PBA 2008-2009 season

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Uichico worried about guard-rich teams

With the way teams have been stacking up their rosters in this short off-season, Barangay Ginebra coach Jong Uichico feels that the advantage his team had is now a thing of the past.

Philippine Basketball Association: Uichico worried about guard-rich teams

[skadiboy]

Yap, Taulava PBA top gun, rebound king - philstar

Purefoods’ James Yap ran away with the scoring honors, Coca-Cola’s Asi Taulava reigned as the rebounding king and Ginebra’s Jayjay Helterbrand emerged No. 1 in assists in the 2007-08 PBA season.

Sta. Lucia’s Ryan Reyes, Air21’s Arwind Santos, Alaska’s Sonny Thoss, Red Bull’s Mike Hrabak and Coca-Cola’s Mark Macapagal also topped different statistical departments in the season highlighted by the title conquests of the Sta. Lucia Realtors and the Barangay Ginebra Kings.

The stats races turned out to be as close as the battles for both the Philippine Cup and the Fiesta Conference titles.

Yap ended Mark Caguioa’s two-year reign as scoring champion as the 2006 MVP winner averaged 21.32 points a game to edge two-time MVP awardee Willie Miller, who normed 20.67 an outing.

Rounding out the top 10 scorers were Caguioa (19.82), Kelly Williams (18.23), Helterbrand (18.11), Cyrus Baguio (18.02), Macmac Cardona (16.89), Santos (16.33), Danny Seigle (15.39) and Gary David (15.33).

Yap became only the second Purefoods player to emerge scoring champion after Alvin Patrimonio who was No. 1 in 1992, 1993 and 1998. The former UE Warrior continued to improve his norm after averaging only 12.5 points in his rookie year, 17.6 the following season and 19.7 in his junior season as a pro.

Taulava and Helterbrand retained their crowns as rebounding and assists kings, respectively, with the Coca-Cola behemoth averaging 12.51 boards a game and the Ginebra playmaker dishing off 6.5 assists per contest.

Williams (10.73), Nic Belasco (10.35), Santos (9.56) and Kerby Raymundo (9.2) also shone in rebounds while Jimmy Alapag (5.9), Wynne Arboleda (4., Alex Cabagnot (4.5) and LA Tenorio (4.5) ranked next to Helterbrand in assists.

Reyes was No. 1 in steals, Santos in shot blocks, Thoss in overall field-goal shooting percentage, Hrabak in three-point accuracy and Macapagal in charities.

Reyes, the Rookie of the Year awardee, came through with 2.1 steals a game, besting Arboleda, two-time champion in this department, who was relegated to second with 1.6 an outing.

Topex Robinson and Dondon Hontiveros third for third with 1.3 per game then Baguio at fifth with 1.2 per contest.

Santos was No.1 in shot blocks with an average of 1.45 as against the 1.43 of Ali Peek, 1.29 of Hrabak, 1.13 of Marlou Aquino and 1.03 of Marc Pingris.

Hrabak was the best in three-point shooting, hitting at a 42.92-percent clip per game but Thoss was No. 1 in overall field-goal shooting accuracy, converting 53.87 percent of his shots per contest.

Tops in free throw shooting were Macapagal (82.42 percent), Ronjay Buenafe (81.5, Lordy Tugade (81.33), David (81.25) and Yap (81.16).

The most erratic player, however, was Macmac Cardona with 3.75 errors a game, followed by JayR Reyes (3.3, Raymundo (3.3, Miller (3.26) and Arboleda (3.24).

[vanguard]

Check your local listings for PBA out of town games for the Philippine Cup.

Read here

Singapore Slingers sad, angry over Jason Castro's abrupt departure

Read here

[skadiboy]

Singapore Slingers
The first few games of their new season are listed on their website.

Wed 17 Sept vs Air 21 (Philippines)

Sun 21 Sept vs Air 21 (Philippines)

Tues 30 Sept vs Purefoods (Philippines)

Sun 5 Oct vs Sydney Spirit (Australia)

Sun 12 Oct vs Beijing Asohen (China)


@ makaduwa kaha si jason castro ani?

