The Back Four Bums Episode 3: The Christmas Ep

Presenting the Back Four Bums' Christmas Episode... Merry Christmas!!!

 Back Four Bums Episode 3 by patrickolivares 

My Best sports moments, TV, series, films, and CDs of 2011

Best sports moments

Ateneo Blue Eagles win 4^th straight UAAP title

Azkals kick off 2011 with win over Mongolia

LA Galaxy in Manila

Kobe Bryant and company play hoops in Manila

Stephan Schrock’s goal vs. Kuwait

Loyola Meralco’s comeback win over Kaya

UFL Cup Finals

Powerade ousts B-Meg in Philippine Cup Quarterfinals

Alex Cabagnot’s game winners

The Denver Broncos’ fourth quarter comebacks

Liverpool FC in Malaysia (and meeting them)

Tiger Woods’ win at the Chevron World Challenge

Joshua Beloya’s game winning goal vs. Laos

The Dallas Mavericks beat the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals

The World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Texas Rangers

Super Bowl XLV

Derek Jeter gets his 3,000 hit via HR

Mariano Rivera breaks all-time Saves record after the New York Yankees beat Minnesota Twins 6-4
Neymar becomes a star

Best TV Series

The Walking Dead

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Bluebloods

Boardwalk Empire

Game of Thrones

The Killing

Homeland

Friday Night Lights

Best Albums

Codes and Keys – Death Cab for Cutie

Fly from Here – Yes

20 – Pearl Jam

I’m With You – Red Hot Chili Peppers

The Seventh Degree of Separation – Arena

Unbroken – Fiona

Mylo Xyloto – Coldplay

El Camino – The Black Keys

Metals – Feist

Suck it and See – The Arctic Monkeys

Belong – The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

The Hunter – Mastodon

Wasting Light – Foo Fighters

White Lotus – Eyes Set to Kill

Best Films

The Descendants

X-Men First Class

Moneyball

Another Earth

The Adventures of Tintin

Hugo

Captain America

Best Comics Books

Daredevil – Mark Waid and Paolo Rivera

Daytripper – Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba

Aquaman – Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis

They are killing our (football) field in Santa Barbara, Iloilo.

Santa Barbara, Iloilo is known as one of the hotbeds of the Beautiful Game in the country. The town has produced many good players through the years. Among those that I know are former FEU head coach and national player Adolfo Alicante and current Stallion FC fixtures Jason Cordova and Jovanie Simpron. I've been to the town on several occasions and loved my stay there. One time, I spearheaded the move to give the late General Martin Delgado, a Katipunan general and Visayas war hero, a proper place in Ateneo de Manila's War Heroes Memorial. But I go there primarily for the football and hope to visit again soon.

Recently, it came to my attention, that the football fields in the town plaza are being eaten up to give way to a health clinic barely two meters away from the sideline. Now there is nothing wrong with that except that no public forum was held. The Santa Barbara Football Association and the townsfolk were not even consulted and they are irate. Looks like the public official behind this is trying to get his way with certain things (doesn't that remind me of SM Blue) without due process.

Santa Barbara is one of those places considered for the 2012 University Games but with their football fields being eaten up, it doesn't look to pass inspection. So how do you fight a public official who does whatever the heck he wants? Check out the people from Santa Barbara watching their beloved field being torn up.

Maybe past and present Ilonggo football stars can help bring attention to this. How about our youth, local football officials ask? Where do we go from here?

I thought public officials are not supposed to put their name on public projects? Is it his personal money that he is using for in the development of this clinic? It's the people's money and he is only doing his job. Take your name off that damn piece of machinery.

Gary David: This David is a Goliath

This David is a Goliath

by rick olivares pics by nuki sabio

Do not be deceived by Gary David’s boy next-door looks. He isn’t the chiseled sort like Asi Taulava. He isn’t like one of those sleek aerodynamic cruise missiles like Gabe Norwood. Heck, doesn’t even look like a baller when out of those sweats.

But make no mistake. Gary David is an assassin in tank tops. Every bit as lethal as James Yap. Able to put points on the board in a hurry like Jeff Chan, Mark Caguioa, or Peter June Simon. He’s a lifetaker and a heartbreaker.

You see, it’s the Holiday Season yet for everyone, yet for the B-Meg Llamados and their legions of followers, it might very well be a reverse Valentine’s Day for broken hearts.

