Star outlasts Ginebra in Game 1
Game Today (Mall of Asia Arena) 7 p.m. – TNT vs San Miguel (San Miguel leads series 1-0)
The Star Hotshots once again defied the odds behind clutch baskets by Paul Lee and another vintage performance by Marc Pingris to hold off Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 78-74, and take the early lead in their own best-of-seven semifinal series in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Lee's triple with 3:41 remaining
With their confidence continuing to soar, the defending champion San Miguel Beermen (SMB) look to repeat over TNT KaTropa and gain a 2-0 lead tonight in Game 2 of their best-of-seven semifinal series in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena.
There's seems to be no signs of slowing down for the Beermen after leaning on a strong start aided by their outside shooting in winning the series opener, 111-98, two days ago at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Coach Leo Austria, who described his team's near-perfect performance as if they were like playing an orchestra, said that San Miguel is on a different level.
“I'm happy to see them na talagang nag-ienjoy sila sa game. I think it's because they know how to win, they understand how to win at alam na alam na nila kung ano ang gagawin ng isa't-isa,” Austria said.
Austria's sentiments was shared by veteran forward Arwind Santos, adding that the familiarity with one another has made them play beautiful music.
“Ang maganda dito sa team namin, nag-eenjoy kami,” said Santos. “Kung baga, comfortable na kami sa isa't-isa, may tiwala kami sa isa't-isa, buong-buo na kami. Kung baga sa pamilya, may kusa.”
While San Miguel's play has resulted in 11 straight victories, Austria admitted there are still kinks on their
Miguel Tabuena birdied the 17th hole and salvaged a one-under 71 leaving him eight shots off hot-starting Marc Warren of Scotland in the opening round of the Maybank Championship in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.
Tabuena produced his two other birdies in the frontnine but his back-to-back bogeys on the 5th and 6th holes denied him from posting a better round in the tournament he almost won last year. in the fourth shattered a 71-all tie, but his biggest shot came with 26 seconds remaining when he used a Pingris screen before spinning off Japeth Aguilar and Sol Mercado to score a one-handed bank shot for the game's final tally.
Star's resiliency was best exemplified by Pingris, who helped set up teammates through five consecutive post plays during a crucial a stretch of the final period while anchoring the team's defense that left Ginebra scoreless in its final four possessions.
Coach Chito Victolero felt like he had won a prized fight as the Hotshots, who were never expected to reach this point entering the conference, armor. Whether TNT could find a gambit to expose them, he added, remains to be seen.
“Maraming butas na mayroon kami, and maswerte kami na hindi pa nila nakikita. It's up to them (TNT),” he said.
TNT coach Nash Racela is hoping to discover those holes, and subsequently avoid falling to a 0-2 hole.
“We'll find ways. I know it’s gonna be a long series,” said Racela. “If one thing doesn't work, we'll find another and hopefully we find the right scheme.”
Racela and the KaTropa seem to have no choice but to pick their poison – whether to contain San Miguel's star center June Mar Fajardo or neutralize the Beermen's outside shooting led by Marcio Lassiter.
TNT was helpless against SMB's long-range accuracy, with Lassiter draining four triples in the contest that saw the Beermen take a 32-16 lead at the end of the first quarter. By the game's end, the Beermen went on to make 16-of-26 from three-point territory.
“Give credit to San Miguel, they are really a talented team,” Racela said. “Mahirap piliin sino babantayan, but we'll find a way.”
TNT star Jayson Castro echoed that difficulty, saying: “Worry namin is paano dipensahan si June Mar dahil alam naman natin kung paano niya idominate yung paint. At the same time yung outside shot nila, kung paano namin mali-limit.”
Warren, 35, ended a glorious scoring day two strokes ahead of the talented Thai Phachara Khongwatmai, thanks to a flying 63 highlighted by one eagle and seven birdies as he chases a fourth European Tour victory and first since 2014.
The other Filipinos bets fared even badly with Tony Lascuna posting a 73 while Angelo will need a miracle to make the cut after an 80. won their seventh straight game and gain a headstart against the favored Ginebra side.
This time, Star didn't need a lopsided victory with its high-octane offense like in the last six wins. Instead, it was their trademark defense that helped them grind out a low-scoring battle.
