PBA Commissioner’s Cup 2013 Best Player of the Conference - Poll

The PBA Commissioner’s Cup Best Player of the Conference (BPC) award will likewise be between LA Tenorio and rookie Calvin Abueva battling for the award.

The award is set to be decided by votes from the media, players and top PBA officials. The winner will be announced just before Game Three of the Finals on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Calvin Abueva takes the no. 1 seed at the end of the semifinals with his 28.5-point average. Followed by LA Tenorio with his 28.3 average SPs. Gary David of Globalport came in third with his 26.0 average SPs, while Alaska’s starting point guard JV Casio is in fourth spot with 25.4. Castro is in fifth with 25.2.

The top five statistical leaders are the only candidates for the BPC award. Cast your votes!

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PBA Commissioner's Cup 2013 Best Import - Poll

Awarding of best import for PBA Commissioner's Cup 2013 is near. Who is your pick for Best Import award?

Michael Dunigan, Robert Dozier, Vernon Macklin, Denzel Bowles, and Eric Dawson. But out of those five, who was the one that stood out the most?

Robert Dozier – Alaska Aces
   21.8 points, 17.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.7 steals, 2.6 blocks in 17 games.

Vernon Macklin – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel
   23.4 points, 14.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1 steal, 1.1 blocks in 15 games. 

Denzel Bowles – San Mig Coffee Mixers
    22.9 points, 14.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.7 steals, 2.2 blocks in 17 games.
  
Michael Dunigan – Air 21 Express
    28.9 points, 15.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.6 steals, and 2.4 blocks in 15 games.

Eric Dawson – Meralco Bolts
   29.6 points, 16 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 3.1 steals, 1.9 blocks in 17 games.

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Ginebra beats Talk 'n Text to set Finals with Alaska

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel saw their 22-point lead reduced to seven before holding on in the endgame to outlast the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters, 111-103, on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

LA Tenorio was the best player of the game with 28 points, six rebounds, five assists and a 12-of-14 shooting clip from the freethrow stripe.

A Tony Mitchell three with 2:11 remaining cut the lead to ten after an LA Tenorio layup, before Vernon Macklin split from the line. Another Tenorio fastbreak layup made it a 13-point game with 1:33 to go, 102-89, as Mitchell made only one from the line at the other end.

A Ginebra turnover led to a Ryan Reyes steal and layup, cutting the lead to ten with a little over a minute left, but the Tropa sent Mac Baracael to the line for a split. The Texters called for time with 61 seconds left on the clock, which led to a quick bucket from Ali Peek.

Kerby Raymundo trooped to the line as TNT tried to stop the clock. Raymundo drained both, giving the Texters 56.2 seconds to deal with an 11-point lead. After Norman Black called for his final timeout, Mitchell rung in a quick three, but Tenorio hit both from the freethrow line.

TNT responded with a Ryan Reyes basket, while Tenorio sank two more from the strop. The Texters went to Fonacier for a three at the top of the key, as the former Ateneo Blue Eagle only made one. After a forced miss by Fonacier, Mitchell hit another three, 109-103.

With 34.5 seconds remaining, Mark Caguioa was sent in by Ginebra head coach Alfrancis Chua. WIth 25.5 remaining, "The Spark" sank two more from the line, making it an eight-point game.

After JJ Helterbrand missed two from the line, Ginebra collared the offensive board, with Tenorio giving Caguioa the ball to dribble off the time.


The scores:

GINEBRA 111 - Tenorio 28, Macklin 22, Baracael 21, Helterbrand 15, Raymundo 13, Hatfield 6, Urbiztondo 3, Caguioa 2, Ellis 1, Mamaril 0.

TALK N' TEXT 103 - Mitchell 42, Castro 15, Peek 11, Reyes 10, Ferriols 9, Aban 8, Fonacier 3, Al-Hussaini 2, Carey 2, Raymundo 1, Gamalinda 0, Alvarez 0, Alapag 0.

Quarters: 27-18, 61-41, 78-69, 111-103

source

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Jared Dillinger out for rest of the conference

The Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters are going to miss yet another key piece of their rotation as they trudge ahead in the Commissioner’s Cup playoffs.

Daredevil forward Jared Dillinger will miss the rest of the tournament after being involved in a vehicular accident early Saturday.

Talk ‘N Text coach Norman Black revealed the development shortly after the Tropang Texters’ 85-79 victory in Game Two of the semifinals over Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Sunday night.

“He’s gonna be out a while, at least the rest of the conference, and possibly into the next conference,” said Black.

“I don’t know the extent, but he hurt his midsection, I think his pelvis.”

Talk ‘N Text earlier lost star forward Kelly Williams, who left the team indefinitely to battle a recurrent blood disorder. The Tropang Texters have also missed Ali Peek in the quarterfinals, though Black said he expects the veteran center back in time for Game Three.

With a growing list of walking wounded, Black said he expects the rest of his crew to step up.

“Everybody says we’re such a deep team,” said Black, “so now is the time for us to show it.”

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After flu James Yap suffers back injury

Nothing has been going right for James Yap in this conference. If it wasn't headline-hugging off-court issues, it was a battle with the flu and, now, a nagging back problem.

The San Mig superstar, though, is fighting on.

"Ganoon talaga, sana maging okay na," Yap said after once again playing limited minutes while scoring seven points in San Mig's 100-92 win over Meralco on Sunday night. "Pero laban lang ng laban, kaya yan."

Yap has been struggling in the entire PBA Commissioner's Cup and more so in his past seven games, with San Mig coach Tim Cone admitting the two-time league MVP wouldn't even be on the court if it weren't the playoffs.

"If this was a regular elimination game, he wouldn’t be playing," said the multi-titled mentor. "It just so happened it’s a playoff game so he had to fight through. He’s doing the best he can in the series."

His latest injury problem is, actually, an offshoot of his bout with the flu in the previous weeks. In his desire to get back in shape, Yap did extra practice and ended up hurting his back.

The back injury, in turn, has become a dilemma for Cone.

"(When) he’s had warm-up, he’s okay to start the game. But when he sits down, his back starts to stiffen up, then loosens up a little bit later, then tightens up again," said the San Mig coach.

"It’s constant management for him. I’m a little scared to play him in the fourth quarter."

Cone, however, is hoping that the two days between Game Two and the deciding match on Wednesday would give his top gun enough time to get himself in better shape. Yap is also set to undergo an MRI scan on his back on Tuesday.

