PBA Scores, News and Updates

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Barangay Ginebra continues tailspin with Air21 loss (03/26/14)

MANILA, Philippines - The Air21 Express hung on tight to their slim advantage at crunch time to deal Barangay Ginebra San Miguel its fourth loss in 6 games, 97-95, in the PLDT Home TVolution PBA Commissioner's Cup on Wednesday, March 26 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Express relied on their 5 guys in double digits, their hot shooting from long range and a promise by head coach Franz Pumaren in order to come out with the win for a 3-3 slate.

"Coming into this game I assured my wife that we will win because that will be my birthday gift," Pumaren shared. "That's the only wish she asked me so I was pressured to win this game."

Pumaren acknowledged how they survived Ginebra's furious rally during the fourth as the Gin Kings dropped 25 points on the Express.

"It's a good thing we were able to regroup when they made a run. Hopefully this will be a good takeoff point for the next games."

After struggling for much of the first 3 quarters - with Air21 leading by as much as 14, 76-62, near the end of the third on a Mark Borboran basket - Ginebra went all-Filipino in the fourth and rallied to cut the deficit down to 80-78 after Josh Urbiztondo drained a trey for his first 3 points with 10:13 to play.

Urbiztondo served as a spark for Ginebra during the payoff period, providing hustle on defense. Japeth Aguilar came alive as well in the fourth for the Gin Kings, scoring 11 of his 15 points.

But Air21 kept pushing back Ginebra each time they came knocking and never let them even to within a point.

Import Wesley Witherspoon hit a three-pointer from the top of the key with 6:14 left to push Air21's lead back up to 89-84. The same happened for him again with two freebies with 4:20 on the clock, 92-86. He finished with 25 points and 10 boards.

Ginebra kept muffing what would have been easy baskets as the rock went in and out for lay-ins and they piled up on turnovers during crucial possessions down the stretch.

Jayjay Helterbrand kept the flame alive for Ginebra as he fired a left corner triple to cut the deficit to 96-93 with 1:10 remaining.

With 22.7 ticks left, Urbiztondo did what he was doing best all quarter long as he helped Chris Ellis pressure Witherspoon near the halfcourt line and sideline to force the turnover. That resulted to a quick bucket from Billy Mamaril off the timeout, making it a one-point affair at 96-95.

Joseph Yeo was then fouled but missed both his free throws amid the noise of the crowd.

Eventually, after sitting out the entire payoff period, Ginebra import Leon Rodgers was inserted back into the game for the final play following a split from the line by Witherspoon that left Ginebra a 97-95 deficit to deal with.

And with 4.8 seconds remaining, Rodgers drove to the hoop and tried for a shot that bounced in and out of the rim, as head coach Ato Agustin buried his head in his hands knowing his team is now at 2-4.

"It's nice beating a star-studded team like Ginebra," Pumaren admitted. "It's more of a collective effort on our part. I don't think there's any one superstar in our batch right now. Guys are willing to work hard."

Yeo dealt Ginebra plenty of damage in the first quarter alone, exploding with 14 points right away.

But Ginebra found a way to silence him in the second half, limiting him to just 4 points for the entire second half. He finished with 18 points and 9 assists.

Air21 led 57-48 at the half after Witherspoon drained a desperation triple at the buzzer, to the joy of Yeo commending their import and to the dismay of LA Tenorio (9 points) who was shaking his head going into the locker rooms.

Air21 shot 11-of-27 from rainbow country and registered more assists than their opponents, 20-17, as Mark Cardona carved out 15 points. Borboran and Aldrech Ramos each had 10 points.

For Ginebra, Rodgers finished with 18 points and 4 rebounds as Greg Slaughter added 12 of his own. Ellis and Helterbrand had 10 apiece.

Scores

Air21 97: Witherspoon 25, Yeo 18, Cardona 15, Borboran 10, Ramos 10, Taulava 9, Villanueva 6, Burtscher 2, Atkins 2, Camson 0.

Ginebra 95: Rodgers 18, Aguilar 15, Slaughter 12, Ellis 10, Helterbrand 10, Tenorio 9, Baracael 6, Reyes 6, Mamaril 4, Urbiztondo 3, Caguioa 2.

Quarter scores: 27-25, 57-48, 80-70, 97-95.

From Rappler.com

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Top Qatar team interested in Barako import Dollard

MANILA, Philippines - Since debuting in the Philippine Basketball Association last month, Barako Energy import Josh Dollard has averaged 35 points and 15 rebounds per game in the Commissioner's Cup conference, according to pba-online.net.

His on-the-court exploits have earned him headlines in his first six games since coming to the Philippines, but the word hasn't been contained to the country's borders.

Philippine-based agent Sheryl Reyes, acting as an intermediary between Qatar-based agent Scott Hetterman and Dollard's American agent Chris Patrick, informed Rappler that the 28-year-old Dollard is being eyed by the Al Rayyan team to join them for the month-long Emir of Qatar Cup, which begins in the third week of April.