[skadiboy]

Aces stumble against KT&G of South Korea
Sunday, September 14, 2008 · News



The Alaska Aces lost their first off-season practice game - after impressive victories over LG Dios of South Korea and the Talk N Text Phone Pals - when they bowed to the KT&G Kites also of South Korea, 97-104, at The Arena in San Juan.

Former Purefoods import 6-foot-8 Marquin Chandler exploded a game-high 34 points as he teamed up with fellow import 6-foot-8 Calvin Warner, who finished with 16 points, to power the Kites to victory. KT&G shooter Yu Hee Jong tallied 16 points.

Alaska big man Sonny Thoss, unfazed by double-post presence of Chandler and Warner, powered his way to a team-high 19 points. The former Blue Eagles pair of LA Tenorio and Larry Fonacier scored 14 points apiece while Joe Devance continued to impress with 12 markers.

Willie Miller could not get into any kind of groove and finished with only eight points. John Ferriols, who got more minutes in this game as the substitute of Devance at the power forward position, acquitted himself well with eight points.

Ferriols almost knocked loose the front teeth of Yu Hee Jong late in the fourth period. As the veteran big man drove inside he was fouled hard by the South Korean. Probably believing that the foul was unnecessarily violent Ferriols continued with his shooting motion and hit the South Korean on the mouth with his elbow.

Ferriols could have been called for a personal foul for second motion, but the referees opted to let the offense slide. As he stepped on the free throw line Yu Hee Jong came over to tap Ferriols on the back.

The South Koreans led wire-to-wire.

With 18 seconds to go in the third period Tenorio dribbled away the time then scooted inside for a layup attempt which he missed. Devance however followed in the wake of Tenorio and converted a follow up attempt to cut the KT&G lead to only eight points, 70-78, after the third period.

The Aces came tantalizingly close to snatching the lead coming to within three points of the South Korea advantage, 90-93, late in the fourth period. But Warner, Chandler and Yu Hee Jong scored the critical baskets to power their team to victory.

The Koreans outscored the Aces 11 points to seven to coast to victory.

Jeff Cariaso and Reynel Hugnatan each scored seven points while Tony Dela Cruz chipped in four points. Ervin Sotto did not score a single point.

JR Quinahan, Ariel Capus, Poch Juinio and Eric Canlas were suited up on the bench but did not see action.

Alaska rookie draftee Kevin Dela Pena, who is still a member of the Mapua Institute of Technology Cardinals in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, watched from the sidelines in street clothes.


http://www.alaskaaces.com.ph/aces-st....html#more-453
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Siot Tanquincen does not consider SMB as "extra strong"

Philippine Basketball Association: Siot Tanquincen doesn't buy the idea that SMB is extra strong

What Tanquincen haven't realized is that SMB will never be extra strong as long as he's calling the shots.

Johnny Abarrientos still wants to play

Philippine Basketball Association: Abarrientos wants to play

Kenneth Duremdes has already expressed his interest in still playing. If both players make it to their respective team's rosters, then they'll join Olsen Racela as the league's seniors. Abarrientos and Racela both entered the PBA in 1993 while Duremdes in 1995.

[ManWhore]

Si Racela na lang diay ang pinaka-karaan nga active player karon sa PBA

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Lots of good news in the PBA lately

Jason Castro will play for Talk 'N Taxt.. confirmed

Philippine Basketball Association: I will play for Talk 'N Text -- Jason Castro

Rommel Adducul is back after battling cancer

Philippine Basketball Association: Adducul back after battling cancer

Purefoods wins a game in Qatar, a first for any Filipino team

Philippine Basketball Association: Purefoods makes history at Qatar

Updated PBA rosters for 2008-09 season (as of Sept. 17, 200

http://pbanews.blogspot.com/2008/09/...pdated-as.html

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Alaska defeats Rain or Shine, 90-77, in a game which had teams involved in a big trade earlier after the draft. Former Welcoat Dragon Joe Devance led Alaska with 15 points while former Alaska Ace Eddie Laure led Rain or Shine with 15 points of his own. Number 1 pick overall Gabe Norwood finished with 13 points while fellow rookie Solomon Mercado added 12 for Rain or Shine.

For more PBA news: Click here

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Air21 lost badly to the Singapore Slingers, 124-86, in a game which saw Homer Se getting ejected. The Slingers signed Filipino Al Vergara as it's starting PG replacing Jason Castro who decided to play in the PBA.