"We’re hoping now we have two days for therapy for James," Cone said. "Hope he gets better and healthy."

source 

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PBA Standings as of April 14, 2013

Team	W	L	PCT	GB	Streak
Alaska Aces	11	3	0.786	-	W4
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters	9	4	0.692	1.5	W1
San Mig Coffee Mixers	8	6	0.571	3	W3
Petron Blaze Boosters	7	6	0.538	3.5	L1
Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters	7	6	0.538	3.5	W2
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel	7	7	0.500	4	L2
Meralco Bolts	6	7	0.462	4.5	L2
Air 21 Express	6	8	0.429	5	W1
Barako Bull Energy Colas	5	9	0.357	6	W1
GlobalPort Batang Pier	2	12	0.143	9	L11

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PBA Standings as of April 10, 2013

Team	W	L	PCT	GB	Streak
Alaska Aces	10	3	0.769	-	W3
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters	8	4	0.667	1	L1
Petron Blaze Boosters	7	5	0.583	2	W1
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel	7	6	0.538	2	L1
San Mig Coffee Mixers	7	6	0.538	3	W2
Meralco Bolts	6	6	0.500	3	L1
Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters	6	6	0.500	3	W1
Air 21 Express	5	8	0.385	4	L3
Barako Bull Energy Colas	4	8	0.333	5	L1
GlobalPort Batang Pier	2	10	0.167	7	L9

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Wasted Oppurtunity of Air21, Canaleta

What a difference a month can make.

After putting together a four-game winning streak over a two-week span, Air21 suddenly found itself on a three-game slide two weeks, seriously dampening the team’s bid for a quarterfinals berth in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

The latest Express setback came Wednesday night at the hands of defending champion San Mig Coffee, 66-80, in a game that put to naught the 14-point fourth-quarter explosion of hotshot forward KG Canaleta.

“Sayang `yung mga ganyang games,” said the many-time slam dunk champion who rued the Express’ failure to take care of business in their last three outings.

Canaleta finished with 26 points including four three-pointers, but sub-par performances from other locals and the calf muscle injury sustained by point guard Mike Cortez weighed down the Express.

The latest loss put the Express in a critical position of missing the playoffs, while giving closest pursuer Barako Energy Cola a new lease on life in the race for the final quarterfinals berth.

As things stand now, Air21 (5-8) holds a one game edge over Barako Bull (4-8). The Express have one game left against Petron, while the Energy Cola still have two remaining assignments in Rain or Shine and lowly Globalport.

It’s a situation Air21 coach Franz Pumaren hates.

“Ako, I’ve never been dependent on other teams. We just have to take care of our business. This (situation) is beyond our control right now. I’d rather be in a position where we can control (our situation),” he said.

source

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‘I go to war with you anytime’ said Robin Padilla to commissioner Chito Salud

One day after PBA comissioner Chito Salud made the decision to hand Renaldo Balkman a lifetime ban from the league after his meltdown last Friday, actor Robin Padilla took to Instagram to express his support for the commissioner, whom he said he would go to war with anytime.

by: Mikkel Bolante

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SMC to ‘re-evaluate’ PBA participation after Balkman incident

San Miguel Corporation, which owns the Petron Blaze Boosters, has accepted the PBA’s decision to impose a ban on Renaldo Balkman after the import’s meltdown last Friday against Alaska.

But the conglomerate said in a statement that it will “re-evaluate” its continued participation in the professional league after the damage to its reputation caused by the incident.

“San Miguel Corporation would like to apologize to basketball fans and the Philippine Basketball Association, for the unsportsmanlike conduct shown by its import, Renaldo Balkman, last Friday, March 8. We accept the decision to ban Mr. Balkman for life from the league,” said the corporation in a statement

“Unfortunately, the incident has been blown out of proportion and has damaged our good name. Already, news of the incident has spread throughout the country and overseas through traditional and online media.”

Apart from Petron, SMC owns Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and the San Mig Coffee Mixers, the two most popular teams in the PBA. SMC has been a member of the PBA since the league’s inception in 1975 with the Petron franchise, which carried the Royal Tru-Orange, San Miguel Beer, and Magnolia brands.

SMC’s statement follows in full:

    San Miguel Corporation would like to apologize to basketball fans and the Philippine Basketball Association, for the unsportsmanlike conduct shown by its import, Renaldo Balkman, last Friday, March 8. We accept the decision to ban Mr. Balkman for life from the league.

    We do not condone his actions. The mandate of our basketball operations has always been to entertain basketball fans and foster camaraderie and a spirit of healthy competition. We pride ourselves in having great teams who serve as good role models to the youth and community.

    Unfortunately, the incident has been blown out of proportion and has damaged our good name. Already, news of the incident has spread throughout the country and overseas through traditional and online media.

    Our reputation is of utmost importance to us because we have worked hard to cultivate this good name through the decades. But it takes only one unfortunate incident like this to undo all our efforts.

    As such, given the possible long-term effect of this incident to the San Miguel organization’s image, and in consideration of our need to preserve our good reputation, Management has decided to re-evaluate the company’s continuing participation in the PBA.

    Moving forward, we believe sports is a pillar of Philippine society and we will continue to support it and Filipino athletes in general in meaningful ways in and out of the PBA.

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PBA commissioner Chito Salud announces Balkman's ban - Video

The PBA has banned Petron Blaze import Renaldo Balkman from the league after his meltdown last Friday against the Alaska Aces.

PBA commissioner Chito Salud made the announcement Monday afternoon after his meeting with the import in the morning.

Check out this video:



courtesy of InterAKTV

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PBA bans Renaldo Balkman

The PBA has banned Petron Blaze import Renaldo Balkman from the league after his meltdown last Friday against the Alaska Aces.

The league made the announcement Monday afternoon on its official Twitter account after commissioner Chito Salud met with the import in the morning.

Balkman was in the midst of his worst game of the tournament against the Aces, scoring just six points after averaging 28 in his first six matches. After being called for a foul late in the game, Balkman confronted all three game referees.

Petron coaches and players tried to calm Balkman down to no avail. The import got into a shoving match with Petron co-captain Arwind Santos, a scene that ended with Balkman grabbing at his teammate’s neck.

Balkman has since apologized publicly for his actions, and the Boosters joined him at the PBA office as a show of support.

But Salud did not seem to buy Balkman’s explanation. Apart from the ban, the PBA also meted a P250,000 fine on the former New York Knicks draft pick.

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Stars showdown as Caguioa edges Yap

Two of today's top PBA gunners went at each other on Sunday night. And in the end, it was the 'The Spark' who got the better of his veritable shootout over 'Big Game James.'

Mark Caguioa outscored James Yap in their one-on-one duel as Barangay Ginebra edged out defending champion San Mig Coffee, 96-88, in a battle of Commissioner’s Cup marquee teams before a huge crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Caguioa topscored for the Kings with 25 points on 5-of-7 shooting from three-point territory, two of them serving as huge cushion for the league’s most popular team at the height of a furious Mixers endgame rally.

Yap finished with 21 points and was 4-of-11 from beyond the arc, but his back-to-back three-pointers in the final two minutes had the Mixers breathing down the Kings' neck coming home.

But on this night, there was no denying the reigning league MVP as he and the Kings pulled off one over the former two-time MVP and the defending champions.

