The
race for the six Commish Cup Playoff spots heated up this past week with big
wins from middling teams. An ROS win and a Petron loss put both teams right
behind league-leading Alaska, while Ws by TNT, Air21, and Ginebra put them in
prime spots to advance to the next round.
In the
Wednesday curtain-raiser, Rain or Shine beat Barako Bull,103-93. Bruno Sundov
and Paul Lee proved to be a lethal pair, combining for 47 points including
shooting 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. Sundov also grabbed 11 rebounds, while Lee
added 6 assists and 2 steals. Gilas Pilipinas sniper Jeff Chan, however,
continued to fire mostly blanks in his second game back from injury. The former
FEU standout shot just 3-of-12 from the floor including 2-of-6 from the rainbow
country. Lee won't be able to wax hot every game, so Chan should rediscover his
stroke sooner rather than later.
Meanwhile,
after a hot start to the conference, it seems the law of averages has caught up
with Josh Urbiztondo, who made just a single field goal out of ten attempts.
The Fil-Am playmaker has shot only 26% (9-of-34) from the floor in Barako's
last three outings.
In the
second game, the AIR21 Express defeated the San Mig Coffee Mixers, 87-82, as Mike
Dunigan continued his brilliant play. He has registered double-doubles in all
but one of his Commish Cup games, and this one was easily one of the best. The
former Oregon Duck produced 25 points and 20 rebounds to help Air21 tie their
victims for a share of sixth spot. This is the fifth game Dunigan has scored at
least 15 points and grabbed at least 19 rebounds. I don't know about you, but
I'm calling him Magic Mike.
 |
| Mike Dunigan's brilliant play continues to help the Express climb the standings. |
SMC
felt the absence of star forward Joe Devance, who has been playing really well
this conference. The San Mig Coffee frontline locals, all six of them, scored a
total of only 11 points and grabbed just 14 boards. In contrast, Air21's Niño
Cañaleta, Mark Isip, and Bitoy Omolon combined for 25 points on top of 9
rebounds. I am loving, though, how PJ Simon continues to be perhaps the most
consistently awesome backcourt guy on the SMC roster despite the fact he goes
relatively under-the-radar. 20 points on 8-of-14 FG shooting? That's efficiency
at its finest. In the meantime, his more ballyhooed, but currently embattled,
teammate, James Yap, connected on just 6-of-19 attempts.
In
yesterday’s opener, Talk N Text overcame Petron in overtime, 93-85. Donnell
Harvey and Larry Fonacier combined for 56 points to lead TNT to its fifth win
while pulling the Boosters down to a tie with ROS. Harvey also grabbed 17
rebounds, while Fonacier punched three treys.
The
Boosters scored ZERO points in the OT. First time ever in PBA history (or
recent memory) I think. Their new import, Rodney White, shot 5-o-f-17 from the
field to finish with only 12 points. He also grabbed just 7 rebounds and turned
the ball over 4 times. He played 31 minutes. Certainly not the debut the
Boosters were hoping for.
In the
nightcap, the Bgy. Ginebra Gin Kings won over the Meralco Bolts, 84-81. What
was the most interesting thing that happened here? Was it Chris Ross coming
back into the game to lead a roaring Meralco fightback? Nope. Was it the
combined production of 54 points and 43 rebounds by opposing imports Vernon
Macklin and Eric Dawson? Not even. It was Ginebra coahc Alfrancis Chua's
comment after the Kings' escape, “Actually, kung nakahabol sila at natalo kami,
kasalanan namin yun. LAY-UP NA, NILALANDI PA." Wow. Who thinks of stuff
like that?
Ginebra
had to withstand a mighty Meralco comeback principally because of Macklin shooting 5-of-15 from the
free throw line. Congratulations, Vernon, for graduating from the Richard Del
Rosario (or Dwight Howard?) School of Free Throw Shooting. By the time the
Bolts realized they should be playing to win, however, it was just a tad too
late. They put themselves behind by 21 points thanks mainly to awful rebounding
and even more awful field goal shooting. By the game's end, Meralco was -12 in
rebounds and -15% in FG%.
Game
Recaps:
RAIN OR SHINE over BARAKO
BULL, 103-93
Paul
Lee had his finest game of the Commissioner’s Cup to help the Rain or Shine
Elasto Painters snap a two-game losing skid with a 103-93 victory over Barako
Bull Wednesday at Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
Lee
posted 20 points, four rebounds, six assists, and two steals, breaking out of a
mini-slump to help Rain or Shine improve its win-loss record to 6-3. Bruno
Sundov added 27 points and 11 rebounds for the Elasto Painters.
