Desperate Cone lists Yap a 'game-time decision' By Richard Dy

“I have no definitive answer at this point,” says San Mig coach Cone when asked about James Yap's availability for Game Four against Alaska Milk. Jerome Ascano

FACED with a must-win game as well as the prospect of his best player not suiting up, San Mig coach Tim Cone knows only one way to approach Game Four on Saturday night.
“We’ll do whatever it takes,” the multi-titled American mentor said. “We’ve got to be better. I’ve got to be better going into Game Four. Our only concern right now is getting this series to a Game Five.”
Cone's Mixers are down 1-2 in their PBA Commissioner's Cup semifinal playoff with Alaska and needing a win to prevent the Aces from marching to their first league finals since Cone left the team two years ago.
Worse, Cone isn't even certain if he can count on James Yap, who has been slowed down by a stiff back the entire playoffs and has been listed as a 'game-time decision' for Saturday's match at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“I have no definitive answer at this point,” Cone told Spin.ph when asked about Yap's availability for Game Four.
Alaska, on the other hand, can smell blood after winning Games Two and Three of the best-of-five series - a major feat for a team that before that had lost nine games in a row to San Mig and its former coach.
“We’re getting better as a team and we have lessons learned," said Alaska coach Luigi Trillo, a longtime Cone deputy now on the cusp of his first finals appearance as a full-pledged head coach.
"Again both teams are well rested, but with that being said, we can’t celebrate and we can’t be happy (with the series lead). We’ve got to take care of business on Saturday,” Trillo added.
Aces import Robert Dozier is expected to play despite suffering a swollen left ankle which he twisted badly midway through the fourth quarter of Game Three.
The Best Import candidate had 11 points, 19 rebounds and five blocks on Wednesday, but Calvin Abueva more than filled the gap with a game-high 24 points.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @richava

Source: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/desperate-cone-lists-yap-a-game-time-decision#.UY2xf6QsGwU.twitter

Anti-Abueva rule? San Mig Coffee official bats for fines against players for excessive flopping

AKTV/Paul Ryan Tan

San Mig Coffee team executive Rene Pardo is batting for a rule that imposes fines on PBA players for excessive flopping.
Pardo, who represents the Mixers in the league’s Board of Governors, made the suggestion after news broke that the NBA fined veteran guard Derek Fisher of the Oklahoma City Thunder for flopping during the American league’s playoffs.
“Dapat ganun ang gawin kapares sa NBA malaki yung fine na binibigay nila sa players who flop during the game,” said Pardo, who already had a culprit in mind locally: Alaska forward Calvin Abueva.
The Aces and the Mixers are in the middle of a heated Commissioner’s Cup semifinals series, with Abueva getting the goat of San Mig Coffee stars James Yap and Marc Pingris, who accused the Alaska rookie of flopping too much.
“Parang ang nangyayari nagiging utakan yung laban aartehan lang tapos tatawagan na. Doon naiinis sina James and Marc kasi tinatawagan ng referee yung flop na ginagawa,” said Pardo.
The PBA previously instituted a rule that allowed referees to call technical fouls on players who flop, but has since repealed it. Pardo said imposing fines would be a better solution.

Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/anti-abueva-rule-san-mig-coffee-official-bats-for-fines-against-players-for-excessive-flopping

Alaska looks to book Commissioner’s Cup finals seat in Game Four against San Mig Coffee

InterAKTV · Friday, May 10, 2013 · 11:47 pm

AKTV/Pranz Kaeno Billones

Alaska looks to dethrone San Mig Coffee and claim a Commissioner’s Cup finals seat with a win in Game Four of their best-of-five semis series Saturday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
The Aces and the Coffee Mixers face off at 6:15 p.m. with the former holding a 2-1 lead in their duel.
“We will go all out for it in Game Four,” said Alaska coach Luigi Trillo as his wards took the series lead with an 89-82 overtime win in Game Three.
Despite the victory, Trillo said the Aces need to get better on the defensive end.
“Still not satisfied with our energy to start the game. We also allowed them to score 45 points the first half,” he said.
San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone admitted his team was totally outclassed by Alaska in the extra period.
“Bottom line is, we were outplayed, and more importantly, outcoached in the last five minutes of the last game,” said Cone.
“We’ve got to be better. I’ve got to be better going into Game Four. Our only concern right now is getting this series to a Game Five whatever it takes.”
James Yap is a doubtful starter for the Coffee Mixers due to a nagging back injury and Cone needs Peter June Simon to be more active on offense.

source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/alaska-looks-to-book-commissioners-cup-finals-seat-in-game-four-against-san-mig-coffee

ACES, MIXERS START ‘BEST-OF-THREE’

3:14 pm | Tuesday, May 7th, 2013

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A LONG break is precisely what the doctor ordered for San Mig Coffee and Alaska.

How they translate the respite into their most desired fruits will be known Wednesday when they resume their PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals duel at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Especially for the Mixers, who have played almost every other day from the eliminations, quarterfinals and the first two games of the best-of-five series, currently tied at one game apiece.

