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Talk N' Text (102) - Harris 23, Reyes 15, De Ocampo 14, Carey 11, Fonacier 10, Alapag 10, Peek 8, Williams 6, Castro 5, Aban 0, Alvarez 0.

Ginebra (99) - Brumfield 26, Caguioa 25, Miller 11, Mamaril 10, Intal 6, Cortez 6, Hatfield 6, Labagala 5, Menk 4, Wilson 0, Tubid 0.

Quarters: 26-15, 59-41, 81-73, 102-99

Source: ABS-CBN News

-- Eric Menk of the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings is the latest cager to be named the Accel-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week after contributing greatly to his squad’s recent back-to-back victories.

According to PBA.ph, the 35-year-old Menk averaged 16 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in Ginebra’s wins over Barako Energy Coffee Masters and Sta. Lucia Realtors, making him the Player of the Week for the period of May 10 to 16.

The stats showed a marked improvement from the 2004-2005 Most Valuable Player, who averaged 7.8 points and 3.6 rebounds in Ginebra’s first 8 games in the Philippine Basketball Association Fiesta Conference.

“The other guys were looking for me and luckily my shots went in,” Menk told PBA.ph.

Ginebra coach Jong Uichico commended his veteran player, calling him their “steady guy inside.”

“He has been working extra hard to be in the best shape possible and is so focused on his game,” added Uichico.

The Gin Kings, with 6 wins and 4 losses, will go against the Alaska Aces on Saturday in Cebu City.

Source: Nelson BeltranPhilippine Star

-- Cyrus Baguio made a big impact in his first game as an Alaska Milk player, fueling the team’s comeback from 15 points down as the Aces withstood the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 86-81, at the resumption of the 2010 PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum last night.

Baguio took charge at the finish, stealing the thunder from Willie Miller as Alaska made it five in a row versus Ginebra dating back to their Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinals showdown swept by the Aces.

Baguio and the Aces stunned the Kings with a huge closing run, overcoming a poor first half in notching a third straight win following a 0-2 win-loss start in the season-ending tourney.

“We’re totally out of whack in the beginning. Mark Caguioa was going crazy and we couldn’t stop him. Then Cyrus turned things around for us,” said Alaska coach Tim Cone on Baguio’s heroics.

“Willie (Miller) would certainly have his moments and Ginebra would love him, but tonight’s Cyrus’ night,” Cone added.

“I didn’t expect it. I was kind of gun shy in the beginning. Good thing, I got my game going in the end and I was able to help my new team win the game,” said Baguio.

San Miguel Beer, making key adjustments and coming up fresh from the All-Star break, clobbered Rain or Shine, 105-97, in the first game,

The Beermen pummeled the Elasto Painters in the first three quarters and simply went through the motion at the finish as they firmed up their hold of the lead with a 6-1 card.

Coach Siot Tanquingcen and his troops stretched their streak to five games while dealing the Elasto Painters their third loss in six starts.

Meanwhile, second-running Talk n Text also seeks a fifth straight victory as the Texters play the Air21 Express and new import Reggie Larry in a rare Saturday double-header at the Astrodome tonight.

Coca-Cola and Sta. Lucia Realty mix it up in the 4 p.m. curtain-raiser of the weekend bill serving as part of the PBA Phoenix Fuel on Tour.

“The break worked to our advantage. We’re a bit banged up before the break. We’re able to rest our players and at the same time worked on several things,” said Tanquingcen.

Source: ABS-CBN News

-- Talk ‘N Text weathered Rain or Shine’s last minute uprising to hold on to a 99-96 win in the KFC-PBA Fiesta Conference Friday night at the Cuneta Astrdome in Pasay City.

The Tropang Texters almost blew a 7-point lead in the final 2:21 of the game as the Elasto Painters staged a comeback but came up short to surrender the victory to their rivals.

Ranidel de Ocampo scored 15 of his 20 points in the second half and shot 7-of-8 from the field to lead Talk ‘N Text’s onslaught in the final half of the game.

With the win, the Tropang Texters bounced back from a 90-97 defeat at the hands of Barangay Ginebra in their opening game last Sunday.

But still, Talk ‘N Text head coach Chot Reyes was far from satisfied with the performance of his team.

“This is a very disappointing win because we cannot close the deal,” said Reyes, who also drew 19 points and 6 assists from Jimmy Alapag.

“It’s nice to have a win but it was a very disappointing cause. We gave them an opportunity to come back and it went down to the last possession. We’re just lucky Gabe (Norwod) missed that shot,” he added.

Jason Castro, Mark Cardona, and import Shawn Daniels contributed 15, 14 and 13 points respectively for the Texters.

