TRANSCRIPT | MVP on UP Fighting Maroons Basketball: ‘Hindi na nga sumampa sa finals, lamang pa sila sa alaskahan’ InterAKTV

 · Wednesday, October 10, 2012 · 11:12 pm

AKTV/Pranz Kaeno Billones

Manuel V. Pangilinan is one of the country’s top sports patrons. Which is why it came as no surprise that when he addressed members and alumni of the University of the Philippines Alpha Sigma fraternity during the group’s 50th anniversary on Wednesday, he relied on basketball as a language to send his message — from an Atenean to Iskolar ng Bayan.
Following are basketball-related remarks from his speech:
“I’ve always been intrigued by that big school in Diliman, lying behind that naked man with outstretched arms — the school where tsinelas were in vogue before they became known as flip-flops, where the Pep Squad wins more championships than the basketball team.
“There are many things about the people and spirit of UP which impress me. Every time I watch your men’s basketball team, I say to myself: mukhang mababait naman sila.
“And with every heartbreaking game, I remind myself: napagod siguro kaka-rally.
“Outside the basketball court, I like the never say die attitude of the community: natatalo na, ang yayabang pa. Hindi na nga sumampa sa finals, lamang pa sila sa alaskahan.
“Ano bang meron sa fishball sa Diliman na ang saya-saya niyo matapos kayo ma-eliminate?
“Imagine if UP actually won, or wins again. Freshman pa si Benjie Paras nung nag-champion ang UP. Kakatapos lang ng EDSA. Hanggang ngayon bumebenta pa rin ng t-shirt, ‘UAAP men’s basketball champions: 1986.’ Labhan niyo na yan!
“Saka nanalo lang kayo ng 2 games – bonfire na!”
(InterAKTV is part of InterAksyon.com, the news site of TV5, which is chaired by Pangilinan.)

source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/transcript-mvp-on-up-fighting-maroons-basketball-hindi-na-nga-sumampa-sa-finals-lamang-pa-sila-sa-alaskahan

Late Cabagnot heroics help Boosters hold off charging Bull By Richard Dy

Petron's Chris Lutz, pictured fighting for a loose ball against Barako Bull's Sean Anthony, led the Boosters with 22 points, three rebounds, and six assists. Jerome Ascano

PETRON Blaze relied on the hot hands of Alex Cabagnot in a fourth-quarter shooting spree that enabled the Boosters to turn back a fighting Barako Bull side, 98-89, and register their first win in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday night.
Cabagnot hit two big three-pointers to steady the Petron ship after Barako Bull, down by as many as 20 points at the midway point of the third period, launched a 9-2 start in the fourth quarter to inch within 77-82.
But Cabagnot kicked off his fourth quarter heroics with two big triples to restore order in Petron’s suddenly volatile offense, allowing the Boosters to bounce back from a 102-86 drubbing they got from Rain or Shine last week.
“Nag-relax kami eh,” Petron new coach Olsen Racela said. “We committed turnovers. On defense, we gave about three three-point shots. Iyan ang kailangan naming matutunan, to play defense consistently for 48 minsutes. Kahit sinong team bigyan mo ng ganun, mabilis bumalik. That’s what we need to learn.”
What gave the Boosters enough buffer in the final period was their huge 30-4 fastbreak advantage, relying on the quick transition plays of Fil-Am Chris Lutz and Arwind Santos, who finished the game with a double-double – 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Lutz though provided the early spark for a talent-laden Petron five, going seven-of-11 from the two-point zone that allowed the Boosters to control the game for 48 minutes.
The 6’2” Lutz, a former Smart Gilas mainstay, though had to leave the game midway in the final period prematurely after suffering a cut on his chin during a brief physical skirmish with Barako Bull’s Sean Anthony.
Lutz finished the game with a team-high 22 points, three rebounds and six assists, while Cabagnot added 16 and 10 assists in a solid performance for Petron.
Top rookie pick June Mar Fajardo was limited to 16 minutes of play due to foul trouble. He wound up with three points, seven rebounds and two shot blocks.
Meantime, playmaker Josh Urbiztondo, who led Barako Bull’s fourth-quarter rally, paced the Energy Cola (1-1) with 17 points and seven assists, while Mick Pennisi added 16 points and six rebounds.
The scores:
Petron 98 - Lutz 22, Santos 18, Cabagnot 16, Duncil 8, Miranda 8, Yeo 7, Mallari 4, Washington 4, Ildefonso 4, Fajardo 3
Barako Bull 89 - Urbiztondo 17, Pennisi 16, Villanueva 13, Anthony 10, Kramer 10, Tubid 10, Najorda 5, Seigle 4, Alvarez 2, Cruz 2, Yap 0
Quarter scores: 24-20, 53-40, 80-68, 98-89

