Photo Credit: Abante Tonite
With barely a week before the new season starts, San Miguel Beermen's frontliners seem to be in shape to wage war against the biggies of other teams.
SMBs three towers in Dorian Pena, Jay Washington, and Mick Pennisi showed their might against the three towers of the Coca-Cola Tigers in Asi Taulava, Nic Belasco, and Mark Telan.
The win advances SMB to the pre-season's finals against the other bracket's top team. Too bad the strong contender in the other bracket (Alaska Aces) will not be playing. Doing so should enable the coaching staff to scout them before their first meeting on Sunday.
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Visit the new
San Miguel Beermen website. Click here.
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SAN MIGUEL TRIPS COCA-COLA, SWEEPS GROUP B
Big men sparkle as Beermen prime up for 2008-09 wars
Source: Philippine Basketball Association
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Dorian Pena scattered 21 points to power the San Miguel Beermen past the Coca-Cola Tigers, 96-92, Friday night in the PBA Pre-Season basketball Tournament at the Olivarez Gym in Paranaque.
Jay Washington scored 19 points and Mick Pennisi added 11, going 3-of-7 from 3-point range for the Beermen, predicted by jaded observers as strong title contenders this season with their size and bench depth.
By topping Group B (2-0 record), San Miguel advance to Sunday's championship basketball game of this mini basketball tournament serving as tune-up for the league's 34th basketball season that commences on October 4.
The Beermen seized control early but needed a strong finishing kick to hold off a last ditch rally by the Tigers (0-2).
Danny Seigle, SMB's scoring leader, was banished from the basketball game three minutes into the second half following a nasty foul on R.J. Rizada that cost him a flagrant foul penalty 2.
Asi Taulava poured 19 points and Mark Telan turned in a double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds) for the Tigers, who appeared to still be a work in progress with the 34th basketball season barely a week away.
"I've always been asked about our readiness. My standard reply is "this is all we've got"," said Coca-Cola coach Binky Favis, referring to his basketball lineup that has no big name basketball player other than Taulava.
"If we work hard and play our best every night good things might happen."
The Tigers, who trailed by as many as 15 points several times, pulled within 90-92 with 1:08 remaining but Mike Cortez and Dondon Hontiveros each hit a free throw before Washington sealed it with a putback in the closing seconds. (DBC)
The scores:
SMB 96 – Pena 21, Washington 19, Pennisi 11, Cortez 8, Seigle 7, Calaguio 6, Bono 6, Gonzales 5, Hontiveros 5, Pingris 4, Custodio 2, Racaela 2, Villanueva 1.
Coca-Cola 92 – Taulava 19, Cabagnot 17, Buenafe 14, Belasco 12, Telan 10, Arigo 9, Rizada 5, Calimag 3, Baguion 3, Dimaunahan 0.
Quarters: 26-17; 50-34; 73-68; 96-92.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Dorian Pena, Jay Washington Power SMB, Advances to Pre-Season Championship
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Dondon Hontiveros Leads San Miguel Beermen in a Loss to Egypt
Photo Credit: Nike.com.ph
The San Miguel Beermen close out the invitational basketball tournament with a loss to the Egypt National Team. Dondon Hontiveros lead the Beermen with 14 points showing some consistency on this tournament.
I must say it was a good experience for the team which badly needed to jell with only several days coming into the Philippinne Cup. It exposes some of the holes that SMB should plug-in in order to win against the top teams of the PBA. Coach Siot and the rest of the coaching staff should do a better job to fix these issues.
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Beermen take defeat to Egypt five in stride
Source: INQUIRER.net
by Romina Austria | September 23, 2008
DOHA -- Never mind that San Miguel Beer lost two of its three basketball exhibition matches here, the last a 69-60 decision to the Egypt national basketball team on Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila).
It was more important for basketball coach Siot Tanquingcen to be able to gauge the strengths and weaknesses of the Beermen with the start of the Philippine Basketball Association's 39th basketball season less than two weeks away.
He also found the experience a perfect bonding time among the mainstays, new recruits Mike Cortez, Ken Bono and Jay Washington and rookie Bonbon Custodio.
