Review: Alaska Aces Jersey

Today we take a look at one of the previously released jerseys of the Alaska Aces, particularly the design of its 2007 championship run as featured in the book "Pacific Rims". The Jerseys were initially outfitted (Sponsored) by one of it's then assistant coaches' companies, And1. However, since local brand Accel owns the license for the current PBA Jerseys, they were the ones that produced for commercial release. Today we review the Jersey of one of the integral personalities in the book, 2007 (and 2002) MVP Willie Miller.

The commercially available one has the same trims and colors but uses a dryfit type of mesh as opposed to microshiny which most game issued jerseys use. It has black trimmings on the right side and gray piping on the left. The screen print is done for the black, white and orange areas of the logo and an opaque for the red parts, therefore saving an additional screen and textile paint color. A screen printed Accel logo and embroidered PBA logo finish the chest patches. A Surprising development here is that the jersey, despite being a commercially released one feels much more lighter than the game issued counterpart. The traditional jock and neck tag finish off the frontal details.

The back design features the player's name, number and Accel logo.

It used to sell for 700 bucks during its heyday bug nowadays, If you're lucky you might get one at half the price in discount bins. Pseudo "retro" jerseys like this one are starting to be a scarcity since once a player has been traded or a team changes its name, the team would have to purchase most of the remaining stocks.

A Eulogy for the Powerade Tigers

 

     December 2001, PBA Governor's Cup, The uncertain Pop Cola Panthers barge in to the battle for 3rd against the Shell Turbo Chargers. Donning their black and blue jerseys in what could be the final game of the team. During the term of the conference, it was uncertain if the Panthers will be sold to the SMC Conglomerate or not. Fresh from acquiring Purefoods from the Ayalas, SMC wanted the franchise along with Cosmos Bottling Corporation, but some factions did not want that to happen. The result is Pop Cola becoming the Swift Panthers for a few games. Like the Tigers, Pop was coming off a great run in the All Filipino Cup; Barging in from Winless (0-9) in the Governor's Cup 2000, to a win shy of making the finals against SMB. The team would eventually take third place honors and RFM would have its last significant run as Selecta-RP before Lee sang min ended it in the Asiad.

     The same can be said for their descendants, the Powerade Tigers. Donned with their fully sublimated black and blue threads(which reminded me of the Panthers)The team caught the league (and it's history) by becoming the first 8th seeded to reach the finals. Not only did they barge through it, they did it with a dramatic fairy tale fashion that would even put some of our local soap operas to shame. Down by as much as 17 pts and an ejection from one of it's guards, the Tigers clawed their way back into the game and won in overtime. In one of the best games in the history of the league, led by Gary David's flaming hands. However, not the same can be said for the next two conferences It became a squad needing a single win to make it to the semis but was electrocuted by the Meralco Bolts in 2 straight knockout games.

      There are more colorful stories inside Coke's stay in the PBA. On its first season, it was able to reach the finals and ultimately won on Christmas day of 2002 with it's core of 90's Alaska players beating their former team. I remember hearing coach Chot Reyes on our leadership seminar back in college where he predicted the Tigers will get a title that season upon day one of the team's practice. The team reached the finals the next three conferences and won their last title at the expense of Cedric Ceballos and the San Miguel Beermen.

      The next few conferences weren't as lucky as the Tigers languished into mediocrity and ultimately at the bottom of the standings until this season's Cinderella run.

      Some faithful fans do try to connect the Tigers with the Sunkist/ Swift/ Pop/ Sarsi Lineage, others don't. This time, we'll see if fans will still connect them with the Harbour center franchise. The Harbour center team is a proud organization itself, winning multiple PBL championships and the first Asean Basketball League crown. One thing that a proud franchise would be expected do in the PBA is that it would try to be competitive,  No lopsided trades, no players selling. Hopefully the tiger core will see the light once again.

     As I end this post, I say goodbye to the second incarnation of the Swift Mighty Meaties. Thanks for the christmas day miracle, the flaming hands, those awesome sublimated jerseys. Coke will be etched in the annals of PBA history along with it's predecessors. Goodbye Powerade tigers.

Review: PBA Atin to Retro Jersey Great Taste Discoverers

Last September 30, The PBA launched its retro jersey, with it came reproductions of the 25 greatest players in the league.Ever since PBA went into merchandising early in the decade, they had been clamored with requests on releasing retro jerseys. More than a decade later, it finally came true.

Planing to acquire something unique as opposed to regular popular and bandwagon teams, I settled for a Great Taste Discoverers Jersey of Ricardo Brown. Brown, a former Houston Rockets draft pick and PBA MVP. He played for Northern Cement, Great Taste and SMB . He is also probably one of the friendliest PBA stars to ever grace into facebook. The Orange/ Yellow/ Black seemed ahead of his time and one of the better looking jerseys during the launch. I would've prepared the beige one, but if there was one jersey that could redefine the quick brown fox's career, it is this one.

PBA Run with the Fans

Last Saturday, I did something new, participate in 2 races at the same day.

At the start, I was expecting that a lot of PBA Players would join the longer distances as they had did in the past, sadly, the ongoing PBA Schedule and the tightrace for the quarters at the standings prevented them from doing so. There are still quite a number of them, albeit at the 3k category. I was also hoping some Powerade tigers players to show up, but sadly only a few coaches showed up. In fairness, Barako Bull, Meralco and BGK had quite a delegation.

After the preparations, the marshals told us via a huddle on how to take the race route. It felt like a basketball huddle. We were supposed to do 2 laps on the 5k in a very Hilly route for a complete 10k. When the gun started, my pace was ok, only a few walks in the uphill.With powerade as a sponsor, there were plenty of hydration, I only needed 2 of my 4 hydration bottles.

During the later half of the run, the participants from the shorter distances finally began to show up, so do the players. So do the players, apparently only the H-Bomb took the race seriously, placing 4th in the 3k category.  Most of the players were in race support mode though. Giving high fives and cups.

After 2 laps, I finally ended the race. A bit slow because of the hills but I have to leave something more for the run later that afternoon The route was challenging but it really felt longer than 10k.

 

The medal could've used more work, but an award/ recognition of any sort, especially from the PBA is always a welcome addition.