TNT's Black is not taking 'hungry' San Mig lightly By Richard Dy

"We just want to continue to improve on our defense while keeping the game as up tempo as possible," says Talk 'N Text coach Norman Black ahead of their match against San Mig on Sunday. Jerome Ascano

TALK ’N Text coach Norman Black is convinced that at any given night, still winless defending champion San Mig Coffee is capable of recapturing its old, championship form.
That's why Black is readying the Tropang Texters (2-1) to engage the slumping Mixers (0-3) ahead of the rematch of last year’s PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals protagonists on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Black said defense and an up-tempo offense that maximizes the Texters' deep bench will be their main weapon against the Mixers, whom he expects to go all-out in light of their back-to-back lopsided losses that have left them in an unfamiliar place nearthe bottom of the pack.
“We are expecting a hungry San Mig team especially in light of their loss to Rain or Shine last Friday,” said Black ahead of the 6:30 p.m. showdown with the Mixers.
"We just want to continue to improve on our defense while keeping the game as up tempo as possible."
The Mixers bowed to the Petron Boosters, 73-98, on February 13 before absorbing their worst beating this season against the Elasto Painters, 65-93, spoiling the return of last season’s Commissioner’s Cup Best Import Denzel Bowles.
Bowles, the 6-foot-10 forward out of James Madison University, took the blame for the loss and vowed to come out with a much better effort against a Tropang Texters side reinforced by the 6-11 Keith Benson.
“I'm sure they (Tropang Texters) want to come out and blow us out but we're not going to give up on that. We'll come out on Sunday,” said Bowles, who had 12 points on 4-of-12 shooting, 14 rebounds and an eye-popping eight turnovers against Rain or Shine.
Talk ’N Text is slowly getting back to its deadly form as seen in its 99-79 lynching of Globalport on Wednesday.
Benson recorded another double-double with 20 points, 19 rebounds and five blocks, serving as the team’s defensive anchor. Jason Castro, Jimmy Alapag, Larry Fonacier and even Kelly Williams are expected to lend additional scoring support for the Tropang Texters, who bowed to the Mixers in the Finals of last season’s Commissioner’s Cup, 3-4.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @richava

source: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/tnts-black-is-not-taking-hungry-san-mig-lightly

Struggling San Mig Coffee will turn things around, promises coach Tim Cone

AKTV file/Paolo Papa

San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone is disturbed by his team’s 0-3 start, but knows all is not lost for the Commissioner’s Cup defending champion.
He took to Twitter on Saturday morning to address fans frustrated by the team’s performance to start the tournament, which includes blowout losses the last two games.
“I want to apologize to all the San Mig Coffee fans for our performance over the last 2 games. You deserve better. We’ll turn it around,” he wrote.
But Cone knows that the team needs to right its ship first.
“Right now, we’re just looking for some stability,” said Cone, whose wards are coming off a 93-65 loss to Rain or Shine and are facing the dangerous Talk ‘N Text in the main game on Sunday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
“We’ll get going eventually it’s just a matter of when,” he said. “We’re hoping its sooner than later. Maybe we can start it against Talk ‘N Text.”
San Mig Coffee tweaked its roster during the midseason break, letting Jonas Villanueva and JC Intal go to Barako Bull and Aldrech Ramos to Alaska via trade.
In return, the Mixers got Alex Mallari from Petron Blaze and Leo Najorda and Lester Alvarez from the Energy Colas.
The changes have not worked out so far for the squad.
“We’ve played with three different lineups in three different games then add in our new additions by trade, and it’s been very unsettling for us so far,” he said.
“They key is getting our core players to pick up their energy and intensity. That’s what is lacking and what we’re concerned about.”
The American coach added that Denzel Bowles will work himself into shape and get the form that helped the franchise win the crown against the Tropang Texters last season.

source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/struggling-san-mig-coffee-will-turn-things-around-promises-coach-tim-cone

