PBA 2018:

Alaska overcomes Magnolia, snatches Game 3

December 9 – Ynares Center

PBA Finals 2018: Alaska overcomes Magnolia, snatches Game 3

Alaska Aces

PBA Finals News 2018: Alaska Aces overcame the Magnolia Hotshots, 100-71 to snatch Game 3 of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals this Sunday at the Ynares Center. The Aces finally chalked up a victory to gain a 1-2 slate in their title showdown with the Hotshots. Import Mike Harris delivered the goods for Alaska with monstrous 36 markers and 18 boards, while Vic Manuel added 14 buckets.

Simon Enciso also finished with 12 points while former Gilas cager Carl Bryan Cruz chipped-in 10 goals for the Gatas Republik.

➤ The Alaska Aces put the game away in the third canto, courtesy of Harris 22 total quarter points. The Milkmen also outscored the Hotshots in the third by a gargantuan 33-14 difference. Overall, Alaska’s efficiency was visible in the total field-goals, making 38 of 78 shots for a 48% percentage, compared to Magnolia’s 26 of 77 goals (33%).

➤ Hotshots go-to-guy Romeo Travis paced the losing Magnolia with his 18 points and 3 boards, while Mark Barroca added 13 points and 3 dimes as well.

Alaska and Magnolia will lock horns once more for Game 4 of the PBA Finals this Wednesday, December 12 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 16-22, 50-36, 83-50, 100-71.

alaska: 100

Harris 36, Manuel 14, Enciso 12, Cruz 10, Banchero 6, J. Casio 4, Pascual 4, Galliguez 4, Teng 4, Andrada 2, Racal 2, Baclao 2, Potts 0, Exciminiano 0, Magat 0.

magnolia: 71

Travis 18, Barroca 13, Sangalang 7, Herndon 7, Mendoza 6, Dela Rosa 5, Abundo 4, Reavis 3, Jalalon 2, Lee 2, Melton 2, Ramos 2, Gamalinda 0, K. Pascual 0, Simon 0, Brondial 0.

Posted on December 10 - Ynares Center

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

PBA Finals 2018:

Magnolia repeats over Alaska, leads 2-0

December 7 – Araneta Coliseum

PBA Finals News 2018: Magnolia Hotshots won anew over the Alaska Aces, 77-71 to take a commanding 2-0 lead in Game 2 of their Finals series in the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup this Friday at the Araneta Coliseum. Jio Jalalon converted the Hotshots’ last six points in crunchtime to secure the Magnolia victory. Jalalon finished with 7 points and 7 rebounds, while import Romeo Travis led with 24 buckets and 9 boards.

➤ Post operator Ian Sangalang also contributed 11 points and 5 rebounds for Magnolia, while ace guard Paul Lee made 8 points and 4 rebounds.

Magnolia secured the game with impeccable defense over the Aces, causing 26 turnovers to Alaska courtesy of 20 total steals. The Hotshots also moved the ball better, dishing out 19 assists compared to the Aces 17 total.

➤ Reinforcement Mike Harris paced the Aces with 22 points and 13 caroms, while “muscle man” Vic Manuel had 10 points and 5 rebounds.

➤ Game 3 will be at the Ynares Center in Antipolo this Sunday, December 9.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 20-22, 36-41, 61-65, 77-71.

magnolia: 77

Travis 24, Sangalang 11, Lee 8, Dela Rosa 7, Jalalon 7, Reavis 6, Melton 5, Simon 4, Brondial 3, Barroca 2, Pascual 0, Herndon 0.

ALASKA: 71

Harris 22, Manuel 10, Banchero 9, Racal 7, Enciso 6, Casio 5, Exciminiano 4, Teng 4, Cruz 2, Thoss 2, Galliguez 0, Baclao 0, Pascual 0.

Posted on December 8 - Araneta Coliseum

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

PBA Finals 2018:

Magnolia scorches Alaska, takes Game 1

December 5 – Mall of Asia Arena

PBA Finals News 2018: Magnolia Hotshots scorched the Alaska Aces, 100-84 to take Game 1 of the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup Finals at the Mall of Asia Arena this Wednesday. Romeo Travis powered the unstoppable Magnolia train with 29 markers, 13 caroms and 5 dimes, while Mark Barroca finished with 16 buckets and 6 steals.

