BEING new to the PBA, Columbian import Khapri Alston is allowed to commit a couple of missteps. But not more.

Definitely not when the Dyip need him to be at his best when they battle the NorthPort Batang Pier tonight in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Surging TNT tries to regain a share of the lead when it collides with Phoenix Pulse in the nightcap.

The KaTropa are gunning for their third win in as many games that will draw them level with idle leader NLEX while the Fuel Masters are eyeing a fitting follow-up to their 103-101 shocker over Ginebra last Saturday and improve to 2-2.

TNT is ready for any surprise, spurred on by its own mission.

“We need to win as many as we can,” KaTropa coach Bong Ravena said after a 103-91 win over Rain or Shine also last Saturday.

“Kailangan samantalahin namin,” added Ravena. “Pahirap ng pahirap ‘yung mga games namin.”

The NorthPort-Columbian match should garner an equal share of the limelight since both teams are aiming to get back on track after being derailed the last time out.

The well-rested Dyip are raring to bounce back from a 90-96 loss to Rain or Shine two Sundays ago. Ditto for the Batang Pier, who are coming off an 80-96 drubbing from defending champion Magnolia last Friday.

“Siyempre, hindi naman sila ganoon kadaling talunin. Malakas na team iyung NorthPort,” said Columbian coach Johnedel Cardel.

One major key should be how Alston fares this time around after not making much difference in the game against the Elasto Painters. He had 23 points and 15 rebounds versus Rain or Shine, but those were way below his 38-22 debut in a 117-110 win over Alaska.

“Quick five fouls agad siya kaya hindi siya naging big factor. Malaking bagay iyon,” said Cardel.

“Kaya sabi ko sa kanya, ‘You have to control yourself dahil iyung tawagan ganyan na ‘yun.

You have to adjust. Kung hindi mo na kailangang foul-in, huwag na. We need more minutes from you inside the court para manalo.’”

Cardel also pointed out that it is not just Alston alone, insisting his perimeter shooters must complement their import’s inside game.

“Their decision-making is crucial,” said Cardel. “Hindi baleng bad shots basta pumasok. If not, then it could cost the whole team.”

That should be easier said than done, considering NorthPort has all the tools, led by import Mychal Ammons and Robert Bolick, who are both bristling to do their own bounce-back from subpar performances.

Magnolia’s defense obviously distracted Ammons and his frustrations were compounded by what he felt were some questionable calls and non-calls, resulting in him just posting 18 points, seven below what he tallied in a 99-94 win over Rain or Shine also last Sept. 20.

THE injury bug has bitten Alaska anew and frustration should be piling up on coach Jeff Cariaso. So it seems.

“Honestly, no,” Cariaso said after an 83-109 loss to San Miguel Beer last Sunday that kept Aces in the cellar of the PBA Governors Cup.

“We’re frustrated that we’re 0-3. But I think, and I shared this with the guys, the one thing that I want us to get out of this, even if we’re 0-3, is we understand our identity here at Alaska,” added Cariaso, who was named to take over from Alex Compton last Aug. 21.

“We understand how I’d want them to play. During that process, there are growing pains, and we’re going through the growing pains now.”

Import Justin Watts could have helped, but he suffered an injury in practice and joined Maverick Ahanmisi (foot), Kevin Racal (back) Jeron Teng (hamstring) and Noy Baclao (knee) on the sidelines.

“He suffered a calf strain three days ago, so he rested for two days,” Cariaso related. “He tried last Saturday but he just couldn’t. So we felt it was best not to aggravate it even more.”

There is no definite timetable for the return of Watts, who has been averaging 31.0 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists.

The Aces face Meralco on Friday and Cariaso said a plan B would be put in effect should the former North Carolina standout’s status doesn’t change.

“Backup plan, yes. There’s one in place. I won’t say it first to be honest with you, but there is obviously a back-up to our import situation,” said Cariaso. “You’ll just find out soon enough.”

