Off-Game James: Rain or Shine effort, smarts, luck add up to Yap’s miserable performance

AKTV/Paul Ryan Tan

It took effort and intelligence combined with a little bit of luck.
That was how Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao explained how his team was able to hold the deadly James Yap to just six points on 1-of-11 shooting on Christmas Day, allowing the Elasto Painters to cruise to a 98-72 victory.
“Jireh Ibañes, Gabe Norwood and Ryan Araña really committed themselves to playing defense against James. Wala naming special formula except that these guys are intelligent enough and knows how to defend James properly. They just showed extra effort on defense in Game Three, especially after James erupted in Game Two,” said Guiao.
“We defended well, on the other hand, he was having an off night as well. Maybe the law of averages caught up with him because it’s hard to follow up a game where you played fantastic.”
Yap’s miserable performance came just a game after he sizzled for 34 points in Game Two, which the Mixers won, 106-82.
After the woeful outing, Guiao said he remains wary of Yap’s capacity to explode.
“You can’t just put anybody who’s quick enough to defend him. You need intelligent defenders to defend against an intelligent player like James Yap,” said Guiao.
“Si James, matalino siya because he knows how to use the screens properly and he has the special ability to catch off guard his defenders.”
Guiao expects Yap to continue to be a key to the series.
“San Mig Coffee knows that its best chance of winning is for James to score more, while our chances of winning is to try and stop him from producing more points.”

source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/off-game-james-rain-or-shine-effort-smarts-luck-add-up-to-yaps-miserable-performance

Frustrated Cone wants to see San Mig play with more urgency in Game Two By Richard Dy

“It’s just that we didn’t play the game with playoff intensity. That’s where the frustration was," says San Mig coach Tim Cone, who left the Big Dome without talking to the players after Game Two. Jerome Ascano

TIM Cone was so frustrated after San Mig Coffee’s 83-91 Game One loss to Rain or Shine on Wednesday night that he didn't bother to talk to the players inside the dugout and headed straight home.
The multi-titled coach was in a better mood after the Mixers' practice on Thursday morning, or at least in the mood to talk.
“It’s just that we didn’t play the game with playoff intensity. That’s where the frustration was," Cone toldSpin.ph as he poured out his frustrations over a game where the bigger and well-rested Mixers were outrebounded, outhustled, and outplayed by a Rain or Shine team coming off just a day's rest.
"But we expect a lot of improvement tomorrow (Friday),” Cone added.
Cone holed himself up with his staff to review the video and obviously found a lot of things wrong. But he said one of the main things he addressed during practice was their failure to execute their plays well.
“We didn’t do a good job executing in Game One. It was obvious from the video," Cone said. "So come Game Two, we want them to be more aggressive and play with a sense of urgency. We thought we could have played a lot better but we just didn’t.”
Relying on just one legitimate playmaker in Mark Barroca in the absence of regular starter Jonas Villanueva has also created problems for the Mixers, who also turned the ball over 16 times which led to 15 bonus points for the Elasto Painters.
Cone, who turned 55 last Dec. 14, said the team misses Villanueva, the team captain who is still recovering from a bout with dengue.
But Cone said he now expects Villanueva to be available for Game Three on Christmas Day.
“The target was for Jonas to play in Game Four. But he was able to do shooting drills this morning. So because of his activity, Christmas Day game is a possibility for Jonas,” said Cone.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @richava

source: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/frustrated-cone-wants-to-see-mixers-play-with-more-urgency-in-game-two

James Yap skips practice but vows to play through the pain in Game Two By Richard Dy

San Mig star James Yap hyperextended his right knee during a loose ball scuffle with Rain or Shine’s Gabe Norwood late in the Game One loss to Rain or Shine on Wednesday night. Jerome Ascano

