PBA Referees Edward Aquino, Gruta banned for the rest of the conference for Pringle non-call

Stanley Pringle shoots over Japeth Aguilar (Photo grabbed from Inquirer.net)

The PBA has banned referees Edward Aquino and Rommel Gruta for officiating for the rest of the PBA Philippine Cup admitting that the officials missed the five-second and stepping call of GlobalPort Batang Pier Guard Stanley Pringle in the dying seconds of the quarterfinal knock-out game versus Barangay Ginebra last Sunday.

The suspension will lead to both Aquino and Gruta not officiating for a minimum of 15 games and a maximum of 21 games.

Barangay Ginebra didn't file a protest of the game which was allowed until 12nn, Monday.  

Here's the statement of the PBA Office of the Commissioner in full:

All the referees were present in the meeting with the Commissioner. In their opening statement, the referees accepted that they missed the call, they were apologetic and were ready to face the sanctions that would be imposed on them.

In the deliberation with the technical committee, it was determined that two (2) violations were not called. One was the 5-second ball hogging violation which was the responsibility of referee Rommel Gruta.

The second infraction was the backing violation of GlobalPort’s Stanley Pringle, whose responsibility was that of referee Edward Aquino’s.

The technical committee also determined that only referees Aquino and Gruta were liable for these missed calls.

As a result of these two non-calls, Barangay Ginebra was denied final ball possession.

The technical committee decided that both referees shall be suspended for the rest of the ongoing Philippine Cup effective immediately.

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Ateneo Blue Eagles wins Men's Volleyball crown

The Ateneo De Manila Blue Eagles defeated the National University Bulldogs (NU) in the Season 77 Men's Volleyball Finals in four sets 25-23, 25-23, 25-15 to capture their first men's volleyball crown since joining the league in 1978.

Ateneo dropped the first set to NU 23-25 and swept the next three to prevent a three peat from the Bulldogs. The Blue Eagles last won the volleyball crown when they were still in the NCAA under Coach Pitong Custodio in 1976.

The Finals MVP was awarded to Ish Polvorosa who averaged 46.5 excellent sets during the competition.

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Junemar Fajardo adjudged as the Best Player of the Conference

The 6 foot 10 pride of Cebu Junemar Fajardo took home the 2015 Philippine Cup Best Player of the Conference award which was given before the Game 4 between the San Miguel Beermen vs. Alaska Aces. 

SMB prized center Fajardo garnered 1141 points from his statistics, player votes, media votes and the PBA beating out his closest contender, Calvin Abueva who garnered 889.

Rounding up the Top 5 for this conference is SMB's Arwind Santos and Alex Cabagnot and Barangay Ginebra's Greg Slaughter. 

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Marc Pingris goes back to school

Marc Pingris tries to be a role model by going back to school (Photo: Sports 5)

Marc Pingris shows that fame in basketball is only temporary, education is forever.

The Purefoods Star Hotshots Player is back in college as a Business Management student in PSBA in an effort to earn for himself a college diploma.

He enrolled 27 units in PSBA-QC to where mostly he has late afternoon classes which would not interfere with Purefoods practices, showing how serious he is to finish his degree. He was in the school until 2001 until he left to join the defunct MBA in 2001.

He then had won numerous championships with the Purefoods franchise, but realized the importance of a degree that he would be able to use it for the future.






Related News: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/11/12/14/look-pingris-goes-back-college

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PBA 40th Season Opening: Muses

Just before the tip off between Kia Sorento vs. Blackwater is the official PBA Opening of its 40th Season, as usual, the 12 teams would be parading with their respective muses at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

Beauty Queens:

Miss World 2013 Megan Young (Talk and Text)

Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism International 2014 Glennifer Perido (Rain or Shine)

Miss International 2013 1st Runner Up Nathalie Den Dekker (Barako Bull)

Miss Universe Philippines 2014 Mary Jean Lastimosa (Purefoods Hot Shots)


Miss Grand International 3rd RU Annalie Forbes (Blackwater Elite) 

Entertainment 

Jinkee Pacquiao (Kia Sorento)

Ritz Azul (Meralco Bolts) 

Dianne Medina (NLEX Road Warriors)

Alice Dixson (SMB)

Ellen Adarna (Ginebra)

Volleybelles:

Rachel Ann Daquis (GlobalPort Batang Pier)

Michelle Gumabao (Alaska)

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2014 PBA Draft Results

Stanley Pringle leads the 2014 Draft Class 

The 2014 PBA Draft was held last August 24, 2014 at the Robinsons Place, Manila. Stanley Pringle, the consensus first round draft pick leads the 2014 Draft Class.