Caguioa, who also had seven rebounds and five assists, later played down the shootout, but appears to relish his rivalry with Yap.

“There’s always a rivalry. May mga fan bases yan. There’s gonna be fans of James Yap, there’s gonna be fans of Mark Caguioa and hindi magpapatalo ang dalawang yan,” said Ginebra's acknowledged heart and soul.

Yap had three assists and three rebounds, and appears uncomfortable talking about the rivalry being hyped between him and Caguioa, with whom he’s close with outside the court.

“Sa akin naman I don’t think may rivalry kami. Nagkataon lang talaga na lahat naka-focus sa amin,” said the shooting guard out of University of the East.

 “Basta we’re just doing our thing inside the court. Personally, sa akin walang rivalry. Kakulitan ko nga yang si Mark,” added the San Mig Coffee star.

“Ang importante lang is to perform like tonight.”

by: @gerardmos

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PBA Standings as of March 10, 2013

The Air 21 Express opened PBA Super Ball Sunday action by snapping their five-game losing streak, defeating the GlobalPort Batang Pier, 106-94, behind 35 points and 20 rebounds from import Michael Dunigan.

In the evening’s Manila Clasico encounter, Mark Caguioa led the way for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel with 25 points as the Gin Kings hacked out a 96-88 victory over the San Mig Coffee Mixers before a crowd of 16,617.

Team	W	L	PCT	GB	Streak
Alaska Aces	6	1	0.857	-	W1
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters	5	1	0.833	0.5	W5
Petron Blaze Boosters	5	2	0.714	1	L1
Meralco Bolts	3	3	0.500	2.5	W2
Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters	3	3	0.500	2.5	W1
Barako Bull Energy Colas	3	4	0.429	3	L3
San Mig Coffee Mixers	3	4	0.429	3	L1
Air 21 Express	2	5	0.286	4	W1
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel	2	5	0.286	4	W1
GlobalPort Batang Pier	2	6	0.250	4.5	L5

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Caguioa Sparks to survive Mixers rally

Barangay Ginebra survived a late San Mig Coffee rally for a huge 96-88 victory Sunday night in the PBA Commissioner's Cup before a capacity crowd at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

In front of the biggest crowd of the tournament, Mark “The Spark” Caguioa shone brightest


The Kings almost squandered a 15-point fourth-quarter cushion, but held on behind the outside snippings of reigning MVP Mark Caguioa.

The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel superstar scored 25 points, including two huge three-pointers in the last two minutes, to lead the Gin Kings to a 96-88 victory over the San Mig Coffee Mixers in their Manila Clasico showdown Sunday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

Two-time league MVP James Yap carried the reigning champion Mixers on his shoulders and engaged Caguioa in a virtual shootout entering the stretch run of the match the Kings dominated all the way..

The win gave the Gin Kings its second win in seven games, coming against their traditional rivals in front of a wild crowd of 16,617.

“Pinakita lang ni Mark Caguioa na he’s still Mark Caguioa,” said Ginebra coach Alfrancis Chua.

But Caguioa did not do it alone. LA Tenorio quarterbacked the squad masterfully, finishing with 12 points and 13 assists.

“Malaking isda ‘tong nahuli namin,” said Chua.

“They’re taller, they’re stronger than us. Pero mas malaki ang puso nila sa kalaban.”

Import Vernon Macklin added 20 points and 16 rebounds for Ginebra while providing the energy for the squad.

“Gusto siya ng mga players because of his fighting heart,” said Chua. “Yung mga ganun masarap kasama sa laban.”

Ginebra got key contributions from role players Billy Mamaril, who scored 13 points, and Chris Ellis, who added 11.

Denzel Bowles led the fight for San Mig Coffee with 25 points and 16 rebounds, while James Yap added 21.

The loss snapped San Mig Coffee’s three-game winning streak. The Mixers’ win-loss record fell to 3-4.

The scores:

GINEBRA 96 – Caguioa 25, Macklin 20, Mamaril 13, Tenorio 12, Ellis 11, Raymundo 6, Labagala 4, Baracael 4, Maierhofer 1.

SAN MIG COFFEE 88 – Bowles 25, Yap 21, Devance 13, Pingris 11, Mallari 4, Barroca 4, Simon 4, De Ocampo 4, Najorda 2, Gaco 0.

Quarters: 24-17, 48-35, 67-58, 96-88

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Manila Clasico: Mixers, Kings renew rivalry

Defending champion San Mig Coffee, in a logjam at midtable, tries to move up a notch when it battles cellar-dwelling Barangay Ginebra on Sunday in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup main at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Mixers are even at 3-3 after winning their last three games, going 3-1 with recently reacquired import Denzel Bowles. They go for their fourth straight win this conference against the Gin Kings (1-5) at 6:30 p.m.

“You get those runs of four, five or six-game winning streak. But everybody then starts gunning for you. For us, we’re desperate for a win. We’re trying to create our momentum,” said San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone.

The Mixers are enter the match tied for fourth with Barako Bull and Meralco and hope to close in on the idle league-leader Alaska (6-1).

“I always tell the team, until we get to .500 we can’t talk about anything, like playoffs. But good news, because we got here now, and hopefully, we keep winning and get a good playoff position,” he added.

The 6-foot-10 Bowles, tapped to replace Matt Rogers, has been averaging modest numbers for the Mixers this conference – 19.7 points, 13.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.7 blocks in 35.7 minutes of play.

The big difference is Bowles’ familiarity with Cone’s system, which made it easy for the team to adjust when Rogers was replaced after his one-game stint with Petron.

On the other hand, the Gin Kings are still struggling despite a change of import from Herbert Hill to Vernon Macklin.

While Macklin is a high-energy guy who can provide offense inside because of his size, strength and leaping ability, local players from the Gin Kings need to come to his support if they hope to begin their climb to respectability.

Barangay Ginebra is coming off a 93-96 loss to Rain or Shine last week after hitting just 27-of-46 free throws. Macklin said that pretty much explains the wasted opportunities.

“We just have to regroup and play harder. I kind of let my team down missing those free throws,” explained Macklin, who still finished the game with 27 points, 16 rebounds and two shot blocks.

Consistency is something the Gin Kings need to display this conference in order for the team not to be overly dependent on its import and Mark Caguioa for offense.

The “Spark” has been doing it all for the locals in the Kings’ first six games, averaging 21.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 37.1 minutes.

source

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Renaldo Balkman chokes Arwind Santos - Video

For five straight game, Renaldo Balkman was the hero for the Petron Blaze Boosters’ winning run.

But the former New York Knicks first round pick was frustrated all game against Alaska Friday night, as Petron saw its winning streak snapped.

Balkman melted down near the end of the game, confronting all three referees after committing a foul with 21.6 seconds left.

Petron assistant coach Biboy Ravanes and teammate Ronald Tubid tried to pacify the import, but were shoved away by Balkman.

