PBA Scores, News and Updates

[Zurca]

Petron edges Barako, sets semis duel with Rain or Shine (01/24/14)

MANILA, Philippines – Petron Blaze used a big third quarter run and held fort down the stretch to survive Barako Bull, 107-100 on Friday, January 24 at the Mall of Asia Arena and book the second ticket to the PLDT Home DSL PBA Philippine Cup semifinals.

The Boosters again pulled away from a tight first half using a 19-5 run in the third period and never looked back to sweep the Energy, 2-0 in their best-of-3 quarterfinals affair.

Petron set a best-of-7 semis duel with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters starting on Monday, January 27 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Alex Cabagnot (22 points, 12 assists), June Mar Fajardo (14 points, 17 rebounds), and Arwind Santos (17 points, 12 rebounds) all finished with double-double performances while six players scored at least 10 to help the Boosters upend the hard-fighting Barako Bull crew.

"Barako pushed us to the limit," said Petron head coach Gee Abanilla, who will face a taller task in the Final Four wars of the PBA.

"We'll have to find a weakness (Rain or Shine), if they have one. We're seeing a long series with them."

From a halftime deadlock at 52, the Boosters opened the third quarter on a 9-0 tear and limited the Energy to a solitary field goal in over 7 minutes to establish a 71-57 lead.

The Energy managed to respond behind three treys - two from Mick Pennisi and one from Willie Miller - and free throws by Dorian Peña to cut the deficit down to 3, 90-93, with just under 5 minutes left to play.

An Alex Cabagnot outside bomb made it 96-90 for Petron, before the match turned into a free throw-shooting contest as both squads got whistled for personal fouls.

The Boosters converted on more foul shots, while a drive by Cabagnot lifted Petron, 104-96 with just 63 ticks left.

Baskets by Rico Maierhofer and Denok Miranda made it 105-100 with just 26.8 seconds left, but Petron was able to waste away time and seal the deal.

Petron Blaze shot 25 of 39 (64.1%) from the stripe while Barako only 20 of 40 (50%) in game highlighted by 65 total fouls called.

Maierhofer and JC Intal carried the Energy with 21 and 20 points, respectively.

The scores:

Petron Blaze - Cabagnot 22, Lutz 18, Santos 17, Fajardo 14, Lassiter 11, Tubid 10, Ross 8, Kramer 7, Lanete 0.

Barako Bull - Maierhofer 21, Intal 20, Miranda 15, Miller 11, Peña 11, Pennisi 8, Lastimosa 6, Jensen 4, Wilson 2, Buenafe 2, Isip 0.

Quarter scores: 25-18, 52-52, 79-72, 107-100.

From Rappler.com

[Zurca]

Ginebra massacres Alaska to earn semis ticket (01/25/14)

MANILA, Philippines - With one team at the brink of a breakthrough and the other at the cusp of disappointment, the eighth seed Alaska Aces and the top seed Barangay Ginebra San Miguel fought tooth and nail for the entire 48 minutes on Saturday, January 25.

At the final buzzer, however, Ginebra was able to avoid disappointment as they flashed their playoff form and downed Alaska, 108-95, to punch their ticket to the semis of the PLDT Home DSL Philippine Cup.

Filled to the rafters, the Cuneta Astrodome rocked amid the intense playoff atmosphere. According to head coach Ato Agustin, his team fed off it hungrily.

"Napakalaking help yung crowd," he said. (The crowd was a big help.)

"I think yung intensity namin napakataas and the energy is there," he said. "Ang key dito is we were able to dictate the tempo." (I think our intensity was very high and the energy is there. The key here is we were able to dictate the tempo."

The match, with its huge stakes, got so heated that a technical foul and a flagrant foul were already called in just the first quarter of play. The Aces got the short end of the stick as far as breaks of the game with head coach Luigi Trillo and sophomore Calvin Abueva taking the fall for the aforementioned fouls.

Ginebra, reeling from two consecutive losses, poured out their frustrations and sniped away at will in the first half to lead by 21 points, 31-10, after Jayjay Helterbrand buried a triple from the top of the key.

It didn't take long before the physicality manifested itself again. By the second period, another flagrant 1 foul was called - this time on Ginebra's Mark Caguioa for an elbow on Abueva.

Ginebra led by as much as 31, 76-45, on a Japeth Aguilar and-one play at the start of the third. Aguilar came away with a career high 29 points on his 27th birthday.

Late in the fourth, the Aces quietly crept up on Ginebra with an 11-3 run to cut the deficit to 14, 102-88, on an RJ Jazul three-pointer with 2:34 remaining. But it came a little too late as LA Tenorio completed an and-one play on the other end to pad on the lead again, 105-88.

