Villanueva, Alvarez in the market?

Two former Ateneo teammates may soon find themselves with another team even before the coming PBA season unfolds in October.

That is, if there will be any taker for Rico Villanueva and Rich Alvarez who are reportedly being traded by Purefoods and are the latest among players being put up on the market.

Purefoods officials denied this yesterday, but team insiders insist the two are part of coach Ryan Gregorio's plans to put order on his team, which is too crowded at the frontline while lacking in the off-guard and small forward slots.

Alvarez and Villanueva, were members of Ateneo's UAAP champion team of 2002, were also supposedly being dangled to Talk N Text, owned by Blue Eagles benefactor Manny V. Pangilinan.

Officials of the other teams involved refused to comment.

But one team representative to the PBA Board, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted the possibility of a trade involving Alvarez and Villanueva were unofficially broached during light moments among the governors.

"Parang thinking aloud lang," related the source.

Alvarez and Villanueva have had their fair share of the PBA rounds.

Alvarez was made the top pick overall by Shell in the 2004 Rookie draft before going to Alaska when the Turbo Chargers disbanded the year after.

He has since then played for Red Bull before landing at Purefoods last year.

Villanueva's pro route was almost similar as he was drafted by Red Bull in 2003 and went to San Miguel Beer in 2007 before being traded to Purefoods last year.

Purefoods' frontline, which also boasts the likes of Kerby Raymundo, Don Carlos Allado, Romel Adducul, Jondan Salvador, Nino Canaleta, Richard Yee and Paolo Bugia, was further beefed up by the return of Marc Pingris, who was acquired from Burger King earlier in the week for two future draft picks. Noli Cortez - Malaya Online Edition

Powerade-Team Pilipinas goes thru final test

source: Nelson Beltran | philstar.com

Powerade Team Pilipinas has set a close-door tuneup game with Lebanon at 2 p.m. tomorrow at the Moro Lorenzo Gym inside Ateneo in a match serving as the final gauge for the members of the national team to the coming Fiba-Asia Championship.

RP coach Yeng Guiao has not ruled out the possibility of Ranidel de Ocampo or Ryan Reyes coming on board, replacing a player in the original 12-man lineup submitted to Fiba-Asia last July 22.

Asi Taulava has been asked to shape up while Arwind Santos is under scrutiny for his defensive breakdowns during the Jones Cup.

Guiao has assured Reyes that he would be reactivated once he gets back into shape.

But eight days before the opening of the Tianjin Asian world qualifier, Reyes was still far from top form, unable to join the team in any drill.

“He’s with us in practice but he’s limited to shooting,” said Guiao.

In the final week before the Asian joust, Guiao said they will work hard to improve on their shooting and practice new patterns suited with international plays as they’ve seen in the Jones Cup.

“We’ve done the adjustments. Hopefully, we can run it fluidly by the time we play in Tianjin,” said Guiao.

They have the opportunity to test it as they take on the Lebanese in their final tuneup game before leaving for China on Tuesday.

The Lebanese team opted to pitch camp in Manila after the Jones Cup in the final stage of its own buildup for the Asian meet.

The Lebanese are among the favorites to make the world meet with a lineup featuring two NBA veterans in Jackson Vroman and Matt Freije plus old standouts Fadi El Khatib and Brian Feghali.

Vroman and Feghali combined for 53 points and 17 rebounds in powering Lebanon past the Philippines, 95-83, in their match in the Jones Cup.

Lebanon finished second to Iran in the Jones Cup as it played Vroman and Freije only in their last few games in Chinese Taipei.

Vroman and Freije are both all-around 6-foot-10 behemoths.

Pingris back to Giants as PBA teams continue off-season buildup

source: gmanews.tv

Barely 24 hours after being shipped to his first professional team, Marc Pingris found himself back wearing a Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants uniform.

Pingris was released to the Giants after the Burger King Whopper agreed in principle to get Purefoods’ first and second round picks for 2010.

Pingris’ return to the Giants fold was confirmed by Rene Pardo in an interview with GMANews.TV. “We have agreed to trade our first and second round picks next year to Burger King for Pingris."

Pingris is the first player to be unloaded since the Arwind Santos trade. The Whopper are expected to unload four more players, including two to the Barako Bull Energy Boosters.

The Whopper acquired the services of Larry Rodriguez via a trade although the Energy Boosters have yet to determine the players they will get in return.

Burger King board representative and incoming PBA chairman Lito Alvarez said he feels Purefoods needs Pingris more as the Whopper would most likely maximize its new recruits.

Purefoods and Burger King are not the only team busy transacting one deal after another as Rain or Shine and Barako Bull also went into the trading table.

After achieving a milestone last season, Rain or Shine tabbed young and promising shooter Jeff Chan from the Barako Bull in exchange for veteran Rob Wainwright and center Mark Andaya.

The Elasto Painters will also secure the services of journeyman forward Mike Hrabak.

“We have agreed on the trade. Nag-submit na kami ng papel sa PBA office," said rain or Shine co-owner Terry Que. “Kailangan namin si Chan because he is a young shooter na puwede pang ma-develop. Hrabak would also be a big help since kailangan namin ng malaki."

Barako Bull, a team which has been struggling to maintain its team because of its current financial status, is on a rebuilding stage. The Energy Boosters have reportedly traded their remaining solid players like Gabby Espinas, Jojo Duncil and Rodriguez.

Espinas is reportedly headed to Sta. Lucia for the Realtors’ sixth overall pick in the coming PBA Rookie Draft. Rodriguez was being wooed by Burger King while Duncil is expected to wind up as the Coca-Cola Tigers’ new member.

Burger King gets Pingris, Bono for Santos

source: gmanews.tv

Burger King’s revamp for the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) 2009-2010 season has just started.

The Whopper have retaken the services of Marc Pingris, former UAAP most valuable player (MVP) Ken Bono and another future first round pick from San Miguel in exchange of do-it-all forward Arwind Santos, completing one of the many expected blockbuster trades to happen in the PBA off season.

The transaction was completed late Monday night, according to Burger King board representative and incoming PBA chairman Lito Alvarez.

“I believe this trade is fair enough. We were able to secure Pingris, who is not far behind in the caliber of Arwind Santos, Bono and a first round pick next year," Alvarez told GMANews.TV

But the acquisition of Pingris and Bono gave the Whopper a dilemma of unloading some of their players. Their roster is expected to bloat to as high as 17 and they need to let go five players.

The Whopper also has three first-round picks in the coming PBA Rookie Draft on August 2.

“That’s the problem we’re encountering right now," said Alvarez. “We want to maintain 12 players and I expect our roster to bloat with 17 players. We certainly need to unload players."

Pingris going back to Purefoods?

Pingris is one among the few players who played with different champion teams – Purefoods and San Miguel Beer. He started his PBA career with Air21, but flourished as a member of the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants.

