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In Tim Cone’s list, Johnny A still reigns supreme: ‘Unequivocally’
Tim Cone spent a lot of time chatting with members of the Inquirer sports staff earlier this week, talking of how “adventurous” his flight to the Philippines was as a 9-year-old back in 1966. He talked about how he and Alaska owner Fred Uytengsu got together and created a PBA dynasty. He talked about Gilas.....»»
Former convict caught with gun is back in jail in Cebu City
CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES — Police have filed illegal possession of firearm charges against a former convict who was caught with an unlicensed gun on December 9 in C. Padilla St., Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City. Authorities identified the suspect as Roger Compacion, 38 years old, of Alaska, Barangay Mambaling in Cebu City. READ: Shooting and robbery.....»»
Brownlee formula
The issue surrounding Justin Brownlee is a major blackeye to Philippine basketball. It is yet another heartbreaker for Filipinos, who were hoping and praying to see the national team reassert its dominance in the international arena. For the longest time, the Filipinos had struggled internationally. In the Asian Games, for instance, the Philippines emerged victorious in its first four editions — 1951 in New Delhi, 1954 in Manila, 1958 in Tokyo, and 1962 in Jakarta before suffering a string of frustrating finishes. The closest we got to the gold medal was in 1990 when the Basketball Association of the Philippines tasked the Philippine Basketball Association with assembling a team that would reclaim our Asian glory. It was a tall order at the time as the Philippines was coming off a bitter setback at the hands of Malaysia in the 1989 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur. The BAP knew that only an Asian crown would soothe the pain of a nation craving revenge. But it didn’t happen. Coached by Robert “Sonny” Jaworski, the team bannered by Allan Caidic, Benjie Paras, Ramon Fernandez, Samboy Lim, and Chito Loyzaga surrendered to powerhouse China featuring Shan Tao and Ma Jian in the gold medal match. Eight years later, Tim Cone was given the marching orders to assemble another star-studded squad to represent the country in the Bangkok Asian Games in 1998. But like Jaworski, his bitter coaching nemesis at the time, Cone was also unsuccessful as his Centennial Team had to settle for bronze behind China and South Korea. In the next edition in Busan in 2002, hopes were high. Despite a sudden coaching change after American mentor Ron Jacobs suffered a stroke in the final stretch of preparations, Jong Uichico was still able to form a solid team that had a mix of Filipino-foreign stars like Asi Taulava, Eric Menk, and Rudy Hatfield, as well as homegrown stars like Olsen Racela, Kenneth Duremdes, and Danny Ildefonso. But fate wrote a cruel script. The Philippines was ahead, 68-66, in the final 23.9 seconds of the semifinal clash against South Korea. A victory would have sent the Filipinos to the gold medal match against China, while a setback would relegate them to a battle for bronze against Kazakhstan. Racela was at the charity stripe for a chance to ice the game and seal the victory. But he missed both free shots. In a shocking — and heartbreaking — turn of events, Korean gunner Lee Sang Min buried a long three-pointer off a broken play at the buzzer that sent the host country to the finals. The players were crushed while a river of tears flowed through the streets of Manila as the entire country couldn’t believe how merciless the basketball gods could be. Since then, Philippine basketball has been reduced to a mere footnote in Asian basketball. We bombed out of the medal podium in Doha in 2006 and Guangzhou in 2010. We even suffered international embarrassment when head coach Chot Reyes instructed naturalized player Marcus Douthit to shoot at our own basket in Incheon in 2014. In 2018, a legitimate National Basketball Association campaigner, Jordan Clarkson, came along and was billed as the hero who would save Philippine basketball. But he was unsuccessful. The Filipinos’ string of misfortunes continued as Gilas Pilipinas settled for fifth place. Then here came Brownlee, tapped to see action as a naturalized player in the Hangzhou Asian Games. The 35-year-old American was tasked to power a team already familiar to him — guys he had been playing with for more than five years. The coach — Cone — had been his mentor since he arrived in Manila in 2016 and led Barangay Ginebra San Miguel to six PBA titles while winning three Best Import honors. There was no honeymoon period to speak of. He hit the ground running. The result was impressive as Brownlee dropped 36 points to lead Gilas Pilipinas to a razor-thin 84-83 win over Iran in the quarterfinals, before dropping back-to-back three-point bombs in their miraculous 77-76 victory over host China in the semifinals. The Filipinos won their first gold medal in 61 years following a 70-60 victory over Jordan in the final, but an asterisk was attached to the victory after Brownlee tested positive for Carboxy-THC, a banned substance linked to the use of cannabis. At this point, it is unknown whether Brownlee will contest the findings or how long his possible suspension will be. What is clear is that Brownlee made a tremendous impact on