Jayson Castro was so fast, the B-MEG Llamados didn’t know what hit them.
Talk ‘N Text was trailing by five points, 99-94, with less than two minutes
left when Castro scored six straight points including the go-ahead three-pointer
at the 35.7-second mark to lift the Tropang Texters to a 104-102 victory
Wednesday night at the packed SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
Talk ‘N Text preserved the win, but not without several tense moments at the
free throw line. The Tropang Texters forced two straight defensive stops, but
Donnell Harvey and Kelly Williams both missed all their ensuing free throws to
keep the Llamados in the game.
But B-MEG import Denzel Bowles threw the ball away off Williams’ miss,
instead of calling timeout. Ryan Reyes cradled the ball, making two free throws
to give Talk ‘N Text a 102-99 edge. The Tropang Texters sent Bowles to the free
throw line on the next possession, and the B-MEG reinforcement split his free
throws to cut the deficit to two points.
Jimmy Alapag hit two more free throws in the succeeding play to preserve the
win for the Tropang Texters, before Bowles hit a meaningless layup to end the
game for the final score.
“In the end, it will all boil down to the last possession, that’s how it’s
gonna be,” said Talk ‘N Text coach Chot Reyes.
He credited a more efficient performance for his team for the victory.
“Today we only had seven turnovers and 12 missed free throws. We can survive
a game with that number of turnovers and missed shots,” Reyes said.
He said it really was his strategy to foul Bowles at the end of the game with
Talk ‘N Text up three points.
“It was my instruction to foul Bowles. My only fault was not telling Ali Peek
to foul when Bowles was still in the half court. But then again, it’s a much
better gamble instead of giving up a foul when Bowles was already attacking or
have given up a hand off to a shooter, who’ll take a three-pointer and give up
three free throws,” said Reyes.
Talk ‘N Text tied the series at 1-all, winning despite explosive performances
from Bowles, who scored 33 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, and James Yap, who
scored 20 of his conference-high 25 points in the second half on 5-of-8 shooting
from beyond the arc. Yap also had eight rebounds.
Harvey carried the fight for Talk ‘N Text, scoring 29 points and grabbing 14
rebounds. Castro added 23 points, five rebounds, and five assists despite
nursing various leg injuries.
The scores:
Talk ‘N Text 104 – Harvey 29, Castro 23, Reyes 13, Peek 12, Williams 8,
Dillinger 6, De Ocampo 6, Fonacier 4, Alapag 3, Gamalinda 0, Carey 0
B-MEG – Bowles 33, Yap 25, Urbiztondo 15, Simon 10, Pingris 9, Barroca 4,
Devance 4, De Ocampo 2, Intal 0, Villanueva 0, Reavis 0
Quarters: 24-16, 49-48, 73-75, 104-102
Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/castro-lifts-talk-n-text-over-b-meg-to-tie-series
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
CONE, REYES WANT EXTRA EFFORT
B-MEG coach Tim Cone can't stress enough the need for his charges to dig deep within themselves and
find the energy and intensity for an even better game.
So does his Talk N Text counterpart, Chot Reyes.
It is with such similar intents as backdrop that the Llamados and Tropang Texters square off anew
Wednesday in Game 2 of their PBA Commissioner's Cup championship duel at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
B-Meg took the best-of-seven series opener 88-82 last Monday after making the defensive stops while
pouncing on TNT's atrocious shooting from both the stripes and the field.
How to follow that act up is Cone's main concern.
"I've said it before, that for us to win back-to-back games takes extra effort," said Cone.
His own players finding the will and touch following a dismal performance gnaws at Reyes.
The Texters made only 29 of 75 field attempts but it was his team's 16-for-36 foul shooting,
including a 3-for-10 clip in the decisive fourth period, that rankled Reyes most.
"in the crucial moments we kept missing," said Reyes. "We had too many turnovers, missed too many
shots, and they outrebounded us. But in the end, if we missed 10 less free throws than we did we
could have won.
"That's basketball. We need to put that ball through the hoop. In this game, we just couldn't."
Cone, however, won't be so easily deceived and knows there are other areas Reyes and his staff would
be working on.
"They'll look at the tapes, see what we've been doing, the pick-and-rolls, and also what we're
trying to take away. They'll see those," said Cone.
