source: Nelson Beltran | philstar.com
Alaska Milk continued to play as one solid unit and repeated over Barako Bull, 99-88, to keep the solo lead at the start of the second round of the KFC PBA Philippine Cup elimination phase at the Ynares Arena in Pasig last night.
Sustaining the momentum of their two-game closing run in the first round, the Aces stayed alone on top with a 9-1 win-loss card.
The Energy Boosters put up a tough stand in the first half but fell behind by a large margin in the third period and ran out of time in their endgame chase, tumbling down to ninth place with a 2-8 record.
The Aces had another steady showing from their starters and second unit in a balanced scoring the Energy Boosters failed to match.
The Alaska reserves pummeled their Barako Bull counterparts in a crucial stretch bridging the last two quarters to open leads of over 20 points.
The Energy Boosters waged a chase at endgame but the best they could do was trim the gap at 88-93. Aris Dimaunahan hastened their downfall with two missed free throws then misfired a three-pointer.
Arwind Santos came through with another monstrous performance against his former team Burger King, and streaking San Miguel continued to get going, repeating over the Whoppers, 100-85, in thefirst game.
Santos collected 27 points, 12 rebounds, six blocks and four assists in a follow-up to his 28-point and 18-rebound showing in hisfirst meeting with his former teammates last Oct. 21.
Lordy Tugade, Denok Miranda and Olsen Racela also piled up key numbers as the Beermen duplicated their 117-99 rout of the Whoppers in their previous tiff and, improved their win-loss record to 8-2.
As in their last game, the Whoppers came out strong but tapered off at the finish, suffering a seventh loss against three wins.
San Miguel has actually beaten the Lina Group franchise in all their last nine games in the all-Filipino tourney. The Beermen last lost to the Whoppers (formerly Express) in May 24, 2006.
SMB pounded BK in the payoff, breaking away from a tight battle in stretching its amazing streak to eight games. The Beermen won those games by a whopping average margin of 16.5 points.
Coach Siot Tanquingcen and his troops have yet to lose a game since bowing to Barangay Ginebra and Alaska Milk in their first two games in the season.
For Racela, it became more meaningful that they emerged triumphant in his 872nd career game. Racela moved past Jerry Codiñera and Yoyoy Villamin to be at fifth place in the all-time most number of games played. Abet Guidaben is at No. 1 with 1,081, followed by Ramon Fernandez (1,074), Robert Jaworski (958) and Philip Cezar (918).
Racela, a mere second-round draft selection in 1993, marked his new career milestone with 12 points.
“I’m blessed to play this long.... playing long in a high-level of play,” said Racela.
Santos, however, stood out with a highly productive performance, underscoring his emergence as the new SMB main man. The versatile 6-foot-4 forward out of FEU is No. 2 in the league both in scoring and in rebounding.
“I’m just doing my job and I’m happy I’m helping my team win games,” said Santos who could have got more numbers if not forced to sit down the closing minutes after figuring in a double-technical incident with Ronnie Matias.
Santos, however, had done his job before riding the bench.
He worked hard on both ends, keying a run that had the Beermen pulling away from a 72-67 count at the start of the final period.
The scores:
Alaska 99 --Hugnatan 17, Tenorio 16, Thoss 14, Miller 11, DeVance 9, Dela Cruz 9, Borboran 8, Fonacier 8, Ferriols 5, Cariaso 2, Burtscher 0.
Barako Bull 88 -- Aljamal 21, Alonzo 12, Dimaunahan 12, Crisano 12, Menor 9, Belano 7, Hubalde 6, Memberere 5, Fernandez 4, Najorda 0, Sta. Maria 0, Lao 0
Quarterscores: 29-26; 51-47; 79-64; 99-88
Monday, November 30, 2009
Streaking Beermen scuttle Whopper’s upset bid
source: gmanews.tv
For three quarters, Burger King appeared ready to prick San Miguel Beer’s current winning streak in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup.
That was until the Beermen came through with a telling run in the payoff period and held the Whopper without a field goal for nearly nine minutes.
With Arwind Santos and Lordy Tugade leading the charge, the Beermen scuttled the Whopper's upset bid with a 100-85 victory Sunday night, stretching their winning run in the season-ending tournament to eight.
Overall, they are at 8-2.
“We’re trying to win as many games as we could to offset the injuries to our key players," said SMB coach Siot Tanquingcen, referring to Danny Ildefonso and Jay Washington.
The Beermen held the Whopper to 0-of-14 shooting from the field in the fourth, before JR Quinahan broke the silence with a follow-up with only 3:14 left to play.
That crucial stretch allowed the Beermen to turn a tight contest into a rout. After Quinahan connected on the shot, Olsen Racela retaliated with a triple, pushingSan Miguel way ahead at 92-71 with 2:58 remaining.
“I think out defense was key tonight. Defense should always be constant for us while we await the return of Danny I. and Jay Wash," Tanquingcen added.
Santos paced San Miguel with 27 points, 12 rebounds and six block shots, two of them in succession against Ronnie Matias in what turned out to be the play of the game.
Tugade added 20 markers, Denok Miranda 14 while Racela, who became the fifth all-time best in games played with 872, contributed 12.
Burger King, coming off a painful 118-105 defeat to defending champion Talk ‘N Text in a game where it squandered a 30-point lead, suffered its seventh loss in 10 games.
Richard Yee led the Whopper with 14 points and seven rebounds.
At first, the Whopper appeared to have fully recovered from their sorry loss to the Texters, scoring the game’s first eight points.
But they couldn’t sustain the scoring needed to frustrate the Beermen, who managed to take the halftime lead at 45-44 on a triple from Santos.
The scores:
San Miguel 100 —Santos 27, Tugade 20, Miranda 14, Racela 12, Villanueva 11, Pena 7, Hontiveros 5, Pennisi 3, Eman 1, Cortez 0, Calaguio 0.
Burger King 85 – Yee R, 14, Sharma 12, Yee M 11, Matias 10, Belga 8, Lanete 8, Buenafe 8, David 6, Williams 4, Quinahan 4.
Quarterscores: 18-22, 45-44; 72-67; 100-85
For three quarters, Burger King appeared ready to prick San Miguel Beer’s current winning streak in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup.
That was until the Beermen came through with a telling run in the payoff period and held the Whopper without a field goal for nearly nine minutes.
With Arwind Santos and Lordy Tugade leading the charge, the Beermen scuttled the Whopper's upset bid with a 100-85 victory Sunday night, stretching their winning run in the season-ending tournament to eight.
Overall, they are at 8-2.
“We’re trying to win as many games as we could to offset the injuries to our key players," said SMB coach Siot Tanquingcen, referring to Danny Ildefonso and Jay Washington.
The Beermen held the Whopper to 0-of-14 shooting from the field in the fourth, before JR Quinahan broke the silence with a follow-up with only 3:14 left to play.
That crucial stretch allowed the Beermen to turn a tight contest into a rout. After Quinahan connected on the shot, Olsen Racela retaliated with a triple, pushingSan Miguel way ahead at 92-71 with 2:58 remaining.
“I think out defense was key tonight. Defense should always be constant for us while we await the return of Danny I. and Jay Wash," Tanquingcen added.
Santos paced San Miguel with 27 points, 12 rebounds and six block shots, two of them in succession against Ronnie Matias in what turned out to be the play of the game.
Tugade added 20 markers, Denok Miranda 14 while Racela, who became the fifth all-time best in games played with 872, contributed 12.
Burger King, coming off a painful 118-105 defeat to defending champion Talk ‘N Text in a game where it squandered a 30-point lead, suffered its seventh loss in 10 games.
Richard Yee led the Whopper with 14 points and seven rebounds.
At first, the Whopper appeared to have fully recovered from their sorry loss to the Texters, scoring the game’s first eight points.
But they couldn’t sustain the scoring needed to frustrate the Beermen, who managed to take the halftime lead at 45-44 on a triple from Santos.
The scores:
San Miguel 100 —Santos 27, Tugade 20, Miranda 14, Racela 12, Villanueva 11, Pena 7, Hontiveros 5, Pennisi 3, Eman 1, Cortez 0, Calaguio 0.
Burger King 85 – Yee R, 14, Sharma 12, Yee M 11, Matias 10, Belga 8, Lanete 8, Buenafe 8, David 6, Williams 4, Quinahan 4.
Quarterscores: 18-22, 45-44; 72-67; 100-85
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
TNT DRUBS INJURY-PLAGUED KINGS, JOINS LOG JAM AT 3RD
SOURCE: PBA.PH
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 22:41
Talk n Text rebounded strong from a loss the last time out, pounding an injury-riddled Barangay Ginebra squad for an 87-72 win in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.
Jared Dillinger put in 18 points and the same number of rebounds as he best typified the resolve shown by the Tropang Texters in springing back from a four-point defeat to the Alaska Milk Aces last Friday.
Dillinger and the Texters pummeled the Kings hard in the final half for the convincing victory that forced a three-way jam among Talk n Text, Ginebra and Sta. Lucia at third place on their identical 5-3 win-loss cards.
"Coming to this game, we're 4-3 and we thought if we can find a way to win our next two games, we'll just be a game behind the second placer after the first round of the elims. That's not bad," said Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes.
"We got a break when Jayjay (Helterbrand) couldn't play. We talked about using Jayjay's absence as an advantage," Reyes added.
Helterbrand, the 2008-09 MVP winner, rejoined Mark Caguioa on the sideline with a bruised knee. And the Kings became all the more short-handed as Celino Cruz suffered a fractured left hand towards the end of the first half.
The Kings slowly faded out in the second half and absorbed a fifth straight loss in their head-on duels with the Texters in the all-Filipino tourney.
Johnny Abarrientos suited up once more with Ginebra lacking in manpower.
The 1996 MVP awardee played his second game this season, contributing three steals, three rebounds, two points and two assists in 18 minutes of play.
"Malaking bagay yung wala sa kanila si Jayjay at Mark Caguioa. Good for at least 50 points yun dalawang yon," said Reyes.
Talk n Text fought Ginebra through six deadlocks and five lead changes before taking the half at 41-38.
Mark Cardona and Dillinger figured in fierce match-ups with Ronald Tubid and JC Intal early on with the TnT pair combining for 17 points against the Ginebra duo's 20 in the first 24 minutes of play.
Cardona was nearly flawless, with 3-of-4 field-goal shooting plus 2-of-2 free throws.
Jason Castro, Ali Peek, Harvey Carey and Nic Belasco joined the fray in the second half, allowing the Texters to lead by as many as 15.
Dillinger stood out with his active performance in rebounding. He got 10 defensive and eight offensive caroms -- his biggest in his young PBA career.
"Nakakuha ng maraming offensive rebounds dahil ang sama ng shooting nya. Kinausap ko nga na hindi naman pwedeng ganon lang. He has to be smarter than that. Good thing, he converted his shots in the clutch," said Reyes. (SB)
Talk n Text 87 -- Dillinger 18, Castro 11, Cardona 11, Peek 10, De Ocampo Y. 7, De Ocampo R. 6, Ritualo 6, Belasco 6, Carey 5, Alapag 5, Isip 2.
Ginebra 72 -- Tubid 21, Intal 11, Menk 9, Mamaril 7, Baguio 7, Villanueva 6, Salvacion 4, Cruz 3, Wilson 2, Abbarientos 2, White 0, Alvarez 0.
Quarterscores: 20-22; 41-38; 69-59; 87-72
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 22:41
Talk n Text rebounded strong from a loss the last time out, pounding an injury-riddled Barangay Ginebra squad for an 87-72 win in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.
Jared Dillinger put in 18 points and the same number of rebounds as he best typified the resolve shown by the Tropang Texters in springing back from a four-point defeat to the Alaska Milk Aces last Friday.
Dillinger and the Texters pummeled the Kings hard in the final half for the convincing victory that forced a three-way jam among Talk n Text, Ginebra and Sta. Lucia at third place on their identical 5-3 win-loss cards.
"Coming to this game, we're 4-3 and we thought if we can find a way to win our next two games, we'll just be a game behind the second placer after the first round of the elims. That's not bad," said Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes.
"We got a break when Jayjay (Helterbrand) couldn't play. We talked about using Jayjay's absence as an advantage," Reyes added.
Helterbrand, the 2008-09 MVP winner, rejoined Mark Caguioa on the sideline with a bruised knee. And the Kings became all the more short-handed as Celino Cruz suffered a fractured left hand towards the end of the first half.
The Kings slowly faded out in the second half and absorbed a fifth straight loss in their head-on duels with the Texters in the all-Filipino tourney.
Johnny Abarrientos suited up once more with Ginebra lacking in manpower.
The 1996 MVP awardee played his second game this season, contributing three steals, three rebounds, two points and two assists in 18 minutes of play.
"Malaking bagay yung wala sa kanila si Jayjay at Mark Caguioa. Good for at least 50 points yun dalawang yon," said Reyes.
Talk n Text fought Ginebra through six deadlocks and five lead changes before taking the half at 41-38.
Mark Cardona and Dillinger figured in fierce match-ups with Ronald Tubid and JC Intal early on with the TnT pair combining for 17 points against the Ginebra duo's 20 in the first 24 minutes of play.
Cardona was nearly flawless, with 3-of-4 field-goal shooting plus 2-of-2 free throws.
Jason Castro, Ali Peek, Harvey Carey and Nic Belasco joined the fray in the second half, allowing the Texters to lead by as many as 15.
Dillinger stood out with his active performance in rebounding. He got 10 defensive and eight offensive caroms -- his biggest in his young PBA career.
"Nakakuha ng maraming offensive rebounds dahil ang sama ng shooting nya. Kinausap ko nga na hindi naman pwedeng ganon lang. He has to be smarter than that. Good thing, he converted his shots in the clutch," said Reyes. (SB)
Talk n Text 87 -- Dillinger 18, Castro 11, Cardona 11, Peek 10, De Ocampo Y. 7, De Ocampo R. 6, Ritualo 6, Belasco 6, Carey 5, Alapag 5, Isip 2.
Ginebra 72 -- Tubid 21, Intal 11, Menk 9, Mamaril 7, Baguio 7, Villanueva 6, Salvacion 4, Cruz 3, Wilson 2, Abbarientos 2, White 0, Alvarez 0.
Quarterscores: 20-22; 41-38; 69-59; 87-72
Rain or Shine sends Coca-Cola deeper down the standings
source: gmanews.tv
Rain or Shine Elasto just doesn’t want to be branded as the worst team in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the moment. The tag belongs to the Coca-Cola Tigers, the Elasto Painters made sure about that.
Behind the conference-high in points and assists by Sol Mercado, Rain or Shine rallied from a 14-point deficit in the third quarter to nip Coca-Cola, 92-84, its first-ever franchise win against the team.
Mercado nailed 24 points and issued eight assists – both personal bests this conference – and added four rebounds and two steals in 40 minutes of playing time Wednesday night at the Araneta Coliseum.
The burly playmaker shot 7-of-15 from the field and missed only a free throw out of his 10 attempts.
This marked the first time in seven consecutive outings that the Elasto Painters had beaten the Tigers since joining the league two seasons ago.
And following the breakthrough win against the Tigers, coach Caloy Garcia could only hope for better things to come for his team.
“I always believe in my players that they are capable of playing good and winning. The only problem we have is consistency. We were down inthe third quarter and still were able to win. It’s a morale-booster ," said Garcia.
Jeff Chan added 16 points – 11 coming in the fourth period – and Eddie Laure had 11 points for Rain or Shine, which has now tied Barako Bull for eighth and ninth spots with its second win in nine games and won despite losing the battle off the boards, 54-37.
Mark Macapagal scored 16, Larry Rodriguez 15, Alex Cabagnot 13 and Dennis Espino 13 for the Tigers, who were relegated to the bottom of the 10-team standings with their seventh defeat in eight games.
It was a great comeback for the Painters, who at one stage of the game were staring at a huge 54-40 deficit in the third period.
But they managed to rally in the same stretch, grabbed the lead at 60-58 going into the final period, and even built an 82-67 advantage with 5:53 left to play after a three-point shot by TY Tang from the right corner.
The scores:
Rain or Shine 92 – Mercado 24, Chan 16, Laure 11, Norwood 8, Tang 8, Arana 7, Reyes 5, Hrabak 5, Cruz 4, Telan 4, Ubanes 0.
Coca-Cola 84 – Macapagal 16, Rodriguez 15, Cabagnot 13, Espino 10, Calimag 9, Gonzales 9, Ross 7, Rizada 5, Allera 0, Bono 0, Gonzales 0, Singson 0.
Quarterscores: 24-21; 36-48; 60-58; 92-84.
Rain or Shine Elasto just doesn’t want to be branded as the worst team in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the moment. The tag belongs to the Coca-Cola Tigers, the Elasto Painters made sure about that.
Behind the conference-high in points and assists by Sol Mercado, Rain or Shine rallied from a 14-point deficit in the third quarter to nip Coca-Cola, 92-84, its first-ever franchise win against the team.
Mercado nailed 24 points and issued eight assists – both personal bests this conference – and added four rebounds and two steals in 40 minutes of playing time Wednesday night at the Araneta Coliseum.
The burly playmaker shot 7-of-15 from the field and missed only a free throw out of his 10 attempts.
This marked the first time in seven consecutive outings that the Elasto Painters had beaten the Tigers since joining the league two seasons ago.
And following the breakthrough win against the Tigers, coach Caloy Garcia could only hope for better things to come for his team.
“I always believe in my players that they are capable of playing good and winning. The only problem we have is consistency. We were down inthe third quarter and still were able to win. It’s a morale-booster ," said Garcia.
Jeff Chan added 16 points – 11 coming in the fourth period – and Eddie Laure had 11 points for Rain or Shine, which has now tied Barako Bull for eighth and ninth spots with its second win in nine games and won despite losing the battle off the boards, 54-37.
Mark Macapagal scored 16, Larry Rodriguez 15, Alex Cabagnot 13 and Dennis Espino 13 for the Tigers, who were relegated to the bottom of the 10-team standings with their seventh defeat in eight games.
It was a great comeback for the Painters, who at one stage of the game were staring at a huge 54-40 deficit in the third period.
But they managed to rally in the same stretch, grabbed the lead at 60-58 going into the final period, and even built an 82-67 advantage with 5:53 left to play after a three-point shot by TY Tang from the right corner.
The scores:
Rain or Shine 92 – Mercado 24, Chan 16, Laure 11, Norwood 8, Tang 8, Arana 7, Reyes 5, Hrabak 5, Cruz 4, Telan 4, Ubanes 0.
Coca-Cola 84 – Macapagal 16, Rodriguez 15, Cabagnot 13, Espino 10, Calimag 9, Gonzales 9, Ross 7, Rizada 5, Allera 0, Bono 0, Gonzales 0, Singson 0.
Quarterscores: 24-21; 36-48; 60-58; 92-84.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
TNT, Ginebra clash this Wednesday
source: Waylon Galvez | mb.com.ph
Talk ’N Text, bidding to become the first team to win successive All-Filipino titles in 25 years, sits in the middle of the standings in the current KFC-PBA Philippine Cup.
With a 4-3 win-loss record, the Texters are in fifth spot – not exactly the way they wanted to be in, but not a reason to press the panic button.
“Every game from hereon is big,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes on the eve of their match with Barangay Ginebra.
The Texters clash with the Kings at 7:30 p.m. following the 5 p.m. tussle between Rain or Shine and Coca-Cola at the Araneta Coliseum.
Both the Texters and the Kings are coming off losses.
TNT bowed to Alaska Milk, 110-106, last Friday while Ginebra saw its three-game winning streak halted by Sta. Lucia Realty, 93-72, last Wednesday.