Paul Lee also made 14 points for the Hotshots while guard Jio Jalalon added a triple-double of 7 goals, 12 boards, and 9 assists.

Magnolia outrebounded Alaska 50 to 43, and shot better from the rainbow territory, converting 8 of 18 treys (44%) compared to Alaska’s 7 of 28 three-point bombs (25%).

➤ Reinforcement Mike Harris led the defeated Aces with 20 points and 15 rebounds while Chris Banchero chalked-up 12 buckets and 6 dishes.

➤ The Aces and the Hotshots will resume court hostilities for Game 2 this Friday, December 7 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 24-14, 52-40, 77-58, 100-84.

magnolia: 100

Travis 29, Barroca 16, Lee 14, Sangalang 10, Herndon 9, Melton 7, Simon 4, Reavis 4, Mendoza 0, Dela Rosa 0, Brondial 0, Pascual 0.

ALASKA: 84

Harris 20, Banchero 12, Teng 10, Enciso 9, Casio 7, Manuel 6, Racal 6, Pascual 5, Thoss 3, Cruz 3, Galliguez 3, Andrada 0, Exciminiano 0, Baclao 0.

Posted on December 6 - Mall of Asia Arena

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

UAAP Finals 2018:

Ateneo overpowers UP Maroons, bags Season 81 plum

December 5, 2018 – Mall of Asia Arena
UAAP Finals 2018: Ateneo halts gritty UP Maroons, takes Game 1
The Ateneo Blue Eagles Logo

UAAP Finals 2018 News: Ateneo Blue Eagles overpowered the UP Maroons, 99-81 to bag the 2018 UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball championship title this Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum. Thirdy Ravena wowed the 23,741 Araneta crowd with an unbelievable 38 points output combined with 6 boards and 6 dimes total. Import Angelo Kouame also registered a double-double of 22 points and 22 caroms for the two-time champions Ateneo.

Ateneo is now a two-time UAAP titlist under the reins of Coach Tab Baldwin, the last time the Blue Eagles won a string of UAAP championships was in 2012 under Coach Norman Black.

➤ There was a brief halt to the game tip-off as the Blue Eagles protested the steel brace which Bright Akhuetie wore in his left knee. The brace was eventually removed and the game commenced with Akhuetie not wearing the knee protector.

Gomez De Liaño led the defeated Maroons with 24 points and 7 rebounds, while reinforcement Akhuetie chipped-in 19 points and 8 caroms. Clutch operator Paul Desiderio also made 15 buckets and 7 rebounds.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 25-13, 48-37, 70-56, 99-81.

ateneo: 99

Ravena 38, Kouame 22, Verano 11, Tio 7, Belangel 6, Nieto Ma. 6, Asistio 6, Go 3, Wong 0, Mendoza 0, Andrade 0, Black 0, Nieto Mi. 0, Daves 0, Mamuyac 0, Navarro 0.

up: 81

Gomez de Liaño Ju. 24, Akhuetie 19, Desiderio 15, Gomez de Liaño Ja. 11, Dario 8, Vito 2, Lim 2, Española 0, Prado 0, Jaboneta 0, Murrell 0, Manzo 0, Spencer 0, Longa 0.

Posted on December 5, 2018 - Mall of Asia Arena

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

FIBA World Qualifiers 2018:

Depleted Iran flattens Guiao-led Gilas, 78-70

December 3, 2018 – Mall of Asia Arena
Australia Boomers stops Gilas Pilipinas, 84-68
photo courtesy of FIBA

FIBA World Qualifiers News 2018: A depleted Iran NT flattened the Gilas Pilipinas squad coached by Yeng Guiao, 78-70 in the fifth window of the 2018 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers this Monday at the Mall of Asia Arena. Gilas lost to a weakened Iranian five without its’ main stars Hamed Haddadi and Samad Nikkhah Bahrami.

