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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Vernon Macklin: Will he be Ginebra's rescue?

Help is coming Ginebra's way.

Vernon Macklin, the 2011 2nd Round Draft Pick of Detroit Pistons is expected to arrive to the country today, Monday, to help the campaign of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, who absorbed 3 straight losses while having Herbert Hill as its import. 

While this is not an assurance that they would immediately win games, Macklin's arrival is a welcome sight to Ginebra fans. He would be debuting against the top seeded Alaska Aces on their out-of-town game in Tubod, Lanao Del Norte on Saturday, February 23.

[Photo: nba.com] 

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PBA Commissioner's Cup Updates

Just as Philippine Cup finals tend to heat up (as of presstime TNT leads 1-0), the 8 teams out for contention for the title have made changes to their teams to prepare for the first import laden conference set on February 8, 2013

COACHING CHANGES:

 

Junel Baculi, as expected will now be leading the charge in the bench for Global Port Batang Pier

As expected after his departure with Barako Bull Energy, Junel Baculi would be heading to the Global Port Batang Pier squad for the Commissioner's Cup. The Mikee Romero squad didn't place well in its first conference at 1 - 13 and Coach Junel hopes to change all that. Global Port would still be bannered by Gar David and Willie Miller.

Former national team head coach Rajko Toroman is now with Barako Bull Energy

After the co-coaching experiment with Petron Blaze Boosters didn't work (which lead to naming Olsen Racela as the sole head coach), Rajko Toroman went out of the spotlight for the SMC teams. He however has continuously expressed his desire to coach - which probably lead to the 2 year deal with Barako Bull Energy. It is a welcome addition for the team, however with one call in mind - they wish Coach Rajko will go easy on its aging players. 

 

Probably the most dramatic coaching change, Alfrancis Chua takes over head coaching duties for Ginebra, Siot demoted to lead assistant

The league's most popular team has not made it to the finals for a long time and a coaching change was deemed by the management necessary for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel to rise - now we would see Alfrancis Chua calling the shots for Ginebra, and Siot again was "demoted" to lead assistant. Whatever this change would bring, the Barangay Ginebra faithfuls would hope that it would bring their team back to the promise land.

PBA TRADES [to be updated]

CONFIRMED IMPORTS:
1. Petron Blaze - Renaldo Balkman
2. Air 21 Express - Michael Dunnigan
3. Barako Bull Energy Cola - Evan Brock
4. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters - Bruno Sundov
5. Global Port Batang Pier - Justin Williams
6. Alaska Aces -
7. San Mig Coffee Mixers -
8. Talk and Text Tropang Texters -
9. Meralco Bolts - Eric Dawson
10. Barangay Ginebra San Miguel - Herbert Hill

[Photos: Google Images - all rights credited to the owners]

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Chua now Ginebra's Coach, Siot is lead assistant

 

Just as we usher 2013, Ginebra announced one of the biggest changes for their lineup as Alfrancis Chua moves up as Ginebra's Coach replacing Siot Tanquincen with the hopes to bring Ginebra back to where it was expected to be.

 

According to Ginebra governor and PBA chairman Robert Non, Siot was informed of the management decision Tuesday. He would be asked to slide down to assistant coach with the same salary as he is receiving right now and plans would be made to where the former UST role player should be.

 

Tanquincen won three championships with Ginebra, but in the last 4 conferences, the talent-laden team has failed to make the finals, even with the MVP performance of Mark Caguioa.

 

Chua on the other hand might not have won the championship but he is marked to be a "player's coach", hoping to get Ginebra San Miguel back on track.

 

Photo: Google Images

 



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PBA Sunday: Rain or Shine completes All Filipino Final 4

Uncharacteristically in the half-time huddle, Coach Yeng Guiao has become soft-spoken, emphasizing to his boys: "shoot the ball when you are open, Ronnie (Matias), do not hesitate on an open shot" and it translated to a better second-half performance as Rain or Shine books the last semifinals seat beating Ginebra San Miguel (102-89) to battle against last season's Governors Cup rivals, San Mig Coffee Mixers in a Best of Seven series come Wednesday, December 19.

Lead by Paul Lee's 25 points and Gabe Norwood's bounce back 21 points, The Elasto Painters proved that they can finish of a game despite a comeback by the Gin Kings in the 3rd Quarter.

Ginebra was lead by LA Tenorio's 20 points and Billy Mamaril's 20, which was his career game before fouling out with time left in regulation.