"I've always felt the loser in a series has the advantage coming into the next game," he added.
"They will make the adjustments and we have to make quick reactions in the course of the game. It
could be difficult doing that. They have 48 hours to decide what to do."
Cone and his staff will also be looking at the tapes and would sure be having the Llamados
sharpening their three-point shooting after making only 1-for-8 to the Texters' 8-for-25 clip from
beyond the arc. Free throw shooting should be on one corner of his mind.
"It was real kind of reversal," said Cone, whose charges went 5-for-13 from the stripe in the fourth
period after missing just four of 10 in the entire first half.
"In the first half, they missed 10 free throws. We're really lucky, for in the second half they
started making and we started missing those free throws."
B-Meg also did not get to the line in third period while TNT made seven of 10 charities that helped
raze the Llamados' 48-40 halftime lead and install the Texters ahead, 67-62, going into the fourth.
Then the defending champion's sour shooting returned and not only from the stripe. In the first
seven minutes of the final canto, the Texters went 0-for-6 from the field and 2-for-6 from the
stripe, helping fuel the Llamados' surge to a 77-69 lead.
Despite their woes the Texters still managed to keep within 82-86 and got given a lease on life when
Denzel Bowles almost ruined a 25-point, 11-rebound performance with two missed charities in the
final 30 seconds.
But the Texters bade their bid goodbye by going 0-for-2 from the field and committing a turnover the
rest of the way, in the process totally stoking Reyes' frustrations. (NC)
Source: http://www.pba.ph/news/entry/1545
find the energy and intensity for an even better game.
So does his Talk N Text counterpart, Chot Reyes.
It is with such similar intents as backdrop that the Llamados and Tropang Texters square off anew
Wednesday in Game 2 of their PBA Commissioner's Cup championship duel at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
B-Meg took the best-of-seven series opener 88-82 last Monday after making the defensive stops while
pouncing on TNT's atrocious shooting from both the stripes and the field.
How to follow that act up is Cone's main concern.
"I've said it before, that for us to win back-to-back games takes extra effort," said Cone.
His own players finding the will and touch following a dismal performance gnaws at Reyes.
The Texters made only 29 of 75 field attempts but it was his team's 16-for-36 foul shooting,
including a 3-for-10 clip in the decisive fourth period, that rankled Reyes most.
"in the crucial moments we kept missing," said Reyes. "We had too many turnovers, missed too many
shots, and they outrebounded us. But in the end, if we missed 10 less free throws than we did we
could have won.
"That's basketball. We need to put that ball through the hoop. In this game, we just couldn't."
Cone, however, won't be so easily deceived and knows there are other areas Reyes and his staff would
be working on.
"They'll look at the tapes, see what we've been doing, the pick-and-rolls, and also what we're
trying to take away. They'll see those," said Cone.
"I've always felt the loser in a series has the advantage coming into the next game," he added.
"They will make the adjustments and we have to make quick reactions in the course of the game. It
could be difficult doing that. They have 48 hours to decide what to do."
Cone and his staff will also be looking at the tapes and would sure be having the Llamados
sharpening their three-point shooting after making only 1-for-8 to the Texters' 8-for-25 clip from
beyond the arc. Free throw shooting should be on one corner of his mind.
"It was real kind of reversal," said Cone, whose charges went 5-for-13 from the stripe in the fourth
period after missing just four of 10 in the entire first half.
"In the first half, they missed 10 free throws. We're really lucky, for in the second half they
started making and we started missing those free throws."
B-Meg also did not get to the line in third period while TNT made seven of 10 charities that helped
raze the Llamados' 48-40 halftime lead and install the Texters ahead, 67-62, going into the fourth.
Then the defending champion's sour shooting returned and not only from the stripe. In the first
seven minutes of the final canto, the Texters went 0-for-6 from the field and 2-for-6 from the
stripe, helping fuel the Llamados' surge to a 77-69 lead.
Despite their woes the Texters still managed to keep within 82-86 and got given a lease on life when
Denzel Bowles almost ruined a 25-point, 11-rebound performance with two missed charities in the
final 30 seconds.