The Kings are in solo third place with a 5-2 card.
Against Ginebra, Reyes said they must hold their opponents to less than 100 points.
“As usual, we must shore up on “D”to limit Ginebra’s scoring. Our three losses, so far, have come from teams scoring 100 points or more, although we averaged close to 100 ourselves in those defeats,” Reyes added.
The Kings will continue to miss the services of Mark Caguioa (knee injury) and Sunday Salvacion (calf muscle).
Ginebra coach Jong Uichico will have to get maximum performance from reigning MVP Jayjay Helterbrand, Ronald Tubid, Cyrus Baguio, and Rico Villanueva.
“We are playing one of the top four teams in the league,” Uichico said. “There’s no doubt that Talk ’N Text has depth and firepower. We need to sustain all we have for 48 minutes.”
Reyes will rely on top scorer Mark Cardona, playmaker Jimmy Alapag, as well as Renren Ritualo, Ranidel de Ocampo, Jared Dillinger, Ali Peek, Harvey Carey, and Jason Castro.
The first match also pits teams trying to rebound from setbacks.
Rain or Shine lost to Purefoods, 69-103, last Nov. 15, two days after handing Alaska its first loss (86-81), while Coke lost to San Miguel Beer, 84-107, over the weekend in Cebu City.
The Elasto Painters must conjure the magic that enabled them to advance to the semis last conference if they want to improve their 1-7 record.
The Elasto Painters also absorbed a stinging 91-84 loss to Smart-Gilas national team that infuriated team owners Raymund Yu and Terry Que.
Coke coach Kenneth Duremdes said veteran center Asi Taulava will be absent for the sixth straight game. The 6-foot-9 Taulava sprained his left ankle last Oct. 18 against Barako Bull.
Games this Wednesday (Araneta Coliseum) Nov 25
5 p.m. — Rain or Shine vs. Coca-Cola
7:30 p.m. — Ginebra vs. Talk ’N Text
Talk ’N Text, bidding to become the first team to win successive All-Filipino titles in 25 years, sits in the middle of the standings in the current KFC-PBA Philippine Cup.
With a 4-3 win-loss record, the Texters are in fifth spot – not exactly the way they wanted to be in, but not a reason to press the panic button.
“Every game from hereon is big,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes on the eve of their match with Barangay Ginebra.
The Texters clash with the Kings at 7:30 p.m. following the 5 p.m. tussle between Rain or Shine and Coca-Cola at the Araneta Coliseum.
Both the Texters and the Kings are coming off losses.
TNT bowed to Alaska Milk, 110-106, last Friday while Ginebra saw its three-game winning streak halted by Sta. Lucia Realty, 93-72, last Wednesday.
The Kings are in solo third place with a 5-2 card.
Against Ginebra, Reyes said they must hold their opponents to less than 100 points.
“As usual, we must shore up on “D”to limit Ginebra’s scoring. Our three losses, so far, have come from teams scoring 100 points or more, although we averaged close to 100 ourselves in those defeats,” Reyes added.
The Kings will continue to miss the services of Mark Caguioa (knee injury) and Sunday Salvacion (calf muscle).
Ginebra coach Jong Uichico will have to get maximum performance from reigning MVP Jayjay Helterbrand, Ronald Tubid, Cyrus Baguio, and Rico Villanueva.
“We are playing one of the top four teams in the league,” Uichico said. “There’s no doubt that Talk ’N Text has depth and firepower. We need to sustain all we have for 48 minutes.”
Reyes will rely on top scorer Mark Cardona, playmaker Jimmy Alapag, as well as Renren Ritualo, Ranidel de Ocampo, Jared Dillinger, Ali Peek, Harvey Carey, and Jason Castro.
The first match also pits teams trying to rebound from setbacks.
Rain or Shine lost to Purefoods, 69-103, last Nov. 15, two days after handing Alaska its first loss (86-81), while Coke lost to San Miguel Beer, 84-107, over the weekend in Cebu City.
The Elasto Painters must conjure the magic that enabled them to advance to the semis last conference if they want to improve their 1-7 record.
The Elasto Painters also absorbed a stinging 91-84 loss to Smart-Gilas national team that infuriated team owners Raymund Yu and Terry Que.
Coke coach Kenneth Duremdes said veteran center Asi Taulava will be absent for the sixth straight game. The 6-foot-9 Taulava sprained his left ankle last Oct. 18 against Barako Bull.
Games this Wednesday (Araneta Coliseum) Nov 25
5 p.m. — Rain or Shine vs. Coca-Cola
7:30 p.m. — Ginebra vs. Talk ’N Text
Monday, November 23, 2009
Sampson impresses Toroman
source: June Navarro | inquirer.net
Jamal Sampson went through a three-hour workout with the Smart Gilas Pilipinas national team and Serbian coach Rajko Toroman liked what he saw.
The 6-foot-11 former NBA journeyman will now undergo a series of medical tests as the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas expressed interest in signing him up as a naturalized player for the national team.
“He is a legitimate NBA veteran who coach Rajko describes as a pure center,” said SBP executive director Noli Eala. “He’s simple but a very good defensive player with excellent post moves, exactly what we need.”
Though not the flashy type, Eala said the 245-pound Sampson is bigger, stronger and more seasoned than the 6-foot-11 CJ Giles, whom the SBP released last week due to erratic behavior and injuries.
During the Gilas practice, Sampson dominated the paint and swatted every shot the 6-foot-11 Greg Slaughter tried to make.
Jamal Sampson went through a three-hour workout with the Smart Gilas Pilipinas national team and Serbian coach Rajko Toroman liked what he saw.
The 6-foot-11 former NBA journeyman will now undergo a series of medical tests as the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas expressed interest in signing him up as a naturalized player for the national team.
“He is a legitimate NBA veteran who coach Rajko describes as a pure center,” said SBP executive director Noli Eala. “He’s simple but a very good defensive player with excellent post moves, exactly what we need.”
Though not the flashy type, Eala said the 245-pound Sampson is bigger, stronger and more seasoned than the 6-foot-11 CJ Giles, whom the SBP released last week due to erratic behavior and injuries.
During the Gilas practice, Sampson dominated the paint and swatted every shot the 6-foot-11 Greg Slaughter tried to make.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Veteran NBA player picked to replace Giles
source: Nelson Beltran | philstar.com
MANILA, Philippines - Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has chosen Jamal Wesley Sampson to replace C.J. Giles as new prospect for naturalization to reinforce Smart Gilas in its ambitious bid to make the London Olympics in 2012.
Sampson, a 6-foot-11 center-forward who has played with the Milwaukee Bucks, the LA Lakers, the Charlotte Bobcats, the Sacramento Kings and the Denver Nuggets in the NBA, arrived Friday night and immediately had a one-on-one session with coach Rajko Toroman at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center yesterday.
SBP executive director Noli Eala said they’ve got a provisional agreement with Sampson, allowing him to play with Smart Gilas in its four remaining games as guest team of the ongoing PBA all-Filipino tourney.
Sampson, who played for University of California-Berkeley after an outstanding high school career in which he earned third team Parade All-America honors, was chosen over Earl Barron and Shawn Pruitt among other available legitimate NBA talents.
He was in China for six days and was set to play for the Fujian team in the Chinese league when he got the offer to play for Smart Gilas. He flew to ManilaFriday night straight from China.
“It’s too early to assess but we’re excited with him. He’s highly recommended. He’s got good credentials. He’s more mature and more experienced,” said Eala.
“Coach Rajko is impressed. He thinks Jamal is a good potential,” added Eala of their new naturalization prospect who is a cousin of 1983 NBA No. 1 draft selection Ralph Sampson.
The younger Sampson, 26, was picked by the Utah Jazz 47th overall in the 2002 NBA draft then was traded along with Ryan Humphrey to the Orlando Magic for Custis Borchardt. The Magic then traded him to Milwaukee for Rashard Griffith.
Sampson was considered among the top collegiate prospects after leading Mater Dei to the California state championship in 2001. He averaged 15.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks as a senior.
Sampson is said to be an athletic player who runs the court well for a person his size, finishes well around the basket and has the ability to affect opposing teams with his shot-blocking skills.
MANILA, Philippines - Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has chosen Jamal Wesley Sampson to replace C.J. Giles as new prospect for naturalization to reinforce Smart Gilas in its ambitious bid to make the London Olympics in 2012.
Sampson, a 6-foot-11 center-forward who has played with the Milwaukee Bucks, the LA Lakers, the Charlotte Bobcats, the Sacramento Kings and the Denver Nuggets in the NBA, arrived Friday night and immediately had a one-on-one session with coach Rajko Toroman at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center yesterday.
SBP executive director Noli Eala said they’ve got a provisional agreement with Sampson, allowing him to play with Smart Gilas in its four remaining games as guest team of the ongoing PBA all-Filipino tourney.
Sampson, who played for University of California-Berkeley after an outstanding high school career in which he earned third team Parade All-America honors, was chosen over Earl Barron and Shawn Pruitt among other available legitimate NBA talents.
He was in China for six days and was set to play for the Fujian team in the Chinese league when he got the offer to play for Smart Gilas. He flew to ManilaFriday night straight from China.
“It’s too early to assess but we’re excited with him. He’s highly recommended. He’s got good credentials. He’s more mature and more experienced,” said Eala.
“Coach Rajko is impressed. He thinks Jamal is a good potential,” added Eala of their new naturalization prospect who is a cousin of 1983 NBA No. 1 draft selection Ralph Sampson.
The younger Sampson, 26, was picked by the Utah Jazz 47th overall in the 2002 NBA draft then was traded along with Ryan Humphrey to the Orlando Magic for Custis Borchardt. The Magic then traded him to Milwaukee for Rashard Griffith.
Sampson was considered among the top collegiate prospects after leading Mater Dei to the California state championship in 2001. He averaged 15.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks as a senior.
Sampson is said to be an athletic player who runs the court well for a person his size, finishes well around the basket and has the ability to affect opposing teams with his shot-blocking skills.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
REALTORS HALT KINGS' RUN WITH BLOWOUT WIN
Source: PBA.PH
Wed, 11/18/2009 - 22:31
Not taking anything away from Sta. Lucia but fatigue factor seemed to come to play in this game.
The well-rested Realtors proved too much for the battle-weary Barangay Ginebra side, pulling off an emphatic 93-72 win in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.
Kelly Williams and the rest of the Sta. Lucia team pounded and pummeled Ginebra in the last three quarters, checking a two-game skid and snapping the Kings’ three-game winning streak.
The Realtors had lost three of their last four games but came out with a lot of energy and intensity playing their first official game since a 69-88 defeat at the hands San Miguel Beer in Victorias, Negros Occidental last Nov. 7. They fashioned out a come-from-behind 96-95 decision over Smart Gilas in their non-bearing match a week ago at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The Kings, meanwhile, seemed to play with no spring in their legs, coming from their 83-79 win over the Burger King Whoppers Saturday in Tubod, Lanao del Norte.
Before going up against Sta. Lucia, Ginebra had won its last three games for a 5-1 card – the team’s best start in any tourney since winning six of its first seven games in the 1998 Governors Cup.
But the Kings didn't get a chance against the Realtors.
The Realtors raced to a 20-point lead at halftime and refused to slow down as they notched a fourth win against three losses.
Williams, inspired by a new-born son, churned out a near triple-double job with 26 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists with Ryan Reyes and Jason Misolas also stepping up as Sta. Lucia frustrated Ginebra in a bid to tie Alaska Milk atop the leader board.
The Kings instead slid to third behind the Aces and the San Miguel Beermen at 5-2.
“Kelly did a good job. He’s really inspired being a brand new father,” said Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez of Williams whose wife gave birth to a first child Tuesday.
“Ryan and Jason are also worth mentioning but it’s actually a team effort. We prepared well for this game and we reaped good dividend,” Fernandez added.
Williams and his teammates torched the Kings with a 47.6-percent shooting in the second quarter to open a 50-30 margin spread at the half.
Williams had 10 points on top of six rebounds and six assists with Joshua Urbiztondo adding six points and three rebounds and Gabby Espinas chipping in five points and four rebounds as the Realtors got away with a big second-quarter onslaught, beating the Kings by 16 points in the period.
After fighting the Realtors through two deadlock and three lead changes in the opening period, the Kings tapered off the second quarter, scoring only nine on a miserable 16.7-percent clip.
The Realtors simply kept their domination of the Kings in the final half. (SB)
The scores:
Sta. Lucia 93 – Williams 26, Reyes 17, Misolas 12, Espinas 8, Yeo 8, Urbiztondo 6, Jaime 5, Pacana 4, Omolon 3, Daa 2, Aquino 2.
Ginebra 72 – Menk 14, Tubid 12, Intal 10, Cruz 8, Baguio 8, Helterbrand 5, White 4, Mamaril 4, Villanueva 4, Alvarez 2, Wilson 1, Kramer 0.
Quarterscores: 23-21, 50-30, 71-54, 93-72
Wed, 11/18/2009 - 22:31
Not taking anything away from Sta. Lucia but fatigue factor seemed to come to play in this game.
The well-rested Realtors proved too much for the battle-weary Barangay Ginebra side, pulling off an emphatic 93-72 win in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.
Kelly Williams and the rest of the Sta. Lucia team pounded and pummeled Ginebra in the last three quarters, checking a two-game skid and snapping the Kings’ three-game winning streak.
The Realtors had lost three of their last four games but came out with a lot of energy and intensity playing their first official game since a 69-88 defeat at the hands San Miguel Beer in Victorias, Negros Occidental last Nov. 7. They fashioned out a come-from-behind 96-95 decision over Smart Gilas in their non-bearing match a week ago at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The Kings, meanwhile, seemed to play with no spring in their legs, coming from their 83-79 win over the Burger King Whoppers Saturday in Tubod, Lanao del Norte.
Before going up against Sta. Lucia, Ginebra had won its last three games for a 5-1 card – the team’s best start in any tourney since winning six of its first seven games in the 1998 Governors Cup.
But the Kings didn't get a chance against the Realtors.
The Realtors raced to a 20-point lead at halftime and refused to slow down as they notched a fourth win against three losses.
Williams, inspired by a new-born son, churned out a near triple-double job with 26 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists with Ryan Reyes and Jason Misolas also stepping up as Sta. Lucia frustrated Ginebra in a bid to tie Alaska Milk atop the leader board.
The Kings instead slid to third behind the Aces and the San Miguel Beermen at 5-2.
“Kelly did a good job. He’s really inspired being a brand new father,” said Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez of Williams whose wife gave birth to a first child Tuesday.
“Ryan and Jason are also worth mentioning but it’s actually a team effort. We prepared well for this game and we reaped good dividend,” Fernandez added.
Williams and his teammates torched the Kings with a 47.6-percent shooting in the second quarter to open a 50-30 margin spread at the half.
Williams had 10 points on top of six rebounds and six assists with Joshua Urbiztondo adding six points and three rebounds and Gabby Espinas chipping in five points and four rebounds as the Realtors got away with a big second-quarter onslaught, beating the Kings by 16 points in the period.
After fighting the Realtors through two deadlock and three lead changes in the opening period, the Kings tapered off the second quarter, scoring only nine on a miserable 16.7-percent clip.
The Realtors simply kept their domination of the Kings in the final half. (SB)
The scores:
Sta. Lucia 93 – Williams 26, Reyes 17, Misolas 12, Espinas 8, Yeo 8, Urbiztondo 6, Jaime 5, Pacana 4, Omolon 3, Daa 2, Aquino 2.
Ginebra 72 – Menk 14, Tubid 12, Intal 10, Cruz 8, Baguio 8, Helterbrand 5, White 4, Mamaril 4, Villanueva 4, Alvarez 2, Wilson 1, Kramer 0.
Quarterscores: 23-21, 50-30, 71-54, 93-72
MARK YEE’S FLAWLESS 4Q LIFTS BURGER KING OUT OF RUT
Source: PBA.PH
Wed, 11/18/2009 - 20:43
Mark Yee had a flawless fourth quarter to cap a late rally by Burger King en route to a 106-97 victory against the Coca-Cola Tigers Wednesday night in the 2009-10 KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Mark Yee went 4-of-4 from the field, including three 3-pointers and made all six of his free throws in the decisive period as the Whoppers bounced back from a 3-game losing streak and improved to a 2-5 (win-loss) record. He eventually finished with a career-high 19 points to share scoring honors with Ronjay Buenafe.
Gary David added 17 points for Burger King which allowed a 19-point lead in the opening quarter to dissipate.
The Whoppers, who were coming off a 79-83 loss against Barangay Ginebra in Tubod, Lanao del Norte last Saturday, appeared in trouble when the Tigers shot 12-of-27 in the third quarter to seize control and stay ahead until the final five minutes of the match.
But Mark Yee went into an offensive flow, pouring in 17 of his points in the fourth when the Whoppers needed someone to carry the fight. His 3-pointer with 2:30 to play put Burger King back on top, 96-93.
Although Dennis Espino manage to complete a 3-point play 22 seconds remaining to tie the count for the last time, Coca-Cola’s effort to snap a two-game skid came up short as the Whoppers closed the quarter with a 10-1 run.
“We really needed this win to get us going. It’s tough to motivate the team when you’re not winning so I hope this would get us back on track,” said Burger King coach Yeng Guiao afterwards.
“I’m not too happy with the way we played defense in our previous games. But tonight I thought we made decent stops and shot well from the field,” he added.
Guiao said the Japeth (Aguilar) episode and the suspension of team captain Wynne Arboleda greatly affected the team’s campaign.
Alex Cabagnot led Coca-Cola with 20 points. Espino added 15 and Marvin Cruz had 12 and four assists for the Tigers, who fell to 1-5.
Espino opened the game with a short jumper but Burger King scored the next 21 points, the all-time best scoring run in franchise history, and appeared to have the game well under control.
With Buenafe going 6-for-6 from the field the Whoppers remained pretty much in control for most of the first half until Espino and Cabagnot came up with big baskets in the last four minutes of the second quarter to trim Burger King’s lead to just 45-46 at the half.
Coca-Cola opened the third quarter with a 13-3 run and took a 58-49 lead on a jumper and a 3-pointer by Norman Gonzales.
The Tigers protected the lead until the fourth with Francis Allera’s 3-pointer giving the Tigers a 93-88 edge with 5:23 left to play.
But once again they crumbled the stretch due to poor defense and costly turnovers. Coca-Cola committed six of their 20 turnovers in the fourth. (DBC)
The scores:
BURGER KING 106 - Yee M. 19, Buenafe 19, David 17, Belga 15, Quinahan 9, Matias 7, Sharma 7, Lanete 5, Yee R. 5, Bilones 2, Williams 1, Aban 0.
COCA-COLA 97 - Cabagnot 20, Espino 15, Cruz 12, Rodriguez 11, Gonzales 11, Bono 6, Ross 2, Rizada 1, Calimag 1, Macapagal 0.
QUARTERSCORES: 29-20, 46-45, 70-75, 106-97.
Wed, 11/18/2009 - 20:43
Mark Yee had a flawless fourth quarter to cap a late rally by Burger King en route to a 106-97 victory against the Coca-Cola Tigers Wednesday night in the 2009-10 KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Mark Yee went 4-of-4 from the field, including three 3-pointers and made all six of his free throws in the decisive period as the Whoppers bounced back from a 3-game losing streak and improved to a 2-5 (win-loss) record. He eventually finished with a career-high 19 points to share scoring honors with Ronjay Buenafe.
Gary David added 17 points for Burger King which allowed a 19-point lead in the opening quarter to dissipate.
