By Waylon Galvez

Games Saturday (The Arena, San Juan)

8:30 a.m. – San Sebastian vs Perpetual Help (Junior’s)

10 a.m. – San Sebastian vs Perpetual Help (Men’s)

12 noon – San Sebastian vs Perpetual Help (Women’s)

2 p.m. – JRU vs San Beda (Women’s)

3:30 p.m. – JRU vs San Beda (Men’s)

5 p.m. – JRU vs San Beda (Junior’s)

Letran rallied from a set down to hand Emilio Aguinaldo College a 22-25, 25-10, 25-18, 25-13 defeat for its first win in the NCAA Season 95 volleyball tournament Friday at The Arena in San Juan.

Chamberlaine Cuñada delivered big for the Lady Knights with 24 points, including two blocks, three service aces to go with 17 digs.

Letran coach Mike Inoferio said her players were able to adjust and refocus in the second set.

Libero Julia Angeles collected 30 digs and had seven receptions, while Dane Iam Ohya and Julienne Castro contributed 15 and 11 points, respectively, for Letran.

Rookie Catherine Almazan led the Lady Generals with 13 points while Krizzia Reyes had eight points.

Meanwhile, Joshua Miña scored 16 points, including two blocks, while Danrich Melad had 15 points as EAC open its men’s campaign with a 25-19, 25-18, 25-17 romp of Letran.

The Brigadiers, meantime, for 11 hits from Ricardo Maglapid as they edged the Squires, 30-28, 25-18, 28-26, in juniors’ play.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Waylon Galvez

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel governor Alfrancis Chua got a perfect birthday gift following the team’s title quest in Game 5 against Meralco in the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals Friday night at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Chua, sports director of San Miguel Corporation, turned 52 and before the game expressed apprehension that it would add pressure on the players to end the series and win the championship.

“Kanina ako ang kinakabahan,” said Chua, a former coach of Ginebra.

“Kasi baka ma-pressure yung mga players na sabihin birthday ko and they have to win. But I thank God, and I thank my family na – for the first time championship. Birthday ko tapos nag-champion. Malaking gift,” he added.

For him, however, Chua dedicates the championship to SMC big boss Ramon S. Ang – famously known with his initials RSA, who he said is very much hands-on with all his three PBA teams, which also include San Miguel Beer and Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok.

“Me and boss RSA, everything, the whole team, lahat ng teams namin ino-organize namin ng maayos, naka-hands on talaga si boss. Sinasabi niya kung anong kulang ng team, anong maganda, anong ganito, paano,” he said.

“Imagine after 1-0, tapos natalo, tapos nanalo 2-1, pinatawag niya pa yung team noong Monday kinausap niya ang sabi niya, “Kunin natin ‘to” – we’re very thankful that we have a boss like RSA,” Chua added.

Chua said that he will forever treasure this one – because Ginebra won on his birthday. But while he considers it a perfect gift, it’s, however, not up to him to give ‘gifts’ to players for winning the title.

“Napaka-gandang regalo… hindi ko malilimutan ito hangga’t nabubuhay ako – first time ito. Yung regalo naman namin sa kanila, si Boss RSA ang magde-desisyon nun,” said Chua.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Rookie guard Ja Morant had 26 points and eight assists, Dillon Brooks scored 24 and the Memphis Grizzlies won their sixth straight game by defeating the Houston Rockets 121-110 on Tuesday night.

Jonas Valanciunas added 19 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. had 15 despite going 6 of 16 from the floor. Morant missed only one of his 11 shots as the Grizzlies extended their longest winning streak since December 2016.

James Harden led the Rockets with 41 points as backcourt mate Russell Westbrook took the night off in the first game of a back-to-back. Eric Gordon finished with 23 points, and Clint Capela had 16 points and 16 rebounds.

Harden has scored at least 40 points in five straight games against the Grizzlies.

The teams were tied at 95 with about eight minutes left when the Grizzlies went on an 11-1 run fueled by 3-pointers from Solomon Hill, Brooks and Morant.

CLIPPERS 128, CAVALIERS 103

LOS ANGELES — Kawhi Leonard scored a season-high 43 points in three quarters as Los Angeles routed Cleveland.

According to Sportradar, it was only the second time since 1996 a Clippers player scored at least 40 points in the first three quarters. Lou Williams had 40 against Golden State in a 2018 game.

