Two straight for the BOLTS

PBA on Tour: Meralco Bolts go head-to-head with B-Meg Llamados

Momentum Swing

After losing their first game with Talk 'N Text and losing Mac Cardona with injury, Meralco Bolts rode the bull and went to the opposite direction. They won their last two assignments including B-Meg and they played it pretty strong especially in the end.

Their match up with the Llamados was exciting from tip off up to the final buzzer.

Chico Lanete was on fire in their game. He scored a team high 24 points with 9 assists and 3 steals, almost a double-double performance for the veteran guard. The front line combination of Mark Isip and Asi Taulava had success in the paint while Mark Borboran, a late but very significant addition in the line-up of Bolts was one of the finishers of this game.

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Full charged Texters stop Elasto Painters; Barako's Rookie Night

PBA's double header last Friday, October 14 went exciting because of the explosion of unexpected players. 

HE "Carey" US

The ever hardworking Harvey Carey lift TNT to its 2nd straight win of the Conference and dropped Rain or Shine to 2 and 1 and gave their first lost. 

It was the 28 points and 14 rebounds of Carey that carried TNT to another win, with the help from Ryan Reyes and "The Blur" Jayson Castro. The small runs of Talk 'N Text kept them ahead in most part of the game. Castro also had a double-double performance with 18 points and 10 assists, he anchored the Tropang Texters while their primary leader Jimmy Alapag still out with injury. Reyes, Fonacier and Dilinger added a combined 43 points to boost the lead of TNT and never looked back.

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PBA: Bolts and B-Meg 1st Win!

Gabi Espinas and the rest of the
Bolts defend the basket
(Image by the PBA/Nuki Sabio)

BOLTS 1st ELECTRIFYING WIN

In the first game of PBA double header yesterday Merlaco Bolts clinched their first win of the conference after an 18-point lost against the Tropang Texters.

Though they were undermanned, Cardona suffer from a severe sprained ankle in their first game, Sol Mercado suited up yesterday but Coach Gregorio decided to seat him down, Reynel Hugnatan and Chris Ross also nursing injuries, but they were able to grabbed their first win against the slowly clicking Shopinas.com Clickers, 79-72.

It was Asi Taulava's effort that led his team to a win. The ageless wonder Taulava scored a crucial fall away basket when the team needed it the most. He got help from his teammates Macapagal, Espinas and Isip who scored 41 combined points.

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Lee-thal Rain or Shine; New Alaska?

"Lee-thal Weapon" Paul Lee
drive to the basket
(Image by the PBA/Nuki Sabio)

Riding the Momentum

From their last win against the Ginebra Kings, Rain or Shine carried their winning momentum against their next opponent, Powerade Tigers who were also coming from a win against the new Shopinas Clickers.

Before the game started, Marcio Lassiter said that, he will shut down "The Lee-thal Weapon" Paul Lee. Can he do that?

In the first quarter the Elasto Painters still started the game with out Paul Lee. It was a slow start for both teams, Gabe Norwood made a nice up and under to score their first points of the game. Quinahan also made a strong start and they made a short spurt to have a 12-6 lead but Gary David made a 3-point shot to stop the run of the Rain or Shine. Unfortunately for the Powerade Tigers, the stopper of Paul Lee, Marcio Lassiter was stopped with 2 early fouls in the first quarter. Despite Lassiter was slowed down with fouls, the Tigers made their own run and had a 4 point lead, 17-13. Lee entered the game in the 3-minute mark of the quarter and suddenly the complexion of the game changed and he scored 6 points as soon as he stepped on the hardcourt. That tied the game and ended the quarter at 21 a piece.

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Helterbrand retiring?

Jayjay Helterbrand
(Image by the PBA)

NO MORE "FAST"?

Will it be the break up of the long time back court tandem of The Fast and the Furious?

There are speculations that Jayjay Helterbrand will retire after this conference.

Ginerba is already using their young back courts like, Rob Labagala, John Wilson and maybe next time, Jimbo Aquino.

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Blaze Boosters in solo lead; TNT crushed Meralco Bolts

Alex Cabagnot spins away
from Wynne Arboleda
(Image by the PBA)

2 and 0

Friday game day for the PBA. In the first game of a double header, Petron Blaze Boosters met the returning Barako Bull Energy. It was the highly anticipated return of the "Thriller" Willie Miller but the Blazing Petron denied his explosion to sealed their second win of the Conference.

