The Real Battle Begins

What a week for the CSS department! After being treated with free food courtesy of Trend Micro Incorporated in celebration for Thanks Giving and Birthday Bash, we will also be delighted with high and intense basketball games this coming Saturday, November 27, 2010 as CSS league resumes in WCC Basketball Court for Final Four showdown.

Four teams remain after the elimination round and will slug it out for the coveted championship and bragging rights as the 3^rd Champion Team in CSS league. This will be the battle of survival.

Team Arsenals rank 1, (3-1) finished the elimination round with 3 consecutive wins after a disappointing loss in the opening day against Sentinels; Arsenals may have their revenge as they will face-off in the Semifinals. This will be the 3rd consecutive trip in the playoffs of the Arsenals with twice to beat advantage. The last 2 seasons, were huge upset for the team as they found themselves eliminated by their arch-nemesis Team Online twice.

Team Kankunins rank 2, (3-1) surprised lots of teams this season as they were singlehandedly brought to the semifinals by their prized rookie and league scoring leader, Ramon “Rookie Sensation” Ocampo. This team was tied with Team Arsenals for number the 1 spot after the elimination round, but due to the lost they suffered from Team Arsenals and by virtue of win over the other, Sentinels ended up to 2^nd spot. This team will face again the Online Team in the Playoffs armed with twice to beat advantage.

Team Titans rank 3, (2-2) slow start is just the same old story for this squad. This team almost eliminated from the race until they got their 1^st win of the season in the hands of Titanium Elite. The team dropped their first 2 assignments due to injuries suffered by their prized players. But the true character of this team prevailed, as they finish strong in elimination round with back to back wins that sealed their spot in the playoffs. I even envisioned them as the number 1 ranked team in my preseason forecast. But Team Titans didn’t failed me even they drop their 1^st 2 games. Now, they’re back on their old form. The main guns are now fully healed with their respective injuries and ready to play. This team is not new to this situation; they already proved that they can win the series even without twice to beat advantage.

Team Sentinels rank 4, (2-2) after taking care of their 1^st 2 assignments, in contrast to their last 2 games. They had beaten Team Arsenals in the opening day via close fight. That same team they will face in the semifinal round. This team has identical record with Team Online, but due to the lost they suffered against Team Online, they ended up to the 4^th spot. This squad should prove that their triumph over Arsenals is not a fluke, that they can beat this team with or without their main guns.

Rank 2 Kankunis (3-1) vs Rank 3 Titans (2-2)

Team Kankunis shocked the Titans in the opening day as they were manhandled by Ocampo who scored 32 points alone in 74-65 win.

It is very obvious that Kankunis is proving that they are damn serious on getting into the Finals. Both teams are fresh from back to back win from their previous assignments. This series will put them to the test, which team will fall and which one will prevail.

Rookie Sensation Ramon Ocampo would really have to bring his A game in this series if he really wanted to reach the Finals. The Kankunis second unit has been playing so well lately especially to Valor Calauor who displayed brilliance in point guard position; Allain Umalin monster in the paint and Franklin Zapata who was superb in the opening day by scoring 13 points for his team.

For Team Titans, expect this team to play better and better as the series progress. This is the type of team who exactly knows how to handle crucial games.

Keys to the Series:

For Kankunis

1. Play like no tomorrow - Kankunis must put on their minds that they are the one who is in the brink of elimination. They have to come out strong from the very start until the final buzzer sounded.
2. Rookie is the Real Deal – Ramon “Rookie Sensation” Ocampo should continue to score and dominate the offensive column of this conte st.
3. Stop the MVP – Now that injury of the reigning MVP is fully healed. Team Kankunis should find a way to terminate the offensive assault of Christian “D Demolition Man” Nava. Expect him to dominate both ends of the floor.
4. Physical Game – Suffocating D of the Kankunis is the focal point of their game. They should continue to pressure the ball and force Titans to commit turnovers that will lead to fastbreak points.
5. Score a lot – Team Kankunis is the league best in terms of point’s production with an average of 65.6 PPG. This team should score not less than 60 pts or less they will be in big trouble.

For Titans

1. Contain The Rookie Sansation – Tristan “Mr. Cool” Samonte should find a way on how to limit Ramon Ocampo’s production.
2. Online’s ability to win series – This team knows how to win come in playoff time. They already proved that for the past 2 seasons as they crushed Team Arsenals twice.
3. MVP’s toughness– Christian “D Demolition Man” Nava the reigning mvp and Team Titans’ only center is simply unstoppable once he regained his old form. This team will rely on his inside scoring ability that can scores bulk of points that will lead to lots of headache to Team Kankunis.
4. Run and Gun – This team has the best backcourt combination. Larry Favorito and Nicolo De Jesus “the High Octane Backcourt guards” should continue to run the fastbreaks and attack the paint. Both combo guards can score from the perimeter.
5. Quality Minutes – With solid starting five, the bench should always ready to play. This team will rely mostly on Sir Bennet “The Great” R eyes hot shooting hands. He is the most consistent player that can knock down 3pt baskets and perimeter jumpers in every single game.