The Whoppers, who were coming off a 79-83 loss against Barangay Ginebra in Tubod, Lanao del Norte last Saturday, appeared in trouble when the Tigers shot 12-of-27 in the third quarter to seize control and stay ahead until the final five minutes of the match.
But Mark Yee went into an offensive flow, pouring in 17 of his points in the fourth when the Whoppers needed someone to carry the fight. His 3-pointer with 2:30 to play put Burger King back on top, 96-93.
Although Dennis Espino manage to complete a 3-point play 22 seconds remaining to tie the count for the last time, Coca-Cola’s effort to snap a two-game skid came up short as the Whoppers closed the quarter with a 10-1 run.
“We really needed this win to get us going. It’s tough to motivate the team when you’re not winning so I hope this would get us back on track,” said Burger King coach Yeng Guiao afterwards.
“I’m not too happy with the way we played defense in our previous games. But tonight I thought we made decent stops and shot well from the field,” he added.
Guiao said the Japeth (Aguilar) episode and the suspension of team captain Wynne Arboleda greatly affected the team’s campaign.
Alex Cabagnot led Coca-Cola with 20 points. Espino added 15 and Marvin Cruz had 12 and four assists for the Tigers, who fell to 1-5.
Espino opened the game with a short jumper but Burger King scored the next 21 points, the all-time best scoring run in franchise history, and appeared to have the game well under control.
With Buenafe going 6-for-6 from the field the Whoppers remained pretty much in control for most of the first half until Espino and Cabagnot came up with big baskets in the last four minutes of the second quarter to trim Burger King’s lead to just 45-46 at the half.
Coca-Cola opened the third quarter with a 13-3 run and took a 58-49 lead on a jumper and a 3-pointer by Norman Gonzales.
The Tigers protected the lead until the fourth with Francis Allera’s 3-pointer giving the Tigers a 93-88 edge with 5:23 left to play.
But once again they crumbled the stretch due to poor defense and costly turnovers. Coca-Cola committed six of their 20 turnovers in the fourth. (DBC)
The scores:
BURGER KING 106 - Yee M. 19, Buenafe 19, David 17, Belga 15, Quinahan 9, Matias 7, Sharma 7, Lanete 5, Yee R. 5, Bilones 2, Williams 1, Aban 0.
COCA-COLA 97 - Cabagnot 20, Espino 15, Cruz 12, Rodriguez 11, Gonzales 11, Bono 6, Ross 2, Rizada 1, Calimag 1, Macapagal 0.
QUARTERSCORES: 29-20, 46-45, 70-75, 106-97.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Banged-up Ginebra eyes share of lead vs Sta. Lucia
source: gmanews.tv
A banged-up team like Barangay Ginebra knows how to endure all sorts and pains and injuries to survive in a league dominated by big boys and powerhouse squads.
The Gin Kings has bucked the absence of injured key players like Mark Caguioa, Jayjay Helterbrand, Junthy Valenzuela, Johnny Abarrientos and even Eric Menk by unleashing their old never-say-die spirit.
They have won five of their first six games to move just a half-game behind solo leader Alaska Milk in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup and will have a chance to gain a share of the lead with a win on Wednesday.
The Gin Kings will seek this objective when they mix it up with the Sta. Lucia Realtors at 7:30 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum.
How things have gone so far for the Gin Kings, Uichico has only one word to describe – satisfying.
“We’re reduced to a banged-up team, yet we managed to find a way to win games," said Uichico. “I cannot ask for more from my players. They always refuse to lose and that’s the reason why we’re still having a good record."
Against the Realtors, Uichico will need to summon the strength from every healthy player on his squad in their bid to join the Aces on top.
The Realtors, one of the few teams which unloaded several marquee players like Dennis Espino and Denok Miranda in the off-season, remains a formidable force in the All-Filipino Conference, especially now that former MVP Kelly Williams and Ryan Reyes are back in tip-top condition.
Slumping teams Coca-Cola Tigers and Burger King Whopper try to change their fortunes when they go for broke in the 5 p.m. first game.
A banged-up team like Barangay Ginebra knows how to endure all sorts and pains and injuries to survive in a league dominated by big boys and powerhouse squads.
The Gin Kings has bucked the absence of injured key players like Mark Caguioa, Jayjay Helterbrand, Junthy Valenzuela, Johnny Abarrientos and even Eric Menk by unleashing their old never-say-die spirit.
They have won five of their first six games to move just a half-game behind solo leader Alaska Milk in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup and will have a chance to gain a share of the lead with a win on Wednesday.
The Gin Kings will seek this objective when they mix it up with the Sta. Lucia Realtors at 7:30 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum.
How things have gone so far for the Gin Kings, Uichico has only one word to describe – satisfying.
“We’re reduced to a banged-up team, yet we managed to find a way to win games," said Uichico. “I cannot ask for more from my players. They always refuse to lose and that’s the reason why we’re still having a good record."
Against the Realtors, Uichico will need to summon the strength from every healthy player on his squad in their bid to join the Aces on top.
The Realtors, one of the few teams which unloaded several marquee players like Dennis Espino and Denok Miranda in the off-season, remains a formidable force in the All-Filipino Conference, especially now that former MVP Kelly Williams and Ryan Reyes are back in tip-top condition.
Slumping teams Coca-Cola Tigers and Burger King Whopper try to change their fortunes when they go for broke in the 5 p.m. first game.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Giles out of Smart Gilas
source: philstar.com
Smart-Gilas’ would-be naturalized player C. J. Giles, once considering to settle down permanently in Manila to set up a T-shirt business, has been cut from the Philippine national basketball team, it was learned yesterday.
Giles, 24, and his brother Malcolm left Manila for the US last Sunday. Giles’ former Oregon State teammate Wes, who accompanied him here, followed yesterday morning.
There was no explanation from the SBP as to why Giles was released but the speculation was he proved to be a handful for Serbian coach Rajko Toroman. Giles reportedly used to show up for practice with a hangover from heavy drinking the night before. It was also rumored that he tested positive for marijuana in a drug examination and in a fit of dysfunctional behavior, beat up his brother, banging his head on a wall to later send him to the hospital for stitches.
Giles had a history of irresponsibility as a varsity player at Kansas and Oregon State where he was similarly cut. He was once considered one of the US’ top high school cagers and even played for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA preseason last year despite being undrafted.
At the FIBA-Asia Champions Cup in Jakarta early this year, Giles powered the Philippines to fifth place, averaging 18.8 points, 13.2 rebounds, 2.3 blocked shots and 1.7 steals in six games. He played a key role in Smart-Gilas’ 98-69 masscare of Powerade Team Pilipinas in a charity exhibition game at the Araneta Coliseum last month.
A source from Smart-Gilas said Giles begged for a second chance to stay with the team but it was too late for a reconsideration. He was even granted a one-week home leave during the PBA Philippine Cup to visit his ailing four-year-old son Jaden in California and his mother in Seattle. But when he came back, Giles’ poor attitude was unchanged.
Giles sat out Smart-Gilas’ 96-95 loss to Sta. Lucia Realty last Friday, purportedly because of an ankle sprain. In his last PBA game, he scored 11 points as Smart-Gilas defeated Coca-Cola, 98-93, last Nov. 6.
“He didn’t turn out to be a good influence on his teammates,” said a source. “If he stayed, it would’ve gotten worse.”
With Giles gone for good, the SBP is now scouting for a replacement. In the short list are 7-foot Earl Barron of the University of Memphis, 6-10 Shaun Pruitt of the University of Illinois and 6-11 Jamal Sampson of the University of California at Berkeley.
Barron, 28, played for Red Bull as a PBA import in 2005 then saw action for the Miami Heat in three NBA seasons. He went on to suit up in Italy and was cut by the New Orleans Hornets during the NBA offseason. Pruitt, who turns 24 next week, averaged 12.6 points and 7.3 rebounds for Illinois in the 2007-08 NCAA campaign. Sampson, 26, was Utah’s second round pick in the 2002 NBA draft and has played for Milwaukee, the Lakers, Charlotte, Sacramento and Denver in five NBA seasons.
Sampson is highly recommended by scouts. California coach Ben Braun said, “Jamal is such a presence on the court – he’s going to alter your game from a defensive standpoint because he can block shots and offensively, he’s a legitimate threat on the block and he can step out to the high post.”
In 2004-05, Sampson averaged an NBA career high 5.3 rebounds with Charlotte. At Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California, Sampson averaged 16.5 points, 10 rebounds and 2.4 blocked shots as he led the varsity to the California state title with a 33-2 record as a senior in 2000-01.
Meanwhile, Smart-Gilas is negotiating to arrange a Middle East tour next month in preparation for the Dubai invitationals on Jan. 14-21. The tour may involve playing against top-caliber clubs in Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain before overseas Filipino workers.
Shaun Pruitt
The proposed Middle East tour will replace the Haarlem tournament that has been scrapped this year. Smart-Gilas was booked to play in the six-team Amsterdam meet on Dec. 26-30. The competition would’ve brought in the Brazilian and Dutch national squads, the Russian national developmental team, a US collegiate selection and a top Brazilian club.
Luc Vergoossen, director of the Haarlem Basketball Week, blamed the cancellation on the tournament’s previous owner, BV Slam Amsterdam, for refusing to cooperate in the transition process. Vergoosen said the tournament will be back next year and assured Smart-Gilas of a slot in Holland’s most prestigious basketball event.
Smart-Gilas’ would-be naturalized player C. J. Giles, once considering to settle down permanently in Manila to set up a T-shirt business, has been cut from the Philippine national basketball team, it was learned yesterday.
Giles, 24, and his brother Malcolm left Manila for the US last Sunday. Giles’ former Oregon State teammate Wes, who accompanied him here, followed yesterday morning.
There was no explanation from the SBP as to why Giles was released but the speculation was he proved to be a handful for Serbian coach Rajko Toroman. Giles reportedly used to show up for practice with a hangover from heavy drinking the night before. It was also rumored that he tested positive for marijuana in a drug examination and in a fit of dysfunctional behavior, beat up his brother, banging his head on a wall to later send him to the hospital for stitches.
Giles had a history of irresponsibility as a varsity player at Kansas and Oregon State where he was similarly cut. He was once considered one of the US’ top high school cagers and even played for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA preseason last year despite being undrafted.
At the FIBA-Asia Champions Cup in Jakarta early this year, Giles powered the Philippines to fifth place, averaging 18.8 points, 13.2 rebounds, 2.3 blocked shots and 1.7 steals in six games. He played a key role in Smart-Gilas’ 98-69 masscare of Powerade Team Pilipinas in a charity exhibition game at the Araneta Coliseum last month.
A source from Smart-Gilas said Giles begged for a second chance to stay with the team but it was too late for a reconsideration. He was even granted a one-week home leave during the PBA Philippine Cup to visit his ailing four-year-old son Jaden in California and his mother in Seattle. But when he came back, Giles’ poor attitude was unchanged.
Giles sat out Smart-Gilas’ 96-95 loss to Sta. Lucia Realty last Friday, purportedly because of an ankle sprain. In his last PBA game, he scored 11 points as Smart-Gilas defeated Coca-Cola, 98-93, last Nov. 6.
“He didn’t turn out to be a good influence on his teammates,” said a source. “If he stayed, it would’ve gotten worse.”
With Giles gone for good, the SBP is now scouting for a replacement. In the short list are 7-foot Earl Barron of the University of Memphis, 6-10 Shaun Pruitt of the University of Illinois and 6-11 Jamal Sampson of the University of California at Berkeley.
Barron, 28, played for Red Bull as a PBA import in 2005 then saw action for the Miami Heat in three NBA seasons. He went on to suit up in Italy and was cut by the New Orleans Hornets during the NBA offseason. Pruitt, who turns 24 next week, averaged 12.6 points and 7.3 rebounds for Illinois in the 2007-08 NCAA campaign. Sampson, 26, was Utah’s second round pick in the 2002 NBA draft and has played for Milwaukee, the Lakers, Charlotte, Sacramento and Denver in five NBA seasons.
Sampson is highly recommended by scouts. California coach Ben Braun said, “Jamal is such a presence on the court – he’s going to alter your game from a defensive standpoint because he can block shots and offensively, he’s a legitimate threat on the block and he can step out to the high post.”
In 2004-05, Sampson averaged an NBA career high 5.3 rebounds with Charlotte. At Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California, Sampson averaged 16.5 points, 10 rebounds and 2.4 blocked shots as he led the varsity to the California state title with a 33-2 record as a senior in 2000-01.
Meanwhile, Smart-Gilas is negotiating to arrange a Middle East tour next month in preparation for the Dubai invitationals on Jan. 14-21. The tour may involve playing against top-caliber clubs in Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain before overseas Filipino workers.
Shaun Pruitt
The proposed Middle East tour will replace the Haarlem tournament that has been scrapped this year. Smart-Gilas was booked to play in the six-team Amsterdam meet on Dec. 26-30. The competition would’ve brought in the Brazilian and Dutch national squads, the Russian national developmental team, a US collegiate selection and a top Brazilian club.
Luc Vergoossen, director of the Haarlem Basketball Week, blamed the cancellation on the tournament’s previous owner, BV Slam Amsterdam, for refusing to cooperate in the transition process. Vergoosen said the tournament will be back next year and assured Smart-Gilas of a slot in Holland’s most prestigious basketball event.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
PUREFOODS RIPS RAIN OR SHINE
source: PBA.PH
Sun, 11/15/2009 - 21:41 — junior
PUREFOODS remained true to its rollercoaster ride Sunday in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Giants coach Ryan Gregorio now hopes that trend stops for the better.
“I am pretty sure, sooner or later we will stabilize,” said Gregorio following his Purefoods 103-69 win over Rain or Shine that held true the team's penchance to bounce back from a loss.
“Our most immediate goal right now is to grab two straight wins and we could do that in our next game against Alaska on Sunday,” he added.
The Giants sure could use it to snap out of the alarming funk that has placed them at fifth-running spot with a 4-3 win-loss slate.
Despite sitting out the entire fourth quarter, rookie Rico Maierhofer still led the Purefoods scorers with 15 points as they notched the victory that was the most lopsided in three seasons, or since a 114-73 victory over Coca-Cola in December of 2003.
The output was a conference-tying low for RoS, as it matched the Tigers' output in a 21-point loss to Alaska last Oct. 23, which, coincidentally, was the tournament's previous worst blowout.
After being foiled in its bid to follow up on its 86-81 victory over erstwhile unbeaten Alaska last Friday, Rain or Shine dropped to 1-7 and for naught went Ryan Arana's gamehigh 20 points.
Noting his team's needed break following a 76-92 loss to San Miguel Beer and what the Elasto Painters just went through, Gregorio termed the match as one between a “fresh team and a tired one.”
“We grabbed 65 rebounds and they only had 35. That shows what kind of contrast in the legs the teams have,” he pointed out.
There was really no denying the Giants' resolve and this was typified most after the Elasto Painters crawled back from an 18-point deficit to within 52-64.
James Yap (14 points) led a 9-0 run spanning the last two quarters to pave the way for a bigger 21-4 blast from an 82-63 count.
Purefoods readily set the tone by easily taking the opening period 24-17 before finishing the half with a 16-point spread.
Maierhofer was already flirting with his double-double in the first 24 minutes of play with 13 points and eight rebounds. What's more, he surprisingly drained back-to-back triples, the last giving the Giants a 42-24 cushion.
Despite its breakthrough win over Alaska, Rain or Shine remained at the tailend of the field in terms of points scored (81.7) and field goal percentage (38.5). The team did not give any indication there will be any radical change in those departments.
The Elasto Painters went 9-for-36 from the field for only 25 percent and were beaten black and blue off the boards, 17-33.
The scores:
Purefoods 103 - Maierhofer 15, Yap, J. 14, Allado 14, Raymundo 13, Artadi 9, Simon 9, Timberlake 8, Canaleta 7, Pingris 7, Salvador 4, Yap, R. 3, Reavis 0.
Rain or Shine 69 - Arana 20, Norwood 13, Hrabak 11, Mercado 9, Chan 6, Cruz 5, Arellano 2, Reyes 2, Dulay 1.
Quarters: 24-17, 47-31, 71-52, 103-69.
Sun, 11/15/2009 - 21:41 — junior
PUREFOODS remained true to its rollercoaster ride Sunday in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Giants coach Ryan Gregorio now hopes that trend stops for the better.
“I am pretty sure, sooner or later we will stabilize,” said Gregorio following his Purefoods 103-69 win over Rain or Shine that held true the team's penchance to bounce back from a loss.
“Our most immediate goal right now is to grab two straight wins and we could do that in our next game against Alaska on Sunday,” he added.
The Giants sure could use it to snap out of the alarming funk that has placed them at fifth-running spot with a 4-3 win-loss slate.
Despite sitting out the entire fourth quarter, rookie Rico Maierhofer still led the Purefoods scorers with 15 points as they notched the victory that was the most lopsided in three seasons, or since a 114-73 victory over Coca-Cola in December of 2003.
The output was a conference-tying low for RoS, as it matched the Tigers' output in a 21-point loss to Alaska last Oct. 23, which, coincidentally, was the tournament's previous worst blowout.
After being foiled in its bid to follow up on its 86-81 victory over erstwhile unbeaten Alaska last Friday, Rain or Shine dropped to 1-7 and for naught went Ryan Arana's gamehigh 20 points.
Noting his team's needed break following a 76-92 loss to San Miguel Beer and what the Elasto Painters just went through, Gregorio termed the match as one between a “fresh team and a tired one.”
“We grabbed 65 rebounds and they only had 35. That shows what kind of contrast in the legs the teams have,” he pointed out.
There was really no denying the Giants' resolve and this was typified most after the Elasto Painters crawled back from an 18-point deficit to within 52-64.
James Yap (14 points) led a 9-0 run spanning the last two quarters to pave the way for a bigger 21-4 blast from an 82-63 count.
Purefoods readily set the tone by easily taking the opening period 24-17 before finishing the half with a 16-point spread.
Maierhofer was already flirting with his double-double in the first 24 minutes of play with 13 points and eight rebounds. What's more, he surprisingly drained back-to-back triples, the last giving the Giants a 42-24 cushion.
Despite its breakthrough win over Alaska, Rain or Shine remained at the tailend of the field in terms of points scored (81.7) and field goal percentage (38.5). The team did not give any indication there will be any radical change in those departments.
The Elasto Painters went 9-for-36 from the field for only 25 percent and were beaten black and blue off the boards, 17-33.
The scores:
Purefoods 103 - Maierhofer 15, Yap, J. 14, Allado 14, Raymundo 13, Artadi 9, Simon 9, Timberlake 8, Canaleta 7, Pingris 7, Salvador 4, Yap, R. 3, Reavis 0.
Rain or Shine 69 - Arana 20, Norwood 13, Hrabak 11, Mercado 9, Chan 6, Cruz 5, Arellano 2, Reyes 2, Dulay 1.
Quarters: 24-17, 47-31, 71-52, 103-69.
COLD-BLOODED SANTOS, BEERMEN MAKE IT 6 IN A ROW
source: PBA.PH
Sun, 11/15/2009 - 19:21 — junior
San Miguel Beer had a 19-point lead almost wiped out and the Beermen had to assert their bench depth in the fourth quarter to beat the Barako Bull Energy Boosters, 104-89, Sunday in the 2009-10 KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Arwind Santos turned in a career-high 33 points but it took a superb backup effort from veteran guards Mike Cortez and Denok Miranda that enabled the Beermen to put away the Energy Boosters, who lost despite having three players coming up with career-best numbers in scoring.
It was SMB’s sixth consecutive victory, matching the conference’s longest winning streak set by erstwhile unbeaten Alaska (6-1) and improved its record to 6-2 (win-loss).
