Back to school: Freshman Fajardo learns hard lessons in Petron loss to Rain or Shine

Rey Joble, InterAKTV · Wednesday, October 3, 2012 · 10:54 pm

PBA/Nuki Sabio

Petron Blaze top overall pick June Mar Fajardo came home with nine points, 12 rebounds, and a cut on his forehead after the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters handed the Boosters a 102-86 beatdown on Wednesday night.
Despite showing a raw game, Fajardo started the game and provided a tough presence on the low block against the shorter Rain or Shine frontline, which battled using its trademark physicality.
Blazers coach Olsen Racela gave his rookie a grade of seven out of 10.
“He has to work on a lot of things, particularly in playing tougher in the PBA,” said Racela. “Sinasabi niya sa akin, nauunahan daw siyang hawakan ng kalaban, pero yun nga ang dapat, kailangan he has to show toughness. Unahan niya na agad yung mga kalaban niya.”
Petron team consultant Rajko Toroman said Fajardo’s lack of seasoning is showing.
“He never had real basketball. His only real basketball came six months ago and he didn’t have much exposure playing for the San Miguel Beermen in the Asean Basketball League,” said the Serbian coach. Fajardo played for the San Miguel Beermen in the ASEAN Basketball League after suiting up for University of Cebu in college.
Toroman, the former coach of the SMART-Gilas Pilipinas national team, believes Fajardo will take about two years before becoming a dominant force.
“There are a lot of tough players. He needs to toughen up and work on his game better. But first game isn’t a gauge. It takes time before the guys, including Fajardo, to get used to the system.”
Fajardo said he was surprised about the physicality of the game of Rain or Shine, as the frontliners caught him flat footed and out of position a lot of times.

source:http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/back-to-school-freshman-fajardo-learns-hard-lessons-in-petron-loss-to-rain-or-shine

Tiu aggravates hamstring injury in PBA debut, could miss two to three games

Rey Joble, InterAKTV · Wednesday, October 3, 2012 · 9:12 pm

PBA/Nuki Sabio

Rain or Shine rookie Chris Tiu, one of the most celebrated rookies in the PBA today, had to sit out most of his debut game after he hyperextended his hamstring in his team’s opener Wednesday night against Petron Blaze.
The former SMART-Gilas team captain, who was selected seventh overall by Rain or Shine, aggravated a nagging hamstring injury during a play in the second quarter.
Tiu saw action for a total of six minutes, finishing with two points on three attempts from the field and two assists.
His lone basket came at the 4:54 mark of the second period, and he had to leave the game several plays later as he could barely make a step.
“Bad trip nga eh. I thought OK na ako, pero nabigla ko yung galaw ko,” said Tiu, who had to content himself with watching his team on a television set in a separate room off the court. He was seated on a monobloc chair and could barely move his hips.
“I was so disappointed I couldn’t finish the game, but for me, basta manalo kami, OK lang.”
Tiu’s PBA debut was highly anticipated, drawing loud shrieks from female fans in the audience when he was inserted into the game by Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao. His fans cheered every time he touched the ball, egging on the popular player to make a move.
“I felt sorry for the fans, pero ganyan talaga basketball. I will work on my strengthening and hope I could get back the soonest possible time.”
Tiu joined the Elasto Painters’ practice three weeks before the opening of the new PBA season and saw action in two tuneup matches.
In a locker room report by Erika Padilla of AKTV, she mentioned that Tiu will likely be out for two to three games.
Charles Tiu, Chris’ younger brother and GlobalPort Batang Pier assistant coach, told InterAKTV that the 5-foot-11 guard suffered the injury during an alumni league game in Xavier School prior to joining the draft.
“With the extent of his injury, tingin ko baka umabot nga yan ng one month,” said the younger Tiu.

source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/tiu-aggravates-hamstring-injury-in-pba-debut-could-miss-two-to-three-games