The scores:

RAIN OR SHINE 102 - Lee 25, Norwood 21, Cruz 12, Belga 11, Matias 9, Tiu 7, Rodriguez 6, Quinahan 6, Chan 5, Tang 0, Arana 0.

GINEBRA 89 - Tenorio 20, Mamaril 20, Caguioa 14, Maierhofer 11, Helterbrand 9, Ellis 4, Wilson 4, Hatfield 4, Taha 3, Labagala 0, Espiritu 0.

Quarters: 27-27, 47-47, 76-64, 102-89

Photo Citation: here

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PBA Wednesday: Best of Three Game 1 Results

Main Matchup between two hotshot rookies, Cliff Hodge (#4) and Calvin Abueva, a leading BPC candidate (#2)

Playoff Picture as it starts today (December 12)

Wednesday, December 12, 2012 is the start of the PBA Quarterfinal Round featuring the no. 3 seeded Rain or Shine Elasto Painters versus the no. 6 Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and the no. 4 seeded Meralco Bolts versus the no. 5 seeded Alaska Aces. Both games would be played in a Best-of-Three Series.

Expected to lead Rain or Shine is the comebacking Paul Lee together with the Extra Rice Inc. while Ginebra would be bannered by reigning MVP Mark Caguioa, the up and coming rookie Chris Ellis  and of course, the Barangay Big Dome (whenever Ginebra is playing).

The Meralco Bolts and Alaska Aces series is equally interesting as the first game as two hotshot rookies are expected to duel it out, Cliff Hodge of the Bolts would go along with Calvin Abueva of the Aces. Meralco is bannered by Solomon Mercado, Reynel Hugnatan, Mac Cardona and Ronjay Buenafe while Alaska's main guns are Jvee Casio, Cyrus Baguio and Sonny Thoss/

1st Game: Rain or Shine Elasto Painters vs. Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (No. 3 vs. No. 6) ROS takes Game 1 (82-65)

Despite a low performance from Jeff Chan, the Rain or Shine bench stepped up lead by Jervy Cruz with 14 points and limited the performance of reigning MVP Mark Caguioa and court general LA Tenorio.

The scores:

RAIN OR SHINE 82 - Cruz 14, Lee 11, Belga 11, Matias 9, Norwood 8, Rodriguez 8, Quinahan 8, Tiu 6, Tang 6, Chan 1, Uyloan 0, Jaime 0, Arana 0.

GINEBRA 65 - Caguioa 16, Jensen 13, Ellis 7, Tenorio 6, Hatfield 6, Maliksi 5, Espiritu 5, Helterbrand 3, Taha 2, Maierhofer 2, Labagala 0, Wilson 0, Mamaril 0, Wilson 0.

Quarters: 18-15, 39-29, 61-40, 82-65

2nd Game: Meralco Bolts vs. Alaska Aces (No. 4 vs. No. 5) Alaska takes Game 1 (90-84)

In a game where the Aces played lockdown defense, they have managed to caught the Bolts to just 33 points in the first half to take the 1st game of their best of three series, 90 - 84.

The scores:
ALASKA 90 – Baguio 26, Espinas 19, Dela Cruz 13, Thoss 10, Baracael 9, Abueva 6, Casio 5, Jazul 1, Hontiveros 1, Eman 0, Belasco 0.

MERALCO 84 – Mercado 22,Cardona 14, Reyes 13, Ross 9, Hodge 8, Buenafe 7, Hugnatan 5, Nabong 2, Bulawan 2, Sharma 2, Borboran 0, Salvacion 0.
Quarters: 18-20, 44-33, 74-58, 90-84


[Photo: PBA Infographic, PBA, AKTV]

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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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Trade Sealed: Mike Cortez reunites with Franz Pumaren at Air 21, Yousif Taha to Ginebra

Photo: INTERAKTV

 

Coach Franz Pumaren is definitely the happiest coach right now getting his wish before Christmas, a dependable point guard in Mike Cortez. Mike would come from a trade to Ginebra in exchange for a reliable rookie, Yousif Taha which is Ginebra's call to their thin front line.

Ginebra would be missing the services of Dylan Ababou (ACL) for 6 months, Allein Maliksi, Jayjay Helterbrand and Kerby Raymundo would be coming from sick bay. Yousif would be great as proven to his play in the first few games, but has seen limited playing time to Rob Reyes, who played excellently last game against his former team Petron Blaze

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