Arboleda starts signature drive in PBA return bid

Banned Air21 guard Wynne Arboleda is hoping the captains of the 10 participating teams in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) would support his signature drive so he could play in the coming Fiesta Cup.

Arboleda, the Air21 team captain who is seeking to get a second chance in his basketball career, was suspended for the rest of the season after attacking a heckling fan last year.

The Express’ stocky 5-foot-9 playmaker already collected four signatures as of press time with Alaska’s Jeffrey Cariaso, Jimmy Alapag of Talk ‘N Text, Asi Taulava of Coca-Cola and Air21 assistant captain Carlo Sharma threw in their support.

Arbolda expects other team captains to support his bid of asking the PBA board to lift his season-long ban and allow him to play in the import-laced Fiesta Conference.

“Medyo kumikilos tayo ng kaunti at humihingi ng tulong sa kapwa natin team captains na payagan na tayong lumaro," Arboleda told GMANews.TV. “Sa palagay ko, sapat na yung naranasan ko na penalty."

“So far, nakaka-tatlo pa lang kami. But I’m confident na makakakuha pa kami ng pirma from other team captains."

Arboleda’s name was included in the Air21 line-up that was submitted to the PBA office. His inclusion fueled speculations that he might be reinstated anytime and could suit up for the Express in the Fiesta Cup.

PBA chairman and Air21 team manager Lito Alvarez said the reason for Arboleda’s inclusion doesn’t mean the four-time All-Defensive Team member is now allowed to play.

Alvarez added they cannot replace Arboleda’s spot as teams are prohibited to replace a suspended player.

“And even if nilagay namin siya sa lineup, may open and close parenthesis doon which states suspended. It is also one way of thinking positive na baka we can persuade commissioner Sonny Barrios to reinstate him. We feel enough na rin yung penalty na naibigay sa kanya."

Barrios wasn’t surprised to see Arboleda’s name in the lineup.

“It’s short of saying Air21 wants to have a positive outlook," said Barrios. “There’s nothing wrong with that."

But Barrios clarified he hasn’t received any formal letter from Arboleda’s camp seeking for the lifting of his suspension.

“The truth is, I have yet to receive any letter from them," said Barrios. “But if they’re gathering signatures from the team captains, I assume na isasabay na nila dyan yung letter or wait and see if they can get more signatures."

“Parang gaya ng sa mga tatakbo na gumawa ng signature campaign. They want to know first if they can get more signatures before they run."

Source: Author Unknown  | GMANews.TV

Barako maintains move to appoint Baculi legit; Air21 changes import

MANILA, Philippines - Barako Bull maintains its appointment of Junel Baculi as the team’s new head coach is completely aboveboard.

Meanwhile, Air21 enlisted former Brigham Young University standout Keena Young to replace original import choice LeRoy Hickerson who injured his elbow in a car accident.

Barako team owner George Chua made the assurance to PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios Thursday amidst fears from some quarters of possible violation by the ball club on the condition set by the league board allowing Harbour Centre’s entry as team sponsor.

“Mr. George Chua has called giving their commitment on strict compliance of the provision. He also assured us he’s still on top of the situation in running the affairs of the team,” Barrios told The STAR.

The league commissioner said it’s well and good since “the expectation of the board is for the two parties (Barako Bull and Harbour Centre) to take to heart the condition given them.”


Under the provision approved by the board, Harbour Centre will have no involvement in the team outside of placement of brand name in team uniform.

Harbour Centre is prohibited from “fielding any known Harbour Centre personalities in the team management, coaching staff personnel and the likes.”

Baculi had previous involvement with Harbour Centre, working as team consultant in its PBL stint and calling the shots for the Harbour Centre-RP team in a number of international competitions.

The former Mapua player, however, was no longer connected with Harbour Centre, but with Air21, prior to his appointment as Barako Bull coach.

He was an assistant to BK coach Yeng Guiao in the last Philippine Cup.

In another development, Guiao and the Express have lost the slam-dunking Hickerson to injury he suffered in Kentucky. He flew home for a brief rest after helping Air21 to a second-place finish in a recent Dubai invitational tourney.

Air21 tapped Young for Hickerson instead.

Young starred for BYU from 2004-2007. Before this, Young was a four-year letterman at Clifton J. Ozen High School in Beaumont, Texas. He was named All-Region three times and All-State twice.

As a senior, he averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds per game with his team winning the Texas State championship and earning a Top 10 national ranking.

Young was a high school teammate and friend of Kendrick Perkins. University of Memphis coach John Calipari offered scholarships to both Perkins and Young. Both players initially committed to play at Memphis, but Perkins changed his mind and entered the 2003 NBA Draft.

