Talk N Text Outlasts Alaska, Takes 3-2 Series Lead

Playing in honor of a departed, Talk n Text nurtured the very life of its final aspiration. Jason Castro drove past Joe De Vance for the go-ahead basket then Talk n Text made a huge defensive stop in the closing seconds as the Texters pulled off an 82-81 nail-biter over the Alaska Milk Aces to move in the threshold of the PBA Fiesta Conference finals at the Araneta Coliseum Friday night.

B-MEG DERBY ACE LIVES FOR ANOTHER DAY, FORCES GAME 6

Ryan Gregorio is not looking past Game 6. But the B-Meg Derby Ace head coach thinks there’s a purpose why the Llamados are still alive. Import Tony Washam scored 14 of his game-high 28 points in the fourth quarter as B-Meg Derby Ace staved off elimination with an 88-82 victory against San Miguel Beer in Game 5 of their PBA Fiesta Conference semifinal series Friday at the Araneta Coliseum. The defending champion Beermen still leads the series 3-2 so Sunday’s Game 6 which will also take place also at the Big Dome will be another do-or-die stint for the Llamados, who managed to overcome the same predicament back in 2006 while carrying the colors of Purefoods. That team trailed Alaska 3-1 in the 2006 Philippine Cup semifinals but rallied to win the next three games to stun the Aces and eventually claim the championship after beating Red Bull in the Finals.

Beermen Takes a Commanding 3-1 lead in the Series Against B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados

Mighty San Miguel Beer is a game away from gaining a shot at back-to-back PBA Fiesta Conference championships. The Beermen, the reigning champs with fresher legs, wore down the B-MEG Derby Ace Llamados, 83-75, to move in the doorstep of the finals Wednesday at the Cuneta Astrodome. Cashing in heavily on their domination off the boards, the Beermen opened a 14-point spread, 75-61, midway through the final period and went on to get the pivotal 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven semifinal series.

Daniels leads TNT In 83-62 Rout Of Alaska; SERIES NOW TIED 2-ALL

Under the threat of being replaced, Shawn Daniels asserted himself in Game 4 as Talk ‘N Text bowled over Alaska, 83-62 Wednesday to even their PBA Fiesta Conference semifinal series at two games apiece at the Cuneta Astrodome. The portly import scored 13 points to share scoring honors with teammate Jason Castro and grabbed 14 rebounds in a game that may decide his fate with the team.

ALASKA GAIN UPPERHAND, UP 2-1

LA Tenorio outshone Jimmy Alapag in Game One then the Talk n Text point guard turned things around in the next game.

Being upstaged for the second straight game, Tenorio stole the thunder in the end as Alaska Milk upended Talk n Text, 90-86, for the crucial 2-1 lead in their PBA Fiesta Conference best-of-seven semifinal showdown at the Araneta Coliseum Sunday night.

Tenorio struggled most of the way but delivered when needed the most as the Aces moved to within two games of the finals.

The former Ateneo star guard scored all of their last seven points after being held down to two points in the first 47 minutes of play.

Beermen Outlasts Llamados, lead 2-1 in their Series

THERE is another side to San Miguel Beer it fully bared to B-Meg Derby Ace Sunday.

The Beermen were at their most awesome on the defensive end in hacking out a 74-70 victory and wresting back the upper hand in their PBA Fiesta Conference semifinals series at the Araneta Coliseum.

Arwind Santos drained a crucial right corner triple that shattered the last deadlock and pegged a 73-70 count, still 65 seconds to go, before SMB harried Derby Ace into muffing three of its last four offensive thrusts.

The only other Llamados possession resulted in a decisive inbounding error and led to a charity by Dondon Hontiveros for the final count, only 21.7 ticks left.

That tough defensive stance after being jolted by several 12-point deficits early enabled SMB to hold Derby Ace to just 25 points in the second half, both a conference low and season-tying worst for the league.

It also resulted in the win that bounced the Beermen back from a numbing 94-95 loss in the best-of-seven duel’s Game 2 only last Friday and made coach Siot Tanquingcen beam about his charges’ overall defensive efforts.

B-MEG TIES SERIES ON WALSHAM HEROICS

MAKING the game’s biggest offensive play wasn’t enough for Tony Washam. He preserved it by pulling off the game’s biggest stop, too.

Derby Ace’s prolific import completed a three-point play with 7.9 seconds remaining, and then added further luster to it with a steal in the subsequent possession, and the Llamados successfully fought back from an 18-point deficit in a gut-wrenching 95-94 victory over San Miguel Beer Friday night in the PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

The man who struggled in the series opener on 6-of-18 field-goal shooting scored 33 points, 10 coming in the final period punctuated by a strong move to the basket. He connected on a lay-up, drew the sixth and final foul from Gabe Freeman and sank the bonus shot as Derby Ace tied the series at one game apiece.

Talk N Text Point GuradGet Back on Tenorio

Jimmy Alapag, Ryan Reyes and Jason Castro responded to their coach’s challenge and Talk N' Text rebounded from its embarrassing defeat in Game 1.

