San Miguel wins maiden ABL championship

It may not be as sweet as a home win but San Miguel Beermen got the job done with a sweep in their title series against the Indonesia Warriors (70-55). The Beermen lead by their Coach Leo Austria dedicate the season to their late coach, Bobby Parks.

Chris Banchero was crowned as Finals MVP.

Here are the highlights of the Beermen championship celebration:

 

JR Cawaling, Jeric Marco Fortuna, Val Acuna and Christian Luanzon celebrate

 

 

Leo Avenido, one of three remaining holdovers from last year's ABL team kissing the trophy

 

 

Chris Banchero, 2013 ABL Finals MVP is very happy... He is also a holdover from last year's ABL team.

 

 

(c) Asean Basketball League 

 

 

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At 40, Asi Taulava of the San Miguel Beermen wins ABL Most Valuable Player Award

10 years ago, Asi won the MVP award in the PBA, who would have known that he will win it at 40 in the Asean Basketball League?

Representing the San Miguel Beermen, Taulava averaged 10.9 points per game and 7.4 rebounds, it may not be as big as it seem but his experience has definitely boost the winning salvo of the Beermen, who will be facing the Indonesia Warriors once more for the ABL Finals starting Friday.

"We have some very talented players in our league, and any one of them would have made an excellent ASEAN MVP - and it is a testament to Asi Taulava that he was selected by the teams for this award," said ABL CEO Anthony Macri. "It has been an honor and a privilege to have Asi in the AirAsia ASEAN Basketball League this season. He was the go-to post player down the stretch of big games for the San Miguel Beermen all year long, and always seemed to deliver. He is a great ambassador of the game to the region as well, and I hope he has a few more years of play left in him for basketball fans throughout ASEAN to enjoy

Taulava bested out his Fil-Italian team mate, Chris Banchero, who despite being injury-hobbled managed to lead the team in points, assists and steals, Sports Rev Thailand Slammers’Froilan Baguion, Saigon Heat’s Jai Reyes and Indonesia Warriors’ Mario Wuysang.

 

Note: Asi was the second Beerman winning the Most Valuable Player Award after Leo Avenido in 2012.

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Banchero to be sidelined for a week with thigh injury

 

San Miguel Sports Director Noli Eala confirms that their San Miguel Beermen star guard, Chris Banchero will be out for 1-2 weeks with a thigh injury:

“Just got a report that @ChrisBanchero has a thigh injury. Could be out for 1-2 weeks depending on ultrasound result. Hoping for best” 

Banchero hurt his thigh with a collision to Malaysia's Moala Tautuaa in their win against the Dragons 80-62 on Friday at the Ynares Sports Arena.

San Miguel's leading candidate for MVP would most likely miss two of their last six games, but Eala assured that Banchero's injury would not extend onto the playoffs where they would most likely occupy the top 2 spots.

[Photo: 2012 ABL Finals] 

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Evan Brock close to landing a deal with SMB, but who among the Williamses should go?

After being replaced by DJ Mbenga to save the playoff chances of Barako Bull Energy Cola, sports websites report that Evan Brock is close to signing a deal with San Miguel Beermen of the Asean Basketball League.

The Beermen, currently at 10-3 has until today to finalize their lineup for ABL, their current lineup banners already high-quality imports in Brian Williams and former Globalport reinforcement Justin Williams. 

If the deal pushes through, it would not be the first time that Brock would set foot to the Asean Basketball League. He has suited up for the Indonesia Warriors last year that beaten San Miguel Beermen in a three game title series. 

But if San Miguel would choose Brock, whom will they let go of the Williamses? After all, the team rides on a 7 game winning streak.

UPDATE: San Miguel Beermen chose to stick with the Williamses.

[photo: sports.inquirer.net]  
 

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Tunay na Buhay Episode on Coach Bobby Parks

 

Check out the Tunay na Buhay Episode of the late Coach Bobby Parks. Tunay na Buhay is a show in GMA-7 hosted by Rhea Santos. 

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Bobby Parks Sr. succumbs after a battle with cancer

 

 

7-time Best Import Awardee Bobby Parks Sr. passed away today at around 4:55 pm. He was 51.

 

The news was confirmed by National University Athletic Director, Junel Baculi in his interview.

 

He began his playing career with the PBA with the San Miguel Beermen and later on with the Shell team to which he won 7 Best Import titles until his retirement from the game in 1998. He was inducted to the Hall of Fame by the PBA in 2009.

 

He was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer in 2008, during that period he was able to do jobs with the sport that he loved, being the assistant athletic director of National University in 2010, a part of the coaching staff of the Petron Blaze Boosters and just last year, he was named as the Head Coach of San Miguel Beermen which he lead to a runner-up finish in the Asean Basketball League.

 

With the relapse of his illness, he was forced to step down as head coach. This year, the Beermen is handled by Leo Austria.

 

He is survived by his son, Bobby Ray Parks Jr, a star of National University Bulldogs.

 

News Bits Online joins all the fans, family and loved ones in praying for the soul of the coach.

Here is the link to Bobby Parks' "Tunay na Buhay Episode": http://newsbitsfromevents.blogspot.com/2013/03/tunay-na-buhay-episode-on-coach-bobby.html

 

 

[photo: pbaaddicts.net]

 

 

 



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Justin Williams finds a home in San Miguel Beermen

 

Former Global Port Batang Pier import Justin Williams finds home at the San Miguel Beermen team in the ongoing Asean Basketball League after being axed by the team in their current whirlwind campaign in the PBA's ongoing Commissioner's Cup.

Williams, who averaged close to 15 points and 19 rebounds during his stint with Batang Pier was tapped to replace Gabe Freeman who would not be available for 3-4 weeks, as mentioned in an interview by Williams' agent, Sheryl Reyes. She also added that ABL has set the deadline of until April 7 in changing of import.

Justin will be joining another import in Brian Williams to reinforce San Miguel Beermen in the ABL under Coach Leo Austria.

[Photo: manilastandardtoday.com]

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Asi Taulava's PBA rights still belong to Meralco

Asi Taulava may have signed with the SMC bankrolled ABL team San Miguel Beermen, but if in case he decides to return to the PBA, his rights of first refusal still belongs to the Meralco Bolts.

The Meralco center's contract expired last August 31 and didn't renew it to eventually join the San Miguel Beermen, who plays in the Asean Basketball League. Should Taulava decide to come back to the PBA, he could only sign with Meralco directly after his stint with SMB in the ABL. SMC bankrolls San Mig Coffee, Ginebra San Miguel and Petron Blaze Boosters.

Before he opted to sign with San Miguel, Meralco offered Taulava a two-year pact.

“The ABL is only played once a week, so it means he will have more time to spend with his family,” said Taulava’s agent Sheryl Reyes in explaining his decision to leave Meralco, with which he spent two seasons.

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