Barako Bull made the first point, both team exchanged baskets in the early part of the first quarter but after that Petron created an early 5-0 run and gave them a 5-point lead 11-6. Barakos retaliate with Salvador, he scored 6 quality points to kept them in step with the Blaze Boosters. While Miller struggled in the start of the game, he made his first 2 points in the 4:30 mark of the first quarter but that points brought the lead of Petron down to 2 points, 14-12. It was a tight and physical first 12 minutes of the game and it ended with a low scoring ball game, 20-26 in favor of Boosters.

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Debut Day in the PBA: First game of the Clickers and First game of Tim Cone as the new Head Coach of Llamados

SHOPINAS DEBUT

As the newest team in the PBA, Shopinas.com Clickers made their debut game against the re-building Powerade Tigers. It may look to be a blow out game in the start but it turn out as a tough competitive game.

As the game started, Clickers showed an early aggressiveness but Powerade slowed them down and Gary David show begin. Explosive start for David in their first game of the season, he scored 12 points in the first quarter alone. Shopinas aggressiveness was gone in the middle of the first quarter when Shopinas main man Ritualo sits down and Powerade used their 2-3 Zone Defense to force the Clickers in low percentage shots. Tigers took that opportunity to run. Powerade ended the first 12 minutes of the game with a big 21-point lead, 37-16.

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PBA Opening Game decided in the last second

JUST 1 POINT!

In the first game of the Season Brgy. Ginebra Kings met the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and it was a certified thriller! Unfortunately for Ginebra fans, Elasto Painters won the game by just 1 point, 93-94.

In the first quarter of the game, it was no surprise that Co-Head Coach Siot Tanquincen and Jong Uichico started the game with a 3-guard line up but NO Mark Caguioa in the starting five. It was quite obvious that Gin Kings lacked big men in their line up and it was exposed in their game. Nevertheless, Ginebra started the game with a blast, an 11-2 run in the early minutes of the first quarter and established their biggest lead of the game at 7 points.

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PBA OPENER: A Thriller! with Hall Famers

Image by the Philippine Basketball Association

The opening ceremony of our PBA is simply impressive.

PBA presented a new theme "San ka? PBA Kampihan na!". The new season of PBA seemed to be more promising and exciting because of the new combinations of players in different teams and the addition of a new team.

Everything went smoothly in the opening of the PBA yesterday, October 2 (Sunday).

The highlight of the ceremony was the parade of the Players and their Muses plus the Induction of 2011 Hall Fame Class led by the "Black Superman" Billy Ray Bates and  "Captain Lionheart" Alvin Patrimonio.

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PBA Teams 2011-2012 Line-Up (Brgy. Ginebra Kings)

A complete Line-Up of your favorite PBA team for this incoming 2011-12 season.

                                Analysis.

                       Overview.

                                                and Predictions

Of your favorite team/s will be discuss. How will they maximize their talent? Who will be the strongest and the weakest team? Who will be favored to win the first conference? More questions will be ask but we will give you the answers with every team in the league.

If everything is ready. Let's start with the crowd favorite.

Barangay Ginebra Kings

Co-Head Coach: Joseph Uichico
                         Siot Tanquingcen

#      Players
1      Mike Cortez
2      Billy Mamaril

Image by the PBA

4      Jimbo Aquino
5      Robert Labagala
6      JC Intal
9      Nino Canaleta
13    Jay-jay Helterbrand
18    Yancy de Ocampo
20     Reil Cervantes
23     Rico Villanueva
24     John Wilson
27     Willy Wilson
47     Mark Caguioa
71     Ronald Tubid
RESERVED/INJURED LIST
30     Eric Menk

They still have the solid line-up with Mark "The Spark" Caguioa, Helterbrand, Tubid and Villanueva. They also have the young talents that can be ready for the re-building of the team, namely, Jimbo Aquino, John Wilson and JC Intal.

But Gin Kings really in-need of Big Men, especially now that Eric Menk is out and they lost Rudy Hatfield. They need to pick up an additional big guy that can fight position inside the paint.

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PBA Teams 2011-2012 Line-Up (B-Meg Llamados)

B-MEG LLAMADOS
Head Coach: Tim Cone

#          Player
0          Jonas Villanueva
1          Rico Maierhofer

Image by the PBA

2          Josh Urbiztondo
3          Mark Barroca
4          Rafi Reavis
8          PJ Simon
13        Roger Yap
15        Marc Pingris
18        James Yap
19        Jerwin Gaco
35        Kerby Raymundo
38        Joe Devance
55        John Ferriols
60        Hezy Val Acuna

With a new Head Coach, in the person of Tim Cone, this will be a new dimension for the Llamados. They still have the core fire power, James Yap, Simon, JDV, Pingris, and a new guard Mark Barroca.