Jay-R Reyes led Rain or Shine with 23 points and 13 rebounds while Jai Lewis chipped in 17 for coach Caloy Garcia. Gabe Norwood finished with 16 points.

SLR dumps Kings
Sta. Lucia Realty also nailed its first win in the tournament with an 86-72 shellacking of Barangay Ginebra.

Anthony Johnson led the Realtors with 22 points and 13 rebounds and was responsible in the team’s breakaway in the fourth period to bounce back from a sorry 93-97 loss to Barako Coffee in their first game.

Kelly Williams added 13 points and 6 rebounds for SLR.

Awvee Storey paced the Kings with 13 points and 22 rebounds but the import failed to solicit support from the locals to slide to 1-1 in the team standings.

Source: Nelson Beltran, Philippine Star

-- Barako Energy Coffee, featuring a re-tooled lineup and new coach Junel Baculi and backstopped by a talented import, made a triumphant debut in the 2010 PBA Fiesta Conference, outsteadying Sta. Lucia Realty down the stretch for a 97-93 victory last night at the Araneta Coliseum.

Import Sammy Monroe dished out a solid double-double job and new local recruits Al Vergara, Rob Wainwright and Jerwin Gaco put in some significant help as the Energy Coffee Masters got off to a winning start after finishing dead last in the recent Philippine Cup.

“I really believe that with hard work, we can win games. The goal is to come out of the rut. We don’t want a repeat of our performance in the last conference,” said Baculi, who took over from Leo Isaac.

“It’s good to win our first game and it doesn’t stop there. It’s just the first game. There’s 17 more, so it’s still a long, long way to go,” Baculi added.

Monroe, an all-playoff teamer and co-playoff MVP with the Rochester Zeniths in the 2007-08 Premier Basketball League, had an impressive first game in the local pro league, churning out 39 points and 11 rebounds. He also had three assists in 39 minutes of action.

Also a veteran of the Mexican league where he once was a second leading scorer, Monroe personally clinched the Barako win with a rebound and three free throws in the last 11 seconds.

“I would like to think we’re going to finish on top. I hate to lose so expect me to play with all my heart every night. I’ll be aggressive and you’ll see a lot of entertainment,” said Monroe.

Vergara, a PBA returnee after a stint with the Singapore Slingers in the Asean Basketball League (ABL), stepped up for Barako, knocking in back-to-back baskets that gave the Energy Coffee Masters a six-point spread, 94-88, with 1:25 left to play.

“He’s been there before. He’s a veteran. It’s just a matter of giving him the confidence. He’s aching to prove that he belongs,” said Baculi of Vergara, who also had a brief stint with Purefoods in 2009.

Vergara finished with eight points, the same output delivered by Wainwright, another PBA returnee from the ABL. Wainwright went 2-of-2 from beyond the arc and added a two-pointer and three rebounds in 18 minutes of play.

The entire team was 37-of-69 from the field – the best for the franchise in the last six conferences.

Meanwhile, the Barangay Ginebra Kings and import Awvee Storey ended their first game together with a good story to tell.

Storey also had an impressive debut in the local pro league, coming through with 33 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Kings to a 97-90 win over the Talk n Text Tropang Texters.

Mark Caguioa, Ronald Tubid and Jayjay Helterbrand added at least 11 points each as the Kings kept their streak in their personal duel with the Texters since their controversial quarterfinal duel in the recent Philippine Cup.

“Storey is not that spectacular but he’s an all-around player. He’s got little of everything and we’re hoping he can complement the team,” said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico.

The Energy Foods and Drinks ball club struggled in the last three years, finishing 10th and last in the league’s last three tourneys.

Monroe poured in 17 points in the third quarter, fuelling a fiery charge that opened a double-digit lead.

Anthony Johnson and Kelly Williams spearheaded a fourth-quarter Sta. Lucia fightback but the Realtors failed to sustain their momentum, losing steam at the finish.

The Realtors, who trailed by 12 points four times, pulled even at 88 entering the last two minutes of the game. But Monroe canned in two free throws off Bitoy Omolon, then Vergara had his crucial back-to-back hits, giving the Coffee Masters a 94-88 margin.

Going down the drain was Johnson’s own double-double game of 41 points and 13 rebounds.

Source: Joaquin Henson, Philippine Star

-- Rudy Hatfield will end almost a three-year leave from the PBA and resume playing for Barangay Ginebra in the coming Fiesta Conference starting March 21.

After losing to Alaska in a 4-0 series sweep in the recent Philippine Cup semifinals, the Kings could use a fiery rebounder like Hatfield to get back in title contention. He will be a vital piece in the puzzle that coach Joseph Uichico is consolidating for the future.

Hatfield’s agent Bill Rosmarino confirmed yesterday that the H-Bomb from the University of Michigan at Dearborn has signed a one-year contract with Ginebra and will arrive from the US late March.