Source: Nelson Beltran  | Philstar.com

Air21 ships Yancy to Ginebra for Alvarez, Kramer

Air21, a team always busy on shipping one player to another, will have a reunion of Ateneo and La Salle players on its team for the coming Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Fiesta Conference.

The Express got half of the job done when they dealt recently-acquired 6’9 center Yancy de Ocampo and their second-round draft pick in next season’s Rookie Draftto the Ginebra Gin Kings in exchange for 2004-05 Rookie of the Year Rich Alvarez and bruising forward Doug Kramer.

Ginebra coach Jong Uichico, in a text message to GMANews.TV, confirmed the news.

“It’s for finalization, but I don’t know if it’s already been approved," said Uichico.

Air21 team manager and PBA chairman Lito Alvarez said it’s already agreed in principle and welcomed this new development for his team.

Alvarez said it was coach Yeng Guiao who convinced him to get Alvarez as he is more “familiar in utilizing the player’s potential."

“Coach Yeng said he wants Rich’s work ethic," said the Air21PBA board representative in a telephone interview. “Coach Yeng thinks Rich wasn’t given enough playing time with his former teams."

Alvarez played for Guiao when the fiery mentor was still coaching Barako Bull (formerly Red Bull Barakos).

Trades between the 10 participating teams are expected to intensify before the start of the import-laced Fiesta Conference on March 21.

Cabagnot-Cortez trade in the works
While Ateneans Alvarez, Gonzales and Kramer had found themselves altogether again, two former members of the La Salle Green Archers’ champion squad are anticipating the possible acquisition of their ex-teammate – Mike Cortez.

Cortez, who won championships with La Salle, will most likely join Ren-Ren Ritualo and Carlo Sharma with the Express.

A trade between Cortez and talented lefty point guard Alex Cabagnot is being worked out now by Air21 and San Miguel.

Cabagnot was traded by Coca-Cola to the Express along with Gonzales for Gary David and Chico Lanete. If plans push through, Cabagnot will be dealt to his fourth team in the last five years and might join a Beermen squad loaded with guards.

Source: Author Unknown  | GMANews.TV

Cortez, Alvarez, Kramer to Air21; Gins get Yancy

MANILA, Philippines - Air21 is about to close separate trade deals with Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer, making its core lineup a mix of Ateneans and La Sallites with new acquisitions in Mike Cortez, Rich Alvarez and Doug Kramer.

The Lina Group ball club is to get Cortez from San Miguel for Alex Cabagnot and acquire Alvarez and Kramer from Ginebra for Yancy de Ocampo.

Air21 team manager Lito Alvarez said he’s likely to close the deals with the SMC group by tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Alaska coach Tim Cone said they have signed up Diamon Simpson as their import for the coming PBA Fiesta Conference.

Simpson, a product of Saint Mary’s U who’s fresh from a stint with the LA Defenders in the NBA D-League, arrives in the country today.


Alvarez resumed negotiation with the SMC management for their transactions upon their return from Dubai where the Air21 Express finished third in a four-team invitational tourney also featuring the Coca-Cola Tigers.

Alvarez said import Leroy Hickerson made good impression in the tourney where they placed second behind the UAE national team.

“The import we’ve got and the new players we’re about to get make me really excited about the coming tourney,” said Alvarez.

“Doug (Kramer) has played for us and I like his work ethic. I also like Rich Alvarez. The two are college teammates,” Alvarez added.

Kramer and Alvarez will be reunited in a team where they will be allied with former varsity rivals Cortez and Renren Ritualo. Air21 gave up De Ocampo without a single official game since his recent transfer from Talk n Text.

The 6-foot-9 De Ocampo was part of the Air21-Talk n Text trade also involving Renren Ritualo, JR Quinahan, Mark Yee and Aaron Aban.

“Definitely, Renren Ritualo will stay with us. Renren and Ronjay Buenafe will be our main men at off-guard spot,” said Alvarez.

Cabagnot, meanwhile, was able to play a few games with Burger King (now Air21) before finding himself being traded once again.

San Miguel will be Cabagnot’s fourth team after Sta. Lucia, Coca-Cola and Burger King.

Source: Nelson Beltran  | Philstar.com

Air21 takes 2nd place in Dubai caging

Dubai – Air21 (formerly Burger King) demolished Al Nasr Club 84-73 to capture second place honors in the 2nd Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Basketball Tournament Saturday (Sunday morning in Manila).

The Express led the entire match, opening the game with a 5-0 lead and erecting a commanding 17-point advantage with still eight minutes to go in the second quarter.

Al Nasr tried to wrestle the lead with their lethal outside shooting, especially in the middle of the second when Talal Mesabah unleashed three consecutive triples.

But Michael Vincent Belga answered with a couple of 3-point shots to keep Air21 on top, 49-41, going into the third quarter.

