2nd Round- September 19 @ 1215AM and 3AM
Semifinals- September 20 @ 1230AM and 3AM3rd Place- September 21 @ 1230AM

Finals- September 21 @ 315AM

BTV

2nd Round- September 19 @ 1215AM and 3AM
Semifinals- September 20 @ 1230AM and 3AM
3rd Place- September 21 @ 1230AM
Finals- September 21 @ 315AM

BTV

2nd Round- September 19 @ 1215AM and 3AM
Semifinals- September 20 @ 1230AM and 3AM
3rd Place- September 21 @ 1230AM
Finals- September 21 @ 315AM

BTV

ESPN
Sky Cable 31
Destiny 82

Former Talk N Text players Yancy de Ocampo and Leo Avenido both of Air21 are now back in the Phonepals' camp following a trade that sent rookies Abby Santos and Mark Andaya and two future first round picks (2009 and 2010) to the Express.

It could be recalled that both de Ocampo and Avenido were traded by Talk N Text to Air21 previously for Anthony Washington and in the three-team deal involving John Ferriols and Willie Miller, Renren Ritualo and Don Allado and TNT future draft picks in 2006 and 2007.

Talk N Text tried to pry away Yancy de Ocampo several times in the offseason but couldn't get a deal to go down. Now, they have Yancy back and their frontline corps look more formidable than before and rival that of SMC sister teams Brgy Ginebra and San Miguel Beer. Consider this: Yancy and Asi at the 4-5 slots with Harvey Carey and Don Allado providing the support inside. This move guarantees a tough match-up to whoever Talk N Text faces in the quarters.

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In the early years of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), there was a restriction that applied to big men Ramon Fernandez and Abet Guidaben. They could only be traded to each other and couldn't be on the same team. The idea was to balance the power or even the competition among the teams in the league. Fernandez and Guidaben were the dominant big men during the PBA's yesteryears and with them on one team would tremendously tilt the balance of the league. Manny Victorino and Yoyoy Villamin would later join that elite list. As parity was achieved that policy was slowly removed. We could see the same policy applying to the league with the recent approval of the Restricted Trading List (RTL) by the PBA Board.

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As expected, Allen Iverson is now officially a Denver Nugget. Sixers GM Billy King finally gave in to the Nuggets offer of Andre Miller, Joe Smith, and 2 future 1st round picks. The Nuggets get AI plus seldomly used Ivan Mcfarlin, who will most probably be waived in a couple of days. King was desperately trying to bring in a third team into the mix to sweeten the deal, but he finally realized that the longer he waits, Iversons value may drop even more. So instead of seeking a young stud the Sixers settled for 2 1st rounders, 1 of which will be coming from Dallas. In Miller they get a former assists leader who can stem the tide while the Sixers rebuild through the draft. The Nuggets on the other hand will have the deadliest offensive rotation of the season in AI, J.R. Smith, and Carmelo Anthony (once the latter 2 return from their suspensions). With a healthy Marcus Camby controlling the boards the Nuggets will run and gun its way into the playoffs. I can't wait to watch the Nuggets next game versus the Phoenix Suns!

Ok, maybe not for the love of God. How about, for the love of all that is great and sacred about the game of basketball. Or for the love of the hallowed halls of Madison Square Garden, the mecca of the game. Or for the love of the values and maturity you can learn from sports. Or maybe it's as simple as, for the love of all the fans of the New York Knicks.

Isiah Thomas has got to go. Never have I encountered a sports superstar so determined to make people forget how great he was. There was a time I like many others idolized him, a deserving Hall of Famer, perennial All Star and example of a great athlete and player of the sport.

But what he has done until recently is nothing less than unforgivable. He has transformed the mighty Knickerbockers, once an unyielding force and the source of great and memorable contests of the game to a mere laughing stock, a dumping ground for has - beens, inflated egos and their even more inflated salaries.

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As the days click by, Allen Iverson is still a Sixer and more and more of the suitors this past week were saying they were on the outside of the hunt. Here is what was known as of last night – Allen Iverson is expected to be a Denver Nugget as early as Wednesday (this was before the brawl in New York), the deal is expected to include as many as two other teams. With The Clippers and Bobcats the likely trade partners, depending on who you listen to. The Players involved may not be as sexy as Sixer fans had hoped for.

Word has it Iverson lands in Denver, who basically ships out the two draft picks they have for the 2007 draft, Joe Smith as a serviceable ending contract, Linas Kleiza and pieces from other teams. There are conflicting reports on whether Nene leaves Denver in this deal. Nuggets sources say the 76ers had little to no interest in Nene, while a league source said they heard the Sixers wanted Nene. Its also possible Nene could be the chip used by a third or fourth team to make this swing – Clippers sources deny any interest in Nene, although Elton Brand’s backup is Tim Thomas and the team has Chris Kaman battling injury. The puzzle is not an easy one to solve, and Sixers GM Billy King is being very tight lipped about the process, with most of the intelligence on the situation coming from people outside of the discussion.

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Ah yes, there's nothing like the 2nd worst NBA bench clearing brawl to mark the oncoming Yuletide season noted for brotherly love and affection.