Alapag had a brilliant second half where he scored all his 25 points which helped propel the Tropang Texters to a 100-94 victory against the Alaska Aces Friday and evened their PBA Fiesta Conference semifinals series at one game apiece.

“L.A. Tenorio manhandled us in Game 1. So the challenge for Jimmy and Jason (Castro) was to make sure it does not happen again,” said Talk 'N Text head coach Chot Reyes.

After a scoreless first half, Alapag made 8 of 11 shots in the second half, including 5 of 8 from the three-point range on the way to a double-double effort as he also had 10 assists.

Unbeaten Eaglets, Bullpups collide

Defending champion Ateneo de Manila University and vastly improved National University put their unbeaten records on the line today as they battle for supremacy in the UAAP juniors basketball tournament at the San Juan Arena.

Both sporting identical 4-0 cards, the Eaglets and the Bullpups dispute the top spot when they meet in the 9 a.m. curtain-raiser of another thrilling four-game bill halfway into the first round of competition.

Later in the day, Far Eastern University-FERN takes on Adamson University at 10:45 a.m., followed by the 1 p.m. clash between the University of Santo Tomas and the University of the East. De La Sa-Zobel and the hard-luck University of the Philippines Integrated School wrap up today’s hostilities in the main game at 2:45 p.m.

The Eaglets are coming off a 78-61 whipping of the unpredictable Baby Falcons on Saturday behind the 23-point explosion of Ateneo big man Von Pessumal, who ably relieved main man Kiefer Ravena of the scoring load via an impressive 8-of-13 clip from the field.

Alaska Tops Talk-N-Text in Game 1

QUICK UPDATE:

ALASKA coach Tim Cone knew his bench players needed to come in and contribute in order for them to beat Talk N Text.

Even he was as surprised as the next person with the kind of games his relievers put in as the Aces manhandled the Tropang Texters 104-88 Wednesday at the start of their PBA Fiesta Conference semifinals series at the Araneta Coliseum.

Adamson Falcons escape UST Tigers

Adamson University survived the high-wire three-point sniping of an unrelenting University of Santo Tomas (UST) down the stretch to eke out a tough 75-71 win yesterday in the 73rd UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Philsports Arena.

Veteran point guard Lester Alvarez typified the Falcons’ endgame composure in a break-neck second-half duel with the Tigers, who held a 63-60 lead with less than five minutes gone by in the pay-off period.

The third-year Adamson sentinel nailed five straight points anchored on a triple and a squeeze-in lay-up in the crucial 1:34 mark of the fourth to wrest the upperhand for the Falcons, 67-65, before finalizing the count from the stripe.

Celtics to sign Jermaine O'Neal

Danny Ainge, the Boston Celtics general manager confirmed that the Celtics have agreements in place with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen that would keep Boston's new Big Three intact for a run at a third NBA finals in four years. Ainge also said he expects to sign free agent center Jermaine O'Neal to fill in while center Kendrick Perkins recovers from knee surgery.

Pierce agreed last week to a four-year deal worth about $61 million, and Allen agreed on Wednesday to a two-year deal worth $20 million. O'Neal's contract is reportedly for the midlevel exception, about $5.76 million in the first year of a two-year deal.

Kevin Garnett, the other member of the new Big Three that led the Celtics to their record 17th NBA title in 2008, is under contract for two more years, and emerging star Rajon Rondo is locked up through 2014-15. Coach Doc Rivers also put off a long-debated sabbatical to keep the team together.

Source: NBA News

Stoudemire is Ready

The New York Knicks have lost long enough. Amare Stoudemire is ready for what he calls the "start of a new era.''

Stoudemire joined the Knicks on Thursday, coming to a team that has never had a winning season since he entered the league out of high school in 2002.

"It's about challenges and this is definitely the ultimate challenge for myself to eventually bring the Knicks back to where they rightfully belong,'' Stoudemire said at a news conference at Madison Square Garden.

The All-Star power forward agreed to a deal Monday with a team looking to win again after a franchise-worst nine straight losing seasons.

Source and Continue reading: http://www.nba.com/2010/news/07/08/amare.signs.ap/index.html

Ray Allen Returns to the Boston Celtics

Ray Allen confirmed to The Associated Press on Wednesday night that he has agreed to a two-year, $20 million contract to return to Boston. With Kevin Garnett under contract, Paul Pierce on the verge of a new four-year deal and coach Doc Rivers also agreeing to return, the Celtics can keep together the core of the 2008 NBA champions for at least two more years.

Clippers introduce Del Negro as their new coach

Vinny Del Negro could have taken it easy after being fired by the Chicago Bulls. They still owe him money, so there was no pressing need to jump back on the NBA coaching carousel.

Still, he couldn't resist.

Del Negro agreed to a three-year deal to coach the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, taking over a team that went 29-53 last season and missed the playoffs for the 15th time in 17 years.