The physicality of the game was so intense that Wesley Gonzales and Al Nasr Club’s American import Vincent Jones had a brief scuffle in the third period. They were both thrown out of the game to avoid more tension.

With the 6’11" Al Nasr import out of the match, Air21 took advantage by attacking the shaded lane.

Veteran Saleh Sultan took the cudgels for Al Nasr with his outside shooting and daredevil inside penetration but the big men and backcourt generals of Air21 proved too much for the host team. Air21 had a comfortable 17-point lead in the final two minutes of the game.

“We were able to execute our plays well, unlike in our first game where we still had jet lag," Air21 coach Yeng Guiao said. “Were the officiating fair in our first game, we could have emerged as champions."

Guiao was referring to Express’ 77-80 opening-game loss to the United Arab Emirates National Team, which eventually emerged as champions of the three-day invitational meet.

Air 21 guard Alex Cabagnot was awarded the best playmaker of the tournament participated in by two teams from the Philippine Basketball Association and two squads from the UAE.

In the other game, Coca-Cola bowed to the UAE National Team, 97-89, as the Tigers became the only team without a victory, having lost to Al Nasr and Air21 in their previous matches.

Despite the setbacks, Coca-Cola coach Bo Perasol said the invitational tournament provided a good training ground for the team in the coming import-laden PBA Fiesta Cup.

“More than the game, it’s the bonding and preparation for the team," Perasol said.

Both Coca-Cola and Air21 utilized an all-Filipino line-up in the Dubai tournament.

Source: Author Unknown  | GMANews.TV

Air21, Coca-Cola drop opening day assignments in Dubai

Dubai, UAE – Bad officiating and jet lag were the reasons why Air21 and Coca-Cola dropped their opening day assignments at the start of the 2nd Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Basketball Tournament Thursday at the Al Nasr Sports Club in Oud Metha.

The Express suffered an 80-77 defeat against the UAE National Team while the Tigers were dominated the entire game by Al Nasr Club, 72-55.

Air21 players complained that the referees’ calls are all one-sided since the UAE National Team was very physical with their game where they even received kicks and flying elbows from some of the players.

The Express’ Willie Arboleda received a second motion kick in the face from a member of the UAE National team when both of them fell on the floor while battling for the lose ball.

Air 21 was leading by much as five points going in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter when another UAE player challenged the entire Express bench that changed the momentum of the game.

Police and officials from the Al Nasr Club immediately responded to the situation but the player was not easily pacified as Air21 just kept their cool.

“We were surprised to see that even though team managers from Al Nasr Club already intervened, the man did not back down. Anyway, this is just a basketball game and we don’t mind those kinds of rough plays," said Air21 team manager Lito Alvarez.

In another game, 6-foot-11 American import Vincent Jones and Al Nasr’s outside shooting were too much for Coca-Cola to handle as the Tigers played sluggishly due to jet lag.

The Tigers arrived in Dubai less than a day before the game and the match started at 9:30 pm which was actually 1:30 am (Friday), Manila time.

Coca-Cola played catch up the entire match but three straight three-pointers in the third quarter gave Al Nasr a 15-point spread and the hosts were never threatened after that.

Jones also dominated the paint both offensively and defensively and had six block shots, two of which came at the expense of Asi Taulava. Jones also won the slam dunk contest

Tigers coach Bo Perasol said they were not able to execute their plays as his players were feeling the jet lag.

Meanwhile, Al Nasr Club coach Tarek Selim announced that he is planning to hold a 10-day basketball camp in the Philippines next month to expose his team to more international competitions and to learn more from Philippine basketball.

Games on Friday (March 5) Al Nasr vs. UAE National Team (7 pm Dubai time/ 11 pm Manila time) and Burger King vs. Coca-Cola (9pm); Saturday (March 6) UAE National Team vs. Coca Cola (7pm Dubai time/ 11 pm Manila time); Al Nasr vs. Burger King (9 pm).

Source: Angel Tesorero  | GMANews.TV

Coca-Cola, Air21 see action in Dubai tourney

DUBAI – Two more Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) teams – the Coca-Cola Tigers and the Air21 Express (formerly Burger King Whopper) – will try to test UAE’s top two cage squads when the 2nd Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum International Basketball Tournament opens on March 4 at the Al Nasr Sports Club in Oud Metha.

The Tigers and Express hope to duplicate, if not surpass, Smart Gilas Team Pilipinas’ third place finish in the 21st Dubai International Basketball Championship last January.

The 2nd Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum International Basketball Tournament ends on Saturday, March 6.

Speaking highly of Philippine basketball, Naji Aljabri, CEO of New Generation Sport Marketing Event and organizer of the tournament, said he wants to test the mettle of his UAE National Team and Al Nasr Club against PBA teams.