“We
were able to make it a high scoring ball game. We want an uptempo game and
that’s one thing that worked for us. That’s the way we like it,” said Rain or
Shine coach Yeng Guiao, whose squad was coming off a disappointing loss to a
Petron squad that played without an import last Saturday.
The Elasto
Painters built a 15-point lead in the second quarter, 40-25, courtesy of a
three-pointer by Jeff Chan who played in just his second game back after a hand
injury. Barako Bull cut the deficit to just seven points at halftime, 46-39, to
stay within striking distance.
Rain or
Shine kept Barako Bull at bay for most of the second half, before the Energy
Colas moved within just three points, 72-69, on a three-pointer by Mark
Macapagal.
But
Chris Tiu answered with a three-pointer of his own to touch off a 13-5 run as
Rain or Shine built another double-digit lead that Barako Bull could no longer
overcome.
“We
shot the ball a lot better today, we were really looking for Jeff (Chan), Paul
(Lee), and our big men to get their usual percentages tom make things easier
for Sundov,” added Guiao.
“The
key is we shot the ball pretty well and by doing so, Bruno gets more
comfortable to operate, that’s what happened in this game.”
Barako
Bull lost its fifth straight game to see its record drop to 3-6.
ROS 103 – Sundov 27, Lee 20, Quinahan 11,
Chan 10, Norwood 8, Rodriguez 6, Tiu 5, Belga 5, Cruz 4, Ibanes 4, Matias 2,
Tang 1, Arana 0.
BAR 93 – Borck 23, Seigle 20, Intal 17, Maliksi 12,
Pennisi 10, Urbiztondo 3, Macapagal 3, Kramer 2, Allado 2, Villanueva 1,
Anthony 0, Cruz 0.
QS: 19-18, 46-39, 70-66, 103-93
 |
| JC Intal gets bottled up by Jireh Ibañes. |
 |
| Bruno Sundov tests the tight D of Evan Brock. |
AIR21 over SAN MIG
COFFEE, 87-82
Franz
Pumaren and his Air 21 Express are flying high.
The
Express extended their winning streak to three games, matching the longest
streak in franchise history, following an 87-82 triumph over the San Mig Coffee
Mixers on Wednesday’s PBA Commissioner’s Cup game at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Michael
Dunigan had 25 points and 20 rebounds on top of two blocks, stressing his case
as a strong candidate for the tournament’s Best Import award.
Dunigan
was able to stamp his class against the reigning titlist, Denzel Bowles, who
posted 24 points and 12 rebounds, but did not get enough support from the rest
of the Mixers.
“I’m
elated beating San Mig Coffee. I’m speechless,” said Pumaren, whose team
defeated San Mig Coffee for the first time since debuting last season as the
Shopinas.com Clickers.
“We
have to give it to our players because they really played well. They played
smart.”
Pumaren
praised his team’s defense against the defending champions, who had won four of
five games heading into the matchup.
“I
think we’re very underrated in terms of playing defense, tonight, we showed,
how to play great defense. We were able to survive in the PBA by playing
together,” said Pumaren.
The Express
held the Mixers to just 13 points in the second period, limiting the team’s big
guns — Bowles, James Yap, and Peter June Simon — to just a basket apiece in
that crucial stretch.
But Air
21 squandered a 13-point lead in the third period, allowing the Mixers to come
to within three points, 65-62, following a 7-2 run anchored on Simon’s jumper
with still 10:25 left in the match.
The
Express turned to defense again down the stretch, holding their rivals without
a basket over a two-minute stretch. A bank shot from Dunigan at the 2:13 mark
proved to be the decisive blow for Air 21, which posted a 79-68 lead.
The
Mixers played without point-forward Joe Devance, whose hurt his knee in their
last game against Meralco.
Without
Devance, San Mig Coffee’s frontline rotation was visibly affected.
“They
missed Deviance. They were not expecting him to get hurt. They’ve been relying
on him a lot,” said Pumaren.
AIR 87 – Dunigan 25, Cortez 13, Canaleta 11,
Arboleda 10, Isip 7, Omolon 7, Wilson 4, Menor 4, Custodio 4, Baclao 2, Sena 0,
Ritualo 0.
SMC 82 – Bowles 24, Simon 20, Yap 17, Barroca 10,
Reavis 5, De Ocampo 4, Gonzales 2, Mallari 0, Gaco 0, Najorda 0, Pingris 0.
QS: 15-18; 35-31; 63-55; 87-82.
 |
| Mike Cortez challenges SMC's Mark Barroca. |
TALK N TEXT over PETRON,
93-85
Mighty
Mouse came to save the day.
