Player of the Week: Big Game James

About a month a half ago, new B-Meg head coach Tim Cone was quoted to have said that James Yap will flourish in the triangle offense that he has long been preaching. It may have taken a while but that certainly is what is already happening right now at the Llamados’ camp.

The two-time MVP lived up to his “Big Game James” monicker, coming up with huge games for B-Meg this past week as the Llamados stretched their winning streak to three in the 2011-12 PBA Philippine Cup.

As a result, the PBA Press Corps has named him its Accel Player of the Week for the period November 7 to 13.

James Yap first sizzled with 25 points, 11 right in the opening period, as B-Meg exacted revenge on Meralco and former head coach Ryan Gregorio last Friday 95-79 at the Cuneta Astrodome. James added four rebounds, two assists and one shotblock while going 2-of-4 from three-point range as the Llamados got back at the Bolts who won their first meeting 84-78 last Oct. 15.

After just a two-day rest, James Yap followed it up with a 24-point effort last Sunday as the Llamados beat Cone’s former team, Alaska, for the second time in the conference 92-89 in double overtime last Sunday.

James again provided the initial spark with 10 points in the opening period. Then just when everybody thought fatigue had caught up with him as he came with just a combined six points in the final three quarters and in the first overtime, James exploded four eight markers in the second extra period, going 4-for-4 from the field as B-Meg, which was playing minus an injured PJ Simon, finished off the Aces.

“James has that unique ability to put his whole team on his back and carry them to victory. He can score and make tough shots against great defense and that is demoralizing for the opposing team,” said Cone, adding he knows that by heart.

“I know because I use to be against him, and I’m just glad I’m on his side now,” a happy Cone explained.

For his part, James Yap is only too glad the Llamados, who have upped their record to 5-4 from a dismal 2-4 start, are finally clicking and thriving under the new system of Cone.

“Masaya siyempre dahil nagbubunga na yung mga paghihirap namin.  Sana magtuloy-tuloy na,” said James of the team’s current success.

On his winning Player of the Week honors, he said, “Kung ito yung pruweba na makakapag-adjust na nga hindi lang ako kundi ang buong team sa triangle offense ni coach Tim sana mas mag-improve pa kami lalo. Pasalamat talaga ako kay coach Tim sa tiyaga niya sa pagturo sa amin ng triangle.”

James Yap beat teammate Kerby Raymundo and Petron Blaze stalwarts Arwind Santos and Alex Cabagnot for Player of the Week honors.(pr)

Aces still a force even without Cone

FROM one ``Triangle’ to another.

While the presence of long-time coach Tim Cone will surely be missed
over at the Alaska bench, the system that has become the team’s bread
and butter the past 22 years – Triangle Offense – stays on as
long-time assistant Joel Banal takes over the coaching reins left
behind by the multi-titled American mentor.

Although Banal had one-time been a head coach in the Philippine
Basketball Association (PBA) himself, his association with Cone as a
trusted lieutenant has been well-known that both are always connected
with each other.

But following the departure of Cone, and his subsequent acceptance of
the B-Meg coaching job, both will now have to go their separate ways.

Banal however, said Cone’s influence within the Aces won’t diminish,
especially in relation with the Triangle Offense, a system that
produced 13 championships for the franchise and tied it with the
legendary Crispa Redmanizers as the second winningest team in the rich
history of Asia’s pioneering professional league.

“My style is a combination of structure and unstructured systems,”
said Banal, who won for Talk `N Text its first ever league
championship during the 2003 All-Filipino conference.

Even without Cone, the coach with the most number of games won in PBA
annals, the Aces still kept the core of the team that won the 2009
Fiesta Cup championship, players like L.A. Tenorio, Cyrus Baguio,
Sonny Thoss, Tony De La Cruz, Mark Borboran, Samigue Eman and Brandon
Cablay.

Only last year, they acquired big man Jay-R Reyes, Paolo Bugia, Wesley
Gonzales and Bonbon Custodio, and now rookie recruits Mac Baracael,
Eric Salamat, Julius Pasculados and Ariel Mepana.