But the Texters bade their bid goodbye by going 0-for-2 from the field and committing a turnover the
rest of the way, in the process totally stoking Reyes' frustrations. (NC)
Source: http://www.pba.ph/news/entry/1545
Sunday, April 22, 2012
PBA approves Lassiter-to-Petron deal; Powerade ‘happy with trade’
The PBA has approved the five-man transaction that would finally bring star
rookie Marcio Lassiter from the Powerade Tigers to the Petron Blaze
Boosters.
In a text message, PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial confirmed the league’s approval of the deal.
The trade is a revised version of an initial proposal last February, which would have sent Lassiter to the Boosters in exchange for Rey Guevarra and Noy Baclao. That original proposal was vetoed by the PBA, with league commissioner Chito Salud saying that it would have a negative effect on the league’s balance.
In the new trade, Powerade sent Lassiter and Celino Cruz to Petron for Guevarra, Rabeh Al-Hussaini, and Lordy Tugade. The PBA described the trade as having “acceptable parity” for both sides.
Powerade went through with the deal despite an earlier pronouncement from coach Bo Perasol that he would prefer that the team not trade Lassiter, the team’s second-leading local scorer and the top candidate for the Rookie of the Year award. Perasol was among the signatories to the trade documents.
Powerade executive Ronnie Asuncion, for his part, explained the rationale behind the trade in a statement. “We are very happy with this trade. We are getting a much-needed big man in Rabeh Al-Hussaini and getting two proven shooters and scorers in Guevarra and Tugade,” he said. The statement added that Perasol welcomed the trade.
Al-Hussaini won Rookie of the Year honors last season, but has just recently returned to action after recovering from torn ACL surgery. Tugade, 34, is a veteran shooter who has seen limited minutes for Petron, while Guevarra, the third overall pick in last season’s draft, is a role player off the bench for the Boosters.
Cruz, 34, is a journeyman point guard who has seen action for Shell, Red Bull, Burger King, Purefoods, and Ginebra.
Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/pba-approves-lassiter-to-petron-deal-powerade-happy-with-trade
In a text message, PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial confirmed the league’s approval of the deal.
The trade is a revised version of an initial proposal last February, which would have sent Lassiter to the Boosters in exchange for Rey Guevarra and Noy Baclao. That original proposal was vetoed by the PBA, with league commissioner Chito Salud saying that it would have a negative effect on the league’s balance.
In the new trade, Powerade sent Lassiter and Celino Cruz to Petron for Guevarra, Rabeh Al-Hussaini, and Lordy Tugade. The PBA described the trade as having “acceptable parity” for both sides.
Powerade went through with the deal despite an earlier pronouncement from coach Bo Perasol that he would prefer that the team not trade Lassiter, the team’s second-leading local scorer and the top candidate for the Rookie of the Year award. Perasol was among the signatories to the trade documents.
Powerade executive Ronnie Asuncion, for his part, explained the rationale behind the trade in a statement. “We are very happy with this trade. We are getting a much-needed big man in Rabeh Al-Hussaini and getting two proven shooters and scorers in Guevarra and Tugade,” he said. The statement added that Perasol welcomed the trade.
Al-Hussaini won Rookie of the Year honors last season, but has just recently returned to action after recovering from torn ACL surgery. Tugade, 34, is a veteran shooter who has seen limited minutes for Petron, while Guevarra, the third overall pick in last season’s draft, is a role player off the bench for the Boosters.
Cruz, 34, is a journeyman point guard who has seen action for Shell, Red Bull, Burger King, Purefoods, and Ginebra.
Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/pba-approves-lassiter-to-petron-deal-powerade-happy-with-trade
David, Caguioa top candidates for Best Player of Commissioner’s Cup
Powerade’s Gary David could end up as the winner of the Best Player of the
Conference for the second straight tournament.
David stayed at the No. 1 spot in statistical points race after the semifinal round of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
And his closest competitor for the BPC plum could be Barangay Ginebra’s Mark Caguioa.
David’s 34.5 SPs average was still on top of the category even though his Tigers were booted out early in the elimination round.
Ending up second was Caguioa with 31.0 SPs average. He missed all the games in the semifinal round against eventual winner B-MEG due to an eye injury.
Marcio Lassiter, recently traded to Petron Blaze, ranked No. 3 in stats with 30.3 SPs, followed by Alaska teammates Cyrus Baguio (29.1) and LA Tenorio (29.0).
Only the top five in the SPs are eligible for the top individual honor of the tournament.
