Alaska continued to sizzle even as Miller slowed down, staying on the run with a 100-79 whipping of Coca-Cola in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome Friday night.

The Aces played steady basketball with practically everybody having their contributions as they stretched their unbeaten run to three games following earlier wins over the Barako Bull Energy Boosters and the San Miguel Beermen.

Miller was spectacular in their first two games, averaging 22 points, 10.5 rebounds and 7.5 assists. He was particularly awesome in three-point shooting, hitting at a 78-percent clip.

The two-time MVP awardee struggled for nine points versus the Tigers, but LA Tenorio, Reynel Hugnatan, Joe Devance and Larry Fonacier were among the Aces that picked up the cudgels.

“We were trying very hard through the last couples of conferences to establish our second group. They stepped up and created their identity tonight,” said Alaska coach Tim Cone lauding Hugnatan, Fonacier and Mark Borboran.

“The first group came out strong in the first quarter then the second group picked it up in the second quarter. The same thing happened in the second half. That’s the story of the game,” Cone added.

The Alaska mentor also said catching Coca-Cola minus Asi Taulava made things easier for them.

“It’s a big opportunity and we seized it,” said Cone.

The Aces dominated the Tigers, priming them up for what could be a slam-bang duel with the Barangay Ginebra Kings Sunday.

It’s actually a Big Time double-header featuring the four remaining unbeaten teams in the tourney — the Aces versus the Kings and the Talk n Text Phone Pals against the Sta. Lucia Realtors.

Alex Cabagnot gave the Tigers a big push towards the end of the third quarter as Coca-Cola charged from a 13-point deficit, coming to within one at 61-62.

The Aces, however, quickly regrouped and unraveled key counter runs to win the game pulling away.

Opting for a small starting lineup composed of Cabagnot, RJ Rizada, Marvin Cruz, Larry Rodriguez and Dennis Espino, the Tigers gave away the rebounds and trailed by six, 20-26, in the opening quarter.

Coca-Cola made some adjustments to control the boards in the second period but faltering offense had the team still on the trail, 37-41, at the half.

Tenorio and Hugnatan led the assault for Alaska in the first period then Fonacier and Jeff Cariaso took over in the second canto. (SB)

The scores:

Alaska 100 – Tenorio 17, Hugnatan 14, De Vance 12, Fonacier 12, Miller 9, Borboran 8, Dela Cruz 8, Thoss 6, Ferriols 5, Cariaso 5, Burtscher 4, Cablay 0.

Coca-Cola 79 – Cabagnot 15, Cruz 11, Rizada 10, Gonzales W. 9, Gonzales N. 9, Rodriguez 6, Allera 5, Bono 5, Espino 5, Ross 2, Calimag 2, Catli 0.

Quarterscores: 26-20, 41-37, 64-61, 100-79

Pba.ph

In the middle of the second quarter of the Burger King-Smart Gilas game last Friday, Wynne Arboleda decided to change careers from pro basketball player to UFC fighter and attacked a fan who had supposedly provoked him by hurling curses and invectives.

The league responded by slapping the Whoppers guard with its harshest penalty ever: A full season suspension without pay.

But what was the root of the problem?

In a span of 18 minutes prior to the insanity, BK had committed four flagrant fouls. The first came from Arboleda, who sent a welcome-to-the-PBA clothesline to the side of the head of a driving JV Casio. Then, Gary David chipped in his own hard foul on Marc Barroca. Then rookie Ronnie Matias unloaded a swinging elbow as powerful as a Federer backhand to Chris Tiu. Then the infamous “oops I slipped” undercut of Arboleda on a driving Baracael that got him thrown out.

There were other flagrant fouls that should have been called. Like when Arboleda fought the screen of Casio by elbowing Casio’s chin. Such a blow above the shoulders was enough reason for ejection.

Any responsible coach would have taken out a player who clearly wanted to hurt his opponents. And this other team is not just any team, but our national team filled with kids training and playing their hearts out for the country. While they are compensated well, they still risk injury everyday as they put their pro dreams on hold to pursue the more noble dreams of representing the country.

Intense physical competition is normally expected from a heated rivalry in the middle of a championship series, like Ginebra and Purefoods in the 1990s. But what could possibly have caused that heat and “fabricated” intensity against a national team that only wants to improve its game?

It certainly wasn’t an attempt to simulate international play. I’ve seen so many international basketball games. And believe me, those fouls would not have been accepted in any international play. I’m sure that once the international basketball community gets a tape of that game, they will be appalled.

How did the referees fail to see the intentions of the burly veterans? If the PBA technical committee was indeed competent, they would’ve ordered the players to stop the shenanigans. Let’s not be naive gentlemen, we know what basketball is and is not.

Arboleda should have been banished much earlier. All told, he committed four fouls, two of them flagrant, and then attacked the fan all in officially three minutes of playing time. That is one for the Guinness book of world records indeed.

So could this have been stopped? Yes of course. Ejecting the fan that could not hold his emotions would have avoided the mauling. But would the hard flagrant fouls have continued?

There were unconfirmed reports that the game plan from the bench was to be a man and to put the kids in their place. One wonders why even a rookie like Matias had the nerve to throw an unprovoked elbow at Tiu’s chin. No rookie in his right mind would do that in his second game in the pros.

And that’s the key word there—provocation. Arboleda claims he was provoked by the cursing. But what could have possibly provoked that kind of play? Was it revenge for the Japeth issue? Was it payback for Powerade being humiliated by Smart Gilas in the charity game? In my entire coaching experience, no player would dare play the way the Whoppers did had they not received the “green light” from somewhere.

It was clear, too, that team management should have stepped in and stopped the carnage. Is this the way they want to start the season with their board representative as league chairman? I sure hope not.