In fact, his transfer to Purefoods brought an immediate impact to the team, which made it to the finals twice in the 2005-06 season winning the All-Filipino championship the same year.

The 6-foot-4 Pingris was also voted as the Finals MVP in the Giants’ 4-2 victory over the Red Bull Barakos in their best-of-seven finals series.

Forced to unload players, Alvarez said he might offer Pingris to Purefoods again in exchange for a future first round pick.

“I understand that Purefoods wants Pingris back in its fold. I might offer him to them for a future first round pick," said Alvarez.

Whopper want to infuse new blood

Owning three first-round draft picks gives every team brighter hopes but aside from this, the Whopper are also setting their sights on Barako Bull’s Larry Rodriguez.

Rodriguez played for Yeng Guiao’s final season with the Barakos and the fiery mentor reportedly wants to acquire the services of the bruising sophomore forward to add toughness in the Whopper’s frontline.

“Gustung-gusto siya ni coach Yeng eh, so we might negotiate with Barako Bull in order to get his services," said Alvarez, referring to the former Philippine Maritime Institute standout, who caught the fancy of the multi-titled mentor.

The Whopper have the Nos.1, 3 and 8 picks in the first round. They might tab Japeth Aguilar, who also drew the interest of several teams, as their top overall rookie pick.

'Different' Team Pilipinas will emerge in FIBA-Asia

source: gmanews.tv

Coach Yeng Guiao came to the defense of the Powerade-Team Pilipinas, declaring it still has a lot more to offer come next week’s 25th FIBA-Asia men’s basketball championship in Tianjin, China.

Guiao just came back from Chinese Taipei where the Nationals competed in the 31st William Jones Cup tournament and ended up sixth in a field of eight teams, most of them the same cast of countries seeing action in the FIBA-Asia tilt.

In all, the Nationals registered only two wins as against six losses, two of them against Japan and Korea – teams that are bracketed with the Philippines in Group A of the meet that serves as qualifier for next year’s World Men’s Basketball Championship in Turkey.


“I can see na `yung sense of urgency ng team, wala pa roon. And knowing these players, you will see a different team kapag nandoon na tayo sa Tianjin," said the national coach.

Guiao, however, stressed the RP squad shouldn’t be estimated based on their performance in the Jones Cup. Afterall, the team was formed not exactly for this tournament.

“Let the team be judged after Tianjin," Guiao declared with authority at the PSA Forum Tuesday.

“Basically, the Jones Cup was a feel out tournament for the whole team. I guess even the rest of the field, baka ganun din ang naging mentality.

“But I’m not offering any excuses. I don’t want the players to be distracted by criticisms. I’m assuming full responsibilities for the performance of the team. Actually, I’m already psyching up myself for any criticisms."

In any case, having gauged the strengths and weaknesses of the same opponents his boys will be facing in Tianjin, Guiao certainly likes the National team’s chances.

“Briefly now, we have a good chance of beating teams like Chinese-Taipei, Korea and Japan," he said, adding the FIBA-Asia draw had been favorable to the Philippines.

Owing to that, Guiao sees a good chance for the Nationals to make the quarterfinals.

“Makapasok tayo ng quarterfinals would already be a big improvement from our ninth place finish two years ago," said Guiao, referring to the order of finish achieved by a similar PBA-supported RP five coached by Chot Reyes during the 2007 FIBA-Asia meet in Tokushima, Japan.

“Ngayon, kung makapasok tayo sa semis, piyesta na sa atin yun. Kung maka-tsamba pa, top 3 tayo and pasok sa World Championship next year."

But that would be too much of a wishful thinking.

Guiao said it’s a different story when the Middle East countries like Iran, Jordan and Lebanon are put in the equation.

“These teams (Middle East) puro kumpleto na. They have the size, speed, shooting touch. They have naturalized players and even players who have NBA experience. I think even China will have a hard time dealing against them.

“They are really tough to beat, Yes, they can be beaten, but it would take a lot of effort on our part. Maraming dasal at buwenas ang kailangan natin," added Guiao.

For his part, PBA Commissioner Sonny Barrios said Powerade-Team Pilipinas’ performance in the Jones Cup should not be used as a yardstick to measure how it will perform in the FIBA-Asia.

“First of all, the big picture is alam naman natin that this is the team’s first major international stint against basically the same opponent that they will have in Tianjin. So, along the way we’re able to pick up something which might be of a big help to us during the FIBA-Asia," he said.

Guiao readily agreed.

“Actually in those eight games that we had in the Jones Cup, mas marami kaming natutunan than in the last eight months dating back to the time the team was first formed.

“Now, we will bring what we learned in the Jones Cup in these last few days of our practices and incorporate it into our games."

----LINE UP FOR FIBA ASIA----

The team will be composed of Jayjay Helterbrand, Willie Miller, Gabe Norwood, Arwind Santos, Jared Dillinger, Cyrus Baguio, Japeth Aguilar, Kerby Raymundo, Sonny Thoss, James Yap, Asi Taulava, and Mick Pennisi

FIBA ASIA Schedule (1st Round)
Aug 6 (RP vs. Sri Lanka 9AM), Aug 7 (RP vs. Japan 9PM) , Aug 8 (RP vs. Korea 9PM)

Japeth wonders: Would I be No. 1?

Written by Joel Orellana / Reporter
Thursday, 23 July 2009 20:47

TAIPEI—Japeth Aguilar has made himself available for the Rookie Draft. And now, he wonders if he indeed would turn out to be the No. 1 pick.

“Ako ba talaga ang first pick?” the six-foot-eight, 210-lb Aguilar asked on Wednesday night after announcing he is joining the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Rookie Draft on August 2 at Market! Market! in Taguig.

Even before Aguilar suited up for the national squad, Burger King had declared it will use its first pick to acquire the former Ateneo center and Western Kentucky University reserve.

And with his impressive numbers in the ongoing Jones Cup basketball tournament here, it is unlikely the Whopper would tab somebody else.

Aguilar, the youngest in the Powerade-Team Pilipinas at 22, is the squad’s second-leading scorer with 8.4 points per game after Willie Miller’s 9.0, but is No. 1 in rebounding (7.2) and blocks (1.6).

“Excited ako kasi next level ito sa basketball career ko,” said Aguilar, son of former pro Peter Aguilar, who played with five teams in the PBA.

National team and Burger King coach Yeng Guiao had also earlier dubbed Aguilar as the next most important big man in the PBA.

Aguilar’s announcement that he wants to be drafted in the PBA ended speculations he would remain an amateur and play for the national team of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).

Aguilar and his handlers beat the July 24 deadline. He is bound to be the first homegrown to be picked No. 1 since Yancy de Ocampo in 2002.

Aguilar left his application form at the PBA Office before the national team flew here, but only made his application official on Wednesday night.

PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios, who arrived here on Thursday, said he is happy to have Aguilar in the draft.

“The PBA family welcomes Japeth Aguilar to the premier league of the country,” said Barrios.

“I am confident he will be an asset not only to his team but also to the PBA while he showcases his basketball talent and skills. I wish him all the best as I join all PBA fans in eagerly waiting for his debut in the games this coming October.”

Half-Filipinos or those born and raised overseas emerged as the top picks in the annual draft for the past six years. They were Mike Cortez (2003), Rich Alvarez (2004), Anthony Washington (2005), Kelly Williams (2006), Joe Devance (2007) and Gabe Norwood (2008).

A native of Sasmuan, Pampanga, Aguilar welcomed the new challenges of playing against the league’s resident stars and be under the meticulous coaching of Guiao.

“Mas gusto ko nga po ’yung sinasabi ang mga mali ko sa game para mas matuto pa ako,” said Aguilar, who also attended the National Basketball Association Developmental League camp in early June.

“Wala pa akong nakitang maglaro ng big man na kasing athletic ni Japeth and I think he will be the league’s next most important big man,” said Guiao. “There’s so much room for improvement for him because his talent is not yet fully developed kasi ilang games lang nilaro niya sa Western Kentucky.”

Although Talk ’N Text officials declared they want Aguilar, Guiao said Burger King team manager Lito Alvarez assured the expected top pick would be in a Whopper uniform.

KOREA DEFEATS POWERADE TEAM PILIPINAS 83-80

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Losses kept piling one after the other for Powerade-Team Pilipinas in the 31st William Jones Cup tournament.

South Korea was the latest to inflict a setback on the PBA-backed Nationals with an 83-80 win Thursday at the Hsinchuang gym in Taipei.


After blowing a 19-point second quarter lead to Japan, which is bracketed with the Philippines, South Korea and Sri Lanka in Group A of the 25th FIBA Asia Men’s Championship in Tianjin, China next month, the Nationals were looking to redeem themselves against one of the deadliest teams in the region.

They were within 78-76 following a Ranidel De Ocampo three-pointer and a Sonny Thoss turn-around jumper with one minute and 50 seconds remaining.

But Oh Se-Keun came out of timeout to bury a three-pointer – his first attempt from beyond the arc – with 1:25 remaining for an 81-76 lead, while Yang Dong-Geun negated Arwind Santos’ breakaway dunk with a leaning jumper against Willie Miller to make it 83-78 with 43 seconds to go.


The win lifted the South Koreans – who beat an all-amateur RP team in the semifinal of the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul and again in the 2002 Busan Asian Games semis on a buzzer-beating three-pointer – to a share of the lead with a 4-1 slate.

Team RP absorbed its fifth loss in six games.

“We shot a little better from last night and that’s the reason we were able to keep the game close," said national coach Yeng Guiao. “It’s good to be able to feel and study the Koreans because I think they will be our toughest competition in Tianjin."

The Philippines takes a break Friday before taking on Taiwan-B at 3 p.m. Saturday and winding up the campaign against Iran at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Meanwhile, the annual invitational tournament, held in honor of the International Basketball Federation’s (FIBA) founding secretary-general, was thrown into chaos when a bench-emptying brawl between Jordan and Iran resulted in the Jordanians walking out and forfeiting the match.

The forfeiture, ordered by a furious Mario Palma, the defending champions’ Portuguese coach, cost them their first loss after four lopsided victories that sent them into a four-way jam atop the standings with the Iranians, South Koreans and Lebanese.

“The Iranian player, he made a big aggression on our player," said a fuming Palma. “He hit our player in the head and then pushed him to the floor."

Palma was referring to Iran’s 7-foot-3 center Hamed Haddadi, who brought an elbow down the back of the head of Jordan’s Jamal Abu Shamala during a rebound play two minutes into the game with the Jordanians ahead, 2-0.


Shamala responded with an elbow of his own, hitting Ehadadi on the chest. The Iranian behemoth retaliated by grabbing Shamala in the head with two hands and throwing him down, bringing both teams into the fray.

The mercurial Palma also questioned why a Korean referee, who reportedly called a technical on a Jordanian player, has been assigned to officiate the game.

The Iranians were handed the game via a score of 20-0, which could proved critical in breaking ties.

PBA Rookie Camp sa Club 650 at Caruncho gym

MANILA, Philippines - May pagkakataon ang mga aspiring player sa Rookie Draft sa taong ito na ipakita ang kanilang physical at mental skills sa pagdaraos ng Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) - ang kanilang traditional rookie camp - sa dalawang magkaibang venues sa huling linggo ng buwang ito.

Nakatakda ang Rookie Camp sa July 28, 30 at 31sa ilalim ni Ramil Cruz bilang camp director.

Maghapon ang mga gawain sa unang araw ng Camp sa Club 650 gym sa Libis, Quezon City mula alas-9 ng umaga hanggang alas-3:00 ng hapon kung saan susukatan ang mga aplikante ng kanilang height, wing span at current weight.

Pagkatapos nito ay titingnan ang skills at strength ng mga player sa pamamagitan ng push ups, bench press, sit ups, sprints at pull ups.

Sa hapon magkakaroon ng drills sa agility, shooting, dribbling at fastbreak.

Magpapahinga ng isang araw at sa July 30-31 sasabak ang mga rookies sa four-game schedule sa Caruncho gym sa Pasig City kung saan hahatiin ang mga partisipante sa apat na teams.

Maglalaban ang Group 1 at Group 3 sa first game sa alas-2:00 ng hapon kasunod ang sagupaan ng Group 2 at Group 4 sa alas-4:00 ng hapon.

Ang final day ng camp ay crossover double header sa pagitan ng Group 1 vs. Group 2 alas-2:00 ng hapon at Group 3 vs. Group 4 alas-4:00 ng hapon.

Ang official rookie team rosters ay ipapadala sa Biyernes (July 24), at wala pang coaching assignments.

Ang PBA Rookie Draft ay sa August 2 sa Market Market Place sa Taguig.kung saan ang Burger King ang may-ari ng no. 1 overall pick. (Mae Balbuena)

Watch Jones cup 2009 live

Hey mga kabarangay ginebra you can now watch jones cup 2009 live here just scroll down to the bottom of this page.

Beermen bag Fiesta Cup crown

By Musong R. Castillo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:22:00 07/17/2009

Filed Under: Basketball, Philippine Basketball Association (PBA)

MANILA, Philippines - Laced with superstars in every position after a never-ending buildup over the years, San Miguel Beer finally achieved what it was built to do.

Throwing the full weight of their offensive armada at Barangay Ginebra and adding tough defense in between, the Beermen ended a four-year title drought last night by winning the Motolite PBA Fiesta Cup after a clinical 90-79 Game 7 dismantling of the Gin Kings in front of 20,541 screaming souls at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Beermen jumped out of the gates hard, zoomed to several 17-point leads in the third quarter before emphatically weathering numerous Ginebra rallies in the fourth to jack up their all-time high collection of championships to 18.

