Mixers return after long break to face Boosters By Richard Dy

Tim Cone and the Mixers are playing only their second game in the two-week old conference. Jerome Ascano

AFTER an eight-day respite, San Mig Coffee wheels back into action against preseason favorite Petron Blaze in Sunday’s PBA Philippine Cup main game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Mixers (1-0) are playing just their second game of the two-week-old PBA 38th season following their smashing 103-83 win over the Alaska Aces on October 5 at the Big Dome. They clash with the souped-up Boosters (1-1) at 6:30 p.m.
The weeklong rest gave San Mig Coffee forwards Jean Marc Pingris and Joe Devance time to get back to game-shape after hurting their ankle and knee, respectively, prior to the start of the season.
Devance hurt his knee four months ago and had been inactive since, but the 6-foot-7 Fil-Am played 11 minutes during the Mixers’ 20-point blowout win against the Aces, logging in two points, one rebound and two assists.
“It’s nice to have Joe back and give him a few minutes since four months ago. He just needs to be in game shape and lose some weight. He’s gonna be a nice weapon for us out there,” noted Cone, who will miss high-leaping JC Intal with a knee injury.
Petron’s rookie coach Olsen Racela said there is nothing much to celebrate following the team’s 98-89 victory over Barako Bull on Wednesday night. For one, Racela said the team’s defense remains a big concern at this point.
“In our last game, we gave up 102 points. That’s just too many points to give up. So isa pang wino-work out namin is defense,” explained Racela.
The Boosters bowed to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters 102-86 on opening night on October 3.
But against the Energy Cola, the Boosters were able to improve on their defense, allowing just 89 points while making some big stops during the fourth period after Barako Bull tried to rally behind newly- acquired point guard  Josh Urbiztondo.
Petron’s team consultant Rajko Toroman said San Mig Coffee is a dangerous squad to play because it has the size, the championship spunk and the multi-titled coach in Tim Cone on its side.
“San Mig Coffee has the size, so we need to really get the ball to the open man. We want our players to just follow the system and have more ball movement. We can’t simply rely on our three-point shooting or June Mar (Fajardo),” explained Toroman.
Cone said he’s glad to have the 6’8” center Yancy de Ocampo because his experience and size can easily match up against the 6’10” Fajardo.
De Ocampo, the former St. Francis of Assissi standout, opened the season with a game-high 22 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and two blocked shots in 36 minutes.
In the 4:15 p.m. curtain raiser, the Alaska Aces look to break into the win column after opening the season with back-to-back losses as they take on the Barako Bull Energy Cola.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @richava

source: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/mixers-return-after-long-break-to-face-boosters-v02#.UHkdv5JtLJ4.twitter

Ginebra guns for third straight win in Digos battle with Meralco

InterAKTV · Saturday, October 13, 2012 · 10:07 am

AKTV/Paolo Papa

LA Tenorio, Mark Caguioa, and the rest of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel hope to continue their winning ways as they battle the Meralco Bolts in Digos City, Davao Del Sur in the first PBA road game of the season on Saturday.
The matchup will be broadcast over AKTV at 8 p.m. after the NCAA final four matches.
Ginebra has been on fire with the arrival of Tenorio, whose presence has rejuvenated the Gin Kings. He scored just two points in Ginebra’s opening day victory over GlobalPort, but grabbed nine rebounds and handed off 10 assists.
He was even better in Ginebra second game against Rain or Shine, sizzling for 20 points to help his new squad to a second straight victory.
Ginebra currently sits at the top spot alongside Talk ‘N Text with similar 2-0 win-loss records.
Meralco, which totes a 1-1 mark, will once again rely on fourth overall pick Cliff Hodge, who has averaged 19.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in his first two outings as a pro.
Hodge said he’s still not satisfied with his performance. “I’m still not happy with my game. I was missing a lot of shots, shots which I normally make. I even missed a lot of free throws,” he told InterAKTV shortly after leading Meralco to victory over Alaska last Wednesday,” said Hodge.
Interestingly, the game will feature Hodge facing off against fellow Filipino-American rookie Chris Ellis, his former running mate in the amateur ranks. The two men teamed up to help NLEX win three straight PBA D-League titles, and were also vital cogs in the Sinag Pilipinas run to the Southeast Asian Games gold medal last season.

source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/ginebra-guns-for-third-straight-win-in-digos-battle-with-meralco

