Welcome to the PBA:Globalport Batang Pier!

 

The PBA finally approved the entry of its newest team the Globalport Batang Pier. With the acquisition of the Pop Cola/ Powerade/ Coca Cola franchise. 

Review: Powerade Tigers Jersey (2010 version)

I was able to borrow a game issue jersey from a friend of mine. So I checked it out for a review.

There are 3 reasons why this jersey never made it to the public market. First, when the jersey was unveiled to the public, Powerade had a losing record (2010). Second, the jersey design required it to be fully sublimated, it would be very time constraining and high in production costs although Accel had shown its ability to make sublimated running, basketball and football kits. Last, despite being the 4th most popular squad, the team has disbanded. It is highly unlikely that Accel or the PBA merchandising office will be able to mass produce one. We can hope and pray that they'll produce one in their retro line but that it still remains a long shot. One good thing going for them is that the jersey designs and team logos remain a property of the league, not the company.

Built Upon the Rock

Please support Asi Taulava's charity game for the benefit of the Habagat victims.

 
Reserved Seating
Asi's VIP - Php 1, 000.00
VIP - Php 500.00

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Courtside - Php 200.00
Upper Box - Php 100.00
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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.

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. 

Mick Pennisi's epic flop

Mick Penissi puts Philippine Basketball back into the international map (including being #2 in sportscenter with this epic viral flop.


Here is his explanation.

Review: Accel Coca Cola Tigers Jersey

Today we go with a blast from the past as we take a look at an "old stock" Coca Cola Tigers Jersey by Accel.

This Jersey was one of the earliest attempts by Accel for a PBA merchandise Jersey. It was probably made around the 2003-04 era when the Tigers were still dominating before going to a long slump. There were 2 types of jersey released by that time, a double cool and a dryfit jersey. This one is a dryfit jersey.

PBA Commisioner's Cup video

Remember the NBA opening (past & present) we had last time? The PBA now has their own tournament opening video.

Fire Burns Anew.

As if last conference's Cinderella Run wasn't enough, The Powerade Tigers needs to overcome adversity once more. This time it is no longer doubters, FB trolls, First seeded teams or sportscasters shouting "no chance in hell". This time the Tigers are against survival. Literally and Figuratively.

With the team's rumored sale offer and uncertain future, followed by Marcio's trade on hold (I don't care what the higher ups from the teams say, this is an unfair trade, and the PBA should stop entertaining these kinds of trades). The team faces a new type of distraction perhaps.

Aided by it's 6'11 import (and one time White Mamba teammate) Dwayne Jones as inspiration, The tigers once down again by a large margin nearing the endgame made a late game rally to win 122-120, beating their semifinals opponent, the Rain or Shine Elastopainters. As if it was the same scenario as the last nail biting semis series.

People were saying if the team got a good post player, then it can address its weaknesses and become a much fiercer squad than last year.  Now with Jones virtually playing a significant fraction of the game. This team is on a better shape than last conference's squad.

Jones finished with 34 points to compliment David's 32. J-Shock Casio scored 14 points, all in the second half.

Tigers choose former C's Big man as next Conference's Reinforcement

The Powerade Tigers acquire former Celtics big man Dwayne Jones. Last time I saw a Tigers/ Celtics connection, It was a guy named Tony Harris a guy who scored 105 points in a single game and led the team to multiple titles in the early 90s.

To think I used play this guy in NBA Live 2006's season mode.

PBA Bling

An entry for the PBA Magazine name and logo  competition by tower sports last august 2008. It lost. The winning entry was "PBA off court" and was seen in major newsstands until it went to the clearance bin.

PBA Atin to Retro Jersey Launch

Last September 30, 2011 at the Robinsons Galleria, The PBA finally launched its limited edition retro jersey line for the fans. Legends, Current Players, Jersey collectors and longtime fans flocked the sports loop. All 25 greatest players of the PBA were immortalized thru their jerseys during the event.



While the designs were still open for improvement and  It really took a long while before the PBA finally produced the Jerseys Albeit, in limited numbers. It is a big step for the underground basketball jersey collectors and longtime fans of the PBA alike.

 

I really wanted to cop the Aerial Voyager's 1995 Sunkist Jersey, Sadly they did not have stocks available. Instead, I grabbed Ricky Brown's Great taste Jersey.

 

Legends were there to sign autographs for the fans.


Mission Accomplished!

Accel Barangay Ginebra Kings Jersey (Sublimation) Review.

3rd Quarter year 2000, the PBA decided to enter into merchandising to help reach out to the fans. The move started with the major redesign of team logos and jerseys. The Design firm responsible for the Raptor's logo was hired to tweak all of the 10 teams logos. This resulted to the more cartoony and catchy logos for the PBA. This was also the reason why the PBA logos and jerseys back in the 2000s reminds you of logos and jerseys of the NBA back in the 90s. Monickers were also changed like the Alaska Milkmen to the Aces, the Pop Cola 800s to the Pop Cola Panthers and so on.... The PBA then went on to merchandising with the 3 stripes but then switched to Accel a couple of years after.

With the switch, Local Basketball fans finally got something long overdue. The league finally producing replica jerseys. Back in the 80s and 90s, the only way to cop a PBA jersey was to either get a really poor quality replica at street vendors or Ask a game worn one from the player itself.

Fast forward 11 years later from the original merchandising era of the league, only 2 teams have retained their logo from the switch. The Alaska Aces and Ginebra Kings.



Since then, the brand has released several Jerseys with different printing styles, some are rubberized, others have glossy print, others are printed in air cool fabric. Around 3 years ago, Accel released PBA Jerseys for 3 teams (TNT, BGK and SMB) Using the dye sublimation process. The process involves having a computer printout design using sublimation ink/dye and is transfered using heat. The result being the design being directly infused into the fabric, reducing rubber prints and fabric cutouts therefore making the Jerseys lighter. For actual game Jerseys , Only the Powerade Tigers use the Sublimation Jerseys (the Kings use Air cool fabric with Rubber print).

Overall, the print and details are nice, the black detail on the lower part of the jersey is now printed instead of being another stitched fabric. The moisture absorption is nice, since this is the material and process used in producing the gear for triathlon and sometimes running uniforms. The other details are good as well.



If there is something that's a negative about the product, this is because it does not feel like a jersey during a game but feels more of a shirt or a tanktop.