1. GlobalPort Batang Pier - Stanley Pringle 

2. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters - Kevin Louie Alas 

3. San Miguel Beer (via Barako Bull) - Ronald Pascual (Chico Lanete, Jojo Duncil, 2014 2nd Round Pick and 2016 1st Round Pick). 

4. NLEX Road Warriors - Matthew Ganuelas Rosser 

5. Alaska Aces - Chris Banchero
6. Barangay Ginebra San Miguel - Rodney Brondial
7. GlobalPort Batang Pier (via San Mig Coffee) - Anthony Semerad
8. Barako Bull Energy Cola - Jake Pascual
9. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters - Jericho Cruz
10. Barako Bull Energy Cola - David Semerad
11. KIA Motors - Manny Pacquiao
12. Blackwater Sports - Juan Miguel Tiongson

2nd Round
1. Alaska Aces - Rome Dela Rosa
2. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters - Kevin Ray Espinosa
3. Barako Bull Energy Cola - Phillip Paredes
4. Alaska Aces - Junjun Alas
5. GlobalPort Batang Pier - Prince Caperal
6. Barako Bull Energy Cola - Phillip Morrison
7. GlobalPort Batang Pier - Nard John Pinto
8. Talk and Text - Harold Arboleda
9. Rain or Shine - Mike Gamboa
10. Barako Bull  - Gabriel Banal
11. Blackwater Spots - Frank Golla
12. KIA Motors - Kyle Pascual

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Leo Austria is the new San Miguel Beermen Coach

Leo Austria inks a one-year contract to be the head coach of San Miguel Beermen replacing Head coach Biboy Ravanes and active consultant Todd Purves.

The former Adamson Falcons mentor and current top man of the Ateneo Sports Program hopes to handle the team and steer them back to another championship after it fail to pass by the quarterfinals round of the last two conferences last season.

Coach Leo is no stranger to SMB, he was a part of the coaching staff during the Rajko Toroman and Olsen Racela co-coaching gamble. He was also the coach of the San Miguel Beermen ABL Basketball team that were the champions in the 2013 Asean Basketball League with Chris Banchero and Asi Taulava on their fold.

According to reports, Coach Leo hopes to meet in the coming days to finalize the coaching staff. He also spoke about the team's need for balance and defined roles. He wants his team not to adjust to their opponents but for their opponents to adjust with them.

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Air 21 Exec confirms sale of team to NLEX

 

Air 21 Executive Lito Alvarez confirms that their team is up for sale to the NLEX Road Warriors. The team executive mentioned that it was NLEX who went to them and they gave them their asking price. 

Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, which bankrolls the NLEX Road Warriors lead by Manny V. Pangilinan earlier confirmed that they do not intend to join the team as a part of the expansion group (KIA and Blackwater did) and they want to bring their winning tradition from the D-League with their players intact unlike the concessions and dispersal draft to be given to them.

Any team sale would require the approval of two-thirds of the PBA Board of Governors. Alvarez mentions nothing is final unless the NLEX Group announces their purchase of the team. No purchase, Air 21 would still be around for the 40th Season of the PBA.

The interest of the NLEX Road Warriors to Air 21 maybe because of their emergence this season, with Asi Taulava just second behind Junemar Fajardo in the MVP race as well as their semifinal finish in the Commissioner's Cup. 

If the sale pushes through, do we see Franz Pumaren and Asi Taulava somewhere else? 

(Photo owned by Paul Ryan Tan and of the PBA).

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Nonito Donaire captures WBA Featherweight belt

 

Nonito Donaire captures the WBA featherweight title with a unanimous  technical decision over Simpiwe Vetyeka on Saturday in Macau.

He thanked the fans over at the venue who supported him and said sorry for not giving "a proper fight".

Donaire bucked on a cut on his left eye and fought like a wounded tiger to finish the fight in four rounds winning the cards 49-46.

The champion was not pleased with how the match turned out and is willing to give Vityeka the rematch.

Donaire climbs up to 33-2 with 21 knockouts and has bounced back after his loss with Guillermo Rigondeaux in April 2013.  He was able to knock out Vic Darchinyan in November 2013. 

(Photo: AFP)

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Mark Eddiva to fight again in the UFC

Our very own Mark Eddiva will be competing again in The Ultimate Fighting Championship in Brazil.

Team Lakay's Mark Eddiva (6-0) will go up against the Brazilian Edimilson Souza (14-3) during UFC Fight Night 42 that features Chael Sonnen vs. Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva. The Baguio native, who just became the first homegrown Fiipino to win in the UFC after beating Jumabieke Tuerxun via unanimous decision in Macau last March 1st, 2014.

Photo from mmajunkie.com

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