Boosters co-captain Arwind Santos took his turn to try calming down Balkman, but was also pushed away. Santos responded with a push of his own, before Balkman grabbed at his neck.

Teammates and coaches had to come in and separate the two players, before Balkman was finally calmed down and subbed out.

Check out this video:



source

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Barako Bull and Talk ‘N Text showdown in Legazpi

Barako Bull and Talk ‘N Text collide on Saturday in Legazpi City, Albay in a battle of two struggling teams in the 2013 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

The Energy Colas and the Tropang Texters both enter the game with a two-game losing slide, and one streak will end after their 6:30 p.m. encounter.

After a promising 3-1 start, Barako Bull absorbed back-to-back blowout losses to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (93-72) and Petron Blaze (91-78) to see its win-loss record slide to 3-3.

“We have to play better than in our last two games. I don’t know if it is enough to win,” said Barako Bull consultant Rajko Toroman, who admittedly was not pleased with how his players performed in their last two assignments.

They will be up against another skidding team in Talk ‘N Text, which is sitting at the bottom half of the team standings with a 2-3 mark.

The Philippine Cup champions are parading balik-import Donnell Harvey, who replaced Keith Benson.

“They changed their import. They lost two in a row and these are the reasons why it will be very difficult for us,” Toroman added.

Harvey was Talk ‘N Text’s import when the franchise lost to B-MEG (now San Mig Coffee) in last season’s Commissioner’s Cup finals in seven grueling games.

The 32-year old Harvey averaged 19 points and 16 rebounds in the best-of-seven championship series against the Llamados.

The Tropang Texters have lost to Alaska (69-92) and the Coffee Mixers (82-90) in their past two games.

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Alaska vs. Petron to notch top spot; GlobalPort and Rain or Shine clash

Alaska and Petron Blaze dispute the solo lead as they collide in the main game of the 2013 PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Friday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

The Aces and the Boosters meet at 7:30 p.m. right after the opening game tussle of GlobaPort and Rain or Shine at 5:15 p.m.

Alaska and Petron are currently tied for the top spot with 5-1 win-loss marks and the winner takes the solo lead in the tournament.

The Aces’ unbeaten start ended last Wednesday after bowing to San Mig Coffee, 75-68, while the Boosters are on a five-game winning run.

“This will be a good match up for us, a true test. This will be a gauge for us to see how far we’ve come as a team,” said Petron coach Olsen Racela whose team is coming off a 91-78 win over Barako Bull.

Alex Cabagnot is expected to suit up for the Boosters tonight, according to Racela, while Chris Lutz will still be out for three more games.

The return of Cabagnot and the impressive showing of Renaldo Balkman makes Alaska mentor Luigi Trillo, whose wards try to bounce back from a sorry loss, wary of the Boosters.

“Balkman is playing really well and Cabagnot is coming back into the lineup, another guy we have to watch out for,” said Trillo.

In the opener, Batang Pier (2-4) hope to snap a three-game slide against the Elasto Painters (4-1) who enter the game with a three-game run.

“It is urgent that we pick up our game at this juncture and hopefully we get a win against Rain or Shine,” said GlobaPort coach Junel Baculi.

“Our import (Justin Williams) should be more aggressive on offense. He must assert his game more than the locals,” he added.

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Talk ‘n Text brings back Donnell Harvey

Talk ‘n Text hopes to get back to its winning ways when it parades balik-impot Donnell Harvey on Saturday in a game against the skidding Barako Bull squad in a PBA Commissioner’s Cup road game in Legazpi City.

The 6’8” Harvey is fresh from a stint with the Tianjin Ronggang in the Chinese Basketball Association and will be replacing Keith Benson, who could only help the squad to a 2-3 record in his five-game stint with the Texters.

Talk ‘N Text team manager Aboy Castro said he was told by Harvey that his return stint has something to do with his mission of trying to complete an “unfinished business” with the Tropang Texters.

“I think more importantly, Harvey will bring toughness to the team and rebounding. He has been telling us that he has some unfinished business here. And for sure, he knows what the team needs,” Castro told Spin.ph shortly after arriving in Legazpi City.

Black, meantime, said he’ll find ways to fit the 32-year-old Harvey into the team’s system though their immediate goal is to get back on the winning track against the Energy Cola.

“Harvey is now with us in Legazpi. We are hoping that he will improve our chances this conference especially since he led us to the finals last year,” said Black.

The former University of Alabama alumnus averaged 19.06 points, 16 rebounds, 2.17 assiasts and 1.5 steals last season for the Tropang Texters, who bowed to B-Meg (now San Mig Coffee) in the Finals in seven games.

Talk 'N Text is the second team to replace its import after San Mig, which welcomed back last season's Commissioner's Cup Best Import Denzel Bowles.

Since replacing Matt Rogers, the Mixers under Bowles have won three of their last four games.

by: @richava

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Ref banned for Ross 'obvious' non-call foul

Coach Franz Pumaren said the pain of Air'21 heartbreaking loss on Wednesday was somehow eased after they learned that referee Peter Balao was slapped a 10-day suspension without pay for a crucial non-call in the final 10 seconds of the Express' loss to Meralco in the PBA Commissioner's Cup.

“Second quarter of the second game (on Wednesday), I was already told by the Commissioner’s Office that referee Balao was suspended,” Pumaren told Spin.ph just before the team’s practice at the Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong.

“The mere fact that they suspended the referee is a validation that indeed, there was a non-call in the final 10 seconds. And that just ruined a very nice game,” lamented the Air21 mentor, whose team fell to its fifth straight loss after bowing to Meralco, 88-89, at the Big Dome.

The multi-titled former La Salle coach said the critical non-call dealt another crucial blow to the Express, considering the team managed to stage a huge comeback in the final quarter that saw them take an 88-85 lead late in the game after being down by 18 points.

The Bolts though scored the last four points – a basket from point-blank range by import Eric Dawson and a pair of free throws from Chris Ross for the marginal points.

Air21 had one last chance to steal the game but Mike Cortez lost the handle of the ball after coming into contact with Ross, which was not called, leading to the Meralco guard’s fifth steal as the Bolts went on to escape with the victory.

Air21 board governor Lito Alvarez said he hopes the state of officiating will be tackled in the pro league’s board meeting this month to find ways to improve it.

“It’s a very obvious foul that was not called. And if the foul was called, since Meralco was in the penalty, we could have won the game kung ma-shoot yung two free throws. Game-changer yung non-call na iyun. Sa susunud na board meeting, we hope to na mapag-usapan namin iyan (officiating),” said Alvarez.

Balao is the third referee to be suspended this conference, after Emmanuel Tankion and Allan Balatucan.

by: @richava

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Ginebra aim 2nd win against Rain or Shine; Petron faces Barako

Petron Blaze guns for a fifth straight win against Barako Bull in Sunday’s opening game as the 2013 PBA Commissioner’s Cup resumes at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

The Boosters and the Energy Colas clash at 4:15 p.m. to be followed by the tussle between Rain or Shine and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel at 6:30 p.m.