Jonas Villanueva, a few nights after being named the season’s Most Improved Player, bagged the PBA Press Corps’ Fern-C Finals MVP plum after norming 11 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists, edging out the rejuvenated Danny Ildefonso in the balloting.

The two teamed up in the play that ended all Ginebra hopes late in the fourth, as Villanueva fed Ildefonso in a fastbreak play that gave San Miguel an 83-72 cushion, going into the last 2:21.

After a hot first half where they took a 10-point lead, the Beermen shifted to high gear in the third, taking a couple of 17-point leads, the last at the 4:24 mark, as Dondon Hontiveros skipped into the lane and tossed in an awkward shot that gave San Miguel a 63-46 advantage.

True to its never-say-die spirit, Ginebra found an unlikely hero in Chico Laneta, who beat the third-quarter buzzer with a gutsy drive and then added another twinner early in the fourth off an aggressive move to push the Kings to within 70-62, with 10:46 to play.

But Jay Washington ended a four-minute drought with a slam dunk and the Beermen simply fended off several Kings rallies from that point on.

The last of those Ginebra rallies came late in the fourth, when the Kings held the Beermen scoreless for over three minutes, a dry spell ended by the Villanueva-Ildefonso connection.

The Kings trailed after the first quarter for the first time in the series, not being able to start in the same fiery style that they did in the first six games. Even David Noel failed to buy a point in that span.

Frosty start

Contributing to that frosty start was the ejection of Sunday Salvacion with 64 seconds remaining in the first period. He was called for a Flagrant Foul 2 infraction after hitting Freeman with a wayward elbow in the face.

San Miguel also took care of the ball better in the first two periods, committing just eight turnovers compared to the Kings’ 14.

Helterbrand, despite being hobbled by an aching left hamstring, still had seven points in the first period and eight in the second as the Kings, who trailed by as many as 13 points after the first eight minutes, stayed within striking distance going to the second half.

The newly crowned MVP took eight attempts from the field, hitting all six two-point tries and making a triple in 17 minutes, while Noel was 0-of-3 from trifectaville and just 2-of-4 from two-point range.

Although Freeman was called for a first foul with less than two minutes gone, the Best Import winner was able to stay away from his second until the first minute of the third quarter.

He translated a long first-half stint into 13 points and nine rebounds to give San Miguel a huge energy boost.

The scores:
SAN MIGUEL 90—Freeman 29, Villanueva 15, Pingris 12, Ildefonso 10, Cortez 9, Pennisi 8, Washington 5, Hontiveros 2, Racela 0, Pena 0.

GINEBRA 79—Helterbrand 25, Menk 12, Tubid 10, Reavis 9, NOel 8, Lanete 6, Wilson 5, Baguio 4, Mamaril 0, Salvacion 0.
Quarters: 25-15, 45-37, 70-60, 90-79

DO-OR-DIE FRIDAY

Thu, 07/16/2009 - 23:29 — junior

THERE are a lot of things crowding the minds of San Miguel Beer coach Siot Tanquingcen and Barangay Ginebra counterpart Jong Uichico.

Foremost of which, of course, is how to come out on top Friday in the final chapter of their classic Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference championship duel at the Araneta Coliseum.

“This is still far from over,” said Tanquingcen, following his team’s cruising 98-84 win last Wednesday that reduced the best-of-seven series to a winner-take-all match. “We have one more game to go.”

“Now it’s a jump ball,” quipped Uichico.

They could not be faulted for abstaining from the more fiery words typically hurled by one opposing side to the other in a heated one-on-one duel. After all, for one, both are good friends. Second, their players usually do the (trash) talking, against each other, of course.

Further, some things need not be said, when the records are already speaking for themselves.

Like SMB is on the brink of an 18th title or Ginebra a ninth crown that would tie it with the now-defunct Toyota for fourth in the all-time list behind SMB, Crispa (13) and Alaska (12).

Nagging at the back of their minds, however, are the trends – past and present, good and bad – that their respective teams have been gripped with.

So far, Ginebra has taken the odd-numbered games in the series and has an unblemished 2-0 slate in “you-or-me” scenarios, the last coming in this same tournament last year when the Kings came back from a 2-3 deficit opposite Air21 to win.

For its part, San Miguel has lost the last three Game 7s that it has played in and totes a 2-4 record in all going into the fifth straight such decider in league history.

There are neutralizing tendencies, however. Records also show that since 1999 13 of 17 teams which took a 3-2 lead in a best-of-7 went on to win the championship. However, in the last four PBA Finals, three teams blew 3-2 leads and lost the championship.

The strategists don’t want to delve into those numbers too long, instead opting to merely express elation on just being in the final tune of the “Last Dance.”

“Wala na iyun, laban-laban na,” said Uichico.

“I personally didn’t imagine we’ll be up and that we’ll set the pace in the series,” added the man, whose injury-ransacked team started the conference 1-5. “Who could imagine that, when all the odds were against us?”

“The thing is, God put us in this situation to test us,” said Tanquingcen, whose wards received a similar beating in Game 5 just last Monday. “It’s how you respond to adversity that would define you, whether as an individual or as a team.”

The duelists’ character would surely be tested Friday, more so for Ginebra. (NCo)

Beermen get back at Kings, force Game 7

By Nelson Beltran Updated July 16, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - San Miguel Beer is a team with so much class and character it won’t just roll over and die.

The Beermen preserved last night the yours-and-mine trend in the Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference finale, getting back at the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 98-84, for the third time to force a deciding Game Seven tomorrow.

Gabe Freeman and his teammates fought with a firm resolve, stalling Ginebra’s bid and keeping alive their own aspiration much to the disappointment of the predominantly Ginebra crowd of over 16,000 at the Araneta Coliseum.

The two teams fight for all the marbles at 7 p.m. tomorrow in the same venue.

For the record, Ginebra is 2-0 in a Game Seven. San Miguel is 2-4, losing their last three do-or-die settos.

“We haven’t done anything yet because we just tied the series. God put us in the situation to test us. It’s how we respond to adversity. That would define us as an individual and as a team,” said San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen.

“It didn’t happen tonight, and we now have to do it Friday. It’s a jump ball. A 50-50 percent chance of winning isn’t bad at all,” said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico.

Freeman churned out 24 points and 12 rebounds for his 21st triple-double job in the tourney — the most by any player.

Danny Ildefonso, Mike Cortez and Dondon Hontiveros all contributed at least 11 points each as the Beermen broke away in the second quarter and held on to the finish, forging the 3-3 deadlock in the best-of-seven series.

Tanquingcen said defense and rebounds keyed them to the series-tying win. Uichico, on the other hand, said they lost the game as they couldn’t convert their shots.