Leonard played 29 minutes and was 14 of 22 from the floor, including 6 of 10 on 3-pointers. He was two points from tying his regular-season career high.

Williams added 24 points for the Clippers, who played again without injured star Paul George. They have won five of six and had six scorers in double figures.

Collin Sexton led the Cavaliers with 25 points and Cedi Osman added 21. Rookie guard Darius Garland, the fifth overall pick in last June’s draft, had 14 points and a career-high 10 assists for his first double-double.

JAZZ 118, NETS 107

NEW YORK — Joe Ingles matched his career high with 27 points, Rudy Gobert had 22 points and 18 rebounds, and Utah ran its winning streak to 10 games by beating Brooklyn.

Donovan Mitchell returned from a one-game absence with an illness to score 25 points — 14 in the fourth quarter — and Bojan Bogdanovic had 18 for the Jazz, who opened a 20-point lead and turned back every attempt by the Nets to make it close.

Kyrie Irving had 32 points and a season-high 11 assists for Brooklyn in his second game back from a shoulder injury.
Utah has won 15 of 16.

BUCKS 128, KNICKS 102

MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo needed only 21 minutes on the court to score 37 points and lead Milwaukee past New York.

Antetokounmpo did not play in the fourth quarter after the Bucks built a 32-point lead entering the final period on the way to sweeping the three-game season series with the Knicks.

Khris Middleton added 17 points and Ersan Ilyasova had 14 points and seven rebounds for Milwaukee, which led by as many as 35 and improved its record to an NBA-best 36-6.

Julius Randle had 25 points and 15 rebounds to pace the Knicks (11-30), and rookie R.J. Barrett added 22 points. Bobby Portis had 20 off the bench.

MAVERICKS 124, WARRIORS 97

SAN FRANCISCO — Dwight Powell scored 21 points and was 9 for 9 from the field in Dallas’ victory over Golden State.

Luka Doncic added 20 points and eight rebounds as the Mavericks won their fourth straight against the Warriors — three in a row on their home floor.

Jordan Poole came off the bench to score 17 points for Golden State. Fellow reserve Eric Paschall added 16, but the Warriors lost their eighth consecutive game and fourth straight at Chase Center.

Injury-plagued Golden State lost another player when guard Jacob Evans III was taken to a hospital to be evaluated for a head injury. He was helped off the court with 4:38 left in the first half after getting hit with an elbow by Powell as they fought for a rebound.

Mavericks star Kristaps Porzingis sat out an eighth straight game. He has been feeling ill and is still dealing with soreness in his right knee.

HAWKS 123, SUNS 110

ATLANTA — Trae Young scored 21 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter and Atlanta pulled away late to beat Phoenix.

It was Young’s 20th game with at least 30 points this season. He got help from backcourt partner Kevin Huerter, who scored 23 points and set career highs with 15 rebounds and eight assists. John Collins added 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Hawks, who snapped a four-game losing streak.

Devin Booker led the Suns with 39 points before he was ejected for his second technical foul following his dunk with less than two minutes remaining. Deandre Ayton had 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jan Carlo Anolin

The Meralco Bolts have vowed to come back stronger and recharged for the All-Filipino Conference after a heartbreaking ending in the PBA Governors’ Cup.

“Even though we didn’t get the results we wanted, obviously we take those lessons and continue to move forward,” Meralco forward Chris Newsome told reporters after Game 5 Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Newsome is aiming for a playoff picture in the All-Filipino Cup since Meralco has yet to make an appearance since the 2012-2013 season where they reached the quarterfinals but succumbed to Alaska 2-0.

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel completed a Finals 3-0 record against Meralco in the season-ending conference after a title-clinching 105-93 win.

With another defeat, the Bolts have one thing in mind and that is to focus on the next PBA season.

 

The Meralco franchise debuted in the PBA in 2010.

The former Ateneo Blue Eagle said he would rather focus on the next season than eyeing revenge and setting up a Part 4 duel against Ginebra in the Governors’ Cup.

“Honestly, that’s three conferences away so that’s kind of way down the line,” Newsome said, who finished with 13 points, five rebounds, five assists and a steal.

“The only thing I can really focus on is what’s coming up next and for us that’s All-Filipino.”

