HALFTIME OF THE ELIMINATIONS

HALFTIME OF THE ELIMINATIONS

By Jason Webb

At the halfway point of the 2008-2009 KFC PBA Philippine Cup, we have been showered by some of the closest matches we have ever seen. Blowouts seem to be out of fashion and overtimes are the new trend. The teams are so closely matched that the fourth to tenth-ranked teams in the standings are separated by a win. Many players have jumped out to start the season yet some have stumbled through the blocks. Let’s give out some awards at the halfway point of the eliminations.

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YEO & BUENAFE: RISING TO THE OCCASION

YEO & BUENAFE: RISING TO THE OCCASION

Co-Players of the Week November 17 to 23

ONE was there to fill up a gaping void for Coca-Cola, the other to step up for Sta. Lucia Realty’s vital but injured cogs. Ronjay Buenafe and Joseph Yeo did just that and more, boosting their respective teams to much-needed wins and prompting their selection as the KFC/Accel-PBA Press Corps’ Co-Players of the Week for the period November 17 to 23.

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AIR21 TO SETTLE SCORE VS SAN MIGUEL IN GRUDGE MATCH

Sta. Lucia tackles Talk n Text; Mendoza sanctioned

Wednesday, 26 November 2008

Air21 coach Bo Perasol and his Express have a business to settle with San Miguel. There's a lot more at stake in this encounter than to just get even. That's why Perasol said they should be "very cautious in their approach." "Ang importante lang, we should have the right motivation and the right game plan," he said. The 5 p.m. rematch Wednesday means so much for both the Express and the Beermen, who have gone different ways since that November 5 duel. The first meeting between the two teams went through double overtime and was marred by controversy. San Miguel eventually won the game, 130-129. Air21 placed the game under protest but it was denied by commissioner Sonny Barrios. Air21 officials contended they had won the game at the end of the first overtime on Ranidel de Ocampo's 3-point shot with 9.8 seconds remaining. Game officials, however, counted the shot as a 2-point basket, necessitating another extra five minutes. In ruling against the protest, Barrios pointed to an existing league rule that doesn't provide game officials the benefit of a review in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter and overtime periods unless there is an official challenge from a team's head coach and only during dead ball situations. Unfortunately, SMB quickly went for the throw-in after De Ocampo's basket, in the process leaving Air21 with no time to manifest a valid challenge. The Express, who are riding high on a three-game winning streak, will have the chance to prove their point. And if they manage to trip the Beermen, it will be very sweet. Air21 and Sta. Lucia are in joint third with identical 6-5 records but a win would push the Express into second spot, dislodging SMB (7-5), which is currently behind league leader Alaska (9-3). As much as he wanted to prove a point, Perasol was frank enough to admit that it would take more than just motivation to beat SMB. "Playing defense is always key when a team goes up against a team full of talent like San Miguel. It's easier said than done, but we have to do it to have a fighting chance," he said. Their bench depth didn't seem to matter for the Beermen in their next four games, winning just one and losing three in a row. SMB coach Siot Tanquingcen isn't exactly pushing the panic button. But he sounds worried with the way his charges have been going through their business lately. "We have to come out and play with a sense of urgency. The last few games we were flat," he said. Sta. Lucia and Talk N Text (5-6) also try to bounce back from embarrassing defeats to stay in contention for an outright playoff spot. The defending champion Realtors collide with the Tropang Texters at 7:30 p.m. In their first meeting of the season last Oct. 12, Sta. Lucia routed TnT, 117-96. Meanwhile, Sta. Lucia veteran guard Paolo Mendoza was suspended for one game effective Wednesday and fined P20,000 for deliberately throwing the ball at an opponent (Paul Artadi) during the Realtors’ 81-93 defeat to the Barangay Ginebra Kings last Saturday, the same day TnT absorbed an 86-113 pounding from Alaska. (DBC)