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PBA Teams 2011-2012 Line-Up (Powerade Tigers)

POWERADE TIGERS
Head Coach: Bo Perasol


#           Players
1           Celino Cruz

Image by the PBA

3           James Martinez
4           Rudy Lingganay
8           Francis Allera
10         Sean Anthony
13         Marcio Lassiter
17         Rommel Adducul
18         Doug Kramer
20         Gary David
22         Joshua Vanlandingham
24         Ricky Calimag
34         Will Antonio
42         JV Casio
43         Alex Crisano

They had the No. 1 pick of the recent draft, JV Casio. Tigers are loaded of very young but reliable players. Casio, Lassiter, Martinez, Anthony and Vanlandingham, this sets of players are not just players that came out of nowhere. They have a very reputable record in International Tournament, College career and PBADL experience. They may be 'rookies' but I don't think so they will play like rookie.

I can say that this team is a well balance team with regards to talent and experience. Gary David, Celino Cruz, Ricky Calimag, Will Antonio and Rommel Adducul have the wisdom and experience that can complement the young talent of their new players.

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PBA Teams 2011-2012 Line-Up (Barako Bull Energy)

BARAKO BULL ENERGY
Head Coach: Edmundo Baculi, Jr.


#            Players
4            Dorian Pena

Image by the PBA

5            Jondan Salvador
8            Don Allado
11          Willie Miller
14          Leo Najorda
16          Paul Artadi
18          Allein Maliksi
19          Wynne Arboleda
26          Paul Sorongon
33          Dylan Ababou
42          Danny Seigle
80          Sunday Salvacion
88          Mick Pennisi
95          Leo Avenido
RESERVE/INJURED LIST
Lou Gatumbato
Ken Acibar

The renewed Barako Team, they could be the surprise of the season. Why? This Barako Bull is a team that have the youth that are 'ready' for a higher level of basketball. Maliksi and Ababou both have an MVP on their resume, Maliksi in PBADL and Ababou in UAAP. They also have a former PBA MVP Willie Miller with a combination of Danny Seigle and veteran Wynne Arboleda.

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PBA Teams 2011-2012 Line-Up (Meralco Bolts)

MERALCO BOLTS
Head Coach: Ryan Gregorio

#            Players
2            Chris Timberlake

Image by the PBA

3            Sol Mercado
5            Asi Taulava
7            Nelbert Omolon
8            Mark Yee
9            Yousif Aljamal
10          Gabby Espinas
12          Mark Isip
14          Mac Cardona
15          Gilbert Bulawan
16          Jason Ballesteros
26          Chico Lanete
80          Mark Macapagal
0            Bryan Faundo
RESERVE/INJURED LIST
Chris Ross
Reynel Hugnatan

Bolts is still struggling especially inside the paint. There is no question on their perimeter game, with Sol Mercado, Nelbert Omolon and Mac Cardona they are safe outside, with the addition of Chico Lanete and the streak shooter Mark Macapagal they strengthen their outside game but how will they maximize their outside shot if that is the only way that they can score, it will easily be defended, it will be quite obvious.

Gabby Espinas is maybe the only one that can play a more effective low post game compare to the veteran Asi Taulava and a more face-up player Mark Isip. Jason Ballesteros is an additional big guy but can he play in the post and banged bodies inside the paint?

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PBA Teams 2011-2012 Line-Up (Shopinas.com Clickers)

SHOPINAS.COM CLICKERS
Head Coach: Franz Pumaren

Image by the PBA

#              Players
1              Brian Ilad
5              Jojo Duncil
7              Mark Angelo Canlas
9              Elmer Espiritu
10            Magi Sison
12            Paulo Hubalde
13            RJ Jazul
14            Ren-Ren Ritualo
15            Rogemar Menor
33            Vaughn Canta
41            Khazim Mirza
52            Dennis Daa

They are the newest and the youngest team in the league. Clickers are the most inexperience team among all the team, three of them might have championship experience in the PBA, namely, Jojo Duncil, Paulo Hubalde and Ren-Ren Ritualo but that's it, nothing more.