The same thing goes for 31-year-old forward Cliff Hodge, who will enter his eighth-year in the PBA next season.
With plenty of years left in the league, Hodge said his main goal is to get the championship someday.

“Losing the finals, that just makes you more motivated. It makes you have more desire to even get better,” Hodge, who has been with the Bolts since 2012, told the Manila Bulletin.

“You’re almost there but you’re not there so we’re just gonna work hard and win the championship eventually,” the 6-foot-4 forward said.

Hodge had 10 points, seven boards, a steal and assist in Game 5.

For point guard Baser Amer, a change in mindset might help the Bolts when they start their campaign next season.

“Sayang talaga.” Amer said, who posted 17 points, four rebounds and three assists. “Hopefully next conference, makasanayan namin na kandado kami lagi sa Finals.”

A product of the San Beda Red Lions, the 27-year-old guard was acquired by Meralco in 2015 and was drafted 7th overall.

The Bolts, however, have to wait for the recovery of spark plug center Raymond Almazan for them to be in full force.

The 6-foot-8 Meralco center is set to undergo operation after sustaining a lateral meniscal tear on his left knee in Game 3 and will rest for six weeks.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Waylon Galvez

Meralco center Raymond Almazan will undergo left knee surgery anytime this month to repair a tear on his lateral meniscal that will keep him out of basketball-related activities for six weeks.

“Yes magpapa-surgery na ako,” said the 6-foot-9 Almazan as he walked with a slight limp together with wife Liza prior to Game 5 of the PBA Governors’ Cup finals Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

With the best-o-seven series tied at 1-1, Almazan injured his knee in the first quarter of Game 3. He did not play after that and had Magnetic Resonance Imaging or MRI test after the match, which Ginebra won 92-84.

Two days after the MRI, it was revealed he had a tear on the lateral meniscal.

Almazan made a surprise appearance in Game 4 and played for almost 28 minutes, contributing 12 points and nine rebounds. However, it was obvious he was in pain.

Almazan was in street clothes in Game 5 and said that while he still wants to continue playing, he was advised by team doctors not to as it might aggravate the injury.

He said that he would be out for six weeks.

“Doon sa six weeks kasama na yung therapy, rehabilitation, strengthening and conditioning. So hopefully, makabalik ako sa paglalaro in time for the Philippine Cup,” said Almazan.

The next PBA season, which starts with the all-Filipino conference, is set March 6, and Almazan is excited for Meralco.

“Of course, yun na ang focus. Alam naman natin na mag Philippine Cup iba yun e. Hopefully healthy kaming lahat, kumpleto ang team. Si Allen (Maliksi) nandito na din, so tignan natin. Sana maging maganda para sa amin.”

 

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

Japeth Aguilar finally got his long-overdue recognition as one of the best big man Friday night when the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel cager received the PBA Press Corps-Honda Finals Most Valuable Player Friday night.

Often a source of ridicule for inconsistent play, Aguilar turned into a different breed during the Governors’ Cup Finals triumph over Meralco as Ginebra’s defensive anchor while also showing the athleticism that has been his trademark ever since.

“It’s just maturity lang talaga,” said Aguilar, who posted series averages of 17.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.4 blocks to earn the unanimous choice of the PBA beat reporters.

“It’s just learning, never stop from growing,” he added. “Sa lahat ng mga conference na minsan we fall short on our goal, we just keep learning lang talaga. Pasalamat ako sa mga coaches dahil tinutulungan nila ako sa maturity ko dito sa PBA.”

PBA followers may have finally realized the Aguilar may expected would be when he first strutted his wares as a member of the original Gilas Pilipinas team under Serbian coach Rajko Toroman in 2009.

High expectations followed him after turning pro, first with a one-game stint with Burger King followed by stops at Talk ’N Text and GlobalPort before being traded to Ginebra in 2013.

Even during Ginebra’s previous title runs, Aguilar was rarely noticed for his contributions with import Justin Brownlee, Finals MVPs LA Tenorio and Scottie Thompson and Greg Slaughter.

But things were different in this latest Ginebra celebration as Aguilar lorded the paint through his shot-blocking ability.

He finished the series with 17 blocks highlighted by a last-second block on Allen Durham that sealed Ginebra’s Game 1 and the seven swats he registered in Game 3.