The Kings shot only 39.7 percent from the field with main man Jayjay Helterbrand – hurting with a hamstring injury – among those doing bad, going 0-of-5 from the three-point arc and 4-of-5 from the two-point zone.

The Beermen cut loose from a see-sawing contest towards the end of the first half, racing to a 13-point lead before settling for a 44-34 spread at the turn.

The two teams both came out playing with great determination, fighting through nine lead changes before the Beermen established control.

Hontiveros sank two triples, highlighting a 16-2 salvo that opened a 44-31 advantage for the Beermen.

Sunday Salvacion made it a more manageable deficit for the Kings as he rifled in a trey coming off the bench in the closing seconds of the first half.

The Kings were ahead at 29-28 before going on a dry spell, making only five points in the last five minutes of the opening half.

The Beermen broke away while shooting 47.4 percent in the second period. The Kings, on the other hand, struggled with a 28.6-percent clip in that stretch.

SMB closed the half with a spirited run despite Freeman on the bench with three fouls.

Freeman, however, had his hand as the Beermen stretched their lead to 15 at 61-46 midway through the third. The fiery SMB import tossed in 12 in the period, including seven

Gutsy Gin Kings try to wrap it up

By Musong R. Castillo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:09:00 07/15/2009

MANILA, Philippines - Barangay Ginebra takes the first of two chances to wrap up the Motolite PBA Fiesta Cup when the Gin Kings slug it out with the San Miguel Beermen tonight at the Araneta Coliseum.

Game 6 of the best-of-the seven series is set at 7 p.m. with momentum logically on the side of the defending champion Gin Kings, who have not only managed to hold their own in a series where San Miguel Beer is favored to take, but also flaunt control when they need it.

Shortly after masterfully carving out a 106-98 Game 5 win Monday night, however, coach Jong Uichico talked with his emotions in complete check.

“You like to be up 3-2, but we all know what San Miguel is capable of doing,” Uichico reminded scribes. “We hope we can play better on Wednesday. We hope we can get luckier on Wednesday.”

Not many predicted this series to even go past five games. And the most surprising fact is that Ginebra is the one in the lead.

San Miguel win tonight would forge a do-or-die Game 7 on Friday.

“The next game, I’m still very optimistic about it,” San Miguel’s Siot Tanquingcen said. “God gave us the opportunity to be here, there are at least eight other (eliminated) teams out there who would die to be where we are.

“There’s nothing to feel bad about being 2-3 down. They need one game (to clinch the title), we need one game (to stay alive), we just need to do things right.”

Not since the Tanduay-Shell series at the turn of the century has a title duel featuring one team labeled as an overwhelming favorite and one tagged as a terrible underdog.

The disbanded Turbo Chargers, starring two-time MVP Benjie Paras, won that series against a San Miguel-like team in the Rhum Masters that had all the trimmings of a powerhouse squad led by Eric Menk, Sonny Alvarado, Jeffrey Cariaso and Pido Jarencio.

Ginebra hasn’t been given much of a chance to prevail with Mark Caguioa out for the season, Jayjay Helterbrand nursing a hamstring injury and Menk in the twilight of his career.

But Uichico and his gang have added to the Ginebra legend of never quitting and prevailing despite the odds.

David Noel will again lead the Kings, hopefully in the same devastating manner he did Wednesday night when he scored 13 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter.

Out to back him up will be Helterbrand, who still managed nine points and four assists despite being less than 100 percent, and a slew of role players led by Menk.

This series is looking like a virtual repeat of how Menk also came out of injury bay last season to lead the Kings to the title opposite Air21 and win the Finals Most Valuable Player award.

GINEBRA A WIN AWAY FROM SUCCESSFUL FIESTA DEFENSE

David Noel redeemed himself big time from being the goat the last time, keying a Barangay Ginebra win Monday that sent the Kings to the threshold of the Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference championship.

Noel rifled in six triples and a total of 29 points, with 13 coming in the payoff period, as Ginebra pulled off a 106-98 victory over a stunned San Miguel side for the pivotal 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven championship series.

Jayjay Helterbrand and Eric Menk endured pains and had significant contributions in the crucial Game Five win fashioned out before a crowd of over 12,000 at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Kings become the first team to successfully defend a championship if they can wrap it up in Game Six Wednesday or in Game Seven Friday.

"Game Six will be a hell of a game. For sure, gusto nilang tumabla kami naman gusto ng tapusin ang series," said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico.

The Ginebra players said their biggest motivation is for them to no longer return to practice after Game Six.

San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen, however, remained confident they can force a deciding Game Seven.

"I'm still optimistic about it. God gave us the opportunity to be here. The eight other teams would kill themselves to be here. No big reason to feel down. They still need to win a game to get the championship. We just have to get even in Game Six then take it from there," said Tanquingcen.

"Good thing Jayjay (Helterbrand) and Eric (Menk) were able to play. And David, being a real competitor, made up for his crucial free throw misses in Game Four in a big way tonight," said Uichico.

"We like to be up 3-2 but we know what San Miguel is capable of doing. We hope we can play better and be luckier Wednesday," Uichico added.

Outplayed by Gabe Freeman Wednesday, Noel turned things around by stepping up early and playing aggressively throughout this time.

He sent his SMB counterpart to the showers early by fishing his sixth and final foul with 3:01 left in the contest.

"David doesn't want to leave a bad taste in the mouth. He really wanted to redeem himself from that Game Four missed free throws," said Uichico.

Freeman got into foul-trouble situation early and finished with only 16 points and 10 rebounds in only 24 minutes of action.

The Kings, the reigning Fiesta Conference champions, pummeled the Beermen with Freeman on the bench, erecting two 16-point margins before settling for a 56-42 spread at the half.

In the first four games of the series, the biggest lead Ginebra enjoyed in the first half was only 13.

"Basically, everybody were off tonight and we dug a hole so deep for us to overcome," said San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen.

The Kings stretched their lead to 18 early in the third quarter and showed great poise and confidence in fending off a San Miguel rally in the final canto.

David saved his best for last, pouring in 13 in the payoff period to personally quash the Beermen's comeback bid.

Noel, Helterbrand, Menk and Chico Lanete combined for a 7-of- 9 three-point shooting to highlight Ginebra's torrid assault in the second period.

Back-to-back treys by Noel and Lanete gave the Kings their first double-digit spread at 44-33 with 2:26 left in the first half.

They went on a roll with the team enjoying a remarkable 61.9-percent field-goal shooting in the second quarter, compared to San Miguel's 38.1-percent clip.

The Beermen, however, waged a searing in the third period, riding largely on the exploits of Bonbon Custodio and Mike Cortez as they charged to within one at 68-69.