Without such problems is SMB, which improved to 2-0 and caught idle TNT at second overall.

Beermen coach Leo Austria admitted ignorance on why Alaska played all-Filipino but was also quick to point out a break in whatever form is always a welcome one for his team.

“Hindi ko alam kung ano kailangan sa kanila, but a win is a win for us,” said Austria. “We have a mission here, which is to get into the top four first kasi twice-to-beat iyon.”

Playing an import-less opponent, Austria added, could offer some traps. But his team heeded his words at halftime and responded accordingly.

“In the first half, we were leading by (just) seven points and I told them that we cannot take this team for granted because nagkakaroon sila ng kompiyansa. Kami naman ang energy namin napakababa,” related Austria. “When we proceeded in the third quarter everybody stepped up and I had the opportunity to field in all the players.”

THE trend of teams sticking with imports they are familiar with continues in the PBA Governors Cup that starts Friday.

Eight of the 12 imports featured in the season-ending tournament have had previous league experience, with five seeing action anew for the same team they played for last year

Only Grand Slam-seeking San Miguel Beer, TNT, Alaska and Columbian are parading new faces, aching to see if their respective gambles pay off.

The Beermen have Dez Wells, the KaTropa KJ McDaniels, Alaska Justin Watts and the Dyip Khapri Alston.

Drastically less are the worries of the other teams, which have gone for reinforcements who have had experience in the league, the opposition and, most important, the system of their respective teams.

Leading the pack is Justin Brownlee, who has been a familiar fixture in Ginebra since 2016 and has won three titles with the Kings.

Brownlee is sure to be more fired up this time as he and the rest of the crowd favorites were denied a three-peat in the same tournament last year, bowing to Magnolia in just four games of their best-of-five semifinals duel.

In his third tour of duty in the PBA and second straight year for Magnolia is Romeo Travis, who led the Hotshots to the same tourney’s title last year.

Travis has been in the country for almost a month now and is eager to help Magnolia bounce back from a disappointing campaign in the last Commissioner’s Cup and retain its Governors Cup crown.

Also back is Eugene Phelps, whose yearly tenure with Phoenix dates back to 2016.

Like Brownlee, the man known as “El Destructor” is on a mission as he and the Fuel Masters finished last year’s eliminations at No. 2 but blew a twice-to-beat advantage over Meralco in the quarterfinals.

As pumped up is Olu Ashaolu, who came in as early as last year’s Commissioner’s Cup for NLEX, but suffered a pre-tournament injury that limited him to just three games for the Road Warriors.

Ashaolu flew in early and saw action when NLEX’s Commissioner’s Cup campaign was once again lost, but remains healthy with now more help in Kiefer Ravena and JP Erram.

Finally, there’s Allen Durham, a two-time Best Import awardee in the Governors Cup but has failed to take Meralco to the Promised Land, with the Bolts losing to Ginebra in 2017 and losing to Alaska in the semis last year.

Those who have seen action in the PBA before but not suiting up for new teams are former TNT reinforcement Mychal Ammons, now with NorthPort; ex-Star import Joel Wright, set to play for Rain or Shine; and old face Marqus Blakely, now with Blackwater while original choice Aaron Fuller, himself formerly with NLEX, recovers from injury.

NOT even a couple of good reasons to be more positive could make NorthPort coach Pido Jarencio abandon his wary ways for the coming PBA Governors Cup.

Jarencio wants the Batang Pier to let their game, anchored on a more seasoned Robert Bolick and a do-it-all import in Mychal Ammons, do the talking.

“Basta laban lang bawat laro,” said Jarencio. “Kung anuman achievements last conference dapat lagpasan pa.”

Jarencio’s caution is understandable.

NorthPort is coming off a relatively fruitful campaign in the last Commissioner’s Cup, finishing a franchise-best second in the eliminations and coming up just one stop away from upending eventual champion San Miguel Beer in their quarterfinals duel.