Philippine basketball as he proved that the best way to win an international title is to field a naturalized player who is very familiar with the Filipinos’ style of play. Brownlee may not be as exciting and flashy as Clarkson or as tall as Douthit and Blatche, but he knows Philippine basketball like the back of his hand. It’s time for the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to create more Justin Brownlees by recruiting young foreign players who are willing to stay in the country for a longer period — not just to earn and play as imports in the PBA — but to win the hearts and minds of these basketball-crazy Filipinos. Brownlee’s professional career is in great peril, and we may not see him don the Gilas or Ginebra jerseys again. But we should always remember his most significant contribution to Philippine basketball. Nope, it wasn’t the incredible play he delivered against China or how he stood his ground against Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and the powerful Jordanians that led to the country’s first Asian Games title in 61 years. His most important contribution was the idea that to gain international success, the federation must recruit a naturalized player not based on skills, height, or popularity but on his love, respect, and dedication to the country he wishes to represent. The post Brownlee formula appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Biden urges ‘national unity’ 22 years after 9/11
President Joe Biden called Monday for Americans to unite despite bitter political differences as the United States marked the 22nd anniversary of Al-Qaeda's 9/11 attacks. Bells were rung and the names of nearly 3,000 people were read out in somber ceremonies in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania where the hijacked planes struck. "Let's honor September 11 by renewing our faith in one another," said Biden, speaking at a US military base in Anchorage, Alaska as he traveled back from a trip to India and Vietnam. "We must never lose our sense of national unity, so let that be the common cause of our time." Speaking in front of a huge flag, Biden added that "terrorism, including political and ideological violence, is the opposite of all we stand for as a nation." His speech comes as the United States is increasingly polarized, with tensions likely to increase as Biden, a Democrat, heads into a likely election rematch next year with Republican former president Donald Trump. Trump has been indicted four times since April, including for efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, with the 6 January 2021 Capitol attack by his supporters still fresh in the public's memory. 'Never forget' In New York, Vice President Kamala Harris and current and former mayors joined victims' families at the 9/11 memorial on the site of the World Trade Center twin towers brought down by two aircraft flown by hijackers. The names of the more than 2,600 who died in New York were read out by family members and young relatives not alive at the time of the attack. "I wish I had a chance to really know you. Everyone in the family misses you. We will never forget," said the grandson of firefighter Allan Tarasiewicz, who was killed at age 45 during rescue operations at the World Trade Center. At the Pentagon in Washington, where the attackers plunged a third aircraft into the headquarters of the US military, a sailor rang a ship's bell for each of the 184 killed there. And in western Pennsylvania, where a fourth hijacked plane apparently heading toward Washington was forced to crash, bells were rung for each of the 40 passengers and crew who died. "September 11 made America a nation at war, and hundreds of thousands stepped up to serve our country in uniform," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said at the Pentagon ceremony. "I know that it aches to remember this milestone year after year... The men and women of the Department of Defense will always remember." Across New York City, in Congress and elsewhere, a moment of silence was held to mark the attack, plotted by Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, who was found and killed nearly a decade later by US Navy Seals in a raid on his hideout in Pakistan. Biden noted in his speech that he himself had given the order for bin Laden's successor Ayman al-Zawahiri to be sent to the "gates of hell" last year in an airstrike in Afghanistan. "The soul of America is the fortitude we found in the fear of that terrible September day," he added. "The terrorists believed they could bring us to our knees, bend our will, break our resolve. But they were wrong, they were dead wrong." The post Biden urges ‘national unity’ 22 years after 9/11 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
How milk can make dishes taste creamier and more delicious