The Commissioner’s office has missed the point. The criminal/criminals get the punishment while the mastermind manages to get off the hook and go free to create more havoc? – Inquirer.net

Tubid pumped in a trey then scored on a drive following his own steal, triggering a decisive 11-3 run that keyed the Kings’ second win following a triumphant debut against the San Miguel Beermen Wednesday.

Jayjay Helterbrand put in team highs of 19 points and nine assists while Willy Wilson came through with a career-best of 16 points as the Kings pulled abreast with the Aces who earlier won their first two matches in the all-Filipino tourney against the Barako Bull Energy Boosters and the Beermen.

Mark Caguioa was limited to eight points after scattering 17 points Wednesday — his return from a one-year layoff.

“Both team struggled tonight. It’s good we ran a streak at the right time,” said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico.

“It’s a big back-to-back wins for us. To be honest, medyo takot ako in our first two games. We’ve got new players at dalawang malakas agad ang kalaban namin. We wanted sana na maka-adjust muna sa system namin ang mga new players namin,” Uichico also said.

“The veterans did a good job, nakalusot kami against San Miguel and Purefoods.”

The Kings take a four-day rest before facing another tough back-to-back games against Smart Gilas Friday and Alaska Sunday.

“Hopefully, we can pick up from tonight’s game, we continue to improve and get past Smart Gilas and Alaska. Pero siguradong mahirap na laban yon,” said Uichico.

The Giants, winners over the Burger King Whoppers in the season opener, provided a tough battle, fighting the Kings through 10 deadlocks and 13 lead changes.

James Yap fired 21 points, including a fastbreak layup giving Purefoods its last taste of the lead at 76-74.

The count was tied at 78-all before Billy Mamaril canned in a charity then Tubid struck with his five-point binge pushing the Kings ahead at 84-78 with 2:16 left to play.

Biboy Simon and Helterbrand traded a triple each in the ensuing plays as the Kings eventually settled the outcome of the game, getting the two-game roll after a runner-up finish in the most recent Fiesta Conference.

Enrico Villanueva started at power forward spot against his former team, coming through with 10 points, three rebounds and one assists in 25 minutes of play.

Rich Alvarez, another Purefoods player, was 0-of-2 from the field.

Eric Menk sat out the game due to a fractured small toe on left foot. (SB)

The scores:

Ginebra 95 – Helterbrand 19, Wilson 16, Tubid 14, Villanueva 10, Mamaril 9, Salvacion 9, Caguioa 8, Intal 5, Baguio 4, Cruz 1, Alvarez 0.

Purefoods 87 – Yap J. 21, Simon 16, Yap R. 13, Maierhofer 9, Artadi 8, Pingris 8, Raymundo 6, Timberlake 3, Allado 2, Reavis 1, Canaleta 0.

Quarterscores: 23-22, 38-39, 66-61, 95-87

What is outright scary is when the Beermen iron out the rough edges of their game and unleash the true power of their talented roster.

Despite posting an early 11-point lead, San Miguel was thrown off by a second-quarter blitz engineered by the returning Mark Caguioa, Jayjay Helterbrand and Ronald Tubid.

* * *

When Ginebra plays small and hits emotional shots, it stirs its faithful fans and unfurls a volatile concoction that opponents find difficult to deal with.

Ginebra outscored San Miguel, 18-9, on the break and was sharper, 47 to 38 percent, from the field. It didn’t help at all that the Beermen couldn’t nail a trey all night, missing all 15 three-point attempts.

It was clear that there was some getting used to that the Beermen had to address.

New recruits Arwind Santos and Denok Miranda were feeling their way around. Their teammates were still getting accustomed to when they would take their shots and how they would move alongside them.

Anybody who has played hoops knows that the equation changes when somebody you’ve played against suddenly becomes your teammate.

It can be expected that this will not last very long.

* * *

Siot Tanquingcen is not unfamiliar to the role of conductor of an orchestra of virtuosos. Once everybody settles into the roles they are assigned, San Miguel should be quite a force to deal with in the tournament.

In the backcourt, they have Jonas Villanueva, Olsen Racela, Mike Cortez and Miranda and up front, there are Mick Pennisi, Dorian Pena, Danny Ildefonso, Danny Seigle and Santos.

That’s not even the complete lineup and still you can make two great starting fives. San Miguel has enough interchangeable parts that will be useful when the wear and tear of a long conference kicks in.

* * *

Take nothing away from Ginebra though.

Back with its core of Caguioa, Helterbrand, Menk and Tubid for the first time in a while, the Gin Kings play with a passion that is the envy of many teams. What it lacks in size, Ginebra makes up for with spunk and emotional runs that can overhaul leads and inspire breakaways.

The return of Caguioa is an early Yuletide gift for the Ginebra legions. They would rather have The Spark playing for them than not at all. His 17-point comeback performance against San Miguel could be a sign of good tidings to come for the Barangay.

The acquaintance party is on.

The teams that shortens the getting-to-know-you part of the season will have the best shots at choice spots at the end of the classification phase.

Source: Inquirer.net

The continuous barrage of invectives and insults towards my person, my family and my team were just too difficult to withstand.

Much to my regret, I lost my composure. I realize that this type of behavior by some PBA fans should be considered by players as part of the game and that these usually challenge the emotional capacity of players and other athletes.

Even as I take this opportunity to apologize to Allain Katigbak and his family, as well as the PBA fans for this unfortunate incident, at the same time, I raise an appeal on behalf of other players to the PBA to recognize that provocations and invectives directed towards specific players unnecessarily test our limitations and that proper behavior must also be expected from the basketball fans.

Such an incident has happened in previous games. There should be ways devised to appeal to both players and the public as to the proper decorum and respect we should accord each other.

Thank you for taking time to hear my apology.

Wynne Arboleda

Burger King Basketball Team