PBA 2008-2009 season

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ROOKIES STAR IN RAIN OR SHINE STUNNER OVER PUREFOODS
Norwood, Mercado lead Elasto Painters’ charge
Friday, 26 September 2008

Rookies Gabe Norwood and Solomon Mercado gave Rain or Shine something positive to look forward to in its third PBA season.

The Elasto Painters showed remarkable improvement since their 77-90 loss to the Alaska Aces last week, with Norwood and Mercado appearing to be in their comfort zone and blending well with their teammates with a week to go before the league's 34th season commences.

Mercado, a smart guard with a decent perimeter shooting, scored 14 points while Norwood, a former RP Team member with a penchant for electrifying slams, provided the leadership that the team sorely lacked the past two seasons to power the Elasto Painters to a stunning 86-72 victory over defending champion Purefoods TJ Hotdogs Thursday in the PBA Pre-Season tournament at the Rizal Technological University.

But they are not the only standout performers.

Rain or Shine also got big games from backups Allan Salansang (19 points) and Mark Andaya (10 points, 10 rebounds), who practically outplayed Purefoods' star forward Enrico Villanueva in a game the Elasto Painters completely dominated.

The Elasto Painters broke a close game open in the second quarter by outscoring the Giants, 29-15, starring Norwood and Salansang. Rain or Shine posted its biggest lead at 15 points several times.

In a display of awesome marksmanship, Salansang, a reliable role player with a nifty touch from long range, knocked 5-of-8 3s while Eddie Laure went 3-for-7 as Rain or Shine kept the Giants at bay with impeccable long range shooting and even its record at 1-1 in Group A. Purefoods closed out its campaign with a 1-2 mark.

June Simon scored 23 points and Kerby Raymundo had 22 and 20 rebounds but couldn't save the day for the Giants, who were without their injured superstar James Yap.

Purefoods made the game exciting midway in the third quarter when Simon knocked a three and hit a 12-foot jumper to pull the Giants within 48-51 but the defending champions came up short.

Rain or Shine closes out its campaign against a depleted Ginebra team on Saturday with another victory landing them in Sunday's Finals against the top team from Group B. (DBC)

The scores:

Rain or Shine 86 – Salansang 19, Mercado 14, Laure 10, Andaya 10, Norwood 8, Ibanes 7, Tang 6, Reyes 4, Isip 4, Wainwright 2, Dulay 2, Ejercito 0, Lopez 0.

Purefoods 72 – Simon 23, Raymundo 22, Villanueva 10, Aban 6, Salvador 5, Yap 4, Fernandez 2, Belga 0, Robinson 0, Alonzo 0.

Quarters: 14-15; 43-30; 61-51; 86-72.

[vanguard]

Here's the schedule for the PBA 2008-09 season openers

Philippine Basketball Association: Talk N Text and Coca Cola to collide in PBA 2008-09 season opener

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SAN MIGUEL TRIPS COCA-COLA, SWEEPS GROUP B
Big men sparkle as Beermen prime up for 2008-09 wars
Saturday, 27 September 2008

Dorian Pena scattered 21 points to power the San Miguel Beermen past the Coca-Cola Tigers, 96-92, Friday night in the PBA Pre-Season Tournament at the Olivarez Gym in Paranaque.

Jay Washington scored 19 points and Mick Pennisi added 11, going 3-of-7 from 3-point range for the Beermen, predicted by jaded observers as strong title contenders this season with their size and bench depth.



By topping Group B (2-0 record), San Miguel advance to Sunday's championship game of this mini tournament serving as tune-up for the league's 34th season that commences on October 4.

The Beermen seized control early but needed a strong finishing kick to hold off a last ditch rally by the Tigers (0-2).

Danny Seigle, SMB's scoring leader, was banished from the game three minutes into the second half following a nasty foul on R.J. Rizada that cost him a flagrant foul penalty 2.

Asi Taulava poured 19 points and Mark Telan turned in a double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds) for the Tigers, who appeared to still be a work in progress with the 34th season barely a week away.

"I've always been asked about our readiness. My standard reply is "this is all we've got"," said Coca-Cola coach Binky Favis, referring to his lineup that has no big name player other than Taulava.

"If we work hard and play our best every night good things might happen."

The Tigers, who trailed by as many as 15 points several times, pulled within 90-92 with 1:08 remaining but Mike Cortez and Dondon Hontiveros each hit a free throw before Washington sealed it with a putback in the closing seconds. (DBC)

The scores:

SMB 96 – Pena 21, Washington 19, Pennisi 11, Cortez 8, Seigle 7, Calaguio 6, Bono 6, Gonzales 5, Hontiveros 5, Pingris 4, Custodio 2, Racaela 2, Villanueva 1.

Coca-Cola 92 – Taulava 19, Cabagnot 17, Buenafe 14, Belasco 12, Telan 10, Arigo 9, Rizada 5, Calimag 3, Baguion 3, Dimaunahan 0.

Quarters: 26-17; 50-34; 73-68; 96-92.

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Red Bull elated over Yeng’s choice

“IT’S long overdue. He deserves it and we’re proud and happy!”