SUPERSTAR James Yap skipped San Mig Coffee’s Thursday morning practice as the team’s medical staff advised him to rest his right knee which he hurt late in a Game One loss on Wednesday night.
The two-time PBA MVP hyperextended his right knee during a loose ball scuffle with Rain or Shine’s Gabe Norwood late in the fourth period, a situation that alarmed Yap as he limped off the court.
“First time ko kasi makaramdam ng ganung klaseng sakit sa tuhod. Sabi sa akin (ng team staff) na ipahinga ko na lang muna,” said the former University of the East star.
Yap's knee was wrapped in ice the whole time while the rest of the Mixers went through their paces in practice.
Yap, however, vowed to play in Game Two on Friday even if he has to play through the pain, something he had done often in his nine-year PBA career that began with the same franchise that drafted him second overall.
“Kung ako lang, kahit naman may masakit basta kaya ko, practice lang ako. Ngayon kung masakit pa rin bukas (Friday), mag-pain reliever na lang ako,” said the 32-year-old.
Yap is also determined to come out stronger offensively in the second game of the best-of-seven series after finishing with 11 points on 3-of-13 shooting in the Mixers’ 91-83 loss to the Painters.
“Medyo nanggigil din kasi ako sa Game One kaya marami akong mga miss sa drive ko saka jump shot. Pero maganda din depensa sa akin. Ganun lang talaga, kailangan lang bumawi,” Yap said.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @richava

source: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/james-yap-skips-practice-but-vows-to-play-through-the-pain-in-game-two#.UNKo2KPOujg.twitter

REPEAT OR REVENGE

source: http://pba.inquirer.net/5901/repeat-or-vengeance

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One team is out for validation of its worthiness as a champion and the other is out for redemption.

Four months after their title clash last conference, Rain or Shine and San Mig Coffee meet in another playoff showdown with all the trimmings of a classic duel.

They battle on one side of the PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinals series with the winner advancing to the titular playoff versus the victor of the Talk n Text-Alaska Milk faceoff.

The Mixers and the Elasto Painters, the second and third best teams in the elimination round, start their semis confrontation at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Rain or Shine seeks a repeat its conquest of San Mig Coffee (then called B-Meg) last conference, ending its six-year wait for a breakthrough championship in the pro league.

San Mig Coffee, meanwhile, is out for vengeance, redemption and more respect, being a champion team itself that last hoisted a PBA trophy just at the end of the last Commissioner’s Cup.

Thus, it’s a battle of champs that both sides expect to be a tough grind.

“It’s a battle that may come down to a deciding Game Seven,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.

“It should be a great series,” said San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone.

Rain or Shine narrowly escaped with an 80-79 win in their first meeting in the elims last Oct. 24 then San Mig evened up also with a hairline of a win, 93-92, on Dec. 2.

Making their semis duel showdown more exciting is both teams playing with a complete, healthy lineup. They have great individual matchups at the backcourt and up front.

“As opposed to our championship series last conference, we feel we match up better this time around,” said Cone.

“Paul Lee’s and Chris Tiu’s additions have certainly made RoS a deeper, tougher team, but having Joe (Devance), JC (Intal) and Wes (Gonzales) available for us this time around helps even things out,” Cone added.

It’s the combo of James Yap, PJ Simon and Mark Barroca versus Lee, Tiu, Ryan Arana, Jeff Chan and Gabe Norwood at the backcourt and the gang of Devance, Marc Pingris, Rafi Reavis and Yancy de Ocampo against Beau Belga, JR Quinahan, Jervy Cruz, Larry Rodriguez and Ronnie Matias at the frontcourt.

Yap, the biggest ace on Cone’s sleeves, could be up for a tougher grind if RoS defensive specialist Jireh Ibanes is able to come back from injury. (SB)

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Bad news for James: Nemesis Ibanes passed fit in time for series against Yap and San Mig By Richard Dy

Rain or Shine defensive stopper Jireh Ibanes, back in action after being sidelined for a month by a broken hand, has a long history of animosity with San Mig star James Yap. Jerome Ascano 