"The Philippines has been great to me since I arrived, and I'm glad I made the decision to leave Finland to play here," said the Hemingway, South Carolina native. "It has opened a lot of doors for me, I'm very happy with the offers that I've been receiving."

Dollard said he'd be open to remaining with Barako Energy for the Governors Cup, having measured in officially at 6-foot-4 9/16 by the PBA, a half-inch under the conference's import height limit.

"I'd love to have another tour of duty here if the team wants to have me," said Dollard.

Barako Energy wraps up it's elimination round schedule on April 13 against Globalport and is currently at 2-4 after upsetting Philippine Cup champions San Mig Coffee on Tuesday, March 25.

Dollard, who has played all over the world in countries Switzerland, Canada, Dominican Republic, Czech Republic, Turkey, Greece, Colombia, Finland, and Greece, may also consider playing in Puerto Rico or Mexico.

From Rappler.com

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No PBA Governors Cup guest stint, but Gilas set to compete in Fiba Asia Cup

INSTEAD of letting Gilas Pilipinas play as guest team in the Governors Cup, PBA commissioner Chito Salud said the board is looking at compressing the tournament schedule to allow the national squad to participate in this year’s Fiba Asia Cup in Wuhan, China.

“We’re continually looking to explore ways of further compressing our third conference with the end in view of allowing our Gilas team to participate in the Fiba Asia Cup,” Salud told sports scribes after emerging from the monthly PBA board meeting at the league’s office in Libis, Quezon City.

The Fiba Asia Cup, formerly known as the ABC Champions Cup, will be held on July 11-19, with the winner qualifying automatically for the Fiba Asia men’s championships next year.

Salud explained that the compressed schedule could possibly mean having five PBA game days a week in the season-ending conference, which is expected to end by July 9.

However, the decision is still subject for review for the time being, since they are still going to consider the playing venue’s availability as well as a consultation with broadcast partner TV5.

“So what we will do is play 10 games a week. Whether that’s a triple-header, twice a week or a double-header five times a week, that’s what we’re fixing right now,” said the PBA chief

“I hope we could be accommodated by TV5 so that the games can be shown live for the fans to enjoy.”

Salud also mentioned that the nitty gritty of the compressed schedule is expected to be finalized by April 10 when the league board holds a special meeting at the PBA office.

In the same meeting, Salud said he will also be making a detailed presentation to the board on the credentials of the three expansion team applicants - Ever Bilena, owned by sportsman-businessman Dioceldy Sy, Kia Motors and NLEX/Metro Pacific under the MVP (Manny V. Pangilinan) group.

I’ve gotten all the information I deem necessary for me to present their credentials to the board. So on April 10, a special board meeting will be called, precisely for the purpose of considering the applications of these three teams,” he added.

From SPIN.ph

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Ginebra racing against time to find new import as another prospect falls through

BARANGAY Ginebra is in a race against time to find an import to take the place of Leon Rodgers and, hopefully, turn around the Kings' fortunes in the PBA Commissioner's Cup.

A top team official said the coaching staff is looking for a way to bring in a replacement before the end of the week in the hope of giving him ample time to blend with the rest of the Kings in time for Ginebra's next game.

The league’s most popular ballclub won’t be back in action until Wednesday when it takes on Meralco in a crucial encounter at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

The official said ideally, management should strike a deal with a new import by Friday so he can plane in by the weekend, giving him three days to work out with the team before the Meralco game.

“Kung makakuha sana at naghahanap sila coach ngayon, aabot iyun (import replacement). Kasi, kung aalis bukas, darating ng Saturday iyun,” said the same source.

“Kaya under consideration talaga na may iba (import replacement). Pero as of now wala pa.”

The Kings slipped down the standings on Wednesday night after absorbing a 97-95 heartbreaker against Air21 - their fourth loss in six outings for the team which fell to a share of eight to ninth places with Barako Bull.

Rodgers was surprisingly benched for almost the entire fourth quarter as the Kings’ second unit sparked the team’s fightback from as much as a 14-point deficit.

But the controversial import was recalled in the final 4.8 seconds and despite being cold, was tasked to take Ginebra’s final shot which he missed as Air21 counterpart Wesley Witherspoon played honest defense against him.

The same Ginebra source said the team tried to bring in Los Angeles D-Fenders veteran James Southerland to replace Rodgers. But the D-League veteran, listed at 6-8 out of Syracuse, backed out at the last-minute after opting to wait for a call-up in the NBA.

“Meron na sanang kapalit kaya lang last-minute nag-backout kasi naghihintay ng call-up sa NBA,” said the same source.

The 23-year-old Southerland averaged 14.2 points and 6.7 rebounds for the D-Fenders.

He had a one-game stint with the Charlotte Bobcats late last year before being waived.

Another source said Ginebra had also set its sights on former Barako Bull prospect Devon Chism, who eventually was signed by Rain or Shine as a replacement for Alex McLean.