Ginebra was able to shake off, at least for this game, their recurring problem of getting complacent as they never eased up on the gas pedal the entire second half as well. An unlike their first meeting, it was Alaska who was out-hustled this time with second-chance points (24-18), turnover points (24-9) and fastbreak points (14-12) going the way of Ginebra. Alaska, however, managed to out-rebound Ginebra by a hair, 52-51.

The Aces drew double-digit outputs from 6 of its players, including main playmaker JVee Casio, Gabby Espinas, and Calvin Abueva. They also shot better from the stripe, going 26-of-37. Alaska also made more triples, 9-8.

For Agustin, this game serves as vindication for their miserable losses and poor showings.

"Hindi na mangyayari yun," he assured their lackluster play during the first quarterfinal showdown against Alaska will never happen again. "Kaya na namin gawin ngayon (the energy), kaya namin ulitin." (That's not gonna happen again. We did it now, we can do it again."

Scores: Ginebra (108): Aguilar 29, Tenorio 22, Ellis 16, Baracael 12, Caguioa 12, Slaughter 11, Helterbrand 5, Mamaril 1

Alaska (95): Casio 16, Espinas 16, Jazul 14, Abueva 13, Thoss 13, Baguio 13, Hontiveros 6, Avenido 4

Quarters: 39-21, 69-43, 86-62, 108-95

From Rappler.com

[Itachi101]

ganda ng panalo ng gin kings kanina
tambak na tambak

[Zurca]

End of an era as San Mig catches last bus to semis by ousting Talk 'N Text (01/26/14)

MARC Pingris and playmaker Mark Barroca spearheaded San Mig Super Coffee’s frenetic finish against Talk `N Text for a 90-82 win to end the Tropang Texters’ reign as PBA Philippine Cup champion on Sunday night at the Astrodome.

Pingris scored five straight points while Barroca, who finished with a double-double of 18 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, dished off an assist to Joe Devance for the finishing touches in their do-or-die encounter for the last semifinal berth of the All-Filipino conference.

The Mixers won the best-of-three quarterfinal series, 2-1, and will meet top seed Barangay Ginebra Kings in an explosive semifinals showdown.

“I thought the game turned when we were able to get them (Tropang Texters) in early penalty. They couldn’t pressure us anymore and that kind of allowed us to do the offense the way we want to do it,” said San Mig coach Tim Cone, who steered the franchise to the semifinals for the sixth straight conference.

While Barroca, Devance, and Pingris played courageously against Talk ‘N Text’s bruising veterans, Cone said he was happy to see his “secret weapon” in rookie Justin Melton explode in the final game of the quarterfinals.

“Our secret weapon tonight is Justin. He was really the key for us. He hit big shots and made big stops. He gave us a whole new dimension,” added Cone, who is looking forward to the team’s semifinal series against the Kings.

Credit also goes to the San Mig team’s airtight defense, which held Talk ‘N Text scoreless in the final two-and-a-half minutes of the match.

Ranidel de Ocampo’s three-point shot with 2:31 to go, knotted the score one last time at 82-all, before San Mig made its move in the end to knock the defending champion Talk ‘N Text out of its pedestal.

“Our guys worked hard for it (win). I’m real proud of our guys right now. I mean, going back from our 1-5 start and be at the top four is really great,” he added.

Overall, San Mig’s defense held Talk ‘N Text to just 34.6 percent from the field.

Barroca, the team’s leading scorer this conference, added five assists and two steals, while Devance finished with 14 points.  Pingris added 13 and nine boards, while Melton finished with a career-high 12 points, all coming from three-point territory.

De Ocampo led the Tropang Texters with 22 points, spiked by four three-point conversions, while Castro added 15.

The diminutive Castro only scored four points in the second half as he struggled to get through the defense of Barroca.

The scores:

San Mig 90 - Barroca 18, Devance 14, Pingris 13, Melton 12, Simon 10, Mallari 8, Yap 8, Sangalang 7, De Ocampo 0, Reavis 0.

Talk 'N Text 82 - De Ocampo 22, Castro 15, Canaleta 13, Seigle 8, Alapag 6, Williams 5, Fonacier 5, Carey 5, Reyes R. 3, Aban 0, Peek 0, Reyes J. 0, Baclao 0.

From SPIN.ph

[Zurca]

PBA semis preview: Red-hot Rain or Shine, bullstrong Petron collide anew

MANILA, Philippines - And then there were four.

Action in the PLDT Home DSL PBA Philippine Cup heats up as only four teams remain, all vying for the elusive All-Filipino crown. With the fall of three-peat champions Talk 'N Text, all four squads will do what it takes to covet the prestigious Jun Bernardino trophy.

Petron Blaze and Rain or Shine both jockeyed for position in the home stretch of the elimination round; the Elasto Painters got the twice-to-beat edge while the Boosters had to sweep Barako Bull to advance.