No wonder San Mig coach Tim Cone can’t help but be thankful and at the same time feel rejuvenated for his team for the lull between their last game April 29 due to the All-Star Weekend held May 1 to 6 in Digos City.

“After such a long break, it truly does feel like a best-of-three. It’s almost like a completely different series,” said Cone. “But like any best-of-three, that first game is always crucial.”

Alaska coach Luigi Trillo is hoping his team can pick up from where it left off, an 86-67 blowout that neutralized San Mig’s 71-69 escape in the series opener, but must do so in the face of an expected charge by the defending champion.

“We have to match their energy. We have to be ready. Both teams will be raring to go,” said Trillo.

In their last game, the Aces managed to completely stymie the Mixers’ offense with a defense founded on stopping Denzel Bowles. The ploy worked as Bowles was held to a PBA career-low eight points.

In the intervening time, a solution must surely have been found by Bowles and the rest of San Mig and that gnaws at Trillo, prompting him to issue a directive to his charges.

“I am demanding a sense of urgency from my guys. That’s the most important thing coming into tomorrow’s (Wednesday’s) game,” stated Trillo.

Most of the protagonists’ main players, like San Mig’s James Yap, Marc Pingris, Mark Barroca, Joe Devance and PJ Simon and Alaska’s Jayvee Casio, Sonny Thoss, Calvin Abueva and Cyrus Baguio, took part in the All-Stars but saw little playing time and got enough rest.

“Now that is over both teams can settle down and just focus on winning the series,” noted Cone.

That should parlay into what could either be another blowout, as in Game 2, or a highly-defensive game as in the opener.

Main concern for San Mig is how to defy at least one defender zoning up on Bowles at the post with Alaska import Rob Dozier also always lurking to give help.

Some answers should be the Mixers’ snipers, like PJ Simon and James Yap, connecting from the outside to stretch the defense and Bowles willing to give up the ball more and opting for less harried shots.

For Alaska, it’s a matter of its defense holding up and its offense humming, like when it made made 36 of 84 field attempts in Game 2. (NC)

Source: http://pba.inquirer.net/24957/aces-mixers-start-best-of-three

PBA Allstar Game 2013: Stalwarts vs Greats - 03 May 2013 Replay LINKS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQOSp6CxnYQ&feature=player_embedded&list=PL4eOAwAD9pvsPLM53jTqiXbTeFctWiAnF

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7ERvKNgHiQ&list=PL4eOAwAD9pvsPLM53jTqiXbTeFctWiAnF

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7ERvKNgHiQ&list=PL4eOAwAD9pvsPLM53jTqiXbTeFctWiAnF

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgEGk8xKcUQ&list=PL4eOAwAD9pvsPLM53jTqiXbTeFctWiAnF

PBA COMMISSIONER'S CUP SEMIFINALS PREVIEW: ALASKA VS SAN MIG COFFEE

Source: http://www.solarsportsdesk.ph/bk/bkfeatures/2013/04/26/pba-commissioner-s-cup-semifinals-preview-alaska-vs-san-mig-coffee

There were only three blemishes on the Alaska Aces' win-loss record after the end of the elimination round of this year's Commissioner's Cup. Two of which were incurred by the San Mig Coffee Mixers. From which, one turned out to be a controversial victory.

 

Trillo vs Cone. The Beast vs Sakuragi. Dozier vs Bowles. Casio vs Barroca. Alaska vs San Mig Coffee.

 

Will the Aces finally score one (at best, three) against the Mixers? Or will Tim Cone's dominance over his former team continue? Are we looking at the possibility of a James Yap-less series? Should we expect Calvin Abueva and Mark Pingris to guard each other? Will this be the start of the JVee Casio-Mark Barroca rivalry or does Alex Mallari have other things in mind? Plus, who is really the better import: Robert or Denzel?

 

The multifarious subplots and questions that surround the Aces vs Mixers best-of-five semifinals showdown have ultimately led us to decipher this one important truth: it is going to be one heckuva series.

 

How They Got Here

 

Different routes. That’s basically the long and short of it.

 

Alaska made good use of their win-once advantage over Air 21 to book the first ticket to the Final Four. Their 87-81 decision against the Express – the only other team outside of San Mig Coffee that beat them in the eliminations – was spearheaded by JVee Casio who had 19 points and five assists. Alaska needed only to beat Air 21 by just a single game after topping the elimination round with a league-best 11-3 record. Quantitatively, the outstanding record came from the win streaks that they were able to string both in the beginning and towards the latter half of the conference. Qualitatively, it’s for the not-so-simple reason that involves something about Luigi Trillo altering the mindset of this team.

 

Meanwhile, the defending champions started the season on a low-note dropping their first three games; the arrival of Denzel Bowles though changed their fortunes as the returning import stirred the Mixers to three straight victories. After eliminations’ end they held an 8-6 record. During the quarterfinals, the fourth-ranked team dropped their first game against Meralco. But they were able to salvage two consecutive triumphs that allowed them to enter the next phase of the tourney.  San Mig Coffee was able to book the last ticket to the semis bus via a series-clinching win over the Meralco Bolts just this Wednesday.

 

Robert Dozier vs. Denzel Bowles

 

Who’s better?

