Alaska takes on Magnolia with eye on 4th straight win
Thursday, 08 November 2007
Had Purefoods TJ Giants coach Ryan Gregorio proclaimed before the season started that his troops would open their campaign with a Five-and-Oh mark, chances are nobody would believe him.
So it's hard to imagine that the Giants have stayed perfect after five grueling battles and are on top of the heap in the 2007-08 Smart PBA Philippine Cup.
To begin with, the coaching staff did nothing special that would make the Giants invincible.
The only major decision Gregorio made during the offseason was to let go of guard Paul Artadi and acquire rookie Chico Lanete from the free agent market.
Gregorio signed two other rookie free agents – Ardy Larong and Robert Sanz – but it is Lanete who has been drawing raves because of his smart plays, fearless drives to the basket and the courage to make the big shot.
"He's a big catch. It's like we've selected the No.1 pick of the draft,” said Gregorio of Lanete, an X-factor in three of the Giants' five games.
Overall, Gregorio said his team's desire to compete and win is what makes the Giants successful so far. Of course, he also noted the inspiring performances of Kerby Raymundo and James Yap.
"I just hope we can keep playing good basketball," Gregorio said.
Coming off a four-day rest, the Giants put their unblemished record on the line when they face the troubled Coca-Cola Tigers at 7:20 p.m.Friday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Coca-Cola opened its season with an 85-76 victory over the Welcoat Dragons last Oct. 19, but the Tigers have lost their next three games – the last one a frustrating 91-102 setback to the Air21 Express last Saturday after blowing a 20-point bubble early in the contest.
Obviously, those disappointing losses make the Tigers very dangerous going into Friday night's encounter.
"Definitely we're not taking them for granted. My players know everybody wants a piece of us and that serves as their motivation," Gregorio said.
http://www.pba.ph/content/view/1851/59/
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Giants stake clean record vs Tigers
Thursday, 08 November 2007
Had Purefoods TJ Giants coach Ryan Gregorio proclaimed before the season started that his troops would open their campaign with a Five-and-Oh mark, chances are nobody would believe him.
So it's hard to imagine that the Giants have stayed perfect after five grueling battles and are on top of the heap in the 2007-08 Smart PBA Philippine Cup.
To begin with, the coaching staff did nothing special that would make the Giants invincible.
The only major decision Gregorio made during the offseason was to let go of guard Paul Artadi and acquire rookie Chico Lanete from the free agent market.
Gregorio signed two other rookie free agents – Ardy Larong and Robert Sanz – but it is Lanete who has been drawing raves because of his smart plays, fearless drives to the basket and the courage to make the big shot.
"He's a big catch. It's like we've selected the No.1 pick of the draft,” said Gregorio of Lanete, an X-factor in three of the Giants' five games.
Overall, Gregorio said his team's desire to compete and win is what makes the Giants successful so far. Of course, he also noted the inspiring performances of Kerby Raymundo and James Yap.
"I just hope we can keep playing good basketball," Gregorio said.
Coming off a four-day rest, the Giants put their unblemished record on the line when they face the troubled Coca-Cola Tigers at 7:20 p.m.Friday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Coca-Cola opened its season with an 85-76 victory over the Welcoat Dragons last Oct. 19, but the Tigers have lost their next three games – the last one a frustrating 91-102 setback to the Air21 Express last Saturday after blowing a 20-point bubble early in the contest.
Obviously, those disappointing losses make the Tigers very dangerous going into Friday night's encounter.
"Definitely we're not taking them for granted. My players know everybody wants a piece of us and that serves as their motivation," Gregorio said.
http://www.pba.ph/content/view/1851/59/
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Giants stake clean record vs Tigers
By Zean Macamay, Journal Online
November 9, 2007
November 9, 2007
Purefoods tries to extend its best start in franchise history to six games tonight when it clashes with Coca-Cola in the Smart-PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center.