Powerade was teetering on the brink of elimination when David, the Tigers’ 33-year old shooting guard went on a scoring rampage of Jordanesque proportions. In Game One of their two-match series with B-Meg, David tacked on 32 points. In a game of no tomorrows, he bettered his output by scoring 37.

After seemingly coasting for much of the game, David caught fire after a near fight between B-Meg’s Josh Urbiztondo and Powerade’s Celino Cruz. After the match, he admitted that Cruz’ ejection and pre-series prognostications that his team had no chance of beating the Llamados, who topped the eliminations with a 10-4 card, served as motivation.

David who proceeded to score 23 points in the fourth period and the five-minute overtime period to help overhaul a 17-point deficit to forge overtime.

Once in extension, David showed that he wasn’t finished as he scored the first 10 points for his team before Marcio Lassiter hit a booming triple that helped finish off the Llamados, 131-123.

The Llamados’ Kerby Raymundo, Simon, and Yap all scored over 20 points each but they lacked in effect as compared to the Tigers’ 52.4% shooting from three-point land where they hit 22-42 shots. David accounted for eight of those treys.

Through the first three quarters, David hit only 5-13 shots. But with the game on the line, David, he without the legions of fans, without the mad hops, or brute force for post-play, showed that he is definitely, a force to reckon with.

Any one care to debate that?

Notes: Powerade is the third eighth seed in PBA history to send the number one team in the conference packing in the opening round of the playoffs. Ginebra shocked Mobile in the 1999 All-Filipino Conference while San Miguel ousted Talk ‘N Text in the 2002 Governors’ Cup. I am one of those eating crow here because I tabbed B-Meg to walk over Powerade. I both stand and sit corrected.

Random thoughts on the Yankees, the Broncos and the Bulls

I’m happy that Derek Jeter got his 3,000 hit and Mo Rivera broke the all-time saves record but I still wish they made it to the World Series. It’s maddening to know that pitching is still a perennial problem but they have not fixed it. They did in 2009 but that’s it.

There are three NFL teams I like, the New York Giants, the Denver Broncos and the Chicago Bears. The Bears and the Broncos are old time favorites and it was only in recent years that I began to root for the NYTD Blue. I rooted for the Broncos not because of John Elway but because of Tom Jackson and Lyle Alzado. I became an Elway fan eventually and seeing them crushed by the Giants in the Super Bowl XXI. I have to admit that even then, I was a fan of NY tight end Mark Bavaro. But what a loss for Denver!

My sports teams are essentially all New York – the Yankees, the Islanders, the Giants, the Jets (to an extent) and those in New Jersey – the Devils (with their new captain Zach Parise), the Nets (who are moving to Brooklyn). The others outside the Big Apple are all Chicago – the Bulls and the Bears.

Tim Tebow joining today’s Broncos rekindled my rooting for this Mile High team. I somewhat followed his exploits at with the Florida Gators and have done so with Denver even before this breakout season. And this NFL season has been nothing short of amazing. It makes for good conversation/debate and viewing. I can't understand why people will not give Tebow a chance. He's 7-1 as a starter for crying out loud.

Just as the Chicago Bulls have not been the same as they were when they had Michael Jordan around so have the Broncos since John Elway retired. They are not exactly a good football team but they are getting the job done. Wherever they will end is anyone’s guess. But I am hoping they make it at least to the playoffs but first things first – this one’s a huge litmus test – they face the New England Patriots and a top QB in Tom Brady. Here’s hoping that the Broncos beat New England.

But it’s been fun following the verbal tussles between Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless (although the latter can be so insulting in his comments that it’s a wonder that Bayless has not challenged him to a fistfight).

Watching the NBA situation and the comments about the CP3 trade to the Clippers and the non-trade to the Lakers. The Miami Heat must be loving it because it takes the scrutiny off them at least for the moment. Everyone’s talking as if the Clippers will win it all. Miami is still a darn good basketball team – they did add Eddy Curry and Shane Battier -- and the failure of last year will fuel them this season.

I have to feel bad about the Boston Celtics’ Jeff Green. I was hoping that he’d have a very good year in Beantown but he disappeared under the weight of the Big Four. Now he’s out for the season and (possibly for the rest of his career after heart surgery) where does that leave him?

