BATANG PBA FINALS UP SUNDAY

Two-time defending champion Batang Talk N’ Text-Quezon City will take a shot at the record books on Sunday in the 2010 Coca-Cola Batang PBA Summer League Finals at the Araneta Colisuem.

Only Batang B-Meg Derby Ace-Caloocan City stands in the way of the Batang Texters in their quest for a rare “three-peat” in the annual tournament confined to kids 9-12 years old.

The title duel is scheduled at 1:30 p.m. following the 12 noon battle for third place between Batang Coca-Cola-Marikina and Batang Rain or Shine- San Juan.

Both from Group A, TnT-QC has defeated Derby Ace-Caloocan City, 69-58, in the classification round and remains the heavy favorite to clinch its fourth championship overall in seven editions of the event.

Adding color to the title showdown is the expected shootout between Batang Texters’ Jolo Mendoza and Batang Llamados’ Aljun Melecio – both candidates for the league’s Most Valuable Player trophy.

Mendoza, a sixth grader from the Ateneo de Manila University and son of former UP Fighting Maroon and Shell assistant coach Jigs Mendoza, is TnT-QC’s top gunner averaging 31 points a game.

Melecio, also a sixth grader from Bukidnon Faith Christian Inc., is the leading scorer of Derby Ace-Caloocan City with an average of 24 points a game.

Being the top two teams of the 2010 Coca-Cola Batang PBA Summer League, Batang TnT-Quezon City and Batang Derby Ace-Caloocan City also earned seats to the 2010 Powerade-Batang PBA National Finals which will start on Tuesday.

Joining the two teams are six other squads which emerged champions in their respective Batang PBA regional eliminations.

The six regional champions are the La Salle Titans of Bacolod, USC South of Cebu, Ateneo de Davao, Batang PBA Blue Team of Zamboanga, Baguio All-Star Kubong Sawali and B-Meg St. Bridget of Batangas.

The Batang Texters are also the defending champion of the Powerade Batang PBA National Finals.

Ateneo de Davao advances to Batang PBA Nat'l C'ships

Ateneo de Davao High School advanced to the Batang PBA National Championship after beating arch-rival Holy Child School of Davao, 80-78 last May 18 at the Gaisano South Citimall Sky gym.

The national final is on May 26 to 31 in Manila.

The PBA Davao eliminations were backed by the Duterte Basketball League, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas-XI.

The PBA will bankroll Ateneo's participation in Manila.

Nokia D-League national finals starts on Friday

Everything is set for the Nokia National Basketball Training Center
(NBTC) D-League National Finals starting on Friday (May 28, 2010) at the
San Juan Gym (at the back of the San Juan Municipal Hall) in San Juan
City.
The provincial crown will contested by Smart Cagayan de Oro, B-MEG
Expert Cebu, Trace College Laguna and Smart Olongapo Volunteers in
this tournament backed by Nokia Philippines and TAO Corporation with
recognition by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).
The NCR crown, on the other hand, will be up for grabs among B-MEG
Integra Manila, Smart Manila, Magnolia Chocolait-Paranaque and Xavier
San Juan in the event also backed by Smart Communications, San Miguel
Pure Foods Company and Burlington.
Today’s games will start at 1 pm while the opening ceremonies will be
at 2:30 pm. On Saturday, the games will start at 8:30 am while the
actual finale for the provincial and NCR teams will open at 1 pm on
Sunday. Admission is free on all these days.
“We invite all basketball aficionados to witness the exciting national
finals of the Nokia NBTC D-League. This will showcase the fruits of
these teams’ labor for the past few months,” said program director
Eric Altamirano.
Expected to grace the finals are officials of the SBP along with Nokia
Philippines led by general manager Benoit Nalin and TAO Corporation
headed by Jun Sy.

Smart CdO enters Nokia D-League finals, B-MEG Premium Davao lands at 3rd spot

Smart Cagayan de Oro bounced back from an opening day loss to make it
all the way to the national finals after beating Happy
Fisherman-GenSan,  102-90, recently in the Nokia National Basketball
Training Center (NBTC) D-League at the Xavier University Gym in
Cagayan de Oro City.