They came back to life even as Freeman returned to the bench after picking a fourth foul with 4:42 left in the quarter. (NC)

The scores:

Ginebra 106 - Noel 29, Menk 18, Lanete 14, Tubid 14, Helterbrand 9, Wilson 8, Mamaril 6, Reavis 5, Salvacion 3, Pacana 0, Baguio 0.

San Miguel 98 - Cortez 23, Freeman 16, Ildefonso 14, Villanueva 9, Hontiveros 9, Pennisi 7, Custodio 6, Washington 6, Pena 5, Racela 3, Gonzales 0, Pingris 0.

Quarterscores: 23-18, 56-42, 71-68, 106-98

Santos traded to Beermen

By Rey Joble

ALREADY a powerhouse team, San Miguel Beer will be taking in yet another blue-chip player in national team standout Arwind Santos, who will be unloaded by Burger King after the Motolite-Philippine Basketball Association Fiesta Conference best-of-seven championship series.

San Miguel is currently battling sister team Barangay Ginebra in a best-of-seven championship series, but Burger King team manager and incoming PBA chairman Lito Alvarez told Standard Today that he has already talked to SMB officials regarding the transfer of Santos, whose contract will expire this month.

The players, who will be sent to the Whopper in exchange for Santos, are not yet named, but a highly-placed source from the league mentioned 6’9” Samigue Eman, burly forward Ken Bono and veteran shooting guard Chris Calaguio as the likely replacements of the former Far Eastern University stalwart.

“I have talked to Arwind and his manager, Danny Espirtu, that they can negotiate with San Miguel Beer pagkatapos ng championship,” said Alvarez.

Santos started his commercial league career playing under San Miguel Corp.-owned teams in the Philippine Basketball League. He played for Viva Mineral Water, then owned by SMC before it was taken over by Coca-Cola. He also suited up for Magnolia, where he won championships on top of individual accolades.

The 6’4” forward has long expressed his wish to play for San Miguel in the PBA, where he will have an opportunity to win the big one.

The Beermen are a championship-caliber team as they have superstars like Dondon Hontiveros, veterans Danny Ildefonso and Olsen Racela, slotmen Mick Pennisi and Dorian Peña, guard Mike Cortez, up-and-coming stars like Marc Pingris, Jay Washington, Bonbon Custodio and Jonas Villanueva.

The Beermen also have Danny Seigle and Lordy Tugade, who are both on the injured list.

Asked about his thoughts on this new development, Burger King coach Yeng Guiao said he was not aware of Santos’ transfer to San Miguel.

“I have no knowledge of this,” said Guiao. “Maybe, it’s management to management negotiations.”

Hurting Helterbrand unsure of Game 5 stint

By Nelson Beltran Updated July 10, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Jayjay Helterbrand left the Araneta Coliseum Wednesday with a sore left thigh, making him a doubtful starter in Game Five of the Barangay Ginebra-San Miguel showdown for the Motolite PBA Fiesta Cup championship Monday.

“It appeared his hamstring injury has recurred. His status now is day-to-day, and we can only hope for the best,” Ginebra coach Jong Uichico told The STAR.

“Good thing, there’s a long break. We take a rest today (Thursday) and hopefully it helps Jayjay heal his injury. As we resume practice, we have to ask him everyday how he feels,” Uichico added.

Helterbrand sat out the last three minutes of Game Four which San Miguel won, 106-104, on a crucial four-point binge by Gabe Freeman at endgame.

“I opted not to use him anymore so as not to aggravate his injury. If he were able to finish the game, it could have gone the other way. Everybody knows how valuable Jayjay to us,” Uichico said.

Helterbrand, named earlier as the season’s Most Valuable Player, was going great guns when he felt soreness and tightness on his left thigh.

“I didn’t take him out right away. Then we noticed he’s already tight. Since he could no longer move well, Danny Ildefonso got away with two baskets on pick-and-roll plays,” said Uichico.

Helterbrand has been hobbled by that injury for at least two years now.

It was the same injury causing him to sit out almost half of the 2006-07 season. And it was also for the same reason that he, as member of the Powerade Team Pilipinas, missed the recent SEABA championship in Medan, Indonesia.

“A complete rest is all that is needed to heal a hamstring injury. But he can’t get a long rest with the long PBA season, then he still has his commitment with the RP team,” said Uichico.

National coach Yeng Guiao is also hoping for the best for Helterbrand since his other pointguard in Ryan Reyes is also nursing a hamstring injury.

The Nationals leave on July 16 for Taipei for the Jones Cup competition serving as the final basis for the selection of the Final 12 players for the FIBA-Asia championship in Tianjin, China in August.

If the Fiesta Cup championship reaches a deciding Game Seven, Helterbrand and San Miguel’s Mick Pennisi will follow the Nationals in Taipei on July 18.

The series is down to a best-of-three series affair with the two teams splitting the first four games.

Game Five is set Monday at the Araneta Coliseum with league officials opting to take a break Friday and Sunday due to unavailability of a suitable playing venue.

Jayjay is season’s MVP

JAYJAY Helterbrand has won almost every major individual award in his 8-year PBA career, except for the MVP.

Not anymore.

Steering Ginebra to a stunning turnaround after an unmemorable start in the season, Helterbrand was adjudged as the 2008-09’s Most Valuable Player, becoming only the second Gin King after Erik Menk to capture the league’s most prestigious individual honor during last night’s Leo Awards at the Araneta Coliseum.

The 32-year-old dominant point guard and national team player won by a landslide margin over Arwind Santos of Burger King and San Miguel Beer’s Dondon Hontiveros, snatching the most votes from the media, players, TV coveror and the PBA Commissioner’s Office.

He wound up with 3220 points in the overall MVP race, with Santos a far second at 733. Hontiveros collected 650. Helterbrand, too, had the highest statistical points among the three with 439, with Santos having 420 and Hontiveros 402.

The crowd erupted in ear-splitting cheers as Helterbrand’s name was called, and the 5-foot-11 guard, after getting high fives from the players, acknowledged the approval by waving back to the fans with his two arms.

He received his trophy from chairman Joaqui Trillo of Alaska, Sta.

Lucia’s Buddy Encarnado and Commissioner Sonny Barrios and was later on joined on the stage by his 9-year old daughter, Jalyn.

“I’m really proud,” said Helterbrand. “It was something that I had wished but I never really thought that it would be like this.”

For winning his very first MVP, the Novaliches-born, Kentucky State University-groomed Helterbrand automatically led the Mythical First Team along with Santos, Philippine Cup Finals MVP Mac-Mac Cardona, Jay Washington of San Miguel Beer and Coca-Cola’s Asi Taulava, the leading player in statistical points.

Willie Miller, who was aiming to become only the fourth player to win the MVP at least three times and the Best Player of the Conference in the Philippine Cup, led the Mythical Second Team along with Hontiveros, Kelly Wiliams of Sta. Lucia Realty, Jay-R Reyes of Rain or Shine and Gabe Norwood, who was unanimously voted Rookie of the Year.