These teams are evenly matched. Both have their own gunners that can provide offensive production in an instant. But at the end of the day, experience wise will win the series. I’ll take Team Titans to barge into the finals as they already proven that they can win playoff series in the past.

Rank 1 Arsenals (3-1) vs Rank 4 Sentinels (2-2)

This season, Sentinels’ the only team that beat the Arsenals,last October 16, 2010 via a 51-48 decision. It was a come from behind win by the Sentinels as they found themselves down by as much as 12 points in the 1^st canto. But the “never say die” spirit of Sentinels squad rallied back and pushed the Arsenals to the limit as they escaped with a 3 point win through Sildo’s 3 point basket in the closing seconds of the game that sealed the victory for Sentinels.

Now; team Arsenals would like to thank the Sentinels for wakening up the sleeping giant in them. After Team Arsenals succumbed to their first defeat, they immediately retaliated with 3 successful victories. This team proves the league that they can win close games and handle extreme pressure particularly during crunch time.

These teams are both very eager to play and showcase their talents to determine who the winner of this battle is. Sentinels are determined to upset their opponent’s planned revenge. Equipped with fame, guns and glory, they guarantee they’ll bring the house down to past the Final Four series.

On the other hand, Christian Lumanglas and Jayson Lim will surely play for the next tip off, which fans should look forward to. Their team will be lock and loaded to bring in the rain. It is said lightning never strikes in the same place twice... This is the third trip for this team to the final four and as quote goes "third time's a charm". It is expected team Arsenals will wear their game faces on and promised to get this job done!

Key’s to the Series:

For Arsenals

1. Good Perimeter Defense – Arsenals guards should not cheat on defense instead keep on chasing Fyle Sildo, as we all know “Glenn Suegay’s Twins” is good in rainbow territory.
2. Crash the Boards – Big men of Team Arsenals should take care of the glass so that they will contain the Fastbreak attack of Team Sentinels.
3. Pound the Ball Inside – Christian “D’ Maestro” Lumanglas should continue attacking the basket and let the Sentinels bigs work on defensive end. Run some plays also for Jefferson “TTe or Tall and Terrible” Valdepena and Eric “D BulldoZER” Abellara in the post. It will not just put pressure on the Sentinels interior defenders but also create double teams that will allow the shooters of the Arsenals to hit open jumpers.
4. Shoot like no Tomorrow – Jerameel “Mr. Volume Shot Maker” Bautista should continue to shoot like there’s no tomorrow. He is the leading scorer of this team and this squad will rely on his patented move. The “Floater Hook Shot”, hopefully he can make those shots count.
5. Christian’s winning Run – Christian Lumanglas’ 10 games winning streak in CSS league dating back last season will put to a test. His mission: Lead this team’s vengeance after an opening loss.
6. Jayson’s defense – Expect Jayson “The Tactician” to play tough defense on Sentinels’ Glenn Suegay. His solid defense will surely affects the performance of the Sentinel’s scoring machine.
7. Arsenals’ Legacy – Hopefully, even against all odds bu t with all the stars align; it’s time to put an ink to a sworn Championship trophy on the Arsenals’ contract. This will prove to the all Arsenals’ believers and non-believers that this time, they’re truly a championship team.

For Sentinels

1. Run Like Hell – Team Sentinels is known for th eir Fa stbreak attack, this is their bread and butter. Expect Gian “Mr Lover Boi” Ira and Glenn “The Scoring Machine” Suegay to sprint as fast as they can.
2. Control the Boards – This team need lots of determination to beat the Arsenals in the paint. Sentinels lack in height is their big disadvantage, all players’ needs to help in rebounding. The recently married Nathaniel “Pawner” De Vera and Phillip Bautista are badly needed to play for this team on Saturday.
3. Sildo’s shooting hands – Fyle “Glenn Suegay’s Twins” Sildo should continue to knock-down open jumpers to stretch the D of the Arsenals.
4. Bench Providers – Vinzon “The X Factor or Nardong Putik” Villaroman and Dann “D Official Mascot” Veridiano should continue to provide energy for the Sentinels. Both players played well in recently concluded elimination round.
5. Winning Attitude – Sentinels seems to be untouchable after first 2 games of the elimination round, as they beat the Arsenals in the opening day and demolishing Titanium Elite on their 2^nd assignment. But after that, the winning formula for this squad seems nowhere to be found. This team should regroup immediately and find their true identity to regain some respect.
6. Commitment to play – For the last two games of the elimination round, the main issue why this team is struggling is to due to limited support from the players to play on Saturday’s. All the players of this team should be committed to play for them to have a better chance of winning the series.

My call, Arsenals will finish the Sentinels on November 27, 2010.

We’ll be looking forward to what’s going to happen in this series. It’s going to be physical; it’s going to be tough; there would be drama; there would be trash talking, and everything there is in this 2010 Final Four series. All these are going to happen just to get the coveted prize, the 2010 CSS Championship.