WASHINGTON POWERS SMB TO REPEAT WIN OVER AIR21

Beermen end 3-game skid to firm up hold of second

Wednesday, 26 November 2008

Jay Washington did a little of everything in San Miguel Beer's 98-78 repeat victory over the Air21 Express Wednesday night that snapped the Beermen's thee-game slump in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum. Washington registered his sixth double-double in the conference with 21 points and 15 rebounds to show the way for the Beermen, who completely dominated the Express and left no doubt as to who won the game unlike their controversial first meeting. He also had six assists, two steals and a block in 39 minutes. SMB's victory came a few hours after the league's board of governors affirmed in a special meeting that the decision of the PBA commissioner in game related issues is final and unappealable. Air21 elevated its case to the board after commissioner Renauld "Sonny" Barrios denied its protest and upheld SMB's controversial 130-129 double overtime win against the Express last November 5. The rematch between the two teams wasn't even close. SMB led no more than six points after the opening quarter but held the Express to a woeful 15 percent shooting from the field (3-of-20) and to jus nine points in the second quarter, Air21’s fewest points in a quarter this conference. With the Express desperately struggling on both ends, the Beermen went on a 25-9 run that extended their margin to 51-29 at halftime. Air21 never recovered from there. "We couldn't get our rhythm the past few games so coming into this game we didn't think about winning but to just make sure we do the right things," said SMB head coach Siot Tanquingcen, visibly relieved after notching their eighth win in 13 games that firmed up their hold of second spot behind leading Alaska (9-3). Rookie Bonbon Custodio also drew attention, scoring 16 points that went with his nine assists and four steals. The athletic guard out of UE capped his rearkable performance early in the fourth quarter when he stole the ball from Air21 point guard Wynne Arboleda then completed the play by feeding Jonas Villanueva with a behind-the-back pass for a an easy layup that gave SMB an 81-63 lead with 9:30 remaining. Mick Pennisi tallied 12 points and 11 boards and Dorian Pena added 10 for the Beermen, who lost Marc Pingris late in the third after the high leaping forward twisted his right foot while coming down from a rebound. It was SMB's second most-lopsided victory this conference after their 118-89 romp over Barangay Ginebra last Oct. 22. Arwind Santos scored 17 points but made just 7-of-17 shots. JR Quinahan and JC Intal contributed 11 apiece for Air 21, which fell to 6-7 and tied idle Rain or Shine at fourth and fifth spots in the standings. Coming into the game, the Express were the only team that scored at least 92 points in each of its games this conference. But they seemed to lack the motivation in the rematch and never really challenged the Beermen. Air21 was also the No. 1 team on offense in the conference with their 104.5 ppg average, the only team norming more than a hundred points in the tourney. Obviously, it was a tough loss for the Express, who had hoped to get even with SMB and dislodge the Beermen in second spot. (DBC) The scores: San Miguel Beer 98 - Washington 21, Custodio 16, Pennisi 12, Pena 10, Pingris 9, Racela 9, Hontiveros 8, Villanueva 5, Gonzales 4, Bono 2, Calaguio 2, Eman 0. Air21 78 - Santos 17, Quinahan 11, Intal 11, David 10, De Ocampo 9, Arboleda 8, Cruz 6, Canaleta 6, Villanueva 0, Kramer 0, Sta. Maria 0, Billones 0. Quarterscores: 26-20, 51-29, 75-59, 98-78.