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PBA Teams 2011-2012 Line-Up (TNT Tropang Texters)

TALK 'N TEXT TROPANG TEXTERS
Head Coach: Chot Reyes


#              Players

Image by the PBA

3              Jimmy Alapag
4              Harvey Carey
10            Ryan Reyes
12            Larry Fonacier
16            Pamboy Raymundo
17            Jason Castro
20            Jared Dilinger
21            Kelly Williams
35            Japeth Aguilar
33            Ranidel de Ocampo
34            Ali Peek
40            Rich Alvares
51            Aaron Aban
98            Gilbert Lao

They are the strongest team in papers. If you will just base the winnings in the list of players, TNT will win it all. NO DOUBT! Tropang Texters never move a finger in their line up, the only move they made was the addition of a very good prospect in the point guard position, Pamboy Raymundo. Japeth Aguilar was already in their line up before but they gave way for the Philippine Team.

I expect them to have a very good run this coming Conference. They have arguably the strongest and most talented All-Filipino line up for this season. They will have the 'MOST ATHLETIC' front line, ofcourse I'm not talking about Ali Peek, It's Kelly Williams and Japeth Aguilar. Can you imagine dunk after dunk for this two high flying players?

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PBA Teams 2011-2012 Line-Up (RoS Ealsto Painters)

RAIN OR SHINE ELASTO PAINTERS
Head Coach: Yeng Guiao

#              Players
1              Jonathan Uyloan
3              Paul Lee
5              Larry Rodriguez

Image by the PBA

6              Jireh Ibanes
8              Ronjay Buenafe
10            Gabe Norwood
11            Tyrone Tang
16            Jeff Chan
18            Ryan Arana
20            Jervy Cruz
21            Chito Jaime
30            Beau Belga
33            Ronnie Matias
48            Ronald Quinahan

Elasto Painters could also be the another dark horse in this coming Conference. They have their own core three Ronjay Buenafe, Ryan Arana and Gabe Norwood, they can be the difference maker. They also have a solid back up, with Jeff Chan, Beau Belga, Larry Rodriguez and Jervy Cruz.

The addition of Paul Lee in the line up will mean a more stable point guard for the team. He can create for his teammate and also create his own shot. They also have big guys that are willing to fight inside the paint and sacrifice their own body for the rebound.

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PBA Teams 2011-2012 Line-Up (Alaska Aces)

ALASKA ACES
Head Coach: Joel Banal


#           Players
0           Julius Pasculado
3           Cyrus Baguio

Image by the PBA

4           Jay-R Reyes
5           LA Tenorio
7           Sonny Thoss
10         Mac Baracael
12         Eric Salamat
13         Bon-Bon Custodio
21         Paolo Bugia
24         Brandon Cablay
26         Ariel Mepana
33         Sam Eman
34         Wesley Gonzales
35         Tony Dela Cruz
RESERVE/INJURED LIST
Hans Thiele
Ervin Sotto

Without Tim Cone? Alaska will still be ready to fight, Coach Joel Banal will still be doing the Triangle Offense that most of the players know how to do it. Offense will not be a problem at all because Triangle Offense is a continues offense and Aces know how to adjust.

With the addition of the Julius Pasculado, Eric Salamat and Mac Baracael, Aces will have a new set of fire power. They said that Pascualdo could be the steal of the recent draft, so, let's see if he is. Salamat is a good physical player especially in his position as a point guard, and Baracael, the international experience of his will be an advantage for his game and also for the team.

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PBA Teams 2011-2012 Line-Up (Petron Blaze Boosters)

PETRON BLAZE BOOSTERS
Head Coach: Ato Agustin

#            Players
3            Chris Lutz
4            Marc Agustin

Image by the PBA

5            Alex Cabagnot
6            Rey Guevarra
7            Dondon Hontiveros
10          Danny Ildefonso
11          Rabeh Al-Hussaini
18          Joseph Yeo
23          Jay Washington
27          Siverino Baclao
29          Arwind Santos
32          Dennis Miranda
34          Carlo Sharma

The Grand Slam stopper and the last Conference Champion, They have a high moral and momentum. With the returning "Cebuano Hotshot" Dondon Hontiveros, they will be on top shape again. Additional outside shooter and great defender, a huge lift especially that Washington and Al-Hussaini will be coming from injuries.

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Alaska without Tim Cone

Coach Tim Cone
(Image buy the PBA)

It's official!

Coach Tim Cone ended his contract with the Alaska Aces.

Yes, you read it right it is true, it's Coach Tim Cone.

It's really hard to imagine an Alaska team with out a Coach Tim Cone, but according to the story in Teledyaryo Sports, Coach Tim wants to explore new challenges outside Alaska, and The Team Management of Alaska accepted it and they assigned Coach Joel Banal as the new Head Coach of the team.

But who is Coach Tim Cone for Alaska?

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