Undeniably, a large part of that success should be credited to import Prince Ibeh, a long-limbed center who swatted away shots, rebounded and, overall, provided an intimidating inside presence for NorthPort.

At 6-foot-5, Ammons may not be as tall as the seven-foot Ibeh, but Jarencio sees some similarities.

“Para siyang si Prince Ibeh na tutulong sa team,” said Jarencio. “Kung ano ‘yung kulang ng team, tutulungan niya tayo doon, especially on defense, hustle, and quickness.”

That is the main reason, added Jarencio, why he took notice when the former South Alabama standout first saw action here for TNT in the season-ending tournament’s 2016 edition.

Then coming in as a replacement for Mario Little, Ammons averaged 14.75 points, 12.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 12 games for the KaTropa.

“Meron akong nakita sa kanya na p’wede niyang itulong sa team,” Jarencio said of Ammons. “Hindi siya ‘yung spectacular na ii-score ng malaki, but he can help us out in the other departments.”

After his stint with TNT, Ammons displayed his wares in Argentina, Qatar and, most recently, in Mexico where he was an All-Star, a champion with the Tijuana Zonkeys and a Finals MVP. In 37 games there, he averaged 16.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists.

Aside from Ammons, other newcomers to NorthPort are Jerramy King and Russell Escoto, acquired from Columbian through separate deals and should help the team along with its usual stalwarts led by Sean Anthony and Mo Tautuaa.

Add Bolick to that list.

Already displaying game far beyond his rookie status, Bolick further gained immeasurable experience following his stint with Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA World Cup.

It’s now a matter of translating those lessons into more game.

“Malaking tulong sa kanya iyon, maging national player… at World Cup pa,” said jarencio.

EVERYTHING has been smoothed out and the PBA can now proceed full steam towards its final conference for the season.

The league yesterday unveiled its complete schedule for the Governors Cup eliminations with Meralco not seeing action in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup helping the PBA finalize the timetable.

“At least du’n sa first week kasi ng original schedule walo lang nilalaro namin sa first two weeks,” said PBA commissioner Willie Marcial.

“Nu’ng nandiyan pa pala Meralco, lumalim na ng konti rotation namin,” added Marcial. “Naging siyam (na teams), tapos dahan-dahang papasok iyung tatlo. Dumali ng i-finalize iyung schedule.”

Marcial was referring to San Miguel Beer, TNT and Blackwater seeing action in the East Asia Terrific 12 set Sept. 17-22 in Macau and Meralco’s original plans to take part in the Champions Cup set Sept. 24-29 in Bangkok.

Last week, however, FIBA informed the Bolts they have been replaced by a Lebanese squad.

That left Meralco free to focus entirely on the game against defending champion Magnolia in their conference opener on Sept. 21.

Before that game, the two rookies who shone for Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA World Cup get to show their stuff for their respective teams in the kickoff games next Friday.

CJ Perez and the rest of Columbian test Alaska under new coach Jeff Cariaso while later in the evening Robert Bolick aims to lead NorthPort when it tangles with Rain or Shine also at the Mall of Asia Arena.

On the very next day and just before the Magnolia-Meralco game, Kiefer Ravena marks his return for NLEX when it duels Phoenix Pulse.

Former champion Ginebra opens its campaign against Alaska on Sept. 22 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, with Rain or Shine and Columbian opening the day’s hostilities.

Following their Terrific 12 stint, SMB, TNT and Blackwater play their opening games on Sept. 25 with the Grand Slam-seeking Beermen starting their bid against the Fuel Masters.

The single-round, 11-game eliminations will run until Nov. 20 with the quarterfinals slated until Nov. 27.

Following a break to give way to the 30th SEA Games the country is hosting from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11, the semifinals start Dec. 12 and should end by Dec. 22 at the most. The final will be held Jan. 8-22, 2020.