Aljabri considers the PBA as one of the most organized and prestigious basketball leagues in the world next to NBA (National Basketball Association) and the Euro League.

“I want to bring the same professional experience and game intensity of the PBA in the UAE and also to provide entertainment to the Filipino expats who are known basketball fans," said Aljabri.

He said his teams are young but with huge potential, strong and determined to become the best in the Middle East and North Africa region.

UAE National team is composed of all local players while Al Nasr Club is led by American import Vincent Jones, who at 6-foot-11 is a dominant inside player, supported by Talal Salem, Talal, Musabah, Khalid Obaid, Ibrahim Obaid, Saleh Sultan and Salem Obaid.

Scheduled games are UAE National Team vs. Burger King (7 pm Dubai time; 11pm Manila time) followed by Al Nasr vs. Coca-Cola (9 pm Dubai time) on March 4 (Thursday); Al Nasr vs. UAE National Team (7 pm) and Burger King vs. Coca-Cola on March 5 (Friday); and UAE National Team vs. Coca Cola (7pm) and Al Nasr vs. Burger King (9 pm) on March 6 (Saturday).

The three-day tournament named after the deputy ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance of the UAE, will follow FIBA rules and a one-round elimination series format. Three foreign players can be included in the line-up but only two will be allowed to play at the same time.

Source: Author Unknown  | GMANews.TV

5-player deal sends Yancy, Renren back to Air21

MANILA, Philippines - Air21 and Talk n Text closed a trade deal involving five players as soon as the PBA board, in a meeting yesterday, lifted the trade restrictions between the two teams.

Yancy de Ocampo and Renren Ritualo, FedEx’s prized draft acquisitions in 2002, rejoined the original team while JR Quinahan, Mark Yee and Aaron Aban went to Talk n Text.

This developed as the Lina Group decided to field back Air21 in favor of Burger King, a food chain partly owned by Talk n Text top bossman Manny Pangilinan.

Air21 and Talk n Text, thus, have been re-classified as two teams independent from one another.

De Ocampo and Ritualo, the No. 1 and No. 8 picks in the 2002 Rookie Draft, moved back to Air21 after helping Talk n Text win a second championship in the Philippine Cup last year.


De Ocampo, a 6-foot-8 center out of St. Francis of Assisi College, played five seasons with Talk n Text, having his most productive year in the 2006-07 campaign where he averaged 9.4 points a game.

Ritualo, meanwhile, had been with Talk n Text in the last four and a half seasons. He’d been TnT’s biggest outside threat until the arrival of former La Salle teammate Macmac Cardona.

Talk n Text gave up De Ocampo and Ritualo in exchange for Quinahan, Yee and Aban who are all young hard-nosed players.

Yee, an acquisition from Liga Pilipinas becoming the first player ever from San Sebastian-Cavite to make the PBA, is only in his second year in the majors.

Quinahan, from University of Visayas, is a third-year pro while Aban, from Letran, is in his fourth year.

Source: Nelson Beltran  | Philstar.com

Air21 shoots for lifting of trade ban with Texters

Air21 (formerly Burger King) has requested the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) board to lift the trade restriction on the Express and the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters since both teams are considered as sister squads.

The Express carried the Burger King name when it competed in the Philippine Cup where they only managed to enter the wildcard phase of the season-opening tournament. Both are owned by the Lina Group of Companies of businessman/sportsman Bert Lina.

Aside from Lina, Burger King is co-owned by several stakeholders that include PBA chairman and Air21 team manager Lito Alvarez, Manny V. Pangilinan and Ricky Vargas of Smart Communications, and Wilson Young of Basic Holdings Corporation.

Pangilinan owns the Tropang Texters with Vargas sitting as the PBA board representative.

The PBA prevents sister teams to directly trade to each other to maintain fair play so they won’t monopolize the talented players within their ranks. That’s why sister teams, like San Miguel and Ginebra, need a conduit or third team to complete the trade.

But this coming conference, with the team now carrying the name of a company solely owned by the Lina Group, Alvarez is bringing up his request to the commissioner that trade restrictions directly to the Tropang Texters be lifted.

"I believe this is just a commissioner matter and I’m confident that my request will be granted," Alvarez said.

But PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios told GMANews.TV that he cannot decide on the issue alone and the case needs board approval.

"In fairness to Mr. Alvarez, he was the one who volunteered to the board that Burger King, which has investors coming from Talk ‘N Text, be not allowed to trade directly to Talk ‘N Text," said Barrios. "I think he can write a request through me, but it will be the board who will decide on the matter."

But if he will have it his way, Barrios believes Air21 and Talk ‘N Text can still not trade directly owing to the fact that people from Talk ‘N Text has a share in one of the companies of the Lina Group.