Now for the team I root for – the Bulls. Did they do enough to make this team better? They added Rip Hamilton. He might have been good three years ago. But now, hmm…. they are better but not good enough to get past Miami. Unless Carlos Boozer plays both ends and does not take a night off after a great showing here and there. More importantly, how healthy and in shape is he? Will Ronnie Brewer co-exist with Rip? Will Jimmy Butler deliver? There’s a move here that brings to mind a point during the 1997 season when team management traded away forward Jason Caffey. That was done so that Dennis Rodman would be secure in his role as the primary four-spot player and he’d pick up his play. It was a gamble that worked because Chicago won two more titles. So there’s Kurt Thomas departing for Portland. I thought that the Bulls should have used him more. Nevertheless, the onus is on Taj Gibson to take his game to the next level.

The compressed 66-game season will be sloppy at first. Is the time they have for training camp good enough to fix their problems? Make no mistake, I’m excited for this season. I thought that after Michael Jordan retired I’d never see the Bulls compete for a NBA title. They did last season. Now they have to build on that. Anything less than an Eastern Conference Finals berth is a let down.

Bleachers' Brew #290 The 6th Annual Brewskies

This appears in the Monday, December 20, 2011 edition of the Business Mirror.

The 6th Annual Brewskies

by rick olivares

At the end of every year, Bleachers’ Brew hands out the Brewskie Awards to people, athletes, and teams that have made the world of sports even more interesting if not controversial. Here are the 2011 winners.

Get a number and stand in line Award

It seems that everyone wants to clean Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s clock. If it isn’t Victor Ortiz, it’s Manny Pacquiao. Of course, there’s HBO boxing analyst Larry Merchant who got into a verbal tussle with Pretty Boy after the controversial ending to his match with Ortiz.

The Condom Award

Victor Ortiz. So he may remember to protect himself at all times especially against the Floyd Mayweathers of this world.

The Bausch & Lomb Eye Glass Cleaner Award

This one reluctantly goes to Joe Paterno because he needs to see things more clearly. Unfortunately, for him, the sin of omission in the Jerry Sandusky-Penn State Sex Scandal will overshadow six decades of achievement. What a terrible way to end one’s career.

The Blind Side Award (awarded by Michael Lewis and co-presented by the SBP)

Hagop Khajirian, deputy secretary general of FIBA-Asia, who prior to the match between Smart Gilas Pilipinas and the United Arab Emirates did not allow nationals Chris Lutz and Marcio Lassiter to suit up because he said that the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas did not yet provide the duo’s citizenship papers. Huh? Lassiter and Lutz were not being naturalized and Khajirian knew that the two previously suited up for Gilas in other FIBA-sanctioned tourneys. So what happened there? He gave Gilas something to worry about other than their on court opponents. Highly suspicious if you ask me about the timing.

Sausage Eating Champion Award

David Stern, the overstaying NBA Commissioner bags this. Easily. The Houston Rockets, New Orleans Hornets, and the Los Angeles Lakers agreed to a three-team deal that would have sent Chris Paul to LA, Paul Gasol to Texas and given the Louisiana-squad four players and a future first round draft pick. But Stern nixed the deal citing the trade lopsided in favor of the Lakers. Then when Paul goes to the other LA team – the Clippers – everything is all right even if the trade doesn’t look good this time for New Orleans. Stern refused to discuss “how the sausage was made” hence this award.

The Salman Rushdie Award

Named for the British-Indian novelist who once wrote a book that drew the ire of the Muslim world and had the late Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issue a fatwa against Rushdie for blasphemy. This year’s recipient is the prolific Dan Gilbert who dethroned Dallas owner Mark Cuban for his writing skills. The Cleveland Cavaliers’ owner creates controversy every time he pens something. If it isn’t that diatribe against LeBron James (in comic sans font) then it’s that piece about Chris Paul going to the Los Angeles Lakers as being unfair. The world waits with bated breath at what Gilbert will write next.

The this-is-epic-this-is-legendary-this-is-boxing-this-is-controversial Award

This is the intro to HBO’s super fights. Unfortunately, this applies well to the Pacquiao-Marquez fight that ended in Pacquiao’s favor albeit rather controversially. Pacquiao-Marquez IV? Forget it.