“Coming to this series, talagang tinake-on ko lang yung challenge,” he said. “Alam namin yung strength ni Durham and for me, focus lang talaga ako sa role ko.”

The absence of Raymond Almazan to a knee injury, Aguilar said, also played a key role in their triumph.

“I’m just thankful sa Basketball Gods kasi it went our way. I’m talking about yung pagkawala ni Raymond. Malaking bagay si Raymond sa Meralco talaga so we just took on that opportunity.”

In the clincher, Aguilar blocked four, including one from a frustrated Durham in the fourth quarter. He eventually went back to his dunking abilities to finish with 25 points and a 105-93 win before 17,000 fans.

No one was probably happier than coach Tim Cone, who thought Aguilar made a statement since the series started.

“I think he made a statement in Game 1 and he made another statement in the following games,” said Cone. “He was consistent through and through. Just a total game of being on the outside taking shots, on the inside getting drop passes and dunks, running the floor. Just a total game, defensively and offensively.

“He’s turned into such a great weapon and a tough matchup for anybody, even imports. He’s a tough matchup too.”

For Cone, there’s still more Aguilar can offer.

“I just think he’s gonna get better and better and better,” he said. “He just now coming into his own even though he’s 32 years old. I think he’s got his three or four years ahead of him still.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Waylon Galvez

For the third time in four seasons, Meralco came up of winning the championship after losing to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel 105-93 in the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals Friday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Many, including coach Norman Black felt that Meralco has the right pieces to compete against Ginebra since the Bolts added key players to their roster.

The acquisition of 6-foot-9 center Raymond Almazan gave the Bolts that legitimate threat inside the paint and a game changer for the team as he allows shooters to take the outside shots.

The importance of having Almazan was evident for the Bolts during a 104-102 victory in Game 2 last January 10 in Lucena City that leveled the best-of-seven series at 1-1.

However, things turned bad for Meralco when Almazan hurt his left knee early in Game 3. Diagnosed with a lateral meniscal tear, Almazan did play in Game 4 but was in obvious pain, which led to him missing Game 5.

That, according to Black, was the turning point in the series.

“We faced a lot of adversity in this series… we lost our big man,” said Black.

“We never seemed to be the same team again. Certainly we went up against a team that’s quite big and quite talented, and without Raymond in the middle we suffered inside the paint points and interior defense.”

“Lot of credits should go to Ginebra, I mean they took advantage of the situation. I think before Raymond got hurt, it was tied 1-1, and first quarter (of Game 3) was a close quarter. So we’re very competitive, but once he got hurt everything seemed to change.”

“I’m not blaming it all that Raymond wasn’t there but that was a big factor,” added Black.

Despite the setback, Black said there are a few positive takeaways, especially the improvement they had after two disappointing conferences, finishing 11th in the Philippine Cup and eighth in the Commissioner’s Cup.

He also mentioned the talent they got this season, first adding former Letran stalwart Bong Quinto from the Rookie Draft, then they trade for Almazan in a deal with Rain or Shine last conference, and the acquisition of Allein Maliksi in a trade with Blackwater this conference.

The squad likewise had Allen Durham as reinforcement and eventual Best Import.

“The addition of Raymond and the addition of Allein, of course the return of AD made us so much more competitive team. It gave us a chance to win a championship this conference,” said Black.

“I have to be very, very happy with that. It just shows that we improved our talent and we played a lot better. So talent wins games,” added Black, who mentioned that he and Durham would talk soon for another possible stint next season.

Black said that while people would only remember the champion team and not the second placer, he is still proud of what they have accomplished, knowing their time would come.

“The positive side is we did make it to the championship, which means that we started the league with 12 teams, and there were only two left – and we’re one them,” he said.

“That’s not something that’s going to make you happy. But at the same time it’s better than coming in third, fourth or sixth,” added Black, who mentioned of having a good rest the next several weeks before he start mapping out plans for the team’s Philippine Cup campaign in March.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel is back as kings of the PBA Governors’ Cup after lording over Meralco for the third time 105-93 before a jubilant crowd of 15,146 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Japeth Aguilar capped off his stellar performance with 25 points, eight rebounds and four blocks as Ginebra overcame 14-point deficit by wearing down the Bolts late in the second quarter and throughout the second half to claim the series 4-1.