At the recent launch of Judy Ann Santos as the new celebrity endorser of the Alaska milk brand, the actress helped demonstrate how to make dishes taste creamier and more delicious. She was with culinary experts, such as online food content creator Hazel Cheffy. The dishes they whipped up — pumpkin soup, fried chicken with special gravy, halo-halo — were served to the media representatives and other guests at the event. Santos later on shared this tip to DAILY TRIBUNE when asked what makes her halo-halo extra special: use frozen evaporated milk. “Kasi na-realize ko, ‘Oo nga, no, bakit hindi ’yung mismong Alaska evap ang i-freeze ko instead of using ice? Para mas malasahan ko ang gatas. Di ba pag natunaw na ang yelo, nagiging matabang? E, ayoko kasi na tumatabang ang halo-halo ko.” The chef and owner of Angrydobo restaurant also pointed out, “Gusto ko, dire-diretso ang kain ko. Ayoko nang nabibitin.” She then added, laughing, “Masyadong matakaw.” Here are two recipes from Alaska to try. [caption id="attachment_180493" align="aligncenter" width="1100"] Photographs Courtesy of AlaskaCreamy Garlic Chicken Stew.[/caption] Creamy Garlic Chicken Stew 500 g chicken thigh fillet, cut into large chunks Salt and pepper to taste 2 tbsp olive oil 2 pcs garlic, pounded to a paste 2 tbsp ginger, minced 2 c evaporated milk 1/2 c water 1 c carrots, cut into chunks 3/4 c button mushrooms, halved 1/2 c red bell pepper, diced 1/2 c all-purpose cream 3 tbsp parsley, chopped Season chicken thigh pieces with salt and pepper, and sear in a sautè pan with olive oil until brown on both sides. Set aside. In the same pan, melt butter and sauté garlic paste until fragrant. Add in ginger and sauté until softened. Add back chicken thighs then pour in evaporated milk and water. Simmer chicken until cooked through for about 20 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add in carrot chunks and mushrooms, and cook until carrots are fork-tender. Add in bell peppers, all-purpose cream and parsley. Simmer for five minutes, then serve. Top with fried garlic bits, if desired. [caption id="attachment_180494" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] No-Bake CreamyTres Leches cake.[/caption] No-Bake Creamy Tres Leches Cake Difficulty: Easy 1/2 c condensed milk 1 can evaporated milk 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 8 pcs mamon cake Toppings: 1 1/2 packs all-purpose cream, chilled 1/3 to 1/2 cup condensed milk Your choice of sliced fruit In a large bowl, whip the chilled all-purpose cream until peaks form. Fold in 1/2 cup condensed milk into the whipped cream. Refrigerate until ready to use. In a medium bowl, combine 1/2 cup of condensed milk, evaporated milk and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Cut one piece of mamon in quarters and the other pieces of mamon in halves. Arrange the mamon to fill up and eight-inch pan. Pour the milk mixture over the mamon layer and let it absorb the milk. Spread the cream mixture from earlier and pour to cover the cake. Chill overnight to let the cake set. Once ready to serve, top the cake with your choice of fruit. Enjoy fresh from the chiller. The post How milk can make dishes taste creamier and more delicious appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
RHJ builds PBA legacy
Former Brooklyn Nets standout Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was sunning himself on Boracay Island when he got a call from TNT Tropang Giga asking if he was willing to suit up in the Governors’ Cup. The precious tip that TNT got was from a friend of team manager and head coach Jojo Lastimosa, who was on the lookout for someone who can replace Jalen Hudson. While he was not a bad choice for the squad, Hudson was more of a scorer and the team needed someone who could also excel on defense, compete in the rebounding department and get his teammates involved. For all his talent, Hollis-Jefferson was not able to show what’s made of when he got signed by Jeonju KCC Egis in the Korean league. Then, TNT came calling and he found himself wearing a Tropang Giga jersey and immediately made a lot of heads turn with his brand of play. He did not lose a game in the elimination round and only tasted his first defeat against Meralco in the best-of-five semifinals series. Still, he managed to lead TNT past the Bolts and set up an unlikely last dance with the back-to-back champion Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. Against the Gin Kings, the Tropang Giga were the betting underdogs since they were up against a team that won the tournament four times in the last five editions. Standing on Hollis-Jefferson’s way was Justin Brownlee, who had never lost a championship series six times. But Hollis-Jeffersonqas simply of a different breed. Standing a shade below 6-foot-6, he, however, boasts of a wingspan of a 7-foot-2 player and a skill set of a wily guard. In Game 4, Hollis-Jefferson banged in 36 points, grabbed ten boards and five feeds en route to a 116-104 win, numbers that only solidified the league’s selection of the 28-year-old product of the Arizona Wildcats assembly line as Best Import. The import’s numbers were impressive enough, but even more impressive was the way he facilitated the game and made his teammates more involved as TNT hit a finals record 21 three-point shots to level the series to 2-2. In Game 5, Brownlee had a bout with food poisoning and was unable to finish the game for the Gin Kings. But all series long, Hollis-Jefferson, a Muslim, was also somewhat handicapped as well as he didn’t have food and water intake from sunrise to sunset in observance of Ramadan. The import, however, found the resolve to survive and in Game 5 and 6, he was able to take care of business while leading the Tropang Giga to the championship, their first ever title in the Governors’ Cup. No doubt, Hollis-Jefferson will be high on TNT’s priority list but this recent triumph could serve as his ticket to his return to the NBA. But if ever Hollis-Jefferson would go on and stay in the PBA, he would definitely become the Tropang Giga’s resident reinforcement, similar to what Brownlee is with Ginebra and Sean Chambers with Alaska back in the days. Won’t be surprised if he ends up playing in a tournament where the ceiling is 6-foot-10 owing to his tremendous skills. If K.J. McDaniels stood his ground against bigger rivals in the past, I don’t see no reason why Hollis-Jefferson won’t do the same thing given his NBA lineage. The post RHJ builds PBA legacy appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ginebra, TNT go for broke