“Rudy is already preparing his body for battle,” said Rosmarino. “I’m just so excited. This has been nearly three years of waiting. It will be so nice to watch, as a Hatfield fan, the new improved 110 percent version. With his new mindset, rest and heart, you can only imagine what Rudy will do on the court for Ginebra.”

Hatfield, 32, took a leave of absence from Ginebra in 2007 for personal reasons. The 6-6 power forward, whose mother is Filipina, has played six years in the PBA, averaging 13.4 points and 10.8 rebounds.

In an exclusive STAR interview, Hatfield vowed to return with a bang.

“Don’t think for one second I’m gonna walk on the floor and let anyone walk all over me,” he said. “I’m comin’ to play. I’m comin’ to wrestle. And I’m comin’ to win. There’s nothing new to expect. I don’t have any new moves. I haven’t been given some miraculous pill that has me flying out of the gym and I won’t suddenly become a pure shooter. What you will see is me diving on the floor again, running up and down like a caged animal that has just been let loose and 110 percent of tenacious intensity.””

Hatfield said he is well informed about developments in the PBA and can’t wait to play for the Kings.

“What an awesome time playing for Ginebra is going to be,” he continued. “I’ve been following the PBA since I left and I definitely know what’s going on. I remember telling Eric (Menk) about J. C. (Intal) while he was at Ateneo and saying, ‘Look at the hops on this guy.’ It looks as if he’s become more than just a leaper.”

Hatfield said he has kept in shape playing in leagues but admitted he’s not in PBA condition at the moment.

“I plan on being ready,” he went on. “The good thing is I still weigh the same as when I left so I won’t have to worry about getting rid of extra weight. You know, if anything, I’ll be in shape. Maybe not as good right away but I’ll surely be able to get up and down the floor.”

Since leaving the country, Hatfield said he has found new meaning in his life with wife Bethany and their two children Bella, 5, and Lylah, 1, embracing the Christian faith.

For about 10 days last November, Hatfield quietly came to town for missionary work with the Northridge Church of Plymouth, Michigan. He visited schools, staged puppet shows for kids, conducted basketball clinics and delivered personal testimonials. Two highlights of Hatfield’s brief visit were explaining to kids a fun way to remember the 10 commandments and providing disaster relief for typhoon Ondoy victims.

“After about a year of researching, speaking with God, receiving so many signs and just putting myself out there to believe, I was finally saved,” he said. “My old life was put to death and I was reborn. I now truly believe that Jesus Christ is our Savior, that if we believe in His death for our sins, His resurrection as ourselves being resurrected into a new life and that He is the way, truth and the life. By all means, I still sin, I still make mistakes and I have a long, painful journey to go before I’m made into the perfect image of Jesus. But at least I know I can repent and be forgiven and I focus everyday on getting closer to God.”

Hatfield said his wife and daughters will make periodic visits to Manila while he’s playing in the PBA.

“It will be a great opportunity for my daughters to see a different culture especially for Lylah (who is part Filipino),” he said. “I want my kids to see where their father spent the majority of his growing years.”

As for how long he plans to play, Hatfield said it’s up to the Lord.

“Right now, the thought is to play until God tells me it’s time to move on,” he said. “I don’t know exactly how long it will be. But what I do know is for the last three years, I’ve been trying to find a purpose for my life, wondering what God made me for. For about three years, I tried to fool myself that I wasn’t made for basketball. I do know now that God gave me a gift and maybe I’m not the most talented basketball player but he gave me something that gets the job done.”

Source: Nelson Beltran, Philippine Star

-- Alaska Milk is back in the all-Filipino finals.

The Aces cut loose from a tight game in the homestretch and completed a masterful sweep of the Barangay Ginebra Kings in their KFC PBA Philippine best-of-seven semifinal showdown with a 102-95 win last night at the Araneta Coliseum.

Pointguard LA Tenorio presided over the Aces’ mighty finish that carried them to an eighth all-Filipino finale and 24th overall with a crack at a 13th championship.

“Wow! Who would have thought we could do this. To be here beating Ginebra four in a row is an incredible feat,” said Alaska coach Tim Cone of their sweet sweep.

“I don’t know where we came from. The guys lifted our game to a whole new level. From the beginning in Game One, the guys were fresh, hungry and sharp. And they didn’t lose anything along the way. It’s kind of unusual,” Cone also said.

“Ginebra played well tonight. They had the game they wanted to play. But we still had a better night,” Cone added.

Tenorio produced 20 points and 10 assists, Reynel Hugnatan put in 18 points and 10 rebounds and big men Sonny Thoss and Joe De Vance combined for 29 points and 12 rebounds as Alaska kept its mastery of Ginebra, essaying only the fourth 4-0 playoff sweep in league history.

