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

By now it's obvious. Alaska is clearly outclassing Talk N' Text, and not by doing anything particularly outstanding on their own. Oh of course they are playing well, and by that I mean they are executing their plays and generally carrying out an overall plan. In pressure situations when everything is helter skelter, they keep their act together, and when they do screw up as all teams inevitably do, they manage to address it quickly so as not to derail them from their ultimate goal.

Sharp contrast is the term I use for the other side. Talk N' Text can and does come out breathing fire at times, but it is largely unsustainable. This 2nd game, Ren-Ren Ritualo looked close to expending himself to score points for his team. While the effort is laudable he will obviously need to work with everyone else at some point, and sadly this was not the case.

(more...)

Alaska 100 - De Vance 24, Tenorio 17, Cariaso 15,
Thoss 14, Dela Cruz 9, Hugnatan 8, Miller 8, Ferriols 3, Fonacier 2.

Talk N' Text 91 - De Ocampo R. 20, Ritualo 18,
Cardona 16, Alapag 16, Carey 14, Castro 5, Peek 2, Dillinger 0, De
Ocampo Y. 0.

Quarterscores: 25-19, 54-55, 76-79, 100-91.

Alaska leads series 2-0
From the PBA Mailing List

Alaska 102 - Tenorio 27, Thoss 19, Dela Cruz 17, De
Vance 14, Miller 11, Cariaso 7, Hugnatan 4, Ferriols 2, Fonacier 1,
Sotto 0.

Talk N' Text 95 - Castro 18, Carey 17, Cardona 14,
Alapag 12, De Ocampo Y. 11, Dillinger 10, Ritualo 9, Peek 4, Escobal
0, Aljamal 0.

Quarterscores: 23-30, 47-44, 72-73, 102-95.

From the PBA Mailing List

Sta. Lucia 99 - Espino 21, Williams 15, Miranda 13,
Yeo 8, Omolon 8, Mendoza 7, Gregorio 5, Aquino 5, Gonzales 4, Mamaclay
2, Daa 0.

San Miguel 97 - Gonzales 25, Pingris 20, Calaguio 19,
Racela 8, Villanueva 7, Pennisi 7, Hontiveros 5, Custodio 3, Bono 3,
Baguion 0.

Quarterscores: 28-34, 57-61, 83-84, 99-97.

From the PBA Mailing List

Many things to talk about today, but I'm going with the video first, of the NBA's TV Top 10 for Jan. 26th. Let's get this party started!

(more...)

Tonight, Macmac Cardona topscored for Talk N' Text with 34 points. A scintillating performance assuring a Finals berth for the Phonepals against Alaska, whose game against Sta. Lucia just concluded as I write this.

(more...)

Alaska 87 - Miller 22, Hugnatan 19, Tenorio 14,
Cariaso 8, Thoss 6, Ferriols 6, De Vance 5, Fonacier 5, Dela Cruz 2,
Borboran 0.

Sta. Lucia 83 - Espino 21, Williams 16, Omolon 16,
Yeo 15, Miranda 6, Reyes 5, Gonzales 2, Mendoza 2, Daa 0, Aquino 0.

Quarterscores: 16-19, 44-40, 63-69, 87-83.

Talk N' Text 116 - Cardona 34, Alapag 27, Dillinger
14, De Ocampo 11, Peek 9, Ritualo 7, Castro 6, Aljamal 4, Carey 4,
Reyes 0, Lao 0.

San Miguel 115 - Seigle 32, Washington 19, Pingris
16, Hontiveros 15, Villanueva 9, Tugade 9, Custodio 8, Pennisi 7,
Gonzales 0, Racela 0.

Quarterscores: 35-30, 62-58, 89-80, 111-111, OT 116-115.

San Miguel 125 - Pingris 28, Washington 19, Tugade
14, Seigle 14, Hontiveros 12, Custodio 11, Villanueva 10, Racela 9,
Gonzales 5, Pennisi 3.

Talk N' Text 115 - Cardona 19, Dillinger 18, De
Ocampo R. 17, ritualo 13, De Ocampo Y. 11, Castro 10, Carey 10, Peek
9, Alapag 8, Reyes 0, Lao 0.

Quarterscores: 30-25, 66-51, 93-74, 125-115.

Sta. Lucia 81 - Yeo 22, Williams 14, Espino 12, Reyes
10, Omolon 10, Miranda 8,Gonzales 5, Coronel 0, Daa 0, Aquino 0,
Mendoza 0.

Alaska 74 - Tenorio 17, Hugnatan 13, Thoss 10,
Cariaso 9, De Vance 8, Ferriols 6, Miller 6, Fonacier 3, Dela Cruz 2,
Borboran 0.

Quarterscores: 22-32, 41-44, 58-59, 81-74.

