PBA PHILIPPINE CUP CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS: FINALS BY Aaron Atayde

We have finally reached the Finals of our Champion of Champions tournament. We are now down to the last two championship teams within the past decade. And it is time for the fans to decide who was the best of the best.

In the semifinals, the San Miguel teams ripped both Talk ‘N Text teams to shreds. The 2006-07 Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings beat the living day lights out of the recently crowned three-peat TNT champion squad. In the other semifinal match-up, the Purefoods Chunkee Giants of the ’05-’06 season did the same against the ’08-’09 Tropang Texters.

So this is where we lay. With two teams fighting it out for the right to call themselves the Champion of Champions. And it had to be these two teams. It had to be Ginebra and Purefoods. It had to be Manila Clasico.

So who is will be the people’s champ? That is for you to decide.

Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings (2006-07) vs. Purefoods Chunkee Giants (2005-06)

Manila Clasico in the Champion of Champions. Can’t get any better than this. These two teams are one year apart and yet in both Philippine Cup playoffs, they didn’t play each other. Imagine if they did.

Well, now you can.

Depth, check. Size, check, Talent, check. These two teams are more than capable of walking away from this with the ultimate Perpetual trophy. It is now just up to you to decide which one it will be.

Ginebra or Purefoods. The question has been going on for years. It is now time to settle it.

Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings (2006-07)

StartersPG – JJ Helterbrand – 13.1 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 8.5 APG
SG – Mark Caguioa – 24.6 PPG, 4.9 RPG, and 4.4 APG
C – Rafi Reavis – 8.3 PPG, 8.5 RPG, and 0.9 APG
PF – Rudy Hatfield – 15.4 PPG, 11.6 RPG, and 2.7 APG
SF – Sunday Salvacion – 9.3 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 0.8 APG

BenchEric Menk – 12.7 PPG, 8 RPG, and 2.2 APG
Ronald Tubid – 8.8 PPG, 2.9 RPG, and 1.3 APG

Other notablesMark Macapagal
Billy Mamaril

Purefoods Chunkee Giants (2005-06)

StartersPG – Noy Castillo – 6.4 PPG, 2 RPG, and 1.7 APG
SG – Roger Yap – 7.6 PPG, 3.8 RPG, and 3.9 APG
C – Kerby Raymundo – 15.2 PPG, 9.9 RPG, and 3.2 APG
PF – Marc Pingris – 11 PPG, 11.1 RPG, and 1.3 APG
SF – James Yap – 20.1 PPG, 4.3 RPG, and 1.1 APG

BenchRichard Yee – 7 PPG, 5.2 RPG, and 0.6 APG
Jun Limpot – 7.5 PPG, 3 RPG, and 0.3 APG

Other notablesPaul Artadi
PJ Simon

Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings (2006-07) or Purefoods Chunkee Giants (2005-06)?

•  Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings (2006-07)
•  Purefoods Chunkee Giants (2005-06)

View Results

Categories: PBA - Tags: Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, Champion of Champions, San Mig Coffee Mixers

source: http://www.slamonlineph.com/philippine-basketball-association/pba-philippine-cup-champion-of-champions-finals/

The face of resilience By Richard Dy

“We’re getting better every day. We’re trying to learn as a team," says San Mig import Matt Rogers. Jerome Ascano

A SERIOUS face injury almost put an end to the playing career of Matt Rogers, but his unbending will and faith in God helped him get back on his feet and play again.
“Having my faith in God reassures me that He has a plan for my life through trials, tribulations, injuries or cuts or whatever struggles I go through,” Rogers shared to Spin.ph. "God always has the best plan for us."