Another target, former Los Angeles Laker Josh Powell, has priced himself out of the market, a source said.

From SPIN.ph

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Mark Caguioa rips into Ginebra's lack of effort: 'Pag meron ng camera, parang pa pogian lang. Walang gigil at galit'

MONTHS since a self-imposed silence with the media and on social network sites, Ginebra star Mark Caguioa broke his silence by way of a series of Twitter posts, saying the team's woeful PBA Commissioner's Cup performance has a lot to do with the effort they put on the court - or the lack of it.

"Basketball is nt jst abt scoring its abt the effort u put in the game. If people see the effort u put in then people will start respecting u," Caguioa wrote on his official Twitter account @officialMC47 on Thursday.

The 33-year-old longtime Ginebra star has been playing his guts out since the start of the tournament, averaging 10.3 points and a career-best 6.8 rebounds during the team's 2-4 conference start.

The 6'0" one-time PBA MVP has even registered back-to-back double-double numbers in the team's 113-107 win over Globalport and 87-94 loss to Talk 'N Text, just to show that he has got back into shape after various injuries hampered his game in recent months.

However, those strong performances have not translated to victories as Ginebra continues to struggle amid mounting frustration of fan groups which on Thursday warned that they are thinking of boycotting the team's games to express their displeasure.

It turned out fans are not the only one frustrated by Ginebra's performances.

"Sa laro.Gusto ko rin makita na sana yung nakikipag laban sa bangaan hindi yung lagi kami tinitulak or binabanga #LETSWAKEUPGINEBRA," added Caguioa in expressing his displeasure over the way the Gin KIngs have been pushed around by their opponents despite their obvious size advantage due to the presence of "Twin Towers" Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar.

The three-time PBA Best Player of the Conference awardee believed if the Ginebra players could only bring the effort they show in practice to actual games, the Gin Kings would be a back as a force to be reckoned with in the mid-season conference.

"If this team play the way we practice we would be unstoppable. Kaso pag meron ng camera wala na parang pa pogian lang. Walang gigil at galit," he said.

The Gin Kings are in danger of missing the playoffs after currently being mired at eighth to ninth spots with Barako Bull. They have three games left in their schedule in the elims beginning with a game against the Meralco Bolts on Wednesday.

From SPIN.ph

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Late treys, Dozier's 20-20 push Aces past Beermen in Laguna (03/29/14)

Clutch shots from deep were what the Alaska Aces needed to defeat the San Miguel Beermen, 89-78, Saturday, in PBA Commissioner's Cup action held in Biñan, Laguna.

The defending champs Aces are now at 3-3 having won back-to-back, putting them in a tie with the Meralco Bolts and the Air21 Express. The Beermen on the other hand saw their three-game win streak snapped, for a 5-2 card, still good for second place.

Import Rob Dozier had 20 points and 20 rebounds while hitting 10-of-10 from the stripe to lead the Aces.

It was a back and forth encounter to start the first, as Cyrus Baguio and Dondon Hontiveros knotted it up at six-all. The two teams found their way into the lane in the final two and a half minutes, as an RJ Jazul and-one put the Aces ahead, 11-10. Sol Meracdo was able to salvage a pair of charities from the line, though, as the Beermen snagged a one-point advantage after one, 12-11.

Gabby Espinas came alive in the second, drowning out every San Miguel rally early on. Six points from the former PCU Dolphin bumped the lead to three, while Baguio and Sonny Thoss abused the Beermen with their inside-outside game for an eight-point spread, 24-16. Kevin Jones and Chris Lutz tried to keep the lead manageable, but Jayvee Casio and Rob Dozier found their spots for a double-digit cushion, 29-19.

Twin triples from Hontiveros were enough to keep the lead at nine, but Mercado heated up late for treys as well. The Aces still led though after two periods, 37-32.

San Mig then leaned on their defense in the third, going on an 8-0 run capped off by charities from Santos. Jazul stopped the bleeding with an ad-lib of a move, but a Jones transition trey kept the Beermen humming, 50-42.

The Aces responded by getting their running game going, as Calvin Abueva, Dozier and Baguio got the defending champions to within a point, 51-50. Crisp cuts then led to an Espinas basket, pushing the Aces ahead, but the Beermen soon found success in their drive and dish plays with less than two minutes remaining, 59-57. Casio and Tubid converted from deep, as Dozier whipped the ball to an open Tony Dela Cruz to tie the game after three, 62-62.

Jayvee Casio and Rob Dozier tried to dispatch the Beermen at the start of the fourth, but Paolo Hubalde's gutsy play and sticky defense kept the two teams even, 72-all.

Tied at 76-all with 5:37 remaining, the Aces committed a shotclock violation, and Sol Mercado capitalized with a layup. Alaska then went to Casio anew, and the point guard did not disappoint, hitting a three for the one-point lead. Dozier and Baguio decided to join the scoring party, finally connecting when it mattered for an 84-78 advantage.

