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In my book, Solar Sports' Jude "Kaboom" Turcuato is one of the better sports opinionators out there, and last week Quinito Henson, in his column, quoted the man re Solar's recent acquisition of PBA's rights.

Yes I know most of you, like myself, couldn't care less about these network's ratings and ensuing lawsuit wars, but ABS, GMA, RPN, Studio23, QTV, et al are pretty touchy about these things, with their lawyers on speed-dial should any info that puts them in a bad light come to, err, light. At any rate, Jude unleashes some gems. A sampling:

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When it looked like the deal wouldn't materialize, the Brgy. Ginebra Kings reached an agreement with the Red Bull Barakos to acquire spitfire Junthy Valenzuela in exchange for multiple draft picks. The Gin Kings originally offered shooter Sunday Salvacion for the crack Red Bull guard but in the end, the Barakos settled for a 2009 2nd round and a 2010 1st round picks.  
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Don't have ABC-5 on your TV screen? No problem. The future of basketball viewing is here. Inquirer reports that Netvision Inc. has bagged the rights to broadcast the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) games live on the world wide web, which means wherever you are, as long as you have Internet connection you will be able to watch the PBA "live" on the net.

Isn't this exciting? Even if you're in the office you can watch the game on your PC (not that you forget work, ok?). In the provinces where ABC-5's tv reception is poor, this would be a welcome development. Netvision showcases a pay-per view and a subscription service to its video and live streaming content. It claims it has the best in Filipino entertainment, including quality and hard-to-find Filipino movies, the best sports matches and the most compelling TV shows for an affordable price (yes' it's not free!)

Netvision started its operations just early this year. It is focused on providing Filipino on-demand movies, streaming video and music. To view video content, you need to register first at their website http://netvision.com.ph. PBA viewing is FREE from October 14 to November 30.

Aside from the PBA, Netvision is also negotiating with the Philippine Basketball League to stream their "live" games through its webTV service.

Netvision has partnered with Solar and Regal for more local content, mainly Filipino movies. Aside from ABC-5, Netvision has also started adding two streaming channels from RPN 9 and Living Asia.

Happy viewing!

After a 3-month hibernation, the PBA is back on air. The 33rd season of the PBA will be under wraps this afternoon at the Araneta Coliseum. Game time will be at 6:30 pm where the Magnolia Beverage Masters (formerly known as San Miguel Beer) will be pitting wits with the Express of Air21.

Hordes of celebrities have been invited to grace the opening tilt, including boxing hero Manny Pacquiao, reigning World Boxing Association super bantamweight champion Gerry Peñalosa and bowling legend Paeng Nepomuceno. Eat Bulaga's wacky duo of Jose Manalo and Wally Bayola will be the hosts of the affair while artist-singer Karylle will sing the national anthem. All eyes will be on a bevy of beauties expected to be paraded by the 10 participating teams, among which are young actress Kim Chiu of Purefoods, Iwa Moto of Brgy. Ginebra, and Angel Locsin of Magnolia Beverage Masters.

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Brgy Ginebra Kings are still looking for an able replacement to Fil-am forward Rudy Hatfield who may not be back with the team this campaign and are reportedly looking into the direction of Talk N Text fronliner Don Allado. Joel Orellana of Business Mirror reported that the Gin Kings have inquired about the availability of the 6-5 Allado but the Phonepals wanted injured center Rafi Reavis in return. Brgy. Ginebra turned down the proposed one-on-one deal and are instead focusing on ways of getting the former Green Archer without involving Reavis.

Allado just signed a lucrative three-year P12.6 million deal with the Phonepals. Just early this week, the Gins completed a three-team deal with Purefoods and Air21, acquiring guard Paul Artadi. They were also rumored to covet Nic Belasco from Welcoat until the latter decided to stick with the Dragons with a reported two-year P8.4 million deal.

Even before he could suit up for his new team, Nic Belasco may find himself a new home.