Until now, Rogers still vividly remembers that one unforgettable night in Lebanon when he suffered that career-threatening injury. Rogers was playing in his debut game as an import in the strife-torn nation when he was accidentally elbowed in the face.
So bad was the damage to his face that he had to leave the Middle East country after only five days and go back to the US to undergo full reconstructive surgery.
The 6-foot-11 Rogers was idle for the next eight weeks as he had to recover fully from the operation.
Through those trying moments, Rogers found solace in his deep faith to God, which he said  strengthened his Christian belief and paved the way later for his basketball career to blossom further.
Rogers had an opportunity to join the Indiana Pacers after playing for the team in the summer leagues last year where he averaged decent numbers of 4.2 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.2 steals.
He failed to make the cut of the Pacers’ final roster, but the Southwest Baptist University alumnus found his way to Spain after landing a contract with the Leyma Natura Coruna in the Liga Espanola de Baloncesto (LEB) Gold League.
From the Spanish league, Rogers then accepted the latest offer to suit up for San Mig Coffee, which he hopes to help defend the PBA Commissioner’s Cup starting on February 8.
During the Mixers’ tune-up game against Rain or Shine at the Reyes gym over the weekend, Rogers had his hands full defending the Elasto Painters’ 7-foot-3 Croatian import Bruno Sundov.
The Mixers got pounded by the quick Elasto Painters in the final period and tumbled to their third straight loss during the season break via an 83-92 decision.
Despite San Mig’s early struggle in the team’s buildup for the mid-season conference, Rogers remained optimistic the reigning champions won’t carry over their 0-3 record to the real battle.
“We’re getting better every day. We’re trying to learn as a team. We’ve got three or four new players in the team so it’s hard,” Rogers said.
Unfamiliarity with Tim Cone's triangle offense has been the major issue some of the new players in the team are facing, particularly rookie guard Alex Mallari, forward Leo Najorda and Lester Alvarez, all of whom the team acquired recently in a blockbuster 10-player, five-team trade.
“We need to learn to play together. But after two weeks, I think we’ll be really as good as we expect our team to be. We’re getting ready to take care of business by February 8,” he added.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @richava

source: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/special-reports/the-face-of-resilience-v02

Ginebra bid for Aguilar may be revived as SMC bigwigs meet to plot next move By Snow Badua

Players like Nonoy Baclao, Ronjay Buenafe, Japeth Aguilar, and Kerby Raymundo may find themselves on the move if the SMC group decides to pull the trigger on previously shelved transactions. Jerome Ascano

BASKETBALL officials of of San Miguel Corp. are meeting on Sunday to plot the organization's next move in the wake of Ginebra and Petron's aborted trade bids for Japeth Aguilar and a couple other players.
Sources told Spin.ph that San Miguel head of basketball operations and current PBA chairman Robert Non had requested a meeting with Ramon S. Ang, a hands-on boss who has the final say on player and coaches' movements among the three teams under the SMC umbrella.
A meeting that was supposed to be the usual pre-conference round-table discussion among Ang and his coaches will now involve Non and other team governors as they decide on whether to pursue an aborted deal last week that was supposed to bring Aguilar to Ginebra's fold. (For the full story of the aborted deal, click here: Rumor or Fact).
“Dapat tuloy na yun talaga eh. Pero ngayon mag-uusap ulit sila," said the Spin.ph source.
Under the terms of the original proposal of a complex six-team deal, Petron was supposed to part with forward Jay Washington and get Vic Manuel and Jason Deustchmann from Globalport while Aguilar was set to land in Ginebra's lap while the Kings part with Kerby Raymundo, who in turn will be packaged by Globalport with Rey Guevarra and sent to Meralco for Sol Mercado and Kelly Nabong.
Globalport, for its part, would have ended up with Mercado and Washington.
When San Miguel pulled the plug on the deal on the sidelines of the PBA board's planning session in Singapore last week, Globalport went ahead with two revised deals: the Mikee Romero-owned franchise got Aguilar in a straight swap with Talk 'N Text for Rabeh Al-Hussani then acquired Mercado, Nabong, and JP Belencion from Meralco for Guevarra, Manuel, Josh Vanlandingham, and a first-round draft pick.
“Ayaw kasi i-alis sa Petron nung isang SMC official si Jay Washington. Maganda daw kasi ang nilalaro recently," bared a source, explaining the SMC organization's last-minute change of heart.
The talks with Ang, however, could see the SMC group revive its bid for Aguilar in deals that need to be repackaged since the original pieces of the transaction - like Mercado, Manuel and Nabong - have already been sent to other teams.
An option for the SMC organization, however, is to incorporate Aguilar in another transaction that is currently on hold - one that could involve Petron, Ginebra, Air21, Globalport, and Meralco, and players Ronjay Buenafe, Noy Baclao, Jason Ballesteros, John Wilson, and Raymundo.
One stumbling block to the deal could be Romero's expressed desire to keep Aguilar at Globalport, where he is set to join a core that now includes Mercado, Gary David, and Willie Miller.
One official from Meralco admits they are now closely monitoring developments at San Miguel camp, saying: “The ball is already in their hands.”
Meralco is looking to acquire the fleet-footed Raymundo in the trade, with Aguilar set to go to Ginebra, Air21 acquiring Buenafe, and Globalport getting Washington.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @spinph

source: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/ginebra-bid-for-aguilar-may-be-revived-as-smc-bigwigs-meet-to-plot-next-move-v02