Tubid secures Barako Bull win over Air 21

Rey Joble, InterAKTV · Wednesday, October 3, 2012 · 7:33 pm

PBA Images/Nuki Sabio

Designated as the new main man of his team, Ronald Tubid presided over the leadership role and delivered big down the stretch.
The scrappy, 6-foot-2 guard/forward from University of the East came to the perfect place at the perfect time, tipping in an Enrico Villanueva miss and providing the most important basket in Barako Bull’s tense 90-87 triumph over sister team Air 21 in the PBA Philippine Cup on a rainy Wednesday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
“In the absence of Danny Seigle, our main man was Ronald Tubid,” said Barako Bull coach Junel Baculi. “Yes, I am happy with the way Sean Anthony performed, but Tubid played the leadership role for the squad.”
Seigle missed the game because of flu, but Baculi assured the veteran forward will be back in the team’s next game against Petron Blaze, a squad which he considered as the strongest in the tournament.
Tubid’s tip-in with 9.2 seconds left proved to be the final basket.
Still, the Energy Colas had to make a stop and wait for KG Canaleta’s last three-point attempt. His three-pointer from the left corner rimmed out as time expired.
The scores:
Barako Bull (90) – Tubid 19, Anthony 18, Kramer 14, Pennisi 11, Urbiztondo 8, Najorda 7, Villanueva 7, Yap 4, Marcelo 2, Cervantes 0, Cruz 0.
Air 21 (87) – Baclao 18, Wilson 17, Isip 16, Canaleta 16, Arboleda 7, Custodio 4, Omolon 4, Sena 3, Taha 2, Atkins 0, Ritualo 0.
Quarterscores: 26-27; 49-48; 71-69; 90-87.

source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/tubid-secures-barako-bull-win-over-air-21

PBA LIVE STREAMING VIA PHIL STAR

SOURCE: http://www.philstar.com/PbaLive.aspx

Can Fajardo measure up to other PBA giants on his debut? Let's find out By Fidel Mangonon III

Will June Mar Fajardo's debut be as earthshaking as Asi Taulava’s or Marlou Aquino’s first games in the pro ranks? Or will it be so-so like Japeth Aguilar's? Jerome Ascano

PETRON Blaze’s June Mar Fajardo, the No. 1 pick overall in this year’s PBA Draft, will make his much-awaited PBA debut on Wednesday against reigning Governors Cup titlist Rain or Shine.
At the 6-foot-10, 273 pounds and 22 years old, Fajardo is the tallest, heaviest, and youngest player in the league right now. He will have his baptism of fire in the pros against the Elasto Painters’ ‘Extra Rice Incorporated’ of Beau Belga and Fajardo’s Cebuano kababayan JR Quinahan. Larry Rodriguez and Jervy Cruz will also be there to lend a hand against the PBA’s most celebrated rookie big man since probably Asi Taulava who first saw action in the league in 1999 with Mobiline.
San Mig Coffee head coach Tim Cone compares Fajardo’s entry in the PBA to the time when Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul Jabbar) first joined the NBA in 1969.
While saying Fajardo will be starting right away, new Petron Blaze head coach Olsen Racela says the Boosters will not rush their big guy to live up to his potential.
Besides, the Boosters have a bunch of frontline talent around Fajardo with the likes of Arwind Santos, Jay Washington, Danny Ildefonso and Dorian Pena. Magi Sison is also there.
So how will (or how did, if you read this after Wednesday) Fajardo fare in his first game as a pro?
How will his numbers compare with the PBA debuts of the other league giants at least 6-foot-8 who came before him? Will it be as earthshaking as Asi Taulava’s or Marlou Aquino’s first games? Will it be so-so like Japeth Aguilar's? Or will it end in a whimper?
Here are the first game numbers of the players standing at least 6-8 who entered the PBA starting in 1996 -- and they are only seven (I would’ve wanted to include 7-1 EJ Feihl on this list but most of the data I have is from 1996 to present and Feihl turned pro in 1995):
6-10 JAPETH AGUILAR
10 pts, 2-of-6 FGs, 6-of-10 FTs, 9 rebs, 2 asts, 1 blk (in 24 mins)
Burger King 80, Purefoods 93 2009-10 Philippine Cup (October 11)
6-8 SAMIGUE EMAN
5 pts, 1-of-4 FGs, 3-of-4 FTs, 3 rebs, 2 blks (in 9 mins)
Magnolia 121, Air21 112 2007-08 Philippine Cup (October 14)
6-8 RAFI REAVIS
14 pts, 7-of-7 FGs, 4 rebs, 2 asts (in 15 mins)
Coca-Cola 110, FedEx 82 2002 Commissioner’s Cup (June 18)
6-9 YANCY DE OCAMPO
2 pts, 1-of-3 FGs, 6 rebs (in 18 mins)
FedEx 62, Coca-Cola 66 2002 Governors Cup (February 10)
6-9 ASI TAULAVA
32 pts, 15-of-25 FGs, 2-of-7 FTs, 20 rebs, 8 asts, 2 blks, 1 stl (in 43 mins)
Mobiline 90, Tanduay 64 1999 All-Filipino Cup (February 7)
6-10 1/2 ANDY SEIGLE
20 pts, 8-of-13 FGs, 4-of-7 FTs, 9 rebs, 2 ast, 4 blks, 2 stls (in 38 mins)
Mobiline 91, Alaska 100  1997 All-Filipino Cup (February 16)
6-9 MARLOU AQUINO
29 pts, 11-of-21 FGs, 7-of-9 FTs, 15 rebs, 5 asts, 5 blks, 1 stl (in 39 mins)
Ginebra San Miguel 94, Pepsi Mega 98 1996 All-Filipino Cup (February 20)

source: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/by-the-numbers/can-fajardo-measure-up-to-other-pba-giants-on-his-debut-lets-find-out