Most Outstanding Player John Karlo Casino had 17 points while Dennis
Jabagat had 14 and mythical team member Jiovani Jalalon 11 as the team
annexed the Mindanao crown in this tournament backed by Nokia
Philippines and TAO Corporation with recognition by the Samahang
Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).

The Smart cagers lost to B-MEG Premium Davao (69-66), but claimed the
scalp of IMCC Iligan (84-65) and B-MEG Aquaration-Valencia (97-48) to
enter the finals against Happy Fisherman-Gensan in the event also
backed by Smart Communications, San Miguel Pure Foods Company and
Burlington.

Hamsar Macalintal had 12 points while Aaron Zobel and Douglas Rama had
10 apiece for Happy Fishermen, which defeated B-MEG
Aquaration-Valencia (85-56), lost to to B-MEG Premium Davao (49-68)
and bested IMCC Iligan (83-51) to arrange the final against Smart
Cagayan de Oro, which joined Smart Laguna, Smart Olongapo and B-MEG
Expert Cebu in the provincial national finals set May 28-30.

For third place, B-MEG Premium Davao-beat Island Fruits Zamboanga with
a 71-50 score as Scottie Thompson had a game-high 17 markers.

Others who made it to the mythical team were Rocky Mejos of B-MEG
Premium Davao, Thompson of B-MEG Premium Davao, Leonardo Santillan of
Island Fruits Zamboanga and Marvin Porquillo of Happy
Fishermen-General Santos.

John Liao of IMCC Iligan earned the Most Promising Player award while
Jarred Nacasabog of B-MEG Aquaration Valencia was bestowed the
Sportsmanship award.

Ranidel, 2 other Texters lead way

The Phoenix Petroleum-PBA Elims Top Performer derby is heating up, and
it’s not only due to the soaring summer temperature.

Talk ‘N Text forward Ranidel de Ocampo, he with the efficient post-up
moves, continues to hang on to the No. 1 spot in the overall
statistical points standings after 10 games in the two-round
classifications stage.

But two familiar faces are breathing down the back of his neck, and
two San Miguel Beer pursuers have him in their sights from fourth and
fifth place.

In the race for what is tantamount to the regular season MVP award, De
Ocampo has so far been averaging 33.60 statistical points from his
18.5 points per game average, 6.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.4 assists,
and 0.3 blocks.

At second with 32.30 average SPs is TNT off-guard Mark Cardona (19.1
ppg, 4-0 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.1 spg, 0.5 bpg), while at third with 30.50
average SPs is point guard teammate Jimmy Alapag (14.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg,
7.8 apg, 0.6 spg, 0.1 bpg).

Running fourth is SMB forward Jay Washington with a 30.10 SPs average
(15.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.1 apg, 0.6 spg, 0.4 bpg), and at sixth with
29.73 is Beermen swingman Arwind Santos (11.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.5 apg,
1.2 spg, 1.0 bpg.)

Two more TNT forwards – Kelly Williams (27.73) and Harvey Carey
(26.70) –  are at seventh and ninth, while a third SMB player – point
guard Alex Cabagnot (27.55) – is at eighth.

At sixth place is Rain or Shine swingman Gabe Norwood (28.60), and at
10th is B-Meg Derby Ace shooter James Yap (26.50).

The PBA Press Corps, in coordination with the PBA Commissioner’s
Office and the PBA Board of Governors, launched this 35th season’s
Fiesta Cup the Phoenix Petroleum-PBA Elims Top Performer Award to
honor the player who made the most impact prior to the playoffs and
the finals.

Statistics will play a big role in the selection, but a player’s
overall contribution to his team’s winning ways will also be highly
considered.