Sol Mercado decided to put one up but his attempt bounced long, while June Mar Fajardo's put-back also couldn't find the bottom of the net. Another Santos miss from downtown virtually sealed the win for Alaska, as a pair of free throws from Baguio put the game away.

Cyrus Baguio added 15 points, two rebounds, an assist and a block for Alaska, while Jvee Casio chipped in 14 points, 12 on three-pointers, along with nine rebounds. The Aces survived poor outings from Calvin Abueva and Sonny Thoss, both of whom were shackled by foul trouble. They combined for just four points on 2-of-12 shooting.

San Miguel Beer was led by June Mar Fajardo's double-double of 14 points and 22 rebounds. Sol Mercado came off the bench for 14 points, while import Kevin Jones had a quiet 11 markers on 4-of-17 shooting.

Alaska's defense held San Miguel to a woeful 28.7 percent clip from the field, while they hit 43.5 percent of their own attempts. Despite having 10 less offensive rebounds, the Aces somehow out-scored their foes in second-chance points, 11-4. - AMD, GMA News

The scores:

Alaska 89 - Dozier 20, Baugio 15, Casio 14, Jazul 10, Espinas 10, Hontiveros 8, Manuel 6, Dela Cruz 2, Abueva 2, Thoss 2, Reyes 0

San Miguel 78 - Fajardo 14, Mercado 14, Santos 13, Jones 11, Tubid 6, Hubalde 5, Kramer 4, Ross 4, Lutz 4, Lassiter 3, Lanete 0

Quarter scoring: 11-12, 37-32, 62-62, 89-78

From GMA News

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Meralco counting on new import Darnell Jackson to give team strong inside presence

THE long wait is over for Darnell Jackson after Meralco finally activated the former NBA veteran as its import with three games to go in the team’s elimination round schedule in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

The 6-foot-9 Jackson formally joined the Bolts’ practice on Friday afternoon more than a week since quietly slipping into town as possible replacement for Brian Butch.

Team manager Butch Antonio said Jackson brings in a new dimension to the Bolts, who suffered a 96-79 beating at the hands of Rain or Shine last Wednesday in a performance that decided the fate of Butch.

“He’s got a strong inside presence. Para siyang si (Richard) Howell,” Antonio told Spin.ph as he likened Jackson to the Talk `N Text import in terms of strength.

The Meralco official, however, said it is difficult to compare Jackson with the 6-foot-9 Butch, who gave the Bolts a huge outside threat and an infectious attitude inside the locker room in the six games that he played for the franchise.

“It’s hard to compare kasi si Brian parang Dirk Nowitzki (of the Dallas Mavericks). Eh si DJ naman inside player and he’s doing okay naman in practice,” said Antonio.

Butch, who saw action for Wisconsin in college, finished his brief PBA stint with averages of 27.2 points, 21.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.3 blocks.

He posted 40 points and grabbed a conference-high 31 rebounds last week in leading the Bolts to a 109-98 come-from-behind win over Air21.

Meanwhile, Jackson was selected 52nd overall by the Miami Heat in the 2008 NBA draft and played for Cleveland, Milwaukee, and Sacramento in four seasons in the league.

The former University of Kansas forward averaged 2.2 points and 1.5 rebounds in 7.5 minutes of action in 138 NBA career games.

The 29-year-old Jackson is coming off a 37-game stint in the Chinese Basketball Association with the Shanghai Sharks owned by former Houston Rockets center Yao Ming, where he averaged 21.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.1 steals.

From SPIN.ph

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Top imports Howell, Mays face off as Talk 'N Text stakes perfect record against San Mig

TALK ’N Text returns to action after an eight-day respite, looking to continue its winning streak in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup and solidify its hold of the top spot when it faces San Mig Super Coffee on Monday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Tropang Texters (6-0) stake their unblemished record against the Mixers (3-1) in their 8 p.m. encounter.

"It's San Mig Coffee so it will be a big challenge for us," said Talk 'N Text coach Norman Black. "Major concerns will be for us to get back on defense especially off turnovers. We must also have a high energy level off the boards, because they are a good rebounding team."

An interesting sub-plot is the matchup between Talk ’N Text import Richard Howell and San Mig’s James Mays.

Both imports are regarded highly by several coaches after turning out to be perfect fit for their respective teams.

Howell, the 6-foot-8 forward out of North Carolina State, is averaging 22.8 points, 21.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.6 steals in his first six games with the Tropang Texters.

Black said they don’t really need Howell to score in bunches, with the slew of outside shooters and inside penetrators the team has led by Ranidel de Ocampo (17.1 points per game), Jason Castro (15.6 ppg.), Jimmy Alapag (9.0 ppg. and 6.0 assists) and Larry Fonacier (9.0 ppg.).

On the other hand, 6-foot-8 Mays is a tireless workhorse who averaged 20.5 points, 17.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists during his first four games this conference.