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source http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/late-cabagnot-heroics-help-boosters-hold-off-charging-bull#.UHWCFcRqckc.twitter

Rookie Hodge leads Meralco to win over Alaska

Rey Joble, InterAKTV · Wednesday, October 10, 2012 · 8:06 pm

PBA Images/Nuki Sabio

Look who’s taking up the scoring cudgels for the Meralco Bolts.
Rookie Cliff Hodge showed he’s more than just an energy guy as he led the Bolts with a double-double performance and steered his squad to a 93-86 triumph over the Alaska Aces in the PBA Philippine Cup at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday night.
Hodge finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds, doing practically everything on the floor while fellow newcomer Kelly Nabong also stepped up, grabbing 11 boards on top of six markers.
“It’s unusual to have a rookie dictate our effort level, but we’re fortunate to draft Cliff Hodge,” said Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio. “We thought in the beginning, he’s there to provide us excitement and do the dirty work, but he’s been scoring as well and has been averaging close to 20 points in his first two games. It’s a good relief to have him.”
Hodge and Nabong, two hardworking forwards, provided plenty of the energy and rebounding that the team needed after losing stalwart Asi Taulava before the start of the season.
“We’re playing center by committee in the absence of Asi,” said Gregorio. “Sometimes it’s Jay-R Reyes, sometimes it’s Carlo Sharma or Nabong. It’s a good thing we were able to pull it through.”
Hodge pumped in 12 of his total output in the third period when the Bolts pulled away. The Bolts established their biggest lead, 63-48, on a putback by Sunday Salvacion with still 7:04 left in the third.
High-scoring guards Mac Cardona, Ronjay Buenafe and Sol Mercado took the backseat for the streaking Hodge.
Cardona made up for his sub-par performance against Talk ‘N Text in their opener, tallying 16 points. Buenafe contributed 13 while Mercado and Sunday Salvacion added 10 apiece for the Bolts, who played minus injured starting guard Chris Ross.
“He had a tear in his right meniscus, so he’s day-to-day right now. Hopefully, he will recover sooner or later. The good thing is no surgeries needed. Just rehab. He wants to play, but if his future is in jeopardy, we’re not risking it,” added Gregorio.
The scores:
MERALCO (93) – Hodge 20, Cardona 16, Buenafe 13, Mercado 10, Salvacion 10, Hugnatan 8, Nabong 6, Reyes 4, Borboran 2, Sharma 2, Artadi 2, Belencion 0.
ALASKA (86) – Baguio 19, Thoss 17, Espinas 15, Casio 12, Hontiveros 9, Baracael 4, Bugia 4, Dela Cruz 4, Reyes 2, Jazul 0, Eman 0, Cablay 0, Belasco 0.
Quarters: 24-24, 50-44, 76-64, 93-86.

source:http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/rookie-hodge-leads-meralco-to-win-over-alaska

Marlou banners legends games in Saudi Arabia From the wires

Bal David, Noli Locsin, Marlou Aquino, and Vince Hizon head the cast of former PBA stars seeing action in Saudi Arabia. Jerome Ascano

FILIPINO basketball fans in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia get a chance to see anew their heroes like Abe King and Marlou Aquino in a series of exhibition games featuring former PBA stars from October 24 to November 2.
Games will be played in the cities of Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh, as part of the annual celebration of the Hajj season from October 24 to 29 in Saudi Arabia. Hajj is the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca.
King and Aquino will be joined by E.J. Feihl, Bonnel Balingit, Rodney Santos, Bong Hawkins, Gherome Ejercito, Gerald Esplana, Vince Hizon, Bal David and Noli Locsin along with PBA Legends USA Foundation chairman and president Ponky Alolor.
The program, according to PBA Legends USA Foundation secretary general Ruffy Ignacio, is supported by His Royal Highness Prince Nawaf bin Faisal bin Fahad, President General of Youth Welfare, Ministry of Sports and Welfare of the Kingdom.
Select local teams from Saudi Arabia will participate in the also event aimed at strengthening athletic and cultural ties between the host country and the Philippines.
The program is being managed by Coordinations  Est. Company, in cooperation  with various regional Filipino basketball organizations in Saudi Arabia — the Pilipino Basketball Association (PBA) in Dammam,  Overseas Filipino Basketball League (OFBL) in Jeddah, and the Philippine Arabia Basketball Association (PABA) in Riyadh, Ignacio disclosed.
The group has been conducting basketball tournaments year round in various regions in Saudi Arabia for the last 15 years.
The program is under the overall leadership of Fahad Ibraheem Al Sekaity, and Abdul Aziz Virgilio "Jawo" Dizon, a Filipino expatriate executive in the Kingdom for the past 19 years.

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source: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/marlou-banners-legends-games-in-saudi-arabia