Jeff Chan sizzles for 35 to help Rain or Shine escape Air 21 in overtime

InterAKTV · Friday, October 12, 2012 · 10:16 pm

PBA/Nuki Sabio

Jeff Chan scored a career-high 35 points, including the go-ahead basket with 15 seconds left, to lift Rain or Shine to a tense 99-98 overtime victory over Air 21 in the Philippine Cup Friday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
With the shot clock winding down in extra period, Chan found himself against the smaller Wynne Arboleda. The southpaw hotshot drove right, sidestepped to his right, before fading away for a baby jumper that trickled in to give the Elasto Painters the victory.
Air 21 had one final opportunity to steal the win, but Rain or Shine hounded Arboleda into an airball on his attempt and stripped the ball from KG Canaleta off a rebound play to preserve the win.
“We’re lucky we got a good game from Jeff. His offense carried us for most of the game,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao of Chan, last year’s Most Improved Player who is off to a blistering start this season. Over his first three games, the sharpshooter from Bacolod City has averaged 26.7 points, despite getting little offseason rest after leading Rain or Shine to last season’s Governors’ Cup title and playing for SMART-Gilas Pilipinas in two international tournaments.
Chan’s brilliant performance bailed out the Elasto Painters, who looked like they had the game in the bag in regulation. Rain or Shine led Air 21, 93-88, with just 23 seconds remaining in the game. But it allowed Nelbert Omolon to score a three-point play with 10 seconds left to cut the Elasto Painters advantage to a single basket.
Air 21 sent Beau Belga to the free throw line in the ensuing possession, and the Rain or Shine center split his foul shots to give the Elasto Painters a three-point lead, 94-91. Arboleda raced down the court and shoveled a pass to Canaleta, who hit a 25-foot three-pointer at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.
Gabe Norwood and Jervy Cruz added 12 points apiece for Rain or Shine, which won its second game in three outings. Air 21, which lost for the second time in three games, was paced by John Wilson who scored 21 points.
Rain or Shine dedicated the game in honor of late assistant coach Roehl Nadurata, who succumbed to lung cancer last Tuesday. Nadurata, who has been part of Guiao’s coach staff for 20 years, was a key member of the Rain or Shine brain trust during its Governors’ Cup title run.
The scores:
Rain or Shine (99) – Chan 35, Cruz 12, Norwood 12, Belga 8, Quinahan 8, Ibanes 7, Arana 5, Tang 5, Jaime 3, Matias 0.
Air 21 (98) – Wilson 21, Canaleta 13, Isip 12, Omolon 11, Arboleda 10, Sena 8, Baclao 8, Escobal 6, Taha 4, Ritualo 3, Atkins 2.
Quarters: 18-26, 43-48, 75-68, 94-94, 99-98.

source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/jeff-chan-sizzles-for-35-to-help-rain-or-shine-escape-air-21-in-overtime

Altas defuse Bombers to book last ticket to Final Four By Karlo Sacamos

Nigerian reinforcement Nosa Omorogbe comes up huge for the Altas, who return to the Final Four after eight long years. Jerome Ascano

THE role players sparkled when the stars failed to shine as the Perpetual Help Altas tripped Jose Rizal University, 73-68, on Thursday night at The Arena in San Juan and ended eight years of frustration in the 88th NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
With Earl Thompson and Jet Vidal failing to produce their usual numbers, Justine Alano and Chris Elopre stepped up along with Nosa Omorogbe as the Altas outplayed the Bombers in a crucial playoff and booked the remaining Final Four ticket.
Alano and Omorogbe registered 14 points apiece, while Elopre added 12 markers for the Altas, who will make their first postseason appearance since 2004 when they also made Finals.
Aric del Rosario, the multi-titled mentor who has suddenly pumped life into the Altas’ program, had nothing but kind words for his wards.
“Proud ako sa mga player ko,” said the 72-year-old Del Rosario, who won four straight titles with University of Santo Tomas in the mid-1990s. “Pinaglaban talaga nila ang gusto nila.”
Thompson, who is set to be named the league’s MVP and a member of the Mythical Five, had five points on 1-of-9 shooting in 23 minutes, while Vidal had six markers on a 2-of-16 clip.
Perpetual faces top seed and twice-to-beat San Beda in the semifinals on Saturday.
“Sinabi ko sa mga teammates ko ayaw ko pa ito maging last game ko sa NCAA kaya tulungan niyo ako makapasok sa Final Four. Buti maganda naging resulta,” said Vidal, the team’s leading scorer for the season.
The Bombers proved worthy challengers, but succumbed in the end, missing the Final Four for the first time in six years.
JRU came closest at 59-60 after a Decoy Lopez layup midway through the payoff period, but Alano, Omorogbe, and Elopre provided the key baskets for the Altas to take the fight out of the Bombers.
“Sinabi lang ni coach na kung sino ang pinakamalaki ang puso, siya ang mananalo,” Alano said. “Uhaw na uhaw na kami sa Final Four, buti nakapasok na kami.”
The scores:
Perpetual (73) – Alano 14, Omorogbe 14, Elopre 12, Arboleda 8, Babayemi 7, Paulino 7, Vidal 6, Thompson 5, Allen 0, Jolangcob 0.
JRU (68) – Villarias 19, Lopez 17, Dela Paz 8, Almario 7, Carampil 5, Mendoza 4, Mabulac 4, Salaveria 2, Porter 2, Matute 0, Maconocido 0, Monserat 0.
Quarterscores: 22-19; 41-35; 53-50; 73-68.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @KarloSacamos