Notes:

➤ Iran’s Mohammad Jamshidi pummeled Gilas with 26 big buckets, with 20 coming off the 4th quarter combined with 7 assists while guard Behnam Yakhchali poured 21 points and 7 boards.

➤ The Filipinos squandered the sure chance to qualify for the World Cup as it fell to fourth place with a 5-5 slate, just below Japan. They need to win their two remaining games and hope that the Hayabusa Five loses at least a game to even out the rankings. Only the top-three teams will qualify for the FIBA Worlds and the Philippines may now need a miracle to advance.

➤ Home-court advantage did not work wonders for RP Five this time around, as Guiao’s system is yet to be proven effective in international tournaments. To sum it all up: Gilas was relegated to fifth place in the recent Asian Games with Jordan Clarkson in tow, lost to a mediocre Kazakhstan team without a legitimate star, and fell twice to an Iranian team that never fielded the behemoth Hamed Haddadi.

➤ If there was any consolation for Guiao, it was the extremely short preparation time of Gilas. This resulted to a disjointed team pitted against Asia’s powerhouse squads with less than a decade of team chemistry. However, Yeng could have opted to field-in the battle-tested Gilas five, but chose to play with an untested roster of mostly aging cagers instead.

➤ Compounding the Gilas hullabaloo was the preposterous exclusion of vital cog Andray Blatche. The former New Jersey Nets center would have terrorized Iran and Kazakhstan in the paint and be unstoppable from the perimeter. Blatche’s defense also would have been a lethal weapon for Gilas, but his unceremonial ejection from the roster proved fatal for the Filipinos.

➤ Meanwhile, Jayson Castro, who just back from FIBA suspension, powered Gilas with 19 markers and 5 caroms while Christian Standhardinger finished with 17 points and 8 boards.

➤ The Philippine basketball team will next face Qatar and Kazakhstan in the sixth window both in away games to continue Gilas’ journey in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 19-20, 35-39, 50-54, 78-70.

iran nt: 78

Jamshidijafarabadi 26, Yakhchalidehkordi 21, Mirzaeitalarposhti 11, Arghavan 8, Hassanzadeh 7, Mozafarivanani 3, Hosseizadeh 2, Sedighi 0, Davoudichegani 0, Torabi 0, Rezaeifar 0.

gilas pilipinas: 70

Castro William 19, Standhardinger 17, Lassiter 12, Fajardo 8, Wright 4, Belga 3, Rosario 3, Santos 2, Aguilar 2, Tenorio 0, Norwood 0, Thompson 0.

Posted on December 4, 2018 - Mall of Asia Arena

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

UAAP Finals 2018:

Ateneo halts gritty UP Maroons, takes Game 1

December 1, 2018 – Mall of Asia Arena
UAAP Finals 2018: Ateneo halts gritty UP Maroons, takes Game 1
The Ateneo Blue Eagles Logo

UAAP Finals News 2018: Ateneo Blue Eagles halted the gritty UP Maroons, 88-79 to take Game 1 of their Finals showdown in the 2018 UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball this Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena. Matt Nieto paced the Blue Eagles with his 27 markers, while Thirdy Ravena had a triple-double of 21 buckets, 10 caroms and 9 dishes.

Notes:

➤ Tempers flared in the Arena after the collision of imports Angelo Kouame of Ateneo and UP’s Bright Akhuetie in the third quarter. Akhuetie was taken out of the court due to a possible leg injury but surprisingly returned with seven minutes left in the 4th quarter.

Akhuetie helped the University of the Philippines with two free-throws converted, to trail Ateneo with only three points, 68-71. However, the Blue Eagles stepped on the offensive to secure Game 1 in the battle of the Katipunan.

Jun Manzo powered the defeated Maroons with 19 points and 4 rebounds, while star Juan Gomez de Liaño finished with 17 buckets and 8 caroms. Meanwhile, clutch operator Paul Desiderio was limited to just 5 points all game.

