‘The Ninja’ strikes

WHAT makes Petron Blaze extra dangerous is the ability of most of its players to step up when the occasion calls for it.

Joseph Yeo reiterated that fact by scattering 27 points in leading the Boosters to a much-needed win, thus earning for himself the Accel-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week honors for the period Oct. 31 to Nov. 6.

The output, spiked by eight rebounds and four assists, helped Petron notch an 86-80 win over Alaska at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City last Saturday.

Going into that game the Boosters have lost three straight and were without injured off-guard Chris Lutz, who has started in place of Dondon Hontiveros, in turn out for at least the conference because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

The man known as “The Ninja” did not disappoint as he scored 13 points right in the first quarter and 11 in the payoff period, including the insurance lay-in basket that gave the Boosters an 84-80 lead, time down to just 34 seconds.

“Talagang napakalaking bagay ang ginawa ni Joseph dahil butas na butas kami sa 2-position,” said Petron coach Ato Agustin. “Ipinakita niya na hindi sayang iyung pagtitiwala namin sa kanya.”

It was the highest output by the former De La Salle standout since moving over to the team formerly known as San Miguel Beer during the 2009-10 season.

It was also sort of unexpected since Yeo, drafted third overall by Coca-Cola in the 2006 draft and who has strutted his wares with Sta. Lucia Realty, was averaging just 7.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists per outing.

“Kaya naman tuwang-tuwa talaga kami dahil ang mga players naming tulad ni Joseph kapag kailangang kailangan nag-de-deliver,” noted Agustin.

The win improved Petron’s record to 4-3. More important, it seemed to have restored the bearing and confidence the team needs for that push going into the last half of its elimination round assignments.  

Based on his latest performance, Yeo is sure to be an integral part of that drive.(pr)

David shows sterner stuff

IF one’s character is gauged by how he bounces back from adversity, then Gary David is indeed setting a high enough standard.

The fiery shooting guard rebounded big-time from two sorry games to set a new career milestone, boost Powerade past a feared foe and earn for himself the Accel-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week honors for the period Oct. 24 to 30.

The 33-year-old scattered a career-high 42 points against the Petron Blaze Boosters last Sunday in leading the Tigers to a 108-94 win that cut short their two-game skid caused, as most think, by David unusually failing to rise to the occasion.

In an 80-97 loss to B-Meg last Wednesday, David was held to just seven points, the first time in the last five conferences or since he returned in the 2009-10 season to the franchise that picked him at 10^th overall in the 2004 Draft that the prolific scorer was limited to a single-digit number.

Versus Barangay Ginebra, the league scoring champion the past two seasons hastened their sorry 72-73 downfall with two missed charities in the last 12 seconds.

The manner his star player put those pitiful outings behind him pleased Powerade coach Bo Perasol no end.

“For a player to rise up from two heartbreaking games and score 42 points against a formidable opponent like Petron, it really highlights what a gem of a player Gary David is,” said Perasol.

“It is just fitting that he should be recognized. Well deserved.”

David said his teammates never gave up on him and a welcome advice from some family members didn't hurt either.

“Pinayuhan ako ng mga pinsan ko na kalimutan ko iyung last two games na ‘yon,” he related. “Kinalimutan ko at mukhang nakatulong naman.”

It clearly showed as he went 4-of-6 from the three-point area, 11-of-13 from the two-point zone and 8-of-10 from the stripes. He also added seven rebounds and four assists and committed just two turnovers in 38 minutes.(pr)

Player of the Week: Arwind Santos

FINISHING the threshing-out process in the PBA Governors Cup stronger than he started was Petron Blaze’s Arwind Santos, making him the unanimous choice as the Accel-PBA Press Corps’ Player of the Week for the period Aug. 1 to 7.

The 6-foot-4 Santos shone the brightest among the locals in the week that was, enabling the Boosters to notch back-to-back wins that helped propel them to the finals of the season-ending conference and perhaps redemption against Philippine Cup tormentor Talk N Text.

“Mahihirapan kaming marating ang kinalalagyan namin ngayon kung hindi sa napakalaking tulong ni Arwind,” said Petron coach Ato Agustin of the former shooting forward transplanted to the power forward slot due to key absences in the team.

“Masaya talaga ako para sa kanya dahil deserving talaga siya for the citation,” added Agustin.

Santos sure did deliver just when his team needed it most.

In victories over B-MEG and Talk N Text, the Angeles City native posted averages of 20.5 points, 14.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocked shots, an assist and a steal.

Those numbers were even more impressive than when he normed 14.0 points, 13.5 rebounds, 3.5 blocks and a steal in a similar two-game winning stretch that made him co-recipient, along with Tropang Texter guard Jayson Castro, of the honor on June 13-19.

All in all, Santos has been averaging 16.7 points, 14.5 rebounds, 11.1 assists, as many steals and 1.7 blocked shots going to the best-of-seven championship series.

He leads the import-spiced tournament in swatted shots, is tops among locals in rebounding and double-doubles (10) and fourth among locals in points production, making him one of the top prospects for the Best Player of the Conference award.

Santos just wants to focus on helping his team win the title over the same Talk N Text crew that beat them in six games during the Philippine Cup crown chase.

It should take a lot of doing since the Boosters are without the injured Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Jay Washington, Lordy Tugade and Joseph Yeo.

