San Mig Coffee puts streak on the line against Barako Bull; Talk ‘N Text, Meralco clash

InterAKTV · Thursday, November 15, 2012 · 10:53 pm

AKTV/Paul Ryan Tan

Meralco set two goals as it faces defending champion Talk ‘N Text in Friday’s main game as the 2013 PBA Philippine Cup resumes at Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
The Bolts hope to end its losing streak at the venue — they have lost five straight at Ynares — and avenge their 112-110 overtime loss to the Tropang Texters in their first meeting.
“Two missions must be accomplished,” said Bolts coach Ryan Gregorio on the eve of their 7:30 p.m. encounter against Talk ‘N Text.
In the first game, San Mig Coffee tries to extend its winning streak to five games when it faces beleaguered Barako Bull at 5:15 p.m.
Holding the solo fourth spot, Gregorio knows it will be difficult to beat Talk ‘N Text while grabbing a rare win at Ynares Center.
“We have to find ways to win against the defending champions Talk ‘N Text and befriend the Ynares Antipolo so that we can finally win there,” said Gregorio, whose team was 0-5 at the venue last season.
“We are aware of the daunting tasks but we are ready to face the challenges with a positive mindset.”
Meralco owns the momentum going into the game as the Bolts just beat Petron Blaze in impressive fashion, 95-81, last Sunday while the Tropang Texters absorbed just their second loss of the season, 104-101, at the hands of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel last sunday.
“Our offense was in-sync and our defense was stingy against Petron. Nothing less than a near-perfect execution on both ends will be required against the mighty Tropang Texters,” said Gregorio.
In the opener, Bong Ramos takes the helm for the struggling Energy Colas, who will collide with the second-running Coffee Mixers.
San Mig Coffee pulled off a controversial 92-91 win in their first meeting on Raffy Reavis’s tap on the last attempt of Enrico Villanueva.
“Barako Bull played us very tough in our first meeting,” said Coffee Mixers coach Tim Cone. “We were fortunate to escape with a win. We’re expecting a very similar battle with coach Bong now steering the team.”
Ramos replaced Junel Baculi and admits that the goal to move into the next round will be difficult for them.
“We still have five games but it will be hard. We need to start winning now,” said Ramos, now on his third stint as coach of the franchise.
Barako Bull is at the No. 9 spot with a 3-6 win-loss mark.

source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/san-mig-coffee-puts-streak-on-the-line-against-barako-bull-talk-n-text-meralco-clash

Circumstances far from ideal for Ramos debut By Richard Dy

Bong Ramos takes over from Junel Baculi at a time when the Barako Bull are trying to cope with the loss of its best player, Enrico Villanueva, to an ACL injury. Jerome Ascano

BARAKO Bull is hoping a shock coaching change can turn around its fortunes beginning on Friday when it collides with in-form San Mig Coffee in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, City.
Bong Ramos takes the unenviable task of trying to steer the Energy Cola back into playoff contention at a time when the shock over Junel Baculi's firing on Tuesday has yet to really die down.
Ramos also takes over at a time when the team, which has gone 1-4 (win-loss) in the weeks leading to Baculi's relief, has just lost its best player, Enrico Villanueva, to an ACL injury.
Worse, waiting for Ramos and the rest of the Energy Cola is a red-hot San Mig team that dealt them a 92-91 loss in a controversial finish a few weeks ago that triggered the club's tailspin.
In all, Barako Bull is mired in ninth spot with a 3-6 (win-loss) record, just above the league’s worst slate of 1-8 currently being held by GlobalPort.
“As of now, tuloy lang kami (with the system). Little adjustment lang kami kung kailangan,” Ramos toldSpin.ph after the team’s practice at the Ynares Center.
Aside from finding ways to stop San Mig's armada of scorers, Ramos will also have to inspire enough people to fill the gap left by Villanueva, who went under the knife on Wednesday.
“Malaki ang shoes na iniwan ni Rico. I expect the bigs na magtulungan,” said Ramos, who will have to rely on Doug Kramer, Mick Pennisi, and rookie Dave Marcelo to defend the paint against the bigger Mixers.
San Mig edged out Barako Bull in a memorable first-round encounter that ended with Rafi Reavis tapping the ball out of the cylinder in what could have been a potential game-winning basket by Villanueva.
San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone admits his team didn’t play particularly well during their first meeting.
“We try to push a little bit in practice because we didn’t play that well against Barako Bull,” said Cone after their 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. practice. “But we expect some guys (from Barako Bull) to step up and give them a lift especially with Enrico Villanueva now down with an injury.”
The Mixers have won their last three outings, including a 77-68 victory over the Alaska Aces on Saturday in a PBA Phoenix on Tour game in Lapu-Lapu City.
Meantime, defending champion Talk ‘N Text (7-2) tries to maintain its grip of first place when it goes up against sister team Meralco (5-3).
The two are coming off contrasting performances. The Tropang Texters are still smarting from a tough 101-104 loss to the revitalized Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings, while the Bolts are fresh from a 95-81 clobbering of the Petron Blaze Boosters.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @richava

source:http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/circumstances-far-from-ideal-for-ramos-debut