Barako Bull trades for big man Ballesteros

Carlo Sharma, top, and Sunday Salvacion have been shipped to Meralco by Barako Bull in exchange for former Smart Gilas mainstay Jason Ballesteros. Jerome Ascano

FORMER Smart Gilas-Pilipinas big man Jason Ballesteros has worn out his welcome at Meralco as he was traded on Tuesday to Barako Bull for the veteran pair of Carlo Sharma and Sunday Salvacion.
Ballesteros, the bruising 6-foot-7 center out of San Sebastian selected No. 7 overall by the Bolts last year's draft, is expected to add heft and size to the Energy frontcourt that recently acquired Enrico Villanueva in another multi-player offseason trade.
"You can't teach height but you can teach skills," Barako coach Junel Baculi told Spin.ph when asked about the trade, adding Ballesteros is certainly going to be a good big man project for the team.
Villanueva and Ballesteros are expected to alternate playing in Barako's frontline along with the hard-working Doug Kramer and veteran Mick Pennisi.
“You also have to understand that Mick and Enrico are not getting younger anymore. Hopefully, he’ll be able to adjust immediately to our system,” added the Barako Bull coach.
The presence of the sophomore center will likewise make up for the loss of Don Allado in the coming Philippine Cup when the former La Salle power-forward serves out a conference-long suspension following his controversial rants on the microblogging site Twitter.
Sharma and Salvacion, meanwhile, will add experience to a young, rebuilding team like the Bolts, who recently lost the services of 13-year center and former league MVP Asi Taulava.
“We’re always trying to give this team a decent look,” said team manager Butch Antonio. “With Carlo, he’ll give us depth in the frontcourt and a good back up to Jay-R (Reyes), while Sunday will definitely help us spread out the opponents’ defense with his outside shooting.”
The trade papers are now in the office of commissioner Chito Salud for final approval.

source: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/barako-bull-trades-for-big-man-ballesteros

Ginebra rookies feel the love

Keith Jensen and Chris Ellis have both been overwhelmed by the love they get from Ginebra fans. Jerome Ascano

Barangay Ginebra rookies Chris Ellis and Keith Jensen were the last players to leave the San Andres Gym in Manila after the Kings’ tune-up game against an Australian youth team on Tuesday afternoon - not because they wanted to but because they spent so much time signing autographs and posing for pictures with fans.
After getting a first-hand experience on how it is to be part of the PBA’s most popular ballclub, the Filipino-American freshmen feel truly blessed.
"It’s been a new experience,” the 24-year-old Jensen told Spin.ph after the Gin Kings' 83-42 rout of the Australian Under-19 squad. “The fans have been great. I’ve never experienced this amount of love from the fans. This is awesome and it’s very flattering.”
Barely a month since he was taken sixth overall in this year’s draft, the 23-year-old Ellis is also feeling right at home with his teammates.
“Everybody gets along and is down to earth. They all teach you what they know. It’s just a great situation all around,” said Ellis, whose mother is from Sampaloc, Manila.
Asked what their personal goals will be entering their rookie years, both had their eyes set on repaying the adoration and faith of the fans with a championship.
“I want to be the reason we win the championship, whether it be stopping the best player on the other team or doing what they need me to do. I just want to be there for my team,” said the 6-foot-5 Ellis, who became known for his high-flying act in the PBA D-league.
Jensen, whose family traces its roots to Pampanga, said his objective is “to help this team win a championship, that’s it. All of the personal accolades like Rookie of the Year, being in the starting five, it will all work itself out. I’m not worried about that.
"Winning is my goal.”
“I just want to fit in where I can help the most,” added the 6-foot-4 Jensen. "So if that’s defensive rebounding, that’s what I’m going to do. If that’s spot-up shooting, slashing, that’s what I’m going to do. I feel confident that I’m versatile as a player so whatever they need me to do I’m going to do it.”

source: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/special-reports/ginebra-rookies-feel-the-love

Gilas hoping to pick up from where it left off despite ragged buildup

Smart Gilas 2.0 coach Chot Reyes says the team has not had much progress the past week. Jerome Ascano

