’t think it’ll be close. This team is supremely deep, and I think their worries at point guard following last season are/were overblown. (Planning to make a piece expounding on this.)
Preseason performance can serve as a crystal ball into how a team will perform in the UAAP Season, UST’s performance has been encouraging of late
This isn’t me counting on the defending champions DLSU Green Archers or the new-look and last year’s runner-ups UP Fighting Maroons. This is me saying that the race to the MBT title this year looks wide open.
Aside from UST, the rest of the UAAP has the FEU Tamaraws to worry about too. Coach Sean Chambers has that team on lock, and I like what they’re building over there. Janrey Pasaol should be in line to build on his surprising (to everyone else, not me) MVP campaign. Kirby Mongcopa, I expect to go head-to-head with former teammate Veejay Pre for best wing in the UAAP. Mo Konateh will do Mo Konateh things and lock down the paint. Last but definitely not least, I see final-season Jorick Bautista going on a scoring tirade just because he can.
They will also have the task of welcoming UAAP U19 MVP Cabs Cabonilas to the big leagues. He’ll have a featured role here and there, but if we’re talking about new faces who will have a starring role, look no further than Kieffer Alas.
Keeping it strictly basketball, the Ateneo Blue Eagles are fired up, though many are overlooking their Final Four odds for Season 89. New head coach, new faces — sure, I get it, and those are fair takes.
All eyes will be on rookie Kieffer Alas who is expected to be a key player for Ateneo
However, this batch is playing with an energy that I haven’t seen in quite a while. Like what I told a couple of close friends of mine following their PinoyLiga Cup exit: this Ateneo squad is the most dangerous 8-6, 7-7, fighting-for-a-Final-Four-spot team we will see in a while.
Season 89 opens on Saturday, September 12, at the Mall of Asia Arena, and I will most likely be there (barring any unforeseen circumstances). It’s my eighth season of covering the UAAP (missed out in 2023, as you will likely remember lol), and I have a feeling that this will be a big one for all of us.
Inactivity hurt us badly in Season 88.
Let’s get back to kicking ass in Season 89.
Humblebola, baybay.
Always and forever ya boi,
Karl Batungbacal
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One Last Ride: The Legend of the Gilas Kraken
By: Karlo Lovenia
VANCOUVER, BC – For the longest time, Philippine Basketball was looking for its savior. A singular figure who could help elevate the National Team in the world stage. For 36 years, the Philippine national men’s basketball team yearned for the one that could bring them back to the world stage.
Enter June Mar Fajardo.
During the early 2010s, hope of finding that savior was reignited when two giants emerged from the Queen City of the South. June Mar, then from the University of Cebu, and his rival Greg Slaugher, from the University of Visayas, were touted as the future of Philippine Basketball. For a basketball-loving country so lacking in height, having two skilled giants from the Visayas shone bright like a beacon of light. What immediately made them stand out was their height; what made people believe was their skill.
There was so much belief in June Mar that he was offered to be part of Gilas 1.0, drafted with the first overall pick during the 2012 PBA Draft and even despite his young age, included in the Gilas Pilipinas lineup for the 2013 FIBA Asia Cup. The savior had arrived.
Or so we thought.
Such is life in Philippine Basketball. With high expectations come even greater scrutiny and that was the life of June Mar Fajardo as a player for Gilas Pilipinas. Pinch me if you’ve heard this before: Hanggang PBA lang.
Rather than be the savior that elevates the National Team in the world stage, he became the butt of jokes and was treated as evidence that the PBA was an inferior basketball product compared to the international game. Never mind the MVPs and the pockets of greatness he showed while wearing the Pilipinas jersey, nothing he did ever seemed to be enough for his critics when talking about June Mar Fajardo’s Gilas legacy.
It’s funny that 13 years later, those same fans who were berating June Mar were now posting Instagram stories with captions of “Salamat Abai 🫡” and reposting that image of the Kraken raising the game ball for the Philippines-Iran game last August 30, 2026. Such is the irony of Philippine Sports fandom. And honestly, such is the greatness of June Mar Fajardo.
Photo from Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas The last paragraph I just wrote is how most Philippine sports fans sound like when they are at their worst. Entitled. Snarky. Demanding of others and demeaning when expectations are not met. It happens to all of us, myself included.
That’s not to say all of the criticism against June Mar was unwarranted. He was limited in the world stage. He could not defend a pick and roll to save his life and versus an international game that has embraced screen-and-roll action as the core of most modern offenses, the trade-off was far too much. On offense, he was a force; even burly Australians could not push him around whenever he’d get into the post (it’s that Filipino strength baby; it’s FOR REAL). But the moment you asked him to slide his feet against a guard, you braced for disappointment.
The basketball wasn’t perfect. June Mar never truly had a sustained run in Gilas where you could call him the guy. He didn’t turn out to be the savior we wanted him to be when he first emerged in the scene during the early 2010s.
Those expectations can shape how a man views himself. Realistically, all the MVPs June Mar had won (with an employer that was surely compensating him WELL) gave him the cache to say no to joining the National Team. What benefit did it get him to be judged for failing to defend a pick and roll? The PBA multi-time MVP didn’t look MVP-like on the international stage. If anything, playing for Gilas hurts whatever imaginary legacy or GOAT case was being made against him. Hanggang PBA lang. That is something haters would and will likely continue to throw against him.
But to June Mar his image didn’t matter. Only helping the team did.
To quote June Mar’s Instagram bio: “No negative thoughts allowed. You can’t live a positive life with a negative mind!” He never let that negativity and venom enter his head. He continued to show up and emerged as a positive force for the National Team.
In a culture of hyper-individualism and dopamine hits, June Mar was the epitome of stacking days and just showing up. Whenever his body allowed him to be on the court, June Mar always showed up wearing the colors of Gilas Pilipinas. He never demanded playing time. He was never one to ask for more touches even if the game tape said that the gravity he delivered on the offensive end earned him a bigger role in the Gilas offense. He simply did his job and showed that it’s We not Me (with apologies to the Alaska Aces, who blew a 3-0 lead over a decade ago no thanks to June Mar’s heroics).
That’s the June Mar Fajardo legacy as a Gilas Pilipinas legend. It isn’t whatever dominance fans envisioned out of him or being the alpha savior that he was touted to be when he initially came out of the scene. It was by showing PUSO in his own special way; by being unquestionably June Mar. A positive light. A great teammate. Stayed present and just did his job and let the limelight follow him instead of chasing it. This might sound dramatic, but honestly, in many ways, he was the ideal Filipino.
The current Gilas Pilipinas program does not get here without June Mar Fajardo. Kai Sotto and AJ Edu, two players who are arguably more armed to carry the title of savior, do not get here without June Mar Fajardo. He helped paved the way. They are standing on the shoulders of giants. They are standing on the shoulders of the Kraken.
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