The Andriy Shevchenko Award

Fernando Torres. After a great couple of years with Liverpool FC, Torres jumped ship to rival Chelsea. Unfortunately, the goal that he scored at a dizzying pace with LFC has since evaporated and he’s seen plenty of pine time. Torres’ forgettable stint with Chelsea mirrors former Blues striker Shevchenko who came over from AC Milan with a rep as a big time goal scorer. Shevchenko struggled in Stamford Bridge and was shipped out after a few years. He has since rediscovered his lethal form when he joined Russian giants Dynamo Kiev. Maybe Torres would do well to follow the Ukrainian’s example.

Flavor of the Season Award

Tim Tebow. Not since Derek Jeter was overly scrutinized for his plummeting batting average, defense, and contributions to the New York Yankees (he turned things around and shut every yobbo up) has there been an athlete who lights up talk show debates, chatrooms, and fora the way Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow does. Whether he can throw the pigskin or not, Denver is 7-1 since Tebow was handed the starting QB position.

The Three Stooges Award

Jose Mourinho, coach of Real Madrid. Obviously, he must have learned from the antics of American vaudeville act of Larry, Moe, and Curly where slapstick humor ruled as did eye poking. During a Supercopa brawl with nemesis Barcelona, Mourinho poked the Catalan club’s assistant coach Tito Vilanova in the eye then casually walked back to his side of the scrum seemingly for protection. Mourinho claims that he was provoked. He really is “The Special One” because all he got for his trouble was a three-match ban and €600!” Vilanova was fined a similar amount and received a one-match ban! And he was the one who got poked!

Disaster of the Year

The Philippines is no stranger to disasters. If it’s not of the weather or natural kind, then it’s man-made such as the now familiar and regular debacles of international sports competition. This year, it’s the SEA Games where the Philippine Sports Commission projected 70 gold medals but at the end of the 12-day tournament, only 36 golds were won. What’s on tap? The 2012 London Olympics.

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The past Brewskie Awards

2006 Brewskies

http://bleachersbrew.blogspot.com/2006/12/brewskies.html

2007 Brewskies

http://bleachersbrew.blogspot.com/2007/12/bleachers-brew-85-2nd-annual-brewskies.html

2008 Brewskies

http://bleachersbrew.blogspot.com/2008/12/bleachers-brew-137-3rd-annual-brewskies.html

2009 Brewskies

http://bleachersbrew.blogspot.com/2009/12/bleachers-brew-186-4th-annual-brewskies.html

2010 Brewskies

http://bleachersbrew.blogspot.com/2011/01/bleachers-brew-241-5th-annual-brewskies.html

Rain or Shine comes back from the jaws of hell

Jeff Chan's trey that gave ROS a 98-97 lead.

Rain or Shine comes back from the jaws of hell

by rick olivares pics by nuki sabio

December 16, 2011

Smart Araneta Coliseum

In Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao’s words, Rain or Shine “came back from the jaws of hell.”

The Elasto Painters rallied from 17 points down at the start of the fourth period then outscored Barangay Ginebra 12-5 in the five-minute overtime period to win Game One of their best-of-three semifinals series.

With 4:35 to play, Ginebra led 90-77 after a KG Canaleta trey. But Rain or Shine’s JR Quiñahan scored five consecutive points before rookie Paul Lee took charge.

Guiao’s prodigious rookie scored a mere three points in the first three periods but come the fourth quarter, Lee, the former University of the East hotshot, scored 11 of Rain or Shine’s next 13 points to put them behind by a solitary point, 96-95.

But Lee followed by teammate Gabe Norwood fouled Ginebra center Rico Villanueva on consecutive possessions in a penalty situation. But Villanueva flubbed three of his four free throws that gave life to ROS with 22.2 seconds left.

In the Elasto Painters’ next attack, Jeff Chan knocked down a deadeye trey that gave ROS it’s first taste of the lead, 98-97, since the 4:56 mark of the first period when he himself also deposited three free throws (he was fouled while attempting a triple) that made it 15-13.

Gabe Norwood added a free throw to make it 99-97 but Ginebra’s Willy Wilson grabbed Canaleta’s missed three-point attempt to score from underneath to send the match into extra time with no time left.

Guiao contested Wilson’s last gasp shot as he believed the Gins’ forward stepped on the outside line before he went up for that difficult shot. “But that’s basketball,” conceded the ROS coach.

Once in overtime, Ginebra lost its groove and descended into a spate of missed shots and turnovers that spelled their doom.