I just messed up, admits Bowles after blowout loss By Mei-Lin Lozada

“I'm still trying to get my legs back, the jetlag and all that but I don't make excuses. I had a very bad game,” says highly regarded San Mig import Denzel Bowles. Jerome Ascano

DENZEL Bowles summarized in three words what San Mig Coffee and its fans saw on Friday night.
"I messed up."
Last year's best import and fan favorite offered no excuses after proving to be a big disappointment in his debut game in this year's Commissioner's Cup, finishing with just 12 points and committing a game-high eight turnovers in a 65-93 blowout loss to Rain or Shine.
“I knew that I just messed up," said the athletic import who became a favorite among San Mig fans after leading the popular team to the championship in this same conference last year. "I just got to get my offense back and my rhythm back on the court."
The 6-10 Bowles admitted that he is still suffering from jetlag and has yet to get his timing back since arriving on Sunday to replace Matt Rogers, but refused to make any excuses.
“I'm still trying to get my legs back, the jetlag and all that but I don't make excuses. I had a very bad game,” said Bowles. “Right now my timing is lost. I hope I could get my timing back and be okay.”
Bowles and the Mixers will have just one day to recover from the blowout before facing reigning Philippine Cup champion Talk 'N Text on Sunday, but the 23-year-old import has vowed to atone for Friday's embarrassment.
“I'm sure they want to come out and blow us out but we're not going to give up on that. We'll come out on Sunday,” he said.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @meilinlozada

source: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/i-just-messed-up-admits-bowles-after-blowout-loss

The Final Score: Sleepless nights ahead for Ginebra and San Mig Coffee

MICO HALILIFebruary 19, 2013 7:29pm

Last February 16, at 4:50 in the morning, I was still awake. As it turned out, Mark Caguioa was too. I blame basketball for my semi-insomnia. Once I start reading basketball-related articles or watch basketball-inspired videos on my timeline, especially when the house becomes more peaceful than a library, it’s hard to stop. I wondered: was Mark awake because of basketball too?

Mark Caguioa (L) has to be losing sleep over Ginebra's 0-3 start. KC Cruz

I want to believe that Mark was awake because of basketball, because of Ginebra, because his team has yet to win a game, because of his insane desire to succeed. I had an opportunity to ask him about it last February 17 right before their game against Petron. I decided not to. I didn’t want to be disappointed if he said he couldn’t sleep because of something else.

To be good at anything, one has to be a little obsessive about it. It’s what drives above-average individuals. Mark never comes across as average. Hairstyles. Effort. Compulsion. I cling to the idea that Ginebra’s alpha male is up at 4:50 in the morning because that is what crazy competitors do. When the team is 0-3 in the Commissioner’s Cup, guys like Caguioa have little reason to sleep like hibernating bears.

I’m curious. Is Denzel Bowles having sleepless nights as well? San Mig Coffee is winless after two games. Exit Matt Rogers. Enter Bowles. Bowles arrives like an answered prayer. Fans wanted him to return. They pleaded, sent him tweets, would have sent him flowers if they could. Fortunately, they no longer need to ask. Tim Cone’s monster of an import is officially back. Like General Douglas McArthur, Denzel has returned.

I worry a little. Denzel has become a sort of myth. When you make two of the most mind-numbing free throws in the history of all free throws, you naturally become a heroic figure. Dapat lang. Well-deserved. But there is pressure to match the Bowles who will play in the 2013 Commissioner’s Cup and the Bowles who resides in the selective memories of eager fans.

Can Denzel Bowles (L) be just as good as he was a year ago?. KC Cruz

For San Mig Coffee to start winning games, 2012 Denzel and 2013 Denzel should at least match. If 2013 Denzel is even better than 2012 Denzel, that’s even better. There are, however, no guarantees. Basketball is funny that way. His comeback doesn’t automatically reverse San Mig Coffee’s 0-2 start. But it makes the team’s journey back to relevance more compelling.

