A few days after they got robbed right inside the Mall of Asia Arena, the Meralco Bolts rebounded by finishing strong and beating the Air21 Express. Sol Mercado and Mac Cardona combined for 42 points to lead the Bolts, now at 3 wins and 2 losses, while Reynel Hugnatan and Jay-R Reyes paired up for 17 points and 24 rebounds down low.
Meralco employed great defense here, limiting all but one Express player to single digits (John Wilson netted 16 points), while also forcing 19 Air21 turnovers. Meralco coach Ryan Gregorios wards shot a blistering 41% from beyond the arc, highlighted by a combined 10 treys from Mercado, Cardona, and Ronjay Buenafe.
In the second game, the Boosters relied on steady execution in the second half to turn back the tough-fighting Ginebra Kings. Alex Cabagnot came through this time around, seemingly responding to the call-out made by teammate Arwind Santos after their previous loss, scoring 25 points while dishing out 9 assists. For his part, Santos recorded a monster double-double, scoring 22 markers, collaring 17 rebounds, and blocking 2 shots. Former Gilas standout Chris Lutz, who engaged Ginebra ace Mark Caguioa in a word war throughout the match, also did well, putting up 18 points. Former Green Archer Joseph Yeo, meanwhile, hit 4 triples on his way to finishing with 16 markers.
Caguioa led the Kings with 23 points, but he shot just 9-of-25 from the field. LA Tenorio also had a good game, bouncing back from his subpar performance last Friday by recording 15 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds. It was all for naught, however, as Ginebra fell for the third time in a row after winning its first two assignments.
Game Recaps: MERALCO BOLTS over AIR21 EXPRESS, 85-72
Meralco notched a win that somehow eased the pain on its horrific experience from its previous trip at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Bolts vented their ire on the Air 21 Express for an 85-72 win in the 2013 PBA Philippine Cup, coming out winners this time at the state-of-the-art venue in Pasay City.
We defended well today. We defended our things well and the numbers put up by Air 21 are not so significant, said Meralco head coach Ryan Gregorio, who was among Bolts member victimized by thieves who ransacked their locker room last Wednesday, during halftime of their 105-104 loss to GlobalPort.
After that harrowing experience, we were able to bounce back strong, came out with better focus, competed and played good basketball.
Gregorio blamed himself on their one-point loss to Batang Pier but his players came out with better focus and determination for 48 minutes to claim their third win in five matches.
With Meralco management deploying its own security personnel for the locker room, the Bolts were able to concentrate on the battle on the court.
Solomon Mercado finished with a game-high 24 points spiked by five three-pointers, while Mark Cardona and Ronjay Buenafe contributed 18 and 13 points, respectively, for the Bolts
Reynel Hugnatan also came up huge for Meralco with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
John Wilson was the lone Air 21 player in double figures with 16 points. The Express win-loss record dropped to 1-4.
Air 21 was in the thick of things early in the fourth quarter, trailing 63-59, before Hugnatan and Cardona joined forces for a decisive 16-3 burst to pull away from a tight contest with 5:13 left in the game.
Were lacking consistency right now. We can compete in certain level but we cant execute down the stretch, said Express coach Franz Pumaren. I guess the players are still feeling each other.
PETRON BLAZE BOOSTERS over BGY. GINEBRA KINGS, 98-95
Arwind Santos scored 22 points and grabbed 17 rebounds, while Alex Cabagnot added 25 points as Petron snapped its two-game Philippine Cup losing streak with a 98-95 victory over Ginebra Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The victory came just two days after Santos called out his teammates for lacking heart. In earlier comments to InterAKTV, he specifically mentioned Cabagnots play.
After the game, Santos stood by his statements.
Alam niya naman kung bakit ako nagsalita ng ganoon. Alam niya naman ang pagkatao ko, said Santos.
Sana yung pagkakabitaw ko ng salitang yun, sana magtuloy-tuloy pa. Sana maintindihan nila ako. Sabi ko kay Alex, Prove it to me.
Petron was up in the fourth quarter, 89-80, on a layup by Joseph Yeo, before Ginebra rattled off an 11-2 run to come within two points. A putback by Willie Wilson a couple of plays later tied the game at 95-all.
Petron regained the lead on a layup by Joseph Yeo, before LA Tenorio threw the ball away in the ensuing possession with less than 10 seconds to go. Ginebra sent Cabagnot to the line, and the Boosters point guard split his free throws.
Mark Caguioa had one last shot to tie the game for Ginebra, but his three-point attempt hit the back of the iron, allowing Santos to collar the rebound to seal the win.
Cabagnot added eight assists, while Chris Lutz had 18 points. Yeo chipped in 16 points, including four three-pointers.
I think Petron plays better with an injured lineup, said Boosters coach Olsen Racela, who lost veteran Danny Ildefonso during the game due to a dislocated left shoulder. The team is already without top pick June Mar Fajardo, who underwent an operation for his swollen scrotum.
It really shows the character of the team. Everyone is helping out, added Racela.
It was Ginebras third consecutive loss after winning its first two Philippine Cup assignments. Petron moved into a tie with the Gin Kings in the standings with similar 2-3 win-loss records.