Welcoat and Brgy. Ginebra are reportedly closing on a deal that would send the disgruntled newly-acquired forward to the Gin Kings for forward Mike Holper and rookie guard Macky Escalona.
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Purefoods jitterbug Paul Artadi demanded to be traded in the offseason and now gets his wish. He's officially Brgy Ginebra's property after the TJ Giants dealt him to their sister team. As sister teams cannot transact directly with each other, a third team (in pba lingo a conduit) is required to make the deal push through. Air21 Express is reportedly the third team and as part of the deal, ships a 2008 second round pick to Purefoods, and in return, receives Jec Chia and Paolo Hubalde from Brgy Ginebra.

Artadi demanded a trade from Purefoods management as he was being used sparingly by the coaching staff. How he fits into the Brgy. Ginebra system with already three point guards in its line up (Jayjay Helterbrand, Johnny Abarrientos, and Macky Escalona) remains to be seen. If his playing time dwindled with the Giants that only had Roger Yap, Boyet Bautista and at times Noy Castillo and PJ Simon rotating at the point, what more with Gin Kings who arguably have the better and more solid backcourt rotation anywhere in the league. Artadi gives the Gin Kings another "energy" boost off the bench, similar to what former UE teammate Ronald Tubid brings to the table. His non-existent offensive production may not even be needed by the team since they already firebrands like Helterbrand and Mark Caguioa who can handle the offensive load.
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After successfully prying away Mark Telan from Air21, the Coca-Cola Tigers firmed up its frontcourt corps even more with the acquisition of Mark Isip and Cesar Catli from Sta. Lucia for incoming sophomore Joseph Yeo and a 2009 second round draft pick.

Nelson Beltran of the Philippine Star reports that the two teams have already consummated the deal in time for their clash in the 2007 PBA pre-season tourney tomorrow at 6 p.m. at The Arena in San Juan.

With the two Marks in the lineup: Isip and Telan, the Tigers are expected to battle it out for the rebounds, unlike last year when they only had Fil-am Ali Peek to rely on the glass. Catli, on the other hand, replaces guard Will Antonio who was not re-signed by the team. The Tigers now have two deadly perimeter shooters on the team. The Tigers drafted an outside gunner in the draft in the person of Ronjay Buenafe.
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Red Bull's Rich Alvarez will be out for the whole of the Philippine Cup after suffering an ACL injury in a team scrimmage last Wednesday. The 6'4" Alvarez is scheduled to be operated anytime this week.

“Malas talaga,” said Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao. “Marami na nga ang nawala sa amin, tapos dumagdag pa yung injury ni Rich.”

“Now, we’re the underdogs. Pero dyan naman tayo mas nasusubukan eh. Kapag underdog tayo, lalo tayong tumatapang,” he added.

The loss of Alvarez would be a big blow to the Barakos' campaign this coming conference. The team have already lost Alvarez's ex-Ateneo teammates Enrico Villanueva and Larry Fonacier to San Miguel in a trade earlier. Expected to fill the gap for Alvarez is ex-San Sebastian standout Leo Najorda and veteran Don Camaso, although a trade for a combo forward could also not be discounted.
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How did I do? Well, I got 4 out of the 10 picks in the first round correct! (However, I got nothing in the second round). The first deviation of the draft was when San Miguel elected to go with the 6-8 Samigue Eman instead of the exciting Fil-am guard Ryan Reyes at number 2. The Beermen needed size in the middle since center Dorian Pena wouldn't be able to see action in 6 months and they may have felt that Eman was the best available frontliner after Devance. Is Eman ready to play significant minutes for the Beermen? Well, he better be.
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I am reprinting in full the article re Noli Eala's disbarment, along with an opinion at the bottom.

SC orders disbarment of PBA commissioner - By Mike Frialde
Thursday, August 2, 2007

The Supreme Court yesterday ordered the disbarment of Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner and sportscaster Emmanuel "Noli" Eala for gross immorality after he was found to have carried an adulterous relationship with a married woman.