TALK ‘N TEXT REBOUNDS FROM ROUT WITH ROUT

Cardona, Alapag shine in big win over slumping SLR Wednesday, 26 November 2008 Revenge and redemption. Talk n Text accomplished these as it took to heart a 27-point blowout by Alaska Milk the last time out, clobbering Sta. Lucia Realty, 104-82, Wednesday in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum. The Tropang Texters hit two birds with one stone as they redeemed themselves from an 86-117 rout by the Aces Saturday and avenged a 96-117 beating at the hands of the Realtors in their previous tiff. Apparently hearing a mouthful from the management after their embarrassing loss to the Aces, the Tropang Texters bounced back strong, beating the Realtors to force a four-way logjam at third place. Talk n Text caught up with Sta. Lucia, Air21 and Rain or Shine at 6-6. "Going to the game, we knew it's gonna be about how quickly we forget the loss to Alaska and how we get back. Fortunately, with lots of talks, we recovered quickly," said Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes. "We know it's within the team to play this way. We just have to find it. We're playing another tough game Sunday. Hopefully, we can use this game as a springboard against San Miguel," Reyes also said, expecting a battle against the Beermen in a game in Singapore this weekend. Mark Cardona, limited to seven points by Alaska after a 42-point showing against Red Bull, was hot again, torching Sta. Lucia with 27. "I was to blame for Macmac's seven-point game against Alaska, and I had apologized to my players. They (the Aces) played box-and-one and I wasn't able to make the adjustment," said Reyes. Jimmy Alapag also had a big game with 23 points with Jared Dillinger, Harvey Carey and Renren Ritualo each adding at least 10 as the Tropang Texters, dominated the Realtors, handing them a second straight loss. Not even the return of Ryan Reyes could provide boost to the Realtors. Reyes returned from a five-game layoff, collecting 12 points, three rebounds, three steals and one assist. He's visibly not yet in top shape, having just rejoined the Realtors in practice Monday. Also struggling was Kelly Williams who's good for only 15 points on 6-of-17 shooting from the field. The entire Sta. Lucia team shot 35.9 percent from the field as against Talk n Text's 51.3-percent clip. Drawing tremendous firepower from their backcourt, the Tropang Texters led by as many as 20 points at 53-33 before settling for a 56-41 spread at halftime. Alapag, Dillinger and Cardona all had had double-digit outputs in the first two quarters of play, combining for 39 points. Alapag converted three of four three-point attempts, the last giving the Tropang Texters the 20-point bubble with 5:17 left in the second quarter. (NC) The scores: Talk n Text 104 -- Cardona 27, Alapag 23, Dillinger 14, Carey 12, Ritualo 10, Castro 9, Peek 4, Reyes 3, De Ocampo 2, Aljamal 0, Lao 0, Allado 0. Sta. Lucia 82 -- Williams 15, Espino 13, Reyes 12, Yeo 11, Miranda 10, Aquino 10, Gonzales 6, Gregorio 3, Omolon 2, Coronel 0, Daa 0, Butel 0. Quarterscores: 34-29, 56-41, 77-65, 104-82

VILLANUEVA LIFTS PUREFOODS PAST SMB

VILLANUEVA LIFTS PUREFOODS PAST SMB
Giants arrest 2-game skid
Sunday, 23 November 2008

Still struggling with injuries to key players, the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants got one big push on one

big shot by Enrico Villanueva against the San Miguel Beermen.Villanueva scored on a left-handed shot

underneath the basket on an assist by Kerby Raymundo in the dying seconds as the Giants squeaked past the

Beermen, 84-83, in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Astrodome Sunday night."We've been struggling and win

like this is definitely a welcome development. This is one big push towards our goal of still making it to the

top," said Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio.
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"Ang hirap manalo sa tournament na ito. Manalo ka nang isa, para ka nang nag-champion. All our wins are like

this -- buzzer-beater or overtime. We're playing hurt. The good thing is that the guys are just keeping on

fighting," Gregorio also said.Still playing minus Peter June Simon and Roger Yap and with James Yap half-

healthy, the Giants gutted it out to notch their sixth win against seven losses.Villanueva came through with a

double-double game and emerged the Giants' biggest hero by converting the winning basket just before the

final buzzer sounded.The Purefoods mentor actually designed the play for Raymundo as they got possession

following a 24-second violation by the Beermen with only 5.7 ticks left to play.Attracting a double-team

defense, Raymundo had the presence of mind in handing the ball to Villanueva who quickly took the shot

breaking the heart of the Beermen.Dondon Hontiveros had his own big shot earlier, making a tough fade-away

off Yap to push the Beermen ahead at 83-82 with 34.7 seconds left to play.The Beermen appeared already

headed for the win when Mick Pennisi drew an offensive foul from Yap in the ensuing play.Alas, the Beermen

broke down in their final offensive thrust and in their final defensive stance, thus, suffering a third straight loss

and their fifth in 12 games in all."This is a big win considering we got it against one of the elite teams in the

league right now," said Gregorio.Despite the loss, the Beermen remained at second place, two games behind

the pace-setting Alaska Milk Aces. At joint third are Air21 and Sta. Lucia at 6-5.Raymundo led all scorers with

25 points while Villanueva finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds.San Miguel was paced by Lordy Tugade

and Dorian Pena with 18 and 17, respectively. (NC)

the scores:

Purefoods 84 -- Raymundo 25, Villanueva 12, Aban 11, Belga 10, Yap 7, Robinson 6, Lanete 5, Bugia 5,

Alvarez 3, Fernandez 0

San Miguel 83 -- Tugade 18, Pena 17, Custodio 13, Washington 13, Hontiveros 9, Villanueva 5, Racela 5,

Gonzales 3, Eman 0, Calaguio 0, Pennisi 0

Quarterscores: 18-16, 45-38, 64-63, 84-83