So impressive were the Aces in the series they walloped the Kings by an average margin of 13.25 points.

“We just had a real unusual series. Just anybody I picked from the bench played very well,” said Cone.

The Kings engaged the Aces in a battle in Game Four but ran out of gas, slowing it down at the finish.

After the Kings tied for the last time at 85-all, Tenorio banged away a trey to spark a decisive eight-to-nothing run, getting the Aces ahead to stay.

Purefoods rebounded from a humbling defeat, whipping San Miguel Beer, 97-84, and forcing a 2-2 deadlock in the other semfinal game.

James Yap and Kerby Raymundo, the team’s main men, shared the load with their teammates, resulting in a better team performance and the crucial win watched by a crowd of over 12,000.

Roger Yap went a rebound shy of a triple-double effort with Marc Pingris and Rafi Reavis having their own double-double job as they gave the Giants a tremendous lift in springing back from a 76-88 loss in Game Three.

Yap produced 15 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, Pingris submitted 15 points and 11 rebounds while Reavis tallied 14 rebounds and 12 points in the game marred by the ouster of a San Miguel support staff on a technical infraction.

“I think this is the first time we hit the 20s in assist department. I told James and Kerby they have to share the ball. We have to get the other players involved on offense. Good thing they bought the idea,” said Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio.

“We’re not able to play our game. We allowed them to shoot 48 percent from the field and we’re also down in assists. Basically, that’s the story,” said San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen.

Imposing their game, the Giants led by as many as 21 points right in the first period before slowing down in the next two quarters then getting back into the groove in the final canto.

“It was a game of adjustments. They threw good defensive efforts but we had some antidotes and good thing they worked,” said Gregorio.

“We want to stay alive and we want to stay competing. When we regained control in the fourth, I practically begged (my players) ‘please don’t let them make a run again,’” Gregorio added.

The Beermen, behind Jonas Villanueva, Jay Washington and Arwind Santos, waged a searing rally in the final half, reducing a 22-point gap, 20-42, to three, 71-74, early in the fourth quarter.

The Giants, however, showed great composure, regaining control at 90-74, on a decisive roll led by Pingris and Roger Yap.

“It’s down to a best of three, and honestly I feel we have a legitimate crack with the way we’ve been playing and with the way we’ve been concentrating in trying to stop the team,” said Gregorio.

“But we need to give my players who play extensive minutes some rest again. At this point, it’s better to spend time in video room and talk about things that should be done. It’s unnecessary to practice on the court,” Gregorio added.

The Giants came out revitalized, sprinting to a 21-point spread at 29-8.

They then had several 22-point leads before settling for a 53-44 cushion at halftime.

San Miguel made it a more manageable deficit as Danny Ildefonso, Denok Miranda and Washington closed out the second period with five straight charities.

Source: GMA News

-- The Alaska Aces are back in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup Finals.

The Aces limited Barangay Ginebra to just two points in a crucial four minute span on their way to pulling off a 102-95 win Wednesday to earn a return trip to the championship round of the All-Filipino conference.

LA Tenorio paced Alaska with 20 points and led a key scoring run that saw the Aces rattling off eight unanswered points in the homestretch of Game 4 at the Araneta Coliseum.

That scoring binge readily took the fight out of the embattled Kings as they got swept by the Aces in their best-of-seven semifinals series, 4-0.

Alaska, the second seeded team at the end of the eliminations, now await for their best-of-seven Finals opponent after Purefoods leveled their own semifinals duel with San Miguel at 2-2.

"I really don’t know what’s happening, but they (Aces) are really playing spectacular basketball," said Tim Cone in giving the ultimate praise for his squad.

The Aces are on their 24th finals appearance and are in a good position of winning the title that slipped out of their grip last year when it bungled a 2-0 lead in the finals to yield the series to Talk ‘N Text in seven games.

The Aces’ 4-0 win is also just the fourth time in league history that a team completed a sweep of a best-of-seven series.

Tenorio also had 10 assists, while Reynel Hugnatan had another solid performance with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

The Kings gave the Aces some anxious moments until the final six minute mark when Billy Mamaril’s jumper just inside the foul line tied the game for the last time at 85-85.

Then coming off a time out, Tenorio hit a three-pointer, and after a Ginebra turn over, the wily 5-foot-10 guard initiated a fastbreak play which Joe Devance finished with a three-point play, putting the Aces in command, 91-85.

Hugnatan stretched the lead to eight with an inside stab, before Enrico Villanueva broke the Kings’ silence to make it 93-87.

But Tenorio scored three straight from the foul line, allowing the Aces to pull away for good, 96-87, with three minutes left.