Cuneta Astrodome; Friday; January 23, 2009

5pm Sta. Lucia vs. Alaska
730 pm Talk n' Text vs. San Miguel

Cuneta Astrodome; Friday; January 23, 2009

5pm Sta. Lucia vs. Alaska
730 pm Talk n' Text vs. San Miguel

Alaska 88 - Miller 20, Dela Cruz 15, Tenorio 12, De
Vance 10, Cariaso 10, Hugnatan 9, Thoss 8, Ferriols 4, Fonacier 0.

Sta. Lucia 83 - Yeo 24, Williams 16, Reyes 13, Omolon
9, Miranda 8, Espino 6, Gonzales 3, Daa 2, Aquino 2, Coronel 0,
Mendoza 0.

Quarterscores: 31-17, 53-35, 72-56, 88-83.

• DILLINGER 27 points new career-high
  • Previous high 23 vs. Air21 112-101 win last Oct. 16 '08
  • Also 2nd most in a game by a rookie this conference
  • After Sol Mercado's 29 in 120-102 win over Air21 last Oct. 5
• ALAPAG 18 pts, 10 asts 1st double-double this conference
• SEIGLE 29 pts. personal conference-high
  • Previous high 23 in Game 2
  • 29 pts, 10 rebs 2nd straight double-double
• J-WASH 23 pts, 12 rebs conference-leading 12th double-double
• TNT A WIN AWAY FROM:
  • * 7th conference Finals
  • * 1st Finals since 2007 Fiesta vs. Alaska (lost in 7 games)
  • * return trip to all-Filipino Finals since 2004-05 when it lost to
    Brgy. Ginebra in 6 games
  • * 1ST-EVER PLAYOFF SERIES WIN OVER SMB (they are 0-6 in playoff
    series vs. Beermen)

Talk N' Text 106 - Dillinger 27, Cardona 18, Alapag
18, Ritualo 11, De Ocampo R. 8, Carey 8, De Ocampo Y. 7, Peek 6,
Castro 3, Lao 0.

San Miguel 103 - Seigle 29, Washington 23, Hontiveros
18, Pennisi 10, Villanueva 7, Gonzales 7, Pingris 5, Custodio 4, Bono
0, Tugade 0, Racela 0.

Quarterscores: 25-20, 57-48, 74-81, 106-103.

You've gone and hired a baller for a President. Good job!

I mean sure, he's wearing a weird all black Nike ensemble. But he's got a step ahead of that hapless looking white dude. He can step back and take a pull up jumper or take it to the hole and red shorts can't do a thing.

(more...)

Nike keeps makin' em, and I keep posting them.

(more...)

THE PBA is helping some young basketeers realize their dreams by
supporting the BAP-SBP's 13-under program.

The PBA stressed this by helping stage the Talk N Text-sponsored
initial tryouts for the national team seeing action in the Youth
Basketball of America State Championship slated late June in Florida.

"We are only too glad to help the country's youths, who are
incidentally the thrust of our theme this year, 'PBA para sa Batang
Pinoy,'" said league commissioner Sonny Barrios in an impromptu press
conference also attended by project director Nic Jorge yesterday.

"We are very thankful to the PBA and to Talk N Text, especially Mr.
Ricky Vargas for their help in our undertaking," said Jorge, the SBP's
youth commission chief.
"The Youth Basketball is a very prestigious tournament, featuring the
state champions of the US ," added Jorge. "To be invited there is a
great privilege and a golden chance for our youngsters to get the feel
of international play at a young age."

In the tryouts, to be held at the PBA venues on four consecutive
Sundays starting yesterday, 48 players from Metro Manila have been
formed into four teams. From them will be chosen the final 12 making
up the RP Team.

Jorge, however, did not discount the possibility of further
alterations in the RP Team to be handled by coach Mark Herrera.

"We also intend to hold more tryouts in the provinces and if some
players there are good enough, then they could be inserted into the
national lineup," he said. Among those who have joined the tryouts are
the sons of former PBA stars Benjie Paras, Glen Capacio and Bong
Ravena.

Talk N' Text 110 - Alapag 22, De Ocampo 17, Cardona
16, Carey 15, Peek 15, Dillinger 11, Ritualo 9, Castro 3, De Ocampo 2.

San Miguel 106 - Hontiveros 39, Custodio 15, Seigle
11, Tugade 9, Pennisi 9, Bono 8, Villanueva 7, Pingris 6, Racela 2.

Quarterscores: 33-21, 64-61, 84-91, 110-106.

Sta. Lucia 76 - Omolon 25, Reyes 10, Coronel 9, Williams 8,
Espino 7, Daa 6, Miranda 6, Yeo 5, Gonzales 0.

Alaska 65 - Miller 21, De Vance 15, Hugnatan 7, Ferriols 7,
Tenorio 6, Borboran 5, Dela Cruz 4, Fonacier 0, Thoss 0, Sotto 0,
Cariaso 0.

Quarterscores: 18-19, 41-32, 60-49, 76-65.

********

WEDNESDAY / JAN 21 / CUNETA ASTRODOME

5:00PM TALK N' TEXT VS. SAN MIGUEL
7:30PM ALASKA VS. STA. LUCIA

Yes I know one's got nothing to do with another.