This will be the first time that the BPC winner will not come from any of the two teams playing in the finals in six years.
The Llamados and Talk ‘N Text are fighting for the Commissioner’s Cup crown with Game One on Monday.
Tropang Texters forward Ranidel de Ocampo ranked No. 9 with 26.1 SPs average.
The SPs comprise 40 percent of the voting. Media votes comprise 30 percent, and players’ votes 25, while the PBA commissioner’s office takes the remaining five percent.
In the Best Import derby, B-MEG’s Denzel Bowles is almost a shoo-in to win the award as he topped the stats with 45.24 SPs. He was followed by Gabe Freeman of Barako Bull (43.57), Talk ‘N Text’s Donnell Harvey (42.09) and Ginebra’s Jackson Vroman (35.73).
Bowles is the only import who has been with the team since Day One of the tournament.
Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/david-caguioa-top-candidates-for-best-player-of-commissioners-cup
David stayed at the No. 1 spot in statistical points race after the semifinal round of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
And his closest competitor for the BPC plum could be Barangay Ginebra’s Mark Caguioa.
David’s 34.5 SPs average was still on top of the category even though his Tigers were booted out early in the elimination round.
Ending up second was Caguioa with 31.0 SPs average. He missed all the games in the semifinal round against eventual winner B-MEG due to an eye injury.
Marcio Lassiter, recently traded to Petron Blaze, ranked No. 3 in stats with 30.3 SPs, followed by Alaska teammates Cyrus Baguio (29.1) and LA Tenorio (29.0).
Only the top five in the SPs are eligible for the top individual honor of the tournament.
This will be the first time that the BPC winner will not come from any of the two teams playing in the finals in six years.
The Llamados and Talk ‘N Text are fighting for the Commissioner’s Cup crown with Game One on Monday.
Tropang Texters forward Ranidel de Ocampo ranked No. 9 with 26.1 SPs average.
The SPs comprise 40 percent of the voting. Media votes comprise 30 percent, and players’ votes 25, while the PBA commissioner’s office takes the remaining five percent.
In the Best Import derby, B-MEG’s Denzel Bowles is almost a shoo-in to win the award as he topped the stats with 45.24 SPs. He was followed by Gabe Freeman of Barako Bull (43.57), Talk ‘N Text’s Donnell Harvey (42.09) and Ginebra’s Jackson Vroman (35.73).
Bowles is the only import who has been with the team since Day One of the tournament.
Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/david-caguioa-top-candidates-for-best-player-of-commissioners-cup
Again, a possible BPC Plum might slip away for Mark Caguioa for the Nth time
A Possible second BPC for Mark "the
spark" Caguioa might slip again after he failed to play for the
Barangay Barangay Ginebra in their
series against the B-Meg Llamados.
Powerade's streaky shooter Gary David
still leads the Best Player of the Conference race despite his team was ousted just before
the quarterfinal, he lead the race with an averaged of 35.5 stats points(SPs) a
game while Caguioa trails in second with 31.0 sps.
Gary David lead the locals this season
in scoring with an averaged of 27.10 points per game, his total of 271 points
this conference that he sets in the Battle for Quarterfinal berth is still the
highest output of a local this conference. Only four players were able to reach
the 200 mark aside from david this conference. Willie Miller(253), Marc
Cardona(232), Alaska(218), and James Yap (227) who is the only player that may
top Gary David's 271.
Mark Caguioa ended the conference with
a 16.90 points 6.40 rebounds, 2.40 assit and 1.0 steal per ball game. He is
expected to be out for three-months after his surgery.
Can you believe it guys?Whole through
out his career, Caguioa only won 1 Best Player of the conference?despite his
strong showing every conference?
Source: http://yourthecatcher.blogspot.com/2012/04/again-possible-bpc-plum-might-slip-away.html
Friday, April 20, 2012
Powerade, Petron agree on new Lassiter trade
Despite Powerade coach Bo Perasol’s earlier declaration of his preference not to trade Marcio Lassiter, the Tigers’ star rookie is once again in a deal that would send him to the Petron Blaze Boosters.
The PBA commissioner’s office on Friday confirmed receipt of a five-player trade proposal between Powerade and Petron that involves Lassiter as the centerpiece.
In the proposed deal, Lassiter and point guard Celino Cruz will be dealt to the Boosters in exchange for center Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Rey Guevarra, and Lordy Tugade.