After losing its opening match to GlobalPort, Petron has won its next four assignments, including a 60-53 win against Air 21 last Friday.

And the Boosters are doing it minus starting point guard Alex Cabagnot, Chris Lutz, and Danny Ildefonso, who are all sidelined due to injury.

Petron coach Olsen Racela commended his players for playing together and import Renaldo Balkman for providing the leadership.

“I have to give it to our import. He’s our leader and he has stepped up his game,” said Racela, who will be facing his former consultant Rajko Toroman.

Toroman is now on the bench of Barako Bull also serving as consultant to coach Bong Ramos.

The Energy Colas (3-2) are coming off a 93-72 defeat to the Gin Kings last Wednesday.

In the second game, the Elasto Painters try to extend their winning streak to four games against a motivated Ginebra squad, which finally broke into the win column after dropping its first four assignments.

Rain or Shine is coming off a 99-97 win against the Express and coach Yeng Guiao cautions his players not to take the 1-4 Kings lightly.

“You cannot take any team for granted in this league,” said Guiao. “Like what happened to us against Air 21. Suwerte kami nakalusot kami sa game na iyon.”

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PJ Simon lift San Mig Coffee past GlobalPort

Denzel Bowles wasn’t quite the monster in his third game back for San Mig Coffee.

Fortunately for the Mixers, Peter June Simon and James Yap rose to the occasion just when their foul-troubled import needed backup against GlobalPort.

Simon scored 19 points, while Yap hit a dagger three-pointer at the height of a furious late rally by the Batang Pier, as San Mig Coffee grabbed its second straight Commissioner’s Cup win, 91-84, at the Jesse Robredo Coliseum in Naga City.

The Mixers led by as much as 23 points in the second quarter, but Bowles’ foul trouble — he picked up his fifth foul late in the third period — allowed the Batang Pier to come back.

Gary David and Japeth Aguilar tried to lead the GlobalPort uprising, only to fall short. David finished with 27 points while Aguilar added 21.

But the Batang Pier were unable to set up opportunities for import Justin Williams, who scored just 11 points despite Bowles suffering from foul trouble.

The scores:

San Mig Coffee (91) – Simon 19, Bowles 18, Yap 15, Devance 15, Mallari 9, Barroca 8, Pingris 3, Najorda 2, De Ocampo 2, Gaco 0, Ponferada 0.

GlobalPort (84) — David 27, Aguilar 21, Mercado19, Williams 11, Yee 3, Lingganay 2, Salvador 1, Miller 0, Deutchman 0, Mandani 0, Adducul 0.

Quarters: 27-15, 46-33, 68-56, 91-84.

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San Mig Coffee Mixers goes 'Mixin’ It with the Mixers' - Video

San Mig Coffee fan page released dance video featuring the San Mig Coffee Mixers team.

Get a chance to WIN a Meet and Greet with your Mixers Idols in their 'Mixin’ It with the Mixers' Video contest!

Mixin' It With The Mixers Video Contest- Promo Mechanics 

Check out the full video:

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Bowles too skilled not to be a great player in our league, said Cone

Defending champion San Mig Coffee still has a long way to go in its climb up the standings, but coach Tim Cone is convinced his team is headed in the right direction after a 90-82 win over Talk ‘N Text on Sunday.

Now, San Mig hopes to build on that victory when it clashes with unpredictable Globalport on Saturday when the PBA Commissioner’s Cup continues with a road game in Naga City, Camarines Sur.

Last season’s Commissioner’s Cup best import Denzel Bowles is coming off a monster performance against Talk ‘N Text after finishing with 29 points, 23 rebounds, three blocks and two assists - numbers which Cone said they can expect from the young, athletic reinforcement.

“He (Bowles) only had three practices before his first game … but he’s gonna get his rhythm,” Cone said of Bowles, who had a disappointing debut against Rain or Shine. “He’s too skilled not to be a great player in our league. But I think (his skill is) gonna consistently show up this conference.”

Bowles will be facing the conference’s top rebounder and shot-blocker in Globalport’s import Justin Williams. The 6-9 Williams is the least-offensive minded among the 10 PBA imports at the moment, but his presence in the paint has been huge this conference.

Williams though is coming off an anemic five-point effort in the team’s shocking 89-90 loss to Meralco which the Bolts won on Sunday Salvacion’s buzzer-beating three-point shot.

Globalport team owner Mikee Romero was so disappointed with Williams' performance that he later disclosed to Spin.ph that he’ll possibly be seeking for a replacement following the team’s two-game slide.

Among those being eyed as replacements to Williams are DJ Mbenga and Brian Cook, two former members of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Batang Pier star Gary David, however, said the news should serve as a challenge to Williams.

“Sa ganyang balita kahit naman sino macha-challenge. Pero pinangakuan siya na mag-stay siya kapag nanalo kami so somehow, pressured siya,” David told Spin.ph just before he and the rest of the Batang Pier boarded their flight to Legaspi City.

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Ginebra finally grab its first win from Barako Bull

Barangay Ginebra vented its wrath on an off-form Barako Bull side, 93-72, to finally end a barren run in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Unlike in their first four games where the Gin Kings’ lacked intensity, the boys of coach Alfrancis Chua went all out against the Energy Cola, attacking the basket ferociously and clamping down on defense.

So ferocious was the Gin Kings' defense that held the Energy Cola to an abysmal 25.6 percent shooting in the first half (10-of-39) to take a 39-26 haltime lead that only swelled in the second half.

There was no let-up from there as Barangay Ginebra kept piling the point sto erect an insurmountable 84-56 lead going into the final five-minute mark on the way to its first win under Chua, who took over from Siot Tanquingcen at the turn of the year.

“I told the players since we lost against Alaska, I never, even once, got mad at them. I just told them, I trust in you, I hope you trust yourself,” sad Chua after his team improved to 1-4.

The Kings' last victory happened in Game Two of the PBA Philippine Cup against Rain or Shine, 79-77 on December 14, 2012.  But Barangay Ginebra went on to lose the best-of-three series, 1-2.

It was also the first victory of Chua as coach since his final head coaching stint with Sta. Lucia Realty in 2007.

Barako Bull absorbed its second loss in five games as the team ended the game shooting just 33.8 percent overall (25-of-74).

The scores:

GINEBRA 93 – Caguioa 23, Macklin 21, Baracael 14, Tenorio 10, Ellis 9, Raymundo 4, Taha 3, Labagala 2, Espiritu 2, Mamaril 2, Helterbrand 2, Maierhofer 1, Hatfield 0.

BARAKO BULL 72 – Brock 16, Urbiztondo 16, Maliksi 10, Pennisi 8, Seigle 6, Kramer 4, Allado 4, Intal 3, Macapagal 3, Duncil 2, Weinstein 0, Anthony 0, Villanueva 0.