 

The mere fact that they were able to carry their respective teams to the semis is a clear manifestation that these two are both effective.

 

Of the remaining four reinforcements, only Dozier is the first-choice import left. After 14 elimination games, the NCAA I Division school product was able to norm 21.71 points, 16.21 rebounds and 2.71 blocks. But ask coach Trillo and he’ll tell you that his import provides his team more than that.

 

If not for prior commitments from another club, Denzel Bowles could have played all of the Mixers’ elimination games as well. Instead he was able to log 12 contests, while registering 22.92 points, 15.08 rebounds and 2.08 blocks. Clearly, the reigning Best Import of the Commissioner’s Cup is producing equally impressive numbers as his counterpart.

 

It wouldn’t be the first time that the two will face each other when the series starts this Saturday. They’ve already met two times in the eliminations. While Dozier (23.5 ppg, 19.0 rpg, 3.5 bpg) got the better of Bowles (23.0 bpg, 17.0 rpg, 3.0 bpg) stats-wise, the latter’s advantage clings on the more important category: team wins. Again, San Mig has beaten Alaska. Twice. Bowles has a 2-0 edge under that department.

 

Infographic by Ralph Lee

 

Key factors for Alaska

 

Get Game One: With a short series like this, Alaska has to get the headstart. Getting the W on Saturday will be crucial for the Aces. It would make them realize that well, San Mig’s beatable. They haven’t beaten the Mixers – not only this conference – but running two seasons now. That’s eight games in total. It is important for Trillo’s team to score a Game One victory. It all starts from there. Really.

 

Casio’s Time: During the team’s first meeting, JVee struggled with a poor statline of 3-4-3. You can’t afford to have a line like that from your team’s primary point guard. He’s got to get himself involved, or perhaps more importantly, he’s got to get his teammates more involved. We could possibly see the start of the Casio-Barroca rivalry in this series – two former Gilas players. Alaska-great-now-Mixers-assistant-coach Johnny Abarrientos will surely be delighted with that.

 

Milk the Bench: During the teams’ second meeting, Calvin Abueva and RJ Jazul stepped-up big time for the Aces. The Beast unleashed 27 points and collared 11 boards. While Jazul, produced 19 points highlighted by five three-pointers as Casio sat out the contest with an injury. Along with Abueva and Jazul, they’ve got to get production from Gabby Espinas and Dondon Hontiveros.

 

Key factors for San Mig Coffee

 

A Healthy James Yap: As of this writing, James Yap’s status for the series is ’50-50’. Yap said that himself during San Mig’s series-clinching win over Meralco. He is a key component for the Mixers’ title-retention bid. Not having Yap on a San Mig jersey will definitely be welcome news for the Aces. Therapy. Rehab. Chiro. Whatever works. James Yap will need to suit up in this series.

 

Ping Ping Ping: We’ve all heard the story. How he defied an order from his coach, and why he insisted on taking on Meralco’s import. This defiant ward slash playing coach slash workhorse is the reason why the Mixers are in the semifinals. Pingris guarded Cardona, he took on Hugnatan, and he put the handcuffs on Dawson. That basically tells you that he can handle Baguio, he can make Espinas a non-factor, and he will also take a crack on Dozier. But I really wouldn’t be surprised if his sight is set on stopping Abueva.

 

Total Shutout: These two teams have played against each other for a total of eight quarters. And six out of eight, Tim Cone’s team has limited Alaska to no more than 20 points per twelve minutes. That’s defense for you right there. In order for San Mig to continue its conquest of the Aces, they need to shutout Trillo’s troops in this best-of-five affair. They do that and they prime themselves up for another crack at the championship.

 

Prediction

 

As I’ve written before, I think Alaska has given the entire Gatas Republik enough reasons to believe that they are legit title contenders. I could not stress more the work that Trillo has put in to the Uytengsu-owned franchise. In fact, no less than Tim Cone has seconded that thought during the Mixers’ most recent win.

 

“They are playing great basketball and they are really, really tough to beat,” were his exact words.

 

But given the fact that San Mig Coffee has got the number of Alaska for seasons now, I am led into thinking that Cone is still hiding something under his sleeve.

 

All things considered, I really think that much like James Yap’s status in this series -- this five-game affair could also go either way. It’s ‘50-50.’

 

San Mig Coffee in 5.

(See I really wouldn’t be ashamed if Alaska proves this prediction wrong.)

Mixers Do's and Don't For Game 2 QFinals Showdown vs Meralco Bolts on Sunday

Mixers Things to Do's and Don'ts for Game 2:

1. Dont Look for Mis-Matches on Offense, Execute Triangle Offense instead and Look for the Open Man.
2. Coach Chard Must Review FT Shooting Curriculum.
3. Closed-Out Defense on Meralco Shooters.
4. More Pressure on Cris Ross
5. Limit Your Fouls because it will Limit your your hustle D
6. More Touches for DB21
7. Control the Ball Rotation not Dribble
8. Limit Turn-Overs it will give extra possessions to Opposing Team
9. Repeat Mallari's Performance
10. Let be James Yap as James Yap

Graphics Courtesy of Hael Pinat