Nothing serious, David says of spat with Al-Hussaini By Richard Dy

GlobalPort star Gary David, right, and slotman Rabah Al-Hussaini were seen having an animated discussion during a dead ball in the team's 90-110 loss to Ginebra on Sunday night. Jerome Ascano 

GUNNER Gary David played down the exchange of words he had with youthful slotman Rabeh Al-Hussaini during GlobalPort’s PBA debut on Sunday against Barangay Ginebra.
David and Al-Hussaini were seen having an animated discussion after the league’s scoring champion called out the former Rookie of the Year for what he had perceived was the lack of effort on his part to play defense and grab rebounds.
“Si Rabeh, kailangan lang naman pukpukin, kausapin. Siyempre, ayaw ko rin naman mapansin pa siya ng ibang tao,” David told Spin.ph. "Kailangan  lang total team effort kami. Importante dito sa team eh tulong-tulong."
The spat, witnessed by thousands who watched the season's opening game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and commented on by the broadcast panel covering the game, was just one of the many things that went wrong for the Batang Pier during the 90-110 blowout loss to the Gin Kings.
David's cold shooting contributed to the loss, too, as he made just one of 10 shots from the floor. Al-Hussaini and the rest of the Batang Pier's big men were also manhandled off the boards, 55-28, while their porous yielded 18 fastbreak points to the Kings.
But it was the lackluster effort on defense that really got rookie coach Glen Capacio steaming.
“Glaring naman dahil wala kaming defense. Medyo magulo pa kasi ang team. Kailangan talaga mag-usap sa loob ng court,” Capacio told Spin.ph after the team’s practice on Tuesday at the Moro Lorenzo gym inside the Ateneo campus.
David's nine-point output was a far cry from his league-best 25.8 points per-game average last year with Powerade, the same franchise GlobalPort bought in the offseason. But the Smart Gilas stalwart dismissed it as nothing more than an off-night on his part while giving credit to Ginebra's defense.
“Off-night eh. Pero siyempre, I give credit to Ginebra’s defense, too. Kaya nung huli, di ko na pinipilit,” he said.
David said everyone in the team is still adjusting to the system of Capacio, a top defensive player during his playing days, but he expects things to settle down in due time.
“Nag-a-adjust pa lahat sa sistema. Bago ang teammates, tapos ilang araw pa lang kami magkakasama,” said David, who joined the team late having played in two international tournaments with Smart Gilas.
On Tuesday, Capacio and the team viewed the tape of Sunday’s game as they began the process of making the necessary adjustments ahead of their second game against Air21 Express on October 7.
“At least, we have time to prepare. Pero itong buong week na ito, mas magko-concentrate talaga kami sa defense,” said Capacio.  “I guess lahat naman ng teams nagdadaan sa ganitong stage kung maraming bago. But we offer no excuses. We didn’t show effort on defense.”

source: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/nothing-serious-david-says-of-spat-with-al-hussaini#.UGvtKu--ylg.twitter

Younghusbands back in Azkals lineup for Middle East tour

Karl Decena, InterAKTV · Wednesday, October 3, 2012 · 3:10 pm

InterAKTV/Roy Afable

Philippine football stars Phil and James Younghusband are back in the national lineup for its Middle East training tour this October.
Azkals manager Dan Palami confirmed the news to InterAKTV.
“They are included in the list of players whom the Azkals have given a call-up for our Bahrain and Kuwait preparation leg,” Palami said.
Last September, the brothers were left off the national roster for the Philippine Football Peace Cup after the Philippine Football Federation revealed that it cannot meet “certain economic and non-economic demands” from them.
The brothers have already denied the issue, saying that they will always be available to the national team for free.
Despite the absence of the Younghusband brothers, the Azkals swept all of their three matches to win the Peace Cup last September 29 behind the team’s new faces led by tournament’s Most Valuable Player Denis Wolf.
The Azkals will face Bahrain on October 12 in its capital Manama and Kuwait on October 16 at Kuwait City.
The matches are part of the their preparations for the 2012 ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup this November, where they look to surpass their historic semifinal finish in the same tournament two years ago.

source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/younghusbands-back-in-azkals-lineup-for-middle-east-tour