San Mig Coffee meets Rain or Shine on February 22. It will be the first game of Denzel Bowles in the tournament. Denzel will go up against 7-3 Bruno Sundov. Denzel will be reacquainted with Extra Rice Incorporated. The Monster Bowles Comeback Tour is about to begin.

Ginebra faces undefeated Alaska on February 23. It will be the first game of new Ginebra import Vernon Macklin. Is Macklin the answer to Ginebra’s prayers? Caguioa knows underperforming imports in an “unlimited height” conference can quickly become excess baggage of unlimited weight. Like frustration, anticipation can keep competitors from both Ginebra and San Mig Coffee wide-awake.  - AMD, GMA News

Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/295668/sports/opinion/the-final-score-sleepless-nights-ahead-for-ginebra-and-san-mig-coffee

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Cone sad to let 'good guy' Rogers go as former best import Bowles returns By Snow Badua

Denzel Bowles will get the chance to defend his best import title when he arrives on Sunday for another tour of duty with reigning Commissioner's Cup champion San Mig. Jerome Ascano

THE big man who steered San Mig Coffee to the PBA Commissioner’s Cup title last year is finally back.
The Mixers are bringing back Denzel Bowles to kick-start their bid for back-to-back championships while giving the San Mig fan favorite a chance to defend his best import title.
Bowles, 23, is expected to plane in by Sunday.
San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone informed Spin.ph about the latest development, which also saw the team informing current import Matt Rogers of the decision to replace him.
But doing so was not easy especially to a person as nice as Rogers, according to Cone.
“We informed Matt that he has been changed today,” said the San Mig coach. “The decision was hard for us. He’s a good guy.”
Cone said Rogers just had an unpleasant experience while staying in the country after missing his supposed PBA debut after being downed by food poisoning, and getting stuck inside a popular mall at the height of a big-time robbery.
“The poor guy had food poisoning... didn’t have time to recover... didn’t play well... now we’re changing him,” added Cone.
“He was in Megamall, stuck there when there was a shootout. Tough time for him.”
Cone added: “But Matt was great through it all. I wish we could have given him the opportunity.”
The multi-titled mentor stressed the switch simply addressed the import needs of the team.
“We really didn’t know when Denzel will be available. And when we finally got him out of his contract in China, we made a decision to bring him in right away,” added Cone.
“The team has always thought from the very beginning to give Denzel a chance to defend his crown. That’s something we wanted to do for him (and the fans).”
Upon arrival, Bowles will still have almost a week to re-acquaint himself with the Mixers’ system in time for his first game against Rain or Shine.
“Denzel gave us a magical ride last year, from our organizational stand point - he really deserves a chance to come back. Bringing him back wasn’t a tough decision for us,” Cone stressed.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @snowbadua

source: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/cone-sad-to-let-good-guy-rogers-go-as-former-best-import-bowles-returns

Monster return: Reigning Best Import Denzel Bowles back Sunday for San Mig Coffee

Rey Joble, InterAKTV · Saturday, February 16, 2013 · 12:16 am

AKTV/Pranz Kaeno Billones

Denzel Bowles, the reigning Commissioner’s Cup Best Import who led the B-MEG Llamados to a title last season, will be back to suit up for the San Mig Coffee Mixers.
San Miguel Corporation executive Noli Eala confirmed the news to InterAKTV.
“Bowles will be back and will arrive on Sunday,” wrote Eala in a text message.
Without Bowles, San Mig Coffee has stumbled to a 0-2 start in the current tournament. Matt Rogers, the team’s original reinforcement this season, missed the team’s first game before struggling in his debut against Petron.
Bowles’ return was delayed after problems securing his release from his last team, the Zhejiang Golden Bulls in the Chinese Basketball Association.
He will make his debut this season on Friday against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

Source:http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/monster-return-reigning-best-import-denzel-bowles-back-sunday-for-san-mig-coffee