"Defense is one aspect that we should improve on," said Tanquingcen. "We are also experimenting on new basketball offensive patterns. I don't expect us to be at peak level come [the PBA's] opening day [on Oct. 4] but we soon will be if we'll just be patient."
The Beermen bowed to the Qatar nationals on Thursday night, 71-62, before beating Qatar basketball club Al Sadd, 62-33, the next night.
"It would've been more fruitful, especially for the basketball fans, had we won all our matches," said Tanquingcen. "But it was a good learning experience. Too bad we weren't a complete basketball team here."
Danny Ildefonso, Lordy Tugade and Mick Pennisi failed to join the trip.
Ildefonso is still in the United States after an operation on his feet. Tugade is recovering from a knee injury and Pennisi had a previous commitment. Marc Pingris played against Qatar but flew home right after the basketball match to attend a family affair.
Against the Egyptian nationals, the Beermen never took the lead and were able to tie the match just twice, at 2-all and 26-all, midway in the second period.
A 9-0 run by Egypt had the Filipinos trailing again by nine, 35-26. The closest the Beermen could get to the lead was 40-35 on back-to-back baskets by Dondon Hontiveros and Bonbon Custodio.
Filipinos here left the match with more than just memories and pictures of and with the Beermen. Some of the lucky ones managed to get the basketball jerseys, playing shoes, towels and T-shirts of the basketball players.
Danny Seigle was listless for most part of the four-nation invitational basketball tournament and Tanquingcen said the 6-foot-7 shooting forward only joined two pre-season basketball practice sessions with the Beermen before they arrived in Doha.
The scores:
EGYPT 69 -- Ghanim 14, Ammal 12, Saharty 11, Kerdany 9, Badr 7, Genady R. 6, Khassid 4, Elenen 2, Genady S. 2, Adly 2, Said 0.
SMB 60 -- Hontiveros 14, Cortez 11, Pena 9, Custodio 8, Bono 8, Gonzales 4, Villanueva 3, Washington 2, Seigle 1, Racela 0, Calaguio 0.
Quarters: 25-17; 44-38; 60-47; 69-60
Friday, September 19, 2008
Quick Result: SMB vs. Qatar National Team
This is just to give you a quick result of the game between San Miguel Beermen (SMB) and the Qatar National Team. A more detailed news will be posted later.
Already excited to know the result? Follow the link below.
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Visit the new
San Miguel Beermen website. Click here.
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Qatar and Egypt Post Wins on First Day of Qatar Friendship Games
Source: Asia-Basket
by Amir Abou-El-Kheir | September 19, 2008
Qatar overcame a sloppy start, where they just couldn't put the ball in the basket in the first qarter (15-25), to defeat Magnolia Beverage Masters of the Philippines 71-62. Qatar were lead by Erfan Ali Saeed (200-F-83) with 17 points and 7 rebounds and Mansour El Hadary (178-G-90) who had 9 assists to go along with 9 points. Donaldo Hontiveros (188-G-77), who scored 18 of his team's first 21 points, but cooled off to finished with a game high of 24, led Magnolia Beverage Masters,
In the night's earlier game, Egypt defeated local Qatari club As Sadd Sports Club 84-52. Ramy Gunady (185-G-81) paced Egypt with 12 points, while Mohamed Said (205-C-80), and Wael Badr (193-G-78) added 9 points each for the Pharos. Curtis Haywood (198-G-75, college: Oklahoma City), without much assistance from his teammates, shot 70 % (7-10) from 3 pts, and finished with 31 points and 14 rebounds for As Sadd Sports Club. Attendance was estimated to be approximately 6000
Tonights games:
Qatar vs. Egypt - 20:30
As Sadd Sports Club vs. Magnolia Beverage Masters, Philippines - 22:00
All times are Qatari local time
Thursday, September 18, 2008
San Miguel Beermen Battles Tall Qataris
The San Miguel Beermen will be in the land of the giants as they battle a tall Qatar National Team to start their participation in the pocket in preparation for the upcoming conference.
The Beermen's frontliners will be greatly challenged by the giants of Qatar including Hashim Zaidan Zaidan who stands at 6-11. Left to man the paint are Dorian Pena, Danny Seigle, Marc Pingris, and Jay Washington as new recruit Mick Pennisi did not join due to other commitment.
