Too late for SMC players to join SMART-Gilas in Japan, says Chot Reyes

By: Rey Joble, InterAKTV

It’s too late.

That’s how SMART-Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes reacted about reports that San Miguel Corporation is willing to lend players from its PBA teams to the national program for the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup in Tokyo, Japan.

No less than Ramon Ang, president of SMC, through executive Noli Eala, reportedly said that the conglomerate is willing to allow its players play for the Philippine team. “They need to send a letter of request,” Eala told InterAKTV.

But Reyes said it would be too late to tap players from SMC for the national team’s campaign in Japan, which begins in two weeks. He previously named six SMC players to the national pool, but only Enrico Villanueva of Ginebra committed to the program. James Yap and Marc Pingris of San Mig Coffee and Alex Cabagnot, Arwind Santos, and Marcio Lassiter failed to submit letters of commitment that would have formalized their entry into the SMART-Gilas fold.

Reyes earlier lobbied to include Pingris, citing the need for SMART-Gilas to beef up its frontline. But after a conversation with the coach, ‘Sakuragi’ begged off as he continues to recover from a neck injury he suffered during the finals of last season’s Governors’ Cup.

Still, SMC’s willingness to lend its players comes as good news for the national team. It would clear the way for the problem-free stint of point guard LA Tenorio, the Most Valuable Player of the 34th William Jones Cup, for SMART-Gilas once his reported trade to Ginebra pushes through.

Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/too-late-for-smc-players-to-join-smart-gilas-in-japan-says-chot-reyes

Approved Trades Mainitinit Pa.

PBA Office of the Commissioner APPROVED TRADES as of August 31, 2012:

 1. BARAKO - GINEBRA trade: a. BARAKO acquired the rights to Enrico Villanueva, b. GINEBRA acquired the rights to Willie Miller;

 2. GINEBRA - GLOBAL PORT trade: a. GINEBRA acquired the rights to JV Casio, b. GLOBAL PORT acquired the rights to Willie Miller plus GINEBRA'S 2014 1st rd pick; 

3. ALASKA - GINEBRA trade: a. ALASKA acquired the rights to JV Casio plus GINEBRA'S 2015 2nd rd pick, b. GINEBRA acquired the rights to LA Tenorio;

 4. ALASKA - PETRON trade: a. ALASKA acquired the rights to Dondon Hontiveros, b. PETRON acquired the rights to Wesley Gonzales and Hans Paul Thiele

No ‘Sakuragi’ in Japan: Pingris out of SMART-Gilas lineup for FIBA Asia Cup

Marc Pingris will not be part of the SMART-Gilas Pilipinas lineup for the FIBA Asia Cup this September, coach Chot Reyes said on Thursday.

Reyes told InterAKTV in a telephone interview that the San Mig Coffee forward is still on vacation and recuperating from a neck injury suffered during the Governors’ Cup finals.

The coach had coveted the big man’s services despite SMART-Gilas winning the 34th William Jones Cup in Taipei last week. Pingris was expected to provide rebounding and defense at power forward, a glaring weakness for the Philippine team that was forced to play wingman Gabe Norwood at that spot during the tournament.

Reyes earlier said he expects the FIBA Asia Cup, which is slated on September 14 to 22 in Tokyo, Japan, to be tougher than the Jones Cup. Unlike the Jones Cup which featured club teams and national teams, the Japan tilt will only be featuring national sides.

The former Talk ‘N Text coach said that he will release the lineup for SMART-Gilas team that will compete in Japan on Friday.

Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/no-sakuragi-in-japan-pingris-out-of-smart-gilas-lineup-for-fiba-asia-cup

LBJ in Space Jam 2

LBJ in Space Jam 2

What do you think Guys? Sino sino kaya ang mga recent NBA Stars ang kukunan ng skills ng mga Villians? 

'Sultan of spit' Bringas hit with ban by own school

by: Reuben Terrado

FAR Eastern University enforcer Arvie Bringas has been handed a one-game ban by his own school and warned of more serious sanctions by the UAAP following the spitting incident that marred the Tamaraws' game against Ateneo on Wednesday.

Bringas was suspended for one game by the FEU athletics department on top of the automatic one-game ban handed down by the league for the disqualifying foul slapped on him after he was caught on camera spitting on Ateneo's Justin Chua during the Eagles' 77-64 victory.

In a two-paragraph statement posted on its website, the school said: the FEU athletics department has imposed an additional one-game ban on Mr. Bringas for his actions."

The league also said Bringas' behavior will be closely watched from hereon and similar incidents in the future will be dealt with more severely.

“Huwag naman sana pero he may or may not be banned if the commissioner feels that it is necessary,” said UAAP secretary-treasurer Junel Baculi, adding that league will be monitoring the FEU center’s behavior in the next few games.

“As of now, one game is enough but we will see his behavior. If ganyan pa rin, baka kailangan na ng severe actions.”

At the same time, the league also handed a one-game suspension on Ateneo back-up center JP Erram for kicking Carl Bryan Cruz after the FEU player taunted him in the second quarter.

