BLEACHERS BREW EST. MAY 2006

Someone asked me how my blog and newspaper column came to be titled "Bleachers Brew". It's like this, it's an amalgam of sorts of two things: The bleachers area in the stadium/arena where I used to sit when I would watch baseball, football, and basketball games and Miles Davis' great jazz album Bitches Brew. That's how it got culled together. I originally planned on calling it "The View from the Big Chair" that is a nod to Tears For Fear's second album, Songs from the Big Chair. So there.

Friday, October 28, 2016

Jarin, Banal highlight Coaches Convention


Jarin, Banal highlight Coaches Convention
by rick olivares

Almost 800 basketball coaches from all over the country attended the three-day MVP Sports Foundation Coaches Convention at the Filoil Flying V Centre from October 26-28.

Among the coaches and basketball officials who gave talks and workshops include national team manager Butch Antonio, Goldwyn Monteverde of Chiang Kai Shek College and Adamson University High School, Kirk Collier, San Beda Red Lions coach Jamike Jarin, and Koy Banal.

Rodel Camacho of Santa Clarita International School in Iloilo said that this was his third year of attendance and it helps him with his basketball program that is only four years old. “I learned a lot from what Coach Jamike taught us,” bared Camacho who added that it was one thing to see Jarin’s Red Lions run the plays on television and another while seeing it demonstrated with all the options. “It’s good to learn from the best.”

Some of the alumni to come up from the NBTC ranks includes current La Salle head coach Aldin Ayo.

The Coach Convention precedes the Regional knockout phase for the 2016-17 season of the National Basketball Training Center that culminates in the national championship this March.

“We’re continuously growing,” pointed out NBTC Program Director Eric Altamirano. From what started out as 16 teams 11 years ago, has now expanded to over 700 high school squads from 62 cities. “Now we have a Division One and Division Two.”


Tuesday, October 25, 2016

The list of applicants for the 2016 PBA Draft




BaliPure and Pocari on a SVL collision course

This appears on philstar.com

BaliPure and Pocari on a SVL collision course
by rick olivares

The BaliPure Purest Water Defenders and the Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors are on a collision course in the Reinforced Conference of the Shakey’s V-League.

While the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses are leading the league with a 5-1 record (with one match left to play against Pocari), the two American-reinforced squads are fast catching up after losing their initial assignments.

Pocari lost their first game to Philippine Air Force in five sets while BaliPure fell apart after taking the first set from UST; eventually dropping in four sets.

Since then both teams have gone on win with Pocari second to UST in the standings at 4-1 while the latter is at 3-1.

The two squads were tabbed to create a rivalry in the Shakey’s V-League with both squads lined up with former college and semi-pro stars. They met in semifinals of the Open Conference that Pocari won. However, that budding competition was somewhat diluted when BaliPure lost Alyssa Valdez to Bureau of Customs while Grethcel Soltones and Alyssa Eroa decamped to the Laoag Power Smashers. Janine Marciano in the meantime went to Cignal. That’s three of the starting six and essentially their scoring sock.

BaliPure addressed the power loss by bringing in Sue Roces and Sasa Devanadera. The former is far from her superb form that made her one of the most sought after guest players after her collegiate days with UE were over while Devanadera has yet to be sent in by coach Tai Bundit.

American imports in setter Kaylee Manns and open spiker Kate Morrell who have providing scoring, defense, playmaking, and leadership have greatly plugged the holes that opened up by the defections.

Manns and Morrell have fit in quite well more so since Bundit goes to a smaller rotation.

Morrell is the fourth best scorer while Manns is tops in setting and is second best among scoring setters (Chie Saet has 28 points to the American’s 26 but only because the former’s squad has played two more matches than BaliPure). Libero Denden Lazaro is the best receiver as off the last playdate.

On the other hand, Pocari Sweat’s American duo of middle blocker Andrea Kacsits and open spiker Breanna Mackie have taken away some of the playing time of Desiree Dadang and Elaine Kasilag who were crucial components during the Lady Warriors’ run to the Open Conference Championship earlier this year. However, that hasn’t dampened their scoring as they lead the league in spiking.

Both squads have aggressive setters in the Purest Water Defenders’ Manns and the Lady Warriors’ Iris Tolenada. The 5’10” Manns has also been superb with her drop shots and net defense while the 5’8” Tolenada is ranked sixth among setters. But she has picked up her game with blocking and digging.

Each side’s open spiker is one of the top offensive players in the league.

Both Morrell and Mackie are tied with 85 points each – good for fourth and fifth – but the former is ranked higher because her side has a game in hand.

Pocari though has a deeper side with their talented leader Michele Gumabao, explosive Myla Pablo, Erika Alkuino who has cracked the rotation, and reliable Melissa Gohing. They also have another superb setter in Gyzelle Sy who led them during their Open Conference championship but has been supplanted by Tolenada this conference.

POC head coach Rommel Abella also has another pretty good libero in Rica Enclona who performed very well when Gohing went out in the UP game.

One can’t say that even with BaliPure lacking some stars they aren’t good. They are definitely looking like contenders. And the two sides will square off this coming Saturday, October 9, at 4pm once more at the Philsports Arena. And the way things are going now, they could possibly meet each other come the knockout rounds.




Monday, October 24, 2016

Kian Valdez looks to follow Ate Alyssa’s footsteps



This appears on philstar.com


Kian Valdez looks to follow Ate Alyssa’s footsteps
by rick olivares

During the Bureau of Customs Transformers’ three-set loss to Pocari Sweat in last Saturday’s Shakey’s V-League match at the Philsports Arena in Pasig, there was one curious spectator. It was Kian Bernan Valdez.

The youngest sibling of Alyssa Valdez currently plays for the basketball team of Joseph Marello Institute in Batangas. Kian also has started playing volleyball; inspired by his famous sister.

While he has game in volleyball where he plays the utility position, he hopes to carve out a name for himself in a separate sport.

“Gusto ko ng basketball para makagawa rin ako ng pangalan ko,” says the 14-year old lad of his dreams. The one thing Kian shares in common with his older sister is their propensity for scoring points as he plays the shooting guard position.

“Enjoy din ako sa volleyball. Masayang sport. Mabilis,” shared Kian who can hit the ball but not yet with the power that his sister is known for. “Inspirasyon si ate. Pero ang gusto ko talaga basketball.”

While the younger Valdez may not eventually major in the same sport, the other thing he has in common is his desire to eventually play for the blue and white. “Nanonood ako ng Ateneo Blue Eagles. Pangarap ko maglaro para sa kanila.”

Although Kian currently stands five feet and five inches, he hopes that he will experience a growth spurt that will allow him to play the game of basketball better. “Si LA Tenorio taga-Batangas din,” added Kian. “Pinakita niya na kaya rin ng maliit na player maging effective.”