Just last conference, the Elijah Millsap-powered Petron Blaze Boosters dominated Arizona Reid's Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 3 games to 1 in the best-of-5 2013 Governors Cup semifinals.

However, with Rain or Shine riding on an 8-game winning run, expect a different script in the Philippine Cup edition of this battle. Petron, led by the hulking June Mar Fajardo and reigning MVP Arwind Santos, will try to duplicate that dominance and shut the E-Painters once again.

Philippine Cup head-to-head: Rain or Shine leads, 1-0.

Rain or Shine 99, Petron 95

Why Rain or Shine will win: The Elasto Painters were chiefly responsible for ending Petron's 7-0 start in the Philippine Cup. With everyone in Coach Yeng Guiao's system working wonders, Rain or Shine will be pretty hard to stop. Anyone from the Painters' can explode for Guiao. Big men Belga and Quiñahan had their clutch moments this season. At one point even all three of its rookies led Rain or Shine to victory.

Why Petron Blaze will win: June Mar Fajardo is becoming the next dominant big man in the league, and his 15 PPG, 15.3 RPG numbers are more than enough proof. With the E-Painters' frontline a bit undersized, it looks like Fajardo will have a great game more often than not. Joining him are reigning MVP Arwind Santos, shooters Chris Lutz and Marcio Lassiter, and Alex Cabagnot (13.5 PPG, 5 RPG, 6.5 APG) who has given Petron a premium court general ever since returning to action.

Key match-up:

June Mar Fajardo (15 PPG, 15.3 RPG) vs Extra Rice, Inc. (Beau Belga and JR Quinahan combined: 17.2 PPG, 11.5 RPG)

In the Governors Cup semis, Fajardo towered over everybody else in a Rain or Shine uniform. That is why the Elasto Painters' big boys must take turns in trying to limit the 6-foot-10 skyscraper from reigning inside the paint.

X-Factors:

Rain or Shine: Gabe Norwood

The Gilas Pilipinas premier wing defender's numbers won't jump out on you but Norwood can certainly contribute on both ends of the floor, especially in aspects of the game not seen on the stat sheet.

Petron: Ronald Tubid

Whenever Petron's shooters are on a slump, Tubid should take the spotlight. He will also be relied on in defense especially againt Rain or Shine's gunners.

What this game means: Rain or Shine is the runner-up in the last Philippine Cup. With TNT already out of the picture, the Painters should use this stint not just to exact revenge against Petron but also to prove they're indeed one of the best teams in the league. For the Boosters, this series will be gruelling but all worth it should they advance to the finale.

RAPPLER PICK: Petron in 7 games

From Rappler.com

[Zurca]

End of an era: Pido Jarencio leaves UST, moves to Globalport

MANILA, Philippines – After 8 seasons of calling the shots for the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), fiery coach Pido Jarencio is leaving the Tigers to finally realize his longtime dream – to coach in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Jarencio confirmed to Rappler that he already bid goodbye to UST and is moving on to coach the PBA's Globalport Batang Pier.

He said he already informed UST officials of his decision and submitted letters to university Rector Very Rev. Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. as well as to Fr. Ermito de Sagon, O.P., Director of the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics.

As far as the future of the UST seniors men's basketball team, Jarencio said he has recommended assistant coach Estong Ballesteros to take over as head coach. Though there has been no final decision yet as of posting time.

Jarencio also said his two-year contract with Globalport starts in February and he will begin practicing with the team next week. Jarencio will be replacing interim head coach Ritchie Ticzon, who steered Globalport to the quarterfinals of the 2013 PLDT Home DSL Philippine Cup before getting booted out by the twice-to-beat Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

A team still building from the ground up and trying to shape its identity in the highly competitive league, Globalport is looking to pad on to the tremendous improvement they've shown in the Philippine Cup.

Jarencio admitted that he has yet to finalize his plans for his new team, but said that he will first take care of business in the coaching staff before making his decision on the players.

"Ayusin ko muna coaches then move na sa players," he told Rappler. (I will take care of the coaches first then move to the players.)

As far as his import prospects for the import-laden mid-season Commissioner's Cup, Jarencio said he is still on the lookout.

End of an era

Jarencio took on head coaching duties for the Growling Tigers in 2006 and, only in his rookie season, spearheaded the Tigers to its first championship in 10 years. He also led them to 3 Final Four appearances since then before having back-to-back Finals appearances in 2012 and 2013.

He also gave the Tigers their first taste of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League title in 2012, where Jarencio also won the Coach of the Year award.

The 49-year old former PBA player has long wanted to take on the coaching reins for a pro team. After the Tigers' loss in the Finals against the Ateneo Blue Eagles in Season 75 (2012), Jarencio stated he was uncertain of whether or not he will stay with the Tigers.

