Menk still a King after coming to terms on extension

Eric Menk has signed a one-year deal with the Kings as a reserve and hopes to regain his place in Siot Tanquingcen's rotation when the new season rolls along. Jerome Ascano

By: Gerry Ramos

ERIC Menk is not going anywhere and will remain a part of the San Miguel group of companies.

The former PBA MVP finally came to terms with mother team Ginebra San Miguel on a one-year deal that will have him being listed as a reserve player in the Kings’ roster for the coming Philippine Cup.

'Major Pain' will be given a chance to earn a regular spot in the Kings' roster until the All-Filipino Conference. If he fails to do so, the 38-year-old Fil-Am will be shipped to the San Miguel Beermen's team in the Asean Basketball League.

Menk’s agent Sheryl Reyes said no contract has been signed yet as Menk won’t be returning from the US until next week.

But both parties have already come to terms on the deal which Reyes describes as a "good package."

“He’s definitely happy because he’ll still be able to play, which is what he really likes in the first place,” said Reyes, the only lady basketball agent in the country today.

As part of Ginebra’s reserve unit, chances of Menk suiting up for the Kings again are high since he can be easily elevated to the active list in case he regains his top form or a player or two gets injured during the course of the tournament.

Initially, Ginebra coach Siot Tanquingcen proposed that Menk be made a part of the team’s coaching staff, only for the plan to be modified shortly after Reyes sat down and talked with San Miguel sports director Noli Eala.

“Eric believes he can still play. He’s ready and really looking forward to playing again,” said Reyes of Menk, who won four championships with the league’s most popular ballclub, including two in a row in the 2004-05 season when he reigned as league MVP.

A recurring calf injury however, limited Menk’s playing time last year, where he only suited up for three games in the season-ending Governors Cup.

In his 13 seasons as a pro starting out with Tanduay in 1999, Menk has career averages of  14.1 points per game and 9.2 rebounds. He is a one-time member of the Mythical first and second teams as well as the All-Defensive team.     

Source: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/menk-still-a-king-after-coming-to-terms-on-extension

Snow to Captain Alvin

SNOW to ALVIN PATRIMONIO: Sa tingin mo yung kulang nyo last season merun na ngayon? AP: Yes, I think so. Babalik yung 2 injured plus rookies

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8msnow badua ‏@snowbadua 

SNOW to ALVIN PATRIMONIO: Kumpleto na ba kayo sa practice niyo bukas? AP: Oo. Dapat. Andito na lahat nung nagbakasyon eh. So bukas enasyo na

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9msnow badua ‏@snowbadua 

ALVIN PATRIMONIO: Back to practice na kami bukas. 9-12 sa RONAC GYM. Tapos may team building kami somewhere north on SEP 18-20.

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9msnow badua ‏@snowbadua 

ALVIN PATRIMONIO: Wala kaming niluluotng trae ngayon. Wala ding kumakausap sa amin at lalong wala kaming kinakausap. Mas OK kung intact eh.

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San mig cofee mixers line-up (Un-Official)

San mig cofee mixers line-up (Un-Official)


center:
6'9 y. 0campo
6'8 r. Reavis
6'8 g. Chiu

PF
6'7 J. De vance
6'6 M. Pingris
6'6 m. Ponferada
6'6 a. Ramos
6'6 Burtsher

SF/SG
6'4 J.C. Intal
6'3 j. Yap
6'1 p.j. Simon

G
6'1 c. Pacana
6'1 Urbiztondo
5'10 m. Barroca
5'11 Villanueva

Gaco

Bono

Mabayo

Gov Pardo to Snow

SAN MIG COFFEE GOV. RENE PARDO: Sa level ko wala pang nakakarating tungkol dun sa BARROCA-VANLANDINGHAM-ROSS rumor. Di ko alam kila ALVIN

SNOW to GOV. RENE PARDO: Pero totoo po kaya ito? RP: Hindi ko alam, kasi yung ganyan naman continuous at evolving talks kasi ang trade eh.