Painters coach Guiao's order to 7-3 Sundov: Intimidate and dominate By Richard Dy

Rain or Shine import Bruno Sundov towers over San Mig reinforcement Matt Rogers during their tune-up game on Friday at the Reyes Gym in Mandaluyong City. Jerome Ascano

AS the tallest import in the coming PBA Commissioner’s Cup, Croatian Bruno Sundov has to be reminded time and again of the need to adopt a mentality of intimidation for Rain or Shine to be considered one of the legitimate title contenders in the mid-season offering.
At 7-foot-3, coach Yeng Guiao expects Sundov to be more of a defensive threat in the middle who could intimidate opponents with his sheer presence alone.
“Ang kulang lang sa import namin, he just has to understand that he’s the tallest guy on the court so he could be intimidating. If he’s not blocking shots, at least he’s intimidating on the court. Yun kasi ang kailangan namin,” said deputy Caloy Garcia, who called the shots in lieu of head coach Yeng Guiao during the Painters' exhibition match against defending champion San Mig Coffee Friday at the oven-hot Reyes gym in Mandaluyong City.
“Coach Yeng talked to Bruno this morning, and was telling him about his role in the team. Since this will be a short tournament, we have to rely on our import,” added Garcia.
(For pictures of the tune-up match, here's the link: Gallery.)
Guiao missed out on the game as he had to attend to a meeting in Pampanga since Thursday.
He failed to see Sundov drop 21 points, dominate the boards with 16 rebounds, and block three shots in a 93-82 win over the Mixers.
The Elasto Painters are so far 1-1 in tune-up matches the last two days, losing to Meralco Bolts Thursday, 98-106, in a game that saw Sundov hit 32 points and grab 10 rebounds.
Aside from explaining the role Sundov has to play in the conference featuring imports of unlimited height, Garcia said Guiao also reminded the Elasto Painters to forget the embarrassing 4-0 sweep the team suffered at the hands of three-time champion Talk `N Text during the recent Philippine Cup Finals.
“Iyan ang ni-remind ni coach sa amin na tapos na yun (Finals). Now we look forward to winning as many games as possible since this is a very short tournament,” said Garcia.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @richava

SOURCE: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/painters-coach-guiaos-order-to-7-3-sundov-intimidate-and-dominate

Rabeh's arrival makes great Texters team even better, says Yap By Snow Badua

“Malaking bagay si Rabeh (Al-Hussaini) sa ilalim. Magaling sa depensa 'yun, tsaka masipag sa rebound,” says San Mig Coffee star James Yap. Jerome Ascano

FOR two-time PBA MVP James Yap, Talk `N Text’s formidable lineup just got even more potent following the arrival of Rabeh Al-Hussaini.
“Kahit naman noong wala pa si Rabeh malakas na ang Talk `N Text,” stressed Yap, while acknowledging the likely huge contributions at the post the former Rookie of the Year can give to coach Norman Black's team.
No wonder Yap now has the Tropang Texters high on his list as the biggest threat to the Mixers’ bid for a back-to-back Commissioner’s Cup championship.
The San Mig Coffee superstar also expects better ball rotation for the reigning three-time Philippine Cup champions as frontcourt help has been the one lacking in the Tropang Texters’ system in the past.
Only veteran Ali Peek provides the inside threat in the half court play of coach Norman Black as the team’s other big men such as Ranidel de Ocampo, Kelly Williams, and Harvey Carey are more comfortable roaming the perimeter.
Yap also thinks Al-Hussani’s defensive skills will be a big plus factor for the telecommunication franchise, which acquired the former UAAP MVP after trading the rights to 6-foot-9 wantaway center Japeth Aguilar to Globalport.
“Malaking bagay si Rabeh sa ilalim. Magaling sa depensa yun, tsaka masipag sa rebound,” noted Yap, whose team beat the Tropang Texters in a do-or-die Game Seven last year to clinch the Commissioner’s Cup title.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @snowbadua

SOURCE: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/great-talk-n-text-team-becomes-even-better-with-rabehs-arrival-says-yap

YAP OPTIMISTIC SAN MIG COFFEE CAN DEFEND TITLE By Snow Badua

YAP IS POSITIVE HIS TEAM CAN WIN THE COMMISSIONER'S CUP AGAIN BUT KNOWS THE DEFENSE OF THE TITLE WILL NOT COME EASY.