“We had warned the team as early as Friday not to take any team for granted. It’s a good thing we managed to recover. I guess this is also a good lesson for us,” said SMB coach Siot Tanquingcen afterwards.
It looked it was anybody’s ballgame after Gilbert Lao made a free throw and Paolo Hubalde nailed an eight-footer to pull Barako Bull within 72-74, with 8:48 remaining.
But the Beermen scored the next seven points – five by Miranda – to make it a nine-point game.
Two free throws by Yousif Aljamal, who showed the way for Barako Bull with a career-best 21 points, made the count 74-81 before Arwind Santos and Cortez knocked in successive threes and Dorian Pena completed a three-point play during as the Beermen stretched the lead to 90-78 with 3:40 left and the Energy Boosters never threatened again.
Dondon Hontiveros scored 21 points, Miranda came off the bench and poured in 11 of his 17 points in the fourth as the Beermen once again overcame the absence of injured stars Danny Siegle, Danny Ildefonso and Jay Washington. Cortez scored seven of his 10 points also in the last 12 minutes.
The Energy Boosters, who played their second game in three days, picked up their third straight loss and fourth in seven games overall. But they didn’t go down without fighting.
The game appeared to be a blowout when the Beermen opened the match 22-7 and they almost appeared to have it sealed when they built a 33-14 advantage one minute into the second quarter.
Then the unexpected happened.
The Energy Boosters, who struggled on offense in the opening quarter, made 11-of-22 shots while the Beermen shot just 37 percent (6-of-16) and turned the ball over eight times in that stretch as Barako Bull earned a 12-0 advantage on turnover points.
Overall, Barako Bull outscored SMB 31-18 in the second quarter to trim the gap to just 45-49 at halftime.
Barako Bull’s offense took a blow with 2:11 left in the third quarter when rookie Ogie Menor (career-high 18 points, two assists) was whistled for a flagrant foul penalty two for extending his foot on Hontiveros’ landing spot. The infraction led to his ejection and a possible suspension.
Aside from Aljamal and Menor, Hubalde’s 20 was also his career-best in scoring. (DBC)
The scores:
SAN MIGUEL BEER 104 - Santos 33, Hontiveros 21, Miranda 17, Cortez 10, Pennisi 5, Pena 5, Villanueva 4, Tugade 4, Eman 3, Custodio 2, Racela 0, Calaguio 0.
BARAKO BULL 89 - Aljamal 21, Hubalde 20, Menor 18, Najorda 10, Dimaunahan 10, Sta. Maria 5, Alonzo 2, Crisano 2, Lao 1, Viray 0, Membrere 0, Belano 0.
QUARTERSCORES: 31-14, 49-45, 72-69, 104-89.
Sun, 11/15/2009 - 19:21 — junior
San Miguel Beer had a 19-point lead almost wiped out and the Beermen had to assert their bench depth in the fourth quarter to beat the Barako Bull Energy Boosters, 104-89, Sunday in the 2009-10 KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Arwind Santos turned in a career-high 33 points but it took a superb backup effort from veteran guards Mike Cortez and Denok Miranda that enabled the Beermen to put away the Energy Boosters, who lost despite having three players coming up with career-best numbers in scoring.
It was SMB’s sixth consecutive victory, matching the conference’s longest winning streak set by erstwhile unbeaten Alaska (6-1) and improved its record to 6-2 (win-loss).
“We had warned the team as early as Friday not to take any team for granted. It’s a good thing we managed to recover. I guess this is also a good lesson for us,” said SMB coach Siot Tanquingcen afterwards.
It looked it was anybody’s ballgame after Gilbert Lao made a free throw and Paolo Hubalde nailed an eight-footer to pull Barako Bull within 72-74, with 8:48 remaining.
But the Beermen scored the next seven points – five by Miranda – to make it a nine-point game.
Two free throws by Yousif Aljamal, who showed the way for Barako Bull with a career-best 21 points, made the count 74-81 before Arwind Santos and Cortez knocked in successive threes and Dorian Pena completed a three-point play during as the Beermen stretched the lead to 90-78 with 3:40 left and the Energy Boosters never threatened again.
Dondon Hontiveros scored 21 points, Miranda came off the bench and poured in 11 of his 17 points in the fourth as the Beermen once again overcame the absence of injured stars Danny Siegle, Danny Ildefonso and Jay Washington. Cortez scored seven of his 10 points also in the last 12 minutes.
The Energy Boosters, who played their second game in three days, picked up their third straight loss and fourth in seven games overall. But they didn’t go down without fighting.
The game appeared to be a blowout when the Beermen opened the match 22-7 and they almost appeared to have it sealed when they built a 33-14 advantage one minute into the second quarter.
Then the unexpected happened.
The Energy Boosters, who struggled on offense in the opening quarter, made 11-of-22 shots while the Beermen shot just 37 percent (6-of-16) and turned the ball over eight times in that stretch as Barako Bull earned a 12-0 advantage on turnover points.
Overall, Barako Bull outscored SMB 31-18 in the second quarter to trim the gap to just 45-49 at halftime.
Barako Bull’s offense took a blow with 2:11 left in the third quarter when rookie Ogie Menor (career-high 18 points, two assists) was whistled for a flagrant foul penalty two for extending his foot on Hontiveros’ landing spot. The infraction led to his ejection and a possible suspension.
Aside from Aljamal and Menor, Hubalde’s 20 was also his career-best in scoring. (DBC)
The scores:
SAN MIGUEL BEER 104 - Santos 33, Hontiveros 21, Miranda 17, Cortez 10, Pennisi 5, Pena 5, Villanueva 4, Tugade 4, Eman 3, Custodio 2, Racela 0, Calaguio 0.
BARAKO BULL 89 - Aljamal 21, Hubalde 20, Menor 18, Najorda 10, Dimaunahan 10, Sta. Maria 5, Alonzo 2, Crisano 2, Lao 1, Viray 0, Membrere 0, Belano 0.
QUARTERSCORES: 31-14, 49-45, 72-69, 104-89.
KINGS SURVIVE WHOPPERS, SOLIDIFY HOLD OF 2ND
source: PBA.PH
Sat, 11/14/2009 - 22:18 — junior
TUBOD, Lanao del Norte – Barangay Ginebra welcomed back Jayjay Helterbrand Saturday but reserved its tightest embrace for Cyrus Baguio.
Baguio capped a 15-point performance with a clutch triple inside the last two minutes, restoring the Kings’ poise for a hard-earned 83-79 victory over gritty Burger King in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Mindanao Civic Center here.
The shot gave Ginebra an 81-74 cushion that proved enough to finally quell the threat of a BK crew that gave up one big fight despite falling behind by 16 points in the match presented by Phoenix Petroleum and watched by an appreciative crowd led by Gov. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo.
“We lost the flow, both on offense and defense, in the second half and I really don’t know why,” admitted Ginebra coach Jong Uichico. “Good thing Cyrus came up with the shot that bailed us out.”
Before the Kings knew it, the Whoppers have come up with a 26-8 third quarter that gave them a 62-57 lead and even had a 67-63 advantage going into the last 8:16 of the game.
Good thing Ginebra still had some left in its tank for the final push home that earned it its third straight win and a more solid hold on second-running spot with a 5-1 win-loss record.
The loss was the Whoppers’ third straight, sticking them at ninth with a 1-5 slate.
Baguio also wound up with five rebounds and three assists, with Enrico Villanueva netting a teamhigh 16 points with seven rebounds.
Ronnie Matias’ 12 points led BK’s scorers and a determined charge by the Whoppers’ second stringers, whose valiant efforts were waylaid by the team shooting only 22-of-42 from the stripes.
Helterbrand, Ginebra’s top scorer and feeder who missed his team’s last two games due to a hurting right knee, came up with six points, one rebound and an assist in 23 minutes of action.
Baguio, lustily cheered on by fans who flocked from his native Iligan City nearby, gave his and Ginebra’s supporters ample reason to cheer first by coming off the bench late in the first quarter and capped a 13-5 run with six straight points, including a buzzer-beating triple that made it 27-18.
Baguio was not done. He had another six points in the second period, including a two-handed reverse dunk off his own steal, and a nifty assist to Villanueva, before Eric Menk buried a baseline jumper to give the Kings their biggest lead yet at 49-33.
Hurting BK most in the first half was its woeful 8-for-18 free throw shooting, including four straight to start the second period, and eight second quarter turnovers by the Whoppers helped fuel the Kings’ repeated surges.
Then came the third period, which Ginebra started by shooting 1-of-13 from the field and committing four turnovers.
Buenafe and Billones led BK’s second-stringers who gamely spearheaded the fightback, tying it at 52 before a 7-2 run ending the period gave the hoppers their biggest lead of the game.
Sat, 11/14/2009 - 22:18 — junior
TUBOD, Lanao del Norte – Barangay Ginebra welcomed back Jayjay Helterbrand Saturday but reserved its tightest embrace for Cyrus Baguio.
Baguio capped a 15-point performance with a clutch triple inside the last two minutes, restoring the Kings’ poise for a hard-earned 83-79 victory over gritty Burger King in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Mindanao Civic Center here.
The shot gave Ginebra an 81-74 cushion that proved enough to finally quell the threat of a BK crew that gave up one big fight despite falling behind by 16 points in the match presented by Phoenix Petroleum and watched by an appreciative crowd led by Gov. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo.
“We lost the flow, both on offense and defense, in the second half and I really don’t know why,” admitted Ginebra coach Jong Uichico. “Good thing Cyrus came up with the shot that bailed us out.”
Before the Kings knew it, the Whoppers have come up with a 26-8 third quarter that gave them a 62-57 lead and even had a 67-63 advantage going into the last 8:16 of the game.
Good thing Ginebra still had some left in its tank for the final push home that earned it its third straight win and a more solid hold on second-running spot with a 5-1 win-loss record.
The loss was the Whoppers’ third straight, sticking them at ninth with a 1-5 slate.
Baguio also wound up with five rebounds and three assists, with Enrico Villanueva netting a teamhigh 16 points with seven rebounds.
Ronnie Matias’ 12 points led BK’s scorers and a determined charge by the Whoppers’ second stringers, whose valiant efforts were waylaid by the team shooting only 22-of-42 from the stripes.
Helterbrand, Ginebra’s top scorer and feeder who missed his team’s last two games due to a hurting right knee, came up with six points, one rebound and an assist in 23 minutes of action.
Baguio, lustily cheered on by fans who flocked from his native Iligan City nearby, gave his and Ginebra’s supporters ample reason to cheer first by coming off the bench late in the first quarter and capped a 13-5 run with six straight points, including a buzzer-beating triple that made it 27-18.
Baguio was not done. He had another six points in the second period, including a two-handed reverse dunk off his own steal, and a nifty assist to Villanueva, before Eric Menk buried a baseline jumper to give the Kings their biggest lead yet at 49-33.
Hurting BK most in the first half was its woeful 8-for-18 free throw shooting, including four straight to start the second period, and eight second quarter turnovers by the Whoppers helped fuel the Kings’ repeated surges.
Then came the third period, which Ginebra started by shooting 1-of-13 from the field and committing four turnovers.
Buenafe and Billones led BK’s second-stringers who gamely spearheaded the fightback, tying it at 52 before a 7-2 run ending the period gave the hoppers their biggest lead of the game.
In Punishing Fashion, Pacquiao Wins 7th Title
source: Greg Bishop | nytimes.com
LAS VEGAS — Manny Pacquiao was fighting for those struggling in his home country, the Philippines, who were ravaged recently by a trio of typhoons. He was fighting for his family — for his father, who made a rare appearance — and for the millions of fans who follow his every move.
But mostly, Pacquiao was fighting for his place in boxing history, one he secured Saturday with a technical knockout of Miguel Cotto that ended when the referee waved the fight over in the 12th and final round.
When it finished, Pacquiao had won his seventh title in seven weight divisions, a first in boxing history. Cotto exited the MGM Grand Garden Arena with white shorts long stained red. His wife and son had left their seats three rounds earlier, so bloody was the beating.
(Photo by MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)
“He hit harder than we expected,” Joe Santiago, Cotto’s trainer, said. “He was stronger than we expected. Manny broke him down.”
Afterward, fans here chanted, “We want Floyd,” clamoring for Floyd Mayweather Jr. to be Pacquiao’s next opponent. Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, seconded their wishes. When asked whom he wanted next, Roach did not hesitate. Mayweather, he answered.
Roach said the fight should have been stopped earlier, with Cotto intent on shying away from contact starting in Round 10.
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Cotto maintained that it had been his decision to push forward. He said this tearfully from a corner, where his mother consoled his battered body and kissed his bloody face. He later went to a local hospital for tests, his face bruised and swollen.
“I didn’t know where the punches were coming from,” Cotto said. “And I didn’t protect myself from his punches.”
The brutal beating continued Pacquiao’s progression, adding to a résumé that must now be weighed against the best in boxing history.
By the third round, Cotto (34-2) had been knocked down, his nose bloodied, his corner quieted. Here was Pacquiao (50-3-2), the savage, speedy southpaw, deconstructing yet another formidable opponent.
Cotto kept smacking Pacquiao in the thighs, trying to slow him down. It proved futile. In the fourth round, Pacquiao landed a powerful left hand — half uppercut, half hook — and Cotto’s face went backward, twisted in a grimace, as he fell to the canvas once again.
In the sixth round, Pacquiao busted Cotto’s bottom lip open, then took a shot from Cotto as the round ended. But Pacquiao sauntered back to his corner, a smile stretched wide across his face. He dominated from that point on.
Roach said that they had fought Cotto’s fight too often in the early going, that they had stayed on the ropes too long. Even then,Pacquiao’s speed proved overwhelming.
“The key to this victory was staying disciplined,” Roach said. “We didn’t panic in the ring.”
As the fight wore on, Cotto’s left eye kept swelling, until it looked as if a golf ball was attached. Pacquiao landed punches with both hands: jabs, hooks, upper cuts, a punishing variety.
(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Cotto never quit, but he made a habit of dancing backward. In the ninth round, Pacquiao backed his opponent into the ropes, again and again, until he had rendered Cotto’s face a bloody mess.
Pacquiao has continued to move up in weight, still beating formidable fighters, winning as easily at 112 pounds as at 145. Before Saturday, he had earned six titles in sixweight divisions, forcing Oscar De La Hoya into retirement and knocking out Ricky Hatton with a savage blow rarely delivered by a man his size.
Pacquiao collected belts, from lightweight to now welterweight and every belt in between. He entered Henry Armstrong territory, earning comparisons to the boxer who won three titles in 10 months in 1937, when there were only eight divisions.
Along the way, Pacquiao became an international superstar, a singer with albums that twice went platinum, an actor with so much money he made his own movies.
As this fight, the toughest of his career, crept closer, celebrities picked Pacquiao to win. Everyone from Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to Sylvester Stallone — Rocky himself — predicted victory.
Proof of Pacquiao’s own confidence came from the concert he scheduled at Mandalay Bay, a full eight songs to be sung less than two hours after the fight concluded.
But Cotto was no ordinary opponent. His only loss in 35 fights came against Antonio Margarito, an opponent later caught with doctored gloves.
(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
After that fight, Cotto covered his body in tattoos and claimed he had moved on. But the question lingered: Had Margarito permanently softened Cotto?
Roach, who counts Pacquiao as the 24th world champion he has trained, sure thought so. When Roach prepares Pacquiao to fight, he looks for the habits of opponents, not their weaknesses. Weaknesses can be fixed, Roach reasoned, but habits remain.
He knew Pacquiao would be giving away at least 10 pounds by fight time, giving away an inch and a half in height and two inches in length. But when Roach watched Cotto, who had the inexperienced trainer Joe Santiago in his corner, he saw bad habits, and he devised a plan forPacquiao to pound Cotto’s body.
Santiago worked only his second fight as Cotto’s lead trainer Saturday, but all week he had pointed to his 18 years spent learning inside boxing gyms in Puerto Rico as reason to believe. On Friday, at a weigh-in hosted by the actor Jeremy Piven, Santiago marched right up to Roach, noted that Cotto had made the 145-poundweight stipulated in his contract, then called Roach a word that essentially means jerk.
Roach, the only man awarded trainer of the year three times, kept talking. He said that if Pacquiao hurt Cotto early, he would knock the Puerto Rican out. He said that Pacquiao would not lose a single round.
Pacquiao did not lose many rounds, even going on the defensive in the fourth and fifth, just as he had recently in training. Before the final round, Cotto asked his corner, as if he were no longer there, “One more left?”
With Pacquiao’s place in history cemented, Mayweather seems like the logical, blockbuster opponent. Pacquiao said he would not move up again in weight.
But on Saturday, that could wait. When the fight ended, Pacquiao headed to the concert, then eventually back home, to the Philippines and more than 90 million adoring fans.
This was more than just another knockout. This one was historic.
LAS VEGAS — Manny Pacquiao was fighting for those struggling in his home country, the Philippines, who were ravaged recently by a trio of typhoons. He was fighting for his family — for his father, who made a rare appearance — and for the millions of fans who follow his every move.
But mostly, Pacquiao was fighting for his place in boxing history, one he secured Saturday with a technical knockout of Miguel Cotto that ended when the referee waved the fight over in the 12th and final round.
When it finished, Pacquiao had won his seventh title in seven weight divisions, a first in boxing history. Cotto exited the MGM Grand Garden Arena with white shorts long stained red. His wife and son had left their seats three rounds earlier, so bloody was the beating.
(Photo by MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)
“He hit harder than we expected,” Joe Santiago, Cotto’s trainer, said. “He was stronger than we expected. Manny broke him down.”
Afterward, fans here chanted, “We want Floyd,” clamoring for Floyd Mayweather Jr. to be Pacquiao’s next opponent. Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, seconded their wishes. When asked whom he wanted next, Roach did not hesitate. Mayweather, he answered.
Roach said the fight should have been stopped earlier, with Cotto intent on shying away from contact starting in Round 10.
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Cotto maintained that it had been his decision to push forward. He said this tearfully from a corner, where his mother consoled his battered body and kissed his bloody face. He later went to a local hospital for tests, his face bruised and swollen.
“I didn’t know where the punches were coming from,” Cotto said. “And I didn’t protect myself from his punches.”
The brutal beating continued Pacquiao’s progression, adding to a résumé that must now be weighed against the best in boxing history.
By the third round, Cotto (34-2) had been knocked down, his nose bloodied, his corner quieted. Here was Pacquiao (50-3-2), the savage, speedy southpaw, deconstructing yet another formidable opponent.
Cotto kept smacking Pacquiao in the thighs, trying to slow him down. It proved futile. In the fourth round, Pacquiao landed a powerful left hand — half uppercut, half hook — and Cotto’s face went backward, twisted in a grimace, as he fell to the canvas once again.
In the sixth round, Pacquiao busted Cotto’s bottom lip open, then took a shot from Cotto as the round ended. But Pacquiao sauntered back to his corner, a smile stretched wide across his face. He dominated from that point on.
Roach said that they had fought Cotto’s fight too often in the early going, that they had stayed on the ropes too long. Even then,Pacquiao’s speed proved overwhelming.
“The key to this victory was staying disciplined,” Roach said. “We didn’t panic in the ring.”
As the fight wore on, Cotto’s left eye kept swelling, until it looked as if a golf ball was attached. Pacquiao landed punches with both hands: jabs, hooks, upper cuts, a punishing variety.
(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Cotto never quit, but he made a habit of dancing backward. In the ninth round, Pacquiao backed his opponent into the ropes, again and again, until he had rendered Cotto’s face a bloody mess.