He then nearly took a coaching job last year for a PBA team reportedly to be Barako Bull. But negotiations apparently fell through and Jarencio stayed with UST for another year, where he led them yet again to the Finals but this time lost to the DLSU Green Archers in the most recent UAAP Season 76 (2013).

In the 8 years he spent with the Tigers, UST students and alumni have grown fond of the animated coach. His departure marks the end of an era for one of the most well-loved UST coaches.

Jarencio said it's a bittersweet feeling to finally be able to live his dream, yet leave behind a team and community he has long been a part of.

He held his last practice with the Growling Tigers on Saturday, January 25.

"Masaya at may halo lungkot," he said. "Mahihiwalay na ko sa UST." (I'm happy but also sad. I'm no longer going to be with UST.)

From Rappler.com

[tonistork]

Tatlong SMC teams sa semis.

Okay lang, importante malaglag ang RoS at di makapasok sa finals. . inis ako sa bastos at mayabang na kalbong coach nila.

[Zurca]

Rain or Shine's confidence carries them past Petron (01/27/14)

MANILA, Philippines - Their demeanor spoke for itself--the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters simply had the air of confidence that was apparent in every shot attempt, every pass, and in how they ran their plays and defended the hoop.

Because of that, Rain or Shine dominated the Petron Blaze Boosters to take care of the first game in their best-of-7 semis affair, 103-95, in the PLDT Home DSL Philippine Cup on Monday, January 27 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

"We did a good job defensively," said Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao. "This is a powerhouse team. It's just really the effort and the desire of the boys to win this game that got us through the first game."

Rain or Shine's defense was on point from the very beginning, causing the quick deflation on the part of Petron and at the same time gradually increasing the momentum of the Painters.

Petron was the complete opposite of their semifinal nemesis as they succumbed to Rain or Shine's airtight defense and committed 15 turnovers in the first half alone. That number later escalated to 25 as Rain or Shine took full advantage with 24 points off those miscues.

Reigning MVP Arwind Santos, who finished with 20 points and 17 rebounds, tried to revive his sagging team with a two-handed jam over all of Rain or Shine's defenders at the start of the fourth to cut the lead to 11, 76-65.

But the Painters, who led by as much as 17 points, 65-48, at the 6:39 mark of the third on a split from the line by Ryan Araña, displayed splendid team effort once again and never allowed Petron to spark any type of rally.

What's more, Petron allowed Rain or Shine a couple of and-one plays in the fourth, giving them more trouble heading down the stretch.

The Boosters tried hard to snatch the game away with under two minutes in the game and came as close as 98-92 on a pair of free throws by Chris Lutz with under a minute left.

But Rain or Shine made 8 of their 10 free throws in the last two minutes to crush Petron's hopes.

As usual, Guiao had the luxury of a deep lineup and got distributed offense from different guys. Paul Lee was the leader of that offensive punch with 18 points. He did not catch fire from rainbow country but he attacked Petron's defense enough to score on a perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line to add to his 4-of-9 field goals.

"This is the way we want it played," said a satisfied Guiao. "We want it fast, we want it open court. Petron also wants the open court but perhaps our rotation can sustain it more even in 7 games."

He added, "We're ready to play a long series and we're ready to play a fast, furious pace."

In the meantime, JR Quiñahan missed the series opener due to 'swelling on his knee.' Guiao assured he will be back for Game 2.

The win marks Rain or Shine's 9th straight victory dating back to the eliminations.

The scores:

Rain or Shine (103): Lee 18, Cruz 15, Belga 11, Arana 10, Nuyles 9, Almazan 7, Rodriguez 7, Norwood 7, Chan 6, Teng 6, Ibanes 5, Tiu 2, Tang 0.

Petron (95): Fajardo 23, Lassiter 20, Santos 20, Ross 8, Hubalde 6, Cabagnot 4, Lutz 4, Duncil 2, Tubid 3, Lanete 2, Kramer 2.

Quarters: 28-20, 49-40, 76-63, 103-95

From Rappler.com

[Zurca]

PBA semis preview: Barangay Ginebra, San Mig set for showdown

MANILA, Philippines - And then there were four.

Action in the PLDT Home DSL PBA Philippine Cup heats up as only four teams remain, all vying for the elusive All-Filipino crown. With the fall of three-peat champions Talk 'N Text, all four squads will do whatever it takes to secure the prestigious Jun Bernardino trophy.

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and San Mig Coffee started the conference on contrasting notes; Ginebra towered all tournament long with a formidable roster led by Gilas Pilipinas veterans Japeth Aguilar, Greg Slaughter, LA Tenorio, and Mac Baracael. The Mixers meanwhile, just as they had started in the 2013 Governor’s Cup, started with a miserable slump. They lost their first four assignments and dropped to 1-5. It is only through their will and championship spirit that they have managed to overcome that slump to survive to this point. They were led by familiar names in Governor’s Cup Finals MVP Marc Pingris and Mark Barroca.