The trade is not yet final, as PBA commissioner Chito Salud has the right to veto or revise deals which he deems unfair.
“Pag-aaralan kong mabuti yung trade,” said PBA commissioner Chito Salud.
According to the league’s media bureau chief Willie Marcial, the trade papers were signed by Perasol and Powerade executive Ronnie Asuncion, and Petron team manager Hector Calma.
Earlier this month, Perasol said he was against trading Lassiter, but added that the decision would be management’s, not his.
“Alam niyo naman ang stand ko, kung ako ang papipiliin as much as possible ayaw ko ma-trade si Marcio,” he said.
It will be the second time this season Petron will be involved in a deal to try to acquire Lassiter, the top candidate for Rookie of the Year honors. Last February, the two teams agreed on a deal that would send Lassiter to Petron in exchange for Noy Baclao and Rey Guevarra. Salud vetoed the deal, citing its negative effect on the balance of the league.
The controversial deal proposal came amid reports that Coca-Cola Bottlers, Inc., which owns the Powerade Tigers, has sold the franchise to San Miguel Corporation, which owns Petron, raising questions from other team officials. Both CCBPI and SMC denied that there was a sale.
Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/powerade-petron-agree-on-new-lassiter-trade
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Kings ex-import suffers depression
MANILA, Philippines - Former Barangay Ginebra import Chris Alexander confessed the other day that he turned down juicy playing contracts in Korea and Qatar because of depression from being axed by the PBA team that is close to his heart.
Alexander, 31, led Ginebra to the 2007-08 Fiesta Conference title and was recalled to lead the Kings in the current Commissioner’s Cup. But his second tour of duty was cut short after three games even as Ginebra got off to a 2-1 start with the 7-1 behemoth averaging 14 points and 20.3 rebounds.
From the PBA, Alexander took his sneakers to Korea for a tryout. He was offered a two-week contract for the playoffs but couldn’t break out of his depression. Alexander left Korea after two days and returned to his family in St. Louis. While back home, he got a lucrative offer to play in Qatar and that, too, was rejected.
“I was emotionally distraught,” said Alexander who flew in last week to play for the Philippine Patriots as Nakiea Miller’s replacement in the ABL. “For close to two months, I did nothing in St. Louis. I couldn’t get myself to watch basketball on TV. But I kept track of how Ginebra was doing in the PBA. I checked out twitter and facebook, interacting with Ginebra fans. I was hurt. I didn’t think they would cut me. I couldn’t imagine they would let me go after what I did in 2008. Jay-Jay (Helterbrand) was hurt in the finals and it was Paul (Artadi) and I who lifted the team to the championship. I did it before, I knew I could do it again.”
Alexander said he found out about his exit from the internet. “We just played in Dubai and I read in the internet that my replacement was arriving in Manila four hours after we left to go back,” he said. “Sure, I was bitter. From when I left Ginebra in 2008, all I dreamed about was going back to play in the PBA. I did two years in Korea. I played in China. I was the last cut at the Oklahoma City camp. But my heart stayed with Ginebra. When I got the call to go back, I knew it would be like old times.”
Alexander said he realizes he’s not the same dominant player he was four years ago. “I’m a lot smarter now,” he said. “I’ve become more of a passer. I still rebound and run the floor. I don’t look to score as many points but I get my teammates involved in the offense. It’s a lot more of a mental game for me now.”
A consolation for Alexander was he was replaced by former Iowa State teammate Jackson Vroman. “I played nine games with Jax at Iowa State,” he said. “Jax is a heckuva player. At least, I was replaced by a guy who’s a good player. I knew him to be a good free throw shooter before, maybe, he’s not anymore.”
Alexander said he wanted to block basketball from his mind but Patriots team manager Erick Arejola and player agent Sheryl Reyes persistently phoned to bring him back to Manila. “They called every day,” said Alexander. “I cried when I was cut by Ginebra. I was emotionally down. Ginebra’s the only team for me in the PBA. I love the Ginebra fans and the Ginebra spirit. But I understand that basketball is a business. I don’t blame anyone for letting me go. I respect the decision. It’s just that I was hurt deep inside.”
