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