Gilas Pilipinas survived a scare from Thailand, 81-74, to notch a win in its initial assignment last August 20 at the start of the men's basketball competitions in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Kiefer Ravena (181-G/F-93), Baser Amer, Bobby Ray Parks (193-G-93), and Christian Standhardinger (206-F-89, college: Hawaii) exerted extra effort to pull of the win and give the pro-dominant Filipino crowd in the MABA Stadium something to cheer about. With a team made... [read more]
Gilas Pilipinas survived a scare from Thailand, 81-74, to notch a win in its initial assignment last August 20 at the start of the men's basketball competitions in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
With a team made up of mostly cadets, the Filipinos made their work cut out for them by the tough stand from the Thais who were lead by 17 points from Thai-American Tyler Lamb (196-G-91, college: Long Beach St.).
Troy Rosario (201-PF-92) paced Gilas with 16 markers and 10 rebounds while starting at center while Standhardinger, coming from a stint in the FIBA Asia Cup in Lebanon, added 15 points and 10 boards.
The Thais were leading, 71-69, with four minutes left until Ravena and company unleashed a 12-3 finishing kick compounded by Lamb fouling out within the last two minutes of the game.
The scores:
Philippines (81) - Rosario 16, Standhardinger 15, Parks 14, Ravena 11, Tolomia 8, Amer 6, Jose 6, Vosotros 3, Ferrer 2, Paras 0, Pessumal 0.
Aris Ignacio is from the Philippines and has always been a big fan of Philippine basketball. Aris' follows the Philippine Basketball Association since the late 80's and has learned the history and personalities of the PBA. He also has interest with other basketball tournaments in the Philippines and beyond most specifically college basketball (UAAP, NCAA), the Asian Basketball League (ABL), FIBA Asia and World Cup tournaments. Follow Aris Ignacio on Twitter at aris_ignacio.
Gilas Pilipinas dropped a 10-0 blast in the last 1:47 minutes left in the game to edge Jordan, 75-70, last August 20 to clinched seventh place and end its campaign in a high note in the conclusion of the FIBA Asia Cup 2017 in Beirut, Lebanon. The seventh place finish was the worst for the Philippines since its eighth place finish in 2009. Gilas finished second in the last two editions in 2015 and 2013. Terrence Romeo (180-PG-92) and Matthew Wright (193-G-91, college: St.Bonaventure) bo... [read more]
Gilas Pilipinas dropped a 10-0 blast in the last 1:47 minutes left in the game to edge Jordan, 75-70, last August 20 to clinched seventh place and end its campaign in a high note in the conclusion of the FIBA Asia Cup 2017 in Beirut, Lebanon.
The seventh place finish was the worst for the Philippines since its eighth place finish in 2009.
Gilas finished second in the last two editions in 2015 and 2013.
Terrence Romeo (180-PG-92) and Matthew Wright (193-G-91, college: St.Bonaventure) both finished with 13 points apiece to pace the nationals, who pulled of the win despite shooting a dismal 34 percent from the field.
Mousa Alawadi (188-G-85) led the Jordanian side with 21 points.
The Filipinos were still leading, 65-59, when Jordan, coached by former player Sam Daghles (198-G-79, college: Midwestern St.), scored an 11-0 run to seize the lead on Alawadi's basket.
Jordan (70) - Alawadi 21, Hussein 13, Alhamarsheh 12, Abdeen 10, Abu Hawwas 8, Zaghab 3, Eid 0, Abuwazaneh 0.
Quarterscores: 17-17; 35-27; 58-53; 75-70.
Aris Ignacio is from the Philippines and has always been a big fan of Philippine basketball. Aris' follows the Philippine Basketball Association since the late 80's and has learned the history and personalities of the PBA. He also has interest with other basketball tournaments in the Philippines and beyond most specifically college basketball (UAAP, NCAA), the Asian Basketball League (ABL), FIBA Asia and World Cup tournaments. Follow Aris Ignacio on Twitter at aris_ignacio.
Marinerong Pilipino nears D-League playoff berth - 4 days ago
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Marinerong Pilipino continued its dream run to the playoff round after moving within a win away from clinching a spot in the 2017 PBA D-League Foundation Cup quarterfinals following a 138-69 crushing of Gamboa Coffee Mix Monday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig. The 69-point spread set the second-most winning margin in league history, seven points shy of the 76-point record set by Tanduay against Zark's Burgers last July 10. Pao Javelona topped the Skippers' all-out assault, pouring in 16 p... [read more]
Marinerong Pilipino continued its dream run to the playoff round after moving within a win away from clinching a spot in the 2017 PBA D-League Foundation Cup quarterfinals following a 138-69 crushing of Gamboa Coffee Mix Monday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig. The 69-point spread set the second-most winning margin in league history, seven points shy of the 76-point record set by Tanduay against Zark's Burgers last July 10. Pao Javelona topped the Skippers' all-out assault, pouring in 16 points, three assists, and two rebounds as seven others scored in double-digits in the dominant victory. Joseph Marata fired all of his 15 markers in the first half, where Marinerong Pilipino raced to a comfortable 57-41 halftime edge. Ralph Salcedo and Renzo Subido both logged 12 points and five assists in the win. The Skippers can book a seat to the playoffs with a victory over AMA Online Education next Thursday, and coach Koy Banal has his eyes set on that goal. 'Miracles still happen. Who knows, maybe we can pull off another miracle,' he said. 'We're hoping that we'll be able to be smart in our preparation so that we'll be ready for the next level.' Marinerong Pilipino has now won its fourth consecutive game to hike its standing to 5-4. Playing-coach Leo Avenido captained the skidding Gamboa Coffee Mix (1-8) with 24 points, while Ken Acibar poured 14 markers and nine rebounds in the team's eighth straight defeat. Courtesy of: inquirer.net
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