Aside from that schedule, the league will hold its 2019 draft on Dec. 8 and starts its 45th season on March 1, 2020.

YENG Guiao owed up to Gilas Pilipinas’ woeful showing in the FIBA World Cup and resigned as head coach yesterday.

In a statement, Guiao said he takes full responsibility for the Nationals’ failure to win a single game in five outings that relegated the country to last place in the 32-team field and turned the stint he termed as the “highlight” of his coaching career into a disappointment.

Guiao also thanked everybody involved in the Gilas program, which he started handling only last year, and added he is now devoting his full focus into the NLEX team in the PBA.
Guiao’s statement in full:

“As regards the past performance of the Gilas Pilipinas men’s basketball team in the recent World Cup, I am as disappointed as the rest of the country.

“I truly and fully appreciate the efforts and sacrifices of all the players; not just those of the recent FIBA World Cup Team, but of all those who have contributed to the program since my appointment as head coach for the 2018 Asian Games.

“I would also like to extend my personal thanks to the coaching staff, trainers, utilities and the management of the Gilas Team for their hard work, support, and cooperation.

“I’d like to express special gratitude to the PBA Team Owners and Board of Governors led by Chairman Ricky Vargas and Commissioner Willy Marcial; special mention to Boss Ramon Ang and my friend, Al Chua, as well, for the moral and material support they have extended to our team.

“My deep gratitude to Boss Raymund Yu and Boss Terry Que, for keeping their trust in me and endorsing me to coach the Rain or Shine core team in the 2018 Asian Games, which led to my appointment as Head Coach of the Gilas Team.

“Special thanks to Boss Rod Franco, NLEX Management, and the whole team for their understanding and support as I served my country in my capacity as Head Coach of the Gilas Team, thereby diluting my focus and attention from my duties to them. I am now back home in NLEX to fully focus on winning our first championship.

“Above all, I am most thankful to SBP Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan and SBP President Al Panlilio for the opportunity to have been of service to the country in the sport I love most.

“To all fans and friends who wished us well, supported us, and offered their prayers, I am grateful from the bottom of my heart.

“I am truly blessed to have coached the best that Philippine Basketball has to offer and to have competed amongst the best in the world. I consider the past year, most especially our participation in the World Cup, as the highlight of my career.

“Even if I had known from the beginning that this would be the end result of my decision to accept this coaching job, I would have had no second thoughts in making the same decision. I have no regrets in having taken the path I have taken in the past year; the only regret is that I would have wanted the team to have performed better on the world stage.

“I take pride in having taken over the Gilas Program at a point of crisis, where the team was decimated by the suspension of players and coaches after the Australian incident. From there we put together the team and the program with the support of the SBP, the PBA, and our basketball public, to take 5th place in the Asian Games — our best finish in the last 16 years — with an opportunity to make the finals, except for a loss to China which was decided with one possession.

With the help of Filipino-American NBA player Jordan Clarkson, we almost achieved the improbable.

“After some struggles and adjustments through three qualifying windows for the FIBA World Cup, we were able to qualify for our second straight World Cup appearance. This was my only promise to our basketball officials and public — that if we were not able to achieve this, I would gladly step down as head coach of the GILAS Program.

“After all the hard work and struggles, the stars aligned for us and the Philippines made it to the top 32 elite teams in the world — and this, only a year after the team was almost decimated by suspensions.

“It is in this context that I view my year of leading this program in a positive light.

“The efforts and sacrifices of all those involved, overcoming the many trials and tribulations, putting ourselves on the world stage of basketball— I can only wish we could have performed better these past two weeks, but the odds were stacked against us.

“Nonetheless, I take full responsibility.

“I knew what conditions existed, what the limitations were, and still, I accepted the challenge. I hold myself responsible for the consequences.