How do the Beermen stand for this game? I don't expect much. What we can get from these tuneup game is for the players to jell more before the new season starts. I think that's more important than winning any of these games though some pride are at stake.
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Beermen debut versus tall Qataris
Source: INQUIRER.net
by Romina Austria | September 18, 2008
DOHA -- San Miguel Beer will have to work double time when it faces the Qatar national team on Thursday as the host country boasts a lineup that has only two basketball players standing below 6-feet.
To make matters worse, Lordy Tugade, Danny Ildefonso and Mick Pennisi did not join the Beermen, who arrived here Tuesday night. Tugade is nursing an injury while Ildefonso and Pennisi have other commitments.
The 6-foot-5 Marc Pingris will play on Thursday but will return home for a family affair, missing the Beermen's succeeding basketball games against Egypt's national basketball squad and local ballclub Al Sadd.
Qatar's basketball tallest player is 6-11 Hashim Zaidan Zaidan. It also has 6-foot-9 Omer Abgader Salem, 6-8 Ali Turki Ali, three 6-7 basketball players in Erfan Ali Saeed, Baker Ahmad Mohammed and Hammam Omer Ismaili and 6-6 Khalid Suliman Abdi.
Only 5-7 Khalid Masoud Al Nasr and Mansour Atif Elhadary, who is 5-11, stand below 6 feet.
Coach Siot Tanquingcen thus expects Pingris and 6-6 Dorian Peña and Danny Seigle to rise to the occasion.
The basketball game will also serve as a good workout for 6-7 Jay Washington, who was sent by Talk 'N Text to San Miguel last month.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
San Miguel Beermen Leaves For Qatar For Tuneup Games
The San Miguel Beermen are wasting no time in order to gear up their preparations for the next conference as the team left for Qatar to join a pocket tournament there. The Purefoods TJ Giants have earlier engaged the teams there winning against the Qatar Squad Al Sadd.
According to reports, the basketball squads that they will be facing there are composed of tall players. Such scenario is perfect so that the team will be able to see what adjustments they will do once they battle with tall PBA teams as more and more teams have beefed up their frontliners through recent trade and the draft.
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Beermen invade Qatar
Source: INQUIRER.net | September 17, 2008
by Musong R. Castillo, Romina Austria
San Miguel Beer will try to duplicate Purefoods' feat in Doha when it competes in a four-nation basketball tournament featuring the national basketball teams of Qatar and Egypt and a top club team of the host country.
Purefoods beat Qatar squad Al Sadd, 57-53, on Sept. 12 at the Al Gharrafa Center there. The victory against the team reinforced by American basketball players was the first for any Philippine ballclub.
Previous to that match, the TJ Hotdogs bowed to the national basketball teams of Qatar, 77-69, and Jordan, 78-67.
Qatar is holding a series of pocket tournaments to prepare their national basketball team for the Stankovic Cup in October which will be held in Kuwait.
"It is great that we are invited to such basketball tournaments because I really look for opportunities for my basketball players and the coaching staff to learn other styles of basketball play," said basketball coach Siot Tanquingcen of the basketball tournament slated Sept. 18-20.
The Beermen play all their matches at 10 p.m. local time, 3 a.m. here in Manila.
In a recent preseason match at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines gym in Manila, Jay Washington scored 18 points and Mick Pennisi had five rebounds to lift the Beermen to a 99-90 rout of the Red Bull Barakos.
San Miguel acquired the duo via separate trades, adding more offensive options other than Dondon Hontiveros, Danny Seigle and Danny Ildefonso.
Ginebra-less opening day
The PBA starts its 34th season on Oct. 4 at the Araneta Coliseum with crowd-darling Barangay Ginebra definitely not going to see action on opening day and the league seriously considering on letting Rain Or Shine play in the only scheduled game.
The league traditionally does not give opening day-playing privilege to a team that won the championship in its last tournament, in this case, the Gin Kings, after their classic seven-game conquest of the Air21 Express in the Fiesta Cup Finals.