Ginebra and San Mig Coffee had to go through a needle in the quarterfinals before setting up a much-anticipated clash dubbed nowadays as the ‘Manila Clasico.’ Expect fans to flock the venues in as much as seven games in this thrilling encounter.

(1) Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel (11-3) vs (5) San Mig Super Coffee Mixers (7-7)

Philippine Cup head-to-head: Tied, 1-1.

Ginebra 86, San Mig 69.

San Mig 83, Ginebra 79.

Why Ginebra will win: Although the Kings had some lapses in the elimination round and back-to-back losses before closing out Alaska in the quarterfinals, they remain a strong squad especially when everybody plays their ‘A’ game for the team. Japeth Aguilar, who tallied 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 blocks in their knockout game vs Alaska, must show he’s reliable in this series. Greg Slaughter must bully San Mig’s frontline, while LA Tenorio and Mark Caguioa must provide the leadership roles.

Why San Mig will win: Marc Pingris and Mark Barroca joined hands as the Mixers won 8 of their last 11 meetings in the Philippine Cup. PJ Simon, who missed the first three outings in this season, gave San Mig a huge lift on offense with his 14 PPG average. Pingris, Ian Sangalang, and Rafi Reavis will man the frontcourt and try to stop Ginebra’s towers. And once again, San Mig likes keeping it low so in order to contain Ginebra, the Mixers must get the job done on the defensive end.

Key match-up:

LA Tenorio (11.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 7.3 APG) vs Mark Barroca (14.5 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 4.2 APG, 2.4 SPG)

Tenorio and Barroca are easily among the top playmakers in the league. Ever since entering the PBA, Barroca made his mark for the San Mig franchise. He is now their scoring, steals, and assists leader while Tenorio is averaging a league-best 7.3 assists per match for Ginebra. The two will operate their respective teams' offense like giving coaches Ato Agustin and Tim Cone an extra assistant on the floor.

X-Factors:

Ginebra: Chris Ellis

Chris Ellis is not really the first offensive option for Ginebra, but the reigning PBA dunk champion showed his wares in Ginebra’s demolition of the Aces. Ellis scored 16 points on 70% shooting and grabbed 6 boards to help the Kings win. His size and length will be of great use especially in containing SMC shooters like PJ Simon and James Yap.

San Mig: Justin Melton

Melton, the 13th overall pick in the 2013 PBA Draft, showcased his outside sniping when it mattered the most. He shot 4 of 7 from three-point land to finish with 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists to help the Mixers oust TNT. He is expected to be a defensive player but giving San Mig an extra boost on offense would definitely help.

What this game means: The last time Ginebra finished No. 1 in the eliminations, they went on to win the 2007 All Filipino Cup. This is a chance to do the same with their very competitive line-up. For San Mig, the dream is alive. Even after falling to 1-5, they’ve survived several storms and they’re eyeing another Cinderella run. The road to the finals begins now for two franchises with colorful PBA histories.

RAPPLER PICK: Ginebra in 6 games

From Rappler.com

[Zurca]

San Mig takes game one against Ginebra on Barroca go-ahead basket (01/28/14)

MANILA, Philippines - Mark Barroca had struggled all game long but sank his only field goal with 11.2 seconds remaining to give San Mig Super Coffee Mixers a game one victory over Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 85-83, in their PLDT Home DSL PBA PhiIippine Cup semifinal series on Tuesday, January 28 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

After Mac Baracael's inbound pass was stolen by Joe Devance, Barroca wasted away time and sank a go-ahead one-hander over a defensive LA Tenorio to give the Mixers an 85-83 advantage.

With both teams out of timeouts, Tenorio rushed frontcourt and attempted a potential game-winning trey but backfired; Marc Pingris collared the rebound and was immediately fouled with just 2.3 ticks to go.

Pingris missed both free throws but Ginebra had no choice but to throw up a prayer from San Mig's court as time expired.

"This game could have gone either way. Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good," said San Mig head coach Tim Cone, whose troops outrebounded the Kings, 50-43.

"It's a long series. There's no feeling of comfort at 1-0."

After a 16-7 run in the fourth quarter that saw the Mixers take the 73-72 edge, Yancy De Ocampo and Justin Melton sank triples to make it 80-75.

However, Mark Caguioa and LA Tenorio conspired with two baskets each, as Ginebra took the driver's seat, 83-81 with 35.8 seconds left.

San Mig responded with Joe Devance seeing a lapse on Ginebra's defense for an easy basket to tie it at 83 apiece, 32.2 seconds to go.

Barroca finished with just 5 points on 1 of 7 shooting from the field to go with 3 assists in but made his crucial field goal count to give the Mixers the series edge. Joe Devance topscored with 20 points including 15 in the first half, while PJ Simon added 16 markers.