"Mr. Pangilinan and Mr. Vargas have an investment in one of the companies of the Lina Group that is why I believe they cannot trade players," said Barrios. "Still, that’s just how I see it, I am not a voting member and I will bring this matter up to the board. I see this case as a board matter."

Purefoods board governor and PBA vice chairman Rene Pardo said in a text message that “they will look into the ownership of Air21 first."

"If we see no problem with that then that’s OK," said Pardo.

Coca-Cola board representative JB Baylon, in a text message, added that he’s ok with the idea of lifting the trade restrictions between Air21 and Talk N Text players.

Barrios said he will wait for Air21’s request. The issue is expected to be brought up in the board’s next meeting wherein Pardo, being the vice chairman of the PBA board, will preside since Alvarez’s team is the one involved.

Source: Author Unknown  | GMANews.TV

Air21 Express back on PBA floor

MANILA, Philippines - Air21 Express is back and vows to deliver.

Burger King, the Bert Lina-owned franchise, is returning to its old, revered name – Air21 – in the coming Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Fiesta Conference, which starts on March 20.

Lina, whose Lina Group of Companies is a conglomeration of various business endeavors, ranging from freight and cargo forwarding services to food production, and other corporate services, made the decision after Burger King achieved its goal of becoming a household name in the quick service restaurant industry.

“Burger King has already gained a significant brand awareness through the PBA and with that, has decided to channel its resources for further growth. Hence, the Lina Group of Companies will be using the PBA to again promote its flagship company–which is Air21,” said Lina.

Under Air21, the Lina-owned franchise had its best years in the professional league, with the Express nearly snatching their first-ever PBA crown in the 2008 Fiesta Conference.


“Get ready for the return of the Ube Republic,” said PBA chairman and Air21 team manager Lito Alvarez, referring to the dominant color of the Air21 banner. “We will try to re-live the success that we had with the Air21 name,” he said. “We’re very upbeat because the Express name has been synonymous with a fast, exciting team that never surrenders until the final buzzer. We can do that again.”

The Lina franchise, now being coached by multi-titled mentor Yeng Guiao, entered the league in 2002 under the FedEx Express banner, before using the Air21 Express name a few years later, where they had their most successful seasons in the league, particularly in 2008.

Playing with 6-9 import Steve Thomas, Air21 made it to its first outright semifinals appearance with a league-best 12-6 record in the elimination round of the 2008 Fiesta Conference. The Express beat the Magnolia Beverage Masters in the semis in six games, to corner their first-ever stint in a PBA championship, setting up a memorable finale against Barangay Ginebra.

Although the Air21 Express lost in the championship to the Gin Kings in a best-of-seven series that went the full route, the Express were embraced by PBA fans wholeheartedly for their spirited play and exciting brand of basketball.

For the coming Fiesta Conference, the Express will be parading LeRey Hickerson, a two-time slam-dunk champion in the Mexican League. The 6-5 Hickerson arrives March 10 to join the team in preparation for the Fiesta Conference.

Source: Author Unknown  | Philstar.com

Burger King hires 2-time dunk champ

A HIGH-FLYING import from the Latin American Basketball League is set to bolster Burger King’s campaign in the coming Philippine Basketball Association Fiesta Conference starting March 20.

LeRoy Hickerson, a slam-dunk champion in the Mexican League, is set to arrive March 10 to join a Whopper team seeking to bounce back from a mediocre campaign in the Philippine Cup. The Whopper were eliminated in the wildcard phase of the ongoing tournament by the Coca-Cola Tigers.

Burger King team manager and PBA chairman Lito Alvarez confirmed the news to Standard Today.

“He played in the Mexican League and James Penny was one among the former PBA players he went up against,” said Alvarez. “Penny’s team got eliminated while LeRoy’s team is still competing in the semifinals.”



Hickerson is a 6’5”, two-time slam-dunk champion in the Mexican LNBP All-Star Game in 2008 and 2009. He worked out with the Memphis Grizzlies last summer and was chosen last year as the Player of the Year, Guard of the Year and Import Player of the Year by Latinbasket.com.

In 41 games last year, Hickerson averaged 19.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.2 steals per game while playing for the Halcones UV Xalapa.

Hickerson will be one among the new faces expected to suit up in a tournament which will be composed mostly of returning reinforcements.

Jason Forte, younger brother of NBA player Jason Forte, is trying out a spot for the Coca-Cola Tigers, while Barangay Ginebra is eyeing an import with an interesting story—Awvee Storey.

Sta. Lucia, Rain or Shine and San Miguel Beer have decided to tap their old reliable reinforcements. The Realtors will bring back Anthony Johnson, the Elasto Painters will parade burly import Jai Lewis anew and the Beermen will count on Gabe Freeman again for their title retention bid.

Meanwhile, two PBA teams —Burger King and Coca-Cola—were invited to play in the His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Almaktoum Cup.