“It was all about our team effort and our team defense,” Victolero said. “I told them that we need that mental toughness in order for us to win. Yun talaga ang pinaghahandaan namin, having that proper mindset.” Lee showed why Star acquired him in an offseason trade with Rain or
CaféFrance leaned on a hot start to the third quarter and routed Jose Rizal University (JRU), 75-57, yesterday in the PBA D-League Aspirants' Cup at
In what some quarters believe is a big blow to Philippine tennis, the association which has suffered years of humiliation has been handed back to Salvador Andrada who was elected head of the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) in an election boycotted by a group that has financially sustained the association.
Andrada had earlier promised the group of businessman Jean Henri Lhuiller that he would not seek the presidency. But he had a change of heart and was elected by a 12-man board without the participation of Lhuillier’s group.
Lhuillier walked out from the proceedings and was joined by Randy Villanueva , his father Lito and board member Gerald Maronilla. In boycotting the elections, the group said Andrada Shine and finished with 18 points, nine in the final period even as Pingris was all hustle on his way to nine points, 12 rebounds, five assists, three steals and three blocks in 35 minutes.
Marc Barroca added 17 points while rookie guard Jio Jalalon chipped in six points and nine rebounds for the Hotshots, who will try to gain a 2-0 lead against Ginebra when the two sides meet tomorrow afternoon at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Priding itself on defense, Star forced Ginebra to 24 turnovers while closing it at 38-37 at halftime after trailing by a high of 10 in the second quarter.
Ginebra's biggest lead the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
The Bakers were only up by 2, 3836 entering the second half, before the trio of Rod Ebondo, University of the Philippines star Paul Desiderio and and University of Santo Tomas' Jeepy Faundo to turn a tight game into a blowout victory for coach Egay Macaraya's didn't keep his word.
Apparently, Andrada had promised to hand over the reins of the Philta to a new set of officers owing to health problems but changed his mind at the last minute, saying that he had fully recovered and fit to lead anew.
Andrada is 81 years old and suffers from a host of ailments including diabetes and heart disease. He also was president of Philta from 1986 to 2006.
Elected as vice president was Romy Magat, who was also named secretary general. They will serve for came at 24-14, but its inconsistent play before the break allowed Star to close in and eventually turn the game around.
Chris Ellis topscored for Ginebra with 12 points, but Japeth Aguilar struggled by going 4-of-13 from the floor despite 11 points.
LA Tenorio, coming off a 31-point performance in the quarterfinal victory over Alaska last Tuesday, could only produce eight points as he missed 8-of-11 shots from the field.
Lee 18, Barroca 17, Pingris 9, Sangalang 8, Maliksi 7, Jalalon 6, Reavis 5, Melton 5, Dela Rosa 2, Ramos 1, Brondial 0.
Aguilar 11, Ellis 12, Cruz 10, Mercado 10, Tenorio 8, Thompson 7, Ferrer 7, MArcelo 5, Mariano 4.
Quarters: 14-19, 37-38, 60-58, 78-74. boys.
Ebondo scored six, Desiderio had five while Faundo made all of his four points in a 17-2 run that put CafeFrance ahead 55-38 on Aaron Jeruta's basket with 4:21 left in the third.
Ebondo finished with 21 points, nine rebounds and three blocks in 28 minutes, Desiderio had 13 points, eight rebounds and three assists and Faundo hauled down seven boards as the Bakers tied the Tanduay Rhum Masters for second at 3-1. two years.
Only 11 out of 12 board members showed up but Lhuillier's group, made up of four, didn't participate.
Lhuillier, who brought the world's tennis stars such as Venus Williams, Rafaael Nadal, Maria Sharapova and Roger Federer to play here, was being groomed to take over Philta until Andrada had a sudden change of heart.
Andrada is known to be close to top officials of the Philippine Olympic Committee and also served as member of the Philippine Sports Commission as one of the commissioners under PSC chairman Ricardo Garcia.
But in a statement yesterday, POC first vice president Joey Romasanta appeared unhappy with the result of the Philta election.
"You cannot hold an election that is piecemeal," said Romasanta.