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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2014 PBA Governors Cup Imports

Reggie Williams (SMB) is one of the few imports who has impressive NBA credentials 

The 2014 PBA Governors Cup begins right after the ongoing PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals between San Mig Coffee and Talk and Text Tropang Texters. Here is the complete list of imports:

1. Alaska Aces – Bill Walker

2. Air21 Express – Allen Durham 

3. Barako Bull Energy – Eric Wise 

4. Brgy Ginebra Kings – Zaccheus Mason 

5. GlobalPort Batang Pier – Leroy Hickerson 

6. Meralco Bolts – Terrence Williams 

7. Rain or Shine Elastopainters – Arizona Reid 

8. San Mig Coffee Mixers – Marqus Blakely 

9. San Miguel Beermen – Reggie Williams 

10. Talk n’ Text Tropang Texters – Othyus Jeffers

The 2014 Governors Cup will start as early as May 18 if the ongoing PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals will go down the wire in Game 5. If it reaches Game 5, Commissioner's Cup start Tuesday, May 20.

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PBA: Pacquiao cannot suit up for KIA without joining the PBA Draft

 

Photo from ABS-CBN

Whether or not he becomes a part of the coaching staff of KIA, Manny Pacquiao cannot play for the team unless he joins the PBA Draft.

PBA Media Bureau Chief Willie Marcial said on the league's official website that Pacquiao can only play for KIA directly if the PBA Board of Governors allows the 3 new teams, KIA, NLEX and Blackwater for concessions, which they ruled otherwise when they approved the entry of the teams next season.

If KIA wants Pacquiao to suit up for them, they can use their pick from the  11th to 16th draft picks in the upcoming draft to get him as a player. 

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A Basketball Standpoint: A Different San Miguel Team Today

 

Just before the PBA Commissioner's Cup opened and they announced the return of the team name to San Miguel Beer, I was pretty much excited, San Miguel Beermen for me represented tradition, winning excellence and championships and the return of the name was pretty much in time for celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Grand Slam championship back in 1989. I look forward to every play date, in a short Commissioner's Cup, a win is a win and placing highly in the team standings is pretty important.

SMB came in the 2nd conference with a two-coach set-up, long-time assistant coach Biboy Ravanes was placed into the coaching position with former Indonesia Warriors Head Coach and then SMB assistant Todd Purves placed on an active coaching role - the idea didn't sit well for me at first, reminded me of Coach Rajko Toroman and Olsen Racela who had problems towards player rotation and game plans, but for the next 9 games, it took upon me that hey, both coaches knew their roles.

The departure of Alex Cabagnot to Global Port Batang Pier in exchange for Solomon Mercado opened up things for Paolo Hubalde and Chris Ross, who became integral point guards of the franchise. Mercado didn't have to worry about scoring in bunches, with Marcio Lassiter, the reigning MVP Arwind Santos and the Kraken Junmar Fajardo doing the scoring load, Sol just had to be himself - play ball, play clean defense and intimidate opposing players - score when needed, without having to lose his energy playing the entire game. Kramer, Tubid, Maierhofer, Lutz, Lanete may be considered second-stringers, but they can come in and be starting lineup anytime (a perfect example was Maierhofer's entry which acted as a spark plug to the run made against Air 21).

San Miguel Basketball, right now was about TEAM basketball, where no one cares who actually gets the credit, the reigning MVP Arwind will still be producing his numbers, but may not be named as BPG and can be okay with it. Last night, I actually gave up on the big lead they went deep into against Air 21, only to wake up today with my father saying SMB actually won. They thrive on their lock-down defense and quick movement around the court that they manage to find open people to knock-down shots. It was also a lucky change of import in Kevin Jones, whose perimeter shooting is well and is mantra is to WIN and not for any individual awards.

San Miguel Beer is placed #2 after the eliminations, with this change of attitude, I pray that I get to see them in the Finals once more, for now I'll see to where this team would go, hopefully this different San Miguel team will just be as is -- no roster changes, no more coaching changes to build chemistry and run for more titles in the years to come.

- Michelle Constantino.

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Playoff Scenarios for PBA Commissioner's Cup

 

PBA enters its holy week hiatus tomorrow, Friday but Sunday still serves as a waiting game for 4 teams, Alaska, Rain-or-Shine, Ginebra and San Mig Coffee, The PBAologist himself, Mr. Fidel Mangonon wrote a sidestory on it in its official column at Spin.Ph. The only official thing for now is, TNT and SMB own a twice-to-beat advantage over their opponents and that Barako Bull and Globalport are out of playoff contention.

For more: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/by-the-numbers/its-complicatedfind-out-where-ginebra-rain-or-shine-alaska-san-mig-can-end-up-after-final-playdate-of-eliminations

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Danny Ildefonso signs a one conference contract with the Meralco Bolts

Danny Ildefonso is now eager to repay Meralco Bolts as he was given a one conference contract after being dropped out of the Official List of Roster of the Petron Blaze Boosters last November 30.

Ildefonso, who was away from regular basketball play for the last two months will debut today against Air 21 Express. He joins former coach and current Meralco Bolts Assistant Coach  Jong Uichico who strongly believes that the 15 year veteran still has a lot left in his tank and will make the Bolts a better team



Related Stories:
http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/grateful-danny-ildefonso-eager-to-repay-meralcos-faith-as-he-prepares-for-debut

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