Source: Rey Joble  | Manila Standard Today

Coca-Cola arranges KO match vs. RoS

ANTIPOLO -- Coca-Cola, sustaining the momentum of a three-game closing romp in the elimination round, whipped Burger King, 118-112, to advance to the final knockout stage of the KFC PBA Philippine Cup wildcard round at the Ynares Sports Center here Sunday night.

Mark Macapagal and Norman Gonzales led the Coca-Cola assault in the first half then Gary David and Dennis Espino took over in the second as the Tigers dominated the Whoppers, gaining the right to face the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the closing phase of the wildcard.

The Elasto Painters beat out the Sta. Lucia Realtors, 90-86, in a fierce showdown earlier in the day. The Tigers and the Elasto Painters battle in another do-or-die encounter in the same venue Wednesday with the winner advancing to the quarterfinals versus the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants. "Surely, we don't want wasted the streak we've got now.

We'll do our best to make it five in a row Wednesday for us to get into the quarters," said Coca-Cola coach Bo Perasol. "We know though that it won't be easy. We have a gritty opponent in Rain or Shine. They've just shown they can compete in a big game," Perasol also said. Both Coca-Cola and Rain or Shine fought with great resolve as they eased out Burger King and Sta. Lucia.

The Realtors, who narrowly missed an outright quarters seat, settled for eighth place with the Whoppers next at ninth. Asi Taulava, averaging 17 points in the tournament, made only eight this time but he provided the Tigers a huge defensive and inside presence which proved to tough to overcome for the Whoppers.

Macapagal, David, Espino and Gonzales supplied the points as the Tigers battered the Whoppers in the middle quarters before slowing down in the final canto. David had a solid performance in his first game versus his former team, drilling in 21 points. Macapagal had 22, Espino 16 and Gonzales 14.

"Hindi ako nakatulog noong nalaman kong Burger King ang kalaban namin -- excited na hindi malaman. Na-survived namin sila at ngayon excited akong makalaban si Gabe Norwood and Sol Mercado," said David. The former Lyceum star made four straight charities at the finish helping Coke hold off BK's endgame chase. Ronjay Buenafe put in a personal conference-high of 27 points and starred in BK's fourth-quarter chase that saw them cut a 21-point deficit to four twice in the last two minutes.

The Tigers eventually finished off the Whoppers as RJ Rizada pulled off a big offensive rebound then scored on a putback making it 118-112 with 30 seconds left to play. Rookie Ronnie Matias came through with a career-best 23 points, carrying the cudgels for BK early on before fouling out with nine minutes left to play. (SB)

The scores:

Coca-Cola 118 - Macapagal 22, David 21, Espino 16, Gonzales 14, Ross 10, Cruz 8, Calimag 8, Taulava 8, Rizada 6, Rodriguez 5.

Burger King 112 - Buenafe 27, Matias 23, Yee R. 19, Belga 10, Cabagnot 10, Gonzales W. 9, Quinahan 5, Sharma 4, Yee M. 3, Williams 2, Billones 0.

Quarterscores: 38-29, 67-54, 91-75, 118-112

Source: Author Unknown  | PBA.ph

Painters, Tigers survive, clash for quarters

MANILA, Philippines - Rain or Shine and Coca-Cola fought with grit and determination in their do-or-die matches with Sta. Lucia and Burger King, pulling off gripping victories to advance to the final knockout stage of the KFC PBA Philippine Cup wildcard round at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo last night.

The Elasto Painters outlasted the Realtors, 90-86, while the Tigers topped the Whoppers, 118-112, to stay in the running for the last berth in the quarterfinal round.

They play in another knockout duel in the same venue Wednesday with the winner gaining the right to play the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants in a best-of-five quarterfinal series.

Sol Mercado once again took charge for Rain or Shine with Jeff Chan and Eddie Laure contributing huge baskets at the finish as the Elasto Painters outlasted the Realtors in a furious battle.

Gary David, meanwhile, came through with a productive game in his first game versus his former team, leading the Tigers to the six-point win over the Whoppers.


Sta. Lucia and Burger King took the exit in the all-Filipino tourney with the Realtors winding up eighth and the Whoppers ninth.

“We survived Sta. Lucia Realty but it’s only the first half of the task we have to accomplish in this tough wildcard round,” said Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia. “We still have a tough job ahead of us versus Coca-Cola.”

“We’ve got past Burger King and we’re now looking forward to our Wednesday game versus Rain or Shine. Hopefully, we can sustain the momentum,” said Coca-Cola coach Bo Perasol.

Against Sta. Lucia, the Elasto Painters had to overcome Kelly Williams’ 27 points and 18 rebounds and Jason Urbiztondo’s six three-pointers.