BAD news for James Yap.
When San Mig Coffee starts its PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series against Rain or Shine on Wednesday, one player in the Painters camp who not only has had success stopping him but also has clearly gotten under the skin of the league's most famous player has been passed fit just in time to play in Game One.
Rain or Shine defensive ace Jireh Ibanes is set to return to action for the opener of the best-of-seven series after being sidelined for over a month by a fractured hand he suffered while going for a steal in the Painters' 71-62 win over Air21 on November 17 in Tubod, Lanao del Norte.
The former UP Fighting Maroon had missed the team’s last four games in the eliminations and the three-game quarterfinal series against Barangay Ginebra but, unfortunately for Yap, has been declared fit for the San Mig series.
The two have a long history of animosity that took roots during last season's Governors Cup Finals, which the Painters won in seven games. The bad blood came to a boil during the two teams' first meeting of the season last October 24 when Yap uncharacteristically lost his cool.
During that game, Ibanes' defensive tactics, which Yap later claimed bordered on the dirty, had the San Mig star being called for a technical for second motion in the first half, and later ejected from the game for a flagrant foul after he went after Ibanes on a fastbreak and tagged him with a hard foul.
Yap was still steaming after the ejection that instead of retreating to the dugout he went straight to the press room to watch the rest of the match on TV. The Painters won, 80-79, completing a comeback from an 18-point second-half deficit.
Painters coach Yeng Guiao said he’s confident Ibanes can bring the defensive energy they need against a power-packed Mixers roster, but he did not say exactly if he really timed - or rushed - Ibanes' return precisely for the series against Yap and the Mixers.
“I know he can defend because that has been his designation in the team, he’s our best defensive stopper and his assignment basically will be to guard James Yap and PJ Simon,” Guiao told Spin.ph.
Guiao however, is uncertain if Ibanes’ shooting stroke is back, since the 30-year-old Rain or Shine guard only resumed ball handling lately.
“Tingnan ko na lang sa game kung balik na siya sa kundisyon niya since late na rin siya humawak ng bola. I’m not so sure how he can handle the ball, though in practice, mukha namang okay. Pero siyempre, iba pa rin yung game,” said Guiao.
"Saka I’m not sure about his shooting stroke, so maybe, I’ll first give him about 15 minutes," he added.
The six-year PBA veteran averaged 23.4 minutes, producing 7.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists during his first 10 games of the conference before he got injured.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @richava

Nonito Donaire vs Jorge Arce Full Fight - December 16, 2012 REPLAY

SOURCE: http://www.trupinoytv.com/2012/12/nonito-donaire-vs-jorge-arce-full-fight.html

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SAN MIG COFFEE BOOKS SEMIS SEAT

2:09 pm | Thursday, December 13th, 2012

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Put to a test, sophomore Mark Barroca rose to the occasion and helped San Mig Coffee redeem itself from its harrowing experience in the same stage of the PBA Philippine Cup last season.

Barroca dazzled at the finish as the Mixers squeezed out a 92-87 win in overtime over the Petron Blaze Boosters and booked a berth in the Final Four before a good Thursday crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The rookie playmaker was all over the floor at endgame, coming through with one crucial play after another to personally ease Petron Blaze out of the tourney.

It was redemption for the whole team after topping the elims of the tourney last season only to bungle its twice-to-beat advantage versus eventual second placer Powerade.

There’s no stopping coach Tim Cone and his troops from moving to the next round this time.

“Talk about being put in a wringer…..just facing Petron in the quarters is tough. That’s why we really wanted it done right away. We didn’t want a second game,” said Cone.

“It was such a crucial performance by us tonight to knock them out. They had great expectation coming into the season. And getting knocked out is tough. We experienced it last year,” Cone also said.

It took the Mixers great individual effort, including that of Barroca, who curiously was doubtful for this game two days ago.

“He’s Wolverine for us. He is knocked out one moment and he heals in the next moment. On Tuesday in practice, we thought we lost him to an elbow injury. The next day, he showed up and said he’s ready to play,” said Cone.

And what a game Barroca played!

Seeing extended minutes with Jonas Villanueva downed by dengue, the former Smart Gilas mainstay proved up to the task and even emerged the team’s biggest hero with numerous key plays down the stretch.

He took a steal then set up Rafi Reavis for a play that sent the latter to the stripe. He later scored on a jumper then drained two charities to keep the Boosters at bay in OT.

The Mixers had a chance to win it right away in regulation but James Yap missed a step-back jumper off Chris Lutz in the dying seconds.

Yap nonetheless had his moments, leading all scorers with 23 markers.

Marc Pingris piled up double-double numbers with 20 points and 11 rebounds while Joe Devance and PJ Simon added 12 markers each.

The two teams figured in a battle with June Mar Fajardo, Alex Cabagnot, Marcio Lassiter and Arwind Santos leading the Petron Blaze charge.

Lassiter failed to finish the game after a bad fall with 5:51 left to play. He was taken out of the venue on a stretcher and rushed to the hospital. (SB)

source: http://pba.inquirer.net/4891/san-mig-coffee-books-semis-seat