Members of the PBAPC also vote as one in the selection of the Best
Player of the Conference and the PBA Most Valuable Player, and pick
the Finals MVP, Coach of the Year, Executive of the Year, Defensive
Player of the Year, Mr. Quality Minutes, Comeback Player of the Year,
All-Rookie Team, and Referee of the Year.

Alaska vs Sta Lucia

PBA IMAGE1 - Kelly Williams of Sta Lucia dribble and drives but caught for the Offensive foul against Diamon Simson of Alaska.

PBA IMAGE2- Aces LA Tenorio using the screen of Sonny Thoss to drive to the hoop against Realtors Donbel Belano.

PBA IMAGE3 - Cyrus Baguio of Alaska trie to recover the ball after losing it against Realtors Kelly Williams and Ryan Reyes.

PBA IMAGE4 - Ryan Reyes of Sta Lucia creating his shot over two Aces defenders Cyrus Baguio and Import Diamon Simson.

PBA IMAGE5 - Realtors Import Anthony Johnson  looking to reverse his shot against Sonny Thoss of Alaska.

ARBOLEDA SUSPENSION LIFTED,WILL REJOIN AIR 21 ON SATURDAY

Wynne Arboleda will rejoin Air21 on Saturday when the slumping Express play the B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados in Panabo City, Davao del Norte.

It will be the first official game for the veteran playmaker since PBA Commissioner Sonny Barrios suspended him without pay for the rest of the season for going after a fan during the Air21-Smart Gilas game last October 16,2009.

Barrios cut the suspension short after Arboleda, a member of the 2006-07 Second Mythical selection, showed “sincere efforts and genuine desire to project a positive and wholesome image to the public, particularly the youth.”

“We also take note of your repeated expression of contriteness over the incident and the use of time under suspension in a positive and proactive manner instead of simply being ‘unproductive’ during your suspension,” Barrios told Arboleda in a letter announcing the lifting of his suspension.

Arboleda appealed his case to the commissioner last March. Included in his appeal was an endorsement letter signed by the team captains of the league’s 10 ball clubs. He was then given a month to submit documentation of his involvement in a number of community activities.

The wily Air21 sentinel complied and his appeal was granted.

However, although he had lifted the suspension, Barrios fined Arboleda 10 percent of the gross of his monthly salary from May 15 to August 15, 2010 – the period remaining in the suspension penalty had it been served in full.

Arboleda’s return is indeed a welcome development for coach Yeng Guiao and the Express, who are on a seven-game losing streak and languishing in the cellar of 10-team standings with a 1-8 record. 

TALK N’ TEXT ACQUIRES WILLIAMS, REYES IN 3-TEAM TRADE

Talk N’ Text added two dazzling talents to its already deep bench by acquiring slam dunking forward Kelly Williams and guard Ryan Reyes from Sta. Lucia Realty in a three-team trade yesterday.

TNT team manager Virgil Villavicencio dropped by at the PBA Office before noon and submitted the necessary papers indicating the trade has been consummated.

In return, the Realtors got veteran center Ali Peek, shooting forward Nic Belasco, sophomore playmaker Paul Escobal and rookie offensive guard Ogie Menor, who was dealt by Barako Energy Coffee to TNT in exchange for the Tropang Texters’ second round pick in the 2010 Rookie Draft.

The Realtors also got 3-point shooting guard Yousif Aljamal from the Coffee Masters in exchange for Fil-Am Charles Waters. Barako Coffee eventually dealt Waters to TNT for forward Mark Isip. 

The tandem of Williams and Reyes has brought Sta. Lucia to great heights during the 2007-08 season when they led the Realtors to their first All-Filipino championship. Their sterling performance earned Williams MVP honors and Reyes the Rookie of the Year plum.

Before being dealt to TNT, Williams and Reyes powered Sta. Lucia to a 91-87 victory over the Alaska Aces Wednesday as the Realtors wound up the first elimination round of the 2010PBA Fiesta Conference with a 4-5 (win-loss) record and crack for a playoff spot.

Their inclusion in the Tropang Texters roster has made the franchise a certified championship contender.