Jimmy
Alapag hit a three-pointer with 2.7 seconds left to send the game into
overtime, before Talk ‘N Text held Petron scoreless in the extra period to hack
out a 93-85 victory Friday night at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
“It’s
gotta be one of the best ones I’ve had in the PBA,” said an exhausted Talk ‘N
Text coach Norman Black after the game.
Alapag’s
big shot capped a thrilling Tropang Texters comeback in regulation. Talk ‘N
Text was still down by six points late in the game, 85-79, before Ranidel De
Ocampo hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit to just three points with 25.8
seconds left.
Arwind
Santos missed both free throws in the ensuing play, giving Talk ‘N Text a shot
at the equalizer. Petron almost came up with the possession after a loose ball
in the next play, but Ronald Tubid was forced into a jump ball by Talk ‘N Text
import Donnell Harvey.
The
Tropang Texters recovered the loose ball and set up Alapag, who faked off Alex
Cabagnot for a 25-foot shot that hit nothing but net.
Talk ‘N
Text finished the job in overtime, going on an 8-0 run to end the game. The
Boosters missed all six of their attempts from the field in the extra period
while also committing three turnovers.
Harvey
carried the Tropang Texters for most of the contest, posting 38 points and 17
rebounds in his finest game this season.
“My
locals are still struggling,” said Black. “We needed a game were our import
carried us.”
Petron
import Rodney White had a quiet debut for the Boosters, scoring just 12 points on
5-of-17 shooting from the field.
TNT 93 – Harvey 38, Fonacier 18, Alapag 10,
Williams 7, De Ocampo 7, Castro 6, Dillinger 3, Al-Hussaini 2, Alvarez 2, Aban
0, Carey 0.
PET 85 – Lassiter 18, Santos 14, Cabagnot 14,
Fajardo 13, White 12, Washington 6, Lanete 4, Yeo 4, Tubid 0, Pena 0.
QS: 17-18, 33-36, 53-56, 93-85
 |
| Rodney White had a terrible debut for Petron. |
 |
| Donnell Harvey is caught with his pants down. |
 |
| Jayson Castro tries to turn the corner against fellow NT hopeful, June Mar Fajardo. |
GINEBRA over MERALCO,
84-81
Barangay
Ginebra San Miguel booked its third straight Commissioner’s Cup win, but coach
Alfrancis Chua wasn’t exactly happy with the victory.
The Gin
Kings nearly squandered a 21-point lead before pulling out an 84-81 triumph
over the Meralco Bolts Friday night at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
“Actually,
kung nakahabol sila at natalo kami, kasalanan namin yun. Layup na, nilalandi
pa,” said Ginebra coach Alfrancis Chua.
Ginebra
led 37-16 in the second quarter, and was still up by nine points, 81-72, at the
two-minute mark of the game.
But a
furious 9-2 run capped by a Chris Ross three-pointer with 25.6 seconds left cut
the Meralco deficit to just two points, 83-81.
The
Bolts sent LA Tenorio to free throw line, where the Ginebra court general split
his free throws to give Meralco one final shot.
But
Ross could not hit his attempt at the game-tying basket, allowing Ginebra to
escape with the win.
Meralco
came back in part by using an unusual tactic, sending Ginebra import Vernon
Macklin to the free throw line intentionally in the fourth quarter.
But
Chua refused to sub out his import, who shot just 5-of-15 from the line.
“I told
him mananalo kami, matatalo kami dahil sa ‘yo,” said Chua, who drew 23 points,
22 rebounds, and five assists from his reinforcement.
Ginebra
had to hack out the victory despite missing Mark Caguioa, who injured his knee
with less than three minutes left in the game. Caguioa scored 21 points, but
did not return after being subbed out.
GIN 84 – Macklin 23, Caguioa 21, Ellis 11, Labagala
8, Hatfield 7, Tenorio 6, Mamaril 3, Helterbrand 3, Baracael 2, Jensen 0,
Wilson 0, Raymundo 0.
MER 81 – Dawson 31, Hodge 18, Buenafe 8, Hugnatan
6, Salvacion 6, Ross 5, Cardona 5, Manuel 2, Vanlandingham 0, Timberlake 0,
Reyes 0, Artadi 0.
QS: 22-10, 42-29, 64-57, 84-81
 |
| Cliff Hodge and the Bolts fell flat early against Ginebra. |
 |
| We can always count on coach Alfrancis Chua for some memorable quotes. |
 |
| Willie Wilson and the Gin Kings had to squirm past the persistent Bolts. |
Sources:
Game recaps and images are from InterAKTV
(writing credit to Rey Joble; photo credit to Nuki Sabio, Paolo Papa, and Paul
Ryan Tan).
0 Comment