PBA 2018:

Phoenix gains twice-to-beat, defeats Blackwater, 97-91

November 4, 2018 – Araneta Coliseum

PBA News 2018: Phoenix Fuel Masters gained the twice-to-beat edge, by defeating the Blackwater Elite, 97-91 to barge into 2018 PBA Governors’s Cup quarterfinals this Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum. “The Beast” Calvin Abueva showed his mettle by dropping 25 big points and 8 boards for Phoenix while sniper Matthew Wright contributed 23 buckets and 7 caroms.

Notes:

➤ Reinforcement Eugene Phelps also added 16 markers and 6 dimes for the Fuel Masters.

➤ The Fuel Masters outrebounded the Elite, 64 against 50 boards total.

➤ Import Henry Walker led the losing Elite with 21 buckets and 12 rebounds while Nard Pinto registered 17 points and 10 dimes.

Blackwater lost the chance to gain the twice-to-beat advantage and will face a dangerous Magnolia squad in the quarterfinals.

➤ On the other hand, Phoenix ended the eliminations with an 8-3 slate and secured the 2nd place in the quarterfinals behind league leader Ginebra. They are bound to campaign in the playoffs against a yet to be determined 7th place team.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 21-18, 44-48, 72-69, 97-91.

phoenix: 97

Abueva 25, Wright 23, Phelps 16, Revilla 11, Perkins 9, Chua 4, Jazul 4, Intal 3, Alolino 1, Wilson 1, Kramer 0.

blackwater: 91

Walker 21, Pinto 17, Zamar 12, Belo 10, Maliksi 9, Erram 9, Digregorio 7, Al-Hussaini 4, Jose 0, Sumang 0, Javier 2, Cortez 0.

Posted on November 5, 2018 - Araneta Coliseum

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

PBA 2018:

Ginebra slips past Phoenix, 101-99

September 29, 2018 – Xavier University Gym

PBA News 2018: Barangay Ginebra slipped past the Phoenix Fuel Masters, 101-99, in the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup this Saturday at the Xavier University Gym in Cagayan de Oro City. Celebrated import Justin Brownlee helped the Gin Kings salvage the game late with his 34 points and 15 rebounds, while Joe Devance also added 15 markers and 4 boards.

Notes:

Scottie Thompson also posted stellar numbers for the Gin Kings with his 12 buckets and 14 caroms, while LA Tenorio chipped-in 10 points and 5 assists.

➤ It was a seesaw battle as there were several lead changes up until 8:19 in the 4th with Phoenix leading 87-85, but Ginebra broke out in clutch time to snatch the victory. Phoenix had a chance to win the game later with 10 ticks left and Barangay Ginebra leading with two, 101-99, but Matthew Wright lost the ball to Brownlee.

Wright led Phoenix with his 27 buckets and 4 rebounds, while Eugune Phelps was limited to 23 points and 13 boards. Calvin Abueva and Jason Perkins also registered vital numbers and scored 17 and 13 points apiece.

➤ The Gin Kings did not have injured stars Greg Slaughter, Japeth Aguilar, and Sol Mercado.

➤ Ginebra is now the league leader in the 2018 Governors’ Cup as they surged to 5-1 while bumping-off the Fuel Masters who dropped to a 5-2 win-loss slate.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 23-23, 43-41, 68-61, 92-90.

GINEBRA: 101

Brownlee 34, Devance 15, Thompson 12, Tenorio 10, Ferrer 8, Caperal 8, Mariano 6, Chan 4, Caguioa 4.

PHOENIX: 99

Wright 27, Phelps 23, Abueva 17, Perkins 13, Jazul 6, Chua 5, Intal 4, Alolino 2, Wilson 2, Revilla 0.

Posted September 30, 2018 - Xavier University Gym, Cagayan de Oro

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

PBA 2018:

Phoenix cracks Magnolia Hotshots, 95-82

September 23, 2018 – Araneta Coliseum

PBA News 2018: Phoenix Fuel Masters cracked the Magnolia Hotshots, 95-82, in the ongoing in the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup this Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum. Import Eugene Phelps led the Fuel Masters with his double-double 36 markers and 20 boards, while gunner Matthew Wright added 13 points.

Notes:

Phoenix imposed a towering defensive umbrella as they made 11 block shots compared to the Hotshots’ 2 swats. They also shot better from the field with 33 of 71 field goals made (46%), while Magnolia had 29 of 90 (32%) clip.