"They came into the series looking tired," said Cone of the Kings, who went the full five games against the Tropang Texters in the quarterfinals after being down 0-2 in the best-of-five duel.

"In contrast, we’re coming off a rest so we just bring it on to the entire series."

JayJay Helterbrand finished with 20 points while Ronald Tubid and Villanueva tallied 15 each for the Kings, who once again missed the services of the injured Eric Menk.

Source: GMA News

-- For the second straight series, Barangay Ginebra found itself in a deep hole in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup.

Willie Miller rebounded from a disappointing Game 1 showing, coming through with 18 points in leading the Alaska Aces to a 90-82 win over the Kings in their best-of-seven series Friday at the Astrodome.

The Aces now lead the Kings, 2-0, in their semifinals duel and will be looking to make it three in a row in Sunday’s Game 3.

Miller added eight rebounds and seven assists after finishing with only four in Game 1.

Enrico Villanueva scored 17 points to lead the Kings, who also trailed Talk `N Text, two games to none in the quarterfinals, a best-of-five affair.

Unlike in their 104-79 loss in the opener, the Kings put up a big fight this time, cutting a 13-point third quarter deficit to 86-82 in the final minute of the game.

But Sonny Thoss (17) scored underneath and Tony Dela Cruz (14) added two free throws to seal the win for the Aces.

Sunday Salvacion had 14 points for the Kings and Ronald Tubid 11.

JC Intal again was a big disappointment with only two points after scoring seven in Game 1. The former Ateneo stalwart averaged 23 points in five games during the Kings quarterfinal encounter with the Tropang Texters.

Injuries kept Eric Menk and Celino Cruz from suiting up for the Kings.

Source: Nelson Beltran, Philippine Star

-- Alaska Milk came out bristling in form despite a long 18-day layoff, routing a weary Barangay Ginebra side for a 104-79 win in the opener of their KFC PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinal showdown at the Araneta Coliseum last night.

Sonny Thoss and Joe De Vance both came through with a double-double showing with LA Tenorio and Tony dela Cruz adding double-digit outputs as the Aces dominated a Ginebra team drained by a grueling stint in the quarterfinals versus Talk n Text.

“We hoped this to happen but not totally expected it,” said Alaska coach Tim Cone.

“They were emotionally and physically tired having to go through that tough quarters series with Talk n Text. But this is just the first game of a long series. They will take a deep breath and I expect a tough game in Game Two,” Cone said.

San Miguel Beer, another team coming off a long rest, walloped Purefoods, 99-83, in Game One of their own best-of-seven semis series.

“Our long break worked well for us. It became a big advantage, giving our injured players time to recover. Danny Seigle and Danny Ildefonso rejoined us in this game and they were of big help,” said San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen.

“However, it’s just one game. We must not fall in a wrong sense of security. For sure, Purefoods will play with a lot of energy in the next game,” Tanquingcen added.

After yielding the first basket to Enrico Villanueva, the Aces answered with a 23-8 attack and they utterly outplayed the Kings all the way to the finish.

“We’re a step slow tonight. The Talk n Text series took its toll on us and we didn’t have the fire,” said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico.

“But that’s the way it is and we have no excuse. We must find a way to refresh ourselves. It’s only zero-one and hopefully we can recover,” Uichico said.

With the Alaska starters coming out strong and the reserves also playing well, the Aces took control throughout, leading by as many as 22 points right in the first half.

De Vance and Thoss outclassed Villanueva, Eric Menk and Billy Mamaril with the former churning out 20 points and 18 rebounds and the latter submitting 21 points and 11 rebounds.

Tenorio added 19 points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals while Dela Cruz chipped in 10 points, six rebounds and three assists for the Aces who never showed the effect of a long layoff.

“This is really the best practice team I’ve ever coached. They competed against each other in practice. We battled during the break and that’s the key to this game,” said Cone.

“The guys were sharp. They didn’t turn the ball over even as Ginebra applied the pressure,” Cone added.

The Aces lorded it over the boards, 59-40, and shot much better, hitting at a 49.4 percent clip as against the Kings’ 36 percent shooting.

Practically all the Ginebra players were off except curiously Mark Caguioa who’s still smarting from a knee injury.

Caguioa, playing only his eighth game in the tourney, nailed three triples and finished with a game-high 23 points that went with four rebounds and two steals.

“What I’m disappointed about is seeing players who don’t rise to the challenge, who can’t find the inner strength to rise above adversity,” said Uichico without mentioning any player in particular.

Only two Ginebra players finished in double figures with reserve forward Sunday Salvacion knocking in two triples and a total of 14 points.

JC Intal, who averaged 23.8 points in the quarters, was held down to seven while Ronald Tubid, norming 16.2 points in the tourney, was limited to eight.