Tenorio, the acknowledged heart and soul of the Aces, said in as much
as the team will miss the company of their former beloved mentor,
Banal is definitely an excellent choice as Cone’s replacement.

“With coach Joel, it’s practically the same system. He’s been coach
Tim’s assistant for many years so adjusting is not hard for us,” said
the former Ateneo star considered by many as among the top three point
guards in the league today.

Tenorio conceded that he’s where at his career right now due to Cone.

“It was he who molded me into the PBA player that I am right now,” he said.

But come the season-opening Philippine Cup which formally kicks off on
Oct. 2 at the Araneta Coliseum, there’s no question as to where and to
who his loyalty will be.

 “We want to get the (All-Filipino) crown. We want to show that we can
do it for coach Joel,” added the cerebral Alaska playmaker.

The Aces open the 37th season by testing outright the mettle of the
Barangay Ginebra Kings on Oct. 9, and then plunge into action against
their former coach and the Llamados in an interesting Oct. 12
encounter. (pr)

Hinson rallies Llamados to victory in Dubai

DUBAI -- Darnel Hinson picked up his game when B-Meg needed someone to
provide a spark, rallying the Llamados to a 111-105 victory against
Talk N Text after a poor start on Thursday in the PBA Governors’ Cup
at the Al Shabab Sports Club here.

Hinson struggled on 9 of 25 shooting in his debut with B-Meg but his
successive 3s in the third quarter opened the floodgates for 21 -1
onslaught that turned the tide for the Llamados, who trailed TNT by 11
in the first half as they struggled to get their rhythm.

“We played bad particularly in the first quarter partly because we
couldn’t run our play the way we're supposed to and the guys sort of
lost their poise. But the good thing is, we picked our game when we
have to,” offered B-Meg coach Jorge Gallent, who was impressed with
his new import.

“He played well. I’m sure Darnell will still get better once he has
settled down with the team. His exactly the right fit for us,” Gallent
declared.

Hinson eventually finished with 26 points and had 12 rebounds to lead
two other Llamados with double-double performances.

The win was the second straight for the Llamados, who improved to 3-2
(win-loss) record.

James Yap led all scorers with 32 points on 12 of 21 shooting. Mark
Pingris scored 17 points and had 12 rebounds while Joe Devance
accounted for 16 points and 17 rebounds as B-Meg crushed TNT off the
boards, 68-52.

Jason Castro scored 24 points for TNT. Ranidel de Ocampo, Harvey Carey
and Maurice Baker each scored 20 points but all of them disappeared in
the second half when the Llamados made a run.

The Tropang Texters lost their momentum in the second half largely
because they lost their defensive instinct and allowed themselves to
be pushed around in the lane.

The loss snapped a three-game winning streak by the grand slam seeking
TNT, who will attempt to bounce back from that jolting defeat against
Barangay Ginebra on Friday. The game is set at 6 p.m. (10 p.m. Manila
time) also at the Al Shabab Sports Club.

TNT managed to pull within 89-91 on a 3-pointer by Baker with 7:30 to
play. But B-Meg quickly responded with a 12-3 spurt with Devance and
James Yap ending the run with successive 3-pointers.

The Tropang Texters never threatened again after that.


TNT took the first half, 56-53, because B-Meg committed 15 turnovers –
mostly on errant passes – that netted the Tropang Texter 15 points in
that span. The Llamados finished 25 errors, 10 more than TNT.


The scores:

B-Meg 111—J. Yap 32, Hinson 26; Pingris 17, Devance 16, Simon 9,
Allado 4, R. Yap 3, Reavis 2, Villanueva 2, Gaco 0, Fernandez 0.

Talk N’ Text 105 – Castro 24, Baker 20, De Ocampo 20, Carey 20,
Williams 10, Alvarez 4, Fonacier 3, Alapag 2, Aban 2, Peek 0, Lao 0,
Oreta 0.