The Giants hardly worked out a sweat in beating sister-team Ginebra in their last outing, and could pretty much do the same thing against a Tigers squad that has only one victory to show in four games.
The 27-point, 103-76 win over the Gin Kings last Nov. 4 actually was the 10th victory in a row by the Giants, counting the five-game sweep of the pre-season tournament.
Coach Ryan Gregorio says it's always good to be part of history, but admitted that, eventually, the winning run would be meaningless if they couldn't translate it to a championship.
"We're not even at the halfway point in the conference. So it's not really something the team should be jubilant about. It's too early, but we're going to do everything possible to win as many games as we can," said Gregorio.
As expected, James Yap was the man of the night for Purefoods against Ginebra, drilling in 27 points. But the extra contribution from Rommel Adducul, who had 16 points and eight rebounds, was the thing that really impressed Gregorio.
"Many people always give credit to James and Kerby (Raymundo)," said Gregorio. "But I think they do not realize the importance of a Rommel Adducul. He's very tough on defense."
Indeed, the entry of Adducul and the return of Marc Pingris from injury appear to be the key why the Giants are still undefeated this far in the season-opening conference.
They're demons on defense -- intimidating and tough -- which is the one thing the Tigers are likely to have a hard time dealing with.
After winning its opening game against Welcoat (85-76), Coca-Cola has lost three straight games, the last one against Air21, 91-102.
The Tigers were up 30-15 after the first quarter in that game, but couldn't sustain their hot start and, in a wink of an eye, saw themselves trailing at the half by nine, 43-52.
Purefoods' sister team, Magnolia, meantime attempts to bounce back from a loss when it tackles Alaska in the opener.
The Beverage Masters went down to the Phone Pals (94-100) the last time they played, but are still regarded as the light favorites against the Aces, who are eyeing to win their fourth straight game after a 0-2 start.
Alaska, the first team to formally question the rule changes on officiating, won their last two games by an average of 12 points. Coach Tim Cone, however, wasn't happy at all at the way their victory was pulled off against Welcoat.
The Aces only scored eight points in the fourth quarter, and 10 in the last 14 minutes. Fortunately, the Dragons were much worse, groping for offensive form.
The winner of the Magnolia-Alaska game will join Talk 'N Text at second spot with a 4-2 slate.
The Phone Pals defeated Red Bull the other night, 115-111 in overtime, with Jimmy Alapag ending up as hero after a putback that gave TNT a 113-109 lead with 22 seconds left in extra period
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Thriving on new rules, Giants eye sixth win
Friday, November 9, 2007
With its perfect 5-0 record, it seems that Purefoods is the only one capable of adjusting to the new rules being used in the PBA Smart Philippine Cup.
“We just have to roll with the punches and ride with the waves,” said Purefoods head coach Ryan Gregorio as he heads to today’s encounter with Coca-Cola at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The game is set at 7:20 p.m., and just looking at the team standings would put Purefoods on the side of the favorite as it shoots for its sixth win. The other game between Magnolia and Alaska Milk is scheduled at 4:35 p.m.
Gregorio said the new rules, patterned after the ones being used in international competitions, are part of the challenge in the tournament where the defending champion, Ginebra, is rock-bottom.
“What’s important is that the referees are adjusting and my players are also adjusting. The most important thing is action and reaction. We are reacting positively to the officiating,” he said.
But some of the coaches, if not most, are on the opposite page, saying the new rules have led to too much pushing and shoving and it’s now hard to distinguish between a foul and a non-foul. “I think the sentiments boil down to one thing: they are really asking for a more consistent implementation of the existing rules,” observed Atty. Chito Salud, consultant to PBA officer-in-charge Sonny Barrios.
Purefoods is enjoying its best start in franchise history, and a 27-point victory over Ginebra last Sunday at the Astrodome pushed the team past its previous best – a 4-0 start in 1991. – Abac Cordero
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Sports&p=49&type=2&sec=30&aid=20071108147
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