The Kings compounded their dilemma when Celino Cruz and Menk sustained injuries that prevented them from finishing the contest.

Source: Tito S. Talao, Manila Bulletin

-- Like the noble captain of a doomed ship, Talk ’N Text team owner Manny V. Pangilinan waited until everyone aboard had been saved before quietly stepping off deck Sunday night.

With a small retinue of business associates, confidants and friends keeping him company, the telecommunications tycoon remained on his ringside seat for more than an hour after the lights had dimmed at the Araneta Coliseum, apparently waiting for the anguished feeling of defeat to pass over.

Eventually, the man majestically known as MVP made his way out through the Big Dome corridor, passing the Talk ’N Text locker room and looking straight ahead.

A lawyer associate inquired reverently if he could give a couple of waiting sportswriters a few minutes, and he stopped to oblige.

He was asked if he regrets walking out in Game 4.

“No, not all,” said the PLDT-Smart Communications chairman. “I thought it was the right decision under the circumstances.”

And his thoughts about Game 5?

“Ginebra played very well and they deserved to win,” Pangilinan said. “We didn’t play as well as we should have, pero ganoon talaga.”

What’s in store for the team in the next couple of weeks?

“We don’t know yet. We’ll probably evaluate the performance of everybody,” he said.

Would there be a top-to-bottom shakeup?

“Mahirap sabihin,” he said. “It’s difficult to say because it has just finished. But we’ll have to review the team’s performance.”

Asked whether Serbian coach Rajko Toroman, who handles the RP-Smart Gilas team, has anything to say about the game, Pangilinan said he hasn’t spoken with him.

Later that night, however, the TNT top brass, who apparently thought the question referred to coach Norman Black who did play-by-play analysis of Game 5 for Solar Sports TV, confirmed via text message, through Smart Sports’ Patrick Gregorio, that indeed “Coach Toroman and I chatted for a while right after the game.”

What it was about, MVP’s text didn’t say. And we didn’t ask.

Source: ABS-CBN News

-- Barangay Ginebra rode again on JC Intal's all-around performance to score a 113-100 win over Talk ‘N Text in Game 5 of their best-of-5 quarterfinal series to enter the semifinals of the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup in front of more than 20,000 fans Sunday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

Intal hit a career-high 28 points to go along with his 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks in his best performance yet in the series to carry the Kings to the best-of-7 semis duel against top seed Alaska.

"I can't find an explanation on this. It has nothing to do with me but the players for not giving up," said Ginebra head coach Jong Uichico, who became the first mentor to overhaul a 0-2 deficit in a best-of-5 series and win it.

"I'm happy we're able to make it to the semis despite what happened in the past," he added.

Ronald Tubid added 16 markers while Eric Menk had the same number of output but added 14 rebounds to lead the frontline attack of the Ranidel de Ocampo-less Tropang Texters.

De Ocampo was suspended by the league for his flagrant foul penalty 2 on Tubid in the abbreviated Game 4. TNT walked out in that game as they questioned calls by the referees.

This time, there's no question that the game belonged to Ginebra, which led from start to finish even though the Texters made some attempts to steal the game from the Kings.

The last time TNT threatened was at 96-102 on Jimmy Alapag's back-to-back three-pointers but the Kings, behind Intal and Menk, finished off the period with an 11-4 windup to dethrone the All-Filipino champions.

Mark Cardona paced TNT with 21 points while Jason Castro and Alapag each had 18 apiece for coach Chot Reyes.

Giants end Painters' bid

Purefoods Tender Juicy halted the magical run of Rain or Shine in the tournament with a masterful 95-85 victory to clinch their best-of-5 quarterfinal series, 3-2.

James Yap fired a game-high 28 points, 13 came in the third period that helped the Giants to break away from close game and face San Miguel Beer in the best-of-7 semifinal series starting Wednesday.

Kerby Raymundo and Roger Yap each had 16 markers for Purefoods, which was forced by the young Elasto Painters to a deciding Game 5 after taking a 2-0 lead in the series.

"Rain or Shine is always a hard match up for us. They are younger and quicker team than us," said Giants head coach Ryan Gregorio who also drew 14 points and 16 rebounds, 8 from the offensive end.

"But I told the players in Game 5, you throw away the stats. Just bring your huge heart on the court and that's what we brought tonight," he added.

Yap, who struggled in Games 3 and 4, was instrumental in Purefoods' strong third quarter as it scored the Elasto Painters, 30-19, to turn a 50-47 halftime edge into an 80-66 cushion going to the final quarter.

The Giants were still holding a 91-79 lead before Rain or Shine responded with a quick 6-0 run capped by Solomon Mercado's triple to stay within striking distance, 85-91, 3:05 left in the game.