➤ Reinforcement Romeo Travis paced the losing Magnolia with 28 points and 19 rebounds, while Ian Sangalang, Jio Jalalon, and Mark Barroca all finished with identical 11 points.

➤ Phoenix is now 2nd in the Governors’ Cup standings at 5-1, while Magnolia suffered it’s lone loss and dropped to a 2-1 slate.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 30-19, 48-48, 71-67, 95-82.

phoenix: 95

Travis 28, Jalalon 11, Barroca 11, Sangalang 11, Lee 8, Ramos 6, Dela Rosa 3, Gamalinda 2, Melton 2, Herndon 0, Pascual 0, Reavis 0, Brondial 0.

magnolia: 82

Phelps 36, Wright 13, Chua 12, Jazul 9, Revilla 9, Abueva 9, Perkins 7, Wilson 0, Intal 0.

Posted on September 24, 2018 - Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

Asian Qualifiers 2018:

Gilas survives trey barrage, decks Qatar NT, 92-81

September 17, 2018 – Araneta Coliseum

Asian Qualifiers 2018 News: Gilas Pilipinas survived a first-half scare as it defeated a determined Qatar NT in the FIBA World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers this Monday evening at the Araneta Coliseum. Japeth Aguilar led the Gilas fightback with his 16 points and 8 rebounds, while Alex Cabagnot made-up for his lackluster performance in his game against Iran, and ended-up with 16 markers as well.

Notes:

Stanley Pringle also contributed 13 points for Gilas Pilipinas, while “Big” Beau Belga chipped-in 11 points.

➤ Pilipinas outrebounded Qatar as they hauled 54 caroms to 40, while also maximizing bench scoring at 66 to 8.

➤ Qatar NT led by as much 17 points in the first half, 20-37, as they shot an unbelievable 7 of 13 (54%) three-point shooting barrage. The Filipinos turned the tide in the third quarter as they wrestled the lead 59-58, courtesy of a 20-6 run, as they made crucial defensive stops to stifle the pesky Qataris.

➤The Filipinos played minus their home-crowd as they are serving their first game of two suspensions to play home games without an audience. FIBA served the penalty due to the infamous Australia-Philippines brawl last July in Bulacan’s Philippine Arena.

➤ The losing Qataris were led by big man Mohd Yousuf Mohammed who scored 26 points and 7 rebounds, while Tanguy Ngombo and Nasser Al-Reyes both finished with 17 buckets.

Aguilar and Matthew Wright replaced Allein Maliksi and Raymond Almazan for the Qatar joust, while Pringle was chosen as the naturalized player instead of Christian Stanhardinger for this game.

Greg Slaughter did not suit-up due to his ankle injury.

➤ The Philippine basketball team will next face Kazakhstan NT on November 30 to continue their Asian Qualifiers joruney.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 15-26, 39-52, 67-64, 92-81.

gilas pilipinas: 92

Aguilar 16, Cabagnot 16, Pringle 13, Belga 11, Lee 8, Wright 6, Sangalang 5, Lassiter 5, Erram 4, Taulava 3, Thompson 3, Norwood 2.

qatar nt: 81

Mohammed Mohd 26, Ngombo 17, Al-Rayes 17, Khalid 10, Mohammed Hassan 4, Gueye 3, Abdelbaset 3, Abdelhaleem 1, Lashin 0, Avdic 0.

Posted on September 18, 2018 - Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

Asian Qualifiers:

Gilas Pilipinas stumbles to Iran NT

September 13, 2018 – Tehran

Philippine Basketball News 2018: Gilas Pilipinas failed to conquer the Iran NT which played almost the entire game without Hamed Haddadi this Thursday in the FIBA World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers in Tehran. Gilas threw away the impeccable game of Christian Stanhardinger who dropped 30 points and 12 rebounds. He was nearly unstoppable inside the paint against Iran’s other bigs.

Notes:

➤ Veteran gunner Samad Nikkah Bahrami hit clutch baskets and finished with 21 markers and 8 boards to lead Iran with an 81-73 win, while quick guard Sajjad Mashayekhi contributed 19 buckets and 4 dimes.

Haddadi did not play the whole three quarters, except in the fourth with 56 seconds left, when they were away big and assured of a victory. It was reported that Haddadi was actually nursing a groin injury.

➤ The Filipinos fought tooth and nail against the Iranians up until the final three minutes when Iran registered an 11 point lead, 77-66, courtesy of Bahrami dagger shots.