If Villanueva proved to be unsteady from the line in the clutch, it was the opposite for Rain or Shine. After Canaleta scored on a layup to make it 105-103, the Elasto Painters connected on 7-8 free throws to ice the match and send Ginebra to its first defeat after four consecutive triumphs.

“Maganda yung preparation namin. We were able to execute our game plan especially on defense,” added Guiao. “Medyo flat yung start namin. Swerte kami dahil field goal percentage namin nung first half mababa. Nag-adjust kami ng third quarter. I told them we have to be aggressive especially sa ball screen.”

Guiao, who also won four titles with Swift and Red Bull, made no bones about this important win: “We thought it was a lost game. For a young team, we played with a lot of maturity. We hope that this momentum will fuel us to the semifinals. Ginebra is going to come back. It’s not going to be an easy series.”

Beau Belga's trey that gave ROS the lead for good 102-101 with 4:14 left in OT.

Villanueva’s woes at the line belied the great game he played for Ginebra as he led his side’s first quarter attack. The former Ateneo Blue Eagle scored  16 points on top of adding nine rebounds and two assists.

In the third quarter, it was Villanueva’s college teammate, Kings forward JC Intal, who presided over Ginebra’s third quarter surge when he tacked on 11 points including three triples to make it 61-48 with 6:05 left in the third. Intal was soon went out with hamstring injury and would not return.

Rain or Shine answered Intal’s third quarter explosion with Quinahan’s own artillery barrage of 16 pointers including three triples of his own before he trooped to the bench with six fouls with 1:53 to play. Lee picked up the slack for ROS in the endgame to help his side complete a monstrous rally to put them in a position to beat Ginebra for the first time in three playoff tries.

Rain or Shine 112 – Quiñahan 21, Lee 19, Chan 14, Araña 12, Rodriguez 11, Belga 9, Norwood 7, Tang 7, Cruz 5, Matias 4, Ibañes 3, Buenafe 0.

Ginebra 105 - Caguioa 25, Intal 16, Canaleta 16, Villanueva 16, Cortez 15, Wilson Willy 9, Labagala 4, Mamaril 4, Maliksi 0, Wilson John 0.

Cabagnot catapults Petron to a one-nil series lead over Meralco

Cabagnot catapults Petron to a one-nil series lead over Meralco

by rick olivares pic by brosi gonzales 

December 16, 2011

Smart Araneta Coliseum

Petron Blaze broke away from a close match when Alex Cabagnot and company buried Meralco with an avalanche of the spectacular. Following a 68-all tie, the Boosters point guard dropped a pair of four-point plays first off the Bolts’ Chico Lanete then Chris Timberlake for a 76-68 lead with 6:26 to play.

A flurry of baskets by either side later, Denok Miranda then hit a trey and then a more conventional three-point play to make it 86-75 with time down to 3:45. That lead was good enough buffer to allow Petron to book a 91-84 win to take Game One of the Best-of-Three series with their corporate rival.

Much was made between an earlier trash talking incident between Cabagnot and Meralco counterpart Sol Mercado something that Petron head coach Ato Agustin found amusing. “Nasa gawa yung salita,” he smirked outside the team dugout.

The Blaze Boosters had to suffer a terrible shooting period for the most part of the game but their gunners began to find the range during crunch time thanks to Agustin’s point guard. “Alex always takes charge,” marveled the second-year pro head coach. “Dinadala niya yung team namin. He can defend. He can score. He can pass.”

Cabagnot didn’t have a particularly good game for the first three quarters as he only had four markers to his name. But when it mattered the most, the Fil-Am from Hawaii delivered quite a haymaker.

The stat line of the second over-all pick of the 2005 PBA Draft had 14 points, seven rebounds, eight assists, and one steal across his name. “Hindi na ako nagugulat sa mga ginagawa niya,” added center Danny Ildefonso who chipped in four points and six rebounds. “Swerte kami na meron kaming player na kaya makapag-score kapag gipitan na.”

Blaze Booster forward Arwind Santos got the better of Meralco opposite Gabby Espinas as he notched another double double of 19 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, and four steals. Espinas had 13 points for the Bolts to go with three rebounds and three assists.

“It’s a big game for us and taking the first game puts us in a good position to move forward,” said Cabagnot after the match. “For sure Meralco will make their adjustments but so will we.”

Meralco struggled to get a big game out of forward Mac Cardona who scattered 12 points but he wasn’t his usual livewire self.