Alexander was finally convinced to pack his bags and return to Manila. “I’m back alone,” he said. “My wife is seven weeks pregnant with our third child and it’s too far for her to travel, what with the kids and all. It took a lot of convincing to get me back to play but I want to prove something. I’m motivated to play my best for the Patriots. The ABL is a competitive league with guys like Tiras Wade and Steve Thomas, guys I know. My goal is to do everything I can to win it all for the Patriots.”
The day after he arrived, Alexander was on the court familiarizing himself with coach Glenn Capacio’s system. He made his Patriots debut two days after his return, compiling 16 points and 12 rebounds in 35 minutes in a 93-78 loss to San Miguel Beer. Alexander said he wasn’t even supposed to suit up in the game. “Coach asked if I wanted to sit out because I just got in but I wanted to play,” he said.
Alexander said he hoped Ginebra would advance to the finals but last Tuesday, the Kings were bundled out of contention by B-Meg in the closer of their semifinal series. “I wanted Ginebra to go all the way,” he said. “I have a lot of respect for coach Siot (Tanquingcen) and Jay-Jay brought me back to church. Throughout my depression, I stayed in touch with Jay-Jay. (Assistant) coach Allan (Caidic) is also a close friend. I remember when I was playing in Korea, he would send me an inspiring message after a bad game and the next game, I was unstoppable. At first, I didn’t want to go back to Manila unless it was for Ginebra. Eventually, I realized it wasn’t just Ginebra close to my heart but the Filipino fans and the country. That’s why I came back.”
In his twitter, Alexander lamented Ginebra’s loss to B-Meg. “My insides are burning,” he said. “I saw my good friends fall without me. I hate that they lost. Win as a team, lose as a team.”
Source: Joaquin Henson, The Philippine Star
B-MEG BARGES INTO FINALS
B-MEG'S road to redemption is wide open.
The Llamados rode the able back of Denzel Bowles during spirited spurts in handily beating Barangay
Ginebra 108-84 Tuesday and advancing to the PBA Commissioner's Cup finals at the Smart Araneta
Coliseum.
Bowles finished with gamehighs of 34 points and 14 rebounds and totally outplayed the Jackson
Vroman-led Kings frontline in leading B-Meg to a 3-1 victory in the best-of-five semifinals duel.
Joe Devance, James Yap, PJ Simon and Marc Pingris also played key roles but it was the 6-foot-10,
22-year-old Bowles who drew the most praise from Llamados coach Tim Cone.
"A young kid like that, responding the way he did, grabbing every rebound making every tough play,"
relished Cone. "I thought that's what really inspired us."
Dylan Ababou, Vroman, Mike Cortez, KG Canaleta and Jayjay Helterbrand tried their best and did
succeed in giving Ginebra the good start it needed to follow up its 88-79 victory just last Sunday.
But all faded in the face of B-Meg's determined and prolonged charge, with Ababou picking up his
sixth foul just 41 seconds into the fourth period with Vroman following suit in the final 5:56 mark.
As a result, the Kings would wind up either third or fourth, depending on the outcome Wednesday of
the other deciding match in the semifinal pairing between Talk N Text and Barako Bull.
For Cone, his 24th finals stint and the Purefoods/B-Meg franchise's 22nd is just a culmination of
the lessons the team learned from a sorry fifth-place finish in the Philippine Cup, when it emerged
from the eliminations as the top seed, only to be felled by No. 8 Powerade in the quarterfinals.
"When I came into this team we talked about growth and the Powerade thing... that would help us
grow," said Cone.
"That motivated us for this conference and we learned not to take anything for granted."
Ginebra should have had the same mind-set after letting an early 25-11 lead slip away.
B-Meg's charge let up a bit and Ginebra managed to whittle what was once a 59-80 deficit to just
73-86, early in the fourth period.
But Bowles quickly responded with back-to-back baskets and the rout was in full swing again.
Cone may be cherishing his own shot for a 14th title overall, but not after blaming himself for
B-Meg's bad start to the game.
"I had this brilliant idea to go zone," he related. "I thought by giving them something new we would
catch them by surprise. But they started making their shots. I was really embarrassed."
Working mostly behind Bowles, the Llamados worked their way back and used a prolonged run that is
equal to the second-most in franchise history in taking the half 58-46 and the game's control for
good.