source: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/altas-defuse-bombers-to-book-last-semis-ticket#.UHbFqRHern4.twitter

No rest: Black to focus on Talk ‘N Text after clinching fifth title with Ateneo

Karl Decena, InterAKTV · Thursday, October 11, 2012 · 8:27 pm

InterAKTV/Roy Afable

After Ateneo bagged its fifth straight crown in the UAAP, most members of the team would probably want to savor the championship and maybe take a break for a while from basketball.
But that’s not the case for coach Norman Black, who will now take over as the coach of the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters in the PBA.
“I’m headed to the PBA, I have a game tomorrow night,” Black said. “It doesn’t stop.”
Now that his stint with Ateneo is over, Black said that he can now concentrate on his coaching duties with Talk ‘N Text, though his PBA comeback would have to wait a little while longer.
“I’ll be there (tomorrow) but I won’t coach,” Black said. “I did not officially inform the PBA because we didn’t win yet.”
“Coach Nash (Racela) will continue to coach tomorrow and I’ll come in as the head coach the following game.”
The Tropang Texters will face GlobalPort on Sunday and Air 21 on October 17 in what will be Black’s debut at the helm.
After leading Ateneo to a dominating championship run, all eyes are now on Black, who is expected to bring his winning tradition to Talk ‘N Text. Asked if he will be gunning for a third straight Philippine Cup crown for his new squad, he said that he doesn’t want to assure anything.
“Come on, I just got out of the pressure cooker and you want to put me right back in it again,” he said. “We’re just at the beginning of the PBA season.”
“But if we get to the semis and we’re lucky enough to be in the championship round, then we can start thinking about three-peat.”

source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/no-rest-black-to-focus-on-talk-n-text-after-clinching-fifth-title-with-ateneo

Fifth title the ‘sweetest’ for UAAP Finals MVP Salva

Karl Decena, InterAKTV · Thursday, October 11, 2012 · 8:07 pm

InterAKTV/Roy Afable

Aside from taking home his second straight UAAP Finals Most Valuable Player award, forward Nico Salva has been a staple in Ateneo’s dominance in the past years, playing for the team’s five straight championships.
But Salva, who will graduate from the team this year, said that this season’s title is the most special for him.
“I never imagined to get five championship in five years,” Salva said. “This one is the sweetest.”
Salva averaged 19 points per game in the finals and made his impact in the Blue Eagles’ 83-78 Game One victory last Saturday, exploding for a career-high 30 points. But he was limited to just eight points and six rebounds in their 65-62 Game Two triumph.
With all of his accomplishments, Salva believes that he has a bright future ahead of him. After the UAAP season, he will suit up for the NLEX Road Warriors in the PBA D-League and will join the SMART-Gilas Pilipinas national program’s cadet pool, which will represent the country in the Southeast Asian Games and the Asian Games.
Salva also intends to join the PBA Draft next year.
For now, Salva wants to savor his last title in his collegiate career.
“There’s nothing like leaving the school with a championship,” he said.

source: http://www.facebook.com/SanMigCoffeeBrewersOfficial/posts/453540604689794?notif_t=feed_comment

VIDEO | Mick Pennisi goes wrap around for the layup… and 1!

Jaemark Tordecilla · Thursday, October 11, 2012 · 3:59 pm

In our opinion, this Mick Pennisi highlight play in Barako Bull’s game against the Petron Blaze Boosters is just as mind-blowing as his epic flop.

source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/video-mick-pennisi-goes-wrap-around-for-the-layup-and-1