The only main concern for Mays is how he can keep himself out of foul trouble after averaging 4.2 fouls so far in the import-spiced conference.

With Mays in foul trouble, San Mig absorbed its first loss, bowing to Barako Bull, 90-92 last Tuesday in a game that saw the Mixers blow an 18-point fourth quarter lead.

Energetic Mixers forward Marc Pingris likes to look at the positive side, saying such a loss in the elimination helps the team take things into perspective.

“Iyung level ng laro namin (againsy Barako Bull), parang lumabas eh kulang ang timpla namin. Pero at least naman, maaayos namin ito. Saka maganda nga itong pagkakataon dumating ito sa amin, di naman laging panalo sa basketball, at least malalaman mo ano pa kulang,” Pingris said.

From SPIN.ph

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Ginebra trying to close deal with former LA Laker Josh Powell as replacement for import Leon Rodgers

BARANGAY Ginebra is trying to bring in former Los Angeles Lakers center Josh Powell in the next two days in a bid to rescuscitate its flagging campaign in the PBA Commissioner's Cup, a source told Spin.ph.

According to a source, Ginebra is now ironing out the final details of its negotiations with the highly regarded Powell, in the hope of fielding him in as Leon Rodgers' replacement in the team's final three games of the eliminations starting with a match against Meralco on Wednesday.

A separate source bared that the former North Carolina State Wolfpack will arrive either Monday or Tuesday, depending on the outcome of the final negotiations.

“Mahigpit ang impormasyon ngayon. Puro management lang muna ang details. Iniipit nila ang info. Pero mukhang si Powell na nga,” said the source, who bared that Rodgers is still practicing with Ginebra and on standby in case the negotiations with Powell hit a snag.

Ginebra fans should be pleased with the arrival of Powell, judging from their response when his planned hiring was first reported by Spin.ph last week.

A major sticking point in the negotiations is Powell's salary, which is expected considering the two-time NBA champion received a seven-figure compensation in his final year in the NBA in the 2010-2011 season with the Atlanta Hawks.

His last declared salary was at placed at US$854,389 for a year, which was given by his last Chinese Basketball League team, Guangdong Southern Tigers, based on the stats provided by a basketball website.

The maximum salary allowable for PBA imports is US$20,000 a month.

“Maraming demands yung Powell. Yun nga reason why hindi nag work-out yung unang negotiation two weeks ago di ba?” said the source. “Gusto niya ng VIP treatment aside from the high salary.”

Powell is known for his sweet touch and strength inside the paint, as gleaned from his averages of 15 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists in his 2014 season with Guangdong.

[See highlight sof his performance with the Olympiacos team in Greece here]

The 31-year old South Carolina native is best remembered for filling in the shoes left by an injured Andrew Bynum in the 2009 and 2010 championship campaign of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Aside from the Lakers and the Hawks, Powell also played for the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers before he moved to China, Puerto Rico and Greece. He also had stints in Russia and Italy before he joined the NBA in 2005.

From SPIN.ph

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Barring last-minute hitches, Ginebra import prospect Josh Powell set to arrive in time for game against Meralco

BARRING any last-minute hitches, Josh Powell should make it in time for Ginebra's game against Meralco in the PBA Commissioner's Cup on Wednesday.

According to Spin.ph sources, Powell, a two-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday morning, which should give him just enough time to get to know his teammates and run through some plays ahead of his PBA debut.

Powell, barring unforeseen incidents, is scheduled to board a Philippine Airlines flight from Los Angeles on Sunday evening (Monday, Manila time) and arrive early Tuesday morning.

Information reaching Spin.ph bared the Kings will have their usual 9 a.m. practice on Monday before they switch to an afternoon schedule on Tuesday to accommodate Powell.

Powell, though, will have his hands full once he arrives, as he will be counted upon to be the 'savior' of a Ginebra team that had struggled to a 2-4 (win-loss) record with misfiring import Leon Rodgers in the short elimination round of the mid-season conference.

The former North Carolina State Wolfpack will also be up against a highly touted import in Darnell Jackson, who will also be making his debut for Meralco on Wednesday.

Powell, at least, should be in shape when he arrives as he is coming off an impressive stint with the Guangdong Southern Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association, where according to internet reports he received a monthly salary of US$80,000 a month excluding bonuses.

The maximum salary for PBA imports is US$20,000 a month.

Curiously, Ginebra management has made no official announcement as far as its import situation is concerned while Powell's Twitter account (@JP21Reasons) has been silent for the last 37 hours.

Aside from catching up with Ginebra's plays, Powell should have a very hectic Tuesday as he will also attend to the application of his immigration clearance, Games and Amusement Board license and he will also be required to be measured at the PBA office - all on the same day.

The six-year NBA veteran is listed at 6-9 in the US and should be an inch or two shorter when he is measured by the league. Ginebra has an import height limit of 6-9.