MANILA - San Mig Coffee Mixers superstar James Yap is optimistic that his team can very well defend the Commissioner’s Cup crown.

But the Escalante, Negros Occidental native thinks that his team’s road to the defense of the title will not come easy.

“Alam mo naman, lahat ng teams nagpalakas halos… Ano ang ibig sabihin nun? Gusto nila kaming unahan sa korona,” said Yap, who once again fell short of a Philippine Cup finals stint last month.

But the debonair shooter said his teammates are now motivated following the recent success of Talk N’ Text Tropang Texters in defending the All-Filipino Cup crown for the second straight time.

“Kaya yan… Kaya… Basta mag focus lang kami sa training nang husto at ibigay ang lahat sa game, kaya yan. Sana,” added Yap.

In its bid to further improve their grasp of the complicated triangle offense, Yap bared that San Mig is back to practicing twice a day since last week.

Since Tim Cone assumed the head coaching job at the Mixers’ side, the team has been regularly conducting bi-daily practices.

“Kailangan kasi naming talaga makuha yung sistema ng triangle, lalo pa ngayon may mga bago pa kami sa team,” said Yap, who is happy to welcome his new teammates.

Just recently, San Mig was part of the unprecedented 5-team, 10-player trade that saw them acquiring rookie guard Alex Mallari, Lester Alvarez and veteran wingman Leo Najorda.

In the process the Mixers lost Jonas Villanueva, JC Intal and sophomore forward Aldrech Ramos.

Yap and his teammates open up hostilities of Commissioner’s Cup Friday versus Barako Bull Energy Cola in the main game of a double header at the Araneta Coliseum.

Source: http://www.solarsportsdesk.ph/bk/bknews/2013/02/01/yap-optimistic-san-mig-coffee-can-defend-title

Baculi happy to see new-boy Mercado blend with stars David and Miller By Richard Dy

Sol Mercado scored seven points and issued seven assists in his first tune-up game with Globalport and, more importantly, found a way to work well with fellow stars Gary David and Willie Miller. Jerome Ascano

GLOBALPORT had just dropped its third straight tune-up game following its 84-87 loss to Air21 on Friday, yet a smile remains in new coach Junel Baculi's face.
His joy is understandable, of course, after seeing the team's newest recruit, Sol Mercado, find a way to blend with Globalport two other star guards, Gary David and Willie Miller, during the game.
"The guys respect Sol and Sol respect them too," Baculi told Spin.ph after the tune-up game at the Moro Lorenzo gym inside the Ateneo campus.
"Ang maganda pa dito, the bench was very happy unlike dati na parang gloomy. I see a very bright future for this team," added the new Globalpot bench tactician.
Mercado and rookies Kelly Nabong and JP Belencion joined the team from Meralco in a trade that saw the Batang Pier bid goodbye to Rey Guevarra, Vic Manuel, Josh Vanlandingham, and a first-round pick.
The flashy guard who led the league in scoring and assists in the Philippine Cup jumped straight into tune-up game a day after the trade, scoring seven points and issuing seven assists.
The Batang Pier also expect Japeth Aguilar, whom they acquired on Thursday in a straight swap with Talk 'N Text for Rabeh Al-Hussaini, to arrive on Monday morning.
Baculi said Friday's tune-up game will be the team's last in its Commissioner's Cup buildup as the Batang Pier focus on developing chemistry ahead of the February 8 opening.
Baculi admits import Justin Williams is not a high-scoring type of player, the reason the team is now surrounding him with several scorers. Williams scored nine points, grabbed nine rebounds and swatted away three shots against Air21.
"Iyan naman talaga ang role sa amin ni Justin. He's a defensive player kaya namin siya sinu-surround ng mga scorers," explained Baculi.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @richava

source: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/baculi-happy-to-see-new-boy-mercado-blend-with-stars-david-and-miller