Games Wednesday: (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 5:45 p.m. Ginebra vs TNT Series summary: Game 1: Ginebra 102, TNT 90 Game 2: TNT 95, Ginebra 82 Game 3: Ginebra 117, TNT 103 Game 4: TNT 116, Ginebra 104 An all-out war gets underway as Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and TNT Tropang Giga collide for an all-important victory in Game 5 of their Philippine Basketball Association best-of-seven finals series on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Action starts at 5:45 p.m. with both squads tipped to be at their best to deliver a win that will put them a heartbeat away from clinching the title of this season-ending conference. According to PBA head of statistics Fidel Mangonon III, the battle had turned into a cold-blooded shootout with Ginebra piling a total of 405 points with 56 three-pointers while TNT compiled 404 points with 55 treys. In Game 3, in fact, the Kings ran wild from the rainbow area, hitting 18 three-pointers to set a franchise record for the most number of treys. But TNT responded in Game 4 as it unloaded a finals record of 21 long bombs to eclipse its previous mark of 20 that it tallied in a 121-119 double-overtime win over Rain or Shine in Game 7 of its 2015 Commissioner’s Cup best-of-seven finals series. TNT head coach Jojo Lastimosa said their sharp form from downtown was a product of their good spacing and ball movement. “If you shoot well, most likely, you’re gonna win,” said Lastimosa, also the team manager of the Tropang Giga. “I think what we did was we went back to what we do best. If we have Rondae (Hollis-Jefferson) there as a screener and we have proper spacing, and we can locate shooters on the corner, we know that we’re gonna get shots.” He added they marched into Game 4 with fire in their eyes after realizing their mistakes in Game 3. “The problem with our last game was that we didn’t have good spacing. Rondae was our facilitator and the ball didn’t go to the shooters,” he said. “But in Game 4, Calvin had a lot of looks and it stemmed from our spacing. If it’s your night, it’s your night. We have a lot of heroes, Kib Montalbo was a huge part of this game, and without Roger there, having a broken finger, we need somebody who can step in and help out in the scoring side.” For Montalbo, it’s all about getting prepared, whatever your role is, and in Game 4, he was promoted to become a starter and immediately made a huge impact, scoring 16 points and hitting 4-of-8 treys. “I wasn’t able to play much previously, but I was inserted to the starting position and I just took advantage,” Montalbo said. “For me, it’s about putting in the work because, you’ll never know. Things like that can happen in the finals.” “We also brought that mentality of refusing to lose and Coach Jolas is one guy who doesn’t want to lose,” added Montalbo, who played one of his better games in the tournament capped by a buzzer-beating desperation heave from way, way out to close out the first half. Ginebra coach Tim Cone admitted that Lastimosa, his team captain when he won a grand slam with Alaska in 1996, outwitted him. “We played badly and they we’re off to a good start, so now the series is tied,” Cone said. “It was quite disappointing and, in many ways, it was embarrassing. But it’s a series, so we need to get ready for Wednesday.” Seeing Justin Brownlee, who lost the Best Import plum to Hollis-Jefferson, getting into early foul trouble and watching his team missing 10 of 23 attempts from the free throw line are some of areas Cone sees need some improvement. With Brownlee, a three-time Best Import winner, nursing five fouls, TNT was able to attack his defense, putting to waste his 28-point effort. In Game 2, Brownlee was limited to only 12 points, his lowest in the conference, and went without a three-point field goal for the first time in 77 games. That’s why if there’s one player who can inspire the Kings to regroup, it’s Brownlee, who is on his quest for record seven championships that will make him the winningest reinforcement ever to play in the PBA. The post Ginebra, TNT go for broke appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
First to the Finals
Barangay Ginebra is back in the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals and awaits the winner of the TNT-Meralco semifinal series to finalize the pairing of the best-of-seven championship duel that begins on April 9, Easter Sunday. Coach Tim Cone has made it almost a habit to book a ticket to the Governors’ Cup Finals as it’s his fifth trip dating back to the 2015-16 season. Cone’s collection of 25 trophies includes 10 from the Governors’ Cup – four with Ginebra, two with San Mig Coffee and four with Alaska......»»