Ginebra will try to bounce back in Game 2 on Thursday, January 30 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The scores:

San Mig - Devance 20, Simon 16, Pinrgis 10, De Ocampo 9, Sangalang 8, Melton 8, Barroca 5, Yap 5, Mallari 4, Reavis 0.

Ginebra - Tenorio 16, Aguilar 14, Baracael 12, Slaughter 10, Ellis 9, Caguioa 8, Reyes 5, Helterbrand 4, Monfort 3, Mamaril 2.

Quarter scores: 26-28, 43-40, 67-75, 85-83.

From Rappler.com

[Zurca]

Rain or Shine comes from behind to take 2-0 series lead over Petron (01/29/14)

MANILA, Philippines - If 1-0 was nothing, 2-0 is definitely teetering on disaster.

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters managed to steal victory despite trailing for most of the game to extend their win streak to 10 and, more importantly, grab a 2-0 lead over the Petron Blaze Boosters, 103-94, in their semifinal series in the PLDT Home DSL Philippine Cup on Wednesday, January 29 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Rain or Shine played subpar basketball for most of the contest in comparison to their 48 minutes of consistency in Game 1. They were down by as much as 16 in the second quarter, 34-18, before they erased that lead and headed to halftime down by only 3, 49-46.

Petron pounded on them some more in the second half but Rain or Shine crept up quietly behind Petron in the final canto as they played their best quarter of the game.

The Painters outscored Petron in that period by a landslide disparity of 36-16. They returned to their fast and furious pace in the fourth after having only two fastbreak attempts and two points off of that in the first half. They upped those numbers to 10 attempts and 15 points, and added 17 turnover points to boot.

"We just carved out a hard win today," head coach Yeng Guiao said. "For a while I thought it was a lost game but the guys did not give up. It's a testament to the guys' desire to win. It's a testament to their mental toughness."

Rain or Shine found themselves in trouble to start the fourth after Marcio Lassiter sank a triple to make it 85-72 at the 9:23 mark. But back-to-back three-pointers by Jeff Chan stirred things for Rain or Shine to cut the lead to 85-78.

But things truly turned around to favor the Painters at the 5:48 mark as Gabe Norwood, who had only two points and one assist in the first half, swished in a triple to make a 3-point game, 90-87.

Norwood, who eventually finished with 11 markers, 6 rebounds and 6 assists, stabilized things for Rain or Shine and facilitated crucial plays including finding rookie Raymond Almazan at the top of the key with 5 minutes left, which resulted in another triple that trickled in to make it 91-90.

Beau Belga then made a bucket to get the lead, 92-91, and Rain or Shine never looked back.

"They did a good job stopping our breaks," Guiao admitted how that affected their game. "They did a good job slowing down the game. It's a lot slower than the first game we played against them."

He also took note of the physicality of the contest and how it played to their strengths.

"It was a physical game. They tried to play us physical. That's really our game. It's the way we want the game to be."

Meanwhile, Petron made the right adjustments to hold Rain or Shine for 3 quarters. But they were unable to sustain it until the end as field goals began missing the mark for them in the crucial stretch of the fourth.

June Mar Fajardo was the key to getting the Boosters going early in the game as he scored 8 of his team's first 10 points to pump fuel into their offense. But he lost that rhythm as the physicality got the better of him.

Guiao said it's a matter of having the right mentality to be able to keep up with physical play.

"I think they were trying to play physical and June Mar really is, I think, the focal point of their offense. And we have to play physical ourselves so he's going to get the brunt of the physicality. That's a lot of physicality in the time that he's inside."

He added, "It's more natural for us than it is for him."

The 2012 first overall drafted pick still finished with 20 points and 9 rebounds but also registered 6 turnovers.

Guiao also gave the credit due to Almazan, who finished with 15 points and 5 rebounds, including the dagger hook shot that made it 100-94 with 28.7 seconds remaining.

"He played like a veteran. Raymond made the big shots, big rebounds, big stops. He looked like he was 250 pounds. He did it when it counted--in the semifinals. That's his championship experience from his Letran days.

With the longest streak of the conference and a 2-0 lead in the semis, Guiao and his team have no plans of letting up.

"2-0 is a good place to be at this point. But we cannot celebrate. We still need to win 2 more."

Scores:

Rain or Shine 103: Chan 20, Almazan 15, Lee 15, Belga 11, Norwood 11, Arana 8, Tang 5, Quinahan 4, Cruz 4, Nuyles 4, Rodriguez 4, Teng 2, Tiu 0, Ibanes 0.

Petron 94: Fajardo 20, Cabagnot 17, Lassiter 14, Santos 12, Lutz 7, Kramer 6, Hubalde 6, Ross 6, Tubid 4, Taha 2.