Petron 91 – Santos 19, Lutz 18, Cabagnot 14, Reyes 12, Miranda 11, Yeo 9, Sharma 4, Ildefonso 4, Doruelo 1, Baclao 0, Tugade 0.

Meralco 84 – Mercado 18, Espinas 13, Cardona 12, Isip 10, Taulava 9, Yee 7, Borboran 6, Timberlake 2, Macapagal 2, Omolon 2, Hugnatan 2, Lanete 1.


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My thoughts: Sol Mercado should do a better job of setting up teammates as opposed to looking for his shot. The Bolts need to get Mac Cardona untracked. If Asi Taulava didn't play so well they'd have been blown out early on. As for Rob Reyes, what a pick up for Petron. Definitely a surprise for the Boosters as well as the league. And if you ask me, his game spells trouble for Nonoy Baclao. Seek for a trade while it's early and you can still show something. Maybe to Barako, Shopinas or Powerade.

Our second batch of winners of free PBA tickets Friday December 16

Above: Kalayaan Quiñones and partner and (below) Cara Vergel De Dios and friend both won a pair of tickets to the Friday, December 16, PBA Quarterfinals matches at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Thanks for reading Bleachers' Brew as well as joining our PBA promo.

San Sebastian wrests the PCCL crown from Ateneo

This appears in ateneo.edu

San Sebastian wrests the PCCL crown from Ateneo

by rick olivares

December 15, 2011

San Juan Arena

The San Sebastian Stags inflicted upon the Ateneo Blue Eagles, the pain they have been dishing out on foes in the past four years. The NCCA runners-up repeatedly attacked Ateneo’s interior then made them pay from the outside when they closed the lane.

The formula worked and by the time the four-time UAAP champions played zone and attacked the Stags’ inside, time had run out.

San Sebastian then successfully wrested the Philippine Collegiate Champions league title with a 73-67 win over Ateneo making them the first NCAA team to win the crown. Ateneo, erstwhile back-to-back titlists and winners of three of the last five national cage championships, lost their first championship in the four title games they played this season. The Blue Eagles won the Filoil Premier Cup, the UAAP, and the University Games.

Ian Sangalang, adjudged Most Valuable Player of the tournament, scored 19 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to help the Stags dominate the match. Ateneo last led at 16-14 behind eight consecutive points by graduating point guard Emman Monfort but SSCR’s Calvin Abueva responded with five straight points to put the Stags up 17-16 after the first quarter.

The Stags started the second quarter with a 13-0 run that effectively gave them control of the match. They repeatedly attacked the interior of the Blue Eagles with Abueva leading the way and scattered the lane defenders in blue like fallen tenpins.

It was only late in the game when the Blue Eagles ceased their sniping from the outside to also attack San Sebastian from the inside. It immediately paid dividends for Ateneo as they came back to within four, 67-71 with 1:09 to play. But the Blue Eagles missed all their final attempts from the field while the Stags added two more points from the free throw line for the final tally.

In the midst of the Ateneans’ searing rally, the Stags’ comebacking Jonathan Semira, who has been out for months following an ACL tear, and Abueva, hit back-to-back treys to stymie the late charge.

The Stags’ absolute domination of the boards, 54-33, likewise gave them 12-second chance points.

“I began to doubt my coaching abilities,” relayed winning coach Topex Robinson outside the team’s dugout. “This was very sweet because we had faced adversity all year long. This is a nice way to end the year and it makes for a very Merry Christmas. But I am proud of the way we came out since we took the title from a great champion. And we did it without Ronald Pascual. It was also a nice send away gift for Jon Semira who along with Anthony del Rio have played their last games for San Sebastian.

The title game was also the last in blue and white for forward Kirk Long and Raymond Austria and point guard Emman Monfort.

The Blue Eagles also rued the loss but nevertheless celebrated the great year they’ve had. “It’s been a long season,” said Ateneo head coach Norman Black inside the Ateneo dugout. “We started out in Filoil then the Fr. Martin’s Cup (where they reached the semifinals), then we went to the United States for training before coming back for the UAAP. We also won the UniGames while others played in the D-League and the others with the SEA Games team. It would have been good to win another championship but we can’t win it all the time. It has been a good season for Ateneo basketball.”