And that has made the PBA's think-tank train its sights on Rain Or Shine, or specifically, Gabe Norwood and Solomon Mercado, the Elasto Painters' two prized rookies who are seen as the men who could finally turn their basketball fortunes around.
Right now, there are two sets of opening day games that will be decided upon by commissioner Renauld "Sonny" Barrios once he returns from the United States from a vacation.
Rain Or Shine debut
Though the league insider refused to disclose Rain Or Shine's opponent in "Set A," he said the Elasto Painters are not in the other schedule being considered to follow an extravagant opening-day rites.
Not only will a glimpse of how far the Elasto Painters could go in the Philippine Cup be seen when Norwood and Mercado debut on opening day, it will also serve as a measure of how well the two Filipino-Americans can draw the crowds.
Rain Or Shine, then known as the Welcoat Dragons, failed to make it past the elimination round in each of its first six tournaments in the basketball league, a streak the Elasto Painters certainly would want to snap as soon as they can.
Norwood, a 6-foot-5 point guard who was once hailed as the best sixth man in the US NCAA Division I, was picked first overall in the last Draft.
If ever, Rain Or Shine will be playing on opening day for the second time in three years, first enjoying the privilege in 2006 when it entered the basketball league. The Dragons got clobbered by Ginebra in that game.
Seven provincial games have been scheduled in the Philippine Cup, to be touched off by a first-ever outing in Victorias City, Negros Occidental, pitting the Coca-Cola Tigers against the Alaska Aces.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
San Miguel Beermen: The Strongest PBA Team Today?
The San Miguel Beermen will be again coming into the All-Filipino/Philippinne Cup strong - on paper. This was the same scenario last pre-season when the team's superstars lent from Team Philipinnes including Danny Seigle and Dondon came back together with newly acquired Larry Fonacier.
The team's performance in the Philippinne Cup was a disaster. The star-studded lineup was swept by Red Bull Barakos in the quarterfinal round. Chemistry, playing time, and defense were big issues that resulted to the trade of former Ateneo players LA Tenorio and Larry Fonacier to Alaska in exchange for Mike Cortez and Ken Bono and Enrico Villanueva to Purefoods in exchange for defense specialist Marc Pingris.
Will it be dejavu once again? That's something to be seen after the 2008 All-Filipino Conference.
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Visit the new
San Miguel Beermen website. Click here.
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SMB extra-strong? Don't tell that to Tanquingcen
Source: Journal Online
By Zean Macamay | September 16, 2008
There's a joke going around that the only men San Miguel Beer needs to obtain to cement its status as a truly all-stars unit are movie actors Richard Gutierrez and Piolo Pascual.
Coach Siot Tanquingcen doesn't think it's hilarious. That's because he doesn't even believe that the Beermen are mighty at all.
"To be honest, we're not strong," he said.
Really? Why?
"Strong on paper doesn't mean victories," said Tanquingcen. "It will still be on the basketball court where we should be winning games, and that's the place where we should display how strong we are."
In a pre-season that has witnessed some surprising player movements, the Beermen were the ones who appeared to have gotten the best, snatching Jay Washington from Talk 'N Text after trading its third pick in the Rookie Draft last Aug. 31 and then acquiring Mick Pennisi from Red Bull in exchange for a first round pick in 2010.
That addition of those two players has made the already star-studded San Miguel ballclub much deeper. But as Tanquingcen would put it, deeper doesn't equate to basketball championships right away.
He has a valid reason to believe so.
Then known as Magnolia, the team that has won the most titles (17) in PBA history failed to advance into the Finals in both the Philippine Cup and Fiesta Conference last season despite high expectations, its campaign weakened by injuries on starters' Danny Seigle, Danny Ildefonso and Dorian Pena.
"Historically, that's our weakest point," said Tanquingcen. "But that's part of the basketball game, that's something you have to be prepared for."
A healthy Seigle and Ildefonso in the coming Philippine Cup that kicks off on Oct. 4 certainly spells trouble for other teams. Defense doesn't seem to be a problem with Marc Pingris and Pena around, and the back-court line-up can match with the best with Olsen Racela, Mike Cortez, and Jonas Villanueva.