Quarters: 21-29; 53-56; 82-74; 111-105.(pr)

James Yap leads All-Star balloting

AS expected, James Yap emerged as the frontrunner in the early
balloting for the coming 2011 PBA All-Star game the island paradise of
Boracay is hosting for the first time.

Yap, the league’s two-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) from Derby Ace,
received a total of 7,452 fan votes to lead all candidates comprising
the roster of both North and South teams for the May 18-23 festivities
dubbed `Hala Bola Boracay 2011 All Star weekend’

The former University of the East star is tops among backcourt players
for the South squad that also included Talk `N Text’s Jimmy Alapag
(4,338), Cyrus Baguio of Alaska (3,933), Air21’s Dondon Hontiveros
(3,303) and Ronald Tubid of Barangay Ginebra (2,763).

Among the South big men (center/forwards), San Miguel’s Jay Washington
leads the pack with 4,824 votes followed by Kelly Williams of Talk `N
Text (4,194), Meralco’s Asi Taulava (3,798), Ginebra’s Eric Menk
(3,240) and the Alaska duo of Joe Devance (2,997) and Sonny Thoss
(2,799).

Meanwhile, Yap’s Derby Ace teammate, Mark Pingris received the highest
number of votes so far among players from the North side.

The energetic forward tallied 3,807 votes to lead the list of top
North big men. At second is fellow Llamados Kerby Raymundo with 3,312
and at third is Rain or Shine’s Gabe Norwood, the 2010 All-Star MVP,
with 2,988.

Likewise getting the nod of the fans are Ginebra’s JC Intal (2,466),
veteran San Miguel center Danny Ildefonso (2,160) and Ginebra’s Rudy
Hatfield (2,124).

The popular Ginebra combo of Mark Caguioa and Willie Miller shows the
way in the guard position with votes of 3,375 and 2,488, respectively.

Rounding out the other top three guard candidates for the North team
are Alaska’s L.A. Tenorio (2,016), San Miguel’s Alex Cabagnot (2,007)
and Paul Artadi of Air21 (1,773).

Voting, which began last Feb. 27, is still ongoing and will only be
held during game days at the PBA playing venue.

Final day of voting is on April 10.

Reserves of both teams will be chosen by the nine PBA coaches, but who
are prohibited from voting their players.

The rest of the participants in the other events will be made on the
first week of April.

Members of Pilipinas-Smart Gilas team were not included in the voting
as the Nationals are set to see action in the 2011 FIBA-Asia Champions
Cup from May 28 to June 5 which the country is hosting.

Last year the North All Stars edged out South, 133-132, during the
All-Star game held in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.PR

SMB vs BMEG (Game 6 Photos); SMB wins, 91-83

James Yap with the up and under shot against Jay Washington.

James Yap fires a three-point shot over Alex Cabagnot.

Jay Washington looses the ball on his way up against Marc Pingris and Roger Yap.

Mark Pingris posting up against Jay Washington.

BMEG vs SMB Game 3 Photos (San Miguel Beer triumphs, 74-70; leads series, 2-1)

Jay Washington forces his way to the basket while Paul Artadi tries to slap the ball from behind and gabe freeman falling.

James Yap hangs against Gabe Freeman.

Gabe Freeman tries to steal the ball from Tony Washam.

Gabe Freeman tries to reach in for the ball against Paul Artadi.

Tony Washam (center), Arwind Santos and Gabe Freeman battles for the rebound.

Rain or Shine vs BMEG Photos (Quartefinals Game1, BMEG triumphs, 108-102)

PBA IMAGE1 - James Yap protecting the ball gainst Gabe Norwood and Sol Mercado
PBA IMAGE2 - James Yap shooting over Gabe Norwood and Ryan Arana
PBA IMAGE3 - Cliff Brown reverse falling down shot against Rod Nealy
PBA IMAGE4 - Gabe Norwood ready to take off against Rafi Reavis and Cliff Robinson
PBA IMAGE5 - Paul Artadi tries to make his shot over Rod Neally