Erram’s retaliation was not seen by the referees but was spotted by Commissioner Ato Badolato after a review of the game tape. Cruz was issued a warning.

“Mayroon na [si Erram na] warning before so he is suspended for the next game,” Badolato said.

Ateneo has appealed the suspension before the technical committee.

Baculi said the league has also issued warnings to players who figured in several skirmishes in the bruising contest that saw three players getting ejected and some coaches figuring in a heated exchange of words after the buzzer.

“It’s a warning na next time, there will be more severe actions,” said Baculi.

Among those warned were Ateneo’s Ryan Buenafe and FEU’s Mark Belo, who were both ejected for their involvement in a scuffle in the first quarter.

Ateneo’s Greg Slaughter and FEU’s Roger Pogoy were also warned for separate incidents during the game.

Badolato explained that Buenafe and Belo were not suspended because they have only incurred their first unsportsmanlike foul of the season.

Badolato said that a player is automatically suspended if he incurs two unsportsmanlike fouls even on separate games and a technical foul that was meant to hurt.

“In the case of Belo and Buenafe, they were disqualified not because of a disqualifying foul but because they were called for an unsportsmanlike foul and a technical foul for trash-talking. That was not meant to hurt,” Badolato said.

Badolato said Slaughter was warned due to an elbow to Bringas prior to the spitting incident while Pogoy was caught on video elbowing Juami Tiongson when the Atenean was in front of the FEU bench late in the fourth quarter.

Source: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/sultan-of-spit-bringas-hit-with-ban-by-own-school

Reyes waits as Thoss meets with Uytengsu

By Richard Dy

August 31, 2012, 09:31 am

THE clock is ticking for Smart Gilas 2.0 as Chot Reyes waits for the result of a meeting between slotman Sonny Thoss and Alaska team owner Wilfred Uytengsu before finalizing his lineup for the Fiba Asia Cup in Tokyo next month in time for the deadline set by organizers.

Thoss' availability will have a big impact on Gilas' lineup for the September 14-22 tournament since the 6-7 slotman is the best option as naturalized player Marcus Douthit's chief back-up -- a role the Alaska star played so well in the national team's successful championship run in the Jones Cup.

"The entire make-up of the team will depend on whether Sonny will be there or not," Reyes told Spin.phon Friday morning. "There are a lot of combinations to consider, pero lahat 'yon magde-depende kung andyan si Sonny because he plays a crucial role in the team."

Thoss has made known his desire to join Gilas in the Tokyo trip but Alaska has put its foot down, insisting that all its players stay home and focus on the team's twice-a-day practices as the Uytengsu franchise attempts to rebound from a disappointing 10-22 (win-loss) campaign last season.

LA Tenorio, another Alaska star who played for the title-winning Jones Cup side, has been packaged in a proposed three-team trade that is left hanging by protracted negotiations between Global Port and Ginebra over another key compotent of the deal, JV Casio.

Alaska insiders said Thoss is set to meet on Friday with Uytengsu, who in no uncertain terms has told the coaching staff that he wants all the players to concentrate on the buildup for the coming season.

Although the stand he is taking may be an unpopular one, Uytengsu feels Alaska has bent backwards a lot of times for the national teams in the past and it is time for other ballclubs "to step up" now that the Aces can't afford to loan their players to the Tokyo-bound team, insiders said.

Reyes said he will finalize his 14-man lineup at the end of the Thoss-Uytengsu meeting. The national coach said he has until the end of business hours on Friday to submit his lineup to organizers.

He expects the core of the Jones Cup team to make the lineup including Tenorio, who has bared his intention to join the trip regardless the result of the trade.

However, insiders said a contract that allows Tenorio to join the national team was only made between the player and Alaska and may not be applicable in the event he is traded to Ginebra.

Source: Spin.ph

Eala confident Tenorio deal will be completed

SAN Miguel Corporation director for sports Noli Eala sounded confident the blockbuster three-team deal that would send Alaska's LA Tenorio to Ginebra would be completed on Friday despite kinks in talks involving the Kings and Global Port over another key component of the trade, JV Casio.

"Mamya we'll finalize everything," Eala assured in a message to Spin.ph. "Talagang complicated lang itong deal."

Under the terms of an agreement already approved in principle by Alaska and Ginebra, Tenorio, hero of Smart Gilas' successful championship run in the Jones Cup, will go to Ginebra in exchange for Casio and the Kings' second-round pick in the 2013 draft.

Eala and Alaska officials have also agreed on a separate deal that would send veteran Petron forward Dondon Hontiveros to the Aces in exchange for Wesley Gonzales and Hans Thiele.

However, negotiations between Global Port and Eala on which player Batang Pier will get for Casio have hit a rough patch, with sources saying that owner Mikee Romero wants the Kings to throw more players into the deal aside from the one player whose name has constantly cropped up in talks -- Mike Cortez.

The trade is also subject to the approval of the Commissioner's Office, making it imperative for all teams involved to make the deal as 'fair' as possible.

Source: SPIN.ph