PBA 2008-2009 season

[vanguard]

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PBA's team by team statistical leaders. Asi Taulava, Kelly Williams, Jay Washington, Gabby Espinas, and Jay-R Reyes all led their teams in both points and rebounds. Mark Cardona leads everybody in scoring while Taulava tops the rebounding department.

PBA team by team statistical leaders (as of Dec. 7, 200

[st.anger]

TALK ‘N TEXT STRETCHES WIN STREAK TO 3
Cardona, Castro banner Tropang Texters against skidding Coke Tigers
Sunday, 07 December 2008

MAC-Mac Cardona would not let himself be outshone by another player with as hot a pair of shooting hands.

Cardona proved that by leading Talk ‘N Text to a fiery windup for a 90-82 repeat win over Coca-Cola Sunday in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.



Cardona wound up with a team-high 29 points and three other Tropang Texters had at least 10 points each as they dominated the Tigers from the second quarter on, posting as much as two 17-point leads.

Behind the hot-shooting Mark Macapagal, who finished with a career-high 31 points, Coke was able to trim the gap to 56-59 in the third period and was still within a very manageable 77-81 going into the last 3:19.

Then Cardona scored five points in a decisive 9-3 surge that staked TNT to an unassailable 90-80 spread, only 1:13 left, and the win that was relatively easier than the Texters' 98-97 squeaker the first time they met in the season-opener last October 4.

The victory also settled the Tropang Texters firmly at solo fourth and kept them on track for at least one of the automatic quarterfinals berths awarded a top five finisher, if not an outright semifinal slot which goes to the Top 2 finishers after the eliminations.

According to TNT head coach Chot Reyes, they drew inspiration from boxing icon Manny Pacquiao's victory over Oscar dela Hoya earlier in the day which his entire team watched in a theater.

“It's about a shorter but speedier guy making full use of his quickness against a taller guy,” said Reyes. “It is exactly this kind of a match-up. We felt we had the advantage in quickness to offset their height.”

The disparity in height became more apparent when TNT center Yancy de Ocampo had to be taken out and rushed to a nearby hospital due to a cut eyebrow that required stitches following an inadvertent hit from Coke's Asi Taulava during a first quarter rebound play.

The advantage in speed were personified by Jimmy Alapag, who switched to Macapagal defensively and held the latter scoreless inside the last 6:30, and Jason Castro, whose 20 points was a personal career-high.

Taulava had 13 points and a conference-high 22 rebounds for his conference-leading ninth double-double and Ronjay Buenafe and Mark Telan each chipped in 10 points.

But the absence of injured starting playmaker Alex Cabagnot, out for the second straight game, clearly told anew on the Tigers' drive as they dropped their second straight game and were relegated to a 5-10 win-loss record overall.

Cabagnot's status is currently day-to-day.

“Coke's a tough team, but we were fortunate they missed their starting point guard,” said Reyes. “But just like other teams, we have to take advantage of Cabagnot not being able to play.”

Macapagal anchored his production that supplanted by three his previous career-high set two years ago, on 8-of-11 three-point shooting, in the process becoming only the 14th player in league history to have made at least that many from beyond the arc in a game.

Still, the former Barangay Ginebra sniper took some time before fully warming up and the rest of his teammates were ice-cold as they all went 5-of-25 from the field in the second quarter to start putting to waste a splendid first quarter effort that saw the two teams tied at 13.

Before they knew it, the Tigers were behind by 44-27 at the break.

Then Macapagal got going, scoring 17 points anchored on four triples in the third period as they whittled the gap to just 60-68 going to the playoff quarter. (NCo)

The scores:

Talk ‘N Text 90 - Cardona 29, Castro 20, Peek 11, Alapag 10, Dillinger 9, Carey 4, De Ocampo 4, Aljamal 3, Reyes 0, Ritualo 0, Allado 0.

Coca-Cola 82 - Macapagal 31, Taulava 13, Buenafe 10, Telan 10, Calimag 8, Arigo 5, Dimaunahan 3, Belasco 2, Enrile 0, Misolas 0, Santos 0.

Quarterscores: 13-13, 44-27, 68-60, 90-82.

[vanguard]

Air21 repeats win over defending champs

Air21 booked an important win Sunday that could strengthen its chances of moving into the next round in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup.

Ranidel De Ocampo had a near triple-double performance scoring 23 points, grabbing nine rebounds and dishing out seven assists to lead the Express to a 97-88 victory over defending Philippine Cup champions Sta. Lucia at the Araneta Coliseum.

Full Story

[amamangloy]

just as Coke needed an extra point guard, they released Froilan Baguion to the Beermen!

[vanguard]

Ranidel de Ocampo named Player of the Week; Express glad to have de Ocampo

There is little doubt Air21 feels sanctified for having an all-around player like Ranidel de Ocampo.

No less than Express coach Bo Perasol said so after the forward propped them to two wins and in the process earned for himself the KFC/Accel PBA Press Corps Player of the Week honors for the period December 1 to 8.

Full Story

[st.anger]

PBA Team Standing as of Dec. 11, 2008

Alaska ------- 10 5
San Miguel ----9 6
Talk N Text --- 9 6
Rain or Shine --9 7
Air21 ---------8 7
Ginebra -------7 7
Sta. Lucia ----7 8
Purefoods ----7 8
Coca-Cola ----5 10
Red Bull ------4 11

[amamangloy]

NBN Sports earlier reported that Cyrus Baguio will be traded to San Miguel within the next few days!!!

[edgeknife]

NBN Sports earlier reported that Cyrus Baguio will be traded to San Miguel within the next few days!!!

kinsa may sab ang i-trade sa red bull??

[mab]

basin c dondon..heheh

[digitalsuperman]

NBN Sports earlier reported that Cyrus Baguio will be traded to San Miguel within the next few days!!!

huh? wtf!! really? red bull will definitely win in this trade..considering the cash they will get in exchange for bagiuo.... cool..