Jonas Villanueva was chosen as the Most Improved while Ryan Reyes, also of the Realtors, won the Sportsmanship Award.

Santos, Taulava, Ronald Tubid and Billy Mamaril of Ginebra, and Burger King’s Wynne Arboleda were named to the All Defensive Team.

Only a championship remains as the missing piece to what could be a dream season for Helterbrand, who was also the Best Player of the Conference in this Fiesta Conference. He likewise won the same award last season when the Gin Kings copped the title against Air21 in 7 games.

Helterbrand also had a Finals MVP when the Gin Kings captured the 2006-07 Philippine Cup.

If Ginebra fails to become the first team to repeat as Fiesta Conference champion, Helterbrand will go down as the fourth man to win the MVP without winning a team title after William ‘Bogs’ Adornado of Utex in 1981, Ramon Fernandez in 1984 with Beer Hausen, and Benjie Paras of Shell in 1989.

Helterbrand averaged 17.8 points, 5.0 assists and 3.9 rebounds for the season, the weight of his numbers achieved during the season-ending tournament when the Gin Kings made it to the semi-finals outright before slipping past Rain or Shine to advance to the Finals.

Ginebra hardly made it deep in the Philippine Cup this season, losing to San Miguel Beer in the quarterfinals.

Helterbrand winning the MVP was also the first since Menk won it in the 2004-05 season.

Ginebra misses help San Miguel level Finals series

MANILA, Philippines – San Miguel Beer watched Barangay Ginebra missed crucial endgame free throws and two three-point attempts in the waning seconds to escape with a thrilling 106-104 victory in Game 4 of the Motolite-PBA Fiesta Cup Finals at the jampacked Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.

Fiesta Cup best import winner Gabe Freeman scored on a follow-up with 26.3 seconds left, hit two free throws 13 seconds later, and Mike Cortez had another split with 9.7 seconds to go before the Beermen held their breath as the Gin Kings muffed their final two attempts in their last offensive play.
To be honest, we’re not getting any breaks from the referees.
– Siot Tanquincen, San Miguel coach

The suspense ending enabled the Beermen to level the best-of-seven series at 2-2.

Game 5 will be played on Monday after the league decided to take a two-day playing date break because of the unavailability of the Big Dome.

No games will be played Friday and on Sunday. If the series stretches into a Game 6 and 7, both these matches will be played on July 15 and July 17, respectively, at the Big Dome.

Freeman finished with 23 points and 21 rebounds and Dondon Hontiveros finally emerged in the series with 19 points – 11 coming early in the fourth quarter. Cortez also had 18 points and Danny Ildefonso, back from a one-game suspension, added 15.

“To be honest, we’re not getting any breaks from the referees," said an obviously disgusted San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen. “Ganun talaga pag kalaban mo ang Ginebra. I’m not taking anything away from them, but that’s the reality and we have to deal with it."

San Miguel was called for 28 fouls, the second to the last of which came on Freeman as he was trying to stop David Noel from attempting at the three-point line.

But Noel shockingly bungled all of his free throws as the count remained at 103-101 in favor of San Miguel with 16.2 seconds left. In the ensuing play, Freeman made both his charities for a 105-101 lead.

The Kings had only 13.5 seconds to go to cut it down, and Noel redeemed himself in a big way by knocking down a triple with 10.7 seconds left to play. Ginebra then fouled Cortez, who missed the tail-end of his free throws with 9.7 seconds to go.

Raffi Reavies pulled down the rebound, dished it off to Chico Lanete, who then tried to win it outright with a three-point shot. The attempt missed but the ball went to the hands of Ronald Tubid, who decided to dribble his way beyond the three-point line. His try likewise missed the mark, the ball falling long as time expired.

“It could have gone either way," said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico. “It came down to their offensive rebounds."

The Beermen had 23 second-chance points to the Gin Kings’ eight in a game that had 18 deadlocks and 17 lead changes – the most combined in a PBA championship since Game 6 of the Talk ‘N Text-Red Bull Finals in the 2002 Commissioner’s Cup (13 deadlocks, 23 lead changes).

Jayjay Helterbrand, earlier named as the season most valuable player (MVP), missed the final minutes of the tense match after a sore hamstring. – GMANews.TV

SMB’s ‘MVPs’ back in action for crucial Game 4

MANILA, Philippines - How important are Danny Ildefonso and Marc Pingris to San Miguel Beer’s campaign in the ongoing Philippine Basketball Association Fiesta Cup best-of-seven championship series?

Coaches Jong Uichico and Siot Tanquingcen have different interpretations of the two’s value to the team.

“We were just fortunate Danny I and Pingris were not there in Game 3. It enabled us to match up in the frontline," said Ginebra’s Uichico.

Ildefonso is a two-time PBA Most Valuable Player and Pingris is a former finals MVP.

Ildefonso, winner of seven championships with San Miguel Beer, and Pingris, a key figure in Purefoods’ title campaign in the 2005-06 All-Filipino, served their one-game suspension in Game 3. This was their penalty for figuring in an altercation with a fan after Friday's Game 2.

We were just fortunate Danny I and Pingris were not there in Game 3. It enabled us to match up in the frontline.
– Jong Uichico, Ginebra coach
Without their presence inside the court, the Gin Kings feasted on the Beermen’s depleted frontline and hammered out a 116-103 triumph to take a 2-1 series lead.

In Game 3, Uichico also turned to his own version of an MVP by utilizing Eric Menk, who knocked in 16 points, three rebounds and a block in 17 minutes of action. Once a potent threat inside but slowed down by injury over the previous years, the Fil-Am center held his own against the likes of Dorian Pena, Jay Washington and Mick Pennisi.

But for Tanquingcen, who is in the hunt for his first title with San Miguel, the Beermen are capable of winning games even without Ildefonso and Pingris.

“We’re a team that has enough personnel and players who could step up in the absence of several people, but unfortunately, the players failed to step up," said Tanquingcen. “We just have to be ready every game and players should respond at every given opportunity."

But the Beermen don’t have many more chances, especially when they’re trailing by a game and their opponents halfway to repeating as champions for the first time in seven years. Tanquingcen and his troops also don’t want to fall into a 1-3 deficit in the series.
We’re a team that has enough personnel who could step up in the absence of several people, but unfortunately, the players failed to step up (when Ildefonso and Pingris sat out Game 3).
– Siot Tanquingcen, San Miguel coach

“We have to get our acts together in Game 4," said Tanquingcen. “No team wants to fall behind 1-3. For us, Game 4 is survival."

Ildefonso and Pingris will be back in action, but they need to work double time in helping the Beermen avoid falling into a deep hole.

This as the Gin Kings will try to ride on the momentum of their big Game 3 victory.