Pacquiao has continued to move up in weight, still beating formidable fighters, winning as easily at 112 pounds as at 145. Before Saturday, he had earned six titles in sixweight divisions, forcing Oscar De La Hoya into retirement and knocking out Ricky Hatton with a savage blow rarely delivered by a man his size.
Pacquiao collected belts, from lightweight to now welterweight and every belt in between. He entered Henry Armstrong territory, earning comparisons to the boxer who won three titles in 10 months in 1937, when there were only eight divisions.
Along the way, Pacquiao became an international superstar, a singer with albums that twice went platinum, an actor with so much money he made his own movies.
As this fight, the toughest of his career, crept closer, celebrities picked Pacquiao to win. Everyone from Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to Sylvester Stallone — Rocky himself — predicted victory.
Proof of Pacquiao’s own confidence came from the concert he scheduled at Mandalay Bay, a full eight songs to be sung less than two hours after the fight concluded.
But Cotto was no ordinary opponent. His only loss in 35 fights came against Antonio Margarito, an opponent later caught with doctored gloves.
(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
After that fight, Cotto covered his body in tattoos and claimed he had moved on. But the question lingered: Had Margarito permanently softened Cotto?
Roach, who counts Pacquiao as the 24th world champion he has trained, sure thought so. When Roach prepares Pacquiao to fight, he looks for the habits of opponents, not their weaknesses. Weaknesses can be fixed, Roach reasoned, but habits remain.
He knew Pacquiao would be giving away at least 10 pounds by fight time, giving away an inch and a half in height and two inches in length. But when Roach watched Cotto, who had the inexperienced trainer Joe Santiago in his corner, he saw bad habits, and he devised a plan forPacquiao to pound Cotto’s body.
Santiago worked only his second fight as Cotto’s lead trainer Saturday, but all week he had pointed to his 18 years spent learning inside boxing gyms in Puerto Rico as reason to believe. On Friday, at a weigh-in hosted by the actor Jeremy Piven, Santiago marched right up to Roach, noted that Cotto had made the 145-poundweight stipulated in his contract, then called Roach a word that essentially means jerk.
Roach, the only man awarded trainer of the year three times, kept talking. He said that if Pacquiao hurt Cotto early, he would knock the Puerto Rican out. He said that Pacquiao would not lose a single round.
Pacquiao did not lose many rounds, even going on the defensive in the fourth and fifth, just as he had recently in training. Before the final round, Cotto asked his corner, as if he were no longer there, “One more left?”
With Pacquiao’s place in history cemented, Mayweather seems like the logical, blockbuster opponent. Pacquiao said he would not move up again in weight.
But on Saturday, that could wait. When the fight ended, Pacquiao headed to the concert, then eventually back home, to the Philippines and more than 90 million adoring fans.
This was more than just another knockout. This one was historic.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Alaska shoots for No. 7
source: Waylon Galvez | mb.com.ph
Alaska tries to extend its winning streak to seven this Friday when it battles winless Rain or Shine while defending champion Talk ’N Text meets unpredictable Barako Bull in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.
Currently on top with an immaculate 6-0, win-loss slate, the Aces take on the struggling Elasto Painters (0-6) at 7:30 p.m., right after the 5 p.m. encounter between the Tropang Texters (3-2) and the Energy Boosters (2-3).
Sta. Lucia Realty, on the other hand, battles the Smart-Gilas national team in the curtain raiser at 2:30 p.m.
The Aces are coming off an 87-73 victory over the Burger King Whopper a week ago to match the franchise best record of 6-0 set in the 1996 Commissioner’s Cup. That same year, Alaska became only the fourth team to achieve a “Grand Slam” finish.
However, Alaska is facing a team hungry for a first win.
While the Aces are on a roll, the Painters are in their worst start since joining the PBA in 2006.
Quick to caution that things won’t be easy is Alaska coach Tim Cone, who is not big on superstitious beliefs although he warned “we’ll need to be on our toes with it being Friday the 13th and everything.”
“Seriously, Rain or Shine’s record does not reflect their play,” Cone said. “They’ve had some tough games and some tough luck. We can’t get lulled into thinking we can just show up and win. We’ll have to earn it, that’s for sure.”
Rain or Shine lost to Barangay Ginebra last Sunday (77-86) but one of its owners, Raymund Yu, said that coach Caloy Garcia will remain as the team’s mentor despite rumors that he is on his way out because of team’s bad start.
“We’re playing the only undefeated and very cohesive team,” Garcia said. “We need to focus against Alaska. We haven’t been playing well lately. We should start playing as a team and be aggressive on both ends of the court.”
In the other game, Talk ’N Text coach Chot Reyes expects a close fight when they face dangerous Barako Bull, which, despite not having a “superstar” player on its rosters, has won two of its five games this conference.
“That’s our focus now because Barako Bull is a very dangerous team,” Reyes said, adding that forward Harvey Carey remains a doubtful starter because of a strained right knee, while wingman Jared Dillinger is still bothered by a bruised right rib despite playing the last time.
The Texters are fresh from a 103-94 victory over the Coca-Cola Tigers the other night while the Energy Boosters lost to the Kings (86-94) last week.
Games this Friday (Ynares Sports Center)
2:30 p.m. — Smart-Gilas vs Sta. Lucia
5:00 p.m. — Barako Bull vs Talk ’N Text
7:30 p.m. — Alaska vs Rain or Shine
Read more: http://teampilipinas.info/2009/11/alaska-shoots-for-no-7.html#ixzz0WiQQ1ZNg
Alaska tries to extend its winning streak to seven this Friday when it battles winless Rain or Shine while defending champion Talk ’N Text meets unpredictable Barako Bull in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.
Currently on top with an immaculate 6-0, win-loss slate, the Aces take on the struggling Elasto Painters (0-6) at 7:30 p.m., right after the 5 p.m. encounter between the Tropang Texters (3-2) and the Energy Boosters (2-3).
Sta. Lucia Realty, on the other hand, battles the Smart-Gilas national team in the curtain raiser at 2:30 p.m.
The Aces are coming off an 87-73 victory over the Burger King Whopper a week ago to match the franchise best record of 6-0 set in the 1996 Commissioner’s Cup. That same year, Alaska became only the fourth team to achieve a “Grand Slam” finish.
However, Alaska is facing a team hungry for a first win.
While the Aces are on a roll, the Painters are in their worst start since joining the PBA in 2006.
Quick to caution that things won’t be easy is Alaska coach Tim Cone, who is not big on superstitious beliefs although he warned “we’ll need to be on our toes with it being Friday the 13th and everything.”
“Seriously, Rain or Shine’s record does not reflect their play,” Cone said. “They’ve had some tough games and some tough luck. We can’t get lulled into thinking we can just show up and win. We’ll have to earn it, that’s for sure.”
Rain or Shine lost to Barangay Ginebra last Sunday (77-86) but one of its owners, Raymund Yu, said that coach Caloy Garcia will remain as the team’s mentor despite rumors that he is on his way out because of team’s bad start.
“We’re playing the only undefeated and very cohesive team,” Garcia said. “We need to focus against Alaska. We haven’t been playing well lately. We should start playing as a team and be aggressive on both ends of the court.”
In the other game, Talk ’N Text coach Chot Reyes expects a close fight when they face dangerous Barako Bull, which, despite not having a “superstar” player on its rosters, has won two of its five games this conference.
“That’s our focus now because Barako Bull is a very dangerous team,” Reyes said, adding that forward Harvey Carey remains a doubtful starter because of a strained right knee, while wingman Jared Dillinger is still bothered by a bruised right rib despite playing the last time.
The Texters are fresh from a 103-94 victory over the Coca-Cola Tigers the other night while the Energy Boosters lost to the Kings (86-94) last week.
Games this Friday (Ynares Sports Center)
2:30 p.m. — Smart-Gilas vs Sta. Lucia
5:00 p.m. — Barako Bull vs Talk ’N Text
7:30 p.m. — Alaska vs Rain or Shine
Read more: http://teampilipinas.info/2009/11/alaska-shoots-for-no-7.html#ixzz0WiQQ1ZNg
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Guards lift SMB past Purefoods
source: .abs-cbnnews.com
San Miguel Beer drew big games from its guards and survived Purefoods Tender Juicy’s late-game rally for a 92-76 win Wednesday night in the KFC-Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Mike Cortez, Jonas Villanueva and Dondon Hontiveros provided the knockout punches and helped the Beermen win their fifth straight after a 0-2 start in the tournament.
“It’s a good win. I think what’s carrying us is our defense. Offense comes and goes. I give credit to our defensive focus for having this streak,” said San Miguel head coach Siot Tanquingcen.
Cortez finished with a game-high 22 points while Hontiveros finally broke out of a scoring slump and contributed 20 for the Beermen, who are now toting a 5-2 mark.
Villanueva dished out an all-around performance with 13 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Arwind Santos also had a solid game for San Miguel with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
James Yap paced the Giants with 13 points but was 6-of-17 from the field, including a 1-of-6 stint from the three-point area.
Marc Pingris chipped in 12 for the Giants, who slid down in the team standings with 3-3 mark.
San Miguel Beer drew big games from its guards and survived Purefoods Tender Juicy’s late-game rally for a 92-76 win Wednesday night in the KFC-Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Mike Cortez, Jonas Villanueva and Dondon Hontiveros provided the knockout punches and helped the Beermen win their fifth straight after a 0-2 start in the tournament.
“It’s a good win. I think what’s carrying us is our defense. Offense comes and goes. I give credit to our defensive focus for having this streak,” said San Miguel head coach Siot Tanquingcen.
Cortez finished with a game-high 22 points while Hontiveros finally broke out of a scoring slump and contributed 20 for the Beermen, who are now toting a 5-2 mark.
Villanueva dished out an all-around performance with 13 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Arwind Santos also had a solid game for San Miguel with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
James Yap paced the Giants with 13 points but was 6-of-17 from the field, including a 1-of-6 stint from the three-point area.
Marc Pingris chipped in 12 for the Giants, who slid down in the team standings with 3-3 mark.
Depleted Talk ‘N Text whips Coca-Cola
source: gmanews.tv
Harvey Carey, Talk N Text’s leading rebounder, was out because of a sprained knee and Jared Dillinger played with a hurting rib. No problem for Talk N Text.
Mac Cardona and Jimmy Alapag combined for 56 points and the high-scoring backcourt duo more than made up for Talk 'N Text’s depleted line up as the Tropang Texters whipped the Coca-Cola Tigers, 103-94, in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum Wednesday.
Cardona finished with a tournament-high 35 points while Alapag contributed 21 as the Tropang Texters atoned from their previous loss Sunday night to Purefoods.
The win was the third in five games for the Tropang Texters, who moved up to fifth place in the team standings.
Talk ‘N Text coach Chot Reyes, however, was far from satisfied with the win.
“Coming to this game, we’re worried about not having Harvey and having a hurting Jared. It’s nice to get the W, but we’re far from satisfied with what we’ve achieved tonight," said Reyes.
“When we lost to San Miguel and Purefoods, we were outrebounded by 44, so that’s my biggest concern tonight. But our see-saw campaign can be attributed to several things like when they took our win against Smart-Gilas, the ability of teams to scout us and the injuries that hampered the squad. But we knew prior to our campaign here, we knew that we’refar from being the team that won the championship last season," he added.
Carey sat out the game while Dillinger was not 100 percent.
But the void was ably filled up by the explosive games of possibly the deadliest guard combination in the PBA.
Cardona had 25 of his total output in the second half. He had six in a 13-0 run by the Tropang Texters, who shattered a 61-all standoff and took their first sizeable lead, 74-61, 1:14 left in the third.
Alapag, on the other hand, had 16 in the last 24 minutes of play, including a triple that gave the Tropang Texters their biggest lead, 93-78, 4:24 left.
Reyes gave extra credit to Cardona, last season’s scoring leader, whom he described as an even better player now.
“He knows when to pass now, and that created a lot more scoring opportunities for him because hindi mo na alam gagawin niya ngayon kung ipapasa or ititira eh," said Reyes.
Cardona said he has borrowed something from Willie Miller’s playbook every time he is playing.
“Madalas ko siyang panoorin and gusto kong i-pattern ang laro ko sa kanya," said Cardona.
The Scores:
TALK N' TEXT 103 - Cardona 35, Alapag 21, Belasco 11, Dillinger 8, Peek 8, De Ocampo Y. 6, Castro 5, Ritualo 5, De Ocampo R. 4, Isip 0.
COKE 94 - Espino 21, Rodriguez 17, Cabagnot 16, Gonzales N. 13, Gonzales W. 12, Macapagal 9, Calimag 5, Bono 1, Ross 0, Cruz 0, Rizada 0, Catli 0.
Quarters: 27-19, 43-50, 76-66, 103-94.
Harvey Carey, Talk N Text’s leading rebounder, was out because of a sprained knee and Jared Dillinger played with a hurting rib. No problem for Talk N Text.
Mac Cardona and Jimmy Alapag combined for 56 points and the high-scoring backcourt duo more than made up for Talk 'N Text’s depleted line up as the Tropang Texters whipped the Coca-Cola Tigers, 103-94, in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum Wednesday.
Cardona finished with a tournament-high 35 points while Alapag contributed 21 as the Tropang Texters atoned from their previous loss Sunday night to Purefoods.
The win was the third in five games for the Tropang Texters, who moved up to fifth place in the team standings.
Talk ‘N Text coach Chot Reyes, however, was far from satisfied with the win.
“Coming to this game, we’re worried about not having Harvey and having a hurting Jared. It’s nice to get the W, but we’re far from satisfied with what we’ve achieved tonight," said Reyes.
“When we lost to San Miguel and Purefoods, we were outrebounded by 44, so that’s my biggest concern tonight. But our see-saw campaign can be attributed to several things like when they took our win against Smart-Gilas, the ability of teams to scout us and the injuries that hampered the squad. But we knew prior to our campaign here, we knew that we’refar from being the team that won the championship last season," he added.
Carey sat out the game while Dillinger was not 100 percent.
But the void was ably filled up by the explosive games of possibly the deadliest guard combination in the PBA.
Cardona had 25 of his total output in the second half. He had six in a 13-0 run by the Tropang Texters, who shattered a 61-all standoff and took their first sizeable lead, 74-61, 1:14 left in the third.
Alapag, on the other hand, had 16 in the last 24 minutes of play, including a triple that gave the Tropang Texters their biggest lead, 93-78, 4:24 left.
Reyes gave extra credit to Cardona, last season’s scoring leader, whom he described as an even better player now.
“He knows when to pass now, and that created a lot more scoring opportunities for him because hindi mo na alam gagawin niya ngayon kung ipapasa or ititira eh," said Reyes.
Cardona said he has borrowed something from Willie Miller’s playbook every time he is playing.
“Madalas ko siyang panoorin and gusto kong i-pattern ang laro ko sa kanya," said Cardona.
The Scores:
TALK N' TEXT 103 - Cardona 35, Alapag 21, Belasco 11, Dillinger 8, Peek 8, De Ocampo Y. 6, Castro 5, Ritualo 5, De Ocampo R. 4, Isip 0.
COKE 94 - Espino 21, Rodriguez 17, Cabagnot 16, Gonzales N. 13, Gonzales W. 12, Macapagal 9, Calimag 5, Bono 1, Ross 0, Cruz 0, Rizada 0, Catli 0.
Quarters: 27-19, 43-50, 76-66, 103-94.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Meneses new JRU coach
Source: By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:52:00 11/09/2009
WHAT HE FAILED to do as a player, Vergel Meneses wants to achieve as a coach.
After days of speculation, Meneses, a former King Bomber, was officially named head coach of Jose Rizal U, which has been craving for its first NCAA men’s basketball title since 1972.
Meneses was unable to end the drought when he played for JRU from 1986 to 1989.
But the man known as the “Aerial Voyager” during his PBA playing days expressed optimism that he could pull off the feat now that he is calling the shots and not making it.
“I don’t feel any pressure,” said Meneses, a PBA MVP in 1995. He replaced Ariel Vanguardia, whose three-year pact with the Bombers ended last Oct. 31.
“Of course, I want to bring a championship, but my target is to reach the Final Four first.”
Meneses said he is tapping multititled coach Derrick Pumaren as consultant for the team that has reached the Final Four the past three seasons.
“Coaching didn’t cross my mind after my playing career,” said Meneses, whose only other coaching experience came when he served as assistant coach in Burger King in the PBL last year. “But this is my alma mater.”
JRU president Vincent Fabella said “Meneses’ strong interest in the university” was a key factor that they considered in picking the 14-year PBA veteran.
“He has the X-factor that we were looking for,” Fabella said.
Meneses will have June Tiongco, Vic Escudero, Ricky Alcantara as assistants and Dan Rose as conditioning coach.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:52:00 11/09/2009
WHAT HE FAILED to do as a player, Vergel Meneses wants to achieve as a coach.
After days of speculation, Meneses, a former King Bomber, was officially named head coach of Jose Rizal U, which has been craving for its first NCAA men’s basketball title since 1972.
Meneses was unable to end the drought when he played for JRU from 1986 to 1989.
But the man known as the “Aerial Voyager” during his PBA playing days expressed optimism that he could pull off the feat now that he is calling the shots and not making it.
“I don’t feel any pressure,” said Meneses, a PBA MVP in 1995. He replaced Ariel Vanguardia, whose three-year pact with the Bombers ended last Oct. 31.
“Of course, I want to bring a championship, but my target is to reach the Final Four first.”
Meneses said he is tapping multititled coach Derrick Pumaren as consultant for the team that has reached the Final Four the past three seasons.
“Coaching didn’t cross my mind after my playing career,” said Meneses, whose only other coaching experience came when he served as assistant coach in Burger King in the PBL last year. “But this is my alma mater.”
JRU president Vincent Fabella said “Meneses’ strong interest in the university” was a key factor that they considered in picking the 14-year PBA veteran.
“He has the X-factor that we were looking for,” Fabella said.
Meneses will have June Tiongco, Vic Escudero, Ricky Alcantara as assistants and Dan Rose as conditioning coach.
FOCUSED GIANTS CLASH WITH STREAKING BEERMEN; TNT TRIES TO BOUNCE BACK VS DANGEROUS TIGERS
Source: PBA.PH
Tue, 11/10/2009 - 17:13 — junior
Ryan Gregorio, coach of the Purefoods TJ Giants, says his team plays better when ranged against the league’s top dogs.
So that explains the character of the Giants, who showed little respect for the erstwhile winless Coca-Cola Tigers during their match-up 11 days ago.
And they paid for it dearly. The Tigers came away with a 93-79 victory and snapped a 0-3 start in the 2009-10 KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the expense of the Giants.
“We played with fire and got burned,” declared Gregorio of that harrowing experience he referred to as a “lesson in humility.”
“Sometimes what we are trying to arrest is our tendency to take other teams for granted,” he added. He swears his troops have learned their lessons.
Gregorio proved his point Sunday when the Giants trounced defending champion Talk N’ Text, 108-102, to bounce back from that embarrassing defeat to Coca-Cola.
“We really perform well against teams we know are really strong,” the Purefoods coach emphasized.
The Giants will be aiming for their second straight win and fourth in six games Wednesday against San Miguel (4-2), another elite team that has been drawing attention of late.
After opening their campaign with two straight losses, the Beermen have strung up four consecutive wins, the latest an 88-69 blowout win over Sta. Lucia last Saturday in Victorias City, Negros Occidental.
Apparently, Gregorio knows what to expect from the Beermen and he seems to have the answer slow them down.
The Purefoods-SMB match-up is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum following the 5 o’clock encounter between TnT and Coca-Cola.