➤ Gilas failed to capitalize on the absence of Haddadi on the floor as they shot a dismal 5 of 28 (17.9%) clip from the rainbow country. Both Alex Cabagnot and Marcio Lassiter shot a woeful 1 of 7 threes from the arc, while Paul Lee Dalistan shot blanks on 0 of 2 treys.

➤ The game also got physical on two instances as Beau Belga was hit in the kisser with an elbow by Bahrami, and later a bloodied Lassiter was clipped in the face by Arsalan Kazemi.

➤ The Philippine basketball team is in a must-win situation against Qatar NT this Monday, September 17 at the Araneta Coliseum.

➤ Gilas is now third (4-3) in their FIBA grouping followed by Japan and Kazakhstan who are at 4th with a 3-4 slate. Only the top three from Group F will go ahead to play in the upcoming FIBA World Cup 2019 in China.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 21-22, 40-38, 63-59, 81-73.

iran: 81

Bahrami 21, Mashayekhi 19, Kazemi 11, Arghavan 8, Yakhchali 7, Jamshidi 6, Mirza 5, Hassanzadeh 4, Davoudichegani 0, Haddadi 0, Mozafarivanani 0.

GILAS PILIPINAS: 73

Standhardinger 30, Cabagnot 9, Belga 7, Lee 6, Thompson 5, Almazan 5, Lassiter 4, Taulava 3, Norwood 2, Sangalang 2, Maliksi 0, Erram 0.

Posted on September 14, 2018 - Tehran

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

Philippine Basketball:

Gilas Pilipinas chooses Stanhardinger over injured Slaughter

September 12, 2018 – Manila Time

Philippine Basketball News 2018: Gilas Pilipinas will battle Iran NT in the fourth window of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers tomorrow Thursday (September 13) sans injured Greg Slaughter and Stanley Pringle. Coach Yeng Guiao chose to field-in Christian Stanhardinger as the naturalized player to have a better match-up against Iran led by behemoth Hamed Haddadi at center position.

Notes:

Slaughter had the greenlight of FIBA to play as local, but his ankle injury sustained from his last game with Barangay Ginebra in the PBA, sidelined him from practicing with the Gilas’ crew. It was questionable if he could play at 100% against Haddadi given his injury.

Pringle would have also been a shoo-in in the line-up but being restricted as a naturalized player meant that it was either him or Stanhardinger who will be chosen for the post.

➤ Also cut from the line-up were Japeth Aguilar and Matthew Wright, who are both serving a one-game FIBA suspension.

➤ The final line-up includes Stanhardinger, Poy Erram, Asi Taulava, Beau Belga, Raymond Almazan, Ian Sangalang, Allein Maliksi, Alex Cabagnot, Scottie Thompson, Paul Lee, Gabe Norwood and Marcio Lassiter.

➤ SBP president Al Panlilio announced the final roster this Wednesday morning.

➤ After the game against Iran, Gilas will then face Qatar on September 17 in a closed-door matchup at the Araneta Coliseum.

Posted September 12, 2018 - Manila Time

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

Pilipinas Basketball 2018:

Australia Boomers stops Gilas Pilipinas, 84-68

February 23, 2018 – Margaret Court Arena

Australia Boomers stops Gilas Pilipinas, 84-68

photo courtesy of FIBA

FIBA Asian Qualifiers 2019 World Cup News: Gilas Pilipinas failed to sustain an early first-half blitzkrieg as it fell to the towering Australia Boomers, 68-84, in the FIBA Asian Qualifiers for the 2019 World Cup yesterday Thursday at the Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne. Hot shooting Cameron Gliddon paced the Boomers with 16 points, while scrappy forward Mitch Creek contributed 12 markers and 11 caroms.

Notes:

Pilipinas Basketball is now down to a 2-1 win-loss slate in the continuing second window of the qualifiers.

Philippine Basketball Team held on to a proud 30-25 lead midway the second canto but the Boomers from the land down under answered with a fiery 12-2 run, catapulted by Nick Kay’s double treys, giving them the 37-32 lead before the half-time break.

➤ Australia continually pounded the hapless RP Five from the rainbow country as they built an insurmountable 18 point lead in the fourth quarter, 77-59.

➤ Gilas made a dismal showing in the free throw line as they missed 12 of 19 foul throws. Their field-goal percentage of 43.8 was hardly a factor throughout the ballgame as they also trailed in the rebounds department where the Aussies massacred them 50 to 30.