In a game between the Knicks vs. Nuggets at Madison Square Garden, Dec. 16, 2006, Knick guard Nate Robinson, in the most intellectual decision I've seen yet on a basketball court, decided to 'protect' his angelic teammate Mardy Collins.

Obviously MENSA level thinkers, his teammates, namely Jared Jeffries, Channing Frye and David Lee, then decide to join in.

You can't deny the feeling of raw intelligence in the Garden when Denver players Carmelo Anthony, Marcus Camby, Andre Miller, Eduardo Najera and J.R. Smith join the festivities. For their trouble, all were ejected.

Video after the jump.

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Today, 4pm at the Philsports Arena, I am taking a break from the Iverson watch as my beloved DLSU Green Archers are going for the championship vs. the JRU Heavy Bombers in the Nike/Fil-Oil/Flying-V Homegrown Cup.

Yes, I used the world 'beloved' not only because I am an alumni and serious fan of the only team I've had a real affiliation with for many many years, it's also because this is the only time I've had a chance to cheer and even talk about them in a basketball tournament context, in light of their ban in the UAAP.

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According to NBA sources, the deal that would bring Sixer star Allen Iverson to the Denver Nuggets appears to be close and could happen as early as tomorrow.

A source familiar with the negotiations said that it would be a complicated trade involving at least three teams and at least five players. The identities of the teams and the other players involved have not been disclosed yet but the Nuggets would likely give up their two first round draft picks in next year's draft (it should be lottery-protected in anticipation of the Greg Oden sweepstakes) and a high-priced personnel or two (could be Nene or Kenyon Martin and JR Smith or Andre Miller) to balance the salaries out.

Link

This picture of Pau Gasol should get fellow Ballex writer John Knight's heart pumping, considering he's one of the players John is counting on in our Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball League. He has been holding on to the guy since Day One (I think), and fortunately for him, this article where he talks about his World Championship teammates, his cellar dwelling Grizzlies and his up and coming NBA teammates amongst other things, has nothing but good news, saying "All signs point toward him returning sooner than expected. In fact, he’s already participating in contact practices with his teammates and engaging in physical adaptation training sessions".

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The Phlippine Basketball Association (PBA) will be launching a new TV magazine show "iPBA" next year. The weekly show will be hosted by showbiz personality and sex icon Asia Agcaoili. The 30-minute TV program, dubbed "Bagong Laro", will feature the top players of the league, stories behind games, offcourt activities and other scintillating topics for hardcore PBA fanatics. The program is divided into the following segments: the PBA Insider, Eye PBA and Shocking Asia, and also exclusive footages of offcourt activities, hobbies, favorite hangouts, charity events and other interests of several PBA players. Check out the segments below:

1) PBA Insider - an exclusive peek into the hottest intrigues and controversies around the league. This is very similar the ESPN Insider. This is I think the most interesting portion of the show.

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It's final, as of December 11 at New York, the NBA announced they'll be returning to the old Spalding ball by January 1, 2007 and onwards till the end of the season.

Stern had this to say. “Although testing performed by Spalding and the NBA demonstrated that the new composite basketball was more consistent than leather, and statistically there has been an improvement in shooting, scoring, and ball-related turnovers, the most important statistic is the view of our players.”

We have this to say: "you think?!"

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CONTINUED FROM HERE...

more Cookin’

Warriors, version I – So far this is the latest rumor to crop up, wherein AI supposedly lands in the Bay area while the Warriors ship either Troy Murphy and/or Baron Davis to the Bulls. The Sixers on the other hand will land Ben Gordon plus the expiring contracts of PJ Brown and Mike Sweetney. Seems doable since the Philly pre-requisites are met (expiring contract/s plus talented youth). No word yet on whether there will be a draft pick involved.

Analysis: Ben Gordon has proven that he can get you points in a hurry. He has been dubbed the Vinnie “Microwave” Johnson of this generation, meaning he is expected to give his team an offensive boost coming off the bench. But he’s no Allen Iverson and he never will be. I see him as a temporary fix until a better option comes along.

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Everyone is holding their breath, contemplating what city Allen Iverson will call his new home. As almost everyone knows by now, before the current season even began AI was almost sent to Boston in a planned 3-team trade that would have AI donning the green and white for the Celtics. Boston would have sent Wally Szczerbiak to Utah, and the Jazz sending Carlos Boozer to the 76rs. Philly was also to receive Boston’s’ 1st round pick in the 2006 draft (who turned out to be Randy Foye, now with the Timberwolves). This was almost a done deal, but the Sixers had a last minute request to include Boston low-profile contributor Ryan Gomes. Obviously Danny Ainge did not want to part with one of the Celtics' future core player, so this deal died a natural death.

But wait! Now it's AI who is demanding the trade, and he says that he will play for any NBA team! Now it’s an Allen Iverson smorgasbord in the NBA, and almost all teams have made an offer. The Sixers are not necessarily looking for equal talent for AI. What they want this time around are: expiring contracts, young talent, and future draft picks. So with this in mind lets breakdown the potential participants in the AI sweepstakes, broken down in 3 categories: Cookin’, Medium rare, and Slow burning.