But the Painters' hope to come closer ended as Yap hit a jumper in the ensuing play after Rain or Shine came out empty in its next possession, Raymundo sealed the win with two free throws off Eddie Laure, 95-85, 1:37 remaining.

"It's a great relief we finally hurdled this one because they are really a tough team and at certain times, that team possesses bigger hearts than us," said Gregorio.

Mercado led the Elasto Painters with 23 points but was hobbled by foul trouble all throughout the game. Gabe Norwood was the only other Rain or Shine player in double figures with 20 points.

Jeff Chan, one of the stars in Rain or Shine's back-to-back wins, was held down to just 8 points and was 1-of-6 from the rainbow area.

Source: ABS-CBN News

-- Barangay Ginebra tied its quarterfinal series against Talk ‘N Text after the latter walked out of the game due to a questionable call with a minute left in Game 4 of the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup Friday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

The victory was awarded to the Kings via forfeiture as the Tropang Texters decided not to continue playing due to what they perceived was bad officiating.

“I’ve been in the PBA for 17 years and I pride myself for not quitting. But I never come close to a situation like this,” said TNT head coach Chot Reyes. “I just felt it justified what we did.”

Ginebra was leading 27-20 when Texters forward Ranidel de Ocampo was whistled for a flagrant foul penalty 2 on Ronald Tubid for elbowing the Kings guard on the head with exactly 60 seconds left in the game.

The whole TNT ballclub, including the management led by owner Manny V. Pangilinan, did not like the call and ordered the team to leave the court as a sign of protest.

They were given 7 minutes grace period but they did not show up.

The series is now tied at 2-all and whether the Tropang Texters will show up on Sunday for the pivotal Game 5 remains to be seen.

“There’s no decision yet as of this moment,” said TNT board governor Ricky Vargas.

PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios will summon Texters team manager Virgil Villavicencio this afternoon to shed light on the walkout incident and De Ocampo for his flagrant foul.

Barrios said TNT will be fined at least P500,000 for walking out the game and additional penalties are expected to be handed out.

“The PBA constitution and by-laws states that P500,000 is the basic amount for a walkout. It’s up to the commissioner if there are further compensations that need to be imposed,” said Barrios.

Ginebra head coach Jong Uichico said the Texters are playing mind games.

“They think the refs will change their calls for Sunday’s game. They are trying to play mind games on the refs and the commissioner for Sunday’s game,” said Uichico.

“In spirit of sportsmanship, they should have returned. It’s the referee’s decision. Kaya nga may review to check the call,” said Kings governor Robert Non.

This was the second the time in league history that a team walked out of the game and did not finish the game.

Back in the 1990 First Conference, Ginebra, then known as Añejo and coached by the legendary Sonny Jaworski, also walked out of their Game 7 finals match against Shell at 2:52 mark of the second quarter.

Ginebra did not return and was fined P500,000 by then PBA commissioner Rudy Salud.

Red Bull almost walked out in Game 4 of its semifinal series against San Miguel Beer in 2006 Philippine Cup but the team returned although it did not escape a P507,000 fine.

Curiously, Uichico was the coach of the Beermen and Aldaba also officiated in that Red Bull-San Miguel game.

'Ginebra got 50 more free throws'

Reyes said that game statistics in their quarterfinal series with Ginebra clearly show that there was something wrong about the officiating.

“In the Talk ‘N Text-Ginebra series, Talk ‘N Text has taken 80 free throws… Ginebra has taken 126 free throws. They have taken almost 50 more free throws that we had in three games,” he said.

Reyes said that the numbers are questionable considering that most of Ginebra’s shots were taken beyond the arc as opposed to scoring inside the paint where they could fish more fouls.

“Ginebra has taken 25 more three-point shots in the three games… which means majority of the shots come from the three point line. In the first 12 minutes of this game (Game 4), they had already taken 14 free throws and they only took 6 attempts in the 2-point area. We attempted 20 times in the shaded lane and we were given 5 free throws… It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see the disparity,” he said.

Reyes said the second flagrant foul call against De Ocampo was the last straw. This, he said, prompted the team to walk out from the game.

Ginebra coach Jong Uichico merely shrugged off the walk out incident.

“We’ll take any win the way it is. If they give it to us by default we’ll take it. We’re here to win,” he said.

Source: GMA News

-- Barangay Ginebra leaned on the big game by Eric Menk to survive a big scare from Talk `N Text in a 102-97 win that kept the Kings alive in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals Wednesday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

Menk, the former league MVP, came through with 20 points and 12 rebounds while finishing 12-of-13 from the foul line, including the last two in the final 1.4 seconds that sealed the win for the embattled Kings.