Gregorio acknowledges that SMB’s size pesents a match-up problem.
“San Miguel is a tough team. They’re strong, they’re big and they’re massive underneath the basket,” he pointed out.
Hopefully, the Giants’ quickness would enable them to offset their weakness in the paint.
“We are quicker than all of their bigger guys,” Gregorio noted.
Purefoods, Gregorio said, should also execute well on offense because “SMB forces opponents to a lot of turnovers and turn them into points.”
SMB will be without the injured Dannys – Seigle and Ildefonso – while Purefoods will try to overcome the absence of Rafi Reavis and PJ Simon, both also sidelined by injures. Don Allado, who missed Sunday’s game with a flu, is expected to rejoin Purefoods’ rotation.
“It’s going to be a good match. We’re going to prepare hard and we’re going to be ready,” Gregorio said.
Meanwhile, the Tropang Texters attempt to bounce back from Sunday’s defeat when they face the Coca-Cola Tigers.
TnT (2-2) has now lost two straight games after opening the conference with back-to-back victories over winless Rain or Shine and Sta. Lucia.
Seeking their second straight win, the Tigers (1-3) are expected to have a tough time matching up with TnT but coach Chot Reyes is not counting Coca-Cola out, saying forwards Harvey Carrey (knee) and Jarred Dillinger (bruised rib) are doubtful starters because of injuries.
Coca-Cola coach Kenneth Duremdes anticipates a tough match-up against TnT but is keeping his fingers crossed that his players, specially his backcourtmen, will be able to contain TnT’s hardworking and aggressive guard trio composed of Jimmy Alapag, Jason Castro and Macmac Cardona.
With big man Ken Bono out with injury and rookie guard Chris Ross still a doubtful starter, it could be a tough and long night for the Tigers. (DBC)
Tue, 11/10/2009 - 17:13 — junior
Ryan Gregorio, coach of the Purefoods TJ Giants, says his team plays better when ranged against the league’s top dogs.
So that explains the character of the Giants, who showed little respect for the erstwhile winless Coca-Cola Tigers during their match-up 11 days ago.
And they paid for it dearly. The Tigers came away with a 93-79 victory and snapped a 0-3 start in the 2009-10 KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the expense of the Giants.
“We played with fire and got burned,” declared Gregorio of that harrowing experience he referred to as a “lesson in humility.”
“Sometimes what we are trying to arrest is our tendency to take other teams for granted,” he added. He swears his troops have learned their lessons.
Gregorio proved his point Sunday when the Giants trounced defending champion Talk N’ Text, 108-102, to bounce back from that embarrassing defeat to Coca-Cola.
“We really perform well against teams we know are really strong,” the Purefoods coach emphasized.
The Giants will be aiming for their second straight win and fourth in six games Wednesday against San Miguel (4-2), another elite team that has been drawing attention of late.
After opening their campaign with two straight losses, the Beermen have strung up four consecutive wins, the latest an 88-69 blowout win over Sta. Lucia last Saturday in Victorias City, Negros Occidental.
Apparently, Gregorio knows what to expect from the Beermen and he seems to have the answer slow them down.
The Purefoods-SMB match-up is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum following the 5 o’clock encounter between TnT and Coca-Cola.
Gregorio acknowledges that SMB’s size pesents a match-up problem.
“San Miguel is a tough team. They’re strong, they’re big and they’re massive underneath the basket,” he pointed out.
Hopefully, the Giants’ quickness would enable them to offset their weakness in the paint.
“We are quicker than all of their bigger guys,” Gregorio noted.
Purefoods, Gregorio said, should also execute well on offense because “SMB forces opponents to a lot of turnovers and turn them into points.”
SMB will be without the injured Dannys – Seigle and Ildefonso – while Purefoods will try to overcome the absence of Rafi Reavis and PJ Simon, both also sidelined by injures. Don Allado, who missed Sunday’s game with a flu, is expected to rejoin Purefoods’ rotation.
“It’s going to be a good match. We’re going to prepare hard and we’re going to be ready,” Gregorio said.
Meanwhile, the Tropang Texters attempt to bounce back from Sunday’s defeat when they face the Coca-Cola Tigers.
TnT (2-2) has now lost two straight games after opening the conference with back-to-back victories over winless Rain or Shine and Sta. Lucia.
Seeking their second straight win, the Tigers (1-3) are expected to have a tough time matching up with TnT but coach Chot Reyes is not counting Coca-Cola out, saying forwards Harvey Carrey (knee) and Jarred Dillinger (bruised rib) are doubtful starters because of injuries.
Coca-Cola coach Kenneth Duremdes anticipates a tough match-up against TnT but is keeping his fingers crossed that his players, specially his backcourtmen, will be able to contain TnT’s hardworking and aggressive guard trio composed of Jimmy Alapag, Jason Castro and Macmac Cardona.
With big man Ken Bono out with injury and rookie guard Chris Ross still a doubtful starter, it could be a tough and long night for the Tigers. (DBC)
Monday, November 9, 2009
BAGUIO NOW AT HOME WITH GINEBRA’S SYSTEM
Source: PBA.PH
Player of the Week Nov. 2 to 8
WHEN a player is in sync with his team, there's no telling what the limits are.
Cyrus Baguio displayed this the most now that he has fully absorbed coach Jong Uichico's system with Barangay Ginebra, shining in the Kings' two wins to take over second place and earn for himself the KFC/Accel-PBA Press Corps' Player of the Week for the period Nov. 2 to 8.
Ginebra was sorely missing the services of injured aces Jayjay Helterbrand and Mark Caguioa while Eric Menk is still trying to fully ease his way back after being sidelined by a fractured toe.
No problem as Baguio led the gritty bunch of remaining Kings in posting back-to-back wins over Barako Bull and Rain or Shine that gave them a 4-1 win-loss slate, just behind unbeaten leader Alaska.
In those victories, the 6-foot-2 Iligan City native came off the bench to average 19.5 points, 3.0 assists, 1.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in an impressive show of all-around talent that made him edge out the likes of two-time MVP Willie Miller of Alaska and national teammate Arwind Santos of San Miguel Beer for the honor.
More important for Uichico is the fact that Baguio has now totally embraced his system.
“It took some time, pero now nakapag-adjust na siya,” noted Uichico. “It's a very good sign dahil naka-regain na siya ng confidence and I hope nakahanap na siya ng niche sa team.”
For the 29-year-old player acquired from Burger King only in the last Fiesta Conference, he was merely trying to repay his coach's and teammates' trust in him.
“Tina-try ko lang talaga 'yung best ko para makuha ko sistema ni coach. At least nakakapag-adjust na ako kahit papano kasi nahirapan din talaga ako nu'ng una,” he stated.
“At the same time, gusto ko ring ipakita na team player ako,” he added.
The former Slam Dunk King indeed struggled in Ginebra's first three games but rose to the occasion when Helterbrand sat out their game last Friday against Barako Bull due to a hurting knee, scattering a game-high 22 points on 8-for-11 shooting from the field in a cruising 94-86 win.
He had a more modest 17 points but still led all scorers and also dished off a game-high six assists as the Kings stamped their class over Rain or Shine 86-77 last Sunday.
Uichico and Baguio are thinking of the same thing when the latter said, “Sana tuloy-tuloy na ito.” (NC)
Player of the Week Nov. 2 to 8
WHEN a player is in sync with his team, there's no telling what the limits are.
Cyrus Baguio displayed this the most now that he has fully absorbed coach Jong Uichico's system with Barangay Ginebra, shining in the Kings' two wins to take over second place and earn for himself the KFC/Accel-PBA Press Corps' Player of the Week for the period Nov. 2 to 8.
Ginebra was sorely missing the services of injured aces Jayjay Helterbrand and Mark Caguioa while Eric Menk is still trying to fully ease his way back after being sidelined by a fractured toe.
No problem as Baguio led the gritty bunch of remaining Kings in posting back-to-back wins over Barako Bull and Rain or Shine that gave them a 4-1 win-loss slate, just behind unbeaten leader Alaska.
In those victories, the 6-foot-2 Iligan City native came off the bench to average 19.5 points, 3.0 assists, 1.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in an impressive show of all-around talent that made him edge out the likes of two-time MVP Willie Miller of Alaska and national teammate Arwind Santos of San Miguel Beer for the honor.
More important for Uichico is the fact that Baguio has now totally embraced his system.
“It took some time, pero now nakapag-adjust na siya,” noted Uichico. “It's a very good sign dahil naka-regain na siya ng confidence and I hope nakahanap na siya ng niche sa team.”
For the 29-year-old player acquired from Burger King only in the last Fiesta Conference, he was merely trying to repay his coach's and teammates' trust in him.
“Tina-try ko lang talaga 'yung best ko para makuha ko sistema ni coach. At least nakakapag-adjust na ako kahit papano kasi nahirapan din talaga ako nu'ng una,” he stated.
“At the same time, gusto ko ring ipakita na team player ako,” he added.
The former Slam Dunk King indeed struggled in Ginebra's first three games but rose to the occasion when Helterbrand sat out their game last Friday against Barako Bull due to a hurting knee, scattering a game-high 22 points on 8-for-11 shooting from the field in a cruising 94-86 win.
He had a more modest 17 points but still led all scorers and also dished off a game-high six assists as the Kings stamped their class over Rain or Shine 86-77 last Sunday.
Uichico and Baguio are thinking of the same thing when the latter said, “Sana tuloy-tuloy na ito.” (NC)
Sunday, November 8, 2009
GINEBRA THWARTS HARDLUCK RAIN OR SHINE
Source: PBA.PH
Sun, 11/08/2009 - 23:03 — junior
Barangay Ginebra raged on Sunday night, adding to Rain or Shine's woes.
The Kings came out smoking on both halves, fashioning out an emphatic 86-77 win over the slumping Elasto Painters to stay close behind the pacesetting Alaska Milk Aces in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup.
Before a good weekend crowd at the Araneta Coliseum, the Kings badly battered the Elasto Painters in the first and the third periods as they notched a second straight win and fourth in five games in all.
Cyrus Baguio and JC Intal continued to carried the scoring cudgels for the team with Jayjay Helterbrand and Mark Caguioa in sickbay, combining for 28 points as the Kings pulled off yet another victory over the Elasto Painters whom they beat in their semifinal showdown in the last Fiesta Cup.
Celino Cruz played extended minutes with Johnny Abarrientos' comeback cut shot by freak accident Friday, contributing 10 points, six rebounds and two assists to the Ginebra cause.
The rest of the Kings fielded by coach Jong Uichico had their shares as Ginebra rolled on, staying at solo second place behind unbeaten tournament leader Alaska (6-0).
The Elasto Painters couldn't keep up with the Kings' mighty charges in the first and the third cantos, thus, staying winless in five starts in the all-Filipino tourney.
Rain or Shine has lost its last 10 games dating back to last season. It's now in its worst season and tournament start in franchise history.
"We survived another game with an unhealthy lineup and hopefully we can survive some more," said Uichico.
"Ang laking bagay ni Cyrus in our last two games. He's carrying the scoring from Mark and Jayjay, and it's certainly a good sign. He's improved his confidence and I think he's found his niche in the team," Uichico added.
Baguio produced game highs of 17 points and six assists in leading the Kings past the Elasto Painters. He was 1-of-1 from the three-point area, 6-of-7 from the two-point zone and 2-of-4 from the stripe.
The Kings made a strong start behind starters Intal, Cruz, Ronald Tubid, Willy Wilson and Rico Villanueva, taking the first period at 26-17.
Ginebra slowed down a bit in the second period then roared mightily once again in the third quarter, building a 66-53 spread going into the final canto.
Helterbrand and Caguioa, Ginebra's deadly one-two punch, are both out with injured knees. (SB)
The scores:
Ginebra 86 - Baguio 17, Intal 11, Cruz 10, Tubid 9, Salvacion 9, Menk 8, White 7, Mamaril 7, Wilson 4, Alvarez 2, Villanueva 2, Kramer 0.
Rain or Shine 77 - Cruz 14, Reyes 14, Chan 8, Hrabak 8, Arellano 7, Norwood 7, Telan 6, Mercado 4, Tang 4, Arana 4, Laure 1, Ibanes 0.
Quarterscores: 26-17, 44-35, 66-53, 86-77
Sun, 11/08/2009 - 23:03 — junior
Barangay Ginebra raged on Sunday night, adding to Rain or Shine's woes.
The Kings came out smoking on both halves, fashioning out an emphatic 86-77 win over the slumping Elasto Painters to stay close behind the pacesetting Alaska Milk Aces in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup.
Before a good weekend crowd at the Araneta Coliseum, the Kings badly battered the Elasto Painters in the first and the third periods as they notched a second straight win and fourth in five games in all.
Cyrus Baguio and JC Intal continued to carried the scoring cudgels for the team with Jayjay Helterbrand and Mark Caguioa in sickbay, combining for 28 points as the Kings pulled off yet another victory over the Elasto Painters whom they beat in their semifinal showdown in the last Fiesta Cup.
Celino Cruz played extended minutes with Johnny Abarrientos' comeback cut shot by freak accident Friday, contributing 10 points, six rebounds and two assists to the Ginebra cause.
The rest of the Kings fielded by coach Jong Uichico had their shares as Ginebra rolled on, staying at solo second place behind unbeaten tournament leader Alaska (6-0).
The Elasto Painters couldn't keep up with the Kings' mighty charges in the first and the third cantos, thus, staying winless in five starts in the all-Filipino tourney.
Rain or Shine has lost its last 10 games dating back to last season. It's now in its worst season and tournament start in franchise history.
"We survived another game with an unhealthy lineup and hopefully we can survive some more," said Uichico.
"Ang laking bagay ni Cyrus in our last two games. He's carrying the scoring from Mark and Jayjay, and it's certainly a good sign. He's improved his confidence and I think he's found his niche in the team," Uichico added.
Baguio produced game highs of 17 points and six assists in leading the Kings past the Elasto Painters. He was 1-of-1 from the three-point area, 6-of-7 from the two-point zone and 2-of-4 from the stripe.
The Kings made a strong start behind starters Intal, Cruz, Ronald Tubid, Willy Wilson and Rico Villanueva, taking the first period at 26-17.
Ginebra slowed down a bit in the second period then roared mightily once again in the third quarter, building a 66-53 spread going into the final canto.
Helterbrand and Caguioa, Ginebra's deadly one-two punch, are both out with injured knees. (SB)
The scores:
Ginebra 86 - Baguio 17, Intal 11, Cruz 10, Tubid 9, Salvacion 9, Menk 8, White 7, Mamaril 7, Wilson 4, Alvarez 2, Villanueva 2, Kramer 0.
Rain or Shine 77 - Cruz 14, Reyes 14, Chan 8, Hrabak 8, Arellano 7, Norwood 7, Telan 6, Mercado 4, Tang 4, Arana 4, Laure 1, Ibanes 0.
Quarterscores: 26-17, 44-35, 66-53, 86-77
MAIERHOFER-LED PUREFOODS CONTINUES MASTERY OF TNT
source: PBA.PH
Sun, 11/08/2009 - 20:08 — junior
ANYBODY can learn from a bitter lesson and Purefoods is no exception.
Taking their coach's oft-stressed words to heart, the Giants bucked manpower problems and Talk 'N Text's tough stance for a 108-102 victory Sunday to get back on track in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Rico Maierhofer, Purefoods' No. 2 pick in the rookie draft, tallied career-highs with 20 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots to lead the Giants back from an upset 79-93 loss to an Asi Taulava-less Coca-Cola crew two Fridays ago.
Nino Canaleta, James Yap, Kerby Raymundo, Marc Pingris, Roger Yap and even Jondan Salvador also chipped in their share, enabling Purefoods to continue weaving its magic spell on TNT and notch its third win in five starts.
“Players usually have this mentality, that when we lack some players they think, 'Now we can lose,'” related Gregorio, who missed the services of the injured PJ Simon (knee) and Rafi Reavis (hamstring) and the ailing Don Allado.
“I told them that even if we're down to only six or five players, we must still go all out to win,” Reyes said.
The loss dropped TNT to a second straight loss and an even 2-2 win-loss slate, putting it alongside idle Barako Bull.
Harvey Carey matched his total output in TNT's first three games with 20 points and his two charities capped the Tropang Texters' fightback from two nine-point fourth-quarter deficits to within 99-101, still 1:23 to go.
But Pingris tipped in a James Yap miss and had a defensive rebound that led to the latter's charity. Then Maierhofer blocked Ren-Ren Ritualo's triple try, leading to a fastbreak by Yap that made it a seven-point game, only 30 ticks left.
Despite the absence of its two frontliners, Purefoods surprisingly dominated the boards 56-31, turning its 21 offensive rebounds into 26 points. Roger Yap had six of his game-high 11 rebounds off the offensive glass with Salvador also notching 10 boards.
“(Assistant) coach Koy (Banal) said the only way to beat Talk ‘N Text is to grab those rebounds kaya doon ako talaga nag-concentrate, sa mga putbacks,” said Maierhofer, who had five offensive boards.
Gregorio said it was more of his players taking the bitter lessons from the Coke loss to heart.
“We're pretty much trying to manage our excitement level,” related Gregorio. “Obviously today we were able to control our excitement level, wherein I told the players to do a little celebration after the game and not before.
“Going quickly back to our last game I thought we were so arrogant and it was a lesson in humility. When we looked at the tape of our last game we looked like a bunch of high school players, celebrating every made shot. Today, we fought from the opening tip to the final buzzer.”
The victory was Purefoods' fifth straight over the Philippine Cup defending champion since last season.
Helping along Purefoods' cause was the sixth foul slapped on TNT center Ali Peek while jostling with Salvador for a possible rebound still 8:01 left. For landing an elbow on Salvador's cheek, Peek was also slapped a flagrant foul-penalty 1.
In Peek's absence, MacMac Cardona (19 points), Yancy de Ocampo and Nic Belasco joined hands with Carey in trying to carry the fight for TNT, but Purefoods still surged ahead to a 94-85 lead, 6:45 to go.
Purefoods actually led by eight points early on but TNT managed to make it a very close game, entering the final period behind by just 76-80.
The Tropang Texters drew 14 points from Carey and eight from Belasco, anchored on two triples, in the first half, enabling TNT to take a 55-53 edge at the break.
TNT managed to gain the upper hand despite being grossly outrebounded 12-25, the Giants pegging the difference mostly off the offensive boards 10-2.
Maierhofer took care of the scoring end as he scored all eight of his team's first points and had 10 of his 12 first half points in the opening period which Purefoods took 30-25, before stretching its lead to 37-29, early in the second quarter. (NC)
The scores:
Purefoods 108 - Maierhofer 20, Canaleta 16, Yap J. 13, Raymundo 13, Pingris 12, Yap R. 11, Salvador 9, Adducul 9, Timberlake 3, Artadi 2.
Talk N' Text 102 - Carey 20, Cardona 19, Alapag 18, Belasco 17, De Ocampo Y. 9, Ritualo 7, Dillinger 6, Castro 6, Isip 0, De Ocampo R. 0, Peek 0.
Quarterscores: 30-25, 53-55, 80-76, 108-102.
Sun, 11/08/2009 - 20:08 — junior
ANYBODY can learn from a bitter lesson and Purefoods is no exception.
Taking their coach's oft-stressed words to heart, the Giants bucked manpower problems and Talk 'N Text's tough stance for a 108-102 victory Sunday to get back on track in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Rico Maierhofer, Purefoods' No. 2 pick in the rookie draft, tallied career-highs with 20 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots to lead the Giants back from an upset 79-93 loss to an Asi Taulava-less Coca-Cola crew two Fridays ago.