WITH players’ focus divided between club and country, Smart Gilas 2.0 has had a ragged buildup for the Fiba Asia Cup but remains hopeful of picking up from where it left off in the Jones Cup.
Coach Chot Reyes said Gilas had better preparation for the Jones Cup last month compared to their buildup for the Tokyo tournament, with most of its players on loan to the national squad but still required to train with their mother clubs every day.
Before winning the country's first Jones Cup title in 14 years with a 7-1 win-loss run in Taipei, practice had not yet started among PBA ballclubs and Gilas had all the time to work on their plays and chemistry.
“We haven’t had some progress the past week because of the two-a-day practice the players have with their (PBA) mother teams and then with Gilas. So we’re just going to hope for the best in the Asia Cup,” Reyes told Spin.ph ahead of the team's departure for the September 14-22 tournament.
The team took Tuesday off before departing on Wednesday for the Tokyo tournament, where it will be bracketed with powerhouse squads China and Lebanon in the eliminations.
Ranged against taller, heftier opponents, Reyes said Gilas needs to have its shooting spot-on but most of all must use its speed to its advantage just like it did in a 78-71 win over Qatar's national team in a practice game on Saturday at the Ynares Center in Pasig City.
“Yes, we have shooters, but our opponents there also have shooters. So the only thing we can bank on is our speed,” Reyes said.
Jones Cup MVP LA Tenorio again leads the team that features Gabe Norwood, Larry Fonacier, Ranidel de Ocampo, Jeff Chan, Jay-R Reyes, Enrico Villanueva, Gary David, naturalized player Marcus Douthit, Matt Rosser and Sonny Thoss.
Talk ’N Text forward Jared Dillinger takes the spot of Meralco Bolts Fil-American guard Sol Mercado, who is not eligible to play for the Philippines under Fiba’s strict rules even if he had suited up for the original Gilas team under Rajko Toroman in the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou.
Alaska’s Mac Baracael and amateur Garvo Lanete, members of the 14-man Jones Cup team, also did not make the roster although Lanete will still join the trip as a reserve.
The top three teams in the Fiba Asia Cup get automatic slots in the Fiba Asia men’s championships, which the Philippines is bidding to host next year.

source:http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/gilas-hoping-to-pick-up-from-where-it-left-off-despite-ragged-buildup

Gerwin Gaco thrown out | Mixers Vs Aces Tuneup Game 091112 by:Xoyoa123

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San Mig Coffee walks out of tuneup match against Alaska

AKTV file photo/Paolo Papa

It turns out that coffee and milk doesn’t always make for a perfect combination.
San Mig Coffee walked out of its tuneup match against Alaska on Tuesday at the Reyes Gym after Mixers coach Tim Cone disagreed with a call by the referees.
The Aces were leading 63-50 in the third quarter when San Mig Coffee forward Jerwin Gaco was thrown out of the game for warding off with his elbow against Alaska’s Eddie Laure. Cone vehemently protested the call before leading his team out of the court.
“Cone proceeds to Alaska bench, shakes hands of Aces coaching staff. Tapos ang laro,” wrote veteran journalist Dennis Principe on his Twitter account, where he provided updates on the game.
Cone refused to take calls by InterAKTV on the matter.
Alaska coach Luigi Trillo, meanwhile, said the call on Gaco was correct, saying that it really was flagrant.
It marked the second straight day with a tuneup game involving a PBA team being halted. On Monday, a tuneup game between Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and the Qatar national team was stopped after an altercation between Kerby Raymundo and a Qatari center.

Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/san-mig-coffee-walks-out-of-tuneup-match-against-alaska

Current San Mig Coffee Mixers (B-Meg Llamados/Purefoods TJ Giants) Team Roster for the PBA 38th Season

Players
Joshua Urbiztondo – #2
Jonas Villanueva – #3
Rafi Reavis – #4
JC Intal – #7
Peter June Simon – #8
Andy Mark Barroca – #14
Marc Pingris – #15
Aldrech Ramos – #17 (Rookie)
James Yap – #18
Jerwin Gaco – #19
Chris Pacana – #22
Ken Bono – #25
Joe Devance – #38
Mike Burtscher – #63
Yancy de Ocampo – #95
Jewel Ponferada (Rookie)

San Mig Coffee Mixers Coaching Staff

Head Coach:
Tim Cone

Assistant Coaches:
Richard del Rosario
Jeffrey Cariaso
Johnny Abarrientos
Enrico Banal
Dayong Mendoza

Team Manager:
Alvin Patrimonio

Source: http://www.purefoodsbasketball.com/team-roster/

JAPETH AGUILAR TO WORKOUT WITH SAN ANTONIO SPURS BY Miguel Rocha

The closest we probably ever got to the NBA was that rumored Johnny Abarrientos 10 day contract offered by the then Charlotte Hornets. Getting sporadic playing time in both the PBA and the National team, former number 1 pick Japeth Aguilar has his sights set on the NBA. Aguilar is set to have a workout with the San Antonio Spurs, who are known to have one of the best international scouting teams in the league.

photo c/o Paolo Papa

source: Slam Online