From SPIN.ph

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Rain or Shine sinks struggling Globalport (03/31/14)

MANILA, Philippines - Rain or Shine showed their dominance on both ends of the floor to demolish a hapless Globalport crew, 99-75 in the PLDT Home TVolution PBA Commissioner's Cup on Monday, March 31 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Elasto Painters hauled down 66 rebounds – including 18 on the offensive glass – and dished out 24 assists to pull out a commanding win against the winless Batang Pier side.

The Batang Pier only mustered 43 boards and 9 dimes as Rain or Shine, which led by as much as 26, improved to 3-3 in the team standings.

Paul Lee scored 21 points including 5 long-range bombs while Wayne Chism, who replaced Alex McLean last week, debuted with 17 points and 16 caroms.

With Evan Brock making impact points early, the Batang Pier were able to buck off a lackluster start and tie the match at 24 apiece.

However, that was before the Elasto Painters switched to high gear, running over Globalport in the second quarter they outscored the latter, 22-12.

The onslaught continued in the opening moments of the third frame, with Wayne Chism and Beau Belga connecting on baskets that buried the Batang Pier. A triple by the Rain or Shine import pushed the lead up to 62-44.

Coach Pido Jarencio's troops managed to cut the deficit down to 52-62 behind an RR Garcia trey, although they failed to follow up as the ROS lead kept ballooning towards the end.

Globalport never recovered as they dropped to 0-7 in the conference, officially saying goodbye to their playoff hopes.

Scores:

Rain or Shine - Lee 21, Chism 17, Almazan 13, Tiu 10, Belga 9, Norwood 9, Arana 6, Cruz 4, Uyloan 2, Ibanes 2, Nuyles 2, Rodriguez 2, Chan 2, Tang 0, Teng 0.

Globalport - Brock 25, Washington 14, Matias 10, Cabagnot 7, Garcia 6, Chua 4, Salva 4, Sharma 4, Romeo 1, Ponferrada 0, Macapagal 0, Yee 0, Salvador 0.

Quarter scores: 29-26, 51-38, 75-62, 99-75.

From Rappler.com

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Talk N Text passes San Mig test to go 7-0 (03/31/14)

MANILA, Philippines - Talk 'N Text relied on a huge second quarter rally before fending off San Mig Coffee late for an 81-75 win in the PLDT Home TVolution PBA Commissioner's Cup on Monday, March 31 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Tropang Texters scored a blistering 19-0 run in the second period that led to several 20-point spreads for coach Norman Black's crew; the Texters then weathered a huge comeback attempt by San Mig late in the match to record their 7th straight win, the best start in franchise history.

San Mig meanwhile, the same squad that eliminated TNT in the Philippine Cup quarterfinals, dropped their second straight assignment and fell to 3-2.

Import Richard Howell chalked up another huge double-double with 25 points and 21 rebounds to lead the Tropang Texters while Ranidel De Ocampo and Jayson Castro each tallied 13 points.

After Justin Melton trimmed the Talk 'N Text margin to just 23-21, the Tropang Texters fired a crippling 19-0 assault punctuated by triples from KG Canaleta, Jayson Castro and Ranidel De Ocampo for a 42-21 bubble with just under 3 minites in the first half.

The Texters stymied the Mixers' offense, who went without a field goal conversion for over 6 minutes before entering the halftime break.

Although TNT has kept San Mig at bay in the third quarter, the Mixers continued jabbing their way to trim the huge gap bit by bit.

Alex Mallari rattled 5 straight markers while Ian Sangalang and James Yap each scored a basket that brought the Talk 'N Text lead down to 6 at 63-57, 8:57 left in the match.

The Texters however, made sure revenge would be served.

Larry Fonacier sank two back-breaking triples as the league-leading squad zoomed to a 16-7 run over the next 5 minutes to make it a 79-64 ball game.

From that point it was a nip-and-tuck exchange, with the Texters emerging on top.

Scores:

Talk 'N Text - Howell 25, Castro 13, De Ocampo 13, Fonacier 8, Canaleta 6, Alapag 5, Reyes 5, Williams 4, Carey 2, Baclao 0.

San Mig Coffee - Mays 27, Sangalang 15, Mallari 9, Simon 9, Yap 5, Barroca 4, Pingris 3, Melton 3, De Ocampo 0, Devance 0.

Quarter scores: 19-15, 44-26, 59-46, 81-75.

From Rappler.com

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PBA Best Import Ladder Weeks 3-4: Only the best shall remain

MANILA, Philippines – Halfway through the PLDT Home TVolution PBA Commissioner’s Cup, a bunch of imports have already been sent home; others meanwhile, continue to shine and lead their teams to the upper half of the standings. Find out who are the best-performing imports so far in this edition of the Rappler Best Import Ladder.