Rain or Shine pulled through as Mercado, Chan, Laure, Mike Hrabak and Gabe Norwood teamed up to outplay Williams, Urbiztondo, Ryan Reyes, Nelbert Omolon and Marlou Aquino at the finish.

Chan nailed two three-pointers, Laure converted a short jumper and a lay-up and Norwood made a fade-away shot in a decisive 12-4 exchange pushing Rain or Shine ahead to stay at 86-81.

The Realtors threatened for the last time at 86-88 before Laure sealed their win on another jumper with 11 seconds left in the contest.

Mercado led Rain or Shine with 18 points and seven rebounds with Norwood adding 15, Chan 14 and Arana 13.

Woe to the Realtors, Ryan Reyes struggled for a second straight game.

The usually prolific Fil-Am guard bled for four points after winding up with a fat zero versus Purefoods Friday.

Nonetheless, the Realtors engaged the Elasto Painters in a battle with Williams exploding for 17 points and 12 rebounds right in the first half.

Aquino and Joseph Yeo chipped in 16 and 12 points, respectively, but the rest of the Realtors groped for form.

They wound up eighth place in the tourney after being beaten by the Elasto Painters for the first time in the last three conferences.

Source: Nelson Beltran  | Philstar.com

4 teams start bid in cutthroat playoffs

MANILA, Philippines - The KFC PBA Philippine Cup playoffs begin today at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo with four teams clashing in the initial stage of the tough wildcard plays to determine which team gets the last slot in the quarterfinals.

Sta. Lucia Realty mixes it up with Rain or Shine at 4 p.m. then Coca-Cola slugs it out with Burger King at 6:30 p.m. in Day One of the playoffs leading to the best-of-seven championship in late February or early March.

Landing in the lower half of the chart at the close of the double-round eliminations, the Realtors, the Elasto Painters, the Tigers and the Whoppers are now all after a backdoor entry to the quarters.

Only one of them will remain alive by Wednesday, gaining a crack at the semifinal round versus No. 3 seed Purefoods.

“The good thing about the tournament format is that you have a good chance to go all the way for as long as you’re not eliminated,” said Burger King coach Yeng Guiao.


The three other teams are also hopeful of their chances, including the Elasto Painters although they fared poorly in the elims, getting only four wins against 14 defeats.

In the first stage of the wildcard, the Elasto Painters are ranged against a Sta. Lucia team which narrowly missed an outright quarters berth with a 10-8 slate.

“Wildcard games are tough. Rain or Shine is a dangerous opponent but we have put the elims behind us and we’re looking forward to beat them,” said Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez.

Sta. Lucia beat Rain or Shine in two close games in the elims, scoring a 95-90 decision on Oct. 21 then repeating with a 95-91 win on Jan. 6.

The Elasto Painters have lost all their last four games, including a 94-95 heart-breaker to the Alaska Milk Aces Friday.

Coca-Cola and Burger King, meanwhile, split their two games in the elims with the Whoppers notching a 106-97 victory on Nov. 18 and the Tigers getting even at 106-94 on Dec. 13.

“We have to sustain our momentum in this crucial game. BK is tough but we are prepared and definitely aware of the consequences,” said Coca-Cola coach Bo Perasol.

“The Burger King-Coke battle is very interesting. We got involved in a trade deal that have made both teams better. The game will involve a lot of pride,” said Guiao.

Gary David and Chico Lanete are now with Coke while Alex Cabagnot and Wesley Gonzales are with BK.

“Wesley and Alex are blending well with us. We’re getting better with these two guys,” Guiao said.

Source: Nelson Beltran  | Philstar.com

BK thwarts Alaska's bid for automatic semis seat

Burger King Whoppers jeopardized Alaska Aces' bid for an automatic semis seat after pulling off an 87-80 win Wednesday night in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

With nothing to gain as they were already relegated in the knockout wildcard stage, the Whoppers played loose but more focused than the Aces to end their three-game skid for a 6-12 win-loss mark.

The loss was damaging to Alaska, which came into the game needing one more win to formalize its entry in the best-of-seven semifinal series.

Now, the Aces have to win their last game against Rain or Shine on Friday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City to avoid a playoff for the No. 2 spot.

JR Quinahan scored a career-high 23 points to go along with his 10 rebounds to lead Burger King’s big win over the slumping Alaska.

“It’s a good way to close out our elimination round. This is a big morale booster for our wildcard stint,” said Whoppers head coach Yeng Guiao, who also drew 16 points from Ronjay Buenafe.

“We’re now two wins away from the quarters and one loss away from taking a long vacation,” he added.

Alaska dropped to 12-5 and is now in a must-win situation to avoid a playoff for the second automatic semis berth. The Aces have now lost three straight and four of their last five matches.