UP and Ateneo will resume their Finals tiff on Wednesday, December 5 for Game 2.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 26-18, 39-38, 63-61, 88-79.

ateneo: 88

Nieto Ma. 27, Ravena 21, Kouame 7, Tio 6, Verano 6, Mamuyac 5, Nieto Mi. 4, Asistio 4, Mendoza 3, Wong 3, Go 2, Navarro 0.

up: 79

Manzo 19, Gomez de Liaño Ju. 17, Gomez de Liaño Ja. 11, Akhuetie 10, Dario 9, Desiderio 5, Vito 3, Tungcab 3, Prado 2, Gozum 0, Jaboneta 0, Murrell 0.

Posted on December 2, 2018 - Mall of Asia Arena

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

FIBA World Qualifiers 2018:

Disaster as Gilas falls to lowly Kazakhstan NT

November 30, 2018 – Mall of Asia Arena

FIBA World Qualifiers News 2018: It was a disaster for Philippine basketball as Gilas Pilipinas fell to lowly Kazakhstan NT, 92-88 in the continuation of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers this Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena. The unnerving defeat relegated RP Five to 4th place in Group F and in danger of elimination, losing to a mediocre squad with a four-game losing streak.

Notes:

Stanley Pringle led the losing Gilas with 29 points, while center Junemar Fajardo had 14 points and 13 caroms.

➤ The gamble of Coach Yeng Guiao to utilize an untested roster resulted to the shock loss, with the bigs being unable to defend well in the perimeter. It only highlighted the absence of dominant and mobile big man Andray Blatche, whom Guiao conspicuously left out of the roster. Blatche’s mobility would have given Kazakhstan nightmares. Also absent were Jayson Castro and Troy Rosario who are both serving their FIBA suspensions.

Christian Stanhardinger is also set to replace Pringle as the lone naturalized player in the Pinoy lineup.

➤ Kazakhstan’s Alexander Zhigulin was virtually unstoppable from the three-point territory, converting 6 treys to finish with a total of 30 points, while Anton Bykov added 20 buckets and 9 boards.

➤ The Kazakhstan five is virtually the same squad whom the Pinoys handily beat time and again in countless international tourneys. Worst, they are missing the services of their star player Anton Ponomarev who reportedly begged-off to concentrate in professional basketball.

➤ The Philippine Basketball Team is now tied with Japan NT with identical 5-4 win-loss slate. They must win all their remaining games against Iran, Qatar, and Kazakhstan or risk getting booted out of the qualifiers.

➤ The Filipinos will next battle Iran NT for a do-or-die rematch on Monday, December 3.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 17-18, 40-39, 65-62, 92-88

kazakhstan nt: 92

Zhigulin 30, Bykov 20, Yergali 12, Murzagaliyev 11, Kuanov 8, Bazhin 7, Marchuk 4, Gavrilov 0, Lapchenko 0, Chsherbak 0.

gilas pilipinas: 88

Pringle 29, Fajardo 14, Lassiter 13, Tenorio 8, Norwood 7, Thompson 6, Wright 5, Aguilar 4, Erram 2, Slaughter 0, Belga 0, Cabagnot 0.

Posted on December 1, 2018 - Mall of Asia Arena

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

FIBA World Qualifiers 2018

Guiao names Gilas Final 12 versus Kazakhstan

November 28, 2018

FIBA World Qualifiers News 2018: Coach Yeng Guiao finalized the Gilas Pilipinas Final 12 that will battle Kazakhstan in the fifth window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers this Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena. The Philippines is currently ranked 3rd in the heap with a 5-3 slate, while the Kazakhs are at fifth with a 3-5 record.

Notes:

➤ The Filipinos will not have a legitimate naturalized player as Guiao opted to not include NBA veteran and Gilas mainstay Andray Blatche in the fifth window roster. Blatche is also coming off the suspension sanctioned by FIBA to Gilas players after the infamous RP-Australia brawl.

