Painters coach Guiao's order to 7-3 Sundov: Intimidate and dominate By Richard Dy

Rain or Shine import Bruno Sundov towers over San Mig reinforcement Matt Rogers during their tune-up game on Friday at the Reyes Gym in Mandaluyong City. Jerome Ascano

AS the tallest import in the coming PBA Commissioner’s Cup, Croatian Bruno Sundov has to be reminded time and again of the need to adopt a mentality of intimidation for Rain or Shine to be considered one of the legitimate title contenders in the mid-season offering.
At 7-foot-3, coach Yeng Guiao expects Sundov to be more of a defensive threat in the middle who could intimidate opponents with his sheer presence alone.
“Ang kulang lang sa import namin, he just has to understand that he’s the tallest guy on the court so he could be intimidating. If he’s not blocking shots, at least he’s intimidating on the court. Yun kasi ang kailangan namin,” said deputy Caloy Garcia, who called the shots in lieu of head coach Yeng Guiao during the Painters' exhibition match against defending champion San Mig Coffee Friday at the oven-hot Reyes gym in Mandaluyong City.
“Coach Yeng talked to Bruno this morning, and was telling him about his role in the team. Since this will be a short tournament, we have to rely on our import,” added Garcia.
(For pictures of the tune-up match, here's the link: Gallery.)
Guiao missed out on the game as he had to attend to a meeting in Pampanga since Thursday.
He failed to see Sundov drop 21 points, dominate the boards with 16 rebounds, and block three shots in a 93-82 win over the Mixers.
The Elasto Painters are so far 1-1 in tune-up matches the last two days, losing to Meralco Bolts Thursday, 98-106, in a game that saw Sundov hit 32 points and grab 10 rebounds.
Aside from explaining the role Sundov has to play in the conference featuring imports of unlimited height, Garcia said Guiao also reminded the Elasto Painters to forget the embarrassing 4-0 sweep the team suffered at the hands of three-time champion Talk `N Text during the recent Philippine Cup Finals.
“Iyan ang ni-remind ni coach sa amin na tapos na yun (Finals). Now we look forward to winning as many games as possible since this is a very short tournament,” said Garcia.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @richava

SOURCE: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/painters-coach-guiaos-order-to-7-3-sundov-intimidate-and-dominate

Rabeh's arrival makes great Texters team even better, says Yap By Snow Badua

“Malaking bagay si Rabeh (Al-Hussaini) sa ilalim. Magaling sa depensa 'yun, tsaka masipag sa rebound,” says San Mig Coffee star James Yap. Jerome Ascano

FOR two-time PBA MVP James Yap, Talk `N Text’s formidable lineup just got even more potent following the arrival of Rabeh Al-Hussaini.
“Kahit naman noong wala pa si Rabeh malakas na ang Talk `N Text,” stressed Yap, while acknowledging the likely huge contributions at the post the former Rookie of the Year can give to coach Norman Black's team.
No wonder Yap now has the Tropang Texters high on his list as the biggest threat to the Mixers’ bid for a back-to-back Commissioner’s Cup championship.
The San Mig Coffee superstar also expects better ball rotation for the reigning three-time Philippine Cup champions as frontcourt help has been the one lacking in the Tropang Texters’ system in the past.
Only veteran Ali Peek provides the inside threat in the half court play of coach Norman Black as the team’s other big men such as Ranidel de Ocampo, Kelly Williams, and Harvey Carey are more comfortable roaming the perimeter.
Yap also thinks Al-Hussani’s defensive skills will be a big plus factor for the telecommunication franchise, which acquired the former UAAP MVP after trading the rights to 6-foot-9 wantaway center Japeth Aguilar to Globalport.
“Malaking bagay si Rabeh sa ilalim. Magaling sa depensa yun, tsaka masipag sa rebound,” noted Yap, whose team beat the Tropang Texters in a do-or-die Game Seven last year to clinch the Commissioner’s Cup title.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @snowbadua

SOURCE: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/great-talk-n-text-team-becomes-even-better-with-rabehs-arrival-says-yap

YAP OPTIMISTIC SAN MIG COFFEE CAN DEFEND TITLE By Snow Badua

YAP IS POSITIVE HIS TEAM CAN WIN THE COMMISSIONER'S CUP AGAIN BUT KNOWS THE DEFENSE OF THE TITLE WILL NOT COME EASY.