Aces deal E-Painters 1st defeat
Vengeful Alaska dealt Rain or Shine its first loss in style, putting on a 74-48 defensive clinic to get back on track in the 46th PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City last night......»»
Hotshots stay hot, keep Dyip winless
By JONAS TERRADO Games Friday (AUF Gym powered by Smart 5G) 10 a.m. – Blackwater vs Terrafirma 1p.m. – Alaska vs NorthPort 4 p.m. – NLEX vs San Miguel 6:45 p.m. – TNT vs Ginebra Magnolia extended its winning streak to three games despite completing a hectic back-to-back […].....»»
Aces display resiliency
Phoenix Super LPG was threatening to go two-for-two with Calvin Abueva back on board. But Alaska Milk had an ace up its sleeve......»»
Alaska rallies to beat Phoenix, boosts QF bid
By JONAS TERRADO Alaska denied Phoenix Super LPG a second straight win since the reinstatement of Calvin Abueva after coming back to prevail 105-97 Thursday night in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center. The Aces inched their way back from a 14-point […].....»»
Abueva takes on former team as Fuel Masters gun for third straight win vs Aces
All eyes will be on Calvin Abueva as he faces his former team. (PBA Images) Phoenix Super LPG hopes to build on the successful comeback of Calvin Abueva when it battles his former team Alaska on Thursday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center. What Abueva has for an encore will be known in the 4 p.m. opener as the Fuel Masters (4-2) go for a third straight victory against the Aces (4-3), who are also riding on an impressive run of three wins in the last four outings. Unbeaten leader TNT looks to shrug off the rust factor as it aims for a sixth win opposite slumping NLEX (1-5) at 6:45 p.m. The Tropang Giga are slated to see action for the first time in eight days after Monday’s game against the NorthPort Batang Pier was postponed as a precautionary measure after facing the Blackwater Elite last week. One of Blackwater’s player is currently under quarantine after he had an initial positive result for COVID-19. He has since been declared negative in the succeeding antigen and RT-PCR tests. Abueva played as if he was not out of action for 16 months due to an indefinite suspension, posting 21 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists in Phoenix’s 114-110 triumph against NLEX. With Abueva back, many see Phoenix as a team with a legitimate chance of winning the crown, something Alaska coach Jeffrey Cariaso acknowledges. “We’re in a situation where Phoenix is already playing well, they added Calvin, who would give them an extra spark — extra All-Star. So we’re gonna have our hands full,” said Cariaso as he eyes to keep the same grit that enabled Alaska to buck a 0-2 start. Alaska is coming off a 99-96 victory over Terrafirma last Tuesday......»»
Nambatac redeems self, helps ROS beat Ginebra in OT
By JEREMIAH SEVILLA SMART CLARK GIGA CITY – Rey Nambatac made sure to bounce back from a sorry miss the last time out. After a botched game-winning layup against Alaska, Nambatac redeemed himself and drained a trey to send the game to overtime as Rain or Shine went on to […].....»»
Alaska pulls out an ace
Alaska recovered from a sluggish first half and outsteadied Terrafirma in a tight race to the finish, 99-96, to get back on track in the PBA Philippine Cup......»»
