Yeng earns his spurs as Cone praises Painters' 'San Antonioesque' play By Reuben Terrado

Yeng Guiao's Rain or Shine side plays with the same consistency and toughness as the San Antonio Spurs, says San Mig coach Tim Cone. Jerome Ascano

SAN Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone may have won the latest round of his long-running rivalry with Rain or Shine's Yeng Guiao, but he only has respect and admiration for the enemy.
Moments after San Mig survived a torrid Rain or Shine comeback to pull off a 93-92 victory at the Big Dome, Cone reserved his biggest praise for their opponents, going as far as comparing the Elasto Painters to the San Antonio Spurs and their coach to Greg Popovich.
The way Guiao has turned Rain or Shine into a tough, fighting unit that plays consistently from the first minute to the last, regardless of which team it was facing, reminds him of the very same qualities that have made Popovich's Spurs perennial title contenders in the NBA, Cone said.
“Kinda reminds me of Popovich,” said Cone of Guiao after the hard-earned win. “They play the same offense and defense. They just keep coming back.”
What makes the Elasto Painters tough to beat is that they play with the same intensity from beginning to end, Cone said.
“His (Yeng Guiao) teams play the same way all the time. They don’t change. They play the same tempo, they play the same defense and offense from the first minute to the 48^th minute. It doesn’t matter what the score is,” Cone said.
The multi-titled coach said that it is that consistency that makes Rain or Shine a strong team even though the ballclub doesn't have a superstar in its lineup.
“They stay consistent while the other teams, they tend to change their play depending on the score. Some teams play a little faster on taking shots, but this team stays consistent and that’s what makes them tough in my opinion,” Cone said.
“I always say that with San Antonio,” he added.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @reubensports

source: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/yeng-earns-his-spurs-as-cone-praises-painters-san-antonioesque-play

Meralco tries to bounce back against Barako Bull; Streaking Ginebra faces Air 21

InterAKTV · Friday, November 30, 2012 · 12:35 am

PBA Images/Nuki Sabio

Meralco eyes a bounce-back game while Barangay Ginebra San Miguel hopes to extend its winning streak to five as they battle separate foes in the crucial double-header of the 2013 PBA Philippine Cup on Friday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

The Bolts face Barako Bull in the opener at 4:15 p.m. while the Kings entangle with Air 21 in the main tiff at 6:30 p.m.

Ginebra and Meralco are tied in the standings at 6-6 and they try to stay in the hunt for a top four finish after the elimination phase.

Their opponents are in a must-situation with the Express clinging on the No. 8 spot with 4-8 mark while the Energy Cola are a shade behind with 3-8.

“The game tomorrow is very important for us. ‘Yung mindset kailangan pang-playoff kasi sila rin ganoon,” said Kings mentor Siot Tanquingcen.

“Maganda rin nilalaro ng Air21. Breaks of the game lang sa end game kaya natatalo. Dapat focus kami sa execution ng offense at defense,” he added.

Express coach Franz Pumaren knows Ginebra is on a roll and they need to bring their best game to stand a chance.

“Crucial game for us. We are playing a team on a winning streak. We need everybody to contribute, stay focus and stick to our game plan because the crowd will be a big factor,” said Pumaren.

The Air 21-Ginebra encounter marks the first time Mike Cortez will be facing his former team since he was traded to the Express for big man Yousef Taha.

In the opener, the Bolts try to bounce back from an 88-85 defeat at the hands of Alaska with a victory over the Energy Cola of coach Bong Ramos.

“We didn’t close out a close game the way we wanted to against Alaska. Another situation must be corrected. We will persevere. We want to bounce back strong after a tough loss,” said Meralco mentor Ryan Gregorio.

Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/meralco-tries-to-bounce-back-against-barako-bull-streaking-ginebra-faces-air-21

Losing to Ginebra means nothing, says Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao

Rey Joble, InterAKTV · Monday, November 26, 2012 · 7:59 pm

AKTV/Paolo Papa

After squandering an 17-point lead to lose to Ginebra last Sunday, one would expect fiery Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao to be furious about the turn of events.
A day after the loss, however, Guiao was surprisingly nonchalant about the defeat.
“Wala ito,” Guiao told InterAKTV. “Our most important game will be against San Mig Coffee. That is a game that determines our future this conference. If we win, we’re still in the hunt for the top two.”
Even his team’s apparent collapse is no big deal, according to Guiao.
“It could happen to any team,” he said. “There were three things why we lost the game. First, we gave up a lot of second chance points, second we had a breakdown on defense, particularly against LA Tenorio and Chris Ellis and third, we were not able to match the energy of Ginebra’s fastbreaking game in the second half, a thing which we’ve been doing during the first half.”
But while Guiao was quick to brush off the loss, Rain or Shine star Gabe Norwood is determined to bounce back to make up for his sub-par offensive game.
Norwood, who was held scoreless, cannot wait to get back on court to play against San Mig Coffee.
“The energy was there, but I can’t buy a basket. I was kind of disappointed,” said Norwood. “This wasn’t the first time it happened to me. I was also held scoreless in one of our finals game against B-MEG last season.
“I’m looking forward to play in the most important game for us, against San Mig Coffee.”'
source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/losing-to-ginebra-means-nothing-says-rain-or-shine-coach-yeng-guiao

Alvin Patrimonio, San Mig Coffee give warm welcome to honest airport worker

Rey Joble, InterAKTV · Friday, November 23, 2012 · 7:29 pm

PBA/Nuki Sabio

Ronald Gadayan grew up watching Alvin Patrimonio star for the Purefoods franchise.
A building attendant at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Gadayan was in the headlines a couple of months ago after returning cash and other valuables worth P1.8 million.
“Ang turo po ng aking magulang ay wag kunin ang bagay na hindi sa iyo. Lumaki po akong naghihikahos, pero kailan man hindi ko pinag-interesan ang mga bagay na napupulot ko sa trabaho,” said Gadayan then.
On Friday, Gadayan got a bit of a reward for his honesty as the San Mig Coffee Mixers welcomed him and his family to the SMART-Araneta Coliseum with a courtside seat for their match against the Air 21 Express.
Gadayan even met his childhood hero, Alvin Patrimonio, who now serves as the Mixers’ team manager.
“He’s my hero,” Patrimonio told InterAKTV in an exclusive interview. “What he did was a good virtue. It’s nice to see have someone like him, who fortunately is a diehard fan of Purefoods/San Mig Coffee. We’re honored to have him.”
San Mig Coffee team executive Rene Pardo said the small gesture from the team was a no-brainer to honor the honest man.
“I told him na bihira na yang mga ganyang tao ngayon. Masaya ako to have him and we’re also proud to have a die-hard fan like him. He’s a modern day hero,” said Pardo.

source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/alvin-patrimonio-san-mig-coffee-give-warm-welcome-to-honest-airport-worker

At San Mig Coffee, Tim Cone demands defensive commitment from top guns Yap, Simon