Quarters: 18-32, 46-49, 67-78, 103-94

From Rappler.com

[Zurca]

Barangay Ginebra strikes back at San Mig Coffee to tie series 1-1 (01/31/14)

MANILA, Philippines – Consistency was what coach Ato Agustin wanted, and that's exactly what he got from his wards.

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel struck back hard on Friday, January 31 and showed consistency the entire ballgame, even leaning on a sterling second quarter showing – the very quarter that killed them in Game 1 – to pull away from rivals San Mig Super Coffee Mixers and notch a dominant 93-64 win to even out their best-of-7 semifinal series 1-1 in the PLDT Home DSL Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Ginebra veteran Jayjay Helterbrand took charge in the second quarter assault and got enough strength from his legs to notch a total of 11 points – 7 of which he hit in the pivotal second period when Ginebra picked up steam to keep them fueled during the second half.

Together with a much feistier Ginebra backcourt in the second period, Ginebra built a 16-point halftime lead, 48-32, the biggest lead of the ballgame at that point.

But it wasn't the end of Ginebra's tirade. In the next 24 minutes, they no longer allowed their game to dip and continued to out-hustle the Mixers in getting the ball. Ginebra beat them in speed in driving to the hoop, and also showcased lightning quick reflexes when spotting even the tiniest of openings in the lane.

For all 4 quarters, Ginebra never scored below 21 points. They scored 24 points each in the first, second and fourth quarters.

The biggest lead of the game was the final score of 93-64 at 29 points.

"Maganda yung defense namin. Maganda yung start namin," remarked Ginebra head coach Agustin. "We were able to limit their offense to 60+." (Our defense was good. We had a good start.)

Before the game, he said he implored his team to show more aggressiveness.

"Isa lang sinabi ko sa kanila: kailangan natin maging aggressive. Kasi lahat ng game plans and adjustments natin magagawa lang natin pag aggressive tayo and may hustle." (I told them one thing: we need to be aggressive. All our game plans and adjustments can only be done if we're aggressive and we hustle.)

The hustle and aggressiveness produced 55 rebounds with 19 on the offensive glass, while San Mig Coffee had only 32 rebounds.

Unlike the first game, the Mixers were unable to contain rookie slotman Greg Slaughter, who showed more ferocity in rebounding. He also got more creative and determined in getting by and squeezing through defenders to reach the hole. He ended up with 21 points and 12 rebounds.

Billy Mamaril and JayR Reyes provided quality minutes for Ginebra in the fourth, hitting outside shots and grabbing boards. They finished with 10 and 8 points, respectively.

For the Mixers, PJ Simon and Marc Pingris scored 16 and 15 points, respectively, in a losing effort.

Game 3 will be played on Sunday, February 2 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Scores:

Barangay Ginebra 93: Slaughter 21, Helterbrand 11, Tenorio 10, Mamaril 10, Reyes 8, Caguioa 8, Aguilar 7, Monfort 5, Ellis 4, Faundo 4, Baracael 3, Forrester 2, Ababou 0.

San Mig Coffee 64: Simon 16, Pingris 15, Yao 14, Barroca 7, De Ocampo 3, Acuña 3, Mallari 3, Devance 2, Cawaling 1, Gaco 0, Sangalang 0, Holstein 0, Reavis 0, Melton 0.

Quarter scores: 24-19, 48-32, 69-53, 93-64.

From Rappler.com

[Zurca]

As World Cup draw nears, Gilas ponders possibility of being grouped with US

WHERE will the Philippines be grouped in the 2014 Fiba World Cup?

That question will be answered soon as Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes has embarked on a long trip to Spain to witness for himself the World Cup draw set on February 3 at the Palau de la Musica Catalana in Barcelona.

The Philippines, which punched its ticket to the World Cup by finishing second in the last Fiba-Asia championship, will be one of 24 teams that will be bracketed into four groups of six for the preliminary round.

Local fans, of course, have inevitably been wishing to see Gilas grouped with defending champion United States, which will be fielding a team from a pool of NBA superstars led by Miami star LeBron James.

So, is Gilas looking forward to being in the same group as the American idols?

While admitting that playing against the United States will be "good" for the team, Reyes said he is not thinking much about the draw as he is more focused on forming and preparing the team for the worlds.

 “It doesn’t matter,” Reyes said, referring to the bracket. “It’s good to be bracketed with the US para makalaban natin … Pero hindi ko na iniisip ‘yun. Ang iniisip ko, sana may team na ako.”

“My thoughts now is to have a team. I hope that we will have a well-prepared team,” said Reyes, who had successfully lobbied for the shortening of the PBA season to give the team ample time to prepare for the World Cup as well as the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.

Avoiding the so-called ‘Group of Death’ and ending up in a group with lighter teams will also be favorable for Gilas, which has set a target of advancing past the preliminaries, he added.