GOV RENE PARDO: Sa akin OK performance ni MARK BARROCA. Maganda ipinakita niya sa kanyang rookie year for us.

to be continue.....

Cautionary tale

HARD as it is to believe, Calvin Abueva says he considers his recent suspension from the NCAA men’s basketball tournament a blessing in disguise.

Instead of sulking over the costly one-game ban for an unsportsmanlike act in San Sebastian’s 83-75 victory over Lyceum last August 23 that took him out of the MVP race, Abueva said the incident has only strengthened his resolve to lead the Stags to their first NCAA title in three years.

“Hindi nga nabawasan [ang motivation] eh, nadagdagan pa nga,” said the 24-year-old Abueva. “Pagkatapos ng nangyari, magfo-focus na lang ako para makuha ang championship.”

The volatile forward admits that to this day, he still regrets reacting to provocation from Lyceum's Vence Ladue and hitting the Pirate with a closed fist in the head -- an infraction that led to his ejection, an automatic one-game ban and eventual disqualication from the MVP race.

The reigning league MVP said he has promised not to let his emotions get the best of him next time.

“Malaking panghihinayang talaga pero mag-iisip na ako sa sunod," said the pro-bound guard from Porac, Pampanga. "Sa sariling laro ko na lang ilalabas ang galit ko.”

'The Beast' said he used the time away from the league to work harder in the Stags’ practice as he promised to emerge from the controversy an even better player.

“Nung na-suspend ako, nag-tiyaga talaga ako sa practice at dinoble ko ang sipag ko,” he said.

The hard work appeared to have paid off as Abueva delivered his third triple-double of the season upon his return, scoring 17 points to go with 13 rebounds and 13 assists in lifting the Stags past College of St. Benilde, 92-72, on Monday.

The episode behind him, Abueva said his sad story can serve as a cautionary tale for other players, especially those with aspirations to become the next league MVP.

 “Leksyon na rin ito sa ibang gustong mag-MVP na huwag nila gayahin yung nagawa ko,” he said.

SSC star Calvin Abueva says his ejection from the Lyceum game, the automatic suspension that comes with it and his eventual disqualification from the MVP race should serve as a lesson for future players. Jerome Ascano

source: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/special-reports/cautionary-tale

Follow the writer on Twitter: @redghcute 

Mr Tripple Double Rajon Rondo

Rajon Rondo's TRIPLE DOUBLE here in the Philippines :)

Tatlo din Chicks...

Gilas II expects tough test in Tokyo

MANILA, Philippines -  Nothing comes easy for Smart Gilas as the Philippine national basketball team takes another step towards its goal of qualifying for the FIBA World Cup in Spain in 2014. If the Jones Cup is a quiz, the coming FIBA Asia Cup is the big test andnext year’s FIBA Asia Championships the final exam.

Gilas passed the Jones Cup quiz with flying colors in Taipei recently, in the process waylaying mighty Iran and mightier US. Now, Gilas advances to the next level and wages war in the fourth FIBA Asia Cup, formerly known as the Stankovic Cup, on Sept. 14-26 in Tokyo. The top three finishers of the FIBA Asia Cup automatically qualify for the FIBA Asia Championships which Manila is bidding to host. In turn, the top three placers of the FIBA Asia Championships gain outright entry as representatives of the Asia Zone in the FIBA World Cup in Spain.

The FIBA Asia Cup format is different from what Gilas went through in the Jones Cup. Coach Chot Reyes said yesterday he’s treating the FIBA Asia Cup primarily as a learning experience but it doesn’t mean Gilas won’t leave it all on the floor.

“We’re coming in with the same mind-set as in the Jones Cup,” said Reyes. “This is a continuation of our learning process. We’re playing new teams in Tokyo – also, old teams with different players. Opposition will be stiffer because now, we’re not able to sneak in and surprise anyone. With what we did in the Jones Cup, other teams now know who L. A. (Tenorio) and Jeff (Chan) are. They’ll be prepared to defend them.”