1. (Last week: 1) Richard Howell, Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters (--)

22.8 PPG, 21.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 56.35 EFF

Howell is still the steadiest import in the race, leading the Texters to a pristine 6-0 start in over 4 weeks of action in the Commissioner’s Cup. Save for assists per game where Jimmy Alapag leads the crew, Howell is Talk ‘N Text’s leader in points, rebounds, steals, and blocks. Whenever you need him to deliver, Howell will like save the day for the Tropa.

2. (Last week: 4) Brian Butch, Meralco Bolts (▲)

27.5 PPG, 21 RPG, 2 APG, 1.3 SPG, 2.3 BPG, 62.03 EFF

Amid reports that a replacement is already in town for the Meralco import, Brian Butch exploded for 40 points and 31 rebounds against, proving to his squad that he can carry the team. The Bolts are currently above .500 with the help of the Dirk Nowitzki-esque reinforcement who would definitely want to stay longer.

However, due to the flu, Butch eventually sat out and is replaced by Darnell Jackson, a former NBA pro.

3. (Last week: 5) Josh Dollard, Barako Bull Energy (▲)

35.3 PPG, 15.3 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 61.03 EFF

Dollard has finally delivered in the late game, with a little help from Willie Miller. In their 92-90 conquest of San Mig Coffee, the Barako Bull import sank a huge triple that gave the Energy the lead; he also contained James Mays to just two points in the second half as Barako completed a big comeback and end the slump. He is definitely among the strong contenders for Best Import this conference.

4. (Last week, 9) Kevin Jones, San Miguel Beermen (▲)

27.4 PPG, 15 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 56.72 EFF

Jones is now gelling well with the Beermen and that has been attested by their second-best 5-2 record in the conference so far. Since taking over for Josh Boone, Jones has found the niche with the red and white uniform

5. (Last week: 2) James Mays, San Mig Super Coffee Mixers (▼)

20.5 PPG, 17.8 RPG, 2 APG, 1 SPG, 1 BPG, 48.68 EFF

Mays is an offensive-rebounding machine, averaging 8 offensive boards a game. That’s 8 extra possessions for the Mixers. While he is not the most prolific import in town, Mays’ hard work will most likely take him and the San Mig Coffee crew to the next round.

6. (Last week: 7) Evan Brock, Globalport Batang Pier (▲)

27.3 PPG, 20.2 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1 BPG, 59.93 EFF

Brock remains a solid force underneath for the Batang Pier, but still, his efforts alone are not enough to lead Globalport to victory. The Mikee Romero-owned franchise is now in the cellar of the standings, still winless after six games.

7. (Last week: 6) Rob Dozier, Alaska Aces (▼)

21.3 PPG, 14.8 RPG, 2.7 APG, 0.5 SPG, 2.8 BPG, 52.2 EFF

While the Best Import award may already be out of the equation for Rob Dozier, he would still want his Aces to regain the Commissioner’s Cup trophy. Dozier averaged 21.5 points and hauled down 15 rebounds in Alaska’s last two games - both wins - to keep the Aces’ playoff aspirations alive.

8. (Last week: NA) Wesley Witherspoon, Air21 Express

34.5 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 1 APG, 2 SPG, 57.49 EFF

Air21 replaced Herve Lamizana with the hopes of getting a better scoring import, and Witherspoon came just to do that. Through two games, the EuroLeague and NBA D-League veteran averaged 34.5 points already, showing people a glimpse of what he can do to lead the Express.

Goodbyes!

Rain or Shine’s Alex McLean, Air21’s Herve Lamizana, and Ginebra’s Leon Rodgers have been replaced over the last two weeks by Wayne Chism, Wesley Witherspoon, and Josh Powell, respectively. The Express looked for a more offensive-minded import in Witherspoon, Rain or Shine went to a more athletic Chism, while Rodgers has been kicked out along with all the drama surrounding the Ginebra crew this conference.

From Rappler.com

[Zurca]

New import Josh Powell vows to bring former teammate Kobe Bryant's 'kill mentality' to Ginebra

FORMER Los Angeles Lakers big man Josh Powell said he’s well aware of the challenging situation he has put himself in the moment he agreed to play for Barangay Ginebra just last weekend.

But just hours after his arrival from Los Angeles, the 6-8 former North Carolina State standout said he’s ready to face the high expectations of the Ginebra fans while taking with him the "kill mentality" he said he developed while playing alongside Laker great Kobe Bryant.

“At the end of the day, you know the (Ginebra) fans are obviously passionate about this team, but (I’m coming here at Ginebra) with just a kill mentality. That‘s it, point blank period,” Powell shared to Spin.ph just after his one-hour practice with the Gin Kings on Tuesday morning at the Green Meadows gym.

The soft-spoken Powell said the “kill mentality” is something he shared with the 'Black Mamba' during their two seasons together with the Lakers, eventually producing two straight NBA championships in 2009 and 2010.

“That‘s one of the reasons why me and him (Bryant) go along so well. I have a certain mentality that’s the same as his, go out there and just kill,” he said.

“Go hard and have fun, but it starts in practice, because it translates in the game.”

