PBA Imports Update for the 2013 Governors Cup

The 2013 Governors Cup will open on August 2013 (after the FIBA-Asia) and each of the 10 member teams will parade their imports. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters is the reigning Governors Cup champion.

1. Barako Bull - Mike Singletary is the import Barako Bull brought in to their Dubai meet.

2. Talk and Text - They are keen of bringing back Tony Mitchell, the import that replaced Jerome Jordan next conference. However, the replacement import of Jerome Jordan is unsure yet if he would be suiting up for the third conference.

3. Ginebra - SMC Sports Director Noli Eala has mentioned the commitment of Dior Lawhorn, former import of Saigon Heat to suit up for Ginebra.

4. Petron - Petron is reportedly negotiating with DJ Kennedy and Anthony Grundy

5. Globalport - Globalport is thinking of negotiating with last year's Governors Cup Best Import Jamelle Cornley in lieu of the Elasto Painters rejecting Cornley based from what has happened recently.

6. Alaska - The recently crowned PBA Commissioner's Cup champions will parade Wendell McKines next conference. (confirmed)

7. San Mig Coffee Mixers  - They will parade their former import, Marquis Blakely (confirmed)

8. Air 21 - In contact with Champ Oguchi and Zach Graham

9. Meralco Bolts - In negotiations with Mario West

10. Rain or Shine - Arizona Reid (confirmed)

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Urbiztondo goes to Ginebra, Jensen & future second-round draft pick to Barako

Just before they start their battle with the number 2 seeded Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, Barangay Ginebra landed a prized guard in Josh Urbiztondo when they worked up a trade with Barako Bull Energy Cola where they parted their rookie, Keith Jensen + a future second round draft pick.

Josh is a perfect addition to the Ginebra team who relies well on its guards, he can light it up in the three-point arc at any game, while Jensen would be in the wings of Barako Bull Active Consultant Rajko Toroman and hopefully, get his potentials to full use with Barako Bull Energy Cola.

Photo: PBA Latest Rumors FB page

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Barako Bull acquires the services of NBA veteran DJ Mbenga

    

As much as other teams want him, it is the Barako Bull Energy Cola who quietly landed DJ Mbenga, the NBA veteran who was lured by Alaska, GlobalPort and Barangay Ginebra. Mbenga came in Tuesday, April 2 and is expected to join Barako's practice Thursday at Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.

The 8 year NBA veteran replaces Evan Brock with the hopes of boosting their playoff stints. Mbenga had stints with the Belgian National Team as well as the Dallas Mavericks, LA Lakers (where he won a championship in 2009), New Orleans Hornets and Golden State Warriors.

The Energy Cola are coming off a win against the Commissioner's Cup champions San Mig Coffee Mixers 105-100 after 6 defeats.

Photo: nba.com

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Toroman's role: Active Team Consultant in Barako Bull Energy Cola

Former National Team Coach Rajko Toroman is set to sign a 1 year contract as an active team consultant with Barako Bull Energy Cola with Coach Bong Ramos formally assuming the head coaching position.

Toroman would be playing the same role he played with Petron at the same time being spared from the rule of Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines against hiring foreign coaches in the pro league.

Coach Bong Ramos, Rajko Toroman and the retooled Barako Bull Energy Cola will be tested on Friday, February 8 when they battle the defending champs Mixers at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

[photo: philstar.com]  

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Petron's chase for Tubid and the Barako Bull shakeup

 

The never ending chase for Ronald Tubid (currently playing for Barako Bull Energy Cola) by Petron Blaze Boosters does not stop even if the direct swap between him and Joseph Yeo was shelved. 

This post is to update about the trade that is considered to be a blockbuster deal involving 5 teams and 10 players, with Petron getting Tubid and parting ways with Mallari and Duncil. 

 

The trade is as complex at it can get, here is a timeline courtesy of GMANEWS.TV

 

 

 

Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/291445/sports/basketball/pba-barako-bull-shake-up-roster-dealing-with-four-different-teams-in-blockbuster?ref=section_latest 

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Joseph Yeo happy to still be with Petron

 

 [See related story: here]

An interview in Spin.PH saw a very grateful Joseph Yeo when he was informed that the trade involving him and Ronald Tubid would be shelved and he would be staying with Petron.

According to Joseph, there has been a sense of comfortability with Petron as he has been with the team for 3 years, his longest tenure to his team in the PBA.

For now, Joseph and Ronald (of Barako Bull Energy Cola) can stay with their respective teams as a three team 6 man swap is on the works not involving them.


[Joseph Yeo photo c/o AKTV]

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Sources: Deal called off as Petron would not part with Mallari

 

Just as Alex Mallari have been looking forward to a better direction when he learned he would be traded to Barako Bull, things seem would not go his way as Petron Blaze Boosters would not let go of their 3rd Overall Draft Pick. 

Mallari has been added in the package that would have send him in Barako along with Joseph Yeo for Ronald Tubid and one 1st Round Draft Pick. 

Barako Bull Energy Cola would be handled in the 2nd Conference by Rajko Toroman, former Petron consultant who influenced the Petron team to pick Mallari 3rd in the draft. 

Photo: Yahoo Sports

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A Review of the Philippine Cup Format

An inter-intra format clusters the Air21 Express, Meralco Bolts, Petron Blaze Boosters, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings, and San Mig Coffee Mixers (formerly B-Meg) in Group A, and the Alaska Aces, Barako Bull Energy Cola, Global Port Batang Pier, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, and the defending champion Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters in Group B.

Teams in each group will meet the other twice (10 games) and members of the other group once (4), completing the elimination phase. Fans will therefore be treated with the spectacle of crowd heavy Ginebra squaring off with Petron and San Mig Coffee twice while tangling with TNT, Alaska and Rain or Shine once and vice versa.

The top eight teams based on their cumulative win-loss records advance to the quarterfinals, while the 9th- and 10th-ranked teams get dropped from contention.

Rewarding the top two quarterfinalists with twice-to-beat advantage, QF1 has the No. 1 team battling No. 8 and No. 2 tangling with No. 7 in QF2.

A wringer awaits the four other qualifiers: No. 3 takes on No. 6 (QF3) and No. 4 faces No. 5 (QF4), both via best-of-three playoffs.

The four emerging playoff winners then move to the best-of-7 semifinal series under this matchup: QF1 winner vs. QF4 winner and QF2 winner vs. QF3 winner.

The championship series will also be a best-of-7 showdown.

Reposted: http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/sports/38486-pba-unveils-format-for-philippine-cup

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