Reyes said Korea and Jordan aren’t playing in Tokyo but the usual suspects like Iran, China, Qatar and Lebanon are in the fray. “In the Jones Cup, there were nine teams and we played a single round-robin without playoffs,” explained Reyes. “The team with the best record at the end of the single round-robin was declared the champion. But in Tokyo, there will be 10 teams split into two groups of five. A team plays groupmates once in the eliminations then the top four move to the knockout crossover quarterfinals. Winners go to the semifinals and survivors play for the title. That’s how it’s done in the FIBA-Asia and World Championships. It’s different in the Jones Cup which isn’t conducted by FIBA. That’s why in the Jones Cup, we were allowed a 14-man lineup to play 12 in a game while in the FIBA Asia Cup, we’re limited to a 12-man roster.”

In Tokyo, the Philippines is bracketed with China, Lebanon, Uzbekistan and Macau. The other group consists of Iran, Chinese-Taipei, Qatar, India and host Japan. Without a single rest day, Gilas will play China, Lebanon, Uzbekistan and Macau in succession. In contrast, China will take a rest on the second day of competition while Lebanon takes on Gilas the day after a lightweight assignment against Macau.

For the FIBA Asia Cup, Reyes is bringing 11 of the 14 players in the Jones Cup lineup – Marcus Douthit, Gary David, Chan, Tenorio, Larry Fonacier, Ranidel de Ocampo, Gabe Norwood, Enrico Villanueva, Sonny Thoss, Jay-R Reyes and Matt Ganuelas-Rosser. Left out from the Taipei roster were Sol Mercado, Mac Baracael and Garvo Lanete.  Added to the Tokyo cast was Jared Dillinger.

Mercado was struck out because of a new FIBA Asia eligibility ruling that a player not born in the country he is representing must have chosen his citizenship before 16 if he has blood lineage. Reyes said the rule is not retroactive, meaning it will not apply to players who were previously allowed to represent a country by FIBA Asia.

“Because the rule is not retroactive, guys like Gabe and Sonny are good to go,” said Reyes. “Unfortunately, Sol never played for us in a FIBA tournament. He played for Gilas in the 2010 Asian Games but that’s not considered a FIBA competition. Matt isn’t a problem because he was born in the Philippines. In the last FIBA Asia Championships, Marcio (Lassiter) and Chris (Lutz) were allowed to play on condition it wouldn’t be considered a precedent, meaning their future eligibility would be reevaluated under the new rule. I think the law of citizenship in a particular country must be recognized by FIBA Asia. This new rule came about as a reaction to a lot of Africans playing for different Asian countries not as naturalized citizens but as locals claiming blood lineage. It’s collateral damage to the Philippines.”

Source: http://www.philstar.com/thedeanscorner/articlescontent.aspx?articleid=845074&publicationsubcategoryid=69

Chot says Jones Cup win boosts morale for next battles

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Barely a week after their historic win at the 2012 Jones Cup, Smart Gilas Pilipinas 2 is back on court preparing for yet another important tournament. 

At today's practice that was open to the media, Coach Chot Reyes admits that the coaching staff was happy with the quality of play of Gilas 2 regardless if they won the Jones Cup title or not.

Reyes added that the team is now looking at facing even tougher competition in the Stankovic Cup in Japan next week, all the more members of the team cannot rest on their laurels.

Jones Cup hero LA Tenorio, who was fresh from his first practice with new team Ginebra after the blockbuster trade, is looking forward to getting back to work with Gilas as well.

The former Ateneo standout was very happy with the way he and the team performed against the tough American team in the Jones Cup.

He admitted, however, that they haven't accomplished much yet, and there is still lots of room for improvement.

Reyes and Tenorio agree that even though they want to stay grounded and not be on a high too much from the Jones Cup win, winning a tournament does wonders for the moral and confidence of team.

For Reyes, it was a great boost as well for the whole team's confidence in the system he did his best to put into place.