Quarters: 21-11, 39-26, 66-46, 93-72

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Rain or Shine grab third straight win from Air 21

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters edged the Air 21 Express in a thrilling shootout, 99-97, Wednesday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

It was the third straight victory for Rain or Shine, which needed one last defensive stop to deal hardluck Air 21 its third straight defeat.

The Elasto Painters led by just a single point, 98-97, after Ryan Araña and Wynne Arboleda exchanged three-pointers with under a minute left in the game. Rain or Shine center JR Quiñahan went to the free throw line in the next possession and split his charities, giving the Express one last shot to tie or win the match.

Arboleda missed a wide open corner three-pointer in the next play, but the Express were awarded get possession after the rebound was tapped out. Air 21 drew up a play for import Michael Dunigan in the paint, but was foiled by tight defending by the Elasto Painters.

Rain or Shine won despite missing import Bruno Sundov for most of the second half due to foul trouble. The 7-foot-3 Croatian picked up his fourth and fifth fouls in quick succession with still less than nine minutes left in the third quarter, and fouled out of the game late in the fourth period.

“We kept on fighting back even when the import wasn’t helping us throughout the game. This is a big lesson for him. He just has to play a little smarter, keeping away from those fouls,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.

Sundov played just 27 minutes, but managed to score 17 points. Paul Lee took over the cudgels for the Elasto Painters, posting 15 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists in his finest game of the conference, while Araña added 11 points.

Dunigan led all scorers with 22 points.

Rain or Shine improved its win-loss record to 3-1, while Air 21′s mark fell to 1-3.

The scores:

Rain or Shine (99) — Sundov 17, Lee 15, Arana 11, Quinahan 9, Norwood 8, Rodriguez 8, Matias 7, Cruz 6, Uyloan 5, Belga 5, Tiu 4, Ibanes 4.

Air 21 (97) — Dunigan 22, Canaleta 18, Isip 14, Cortez 14, Wilson 11, Arboleda 9, Atkins 4, Reyes 3, Omolon 1, Ritualo 1, Sena 0, Baclao 0, Custodio 0.

Quarters: 26-20; 43-41; 74-72; 99-97

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James Yap in Eat Bulaga to grant wish of his fan with Pingris

With his team unexpectedly hugging the cellar, no wonder James Yap haters are coming and rejoicing in full force.

But for the two-time MVP and probably one of the most lethal offensive players in the league, detractors are a barometer of success. And in his team’s case today, added motivation.

“Haters? Nirerespeto ko sila, may negative na pag-iisip… may mga positive rin… hindi nam
an ako affected,” said Yap in an interview with Solar Sports Desk.

“Pag naapektuhan ka kasi nila mas makukuha nila ang purpose nila,” said the two-time MVP with a smile. “Sa ngayon ang focus ko is to help our team win.”

And just this Monday afternoon, Yap joined fellow Mixer Marc Pingris in a special appearance at top rating noon-time show, Eat Bulaga, where an ailing fan requested to meet them in person.

The said segment was part of the show’s popular segment - Juan for All, All for Juan - where the San Mig duo gave away jerseys, signed balls, shoes and pangkabuhayan showcase to a young fan named Robbie.

Yap also invited fan to a VIP seat in their game against Alaska Aces on March 6.

“Isa talaga siya sa pinakasikat na player ngayon ng PBA, 1 or 2 yun. Palitan sila sa pwesto ni Mark Caguioa? Sino pa ba ang pwede mong ilinya sa harap nila?” said Willie Marcial, PBA Media Bureau chief.

Marcial is also happy that mainstream programs like Eat Bulaga are now inviting again PBA players in different entertainment programs, something that was very popular back in the gloray days of Philippine basketball when players even take lead roles in some films like Last 2 Minutes, Shoot Dat Bol, Wooly Bully and Dunkin Donato.

In the most recent Metro Manila Film Festival, a number of current PBA stars like Pingris, Ronald Tubid and Jun-Jun Cabatu had a cameo role in Si Agimat, Si Enteng at Ako.

The amiable PBA official also told Solar Sports Desk that the PBA is always to accommodate guestings of players in different shows, provided that it will not be in conflict with team practice and schedule.

Meanwhile, the 31-year-old Escalante, Negros Occidental native is also rallying his teammates to continue on with the new-found grit, especially now that they’re coming off an impressive 90-82 win against heavily-favored Talk n’ Text Tropang Texters, that arrested their poor 0-3 start.

“Distracted ang team ngayon, pero kailangan talagang mabalik yung focus namin at kalimutan yung bad start namin,” stressed the soft-spoken Yap.

Averaging close to 30 minutes a game, Yap only played for 17 minutes Sunday night because of a still painful hip plexor injury that slowed him down Friday against the Rain or Shine Elastopainters.


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Mark Barroca wants to make his mentor Johnny Abarrientos proud

With his ascension as the No. 1 point guard in the San Mig Coffee rotation, much was expected of Mark Barroca at the start of the Commissioner’s Cup.

In his rookie season, he backed up veterans Josh Urbiztondo and Jonas Villanueva. But with those players gone, the “Coffee Prince” finally had a chance to be a full-time starter for the Mixers.

But instead of shining, the start of the tournament saw the second-year guard struggle from the field.

Barroca admitted feeling the pressure of his new role.

“Hindi ko nga ini-expect, kaya medyo pressured rin ako, pero kung ano yung ipapagawa sa akin, yun ang gagawin ko. Kailangang magign ready ako parati,” he said.

The former Far Easter University stalwart finally broke out of his slump, scoring nine points in San Mig Coffee’s victory Sunday night against the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters.

“There’s so much pressure on him, especially now that he’s playing the lead guard for the team. The reason why Jonas and Josh were traded is to open up playing time for him,” said Cone.

“We were joking that when Mark is playing hurt, he always plays much better, but when he’s healthy, he was struggling.”

But Cone knows that Barroca will eventually be able to step up to the challenge.

“I think Mark will start to get settled in the long run, he just needs to control himself,” said the coach.

Helping with Barroca with the adjustment is an all-time great PBA point guard who also happened to wear No. 14 — San Mig Coffee assistant Johnny Abarrientos.

“Johnny was watching him from the bench and seeing how will he perform,” said Cone.

Barroca said Abarrientos has been challenging him to step up.

“Kapag masama nga ang laro ko, sinasabihan niya ako ng naka-number 14 ka pa ha,” said Barroca, adding he wants to make his mentor proud.

“Alam ko biro yun, pero in a way, parang challenge na rin niya sa akin yun.”

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PBA Standings as of February 24, 2013

Sunday Salvacion opened Sunday’s PBA Commissioner’s Cup doubleheader with his patented Sunday Special, banking home a three-pointer at the buzzer to lift Meralco to a thrilling 90-89 victory over GlobalPort.