Bowles scattered 12 of his points during a 19-0 assault from a 39-44 count, and the Llamados went
into the fourth canto with an 86-71 spread.
Ababou wound up with 17 points with Vroman adding 14 and seven. For the fifth time in the duel, the
6-10 naturalized Lebanese failed to score in the fourth. (NC)
The scores:
B-MEG 108 - Bowles 34, Devance 18, Yap 16, Simon 11, Pingris 7, Barroca 5, Intal 5, Villanueva 5, De
Ocampo 4, Reavis 2, Urbiztondo 1, Acuna 0, Gaco 0.
GINEBRA 84 - Ababou 17, Vroman 14, Cortez 13, Canaleta 12, Helterbrand 10, Hatfield 8, Raymundo 5,
Labagala 3, Mamaril 2, Wilson 0, Villanueva 0.
Quarters: 24-31, 58-46, 86-71, 108-84
Source: http://www.pba.ph/news/entry/1533
The Llamados rode the able back of Denzel Bowles during spirited spurts in handily beating Barangay
Ginebra 108-84 Tuesday and advancing to the PBA Commissioner's Cup finals at the Smart Araneta
Coliseum.
Bowles finished with gamehighs of 34 points and 14 rebounds and totally outplayed the Jackson
Vroman-led Kings frontline in leading B-Meg to a 3-1 victory in the best-of-five semifinals duel.
Joe Devance, James Yap, PJ Simon and Marc Pingris also played key roles but it was the 6-foot-10,
22-year-old Bowles who drew the most praise from Llamados coach Tim Cone.
"A young kid like that, responding the way he did, grabbing every rebound making every tough play,"
relished Cone. "I thought that's what really inspired us."
Dylan Ababou, Vroman, Mike Cortez, KG Canaleta and Jayjay Helterbrand tried their best and did
succeed in giving Ginebra the good start it needed to follow up its 88-79 victory just last Sunday.
But all faded in the face of B-Meg's determined and prolonged charge, with Ababou picking up his
sixth foul just 41 seconds into the fourth period with Vroman following suit in the final 5:56 mark.
As a result, the Kings would wind up either third or fourth, depending on the outcome Wednesday of
the other deciding match in the semifinal pairing between Talk N Text and Barako Bull.
For Cone, his 24th finals stint and the Purefoods/B-Meg franchise's 22nd is just a culmination of
the lessons the team learned from a sorry fifth-place finish in the Philippine Cup, when it emerged
from the eliminations as the top seed, only to be felled by No. 8 Powerade in the quarterfinals.
"When I came into this team we talked about growth and the Powerade thing... that would help us
grow," said Cone.
"That motivated us for this conference and we learned not to take anything for granted."
Ginebra should have had the same mind-set after letting an early 25-11 lead slip away.
B-Meg's charge let up a bit and Ginebra managed to whittle what was once a 59-80 deficit to just
73-86, early in the fourth period.
But Bowles quickly responded with back-to-back baskets and the rout was in full swing again.
Cone may be cherishing his own shot for a 14th title overall, but not after blaming himself for
B-Meg's bad start to the game.
"I had this brilliant idea to go zone," he related. "I thought by giving them something new we would
catch them by surprise. But they started making their shots. I was really embarrassed."
Working mostly behind Bowles, the Llamados worked their way back and used a prolonged run that is
equal to the second-most in franchise history in taking the half 58-46 and the game's control for
good.
Bowles scattered 12 of his points during a 19-0 assault from a 39-44 count, and the Llamados went
into the fourth canto with an 86-71 spread.
Ababou wound up with 17 points with Vroman adding 14 and seven. For the fifth time in the duel, the
6-10 naturalized Lebanese failed to score in the fourth. (NC)
The scores:
B-MEG 108 - Bowles 34, Devance 18, Yap 16, Simon 11, Pingris 7, Barroca 5, Intal 5, Villanueva 5, De
Ocampo 4, Reavis 2, Urbiztondo 1, Acuna 0, Gaco 0.
GINEBRA 84 - Ababou 17, Vroman 14, Cortez 13, Canaleta 12, Helterbrand 10, Hatfield 8, Raymundo 5,
Labagala 3, Mamaril 2, Wilson 0, Villanueva 0.
Quarters: 24-31, 58-46, 86-71, 108-84
Source: http://www.pba.ph/news/entry/1533
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)