Game 4 is set Friday with Ginebra hoping to tie the best-of-five series which Talk `N Text still leads, 2-1.

“We don’t want to let the fans down. We’re just happy to be playing on Friday," said Menk.

JC Intal scored a career-high for Ginebra with 25 points, but committed a costly turnover in the final 16 seconds and missed two pressure-packed free throws with nine seconds to go and the Kings protecting a 100-97 lead.

Mac Cardona led Talk `N Text with 18 points, Ranidel de Ocampo had 17 and Jimmy Alapag made 16.

Alapag had a shot at a potential game-tying three-pointer in the waning seconds but missed his attempt, with Menk securing the rebound and the win for the Kings.

Ginebra appeared ready to coast to victory when Celino Cruz’s big three-pointer capped a 10-3 Kings’ run in the final four minutes for a 97-89 lead.

But Alapag and Ali Peek rallied the defending champions back, 99-97, inside the final 60 seconds.

Ronald Tubid, who was a miserable 1-of-9 from the field, split his charities to make it a three-point Ginebra lead, 100-97.

Talk `N Text had two chances of gaining ground, but missed both opportunities as Jason Castro committed a traveling violation off a fastbreak play and RenRen Ritualo, fresh off the bench, missed an open three-pointer.

The Kings were set to wrap things up when Intal was sent to the foul line following Ritualo’s missed trey. The former Ateneo Blue Eagle, however, bungled both charities, giving the Tropang Texters one final stab of sending the game into overtime.

Barangay Ginebra shot five three-pointers in the opening half and enjoyed as much as a 56-41 lead in the final minutes of the second period.

Source: ABS-CBN News

-- Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants needed a couple of crucial defensive stops in the end to deny Rain or Shine Elasto Painters game 1 of their best-of-5 quarterfinal series in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup Friday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

James Yap hit a game-high 31 points while Roger Yap preserved the 90-85 win for the Giants with a key deflection of Sol Mercado’s pass in the closing seconds.

Roger Yap added 17 points for No. 3 seed Purefoods while Kerby Raymundo chipped in 12 points and 11 rebounds.

“We really expected a tough Game 1 because the momentum is on their side,” said Giants head coach Ryan Gregorio.

“I told the players that in the end, defense will bail us out. We had key steals and key stops and made crucial free throws that were enough to win Game 1,” he added.

Ryan Arana had 19 points for the No. 9 seed Elasto Painters, who had to go through the tough wildcard stage before earning a spot in the quarterfinals.

The Elasto Painters almost pulled off another shocker against the well-rested Giants. They fought them toe-to-toe the whole game, but crucial mistakes down the stretch cost them the series opener.

Purefoods was holding an 85-78 advantage on back-to-back triples by James Yap and Roger Yap with 4:02 left, but Rain or Shine got back in the game with a 7-3 exchange to threaten at 85-88 with 2:08 remaining.

After both teams exchanged empty possessions, the Elasto Painters had the chance to move closer after Raymundo muffed a 12-foot jumper in the previous play.

But Mercado, the hero in Rain or Shine’s twin victories in the wildcard stage, committed a crucial error as his pass was deflected by Roger Yap, resulting in a foul by the Elasto Painters guard.

The two players were actually given a technical foul each for taunting after the play.

Roger Yap split his free throws to give the Giants an 89-85 cushion with 28.3 ticks left, and Eddie Laure’s three-point attempt was way off the mark to hand Purefoods the win.

“There will be no celebration yet. It takes 3 wins to win the series. I expect Rain or Shine to play its hearts out on Sunday,” said Gregorio.

Mercado finished with 17 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists while Laure added 16. Gabe Norwood had a quiet 12-point performance on 5-of-13 shooting from the field.

Texters clobber Kings

Defending champion Talk ‘N Text withstood Barangay Ginebra’s rally in the third quarter and scored a 107-92 to grab a 1-0 lead in their own best-of-five quarterfinal series.

Jason Castro led the Tropang Texters’ balanced attack with 20 points in 26 minutes and added 7 rebounds and 4 steals.

Jimmy Alapag chipped in 19 while Harvey Carey contributed 13 points and 13 rebounds for Talk ‘N ext, which led by as much as 22 points in the second quarter before the Kings exploded for 33 points in the third period to get back in the game.

“We knew they will make a run and at halftime, I told the players not to lose our heads,” said Tropang Texters head coach Chot Reyes.

“But we also did a good job on their wingmen. When Ginebra made the run in the eliminations, it was because of the trio of JC Intal, Cyrus Baguio and Ronad Tubid. We were able to limit Tubid tonight,” he added.

Intal led the Kings with 19 points while Enrico Villanueva added 16. Baguio finished with 12 but Tubid was held down to just 2 on 1-of-8 shooting from the field.