The shooters are equally fearsome, composed by Lordy Tugade and Chris Calaguio -- and of course, Dondon Hontiveros. The reserves are Samigue Eman, the No. 2 pick in the 2007 Draft, Wesley Gonzales and former UAAP MVP Ken Bono.
Still, Tanquingcen knows that they still have a lot of work to do.
"We always like to improve," he said. "We're always trying to do everything that we can to win a basketball championship. Maganda yung added players (Pennisi and Washington) to help you out."
The Philippine Cup will be defended by Sta. Lucia Realty, which is still in the U.S. preparing.
Meanwhile, the seven production outfits trying to earn the right to stage the league's opening ceremonies will make their formal presentations today at the PBA office.
Given one hour to present their concepts are Rommel Garcia's ATB Expedio, Gina Quizon's G12 Global Designs, Maris Nicolas' MTV, BG Melicano's Livewire, John Balajadia's Blink Media, Jovy Astillero's CREASIA Inc., and Miguel Silerio and Vikki Ramirez's Black Tie Event.
Commissioner Renauld 'Sonny' Barrios, however, will not be around to personally witness the presentation. He is still in the U.S. and is expected to be informed of the details by officer-in-charge Rickie Santos.
The winner is expected to be announced within the week.
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Note: Some sections changed to reflect errors in the writer's news copy regarding rosters details.
Jay Washington Leads San Miguel Beermen Past Red Bull Barakos
San Miguel Beermen's new recruits in Jay Washington and Mick Pennisi showed the way for the San Miguel Beermen as they handily beat the undersized Red Bull Barakos in the opening game of the PBA Pre-Season Games.
The win gave the team a crack at the pre-season finals if they win against the Coca-Cola Tigers on September 26 (4:00 pm) at the Olivarez Gym in Paranaque.
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Visit the new
San Miguel Beermen website. Click here.
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PBA Pre-Season Tournament: Washington leads SMB past Bulls
Source: Manila Bulletin
September 17, 2008
Jay Washington and Mick Pennisi seemed perfectly fit for their new home -- San Miguel Beer.
Washington scored 18 points and Pennisi had six points, five rebounds and two assists as the San Miguel Beermen beat the Red Bull Barakos, 99-90, on Monday at the start of the PBA pre-season basketball tournament at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines basketball gym.
By acquiring the two via separate trades, SMB became bigger and beefier and in process presenting match-up nightmare for opponents which the Barakos encountered through the basketball game.
Apart from it, Washington and Pennisi are also blessed with good shooting touch so they provide basketball coach Siot Tanquingcen a lot of offensive options other than Dondon Hontiveros, Danny Seigle and Danny Ildefonso.
"They're a big basketball team. Obviously the addition of Mick and JayWash has made SMB a tough match-up," observed Red Bull deputy coach Gee Abanilla, who called the shots for the Barakos.
Tanquingcen though insists his troops need some more fine tuning to be fully cohesive.
Expectations, he admits, are high but it remains to be seen whether his new-look basketball team is up to the task.
"It's always been that way. Expectations are always high. Hopefully this time we could deliver," Tanquingcen said.
Against a basketball team that let go off three key players (Pennisi, Topex Robinson and Kiko Adriano), the Beermen dominated the basketball game early and practically settled the issue by halftime as they cruised to a 64-40 advantage.
Cyrus Baguio scored 15 points to show the way for the Barakos.
The scores:
SMB 99 -- Washington 18, Seigle 15, Gonzales 15, Hontiveros 11, Pena 8, Bono 7, Pennisi 6, Custodio 5, Racela 5, Calaguio 3, Villanueva 2, Pingris 2, Cortez 2.
Red Bull 90 -- Baguio 15, Sharma 14, Alvarez 9, Espinas 9, Membrere 8, Cruz 7, Magpayo 6, Rodriguez 6, Hubalde 6, Ybanez 3, Najorda 2 Hrabak 0, Duncil 0.
Quarters: 29-23; 64-40; 84-58; 99-90
Monday, September 15, 2008
San Miguel Beermen vs. Red Bull Barakos: Pre-Season Games Kickoff
San Miguel Beermen continues its pre-season preparations with a pre-seson basketball game against the Red Bull Barakos.