Nino Canaleta, James Yap, Kerby Raymundo, Marc Pingris, Roger Yap and even Jondan Salvador also chipped in their share, enabling Purefoods to continue weaving its magic spell on TNT and notch its third win in five starts.
“Players usually have this mentality, that when we lack some players they think, 'Now we can lose,'” related Gregorio, who missed the services of the injured PJ Simon (knee) and Rafi Reavis (hamstring) and the ailing Don Allado.
“I told them that even if we're down to only six or five players, we must still go all out to win,” Reyes said.
The loss dropped TNT to a second straight loss and an even 2-2 win-loss slate, putting it alongside idle Barako Bull.
Harvey Carey matched his total output in TNT's first three games with 20 points and his two charities capped the Tropang Texters' fightback from two nine-point fourth-quarter deficits to within 99-101, still 1:23 to go.
But Pingris tipped in a James Yap miss and had a defensive rebound that led to the latter's charity. Then Maierhofer blocked Ren-Ren Ritualo's triple try, leading to a fastbreak by Yap that made it a seven-point game, only 30 ticks left.
Despite the absence of its two frontliners, Purefoods surprisingly dominated the boards 56-31, turning its 21 offensive rebounds into 26 points. Roger Yap had six of his game-high 11 rebounds off the offensive glass with Salvador also notching 10 boards.
“(Assistant) coach Koy (Banal) said the only way to beat Talk ‘N Text is to grab those rebounds kaya doon ako talaga nag-concentrate, sa mga putbacks,” said Maierhofer, who had five offensive boards.
Gregorio said it was more of his players taking the bitter lessons from the Coke loss to heart.
“We're pretty much trying to manage our excitement level,” related Gregorio. “Obviously today we were able to control our excitement level, wherein I told the players to do a little celebration after the game and not before.
“Going quickly back to our last game I thought we were so arrogant and it was a lesson in humility. When we looked at the tape of our last game we looked like a bunch of high school players, celebrating every made shot. Today, we fought from the opening tip to the final buzzer.”
The victory was Purefoods' fifth straight over the Philippine Cup defending champion since last season.
Helping along Purefoods' cause was the sixth foul slapped on TNT center Ali Peek while jostling with Salvador for a possible rebound still 8:01 left. For landing an elbow on Salvador's cheek, Peek was also slapped a flagrant foul-penalty 1.
In Peek's absence, MacMac Cardona (19 points), Yancy de Ocampo and Nic Belasco joined hands with Carey in trying to carry the fight for TNT, but Purefoods still surged ahead to a 94-85 lead, 6:45 to go.
Purefoods actually led by eight points early on but TNT managed to make it a very close game, entering the final period behind by just 76-80.
The Tropang Texters drew 14 points from Carey and eight from Belasco, anchored on two triples, in the first half, enabling TNT to take a 55-53 edge at the break.
TNT managed to gain the upper hand despite being grossly outrebounded 12-25, the Giants pegging the difference mostly off the offensive boards 10-2.
Maierhofer took care of the scoring end as he scored all eight of his team's first points and had 10 of his 12 first half points in the opening period which Purefoods took 30-25, before stretching its lead to 37-29, early in the second quarter. (NC)
The scores:
Purefoods 108 - Maierhofer 20, Canaleta 16, Yap J. 13, Raymundo 13, Pingris 12, Yap R. 11, Salvador 9, Adducul 9, Timberlake 3, Artadi 2.
Talk N' Text 102 - Carey 20, Cardona 19, Alapag 18, Belasco 17, De Ocampo Y. 9, Ritualo 7, Dillinger 6, Castro 6, Isip 0, De Ocampo R. 0, Peek 0.
Quarterscores: 30-25, 53-55, 80-76, 108-102.
BEERMEN WIN 4TH STRAIGHT, END ROAD GAME LOSING RUN
source: PBA.PH
Sat, 11/07/2009 - 22:11 — junior
VICTORIAS CITY, Negros Occ. – San Miguel Beer came away with its awesome offensive last night as it routed a struggling Sta. Lucia Realty team, 88-69, to for its fourth straight win after a 0-2 start in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Victorias City Sports and Amusement Center here.
The Beermen, who led by as much as 28 in the game, spent the first quarter sizing up the Realtors and soon caught fire that eventually enabled them to end a 5-game losing streak in out-of-town games dating back to last season and their first in two Phoenix Petroleum-backed road games.
The Realtors were in the game only in the third quarter where their shooting improved a little, going eight-of-18 from the field, but just the same, they never got close to overhauling their huge deficit en route to their third loss against three wins.
Arwind Santos was unstoppable all gamelong as he poured in 21 points while four others – Dorian Pena, Dondon Hontiveros, Lordy Tugade and Denok Miranda -- also scored in twin-digits as the Beermen wrapped up the victory which was evident as early as in the second quarter when they opened up a 36-21 spread on a four-point cluster each by former SLR stalwart Denok Miranda, Mike Cortez and Dorian Pena.
It was an all-SMB show from there.
The Beermen, who lost to Alaska Milk, 74-85 in a similar out-of-town game in Panabo City last October 7, complemented their trapping defense with fast breaks to dominate the early goings, although a triple by Ryan Reyes and a follow-up by Kelly Williams kept the Realtors within striking distance at 15-16.
But San Miguel, which moved to a tie for third with Talk 'N Text (2-1) behind Alaska (6-0) and Barangay Ginebra (2-1), outscored the Realtors anew, with Pena, Miranda, Tugade and Santos putting a basket each in an 8-2 tear which gave SMB a 24-17 lead after the first quarter.
The Realtors, who were held to the lowest output by any team this conference, not only had a deteriorating defense in the second quarter. Their offense was anemic as well that not even a slam dunk by Kelly Williams which drew loud cheers from the crowd was not enough to spark the Realtors. Instead, their agony continued as they turned the ball a number of times and produced only 11 points the whole second quarter on a horrendous 4-of-17 from the field.
In utterly sharp contrast, the Beermen seemed frolicking on both ends, coming away with huge 24-point production behind the guns of Miranda, Santos, Mike Cortez and Pena. By the end of the first half, the Beermen were safely ahead at 48-28. (AC)
The scores:
San Miguel 88 - Santos21, Pena 14, Hontiveros 13, Tugade 10, Miranda 10, Villanueva 7, Custodio 6, Cortez 4, Pennisi 3, Eman 0, Racela 0, Calaguio 0.
Sta. Lucia 69 - Espinas 17, Yeo 16, Williams 11, Omolon 8, Reyes 6, Urbiztondo 4, Aquino 4, Daa 3, Misolas 0, Jaime 0, Larong 0.
Quarterscores: 24-17, 48-28, 72-50, 88-69.
Sat, 11/07/2009 - 22:11 — junior
VICTORIAS CITY, Negros Occ. – San Miguel Beer came away with its awesome offensive last night as it routed a struggling Sta. Lucia Realty team, 88-69, to for its fourth straight win after a 0-2 start in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Victorias City Sports and Amusement Center here.
The Beermen, who led by as much as 28 in the game, spent the first quarter sizing up the Realtors and soon caught fire that eventually enabled them to end a 5-game losing streak in out-of-town games dating back to last season and their first in two Phoenix Petroleum-backed road games.
The Realtors were in the game only in the third quarter where their shooting improved a little, going eight-of-18 from the field, but just the same, they never got close to overhauling their huge deficit en route to their third loss against three wins.
Arwind Santos was unstoppable all gamelong as he poured in 21 points while four others – Dorian Pena, Dondon Hontiveros, Lordy Tugade and Denok Miranda -- also scored in twin-digits as the Beermen wrapped up the victory which was evident as early as in the second quarter when they opened up a 36-21 spread on a four-point cluster each by former SLR stalwart Denok Miranda, Mike Cortez and Dorian Pena.
It was an all-SMB show from there.
The Beermen, who lost to Alaska Milk, 74-85 in a similar out-of-town game in Panabo City last October 7, complemented their trapping defense with fast breaks to dominate the early goings, although a triple by Ryan Reyes and a follow-up by Kelly Williams kept the Realtors within striking distance at 15-16.
But San Miguel, which moved to a tie for third with Talk 'N Text (2-1) behind Alaska (6-0) and Barangay Ginebra (2-1), outscored the Realtors anew, with Pena, Miranda, Tugade and Santos putting a basket each in an 8-2 tear which gave SMB a 24-17 lead after the first quarter.
The Realtors, who were held to the lowest output by any team this conference, not only had a deteriorating defense in the second quarter. Their offense was anemic as well that not even a slam dunk by Kelly Williams which drew loud cheers from the crowd was not enough to spark the Realtors. Instead, their agony continued as they turned the ball a number of times and produced only 11 points the whole second quarter on a horrendous 4-of-17 from the field.
In utterly sharp contrast, the Beermen seemed frolicking on both ends, coming away with huge 24-point production behind the guns of Miranda, Santos, Mike Cortez and Pena. By the end of the first half, the Beermen were safely ahead at 48-28. (AC)
The scores:
San Miguel 88 - Santos21, Pena 14, Hontiveros 13, Tugade 10, Miranda 10, Villanueva 7, Custodio 6, Cortez 4, Pennisi 3, Eman 0, Racela 0, Calaguio 0.
Sta. Lucia 69 - Espinas 17, Yeo 16, Williams 11, Omolon 8, Reyes 6, Urbiztondo 4, Aquino 4, Daa 3, Misolas 0, Jaime 0, Larong 0.
Quarterscores: 24-17, 48-28, 72-50, 88-69.
GINEBRA SCORES EVEN WITHOUT FAST & FURIOUS DUO
source: PBA.PH
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 22:56 — junior
Johnny Abarrientos put in his share in a short-lived comeback from semi-retirement Friday as the crippled Barangay Ginebra team held its own against Barako Bull, pulling off a 94-86 win in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Cyrus Baguio, Ronald Tubid and Rico Villanueva scored at least 14 points each as the Kings bucked the absence of injured stars Jayjay Helterbrand and Mark Caguioa, turning back the Energy Boosters to gain solo second place with a 3-1 win-loss card.
Abarrientos, reactivated from long hibernation to take Helterbrand's spot, had his contribution in the first half, coming through with six assists, three rebounds and one steal in 10 minutes of action.
The 1996 MVP winner, already a part of the Ginebra coaching staff who works as skills coach, had just returned late in the third period when he figured in a freak accident, sustaining a deep cut on his left index finger.
Nonetheless, the Kings sustained a steady game, dealing the Energy Boosters a third loss against two wins.
It was only the second game of Abarrientos in two seasons. Last campaign, he played just one game, also subbing for an injured Helterbrand.
"We're back to being an unhealthy team. Good thing, the guys have this attitude na laban lang ng laban," said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico.
"The guys tried to find ways to be competitive and Johnny was of big help although he failed to finish the game," Uichico added.
Abarrientos. was rushed to a nearby hospital, doubtful whether he can still play Sunday against Rain or Shine.
"Pakiramdam ko putol ang daliri ko. Parang sumabit sa baller ni Paolo (Hubalde). Dapat talaga ipagbawal ang kung ano-anong sinusuot ng mga players outside of the playing uniform," said Abarrientos.
"Johnny's status now depends on how fast he can recover and how soon can Jayjay return (from his own injury)," said Uichico.
Helterbrand, the 2008-09 season MVP awardee, joined Caguioa on the sideline with a strained knee.
The Kings, however, stayed competitive with Baguio checking a personal slump, and Tubid and Villanueva dishing out another solid showing.
Baguio converted 2-of-3 three-point attempts and finished with a game-high 22 points that went with two blocks and one rebound in 28 minutes of action.
Tubid got 17 points and five rebounds while Villanueva added 14 points, eight rebounds and three assists. (SB)
The scores:
Ginebra 94 -- Baguio 22, Tubid 17, Villanueva 14, Menk 12, Cruz 10, Salvacion 7, Wilson 6, Intal 2, Alvarez 2, Mamaril 2, White 0, Abarrientos 0.
Barako Bull 86 -- Najorda 15, Duncil 12, Dimaunahan 12, Crisano 12, Aljamal 10, Lao 10, Menor 4, Hubalde 4, Alonzo 3, Membrere 2, Belano 2, Fernandez 0.
Quarterscores: 17-13, 39-34, 74-63, 94-86
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 22:56 — junior
Johnny Abarrientos put in his share in a short-lived comeback from semi-retirement Friday as the crippled Barangay Ginebra team held its own against Barako Bull, pulling off a 94-86 win in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Cyrus Baguio, Ronald Tubid and Rico Villanueva scored at least 14 points each as the Kings bucked the absence of injured stars Jayjay Helterbrand and Mark Caguioa, turning back the Energy Boosters to gain solo second place with a 3-1 win-loss card.
Abarrientos, reactivated from long hibernation to take Helterbrand's spot, had his contribution in the first half, coming through with six assists, three rebounds and one steal in 10 minutes of action.
The 1996 MVP winner, already a part of the Ginebra coaching staff who works as skills coach, had just returned late in the third period when he figured in a freak accident, sustaining a deep cut on his left index finger.
Nonetheless, the Kings sustained a steady game, dealing the Energy Boosters a third loss against two wins.
It was only the second game of Abarrientos in two seasons. Last campaign, he played just one game, also subbing for an injured Helterbrand.
"We're back to being an unhealthy team. Good thing, the guys have this attitude na laban lang ng laban," said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico.
"The guys tried to find ways to be competitive and Johnny was of big help although he failed to finish the game," Uichico added.
Abarrientos. was rushed to a nearby hospital, doubtful whether he can still play Sunday against Rain or Shine.
"Pakiramdam ko putol ang daliri ko. Parang sumabit sa baller ni Paolo (Hubalde). Dapat talaga ipagbawal ang kung ano-anong sinusuot ng mga players outside of the playing uniform," said Abarrientos.
"Johnny's status now depends on how fast he can recover and how soon can Jayjay return (from his own injury)," said Uichico.
Helterbrand, the 2008-09 season MVP awardee, joined Caguioa on the sideline with a strained knee.
The Kings, however, stayed competitive with Baguio checking a personal slump, and Tubid and Villanueva dishing out another solid showing.
Baguio converted 2-of-3 three-point attempts and finished with a game-high 22 points that went with two blocks and one rebound in 28 minutes of action.
Tubid got 17 points and five rebounds while Villanueva added 14 points, eight rebounds and three assists. (SB)
The scores:
Ginebra 94 -- Baguio 22, Tubid 17, Villanueva 14, Menk 12, Cruz 10, Salvacion 7, Wilson 6, Intal 2, Alvarez 2, Mamaril 2, White 0, Abarrientos 0.
Barako Bull 86 -- Najorda 15, Duncil 12, Dimaunahan 12, Crisano 12, Aljamal 10, Lao 10, Menor 4, Hubalde 4, Alonzo 3, Membrere 2, Belano 2, Fernandez 0.
Quarterscores: 17-13, 39-34, 74-63, 94-86
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
JJ Helterbrand joins the injured list for gin kings
source:http://www.youtube.com/user/snowbadua
Barangay Ginebra's MVP Jayjay Helterbrand addresses his fans about his knee injury. The 33 year old guard is expected to miss the next Gins' next 2 games after his doctor discovered fluid in his knees, which is as of press time swelling. Indications point to, however, a not so serious injury, which will only need Helterbrand to rest his legs for more than a week. Fortunately for Jayjay, he immediately approached his doctor otherwise, a much worst injury could have happened.
Barangay Ginebra's MVP Jayjay Helterbrand addresses his fans about his knee injury. The 33 year old guard is expected to miss the next Gins' next 2 games after his doctor discovered fluid in his knees, which is as of press time swelling. Indications point to, however, a not so serious injury, which will only need Helterbrand to rest his legs for more than a week. Fortunately for Jayjay, he immediately approached his doctor otherwise, a much worst injury could have happened.
ACES SURVIVE SLR SCARE, NOW 5-0
source: PBA.PH
Wed, 11/04/2009 - 22:43 — junior
Alaska Milk has done a game better from last year, matching a record start the franchise made over a decade ago.
The Aces stayed sharp and steady despite a nine-day rest, getting their best conference start in 11 years as they whipped the Sta. Lucia Realtors, 91-83, in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum Wednesday.
Joe Devance came through with a double-double game with 15 points and 11 rebounds while Willie Miller had 19 points, five assists and four rebounds as the Aces preserved their clean slate in five games in the all-Filipino tourney.
It's the franchise's best start in a tourney since also opening up with a 5-0 win-loss roll in the 1998 All-Filipino Conference. Back then, the Aces lost their sixth game.
"Doing a game better will certainly be our motivation in our next game," said Alaska coach Tim Cone, vowing they will work hard to beat Burger King Friday at the Cuneta Astrodome.
"The theme tonight was to do one game better from last year. We're 4-0 last year then we lost our next game," Cone also said.
"We'd got it but it's certainly not easy. Sta. Lucia has always been a tough match-up for us. We just couldn't shake them. We pulled through with big plays on both ends down the stretch," Cone added.
Kelly Williams and Gabby Espinas both got double-double efforts that went down the drain as the Realtors suffered a second loss against three wins.
Sta. Lucia, thus, slid to joint second with San Miguel.
Williams got away with game highs of 20 points and 14 rebounds while Espinas came through with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Ryan Reyes also had a solid all-round game helping Sta. Lucia put up a whale of a fight in the contest.
The Aces, however, won't be denied as they hung tough to the finish.
Devance made key plays on both ends in the closing minutes to clinch the win for the Aces.
The Realtors trailed by eight, 38-46, at the half while converting only 27.8 percent of their shots.
The Aces banked on a better shooting as they dominated the first two quarters though beaten in the battle off the boards, 23-29, and committing more turnovers, 17-13.
The Realtors got into the thick of things on a searing rally in the second half. (SB)
The scores:
Alaska 91 - Miller 19, De Vance 15, Tenorio 13, Hugnatan 11, Dela Cruz 9, Thoss 6, Borboran 5, Cablay 4, Fonacier 3, Burstcher 2, Ferriols 2, Cariaso 2.
Sta. Lucia 83 - Williams 20, Espinas 16, Daa 10, Reyes 10, Omolon 10, Aquino 6, Larong 5, Yeo 4, Misolas 2, Waters 0, Urbiztondo 0.
Quarterscores: 26-20, 46-38, 71-63, 91-83
Wed, 11/04/2009 - 22:43 — junior
Alaska Milk has done a game better from last year, matching a record start the franchise made over a decade ago.
The Aces stayed sharp and steady despite a nine-day rest, getting their best conference start in 11 years as they whipped the Sta. Lucia Realtors, 91-83, in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum Wednesday.
Joe Devance came through with a double-double game with 15 points and 11 rebounds while Willie Miller had 19 points, five assists and four rebounds as the Aces preserved their clean slate in five games in the all-Filipino tourney.
It's the franchise's best start in a tourney since also opening up with a 5-0 win-loss roll in the 1998 All-Filipino Conference. Back then, the Aces lost their sixth game.
"Doing a game better will certainly be our motivation in our next game," said Alaska coach Tim Cone, vowing they will work hard to beat Burger King Friday at the Cuneta Astrodome.
"The theme tonight was to do one game better from last year. We're 4-0 last year then we lost our next game," Cone also said.
"We'd got it but it's certainly not easy. Sta. Lucia has always been a tough match-up for us. We just couldn't shake them. We pulled through with big plays on both ends down the stretch," Cone added.
Kelly Williams and Gabby Espinas both got double-double efforts that went down the drain as the Realtors suffered a second loss against three wins.
Sta. Lucia, thus, slid to joint second with San Miguel.