But Santos remains unfazed. “Mas gusto naming makabawi,” he said. “Sa ngayon iyon lang talaga ang focus namin.”(pr)

Player of the Week: Ronjay Buenafe

RONJAY Buenafe keeps validating his coach’s trust in him.
Buenafe proved this by coming up with a couple of
scintillating performances in the week that was, helping Rain or Shine fan its
Governors Cup quest and earning the Accel-PBA Press Corps’ Player of the Week
for the period July 25 to 31.
The former second round pick has cranked up his game a notch
in the semifinal round and proved that by playing a key role in the Elasto
Painters’ back-to-back wins that fueled their drive to at least a playoff berth
for a finals slot.
“Ronjay’s game has matured. He has more confidence in his
game. He has improved his shot selection and his defense,” said Rain or Shine
coach Yeng Guiao, instrumental in acquiring the 6-foot-2 shooting guard from
Air21 before the season.
“I have no regrets taking him in a trade that was the
subject of criticism and doubts. He works hard and can only get better,” added
Guiao.
The former Emilio Aguinaldo College standout, tabbed at No.
11 by Coca-Cola in the 2007 Rookie Draft, upheld Guiao’s belief by notching a
career-best-tying 30 points (anchored on 6-for-9 three-point shooting and a
perfect 4-for-4 from inside the arc) in a 102-86 repeat win over Petron Blaze
in Digos City last Saturday.
With that output and in the absence of available data, Buenafe
is perhaps the only player to score 30 points for all three teams he has so far
played with. He set his personal scoring standard first with the Tigers in 2008-09
and again with Burger King/Air21 the following season.
Buenafe did not show any inkling of what he was set for by
putting up 10 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals, helping the
Painters beat league-leader Talk N Text, 96-81, last Wednesday.
Those numbers helped improve Buenafe’s averages in the semis
to 17.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists, up from his 11.5, 2.0 and 0.25
norms in the eight-game eliminations.
Also, those victories against its more highly-touted rivals jacked
Rain or Shine’s win-loss record to 6-5 and gave it two routes to realize a first-ever
championship stint.
If they win their last two assignments the Painters could play
off for the second finals slot by virtue of the four-of-five incentive. Or they
could make it outright against early finalist Talk N Text if no other team
notches eight wins.
For sure, Buenafe and his teammates are not giving up on
that hope.(pr)

Players of the Week: Gabe Norwood and Larry Rodriguez

GABE Norwood and Larry Rodriguez have consistently come up big of late for Rain
or Shine, fanning the Elasto Painters’ hopes of advancing past the PBA
Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals.
Other Rain or Shine players, like Doug Kramer, Beau Belga, Ryan Arana and Ronjay
Buenafe have also been sources of much-needed boost, but it is the Accel-PBA
Press Corps’ Co-Players of the Week for the period March 4 to 10 who have been
the most steady for coach Yeng Guiao.
“They have shown consistency in our last few games. They work without much
fanfare but contribute in a lot of departments, not just scoring,” noted the
grizzled tactician.
“Gabe has proven effective playing a lot of minutes at point guard. Larry is
undersized at the 4, but his big heart makes up for the lack of size,” added
Guiao.
Indeed, the Fil-Am guard and Manila-born power forward could be depended on to
deliver precisely what Guiao wants from any of his charges and their recent
figures in two games against Barangay Ginebra bear this out.
Starting as game orchestrator, Norwood has averaged 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds
and 6.5 assists while Rodriguez repeatedly defied his taller and heftier
opponents at the frontline with 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists.
There is also efficiency. Norwood has shot 11-of-21 from the field, including
6-for-10 from three-point land, and Rodriguez 17-for-25
The two were at their steadiest in a 113-97 win over the Kings last Sunday, when
they combined for 28 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists and enabled the
Painters to bounce back from a 91-100 loss in the best-of-three series opener
just two days before.
"I appreciate the award, but we are looking at the big prize of getting to the
semifinals," said Norwood. "Everyone is playing well and accepting their roles."
That goal is within Rain or Shine's reach as momentum has now seemingly shifted
to its side going to the deciding match on Wednesday.
Should the Painters make it two in a row, they advance to the semifinals for
only the second time in franchise history.and it is practically a sure bet that
game’s prime barometer will be the performances of Norwood and Rodriguez.PR

Mark the transformer

MARK Caguioa’s growth as a player has been clearly evident in the PBA
Commissioner’s Cup and Barangay Ginebra is all the better because of it.
With the man primarily known before as a scorer now fully evolved into a team
man as well, the Kings have sustained their rise to near the top of the
standings and in a very good position to clinch one of the six playoff spots up
for grabs in the mid-season tourney.
Nobody has a clearer view of what the Accel-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week
for the period March 14 to 20 has recently done than Ginebra coach Jong Uichico.

“He has been a great transformation player, from a scorer to a playmaker who can
score. That’s evolution in terms of basketball,” noted Uichico of the man
instrumental in stoking their winning streak to three.
In the Kings’ 99-86 victory over Air21 followed by a 106-94 triumph over San
Miguel Beer, Caguioa averaged 15.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5
steals while coming off the bench each time.
What made the man nicknamed “The Spark” earn the scribes’ nod over Powerade’s
Gary David was Caguioa’s  ability to still ignite – and even stoke – whatever
run Ginebra may need, like in the game against SMB last Sunday.
Caguioa picked up from where Nate Brumfield left off by scoring 10 straight
points as he single-handedly put away what had been a 96-91 game.
Caguioa seems to be enjoying more his reliever’s role, a job he has had their
last five games, as he also had 14 points and six rebounds against Air21 last
Wednesday.
Those back-to-back victories and three-game streak put Ginebra at 4-2 and in a
tie for third-running spot with Alaska behind unbeaten leader Smart-Gilas and
Talk N Text (5-1).
With only three games left in the eliminations, Uichico wants his players to
continue bringing their A-game as they continue striving for a top-tier spot.
For sure, Caguioa aims to do just that.(pr)