Aguilar was unanimously named as the PBA Press Corps-Honda Finals Most Valuable Player with averages of 17.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.4 blocks, giving Ginebra its fourth title under coach Tim Cone and 12th overall for the 40-year-old franchise.

It was also Cone’s 22nd championship, enhancing his status as the winningest coach in PBA history. He also tied Robert Jaworski for most titles by a Ginebra with the victory.

Justin Brownlee had 24 points and 10 rebounds, Stanley Pringle added 17 points, four rebounds and eight assists and Scottie Thompson 14 points, six rebounds and nine assists to backstop Aguilar’s big showing.

The win was Ginebra’s latest mastery over a Meralco that entered the series hoping to finally end its mastery.

But an injured left knee sustained by Bolts center Raymond Almazan totally changed the complexion of the series, allowing the Kings to produce the most lopsided result of the trilogy.

Best Import Allen Durham tried to extend the series to a sixth game despite missing Almazan, posting 29 points, 21 rebounds and eight assists.

But Durham was left frustrated by Ginebra’s tight defending, thus resulting in another heartbreak finish.

Durham was bridesmaid anew as his bid to finally lead Meralco to a historic championship ended in another disappointment.

Meralco did led 39-25 in the second quarter but was force to work for its shots while allowing Ginebra to trim the margin to 46-40 at the half.

Then, Ginebra unleashed another third quarter assault just like it did in the past four games to eventually take the lead.

Meralco did come and tie the score at 77-all on a layup by Baser Amer with 8:46 remaining in the fourth.

But Brownlee scored five straight points before Pringle and Aguilar joined the fray to pull away from the fading Bolts.

The scores:

GINEBRA 105 — Aguilar 25, Brownlee 24, Pringle 17, Thompson 14, Tenorio 12, Mariano 6, Devance 3, Dela Cruz 2, Slaughter 2, Dillinger 0.

MERALCO 93 — Durham 29, Amer 17, Newsome 13, Hodge 10, Quinto 9, Maliksi 9, Faundo 2, Pinto 2, Caram 2, Salva 0.

Quarters: 19-26; 40-46; 70-64; 105-93.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

San Miguel Alab Pilipinas tapped the services of NBA G-League veteran Prince Williams before resuming its ASEAN Basketball League campaign next week against Hong Kong Eastern.

Team owner Charlie Dy said the 27-year-old Williams is due to arrive Sunday to replace Khalif Wyatt, who basketball website Sportando reported left the team to “become a free agent.”

Williams played for East Carolina in the US NCAA Division I from 2012-2016 with career averages of 6.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 111 games.

He suited up for the Greensboro Swarm, Texas Legends and Iowa Wolves in the G-League from 2016 to 2019 where he produced 2.8 points in 52 games.

Alab will parade Williams as one of its three imports for the first time on Thursday opposite winless Hong Kong at Southorn Stadium.

Wyatt was one of the key reasons for Alab’s current record of 5-3, good for third place behind Thailand’s Mono Vampire (7-2) and Taipei Fubon Braves (8-4).

The 28-year-old Wyatt averaged 16.8 points with a 47-percent clip from three-point range, 3.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists in eight games.

Source: Manila Bulletin

The Philippine Sports Commission opened the doors of its newly-refurbished Philsports Complex for national para-athletes training for the 2020 Asean Para Games.

“The renovations done in both Rizal Memorial and in Philsports are primarily for our elite athletes,” explained PSC chairman William Ramirez.

 

Despite being weeks away from its official turnover, the PSC has already opened the complex in Pasig City to support the national para-athletes’ preparations for the biennial meet which was rescheduled on March.

“Our national para-athletes are inspired to work harder as they use the new facilities inside Philsports. We thank the PSC for supporting us,” said Philippine Paralympic Committee Executive Director Dennis Esta, who added intensive trainings in the said PSC facility are now on-going for athletics, power-lifting and sitting volleyball.

Meanwhile, Ramirez has announced that with the help of NCC and Perez, be-medalled para-swimmers Ernie Gawilan, Garry Bejino and the rest of the swimming team will also be allowed to train in the Class-1 FINA-certified swimming facility of the NCC by the fourth week of the month.

Source: Manila Bulletin