Powell, a six-year NBA veteran who is coming off an impressive stint in the Chinese league, will be replacing Leon Rodgers with just three games left in the team’s elimination round schedule.

While fans hope the NBA veteran forward could be the Gin Kings’ 'messiah' who could salvage the team’s sputtering Commissioner’s Cup campaign, Powell said he is coming in with just the simple goal of fitting in to the team’s overall goal.

“For me, what's in my head, it’s talking (with his teammates). Communicating is a big thing to get the team going,” said the 31-year-old Powell, who arrived at 6:45 on Tuesday morning.

“And just rebounding, bring the energy, play after play, grinding and go hard.”

The well-built Powell will be making his PBA debut on Wednesday when the Gin Kings collide with the Meralco Bolts, a team that is also unveiling new import Darnell Jackson, a former NBA veteran as well.

Ginebra is currently mired in the eighth and ninth spots with its 2-4 record along with Barako Bull, a situation that doesn’t sit well for a lot of the Gin King fans this conference.

Still, Powell is hopeful that Ginebra fans will be patient and just rally behind their favorite team as they try to sweep their last three elimination round assignments.

Jackson, the Miami Heat’s second round draft choice in 2008, is no stranger to Powell, having played against him in the Chinese Basketball Association.

The incoming Ginebra import last played for the Guangdong Southern Tigers, where he averaged 16.6 points and 9.9 rebounds in 42 games, while Jackson saw action for the Shanghai  Sharks, logging in 19.6 points and 11.2 rebounds in 37 games.

From SPIN.ph

[Zurca]

Gilas Pilipinas guaranteed to get a good fight from PBA selection in All-Star weekend

GILAS Pilipinas is expected to have its hands full when it battles a PBA selection in a game that serves as the centerpiece event of the 2014 All-Star weekend at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Sunday showdown marks the first time the national team will play full force competitively as it gears up for the Fiba-World Cup in Spain and the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea set later this year.

Coach Chot Reyes and the nationals last played together in front of basketball-loving Filipinos during the Fiba-Asia Men’s Championship when they lost to Iran in the gold medal match.

The PBA All-Stars are hoping to approximate the same competitive nature the Fiba-Asia meet provided to Gilas by vowing to give the nationals a good fight on a year the league celebrates the 25th year of the mid-season spectacle.

“We haven’t seen Gilas Pilipinas in action for about eight months and the way we look at it, the public will only have access to them (nationals) in action during the All-Star game,” said PBA board chairman Ramon Segismundo on Tuesday during a special Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at Shakey’s Malate.

Coached by Tim Cone, the All-Star team will be reinforced by two-time MVP James Yap, last year’s top rookie pick Greg Slaughter, reigning MVP Arwind Santos, last season’s Rookie of the Year Calvin Abueva, and former Smart Gilas team members Mark Barroca and Marcio Lassiter, among others.

“For not being members of Gilas Pilipinas, the All-Stars would also want to prove they are capable too of becoming a part of the national team if given a chance,” said PBA operations director Rickie Santos, who also graced the forum presented by Accel, Shakey’s, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

“So we expect the All-Star game to be closely fought.”

This will also be the first time the annual event supported by MoA, Solaire Hotel, Magnolia Purewater, Gatorade, and Maynilad, is going to be held in Manila since the 2003 edition held at the Big Dome.

“Very special and napaka-auspicious ng All-Star celebration natin dahil it’s the first time in a long while that it will be held in Manila, kasi lagi tayong sa provinces during the previous stagings. And this time sa isang world-class venue pa gagawin, sa Mall of Asia Arena,” added Segismundo. 

A side bar to the All-Star game is the presence of both Slaughter and Lassiter in the PBA selection. The two players earlier declined their inclusion in the Gilas training pool, stressing the 12 members of the national team that suited up in the Fiba-Asia tilt last year deserve to be part of the official roster to the world basketball championship.

“Greg and Marcio will be on the other side of the fence, so magandang makita din how they’ll play against Gilas,” said Segismundo, who is also Meralco’s governor to the PBA board.

Last year, Gilas Pilipinas also played in the All-Star game against a similar PBA selection as part of the national team’s preparation for the Fiba-Asia meet. The match ended in a 124-standoff in Digos, Davao del Sur.

Not to be missed are the skills competition such as the slamdunk contest, three-point shootout, and obstacle challenge to be held on Friday, which will be capped by the game between Team Greats and Team Stalwarts, composed of PBA legends and current players.

There will also be a lot of off court activities for All-Star participants as they are set to visit the San Lazaro Hospital and Hospicio de San Jose, while a basketball clinic is likewise to be held at the MoA under the SM Cares for special children.

On Saturday, a fun run and meet and greet event are going to be held at the SM San Lazaro and SM Bicutan, while there will be a street party too at the MoA grounds.

A referees clinic and coaches clinic will be conducted by Cone on Sunday.

From SPIN.ph