Beyond that, Reyes was ecstatic that the big Jones Cup win broke the mindset of the Filipinoplayers who used to think that 3rd place is always gonna be the best that they can do.

Now that they beat the big boys, they have the confidence to dig deep in tougher battles ahead that can keep them on course for bigger goals for Gilas 2.

******

Coach Chot: "Yes FIBA Asia Cup will be shown on AKTV. If we don't finish in the top 3, we will have to win SEABA next year to play in 27th FIBA Asia Championship in 2013....tune up vs Qatarnational team on Sept 8, 6pm at Ynares Shaw Blvd will be open to the public, space permitting" (MAP - Ynares Sports Arena - Shaw Blvd. Pasig)


uploaded by Ginger Bread | Music: Sige Lang by Quest

NBA Match-Up Kampihan Na

By: Snow Badua

This could be the hottest match-up for this coming 2012-2013 NBA Season. But who do you think has the advantage?

Miami Heat or Los Angeles Lakers?

Alaska welcomes youth, experience combo in Casio, Hontiveros

Trading star point guard LA Tenorio was not an easy decision for the Alaska Aces.

So when they dealt the face of the franchise to Ginebra San Miguel in a monster five-team deal approved by the PBA on Friday, they made sure they get back players who could make up for the loss.

“We are taking a leap of faith, but a calculated one,” said Alaska team manager Joaqui Trillo.

Apart from Tenorio, the Aces also traded Wesley Gonzales and Hans Thiele to the Petron Blaze Boosters. In exchange, Alaska received JVee Casio, last year’s top overall pick, from GlobalPort to replace Tenorio, and veteran Dondon Hontiveros from Petron.

No less than Alaska chairman Wilfred Steven Uytengsu expressed his thrill about adding a young, improving point guard of Casio’s caliber to the squad.

“We believe JVee can bring a lot of dynamism to our team and has the youth to have a long career with Alaska,” said Uytengsu, who also welcomed Hontiveros.

“Although approaching the twilight of his career, we believe Dondon still has a great game and will open things up for us with his great shooting and occasional penetration. Plus he is a good defender and has strong leadership skills.”

Uytengsu took time to wish Tenorio the best for his stint with Alaska.

“We wish LA well and thank him for his leadership while he was wearing an Aces jersey. He will be successful wherever he goes,” Uytengsu said.

Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/alaska-welcomes-youth-experience-combo-in-casio-hontiveros

Global sees lethal duo in Miller, David

MANILA, Philippines -  Willie Miller may no longer be as quick and sharp as he was five years ago but Global Port interim coach Glenn Capacio believes the two-time former MVP is still good for another two to four years.

Taken from Barako Bull in a complicated four-team trade, Miller had just turned 35, a stage, which to some, is already retirable.

But not in Miller’s case.

“Willie is not prone to injuries so I think he will play a big role in the team, “ said Capacio.

Miller and streak shooter Gary David are likely to form as the team’s 1-2 punch although under Capacio’s system everybody has to stand and deliver.

“The two have the heart and we will have a chance against any team if they have a good game,” said Capacio.

Aside from his array of dazzling moves, Miller, according to Capacio, could use his vast experience to be the role model for the team’s rookies, led by Vic Manuel and sophomore Rudy Lingganay.

Even Global Port owner Mikee Romero is also convinced that the Batang Pier will not be a pushover in the coming PBA Philippine Cup, saying: “We now have a very competitive team so it’s just a matter of blending. I just hope coach Glenn can find the right chemistry for the team in time for the conference.

“Besides, Miller is out to prove something, so we’ll give him the support he needs,” added Romero.

Though Miller has yet to arrive from a dream vacation in Europe, Capacio is not worried at all, knowing the 5-foot-10 Miller can easily adapt to his system having played in four previous organizations before.

“Mas maganda sana ang mahabang preparasyon pero I hope makarating na siya next week,” said Capacio.