“I am sorry we could not deliver a better performance. Our players gave their best against talented, bigger, stronger, and better prepared athletes from the best teams in the world. I truly appreciate their efforts and sacrifices – and that of their families. Our times together will never be erased from my memory. In the light of all these developments, I am stepping down, as of today, as the Head Coach of the Gilas Men’s Basketball Team, in order to give the SBP a free hand in building and developing a program towards achieving our objective of competing with the best of the best.

“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to serve our country through the sport we love most.

“Para sa bayan.”

ROOKIE sensation CJ Perez is making waves in the 2019 FIBA World Cup, being the top performer for Gilas so far in China.

And none could be happier than his coach at Columbian, Johnedel Cardel.

Cardel envisions Perez to bring with him the boost in morale and invaluable lessons he learned from his Worlds stint when the player returns to the Dyip for the PBA Governors Cup.

“Iyung kumpiyansa niya, experience na nakuha doon madadala niya dito,” Cardel told Malaya-Business Insight.

“Kasi iyung maging national player ka malaking bagay sa psyche ng isang player, lalo pa ganyan, World Cup pa,” added Cardel. “Kaya ‘yung expectations namin sa kanya, once na bumalik na siya dito sa Columbian, he’ll be a much better player and one of the true leaders of this team.”

Perez has already shown national coach Yeng Guiao’s decision to include him in Gilas was well-founded by averaging a team-high 15.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals coming off the bench against Italy and Serbia.

Guiao, according to Cardel, has long ago hinted at Perez being a vital cog in Gilas.

“May laro kami sa Batangas at sabi ni coach Yeng, ‘Hihiramin ko bata mo sa Gilas. Gusto ko siya, lumalaban,’” related Cardel. “Kaya ang sabi ko naman kay CJ, basta concentrate lang siya sa Gilas.”

Cardel, a former member of the Youth and Men’s national teams in the late 1980s, has also continued advising the former Lyceum of the Philippines star and the second pick overall in last year’s PBA draft.

“Sabi ko sa kanya, ‘Gawin mo lahat ang dapat mong gawin,’” offered Cardel, saying he has been in constant communication with his ward through Columbian’s Viber group chats.

“Sabi ko rin, ‘Don’t mind the score, basta give your best, bigay ka ng energy sa team,’” added Cardel.

“’And always, be a good teammate to your team, win or lose.’”

Based on his performance so far, Perez has taken those words to heart.

THE new direction Alaska is supposed to take just got waylaid by a big pothole.

The Aces have been forced to find a new reinforcement after original choice Branden Dawson was found to be over the height ceiling for imports in the coming PBA Governors Cup.

The former Michigan State standout was one-fourth inch above the 6-foot-5 maximum height for imports during official measurement yesterday at the league offices in Quezon City.

That means new coach Jeff Cariaso and management have to explore other options and get their final choice flown in well ahead of the season-opening tourney’s kickoff on Sept. 20.

Cariaso has already said he intends to adopt the defense-oriented system implemented by predecessor Alex Compton and Dawson should have fit the bill to a tee.

The 26-year-old has been described as a “strong inside player and a good defender,” became a Big Ten All-Defensive Team member before graduating as Michigan State’s all-time leading shotblocker.

The New Orleans Pelicans picked Dawson in the second round of the 2015 NBA Draft, but immediately traded him to the Los Angeles Clippers for cash.

The Gary, Indiana, native signed a two-year deal with the Clippers, but his rookie year there involved multiple assignments to the NBA D-League with multiple teams before his contract was waived the next year.

Dawson later signed with the Orlando Magic but got waived again. He saw action for several D-League teams anew before plying his trade to such places as Israel, Japan and Mexico.

Former NBA campaigner Mike Harris reinforced Alaska in the same tournament last year, averaging 30.3 points, 20.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.0 block up to the semifinals and won the Best Import award.

The Aces, however, could only finish runner-up to Magnolia and Harris had entertained hopes of returning before those plans were junked when it came out Cariaso had opted for Dawson.