“The Kraken” June Mar Fajardo led the losing Filipinos with 15 buckets, while Matthew Wright added 9 goals. Naturalized player Andray Blatche ran out of steam as he only managed to drop 8 points and 7 rebounds in 25 minutes.

Gilas Pilipinas will next face rival Japan NT (Akatsuki Five) on February 25 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

➤ Filipino: FIBA Asian Qualifiers 2019 World Cup Balita • Hindi umubra ang paunang bulusok ng Gilas Pilipinas matapos itong pabagsakin ng Australia Boomers, 68-84, sa FIBA Asian Qualifiers para sa 2019 World Cup kahapon ng Huwebes sa Margaret Court Arena sa Melbourne. Tumikada para sa Boomers si Cameron Gliddon sa kanyang16 puntos, maging ang forward na si Mitch Creek ay nagtala ng 12 buslo at 11 rebounds.

Game Scores:
Quarters: 19-19, 37-32, 63-49, 84-68.

australia boomers: 84

Gliddon 16, Brandt 13, Creek 12, Lisch 12, Kay 7, Hodgson 6, Kickert 5, Norton 4, Wagstaff 4, Cadee 2, Sobey 2, McCarron 1.

gilas pilipinas: 68

Fajardo 15, Wright 9, Blatche 8, Pogoy 8, Norwood 7, Ravena 6, Alas 6, Abueva 5, Aguilar 2, Tratter 2, Cruz 0, Malicsi 0.

Posted on February 23, 2018 - Margaret Court Arena - Melbourne

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

Pilipinas Basketball 2018:

Castro propels Gilas Pilipinas over Japan NT, 77-71

November 24, 2017 – Komazawa Olympic Park

Castro propels Gilas Pilipinas over Japan NT, 77-71
photo courtesy of FIBA
FIBA World Qualifiers 2017 News: Jayson Castro William’s all-game heroics lifted Gilas Pilipinas over a game Japan NT, 77-71, to register a win in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers 2017 at the Komazawa Olympic Park in Tokyo this Friday. Castro spearheaded Pilipinas Basketball with 20 big points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists, while Andray Blatche chimed-in 13 buckets and 12 caroms for RP Five.

Notes:

➤ Asia’s two-time best point guard “The Blur” Castro-William, stabilized RP squad as the Japanese home-team mounted several uprisings. Jayson made Japan bleed making 5 out of the last 7 crucial points of Gilas in the final minute, especially the dagger trey at 1:14 remaining.

➤ Gilas Pilipinas led for most of the entire ballgame but Japan’s Akatsuki Five stayed uncomfortably close. Gilas built a large 14-point lead in the second quarter, 24-10, following Kiefer Ravena’s foul throw. The Japanese rallied back with a 12-0 blast in the third to pull ahead, 37-40, until the Filipino dribblers answered with their own 10-3 run to wrest back the lead, 53-46.

➤ Four Filipinos scored in double digits with Castro and Blatche leading with 20 and 13, while Matthew Wright had 12 and Gabe Norwood with 10.

➤ Japan ace Makoto Hiejima led the Nippon charge with huge 20 points and 5 rebounds, while naturalized Ira Brown contributed 10 buckets and 15 boards as well.

➤ Pilipinas Basketball will next face Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) this Monday, November 27 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Filipino: FIBA World Qualifiers 2017 Balita • Namayani si Jayson Castro William upang iangat ang Gilas Pilipinas kontra sa Japan NT, 77-71, at itala ang unang tagumpay nito sa FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers 2017 sa Komazawa Olympic Park in Tokyo ngayon Biyernes. Nanguna si Castro para sa Pilipinas Basketball sa kanyang 20 puntos, 7 rebounds at 6 na pasa, maging si Andray Blatche ay nag-ambag ng 13 buslo at 12 rebounds para sa koponang pambansa.
Game Scores:
Quarters: 18-10, 37-28, 59-55, 77-71.

gilas pilipinas: 77

Castro William 20, Blatche 13, Wright 12, Norwood 10, Fajardo 6, Aguilar 5, Abueva 5, Pogoy 5, Ravena 1, Alas 0, Rosario 0.

japan: 71

Hiejima 20, Brown 10, Tanaka 10, Togashi 8, Baba 7, Harimoto 7, Shinoyama 4, J. Takeuchi 3, Ota 2, Furukawa 0, Uto 0.

Posted on November 24, 2017 - Komazawa Olympic Park - Tokyo

Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team

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