In the main game, Denzel Bowles showed his monster form, leading San Mig Coffee to a 90-82 win over Talk ‘N Text for the defending champions’ first victory of the tournament.

Team	W	L	PCT	GB	Streak
Alaska Aces	4	0	1.000	-	W4
Barako Bull Energy Colas	3	1	0.750	1	W1
Petron Blaze Boosters	3	1	0.750	1	W3
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters	2	1	0.667	1.5	W2
Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters	2	2	0.500	2	L1
GlobalPort Batang Pier	2	3	0.400	2.5	L2
Meralco Bolts	2	3	0.400	2.5	W1
Air 21 Express	1	2	0.333	2.5	L2
San Mig Coffee Mixers	1	3	0.250	3	W1
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel	0	4	0.000	4	L4

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Monster Bowles is back: Past Talk n' Text for first win

Denzel Bowles responded with a monster performance after a dismal debut to power defending champion San Mig Coffee to a morale-boosting 90-82 win over Talk ‘N Text in a rematch of last season’s PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals protagonists on Sunday at the Big Dome.

The 23-year-old Bowles, the best import during the Mixers' run to last year's championship, atoned for his poor 12-point performance on Friday night in a loss to Rain or Shine by punishing the Tropang Texters with 29 points, 23 rebounds and three blocks in 42 minutes.

He reserved his best in the final period when he exploded for 14 points while controlling the boards with ferocity to finally give the Mixers their first victory after opening the conference with three straight defeats.

“We had to realize the game is hard. And we’re gonna go through some tough times. But it doesn’t matter how we fall down, but how we get up. It’s so true in life and it’s so true in basketball,” San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone said after pulling off the stunning victory.

Cone said he felt really humiliated especially after the Mixers lost their last two assignments by an average margin of 26.5 points.

“In our first three games, and especially the last two, that’s the first time in my career na tambakan. But for us to come back with one day preparation.  And Denzel playing well, he really inspired us tonight. He got all those rebounds and scoring for us,” added Cone.

San Mig's defense was also outstanding as it held Talk ‘N Text to just 4-of-21 shooting in the final period to turn the game around.

PJ Simon led San Mig Coffee’s locals with 13 points while Marc Pingris added 12 while picking up the scoring slack from star forward James Yap, who could only finish with six after being going into foul trouble early.

Jason Castro led the Tropang Texters with 18 points, while Keith Benson added 17 and 17 boards. The 6-11 Talk ‘N Text import though couldn’t go all-out defensively in the final quarter after picking up his fifth personal foul with less than three minutes to play.

The Texters dropped to 2-2.

The scores:

San Mig Coffee 90 - Bowles 29, Simon 13, Pingris 12, Devance 11, Barroca 9, Yap 6, Gaco 4, Najorda 2, Reavis 2, De Ocampo 2, Mallari 0

Talk ‘N Text 82 - Castro 18, Benson 16, Reyes 14, Alapag 8, Al-Hussaini 7, Fonacier 6, Williams 4, Carey 4, Dillinger 3, De Ocampo 2, Aban 0

Quarterscores: 17-17, 44-41, 63-68, 90-82

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Salvacion three-pointer at the buzzer give Meralco win over GlobalPort

Sunday Salvacion capped Meralco’s frenetic endgame fightback by banking in a three-pointer at the buzzer to lead the Bolts to a confidence-building 90-89 victory over Globalport on Sunday night in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Playing only his first game of the conference, the 6-2 forward repaid coach Ryan Gregorio's faith by scoring 20 points, spiked by 6-for-7 shooting from three-point distance, to help the Bolts snap a three-game losing skein and catch Batang Pier at 2-3 in the standings.

None of those shots were bigger than the desperation three-pointer he banked in without any hesitation after receiving a pass from Mac-mac Cardona, the designated shooter who failed to get off a shot after Globalport import Justin Williams rotated on him.

“It’s definitely a broken play. But that’s why we want veterans on the floor to play. I told Mac-mac (Cardona), if you get into trouble, there’s a safety pass behind you. And somehow, he expected someone to be free,” Gregorio said.

“Sunday has not seen the floor for at least three games but that’s what veterans come in to do. They come in and play. Fantastic shot by Sunday,’” he added.

Unlike in its game against Petron which saw Meralco scale a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit only to lose, 86-88, this time the Bolts had enough to go all the way.

“We need games like these to unite our team. We need situations like these to make us love one another. The script is like a Holywood script. We were down big but somehow we found ways to win,” said the Meralco mentor.

The Bolts fell behind by as many as 17 points, 29-46 as Batang Pier rode on the hot shooting hands of Gary David, Willie Miller and seldom-used JP Belencion, who scored 11 of his career-high 15 points in the first half alone.

But Meralco patiently cut the imposing lead down with its patient execution on offense behind Chris Ross, who finished with a career-best 17 assists, outdueling his best friend and former teammate Solomon Mercado, who had nine assists.

Mercado finished with just six points on 3-of-14 shooting, but the Batang Pier drew 27 points from David and 22 from Miller, who entering the game had only scored a total of 16 points in the team’s first four games.

Import Justin Williams failed to break into double figures after finishing with just eight points, though he still pulled down 13 rebounds and tied his season-high eight blocks in 37 minutes of play.

The scores:

Meralco 90 - Salvacion 20, Dawson 19, Hodge 16, Cardona 15, Hugnatan 7, Manuel 4, Buenafe 4, Guevara 3, Ross 2, Reyes 0, Artadi 0

Globalport 89 - David 27, Miller 22, Belencion 15, Aguilar 12, Mercado 6, Williams 5, Mandani 2, Yee 0, Salvador 0, Crisano 0

Quarterscores: 17-24, 43-48, 66-67, 90-89

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Finals rematch San Mig Coffee vs. Talk n' Text; GlobalPort against Meralco

Talk ‘N Text eyes its third straight win while GlobalPort tries to bounce back from a demoralizing loss as they face separate rivals in the 2013 PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

The Tropang Texters face sliding San Mig Coffee in the main game at 6:30 p.m. in a rematch of last year’s Commissioner’s Cup finals. This comes right after the meeting of Batang Pier and Meralco at 4:15 p.m.

After losing to the Bolts at the start of its campaign, Talk ‘N Text now has won its last two games while defending champion San Mig Coffee has yet to win a game after three starts.

This concerns Tropang Texters head coach Norman Black.

“We are expecting a hungry San Mig Coffee team especially in light of their loss to Rain or Shine on Friday,” said Black, referring to the Mixers’ 93-65 defeat to the Elasto Painters.

“We just want to continue to improve on our defense, while keeping the game as uptempo as possible.”

Reigning Commissioner’s Cup Best Import Denzel Bowles returned to the San Mig Coffee lineup and scored just 12 points. He replaced Matt Rogers.