Williams got away with game highs of 20 points and 14 rebounds while Espinas came through with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Ryan Reyes also had a solid all-round game helping Sta. Lucia put up a whale of a fight in the contest.
The Aces, however, won't be denied as they hung tough to the finish.
Devance made key plays on both ends in the closing minutes to clinch the win for the Aces.
The Realtors trailed by eight, 38-46, at the half while converting only 27.8 percent of their shots.
The Aces banked on a better shooting as they dominated the first two quarters though beaten in the battle off the boards, 23-29, and committing more turnovers, 17-13.
The Realtors got into the thick of things on a searing rally in the second half. (SB)
The scores:
Alaska 91 - Miller 19, De Vance 15, Tenorio 13, Hugnatan 11, Dela Cruz 9, Thoss 6, Borboran 5, Cablay 4, Fonacier 3, Burstcher 2, Ferriols 2, Cariaso 2.
Sta. Lucia 83 - Williams 20, Espinas 16, Daa 10, Reyes 10, Omolon 10, Aquino 6, Larong 5, Yeo 4, Misolas 2, Waters 0, Urbiztondo 0.
Quarterscores: 26-20, 46-38, 71-63, 91-83
ALAMINOS ASSASSIN STRIKES IN FINAL QUARTER
source: PBA.PH
Wed, 11/04/2009 - 20:28 — junior
For most of the first three quarters San Miguel Beer had trouble with its offense until Lordy Tugade found his rhythm and capped the Beermen’s fourth quarter siege.
Tugade poured all his 16 points in the last nine minutes to take scoring honors and led the Beermen to their third consecutive victory, 93-77, against slumping Rain Or Shine Friday night in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
“Lordy is capable of exploding anytime. Actually, he’s taking good shots. It’s not just falling in. Good thing he finally found his rhythm in the fourth quarter,” said SMB coach Siot Tanquingcen after the latest success that improved their record to 3-2.
After playing sparingly for 10 minutes in the first three quarters and going 0-for-4, Tugade nailed his first shot of the night from eight feet with 8:24 to play.
Then after ROS turned the ball over, the 6-2 shooting guard, nailed two free throws before hitting two big threes that broke the game apart and took away the Elasto Painters’ hope of getting out of the rut.
“I’m just thankful coach didn’t give up on me. It somehow kept me going and motivated me,” said Tugade, who went 4-of-5 from the field including 3-of-3 from the trifecta zone in the fourth quarter. He also made 5 of 6 free throw shots.
It was another disappointing ending for the Elasto Painters, who kept the game close for three quarters but couldn’t put on a run that could put away the Beermen.
RoS engaged SMB through 11 lead changes and six deadlocks before losing grip in the fourth that saw them shooting a woeful 33 percent (6-of-18).
Jeffrei Chan’s 3-pointer with 11 minutes to go in the fourth put Rain or Shine ahead for the last time at 61-60. Denok Miranda’s free throw then tied the count 90 minutes later before Mike Cortez drained a three to put SMB ahead to stay.
Cortez finished with 14 points and Dondon Hontiveros, who was 0-for-12 from 3-point range in the conference entering the game, had 13 including 1-of-2 from behind the 3-point range. Arwind Santos chipped in 12 for the Beermen, who shot 62 percent (10-of-16) in the fourth.
The lost was the fifth straight for the Elasto Painters, who recorded their worst season and conference start since entering the league in 2006.
Gabe Norwood and Chan each scored 14 points but hardly made an impact to spark their cause.
Assistant coach Richard Del Rosario called the shots for RoS supplanting chieftain Caloy Garcia, who figured in a minor vehicular accident recently, and was advised by his doctors to take some rest. (DBC)
The scores:
San Miguel Beer 93 - Tugade 16, Cortez 14, Hontiveros 13, Santos 12, Miranda 11, Seigle 10, Pena 6, Custodio 5, Villanueva 4, Racela 2, Eman 0, Pennisi 0.
Rain or Shine 77 - Norwood 14, Chan 14, Reyes 12, Telan 11, Laure 7, Mercado 6, Hrabak 6, Cruz 4, Tang 3, Arellano 0, Ibanes 0.
Quarterscores: 20-19,33-39, 58-58, 93-77.
Wed, 11/04/2009 - 20:28 — junior
For most of the first three quarters San Miguel Beer had trouble with its offense until Lordy Tugade found his rhythm and capped the Beermen’s fourth quarter siege.
Tugade poured all his 16 points in the last nine minutes to take scoring honors and led the Beermen to their third consecutive victory, 93-77, against slumping Rain Or Shine Friday night in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
“Lordy is capable of exploding anytime. Actually, he’s taking good shots. It’s not just falling in. Good thing he finally found his rhythm in the fourth quarter,” said SMB coach Siot Tanquingcen after the latest success that improved their record to 3-2.
After playing sparingly for 10 minutes in the first three quarters and going 0-for-4, Tugade nailed his first shot of the night from eight feet with 8:24 to play.
Then after ROS turned the ball over, the 6-2 shooting guard, nailed two free throws before hitting two big threes that broke the game apart and took away the Elasto Painters’ hope of getting out of the rut.
“I’m just thankful coach didn’t give up on me. It somehow kept me going and motivated me,” said Tugade, who went 4-of-5 from the field including 3-of-3 from the trifecta zone in the fourth quarter. He also made 5 of 6 free throw shots.
It was another disappointing ending for the Elasto Painters, who kept the game close for three quarters but couldn’t put on a run that could put away the Beermen.
RoS engaged SMB through 11 lead changes and six deadlocks before losing grip in the fourth that saw them shooting a woeful 33 percent (6-of-18).
Jeffrei Chan’s 3-pointer with 11 minutes to go in the fourth put Rain or Shine ahead for the last time at 61-60. Denok Miranda’s free throw then tied the count 90 minutes later before Mike Cortez drained a three to put SMB ahead to stay.
Cortez finished with 14 points and Dondon Hontiveros, who was 0-for-12 from 3-point range in the conference entering the game, had 13 including 1-of-2 from behind the 3-point range. Arwind Santos chipped in 12 for the Beermen, who shot 62 percent (10-of-16) in the fourth.
The lost was the fifth straight for the Elasto Painters, who recorded their worst season and conference start since entering the league in 2006.
Gabe Norwood and Chan each scored 14 points but hardly made an impact to spark their cause.
Assistant coach Richard Del Rosario called the shots for RoS supplanting chieftain Caloy Garcia, who figured in a minor vehicular accident recently, and was advised by his doctors to take some rest. (DBC)
The scores:
San Miguel Beer 93 - Tugade 16, Cortez 14, Hontiveros 13, Santos 12, Miranda 11, Seigle 10, Pena 6, Custodio 5, Villanueva 4, Racela 2, Eman 0, Pennisi 0.
Rain or Shine 77 - Norwood 14, Chan 14, Reyes 12, Telan 11, Laure 7, Mercado 6, Hrabak 6, Cruz 4, Tang 3, Arellano 0, Ibanes 0.
Quarterscores: 20-19,33-39, 58-58, 93-77.
Monday, November 2, 2009
In-form Williams, Reyes key to Sta. Lucia's sizzling start
source: Nelson Beltran | philstar.com
PBA coaches are hardly surprised by Sta. Lucia’s strong start in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup, maintaining that the Realtors will be a force to reckon with for as long as Kelly Williams and Ryan Reyes are healthy.
The Realtors have emerged as among the early frontrunners of the all-Filipino tourney, winning three of their first four outings notwithstanding the departure of longtime main man Dennis Espino and three other key players in Paolo Mendoza, Denok Miranda and Norman Gonzales.
Coach Boyet Fernandez and his chargers seek to sustain their steady start as they take on the Alaska Milk Aces at the resumption of the season-opening tourney tomorrow at the Araneta Coliseum.
The other Wednesday match pits San Miguel Beer and Rain or Shine.
“Ryan Reyes and Kelly Williams provide Sta. Lucia the firepower, consistency and quickness. They give Sta. Lucia so much strength. With Ryan and Kelly there, Sta. Lucia will always be tough to beat,” said Burger King coach Yeng Guiao.
“They (Williams and Reyes) are arguably the best 1-2 combination in the league right now. With Reyes healthy and even Kelly 80 to 90 percent healthy, they can lead their team to victory,” said Purefoods mentor Ryan Gregorio.
“Sta. Lucia has a great lineup with Kelly and Ryan. The only question for them is health,” said Alaska coach Tim Cone.
With the lineup that they have, Sta. Lucia top honcho Buddy Encarnado and coach Boyet Fernandez themselves are upbeat on their chance to reclaim the crown the team won in the 2007-08 season.
“We’re sad with the exit of Dennis (Espino) but we have to move on. The team is working hard in practice and I can assure everybody we’ll always be there fighting,” said Encarnado.
“There’s no question that Kelly and Ryan were major factors in our 3-1 start but there’s also our other guys playing their roles to the hilt. Josh Urbiztondo and Ardy Larong played big in our last game, Joseph Yeo, Bitoy Omolon and Gabby Espinas helped a lot in our last two won games while Dennis Daa was steady in all our first four games,” said Fernandez.
PBA coaches are hardly surprised by Sta. Lucia’s strong start in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup, maintaining that the Realtors will be a force to reckon with for as long as Kelly Williams and Ryan Reyes are healthy.
The Realtors have emerged as among the early frontrunners of the all-Filipino tourney, winning three of their first four outings notwithstanding the departure of longtime main man Dennis Espino and three other key players in Paolo Mendoza, Denok Miranda and Norman Gonzales.
Coach Boyet Fernandez and his chargers seek to sustain their steady start as they take on the Alaska Milk Aces at the resumption of the season-opening tourney tomorrow at the Araneta Coliseum.
The other Wednesday match pits San Miguel Beer and Rain or Shine.
“Ryan Reyes and Kelly Williams provide Sta. Lucia the firepower, consistency and quickness. They give Sta. Lucia so much strength. With Ryan and Kelly there, Sta. Lucia will always be tough to beat,” said Burger King coach Yeng Guiao.
“They (Williams and Reyes) are arguably the best 1-2 combination in the league right now. With Reyes healthy and even Kelly 80 to 90 percent healthy, they can lead their team to victory,” said Purefoods mentor Ryan Gregorio.
“Sta. Lucia has a great lineup with Kelly and Ryan. The only question for them is health,” said Alaska coach Tim Cone.
With the lineup that they have, Sta. Lucia top honcho Buddy Encarnado and coach Boyet Fernandez themselves are upbeat on their chance to reclaim the crown the team won in the 2007-08 season.
“We’re sad with the exit of Dennis (Espino) but we have to move on. The team is working hard in practice and I can assure everybody we’ll always be there fighting,” said Encarnado.
“There’s no question that Kelly and Ryan were major factors in our 3-1 start but there’s also our other guys playing their roles to the hilt. Josh Urbiztondo and Ardy Larong played big in our last game, Joseph Yeo, Bitoy Omolon and Gabby Espinas helped a lot in our last two won games while Dennis Daa was steady in all our first four games,” said Fernandez.
Surprise teams rise, fall in PBA Cup
source: Nelson Beltran | philstar.com
To many, the faltering starts by San Miguel Beer, Rain or Shine and Coca-Cola and the highly competitive showing by Barako Bull have been the biggest surprises so far in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup.
Alaska, Sta. Lucia, Ginebra and Talk n Text set the pace but experts said it is too early to say how the poles of power will shift.
The all-Filipino tourney has taken a short break in observance of the All Saints Day. It resumes Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum with San Miguel tangling with Rain or Shine and Alaska tackling Sta. Lucia.
PBA coaches point to Barako Bull as the biggest surprise as the lowly regarded team came out strong and is now on equal footing with San Miguel and Purefoods on identical 2-2 win-loss marks.
“Barako is a big surprise not only because of two wins but at how much fun they are to watch,” said Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes.
“They (the Energy Boosters) bring blue-collar effort that can beat any team on any given night,” said Alaska coach Tim Cone of the Barako Bull team featuring a roster without marquee player.
“Barako is a big surprise. Now we know, they can beat any team that takes them for granted,” said Ginebra mentor Jong Uichico.
“The Barakos are playing inspired basketball. They have a bunch of players who want to prove that they belong here and it is a testament to the old adage ‘thewill is more important than the skill, ’” said Purefoods tactician Ryan Gregorio.
San Miguel, Coca-Cola and Rain or Shine are off to a struggling start but no one is counting them out.
The coaches said adjustments are to be made, and this could trigger a change in fortunes of the ball clubs. They are particularly wary ofSan Miguel.
“Sta. Lucia and Barako have good records because they were ready to play right at the start of the tourney. But there are teams that will peak as the tourney goes on. I expect San Miguel to be a strong team by the time the tourney is in its playoff phase,” said Coca-Cola coach Kenneth Duremdes.
“San Miguel will be up there once it gets into the groove of things. Rain or Shine and Coke are down right now but I know these teams have players who can make things happen,” said Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez.
“You expect some kind of championship hangover with San Miguel but they seem to have straightened out now,” said Cone.
Sta. Lucia, a team running second behind Alaska (4-0) with a 3-1 mark, is highly regarded largely because of its fearsome duo of Kelly Williams and Ryan Reyes.
To many, the faltering starts by San Miguel Beer, Rain or Shine and Coca-Cola and the highly competitive showing by Barako Bull have been the biggest surprises so far in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup.
Alaska, Sta. Lucia, Ginebra and Talk n Text set the pace but experts said it is too early to say how the poles of power will shift.
The all-Filipino tourney has taken a short break in observance of the All Saints Day. It resumes Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum with San Miguel tangling with Rain or Shine and Alaska tackling Sta. Lucia.
PBA coaches point to Barako Bull as the biggest surprise as the lowly regarded team came out strong and is now on equal footing with San Miguel and Purefoods on identical 2-2 win-loss marks.
“Barako is a big surprise not only because of two wins but at how much fun they are to watch,” said Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes.
“They (the Energy Boosters) bring blue-collar effort that can beat any team on any given night,” said Alaska coach Tim Cone of the Barako Bull team featuring a roster without marquee player.
“Barako is a big surprise. Now we know, they can beat any team that takes them for granted,” said Ginebra mentor Jong Uichico.
“The Barakos are playing inspired basketball. They have a bunch of players who want to prove that they belong here and it is a testament to the old adage ‘thewill is more important than the skill, ’” said Purefoods tactician Ryan Gregorio.
San Miguel, Coca-Cola and Rain or Shine are off to a struggling start but no one is counting them out.
The coaches said adjustments are to be made, and this could trigger a change in fortunes of the ball clubs. They are particularly wary ofSan Miguel.
“Sta. Lucia and Barako have good records because they were ready to play right at the start of the tourney. But there are teams that will peak as the tourney goes on. I expect San Miguel to be a strong team by the time the tourney is in its playoff phase,” said Coca-Cola coach Kenneth Duremdes.
“San Miguel will be up there once it gets into the groove of things. Rain or Shine and Coke are down right now but I know these teams have players who can make things happen,” said Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez.
“You expect some kind of championship hangover with San Miguel but they seem to have straightened out now,” said Cone.
Sta. Lucia, a team running second behind Alaska (4-0) with a 3-1 mark, is highly regarded largely because of its fearsome duo of Kelly Williams and Ryan Reyes.
PBA, SBP in talks over Gilas stint
source: Joel Orellana | businessmirror.com.ph
It looks like Smart Gilas will complete its 10-game guesting stint in the KFC-Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup.
PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios said Sunday the developmental team will not withdraw from the tournament and that talks are ongoing with Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Noli Eala.
“There will be no pullout [by Smart Gilas],” Barrios told the BusinessMirror. The PBA earlier announced Smart Gilas’s games will have no bearing on PBA teams.
“Commissioner Noli and I are in touch and are having positive communication regarding the issue,” Barrios added.
Eala said they are still awaiting the answers of the PBA to some questions that will help them decide on the next course of action.
“According to commissioner Sonny [Barrios], he will still consult the PBA on this matter,” he said.
After the PBA announced its decision, Eala issued a statement saying SBP is planning to cut short the team’s stint in the All-Filipino tournament.
“While I do not question the prerogative of the commissioner to decide on this matter, this decision to change their own rules in midconference based on limited parameters imposed by the board is highly unusualand also unfortunate, ” Eala said, adding they are still deciding on whether to continue or pull out.
The issue started when Smart Gilas’s American player CJ Giles, who is expected to be naturalized in time for the qualifying events for the 2012 London Olympics, played just five minutes against Talk ’N Text that resulted to a 103-70 rout.
Some members of the board questioned the timing of Giles’ “benching” by Serbian coach Rajko Toroman as Gilas and the Tropang Texters are like sister teams—they both have the same “boss” in Manny V. Pangilinan.
Eala reasoned out that the 24-year-old Giles is being bothered by the health condition of his four-year-old son Jaden, who was diagnosed with a blood clot in his arteries.
Giles sat out again in the team’s following game against Barangay Ginebra where they absorbed a 100-72 beating.
Barrios was directed by the board, chaired by Burger King team manager Lito Alvarez, to choose only between two options—one is for Smart Gilas’s games to have no bearing on the PBA teams or for Smart Gilas not to play CJ Giles in any of its remaining games.
Barrios opted for the first, saying, “We recognize that CJ Giles is a very vital part of the national team, the reason why he is considered as a candidate for naturalization for Filipino citizen.”
Giles is on leave, according to Eala, to attend to his ailing son and was expected to return for the game against Coca-Cola on Friday at the Astrodome.
It looks like Smart Gilas will complete its 10-game guesting stint in the KFC-Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup.
PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios said Sunday the developmental team will not withdraw from the tournament and that talks are ongoing with Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Noli Eala.
“There will be no pullout [by Smart Gilas],” Barrios told the BusinessMirror. The PBA earlier announced Smart Gilas’s games will have no bearing on PBA teams.
“Commissioner Noli and I are in touch and are having positive communication regarding the issue,” Barrios added.
Eala said they are still awaiting the answers of the PBA to some questions that will help them decide on the next course of action.
“According to commissioner Sonny [Barrios], he will still consult the PBA on this matter,” he said.
After the PBA announced its decision, Eala issued a statement saying SBP is planning to cut short the team’s stint in the All-Filipino tournament.
“While I do not question the prerogative of the commissioner to decide on this matter, this decision to change their own rules in midconference based on limited parameters imposed by the board is highly unusualand also unfortunate, ” Eala said, adding they are still deciding on whether to continue or pull out.
The issue started when Smart Gilas’s American player CJ Giles, who is expected to be naturalized in time for the qualifying events for the 2012 London Olympics, played just five minutes against Talk ’N Text that resulted to a 103-70 rout.
Some members of the board questioned the timing of Giles’ “benching” by Serbian coach Rajko Toroman as Gilas and the Tropang Texters are like sister teams—they both have the same “boss” in Manny V. Pangilinan.
Eala reasoned out that the 24-year-old Giles is being bothered by the health condition of his four-year-old son Jaden, who was diagnosed with a blood clot in his arteries.
Giles sat out again in the team’s following game against Barangay Ginebra where they absorbed a 100-72 beating.
Barrios was directed by the board, chaired by Burger King team manager Lito Alvarez, to choose only between two options—one is for Smart Gilas’s games to have no bearing on the PBA teams or for Smart Gilas not to play CJ Giles in any of its remaining games.
Barrios opted for the first, saying, “We recognize that CJ Giles is a very vital part of the national team, the reason why he is considered as a candidate for naturalization for Filipino citizen.”
Giles is on leave, according to Eala, to attend to his ailing son and was expected to return for the game against Coca-Cola on Friday at the Astrodome.
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