Miller won his first MVP trophy as a Red Bull sophomore in 2002 before winning his second in 2006 while playing for Alaska. Before suiting up for Alaska, Miller also played for Talk ‘N Text for 1 1/2 years.

However, it was during his four-year tenure with Alaska where he reached the pinnacle of his pro career. The 11-time All-Star averaged an impressive 20.7 points, 5.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds a game during the 2007-08 season. 

Source: http://www.philstar.com/sportsarticle.aspx?publicationsubcategoryid=69&articleid=845068&keyword=sp_pba

Four new teams want to join D-League

FOUR new teams have signified their intentions of joining the 2012-13 season of the PBA Developmental League which begins in October.

Arellano University, Jose Rizal University-Air21, HTC Philippines and Informatics have sent letters of intent to the PBA Commissioner’s Office which could bring to 12 the participating teams for the season-opening Aspirants’ Cup.

The new applicants as well as mainstays NLEX, Big Chill, Blackwater Sports, Boracay Rum, Café France, Cebuana Lhuillier, Erase Plantcenta and Cagayan Raising Suns have until September 15 to pay the entry fee to confirm their participation in the tournament.

“The intention of these new applicants to be a part of the coming season of the PBA D-League only goes to show that the league has established a market that is acceptable to our basketball-loving fans,” said PBA Commissioner Chito Salud.

Salud said the participation of new teams will generate new rivalry, create new stars and offer exciting games for the fledgling league.

NLEX, winner of the league’s first three championships, and Big Chill are expected to also parade new faces after most of their key players were selected in the recent PBA rookie draft.

While he will be working with a practically new rotation, Big Chill coach Robert Sison still believes he will have a good team this coming season.

“We based our recruitment on the positions we lost so I think we’ll still be competitive,” Sison said.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @spinph

Source: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/four-new-teams-want-to-join-d-league

MVP wants realistic expectations for SMART-Gilas ahead of FIBA Asia Cup

InterAKTV

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manuel V. Pangilinan called on fans and supporters of the SMART-Gilas Pilipinas to be realistic about expectations ahead of the national team’s campaign in the FIBA Asia Cup.

Pangilinan made the remarks in a victory dinner for the team after its recent victory in the 34th William Jones Cup.

“It’s good to have won Jones Cup after a long drought of no international championships for the country, but we have to be realistic and manage expectations. Stanković will be much tougher,” said Pangilinan, who also chairs SMART Communications which bankrolls the team.

(InterAKTV is part of InterAksyon.com, the online news site of TV5, which he also chairs.)

Unlike the Jones Cup, which allowed club teams, the FIBA Asia Cup will only feature national teams. The Philippines was drawn into Group A, along with powerhouse squads China and Lebanon as well as minnows Uzbekistan and Macau.

Chinese Taipei, Iran, Japan, Qatar, and India comprise Group B of the 10-team tournament.

Both tournaments are part of SMART-Gilas’ buildup for next year’s FIBA Asia Championship, which serves as qualifier to the 2014 FIBA World Cup.

“That should be our next goal — to see the Philippine team compete with the world’s best,” said Pangilinan.

Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/mvp-wants-realistic-expectations-for-smart-gilas-ahead-of-fiba-asia-cup

Eric Menk signs with Ginebra as reserve, ABL stint planned

Rey Joble, 

Eric Menk will remain with Ginebra San Miguel — at least until after the upcoming Philippine Cup.

The 2004 PBA Most Valuable Player came to terms with management, according to his new agent Shery; Reyes. He will begin the year in the reserve list for Ginebra in the PBA before transferring to the ASEAN Basketball League.

“He will be reserved in the all-Filipino, then he will go straight to the ABL afterwards to play for the San Miguel Beermen,” said Reyes.

Both Ginebra and San Miguel are owned by san Miguel Corporation.

Earlier, Ginebra offered Menk to be a part-time player and a skills coach. But Menk, who wants to play two more years of competitive basketball, rejected the initial offer.

