Petron Defeats Alaska Aces

It was a perfect November for Petron Blaze.

The Boosters came through with clutch plays down the stretch and defeated stubborn Alaska, 90-85, for their sixth straight win in the 2011 PBA Philippine Cup Tuesday night at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

Petron ended this month unscathed after six games and improved their mark to 9-3, boosting its chances for the twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinal round.

Arwind Santos had 24 points, 9 rebounds and 3 steals, Alex Cabagnot added 20 markers, six boards and five assists while Dennis Miranda contributed 14 off the bench as they hit the crucial shots in the closing minutes.

The Aces fell to 3-9 and are now in danger of missing the playoffs just for the third time in the last 32 conferences.

“First quarter we did a god job shutting down their transition game but in the second quarter, we relaxed at nawala ‘yung patience sa offense,” said Boosters head coach Ato Agustin.

“I told them we can’t underestimate Alaska and it was not an easy game for us,” he added.

Petron really had to dig deep this time as the Aces, after trailing early at 3-18, came back fighting in the second canto and trimmed the gap to 38-39 going to the break.

It was a tight contest since then with the Aces even taking a 46-43 lead in the third and a 70-68 edge on Sonny Thoss’s three-point play off Rob Reyes.

But Petron answered back with a 15-6 exchange, led by Santos, Cabagnot and Miranda to erect an 83-76 cushion with 3:34 remaining.

Alaska was not about to give up easily as the Aces scored the next nine points to take an 85-85 lead with 1:39 left in the contest.

Miranda tied the game with an undergoal stab, 85-85, and after LA Tenorio missed a triple in the ensuing play, Santos put the lead back to the Boosters with a side jumper, 87-85, 58, ticks left.

Alaska committed a pair of turnovers in its next two possessions, one on Tenorio and the other one on Mac Baracael that led to Danny Ildefonso’s split and Santos’s tip-in to take the game for good.

“Goal talaga namin mag-No. 1 para sa twice-to-beat advantage,” said Agustin. “Whatever happens sa next game, we still have a chance.”

Thoss had 19 points and 19 rebounds for the Aces while Baracael and Tenorio each had 13 markers.

The scores:

PETRON 90 – Santos 24, Cabagnot 20, Miranda 14, Reyes 8, Yeo 8, Ildefonso 7, Baclao 4, Tugade 3, Guevarra 2, Doruelo 0, Agustin 0, Sharma 0.

ALASKA 85 – Thoss 19, Baracael 13, Tenorio 13, Custodio 10, Reyes 10, Baguio 10, Bugia 6, Salamat 4, Eman 0.

Quarters: 21-9, 39-38, 64-60, 90-85

source: http://www.interaksyon.com/

5th Straight win For Bmeg, Pj Simons 3 Pointer Pushes the Llamados Past Rain or shine

Peter June Simon nailed the game-winning three-pointer with less than a minute left as B-MEG rallied past hard-luck Rain or Shine, 102-100, in a thrilling PBA Philippine Cup game Friday at the Araneta Coliseum.


Simon's clutch three-pointer capped Llamados’ closing 7-2 run after they trailed by three, 98-95, in the final three minutes of the contest after losing grip of a 21-point first quarter lead.

The Elasto Painters had a chance of reversing the outcome of the match after Mark Barroca failed to seal it for B-MEG when he missed on the Llamados’ final possession with 5.8 seconds left.


But rookie Paul Lee bungled a potential three-pointer just before the final buzzer, handing his team a third consecutive loss. B-MEG secured its fifth straight win.






"That was clutch basket by PJ (Simon). We're just lucky to pull this one off. Rain or Shine came ready to play," said an obviously relieved B-MEG coach Tim Cone after the match.






B-MEG and Rain or Shine are now tied at 7-4 as the Llamados remained very much in the running for the No. 2 spot and the twice-to-beat incentive in the playoffs that goes with it.


James Yap paced the Llamados with 32 points, including 19 in the first half where B-MEG zoomed to a 24-3lead with five minutes left in the opening period.






But Rain or Shine came back strong and were facing a 51-49 deficit at the turn which TY Tang closed with a three-pointer.






The Elasto Painters eventually caught up with the Llamados at 90-all behind Lee's two free throws.


Rain or Shine then scored eight of the game's next 13 points to take a three-point lead entering the homestretch.


Mark Pingris and Kerby Raymundo's consecutive baskets gave B-MEG a 99-98 lead, before Beau Belga's long two put Rain or Shine on top for the last time at 100-99.






Lee finished with 21 points to lead Rain or Shine, which is coming off a heartbreaking 106-104 overtime loss to league-leader and defending champion Talk 'N Text last week. — JVP, GMA News


Scores:


B-MEG 102—J. Yap 32, Simon 16, Barroca 14, Urbiztondo 11, Raymundo 11, Pingris 10, De Vance 3, Reavis 3, R. Yap 2, De Ocampo 0.