Belga stars in OT as Rain or Shine continues good run inside bubble
Beau Belga delivered when it mattered most in the overtime period. (PBA Images) Beau Belga had the last laugh with a stirring performance Tuesday night as Rain or Shine grinded out an 85-82 overtime win over Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center. Belga scored five of his 20 points in the five-minute extension, a follow-up after missing a layup and a three-pointer that gave the Elasto Painters an 83-78 lead, and added 10 rebounds and four assists as the Elasto Painters pulled out a win while handing the Kings a second straight loss following a 4-0 start. But Rain or Shine needed one lucky break to secure its fourth win in five games inside the bubble known as Smart Clark Giga City after Ginebra cut the deficit to 83-80. Jewel Ponferada retrieved the ball after Rey Nambatac slipped before hitting a running one-hander for his only points with five seconds to go to make it an 85-80 lead for the Elasto Painters. Rain or Shine bounced back after falling short against Alaska, 89-88, last week while needing an extra day of rest when Sunday’s game with Blackwater was cancelled due after one of the Elite’s players initially tested positive for COVID-19. No one motivated coming into the game more than Belga, who was out to prove something after seeing a social media comment earlier in the day. “May isang hater na binatikos ako sa social media na puro pananakit lang daw ginagawa ko sa PBA and I just to prove him wrong,” Belga said during a postgame interview on One Sports. Coach Caloy Garcia was also glad that Belga was not the only player to step up for the Elasto Painters. Mark Borboran scored 16 points and grabbed five rebounds while James Yap earned a starting role and produced a season-high 13 points. Nambatac only had eight points, but produced one of the game’s biggest shot with a three-pointer that tied the knot at 76-all with 2.1 seconds to go in regulation. Kris Rosales also scored all of his eight points in the first quarter that saw Rain or Shine take a 24-15 lead and forced Ginebra to play catch up throughout. Ginebra had to slowly inch its way back from being down 39-24 in the second behind Stanley Pringle and Scottie Thompson. Pringle’s jumper put the Kings ahead, 74-73, with over two minutes remaining in the fourth before Borboran missed two free throws and Gabe Norwood muffing a medium-range jumper. LA Tenorio got fouled and made a pair of charities for a three-point Ginebra lead before Nambatac continued his knack to have the ball in the clutch with the game-tying triple on the next play. Thompson finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks and Pringle had 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists but Ginebra couldn’t recover from Sunday’s loss to sibling rival Magnolia. The scores: RAIN OR SHINE 85 — Belga 20, Borboran 13, Yap 12, Nambatac 8, Rosales 8, Onwubere 3, Norwood 3, Ponferada 2, Wong 0, Torres 0. GINEBRA 82 — Thompson 21, Pringle 20, Aguilar J. 13, Tenorio 10, Devance 6, Caperal 5, Mariano 3, Chan 2, Dillinger 2, Tolentino 0. Quarters: 24-15, 45-36, 61-57, 76-76 (Reg), 85-82 (OT)......»»
‘Muscle Man’ powers Alaska over Rain or Shine
PBA Images Streaking Alaska handed Rain or Shine its first loss Thursday night after escaping with an 89-88 win in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center in Angeles City, Pampanga. Vic Manuel flashed his pre-pandemic form when it mattered, hitting 10 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter as the Aces rallied from being down 75-68 midway in the period before enduring excruciating moments in the end to pick up their third straight victory after a 0-2 start. Jeron Teng had 13 points and eight assists while Abu Tratter and rookie Barkley Ebona added 10 points apiece for Alaska, which has been playing sound basketball following losses to TNT and Meralco. “When things didn’t go our way, we went back to just doing things we know we could do well that is defending and improving that aspect. We felt that would make it easy on the offensive end,” said Aces coach Jeffrey Cariaso. Alaska has limited its opponents to 83.7 points during the three wins, including against Rain or Shine. Manuel’s jumper and a running one-hander gave the Aces leads of 85-80 and 87-83 under the last two minutes, but his clutch shots nearly went for naught when the Elasto Painters gave them a scare. Beau Belga cut the gap to a point 89-88 with 7.3 seconds left, then forced Alaska guard Jvee Casio to lose the ball out of bounds off Teng’s inbound, giving Rain or Shine a chance to steal the game. Rey Nambatac, who came through in the clutch against San Miguel Beer and NorthPort, tried to do it again when he used a Belga pick to go for a driving layup. But Nambatac missed a finger roll against two defenders before time expired. The loss denied Rain or Shine a 4-0 start and a share of second place with idle Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. It also spoiled a career game from Sidney Onwubere, who topscored for the Elasto Painters with 16 points. The former Emilio Aguinaldo College standout was averaging 1.4 points in 20 games last season. Javee Mocon and Adrian Wong, the first Rookie of the Week winner of the PBA Press Corps, added 14 and 12 points for Rain or Shine. The scores: ALASKA 89 — Manuel 18, Teng 13, Tratter 10, Ebona 10, Herndon 9, DiGregorio 7, Brondial 7, Casio 5, Ahanmisi 5, Galliguez 3, Ayaay 2, Marcelino 0. RAIN OR SHINE 88 — Onwubere 16, Mocon 14, Wong 12, Torres 10, Belga 10, Nambatac 7, Norwood 5, Yap 5, Doliguez 3, Rosales 2, Ponferada 2, Rivero 2, Tolentino 0. Quarters: 22-18, 38-41, 61-63, 89-88......»»