MANILA - San Mig Coffee Mixers superstar James Yap is optimistic that his team can very well defend the Commissioner’s Cup crown.

But the Escalante, Negros Occidental native thinks that his team’s road to the defense of the title will not come easy.

“Alam mo naman, lahat ng teams nagpalakas halos… Ano ang ibig sabihin nun? Gusto nila kaming unahan sa korona,” said Yap, who once again fell short of a Philippine Cup finals stint last month.

But the debonair shooter said his teammates are now motivated following the recent success of Talk N’ Text Tropang Texters in defending the All-Filipino Cup crown for the second straight time.

“Kaya yan… Kaya… Basta mag focus lang kami sa training nang husto at ibigay ang lahat sa game, kaya yan. Sana,” added Yap.

In its bid to further improve their grasp of the complicated triangle offense, Yap bared that San Mig is back to practicing twice a day since last week.

Since Tim Cone assumed the head coaching job at the Mixers’ side, the team has been regularly conducting bi-daily practices.

“Kailangan kasi naming talaga makuha yung sistema ng triangle, lalo pa ngayon may mga bago pa kami sa team,” said Yap, who is happy to welcome his new teammates.

Just recently, San Mig was part of the unprecedented 5-team, 10-player trade that saw them acquiring rookie guard Alex Mallari, Lester Alvarez and veteran wingman Leo Najorda.

In the process the Mixers lost Jonas Villanueva, JC Intal and sophomore forward Aldrech Ramos.

Yap and his teammates open up hostilities of Commissioner’s Cup Friday versus Barako Bull Energy Cola in the main game of a double header at the Araneta Coliseum.

Source: http://www.solarsportsdesk.ph/bk/bknews/2013/02/01/yap-optimistic-san-mig-coffee-can-defend-title

Baculi happy to see new-boy Mercado blend with stars David and Miller By Richard Dy

Sol Mercado scored seven points and issued seven assists in his first tune-up game with Globalport and, more importantly, found a way to work well with fellow stars Gary David and Willie Miller. Jerome Ascano

GLOBALPORT had just dropped its third straight tune-up game following its 84-87 loss to Air21 on Friday, yet a smile remains in new coach Junel Baculi's face.
His joy is understandable, of course, after seeing the team's newest recruit, Sol Mercado, find a way to blend with Globalport two other star guards, Gary David and Willie Miller, during the game.
"The guys respect Sol and Sol respect them too," Baculi told Spin.ph after the tune-up game at the Moro Lorenzo gym inside the Ateneo campus.
"Ang maganda pa dito, the bench was very happy unlike dati na parang gloomy. I see a very bright future for this team," added the new Globalpot bench tactician.
Mercado and rookies Kelly Nabong and JP Belencion joined the team from Meralco in a trade that saw the Batang Pier bid goodbye to Rey Guevarra, Vic Manuel, Josh Vanlandingham, and a first-round pick.
The flashy guard who led the league in scoring and assists in the Philippine Cup jumped straight into tune-up game a day after the trade, scoring seven points and issuing seven assists.
The Batang Pier also expect Japeth Aguilar, whom they acquired on Thursday in a straight swap with Talk 'N Text for Rabeh Al-Hussaini, to arrive on Monday morning.
Baculi said Friday's tune-up game will be the team's last in its Commissioner's Cup buildup as the Batang Pier focus on developing chemistry ahead of the February 8 opening.
Baculi admits import Justin Williams is not a high-scoring type of player, the reason the team is now surrounding him with several scorers. Williams scored nine points, grabbed nine rebounds and swatted away three shots against Air21.
"Iyan naman talaga ang role sa amin ni Justin. He's a defensive player kaya namin siya sinu-surround ng mga scorers," explained Baculi.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @richava

source: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/baculi-happy-to-see-new-boy-mercado-blend-with-stars-david-and-miller