In the opener, GlobalPort hopes to bounce back from a 99-79 defeat at the hands of the Tropang Texters and nails its third win.

“Regroup, bounce back from a blowout loss,” said Batang Pier coach Junel Baculi. “We respect Meralco, they are a good team. We have to work on our defense. We allow too many points in our last four games.”

The Bolts enter the game on a three-game losing streak, including a heart-breaking 88-86 defeat at the hands of Petron Blaze.

“We’re trying. We’ve been competing hard but could not close out games on a high note. We just have to try harder. It is a long conference and a lot of things can happen,” said Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio.

“We see a lot of good things despite our early losses, most notable of which is the fact that we simply don’t give up. Down big against Petron and still had a legit crack at winning, then disaster struck, the call by the ref which broke our momentum.”

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Is Vernon Macklin can finally bring win in Ginebra? - Poll

Last time Ginebra import Macklin has already made good impression on his teammates.


“Ang lakas niya. Talagang nangangalabaw siya sa ilalim,” said Ginebra forward Rico Maierhofer


“Ang lupit 'nung dunk niya. Puyat at may jetlag pa yun ... kaya tingin ko mas lalakas pa siya,” added the newly-wed Maierhofer.

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Calvin Abueva apologized to PBA referee Edward Aquino

Alaska rookie Calvin Abueva has apologized to PBA referee Edward Aquino, saying he was so focused on the game on Sunday night he didn't realize the game official was hurt in a freak accident late in the Aces' 85-81 win over Barako Bull at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“Wala akong kaalam-alam na nasaktan si referee Aquino,” said Abueva in an interview posted on the team’s website. “Hindi ko akalain talaga na nasaktan siya. Kaya inuulit ko ang paghingi ng pasensya sa akin. Masyado talaga ako focused sa laro kaya hindi agad ako nakahingi ng paumanhin.”

The incident happened with a little over two minutes left in the match when Abueva tried to chase down a loose ball and ended up crashing into Aquino, his momentum causing the referee to be pinned between him and the baseline railing of the Big Dome.

The referee shook off the contact and finished the match, but later complained of pains and was brought to a hospital where he was diagnosed with swollen spine tissues and a possible slipped disc.

In an interview with Spin.ph in a hospital in Mandaluyong on Monday, Aquino said he was surprised that Abueva walked away from the incident as if nothing happened, not bothering to apologize.

“Ang tagal ko nang nagre-referee pero ngayon lang ako nabangga nang iniwan ako nung player,” said Aquino. “Kadalasan kasi pag nabangga kami, o worst nadaganan, yung mga players magsasabi ng sorry o kaya, tatapikin kami.”

Abueva said he never realized the contact was serious enough to cause injury to the game official.

“Ang alam ko na-out-of-balance lang siya kaya natumba. Hindi ako nakahingi ng patawad dahil focused ako masyado sa game at dahil nga akala ko walang ano man ang nangyari. Kaya muli akong humihingi ng dispensa sa nangyari,” Abueva explained.

The former San Sebastian Stag said that he even tried to contact Aquino through PBA official Rhose Montreal through a text message, the content of which was posted in the story posted on the website.

It read: “ate rhose gudeve. musta na si edward? pasencia na if hindi ako naka hingi nang dispensa sa nangyare. wala naman may gustong mangyare un eh. pagaling cia and godbless. salamat.”

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Ginebra import Macklin has already made good impression

HE lacks sleep and is still battling jetlag, yet new Barangay Ginebra import Vernon Macklin has already made a big impression on teammates.

“Ang lakas niya. Talagang nangangalabaw siya sa ilalim,” said Ginebra forward Rico Maierhofer at the end of the Kings’ practice on Monday at the Xavier School gym.

“Bigat bantayan,” he added.

Maierhofer even recalled one play during the three-on-three drills where Macklin put an emphatic finish on an alley-oop pass by Kerby Raymundo with a slam dunk.

“Ang lupit 'nung dunk niya. Puyat at may jetlag pa yun ... kaya tingin ko mas lalakas pa siya,” added the newly-wed Maierhofer.

Another Ginebra big man, Willie Wilson, described Macklin as a Denzel Bowles type of import who can make a big difference inside the paint with his size and behind-the-basket moves.

“Ang lapad niya, na may kilos, na malakas mag post up,” said Wilson, who guarded Macklin during the one-hour drill which coach Alfrancis Chua precisely called to size up Herbert Hill’s replacement.

Both Maierhofer and Wilson, though, want to see their new reinforcement in five-on-five drills before making a full assessment on Macklin.

The former Florida Gators stalwart joined Ginebra’s drills after arriving early Monday to take over from Hill, who was shipped out after the Kings’ 0-3 start to the season.

Aside from Maierhofer, Raymundo and Wilson, also present during the mini-practice were Rob Labagala, Elmer Espiritu and Keith Jensen.

This early, Labagala is sure Macklin will be a lot better than the out-of-shape Hill.

“Tingin ko mas okay ito, kasi may diin yung laro niya eh. Saka nakita ko yung mga bantay niya kanina sa drills napapa-atras,” bared Labagala.

When asked about his first impression with his new team, Macklin said he is happy to join the country’s most popular ballclub.

“Practice is pretty cool, we did some plays ... can’t wait to play with them,” said Macklin.

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Ginebra battles GlobalPort; Air 21 vs. Talk ‘N Text

Air 21 eyes to join Alaska and Barako Bull at the top of leader board with a win against Talk ‘N Text in the opener of the 2013 PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Friday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

The Express seek win No. 2 in their 5:15 p.m. clash against the Tropang Texters.

In the main game, GlobalPort hopes to bounce back from a sorry loss as it faces Barangay Ginebra San Miguel at 7:30 p.m.

Air 21 shocked Ginebra in its opening assignment, 74-70, behind the solid effort of import Michael Dunigan who netted 26 points, 19 rebounds, and five blocks in his debut for the Express.

“Dunigan is a big factor. He gives us a presence underneath,” said Air 21 coach Franz Pumaren. “Man for man, I think we’re the weakest right now so we have to win it on defense.”

Talk ‘N Text is coming off a 99-92 loss to Meralco while Kelly Williams is coming back for the squad after sitting out the match against the Bolts.

“It’s a game we need to win to keep pace with the early leaders. I’m hoping our defense will be better and our import will stay out of foul trouble,” said Tropang Texters coach Norman Black.

Keith Benson fouled out in that game and finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds for the Tropang Texters.

“We have to try and control their import who is very good, and slow down KG Canalate and Mike Cortez,” Black added.

In the main tiff, the Batang Pier, carrying a 1-1 slate, try to recover from a shocking 98-88 overtime loss to the Energy Cola with a victory over Ginebra.

The Kings are eyeing their first win after losing to the Express with import Herbert Hill dishing out a relatively so-so performance with 17 points though he had 18 rebounds.

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