Ginebra got everything they needed that time – from David Noel’s breakout performance to Menk’s reemergence as finals hero, and the timely snipings of Ronald Tubid, Cyrus Baguio and Sunday Salvacion.

Of course, Jayjay Helterbrand, now the heart and soul of the Ginebra squad, has been able to quarterback as efficiently as ever. On Game 4, Helterbrand would be one of the strong candidates to win the season's MVP award. - GMANews.TV

NOEL TD PROPELS GINEBRA TO 2 - 1 LEAD

Sun, 07/05/2009 - 21:23 — junior

EVEN when he is not on his usual offensive mode, Jayjay Helterbrand still finds ways to help Barangay Ginebra.

Like what he did Sunday, chipping in a bit of a coaching suggestion which proved crucial and enabled the Kings to fashion a come-from behind 116-103 win over San Miguel Beer in their Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference championshiop duel at the Araneta Coliseum.

David Noel notched a first PBA career triple double with 32 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, but Helterbrand's coaxing of coach Jong Uichico to try a defensive maneuver helped Ginebra rally back from what was once a 13-point deficit and into a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

“I thank him for suggesting we use Willy Wilson on Jay Washington,” related Uichico. “I said yes because what I was doing wasn’t working. He said, 'Let’s play Willie and see what he can do.' So I started him in the second half and it worked out well.”

Excellent, in fact, as Wilson anchored the defense that held Washington to just four second half points after the former already had his finals average of 18 points in the first two quarters.

The Kings' defensive stance also proved critical as they forced the Beermen to commit eight of their total 15 turnovers in the fourth period, all during the quarter's first nine minutes that helped fuel the former's charge.

Offense was simply no problem as the likes of Noel, Cyrus Baguio and Helterbrand joined hands in giving Ginebra as much as a 106-93 lead, a difference they maintained until the end.

Even SMB coach Siot Tanquingcen had to admit those turnovers were costly. So did getting outscored by 68-42 in the second half, inclouding 40-25 in the final period.

“We shot ourselves in the foot. We can't expect to give up 40 points in one quarter and win,” he said.

The defense on Washington, as well as the absence of the suspended Danny ldefonso and Marc Pingris, could also not be used as an alibi, Tanquingcen added.

“If we play our defense, it's not gonna be an issue,” he maintained. “We've got enough people to fill up what is needed. If we, as a unit, don't defend it's gonna be difficult for us.”

As it did so well in the series opener, Ginebra made up for its lack of size with its quickness and speedy ball movement to whittle what was a 13-point halftime lead to the game's first deadlock at 71, before it went into the final quarter behind by just 76-78.

And there was also hustle, which Baguio typified most in the fourth with some looseball recoveries and offensive rebounds that Noel and Billy Mamaril translated into baskets for a 10-0 run.

Helterbrand actually started that surge with a fastbreak basket, before Baguio and Noel each drained a triple and Noel a short jumper for a 90-82 spread, 8:46 left, leaving the predominantly pro-Ginebra crowd of more than 13,500 delirious.

Jonas Villanueva's penetrations usually led to Freeman baskets, but the Kings kept their poise and even stretched their lead to 13 pointson back-to-back treys by Noel and Baguio, only 3:12 left in the game.

Earlier on, Tanquingcen's words about not missing the services of Ildefonso and Pingris, who were suspended for the game and fined for trying to go after a Ginebra fan right after a 95-78 Game 2 win, would be proven correct.

Not with Washington and Mike Cortez inflicting the most damage early, enabling the Beermen to seize control and take a 61-48 lead into the break.

Washington has already reached his average in only 17 minutes of first half action, scoring 13 straight that was spiked by three triples and highlighted SMB's charge from an already imposing 54-48 lead.

Ginebra could have been in a deeper hole if not for Ronald Tubid and Noel.

After not even making any attempt in a six-minute relief stint in the first period, Tubid sprang to life in the second with nine points while Noel mostly carried the fight for the Kings in the opening quarter with 10.

The scores:

Ginebra 116 - Noel 32, Menk 16, Tubid 13, Baguio 12, Salvacion 11, Helterbrand 9, Wilson 8, Reavis 7, Mamaril 4, Lanete 3, Intal 1, Artadi 0.

San miguel 103 - Freeman 25, Washington 22, Cortez 15, Hontiveros 12, Pennisi 10, Villanueva 9,Pena 6, Gonzales 4, Eman 0, Racela 0.

Quarters: 21-29, 48-61, 76-78, 116-103

Ginebra go for 2-0

By Arman Carandang

Ginebra San Miguel proved it is not out to show mercy on sister-team San Miguel Beer, and if Game One of the best-of-seven series in the Motolite-PBA Fiesta Conference were to gauge its intent, then the Gin Kings have a handsome chance of pulling the rug from under their highly touted rivals.

The Gin Kings won the opener of the finals showdown, 102-96 last Wednesday behind a big team effort which coach Jong Uichico considered as "the only way for his Kings to pose a real challenge against the Beermen."

"It is only through team effort that we can have chances of winning against a powerhouse team like San Miguel," said Uichico.

Carrying a big psychological edge in the series, fans now have a clear idea of how long it will go. And the Gin Kings want a 2-0 lead when they clash with the Beermen in Game Two at 7 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum.

Uichico, however, was quick to downplay their triumph.

"It’s just a win you know," said Uichico, obviously trying to avoid even a slight comment on their chances.

"We know what a powerhouse team like San Miguel is capable of doing. And that’s the reason why we still need to play night in and night out with extra effort," said Uichico, who is bidding to give the Gin Kings their ninth franchise title in the pro league.

Interestingly, Ginebra relied much on its plethora of small men that played alternately like scoring machines in Game One, practically causing SMB to grope for form.

"I think we have to make the necessary adjustment on our approach. We have to be mentally assertive," said SMB coach Siot Tanquincen.

Jay Jay Helterbrand, Cyrus baguio, Ronald Tubid, Paul Artadi are some of the relatively small guys in the Ginebra side who alternated well in offense and gave David Noel a big compliment.

Whether the star-studded San Miguel team has readied something for Helterbrand, who finished with 21 points built around four triples, on top of six rebounds and seven assists, will be the main focus in today’s game.

The Beermen are in their 29th finals stint, and are gunning for their 18th franchise title, ironically at the expense of the same team that beat them in the Philippine Cup finals in 2007 when the Beermen were still under Chot Reyes.

And if they are to level the series, the Beermen must find ways to draw support from other locals to match Ginebra’s explosive offense anchored on a number of shooters.

Welcome to my blog

Mga KABARANGAY welcome po sa blog ko. Ginawa ko po ito para sa mga kapwa ko adik sa PBA basketball team ntin na Ginebra. Dito makakabalita po kayo ng mga bagay bagay tungkol sa team natin. Suportahan nyo po sana ang blog ko na ito

Salamat po,
PJ
certified BRGY. GINEBRA ADIK