Rain or Shine 100—Lee 21, Buenafe 12, Matias 10, Rodriguez 9, Arana 9, Tang 8, Norwood 7, Belga 7, Chan 6, Quinahan 6, Cruz 4, Ibanes 1.


Quarter scores: 30-13, 51-49, 79-77, 102-100.


Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/239698/sports/basketball/simon-s-3-pointer-pushes-b-meg-past-rain-or-shine

Powerade Defeats Shopinas Clickers in the PBA

Powerade snapped a four-game losing streak with a much-needed 102-84 victory over Shopinas.com Friday in the 2011-12 PBA Philippine Cup at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

Rookie Marcio Lassiter led the Tigers’ breakaway in the third period to help give Powerade a 4-7 win-loss mark, a full game advantage over Alaska (3-8).

Lassiter tallied an all-around performance with 21 points, six rebounds and eight assists, despite not finishing the game due to a bad cut on his right eye courtesy of the wayward elbow of the Clickers’ Ogie Menor.

Doug Kramer added 17 points while Gary David contributed 16 for the Tigers.

“We really have to thank God for helping us go through these struggles,” said Powerade head coach Bo Perasol. “It was difficult for us. We could have won two of those four games.”

“We still have a chance. We are still in the thick of things but we’ll be going through the eye of the needle.”

Shopinas has now registered the second-longest losing streak in league history with 12 straight setbacks, one short of tying two teams, Great Taste and Countryfair, for the infamous record.

Like most of their matches this tournament, the Clickers were in the game in the first half and even led, 34-31, on Elmer Espiritu’s jumper.

But the Tigers ended the half with a 19-9 exchange to carry a 50-43 lead at halftime.

Lassiter and Kramer then combined forces in the next 12 minutes to help Powerade erect an 84-64 lead.

The Clickers trimmed the gap to 91-77 on Pong Escobal’s jumper. But David drilled a three-pointer to start a 9-0 salvo that gave Powerade a 98-77 spread with 3:36 remaining in the game.

The Tigers can clinch a spot in the quarterfinal round if they sweep their last three games against Talk ‘N Text, Meralco, and Barako Bull.

“I just hope we get the confidence we need with this win,” said Perasol.

James Sena led Shopinas with 19 points and 11 rebounds while Espiritu, Escobal and Paolo Hubalde each had 12 points for the team of coach Franz Pumaren.

The scores:

POWERADE 102 – Lassiter 21, Kramer 17, David 16, Cruz 9, Antonio 9, Adducul 8, Casio 6, Crisano 6, Anthony 5, Vanlandingham 3, Lingganay 2, Martinez 0, Allera 0.

SHOPINAS.COM 84 – Sena 19, Espiritu 12, Escobal 12, Hubalde 12, Sison 7, Menor 5, Duncil 4, Daa 4, Ritualo 4, Jazul 2, Se 2, Canta 1, Bagatsing 0, Aquino 0.

Quarterscores: 28-28, 50-43, 84-64,102-84

http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/powerade-defeats-shopinas-to-arrest-skid

Sinag players, PBA stars likely to comprise new SMART-Gilas pool

InterAKTV file photo/Justin Gener

JAKARTA — Members of the gold-medal seeking Sinag Pilipinas squad competing in the 26th Southeast Asian Games are strong candidates to become part of the next wave of the SMART-Gilas national program alongside select PBA players.

Sinag team manager and SMART-Gilas operations head Butch Antonio told InterAKTV in an exclusive interview that Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas officials have begun discussions about the composition of the next national team.

“Ideally, we initially agreed on 15 players from the amateur ranks and 15 players from the PBA,” Antonio said. “Most of the candidates naman ng SMART-Gilas 2 will come from the Sinag team. Their performance in the SEA Games will be evaluated as well.”

The pool will also include players from the PBA. Last month, the league’s commissioner Chito Salud asked the SBP to draw a list of players it wished to be part of the pool, and had earlier committed up to 16 PBA players.

Salud and PBA chairman Mamerto Mondragon, however, clarified that PBA players will only see action in the FIBA Asia Championship, the qualifying event for the Olympics and the world championships.

Among players who are performing well for the Sinag Pilipinas squad are UAAP standouts Kiefer Ravena, Ray Parks, RR Garcia and Greg Slaughter, Fil-American D-League players Cliff Hodge and Chris Ellis, NCAA star Garvo Lanete, and SMART-Gilas team captain Chris Tiu.

The SBP has yet to give its wish list of PBA players as executive director Sonny Barrios left for Geneva, Switzerland to attend a special FIBA function.

But having cited the need for continuity in the program, the SBP is likely to request for the services of some of the members of the first batch of SMART-Gilas players who are now playing in the PBA, who include Chris Lutz, J-Vee Casio, Marcio Lassiter, Mac Baracael, Dylan Ababou, Mark Barroca, Jason Ballesteros, and Japeth Aguilar.  The SBP is also expected to name some of the league’s resident stars to join the pool.

source :http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/sinag-players-pba-stars-likely-to-comprise-new-smart-gilas-pool