When asked by Spin.ph if he would prefer being bracketed with the United States or be in a lighter group, Rain or Shine sharp-shooter Jeff Chan carefully weighed the pros and cons.

“Mahirap ‘yung tanong na ‘yun ah,” Chan said. “Kasi parang once in a blue moon mo lang makakalaban ‘yung US, ‘yung mga idols mo. Pero at the same time, gusto mong manalo. Kung ‘yung bracket medyo mahina, may chance tayo mag-advance.”

After a long pause, the Gilas gunner continued.

“Siguro mas pipiliin ko ‘yung maka-advance tayo para ‘yung (world) ranking natin tumaas,” Chan said.

Given a choice, Talk ‘N Text forward Ranidel De Ocampo is all for being grouped with the United States and even the Pau Gasol-led host team, so the whole world can see the Philippine brand of basketball.

“Okay ‘yun kasi magkakaroon tayo ng chance na mapanood sa buong mundo. Kasi kung US man ‘yan o Spain, ‘yan ang panonoorin sa buong mundo kasi ‘yun ang malakas na team,” said De Ocampo.

"Makikita tayo sa buong mundo. Kung binigyan natin ng magandang laro, mas maganda," he added.

Even if Gilas is grouped in a tougher bracket, De Ocampo is optimistic the Philippines will still have a shot at advancing to the next round.

“Hindi mo masabi ‘yung next round, baka mas may chance pa tayo,” said De Ocampo.

From SPIN.ph

[tonistork]

Buti na lang nakabawi ang Petron. Sana magtuloy tuloy na panalo at malaglag ang team ni kalbong Guiao.

Tangina itong si pesYeng Guiao, gawain ba ng mambabatas ang magdirty finger, kakahiya sya.

[Zurca]

Petron arrests skid, shoots down Rain or Shine in Game 3 (02/01/14)

MANILA, Philippines - This time, the Petron Blaze Boosters never ran out of fuel.

Petron finally arrested their 2-game slide to avoid getting buried in a 3-0 hole as they reminded the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters of what it's like to lose again with a 106-73 Game 3 drubbing in the PLDT Home DSL Philippine Cup on Saturday, February 1 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

"It really feels good to finally get our first win in this series," said Petron head coach Gee Abanilla.

Petron came out running and gunning in Game 3 - evidently playing with a huge sense of urgency in their best-of-7 semifinal series - and zoomed to an early 13-2 start that caught Rain or Shine off guard.

The Painters seemed to gather their bearing somewhat shortly after and caught up on a Gabe Norwood trey in the middle of the of the first, 10-15. But after Raymond Almazan scored the Painters' 12th point, they never scored again until nearly two minutes into the second thanks in large part to the Boosters impenetrable defense.

At which point Petron had already erected an imposing 30-12 lead, which later ballooned to 29 points, 55-26, on freebies from Arwind Santos at the 3:18 mark of the second.

Not only was their defense on point but Petron's outside shooting was a force to be reckoned with. Their 55.6% first half total field goals, including 8 triples, was what allowed them to run away and never look back.

Unlike Game 2, when Petron build a huge lead only to squander it in the second half, Petron never lifted its feet off the gas pedal. They stymied every Rain or Shine rally, including a 12-0 blitz to start the third, by playing the passing lanes and staying composed mentally.

"Today I'm just happy that the guys responded and we knew what to do in this game all throughout. It's tough, we really got mentally and physically prepared for this game," Abanilla said.

Petron kept their cool better in this game in spite of the physicality and several calls not going their way. This was especially true for June Mar Fajardo who seemed to have a better understanding of the physicality in this game.

"June Mar understands that this is basketball. It's just that we need to manage our emotions," said of his ward who finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Contrastingly, it was Rain or Shine's turn to let emotions get the better of them.

Painters head coach Yeng Guiao, in particular, was ejected from the game at the 1:36 mark of the third after incurring his second technical foul of the game. He was seen giving Santos the finger as Santos made his way back up the court.

Abanilla said this win gives his team just enough confidence to try and even the series in Game 4.

"I think in Game 4 we'll have more confidence."

Scores:

Petron 106: Santos 22, Cabagnot 15, Fajardo 14, Lassiter 13, Lutz 11, Kramer 8, Ross 8, Duncil 4, Tubid 3, Taha 3, Deuthcman 3, Hubalde 2, Lanete 0.

Rain or Shine 73: Belga 14, Quiñahan 10, Almazan 10, Araña 8, Norwood 8, Tiu 7, Tang 4, Ibañes 4, Lee 4, Rodriguez 2, Cruz 1, Chan 1, Nuyles 0, Teng 0.

Quarters: 30-12, 59-36, 77-62, 106-63.

From Rappler.com