Menk, who recently turned 38, played in just seven games for Ginebra last season because of injuries. He averages career lows in minutes (8.9) and scoring (1.7).

Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/eric-menk-signs-with-ginebra-as-reserve-abl-stint-planned

The Final Score: Gilas’ secret weapon in the Jones Cup - Mr. Skorovorosky Sovorozky

By: Mico Halili

It all started with jokes. A modified campaign designed to meet the unreasonable demand for basketball success took off with punch lines. It would’ve been understandable if the Smart Gilas players went about their business with hardened faces. The goal was to perform well in the Jones Cup. No one found that funny. Yet the team’s victory was partly fueled by some comedians and a lot of laughs.

“In our practices, mayroon kaming tinatawag na joke time,” Gilas Head Coach Chot Reyes shared. “So guys like Ranidel [De Ocampo] and Gary [David] would share jokes. That helped in the chemistry of the team.”

It’s such a minor detail. The team won the Jones Cup. Not the Urdaneta Inter-Village League. Surely, there are other more relevant reasons. Other squads weren’t complete. Rivals were aging. We displayed clutch shooting. Why highlight moments of levity?

In revisiting the formula for success, Reyes took pride in the little things: rooming assignments, spur-of-the-moment shopping trips, one-on-one conversations between players or a practice session in the middle of “Habagat” (when players were determined to attend despite rising floods). Minor details with major effects. I tried to make Chot break down the emotional significance of each event. But the conversation inevitably went back to:

“We made Gabe [Norwood] and Gary roommates,” Reyes admitted. “Every now and then, I had to ask Gary kung na-no-nosebleed na siya sa kaka-ingles ni Gabe. Sabi naman ni Gary ‘Coach mas naiintindihan pa ni Gabe Tagalog ko kaysa sa English ko.’”

Championship memories last a lifetime. Apparently, some stories can last just as long. Gabe recalls a joke by Gary:

An MMDA officer catches a European driver on the road for a violation. The MMDA officer is set to write the ticket and asks for the driver’s name. The driver replies, “Skorovorosky Sovorozky.” The kind officer asks, “What? Can you please say that again?” The driver answers, “Skorovorsky Sovorozky.” The officer tries to say the name as he writes the ticket, “Skrovo, Skorvoky, Skovozky, never mind, you can go.”

(Ironically, the first hard-working government institution to congratulate the Gilas immediately after it won the Jones Cup was the MMDA through its Twitter account.)

“To be honest, it was just like being in Rain or Shine,” Norwood admitted. “You have guys keeping it light for everyone. In fact we had to tone it down after the Lebanon game (laughs). But after that, Ranidel and Gary were back to normal.”

I’m sure I bungled the joke. I can’t say it better than Gary the same way I can’t shoot jumpers better than Gary. I thank Marcus Douthit for calmly working through every double team. I thank Gabe for his consistency. I thank the jokesters of Gilas for always keeping the balance. The team tackled a major task by paying attention to the minor details, by never being too perplexed to forego the light moments. Sayang if you don’t find it funny. Because levity was part of what Gilas did. And we’re celebrating now because it worked.

PBA PRIVILEGE MEMBERSHIP CARDS ON SALE

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) will start entertaining renewals of its Privilege Membership Cards (PMC’s) for the 38th Season on Monday, September 10, 2012 whilenew applicants may apply starting September 17.

            For the 2012-2013 Season, PMC prices will be Php7,000 for Premium/VIP, Php 6,000 for Patron at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and Special Ringside at MOA Arena and Cuneta Astrodome,Php4,000 for Patron C and Lowerbox A-C at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and Courtside at MOA Arena and Cuneta Astrodome and Php2,000 for Upperbox A at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and Lowerbox at MOA Arena and Cuneta Astrodome.

            Interested fans may contact Gerry Mesias or Nestor Noblejas at 4703258-59.

            The 2013 PBA Season promises to be another year of topnotch sports entertainment that is sure to excite fans here and around the globe.

bili na!