Named to the 2011 PCCL Mythical Five were the University of Cebu’s Junmar Fajardo, Ateneo’s Nico Salva and Greg Slaughter, and San Sebastian’s Calvin Abueva and Ian Sangalang.

San Sebastian 73 – Abueva 20, Sangalang 19, Del Rio 10, Vitug 9, Miranda 6, Maiquez 4, Semira 3, Dela Cruz 2.

Ateneo 67 – Long 11, Tiongson 11, Slaughter 10, Erram 9, Monfort 8, Ravena 7, Salva 5, Sumalinog 3, Gonzaga 3, Golla 0, Chua 0, Austria 0.

Our first winner of the free tickets to the PBA games here on Bleachers' Brew

Calvin Perez and friend won a pair of tickets to last Wednesday's PBA games at the Araneta Coliseum. Calvin's entry (where he discusses who he thinks will win the PBA matches for a day) was adjudged the best one of the lot. Thanks for participating and we hope you will do so again.

Barako Bull notes

After Wynne Arboleda’s desperation heave clanged off the rim, Barako Bull forward-center Don Allado hung his head with his hands on his knees just a little above the halfcourt line. Allado finished with nine points on 4-7 shooting to go with seven rebounds, two assists, and two blocks. He was the last Energy Booster off the floor as several Talk ‘N Text players came over to console him.

Allado is now in his 12^th year (and with his fifth team) in the league and is far off his early league form when he crack a pair of Mythical Team selections. Inside Barako Bulls’ dugout, he sought out head coach Junel Baculi who was talking to me about the match that saw their ouster from the Philippine Cup. “Thanks, coach,” he said shaking Baculi’s hand. The former La Salle center wanted to say something more but bit his lip. Outside the dugout, he spoke a bit with TNT’s Jared Dillinger then told me, “I can still bring it if I am given the minutes. I know I can.”

Baculi smiled at my mention that Barako Bull is for many players, a team for last chances. “Hindi naman siguro. We have good players who will still be good for a few more years but we have players of 33-35 years and more. But if we’re a team for last chances and that motivates them that is good.”

Powerade Tigers take a huge bite out of B-Meg

Powerade Tigers take a huge bite out of B-Meg

by rick olivares

December 14, 2011

Smart Araneta Coliseum

If the endgame between Talk ‘N Text and Barako Bull was pure thriller, then 48 minutes played between Powerade and B-Meg was a stunner. The Tigers upended the Llamados 97-88 on B-Meg head coach Tim Cone’s 54^th birthday.

The Tigers, 6-8, were not given a chance to get past the Llamados, the league’s top seed, 10-4. In their first meeting of the season, B-Meg thrashed Powerade last October 26, 97-80, and never let the Tigers in the game. And despite Powerade’s key pickups, their inconsistent play was seen by some quarters as an easier opponent for the top seeded teams that had the twice-to-beat advantage.

But Game One of the quarterfinals series between the two squads was anything but easy.

In a reversal of their elimination round meeting, Powerade showed spunk and verve in dominating B-Meg in every single quarter. Behind Gary David (32 points), Marcio Lassiter (24 points), and Doug Kramer (10 points and 13 rebounds), the Tigers never allowed B-Meg to get into a serious run. They traded basket for basket, big shot for big shot, and stop for stop. Even turnover for turnover. But former Smart Gilas Pilipinas mainstay Marcio Lassiter scored 11 huge fourth quarter points to see Powerade through one of the team’s most important wins.

“They frustrated us,” said B-Meg point guard Josh Urbiztondo who compiled eight points, six rebounds, and one assist for his side. “They were hungry for this win. And now it’s on us to show what we’re made of. The elimination round record is a thing of the past now.”

Said an exuberant Powerade coach Bo Perasol: “If we put players with fearless competitiveness to go with a winning mentality such as Marcio Lassiter or JV Casio -- anybody who infuses positive spirit with the team -- we will be formidable. But the series is not over. What we did was get a knockout game on Sunday. We will take our chances on Sunday.”

Powerade 97 – David 32, Lassiter 24, Kramer 10, Anthony 9, Casio 9, Vanlandingham 5, Adducul 5, Lingganay 3, Allera 0, Cruz 0, Crisano 0, Antonio 0.

B-Meg 88 – Yap James 21, Simon 16, Pingris 13, Raymundo 10, Urbiztondo 8, Barroca 6, De Vance 6, Yap Roger 6, Reavis 2.