But see, LeBron's new commercial was released today. I patiently waited for this (and mistakenly assumed to be about new kicks), but turns out it be from his insurance company sponsor, which doesn't even have an office here and so I will therefore not link to it. Besides, it's about football, and judging from the reaction on YouTube, everybody's annoyed they've been taken for a ride. And we all know how YouTube commenters are such an educated and sophisticated lot, so trust me, it is getting what it deserved. And I don't even wanna know what the Knicks fans have to say about that. Tsk tsk, not a good thing to piss those off.

So what do I do? Why, show you his new kicks, that's what!

(more...)

4:00PM STA. LUCIA VS. ALASKA
6:30PM SAN MIGUEL VS. TALK N' TEXT

SUNDAY/ JANUARY 18/ ARANETA

4:00PM STA. LUCIA VS. ALASKA
6:30PM SAN MIGUEL VS. TALK N' TEXT

Alaska 94 - De Vance 17, Miller 17, Cariaso 15,
Tenorio 14, Thoss 11, Dela Cruz 10, Hugnatan 6, Ferriols 4, Borboran
0, Fonacier 0.

Sta. Lucia 87 - Espino 20, Yeo 19, Williams 15,
Miranda 12, Daa 6, Omolon 4, Gonzales 4, Reyes 3, Aquino 2, Mendoza 2,
Gregorio 0.

Quarterscores: 20-29, 46-51, 73-66, 94-87.

San Miguel 112 - Hontiveros 23, Seigle 23, Custodio
16, Washington 14, Pingris 11, Racela 9, Villanueva 8, Pennisi 6, Pena
2, Gonzales 0.

Talk N' Text 103 - De Ocampo R. 19, Alapag 17, Carey
13, Peek 10, Castro 9, Cardona 8, Ritualo 8, Dillinger 7, Reyes 6, De
Ocampo Y. 6, Aljamal 0, Lao 0.

Quarterscores: 27-26, 59-54, 84-71, 112-103.

National coach Yeng
Guiao, along with assistants Roehl Nadurata and Gee Abanilla, explains
his philosophy to members of the Philippine team during practice
Monday at The Arena in San Juan

National coach Joseller 'Yeng' Guiao plans to use the Southeast Asian
Basketball Association tournament in April as a gauge to measure his
team's chemistry and camaraderie rather than its readiness to go to
war.

He is also seeking information, for scouting purposes, from the
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas on the teams that will compete in the
SEABA Champions Cup, also three months from now."I don't think we'll
be a hundred percent in the SEABA," Guiao said during practice Monday
at The Arena in San Juan.

"After all, di naman siya kasing-competitive noong tournament sa
August. We'll be using it as a tool to get the team together, as a
bonding experience with a chance to play competitively."

The SEABA tourney – to be played at a still undetermined location – is
the qualifying tournament for the August FIBA-Asia Championship in
Tianjin, China, which in turn will pick the region's representatives
to the World Championship in Istanbul next year. Eight players showed
up for the sixth day of practice since the team was formed last year,
and three of them – Willie Miller and Sonny Thoss of Alaska and San
Miguel Beer's Mick Pennisi – sat out the 20-minute walk-through
offense because of the impending best-of-seven semifinal series in the
PBA Philippine Cup.

The Aces are facing the Sta. Lucia Realtors, where RP team candidates
Kelly Williams and Ryan Reyes play for, while the Beermen battle the
Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters, who have Ranidel de Ocampo and rookie
Jared Dillinger in the lineup.

Guiao managed, nonetheless, to put in quality minutes with the five
players he was left to work with – James Yap, Cyrus Baguio, Asi
Taulava, Gabe Norwood and Jayjay Helterbrand.

"I can understand the problem of completing the team at the moment,"
Guiao said. "But in two or three weeks time, a good number of these
guys will be available, full time." The simplicity of his system,
Guiao said, makes prolonged periods of training unnecessary.

"I'm not worried about them getting the hang of the system," he said,
"since it requires minimal time and effort. I just have to put them in
a structure and their talent will take over." Scouting the opposition
all over the region is "not a priority," the RP coach said, adding,
however, that if the SBP can furnish him details of the field in the
SEABA Champions Cup, then a trip might be arranged.

"If the teams we will be playing against (in the FIBA Asia) will be
there, then I can probably scout that tournament," Guiao said.

Talk N' Text 129 - Ritualo 24, Cardona 21, Alapag 20,
Castro 17, De Ocampo Y. 14, De Ocampo R. 10, Carey 8, Peek 7,
Dillinger 5, Aljamal 3, Reyes 0, Lao 0.

San Miguel 100 - Washington 29, Pennisi 19, Pingris
11, Seigle 10, Hontiveros 9, Gonzales 6, Villanueva 5, Custodio 4,
Tugade 4, Baguion 2, Pena 1, Bono 0.

Quarterscores: 39-18, 64-38, 100-65, 129-100.