➤ The magic twelve of Guiao includes PBA behemoths Junemar Fajardo, Greg Slaughter, Poy Erram and Japeth Aguilar. The guard rotation will have Stanley Pringle, LA Tenorio, Alex Cabagnot and Scottie Thompson. Rounding-up the cast will be forwards Gabe Norwood, Matthew Wright, Marcio Lassiter, and Beau Belga.

➤ Out of the final line-up were Jayson Castro and Troy Rosario, both serving FIBA suspensions, and Ricci Rivero, Kai Sotto, Ian Sangalang, Paul Lee, Arwind Santos, and Christian Stanhardinger.

Guiao also stated that Stanhardinger will be the likely naturalized player for the next game against Iran. Pringle and Stanhardinger are considered naturalized due to a FIBA residency ruling despite both being legitimate Filipinos.

➤ The Pinoys are in a must-win situation against Kazakhstan as they are in a precarious third place spot in the qualifiers. A loss may put them behind Qatar or Japan, who are both trailing behind at 4th place. Only the first three qualifiers from Asia will advance to the World Cup 2019.

Posted on November 29, 2018

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

UAAP Final Four 2018:

UP pulls off Adamson shocker, enters Finals

November 28, 2018 – Araneta Coliseum

UAAP Finals 2017: Ateneo draws first blood, defeats DLSU 76-70
The UP Fighting Maroons

UAAP Final Four News 2018: UP Fighting Maroons upset the Adamson Soaring Falcons, 89-87 in overtime to enter the Finals of the 2018 UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball this Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum. Paul Desiderio once again pulled-off a superb clutch performance after hitting the game-winning jumper with 6.6 ticks remaining. He also finished the game with 16 buckets and 11 boards.

Notes:

➤ The University of the Philippines gatecrashed the UAAP Finals after missing the party for 32 long years. They also beat a shoo-in Adamson squad, expected to be the strongest challenge to Ateneo for the championship plum. The stunning victory proved the mettle of the Maroons, who were coming off the biggest of upsets by eliminating the DLSU Green Archers.

Juan Gomez de Llano led UP with his career-high 30 markers and 6 caroms, while import Bright Akhuetie made 13 points.

➤ The Maroons were trailing Adamson, 84-78 in overtime, but UP kept on knocking at the door as an Akhuetie conversion tied the game at 84. The rest is history as mythical Desiderio delivered in crunchtime five clutch points to seal the momentous win for UP.

Jerrick Ahanmisi backstopped the losing Falcons with 20 points and 3 rebounds, while Jerom Lastimosa chimed in 17 buckets and 7 boards. Meanwhile, Sean Manganti was a disappointment this time around as he only registered 6 points the whole game.

➤ The Fighting Maroons will next battle the Ateneo Blue Eagles for Game 1 of the UAAP best-of-three Finals at the Mall of Asia Arena this Saturday, December 1.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 26-16, 51-42, 64-67, 78-78, 89-87.

up: 89

Gomez de Liaño Ju. 30, Desiderio 16, Akhuetie 13, Gomez de Liaño Ja. 8, Prado 6, Tungcab 6, Dario 5, Manzo 4, Jaboneta 1, Vito 0, Lim 0.

adamson: 87

Ahanmisi 20, Lastimosa 17, Sarr 16, Camacho 10, Pingoy 7, Magbuhos V. 6, Manganti 6, Mojica 2, Espeleta 2, Bernardo 1.

Posted on November 29, 2018 - Araneta Coliseum

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

Philippine Basketball 2018:

Lebanon overpowers Gilas, 71-60

November 25, 2018 – Meralco Gym

Philippine Basketball News 2018: Lebanon national team overpowered Gilas Pilipinas, 71-60 once again to leave the Filipinos win-less in their tuneup games against the Western Asian power as buildup for the FIBA World Qualifiers at the Meralco Gym this Sunday.

Notes:

Pilipinas ended its’ campaign with a 1-3 win-loss record, absorbing two losses against the Lebanese while breaking even with the Jordanians.

RP Five will face Kazakhstan this Friday, November 30 at the Mall of Asia Arena in continuation of their FIBA World Qualifiers series.

Posted on November 25, 2018 - Meralco Gym

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

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