More swab test inside bubble; activities back to normal after disinfection
CLARK FREEPORT–Barangay Ginebra guard LA Tenorio, some PBA staff and members of the media on Thursday underwent their second swab test as part of the tight health measures being implemented inside the bubble. The procedure was done in a stricter manner a day after the league reported that a referee was found to be a “suspect case”of the deadly virus on his fourth RT-PCR test. Hours later, he came out negative on the antigen test administered upon his arrival at the mega quarantine facility in Capas, Tarlac. Tenorio and the 14 other delegates had to wait in their respective rooms in Quest Hotel for their turn in the swab testing area. Alaska and Blackwater also had a second round of test for the week after several players raised concern of having possible contact with the suspected case. The RT-PCR testing is done to the entire 350-man delegation every two weeks to ensure the safety and integrity of the bubble. Save for a few late arrivals, all players and staff of the 12 teams already tested negative on their second swab test in the bubble administered last week. Meanwhile, the PBA has lifted the suspension of activities in the hotel following the full disinfection of facilities. Swimming, jogging and gym workouts were allowed anew starting on Thursday afternoon. .....»»
Casio plays hero as Alaska breaks bubble curse
Jvee Casio was excellent in crucial moments. (PBA Images) Alaska bounced back from two losses to open the bubble campaign by grinding out an 87-81 victory over Magnolia Saturday night in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center. Jvee Casio produced some of the keys in the final minutes as the Aces defeated one of the PBA’s top contenders to barge into the win column after falling short against the TNT Tropang Giga and Meralco Bolts. Casio finished with 17 points, including a three-pointer that put Alaska ahead 79-75 with 2:40 remaining in the fourth. He also blocked a rainbow attempt by Jackson Corpuz while the Aces were protecting an 85-81 lead. Jeron Teng scored eight of his team-high 19 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Aces take the lead for good while Mike DiGregorio and Abu Tratter added 10 points apiece. The Aces won in the first game since announcing that forward Kevin Racal will miss the rest of the conference due to an ACL injury he suffered in their 100-95 loss to the Tropang Giga last Oct. 11. That game certainly was still in the mind of coach Jeffrey Cariaso, who told his team to carry a mentality as if the Aces had a 1-1 record. “When you approach that game than being 0-2, I think their mindset’s different,” he said. “We came to this game facing a well-coached and very tough Magnolia team. They have superstars that we really have to worry about and to be able to step up and be better defensively is my biggest take on this game.” Alaska bucked a 39-28 second quarter deficit to inch its way back into the game, cooling Magnolia’s offense after making 63-percent of its shots in the first quarter. Mark Barroca was one of the few bright spots for the Hotshots with 16 points, three rebounds, five assists and two steals. Rookie big man Aris Dionisio scored 10 points in 17 minutes. But Magnolia saw Paul Lee being held to a 4-of-16 shooting despite 14 points, thus falling to a 1-2 record this conference. The scores: ALASKA 87 — Teng 19, Casio 17, Tratter 10, DiGregorio 10, Manuel 9, Herndon 7, Galliguez 6, Ebona 5, Brondial 4, Ayaay 0, Marcelino 0, Publico 0. MAGNOLIA 81 — Barroca 16, Lee 14, Banchero 13, Jalalon 11, Dionisio 10, Sangalang 8, De la Rosa 7, Corpuz 2, Reavis 0, Melton 0, Abundo 0. Quarters: 21-29, 43-45, 62-64, 87-81......»»
Meralco bounces back, trounces Alaska
By JONAS TERRADO Meralco barged into the win column after a rough start to its PBA Philippine Cup campaign by defeating Alaska, 93-81, Wednesday night at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center. The Bolts separated themselves from the Aces bridging the third and fourth quarters to claim […].....»»