In an 18-page per curiam decision, the Court annulled and set aside Resolution XVII-2006-06 passed on Jan. 28, 2006 by the Board of Governors of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) dismissing the disbarment case against Eala for lack of merit, and instead disbarred him for gross immoral conduct, violation of his oath of office, and in violation of Canons 1 and 7 of Rule 1.01 (A lawyer shall not engage in unlawful, dishonest, immoral or deceitful conduct) of the Code of Professional Responsibility.

The Court found out that Eala, a married man, carried an extra-marital affair with Irene Moje, a married woman, prior to the judicial declaration that her marriage was null and void.
He "showed disrespect for an institution held sacred by the law" and "betrayed his unfitness to be a lawyer," reads part of the decision.

In ordering Eala's disbarment, the Court acted on the petition filed by Joselano Guevarra on March 4, 2002 before the IBP Committee on Bar Discipline against the PBA commissioner for "grossly immoral conduct and unmitigated violation of the lawyer's oath."

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San Miguel Beer is deadset on adding Red Bull guard Larry Fonacier to its already formidable roster. According to Nelson Beltran of the Philippine Star, a deal is reportedly close to being consummated that would bring the crack ex-Blue Eagle guard to the Beermen's camp on or before draft day. In the proposed deal, the Beermen will reportedly dangle Kiko Adriano, Brandon Lee Cablay, and Chris Calaguio to Red Bull in exchange for Fonacier.

Larry Fonacier's addition will reunite him with ex-Ateneo teammates Enrico Villanueva, Wesley Gonzales, and LA Tenorio. Another Ateneo stalwart who has caught the Beermen's eyes is the high-flying JC "The Rocket" Intal. San Miguel owns the rights to the second overall pick in the pick. Welcoat, who owns the draft's first overall pick, will reportedly use their pick on 6-10 Samigue Eman, making Intal available for the Beermen.

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For next season, the PBA approved the use of a 14-man lineup to all 10 participating teams. The move is similar to the one made by the NBA last season wherein each team can have as many as 15 players on its roster (extending throughout the playoffs). This will basically scrap the practice of placing players on the injury list. Previously, teams were allowed to have a maximum of 2 players on the injured list. The glitch was that the salaries of these players do not count against the cap, making it very difficult to determine if a team has exceeded the league mandated salary cap. The PBA salary cap is a hard cap, which means teams are disallowed to exceed the cap no matter what reason, even if that reason is to re-sign one's own free agents.

The great thing about this scenario is that teams can accommodate more players on their roster. With the coming PBA draft and the looming free agency, a lot of players will be displaced. An additional twenty players to the active roster will be a welcome sight to players who are on the bubble (borderline prospects). Scrapping the "injury list" thing also means teams can now directly activate injured players without having to wait for 5 playing games before allowing the player(s) to suit up, making it more flexible for teams to exercise their options.

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You still remember former Red Bull import 7-0 Earl Barron? How about 6-9 Anthony "Pig" Miller of FedEx? Does the name of former Purefoods reinforcement 7-1 Lorenzo Coleman ring a bell to you? Well, they all saw action in the 2004-05 season which was the last time the league scrapped the height restriction for imports. Chances are, you may see some of them sometime next year. Nelson Beltran of the Philippine Star reports that the PBA Board of Governors has approved the scrapping of the height restrictions for imports in the 2007-08 Fiesta Cup. The Board also approved the provision of a handicapping scheme to the two last-placed teams in the Philippine Cup to even out the competition, wherein both teams will be allowed to get two reinforcements, with one standing below 6'1". The rest of the teams are allowed to get only one import with no height restriction.

The handicapping scheme allows a team like Welcoat, who may be in for another rough stint in the pros this season, to recall back Alex Compton. The 5-11 Compton played last conference for Welcoat as the team's second import after the league granted Welcoat a concession to field full-blooded American. Alas, despite his immense constribution to the team in the Fiesta Cup, the Dragons could only muster 4 wins en route to a 10th place finish. He could have another chance this season, but only if Welcoat does not fare well in the Philippine Cup.

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