Thus said Red Bull Barako team owner George Chua of the appointment of veteran bench tactician Joseller “Yeng” Guiao as national team coach by the Philippine Basketball Association last Thursday.

The 49-year-old Guiao, incumbent Pampanga vice governor who served as assistant coach of Derek Pumaren in the 1989 ABC championship in Beijing, China, succeeded Talk ‘N Text mentor Chot Reyes, who piloted the Philippines to a ninth place finish in the FIBA-Asia tournament last year in Fukushima, Japan.

“It’s a big sacrifice on our part knowing that Yeng (Guiao) may not be able to devote his full time to our team, but we’re nevertheless elated because he’s going to perform his job in the interest of Philippine basketball,” noted Chua.

Chua credited Guiao as the “architect of the Red Bull team’s rise to fame and competitiveness in the PBA.” “As a matter of fact, Yeng’s mental toughness which he has imparted to his boys has contributed immensely to Red Bull’s popularity and emergence as the market leader in the (country’s) energy drink field.”

In the past nine years, Guiao has steered Red Bull to seven consecutive semifinal appearances in eight conferences on top of winning three import-laden tournaments, including back-to-back in 2001 and 2002.

The Barakos also finished second twice and third four times. Despite the departure of most of its key players through trades, Red Bull still managed to rank third in the just-concluded Fiesta Conference won by the Ginebra Gin Kings.

For his part, Guiao said “there is no other greater achievement than to represent your country in our chosen field, which is basketball.”

Guiao is the sixth bench strategist to be named coach of a PBA-backed national team after Robert Jaworski Sr. (1990 Asian Games), Norman Black (1994 Hiroshima Asian Games), Tim Cone (199, Jong Uichico (2002) and Reyes (2007 FIBA-Asia men’s championship).

“Having worked with him since our entry into the PBA almost a decade ago, we’re confident that Yeng would be able to form the right mixture of players in the country’s desire to regain our old glory in the international basketball field,” added Chua.

[christ1an]

The scores:

Rain or Shine 86 – Salansang 19, Mercado 14, Laure 10, Andaya 10, Norwood 8, Ibanes 7, Tang 6, Reyes 4, Isip 4, Wainwright 2, Dulay 2, Ejercito 0, Lopez 0.

Purefoods 72 – Simon 23, Raymundo 22, Villanueva 10, Aban 6, Salvador 5, Yap 4, Fernandez 2, Belga 0, Robinson 0, Alonzo 0.

Quarters: 14-15; 43-30; 61-51; 86-72.

Si Gherome Ejercito naa sa Rain or shine? na banhaw diay ni siya hehehe

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Si Gherome Ejercito naa sa Rain or shine? na banhaw diay ni siya hehehe

im not sure bro... wala pa sad ko kita sa final line up sa smb...

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Elasto Painters beat Gin Kings
The Daily Tribune
09/29/2008

Solomon Mercado and Gabe Norwood gave a hint of what to expect in the coming PBA season as they combined for 28 points and six steals to power Rain or Shine to a 69-64 win over Barangay Ginebra in a pre-season game Saturday at the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Gym in Cavity City.

It was the second win in three games in Group A for the Elasto Painters.

The Elasto Painters survived a fourth quarter meltdown by racking up 12 straight points that took away the momentum from the charging Kings, who wound up their stint in this two-week tournament without a win in three outings.

Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia said he is pleased with the result of their last two games but readily confessed “we still need more jelling and consistency.”

The Elasto Painters open their campaign in the league’s 34th season on Oct 5 against Air 21, runner-up in last season’s Fiesta Conference, and the mild mannered Garcia is optimistic his troops will be in “good shape as long as they know their roles.”

After falling behind by as many as 15 points in the second quarter, the Kings picked up their rhythm in the third period enabling them to get back in the game.

The scored see-sawed in the fourth quarter and the Kings appeared to have seized momentum when Berne Franco scored off a Willie Wilson pass for a 59-57 lead with 5:27 to go.

But the Kings couldn’t hang on.

The two teams traded turnovers before Mercado (15 points, 3 steals) hit a penalty free throw and Rob Wainright (11 points, 7 rebounds), who supplanted Norwood (13 points, 3 steals), buried a huge three that brought the Elasto Painters back on top and highlight the team’s decisive 12-0 run.

Chris Pacana had 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting but he was the only player in double figures among the Kings, who shot just 36 percent from the field.

[vanguard]

Barrios revives talks about PBA-owned coliseum

PBA Commissioner Sonny Barrios has revived talks on the construction of the ‘home’ of Asia’s first pay-for-play league and identified two probable venues.

Though nothing is final yet for the proposed construction of a coliseum, Barrios said he is considering the reclamation area near the Mall of Asia in Pasay City or a prime lot along the MRT (Metro Rail Transit) line in EDSA as two of the best sites for the pro league.

Full Story

[digitalsuperman]

guys...

i love this video.... try

YouTube - PBA on CS Sports

PBA RULEZ

damn..that video is awesome...

excited na au ko next season..i'll root for TNT... weeeh!