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This is the fourth edition of our PBA-Celebrity lookalikes. In case you missed the other 3, here are the links:

http://basketball.exchange.ph/2006/10/03/pba-look-alikes-part-i
http://basketball.exchange.ph/2006/10/06/pba-look-alikes-part-ii
http://basketball.exchange.ph/2006/10/11/pba-look-alikes-part-iii

1) Red Bull forward Migs Noble and actor John Arcilla

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With only six playdates remaining in the current 2006-06 PBA Talk N Text Philippine Cup, the race is on to the top six contending teams for the two outright semis slots. Brgy Ginebra is on top of the totem pole with 11 wins in 15 games. 3 other teams have 10 wins, while the remaining 2 teams have 9 wins apiece. It is still mathematically possible for the sixth placed team (Talk N Text) to overtake Brgy Ginebra on the top. They're separated by 2 1/2 games and Talk N Text would hope that Brgy Ginebra loses all of its 3 remaining games to gain entry into the semis outright. It's easier said than done.

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Don't look now, but it seems the Dallas Mavericks and the Boston Celtics are the leading contenders to land Philadelphia 76ers' disgruntled star Allen Iverson. Iverson is on the trading block and 76ers general manager Billy King is exploring all trade options around the league. The Dallas Mavericks have one of the league's deepest bench and has one trading chip the Sixers love - Devin Harris. Mavs owner Mark Cuban didn't deny that the team is shopping for The Answer but seems reluctant to part with a young guard with great potential like Harris. Harris is only 23 years old and is a fixture in the backcourt for the Mavs, averaging over 10 points and 4 assists in 19 games this season. The Mavs could counter with a couple of expiring contracts: Austin Croshere (7.3 M) and Jerry Stackhouse (9.3 M) or Jason Terry (7.5 M) and draft picks plus rookies Maurice Ager and Jose Juan Barea for Iverson's 18.3 M but the Sixers could find better offers from other teams. The solution would be to add other players to the trade mix, such as Samuel Dalembert, Chris Webber and Andre Iguodala but I don't think the Mavs would tinker the core of their lineup and their playoff chemistry just to accomodate AI.

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From ESPN, NBA commissioner David Stern is thought to be considering a ball swap after just three months of using the new microfiber composite ball. Already, NBA staffers are making an inquiry on how many leather balls each team has in storage from last season, just in case they decide to make the switch immediately.

Teams were allotted 75 new synthetic basketballs at the beginning of the season, but recent injuries and cuts suffered by various players while handling the microfiber version could force the league to make an immediate in-season recall of the old ball, which may include emergency orders with Spalding for teams that have little or nothing left from last season's leather shipment.

Goodbye new ball! Welcome back old ball!

There are rumors swirling around the Internet that Air21's 6-8 slotman Yancy de Ocampo is on the trading block, and the catch is, he will be donning the Purefoods jersey anytime soon. We just don't know who among the Giants would be the sacrificial lamb to finally bring a legitimate center to the Purefoods' fold. Previous to the Yancy to Purefoods rumor, there were also some rumors linking Yancy and brother Ranidel in a trade that would bring TNT man-mountain Asi Taulava to the Express camp. The TNT management and coaching staff have since squashed that trade rumor but I will not be surprised if they trade Asi soon. Going back to the Yancy to Purefoods' rumored deal, I think this deal has meat, especially if it involves the Air21 franchise. I have never seen a franchise being involved with so many trade deals, controversial ones at that (remember the three-team deal that brought Reavis, Hatfield, and Mamaril to the Brgy Ginebra fold? How about the Anthony Washington & Mark Cardona for Yancy and Patrick Fran trade two seasons ago). There's just no excuse to what they have been doing for the past four years. If they only held on to their players (think Renren Ritualo, Mark Pingris, Ronald Tubid, Cardona, Washington, etc) this would be a lot stronger team. What they're doing to their team has continued to perplex people, pundits alike.

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201 points. a 123-point blowout. 21 three pointers and a 69-point performance in just 24 minutes by an individual player. These are stuff you conjure only in dreams. Last Saturday, however, it became a reality for Lincoln University and star player Sami Wylie, and a nightmare for Ohio State Marion who probably wished they never got out of bed. The final score was 201-78. The scoreboard at the end of the game actually read Lincoln 01, Marion 78, because it wasn't designed to go up to 200. Marion, it should be noted, had only six players in uniform.

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No, wearing these won't magically increase your points, rebounds, and other whatnot. Rather, they wirelessly relay basketball stats from the player to the public.

Unbelievable? Presenting TeamAwear, "a next-generation basketball jersey which allows players to 'wear their performance' in order to enhance the awareness of information during game-play for all stakeholders, including: athletes, coaches, referees, and spectators."

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Araneta Coliseum

Araneta Coliseum

Philsports Arena. Comment here.

Philsports Arena. Comment here.

Philsports Arena. Comment here.

Philsports Arena. Comment here.