The scores:

Burger King 87 - Quinahan 23, Buenafe 16, Matias 12, Gonzales 10, R.Yee 8, Cabagnot 6, Williams 4, Belga 3, Billones 3, Sharma 2, M.Yee 0, Aban 0.

Alaska 80 - Miller 19, Tenorio 13, De Vance 12, Dela Cruz 12, Thoss 8, Hugnatan 7, Cariaso 7, Fonacier 2, Borboran 0, Ferriols 0, Cablay 0.

Quarterscores: 13-18, 34-37, 61-56, 87-80

Source: Author Unknown  | abs-cbnnew.com

Burger King eyes Sta. Lucia’s Omolon

Burger King isn’t done with its wheeling and dealing yet. Barely two weeks after unloading Gary David and Chico Lanete, the Whopper are ready to let go of another big man just to get the services of Sta. Lucia’s hardworking forward Bitoy Omolon.

Philippine Basketball Association chairman and Burger King team manager Lito Alvarez told GMANew.TV that the squad is willing to give up either Carlo Sharma or JR Quinahan in exchange for the 6’4 forward.

According to Alvarez, they are still in the middle of negotiations as the Realtors don’t want to settle on getting a big man, but rather want to get another bruising player in rookie Ronnie Matias.

The Burger King executive believes a big man is somebody the Realtors now need.

“The way I see it, parang kailangan ng Sta. Lucia ng isang malaking player pa panghalili kay Marlou (Aquino)," said Alvarez.

Burger King coach Yeng Guiao, a fan of hardworking players who never back down from challenges, doesn’t want to give up Matias, who has now emerged as one of the key players of the Whopper.

“Knowing coach Yeng, mahilig yan sa matatapang kaya ayaw pawalan si Matias. We’re still talking now. But we feel we really need somebody like Omolon to save our future this conference," said Alvarez.

Just recently, the struggling Whopper shipped David and Lanete to the Coca-Cola Tigers in exchange for Alex Cabagnot and Wesley Gonzales.

The move was made to give immediate remedy to the team’s weakening guard spot due to the suspension of ace sentinel Wynne Arboleda. The man known as "The Snatcher" has been suspended for the rest of the season for mauling a Smart-Gilas fan.

Source: Author Unknown  | gmanews.tv

Ginebra rams Burger King, stays in semis hunt

MANILA, Philippines - Barangay Ginebra pummeled Burger King in the final half and completed a 122-104 rout of the Whoppers to keep its slim hopes for a crack at an outright semifinal entry in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum last night.

The Kings, largely behind the exploits of JC Intal, Cyrus Baguio and Willy Wilson, went on a searing breakaway in the third quarter and sustained the pace in the final canto for the win that guaranteed them a spot in the Top Five.

Intal, Baguio and Wilson each scored at least 15 points as the Kings repeated over the Whoppers and finished with a 12-6 win-loss card in the double-round elimination phase.

Assured of a slot in the quarterfinals, the Kings even get a playoff shot at an outright entry into the semifinals if the Alaska Milk Aces lose their last two games versus the Whoppers Wednesday and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters Friday.

Ginebra coach Jong Uichico, however, has conceded the slot to the Aces.


“I think Alaska can win one of two, if not two of two,” said Uichico.

Kelly Williams and Ryan Reyes churned out double-double games while four other Sta. Lucia players chipped in double-digit outputs as the Realtors clobbered the Barako Bull Energy Boosters, 108-86, in the first game to stay in the hunt for an outright quarterfinals berth.

Williams made 25 points and 11 rebounds while Reyes put in 11 points and 10 assists on top of six rebounds and four steals as the Realtors snapped a two-game losing skein for and stayed right behind the Ginebra Kings (12-6), the Purefoods Giants (11-6) and the Talk n Text Tropang Texters (11-7) in their battle for the three automatic slots in the quarters.

Marlou Aquino piled up personal conference highs of 17 points and three assists while Joshua Urbiztondo, Gabby Espinas and Joseph Yeo scored in double figures as they sent the Energy Boosters to the brink of elimination.

“I’m happy we won this game. I was really worried before the game since Barako Bull was coming off a win while our team had lost our last two games,” said Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez.

“But the guys stepped up and made things happen. With the win, we still hold our destiny. We now look forward to our game against Purefoods,” Fernandez added.

With a 10-7 win-loss record, the Realtors can force a playoff or gain outright quarters berth with a win over the Giants in their crucial game Friday at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.

“Purefoods is a foot ahead of us and they beat us in our first game in Surigao. But we like our chances. The key is for us to come into the game bringing our defensive mentality,” Fernandez said.

The Energy Boosters, meanwhile, suffered their 14th loss against three wins as they were badly beaten by the Realtors in the last three quarters.

Barako Bull bows out of contention for the wildcard round if Burger King beats Alaska Milk tomorrow.