Rey Joble, InterAKTV · Friday, November 23, 2012 · 10:37 pm

AKTV/Paul Ryan Tan

San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone has been associated with the triangle offense, but ask the coach and he would proudly claim that he does his best work on the defensive end.
And when he took over the Purefoods franchise last season, he wanted to instill a culture of defensive commitment across the roster.
“When we first came in, our main objective is to turn this team into a defensive unit,” Cone told InterAKTV.
That included getting the team’s top guns James Yap and Peter June Simon, who were known almost as much for their lackluster defense as their scoring prowess, to buy into his system on defense.
“We never had a problem with these two players learning our defensive schemes. Other star players may have problems committing themselves to defense, but James and PJ are two very coachable players willing to do things defensively.”
After 11 games, San Mig Coffee has remained the league’s top defensive team.
“There’s no real secret about how we do things. It’s more about the fundamentals and attention to details. When we say fundamentals, it’s about staying low defensively, what to do with player on the ball and player without the ball,” said Cone
“When James and PJ learned that they need to defend in order for us to win, they themselves committed to defense. I think the two players are far better defensively than the first time we handled them more than a year ago.”
Assistant coach Jeffrey Cariaso said it’s all about commitment for the two stars.
“They committed themselves to defense, including James, the star of the team. He’s my barometer. He may not be the real stopper, but he has definitely improved defensively. If there’s one thing I’m really proud of in more than a year we’ve been in this team, it’s our improvement on defense,” said Cariaso, a renowned stopper during his playing career, when he was named to the All-Defensive team as a member of four different PBA squads.
“But you need to work on it every practice because there’s a tendency for them to go back at the old habits.”
Against Air 21 Friday night, the Mixers clamped down on defense late, holding the Express scoreless in a four-minute stretch to preserve the win.
But Cone has the luxury of a defensive ace up his sleeve in Marc Pingris, whom he could turn to in just about any situation.
“Obviously, he’s our secret weapon. He can guard all players we want him to defend. He can guard a point guard, a shooter, a power forward and a center. Whenever there’s trouble on defense, we count on Ping,” added Cone.

source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/at-san-mig-coffee-tim-cone-demands-defensive-commitment-from-top-guns-yap-simon

Big Game James, ‘Coffee Prince’ Barroca lead San Mig Coffee to bounce-back win over Air 21 via AKTV

Rey Joble, InterAKTV · Friday, November 23, 2012 · 9:53 pm

PBA/Nuki Sabio

Photo Courtesy of Hael Pinat

The San Mig Coffee Mixers bounced back from an embarrassing loss with a solid win over the Air 21 Express, 89-80, Friday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
James Yap scored 16 of his 20 points in the first half, while Mark Barroca added 12 points, five rebounds, and two assists for the Mixers, who were coming off a 29-point loss to Talk ‘N Text last Wednesday.
“It’s a good bounce-back game for us. We got embarrassed big time, and we figured it will be difficult to recover from a loss like that. It’s harder for management, fans, and coaches. But a 30-point loss is the same as one-point loss. We were concerned about how we’re going to respond,” said Cone.
“We didn’t have time to dwell about the loss to Talk ‘N Text because we’re up against Air 21. We used the loss to Talk ‘N Text as a way to propel us, just like what we did when we lost to Powerade, which led us eventually to winning the Commissioner’s Cup last season.”
Up by only six points following KG Canaleta’s basket, 82-76, San Mig Coffee tightened its screws on Air 21 to end the match.
No Air 21 player was able to score until Mark Isip hit a garbage basket with only 23.9 seconds to go and San Mig Coffee up by 13 point, 89-76.
Jonas Villanueva chipped in 11 points and Rafi Reavis contributed 10 for the Mixers, who forged a tie for second spot with Rain or Shine at 8-3.
Air 21 suffered its second straight loss and seventh in 11 games.
The scores:
SAN MIG COFFEE 89 – Yap 20, Barroca 12, Villanueva 11, Reavis 10, Simon 9, Pingris 8, Devance 7, Intal 6, De Ocampo 6, Gonzales 0.
AIR 21 80 – Canaleta 18, Sena 10, Isip 10, Cortez 9, Wilson 8, Custodio 8, Reyes 7, Ritualo 6, Baclao 4, Atkins 0, Arboleda 0.
Quarters: 25-21, 51-45, 73-66, 89-80

source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/big-game-james-coffee-prince-barroca-lead-san-mig-coffee-to-bounce-back-win-over-air-21

PBA 2013 "Manila Classico - Patuloy na Tagumpay?" Ginebra vs San Mig Coffee 11/4/12

 

source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMUZhvHc3jA&feature=watch-vrec

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