It's exciting to see these two basketball teams play as two of their players came from the other ballclub. Newly acquired Mick Pennisi and Lordy Tugade both came from Red Bull while Gabby Espinas and Kiko Adriano both came from the San Miguel Beermen.
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Visit the new
San Miguel Beermen website. Click here.
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Participating teams were divided into 2 groups. Please see below for the groupings:
Pre-Season Groups
Group A
Rain or Shine
Barangay Ginebra
Alaska
Purefoods
Group B
Cocal Cola
San Miguel Beer
Red Bull
Pre-Season Games Schedules:
4:00 pm Sept. 15 Red Bull Barakos vs. San Miguel Beermen @ PUP Sta. Mesa
4:00 pm Sept. 17 Rain or Shine vs. Alaska Aces @ Lyceum, Manila
4:00 pm Sept. 20 Purefoods TJ Giants vs. Barangay Ginebra Kings @ San Beda College
2:00 pm Sept. 22 Alaska Aces vs. Purefoods TJ Giants @ Arellano University Gym
4:00 pm Sept. 23 Coca-Cola Tigers vs. Red Bull Barakos @ Jose Rizal University
4:00 pm Sept. 24 Barangay Ginebra Kings vs. Alaska Aces @ Emilio Aguinaldo College
4:00 pm Sept. 25 Rain or Shine vs. Purefoods TJ Giants @ Rizal Tech University
4:00 pm Sept. 26 San Miguel Beermen vs. Coca-Cola Tigers @ Olivarez Gym
5:00 pm Sept. 27 Barangay Ginebra Kings vs. Rain or Shine @ Cavite City
4:00 pm Sept. 28 Group “A” top team vs. Group “B” Top Team
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Groupings and schedule came from Bleachers' Brew
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Magnolia Beverage Masters Website Hits Page 1 of Google!
Nope, the San Miguel Beermen has not won a game in the regular season just yet. I just would like to take the time to celebrate my wins in terms of putting up a website for the Magnolia Beverage Masters, San Miguel Beermen's old name during the 2007-2008 season.
It was December of 2007 when I started to write posts about updates on Magnolia Beverage Masters. I did not noticed that the number of posts already reached 76 after my last post to declare a new website in lieue of the change in name.
Fast forward to September, 2008. This was the only time I am writing this but I already noticed that it was already in Page 1 of Google 1-2 months before for the search term "Magnolia Beverage Masters"! Hep hep hooray! Go ahead and try to search it for yourself.
Update: As the website does not contain any new updates since the transfer to this website, its ranking in Google dropped. Another possible cause are the lost links (300+ of them in my posts) from the PBA forum, which till now is down.
What brought it to Page 1 of Google is my hardwork to increase its Page Rank (Page Rank 1 today) as well as optimizing the website for Philippine basketball-related keywords. The results are more visitors finding the website through Google's organic web search and an increase in the traffic monetization through various web advertising companies including Google itself.
After such success, I'm confident that I will be able to replicate it using this website with a more competitive keywords in "San Miguel Beermen". If you do a Google search for "San Miguel Beermen", it will indicate that there are a million plus results. That should tell you that I am going against more websites and web pages with the keyword "San Miguel Beermen" including those published a few years ago.
Why millions? It's because the product "San Miguel Beer" and the company name "San Miguel" are subsets of the basketball team name "San Miguel Beermen". That will take hardwork to penetrate even within the top 10 or top 5 pages but I'm up for the challenge.
Once we penetrated the top 10 pages, I will post it here to celebrate once again. Cheers!
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Samigue Eman May Play for San Miguel Beermen Soon
After going to the United States to examine his knee injury, giant Samigue Eman was cleared by American physician Steve Lombardo as fit to play. He's continuously taking a series of therapy sessions to strenthen his knee. There's no need for surgery unlike what happened to Danny Ildefonso.
This is a great news for San Miguel Beermen fans who are hoping to see the towering Samigue Eman to man the shaded lane this coming conference. He is considered as a project by coach Siot Tangquincen because of this height. After 3 years since his acquisition, they will decide if he is worth all the attention.
Do you think Samigue Eman will become the San Miguel Beermen's feared center in the future?
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Visit the new
San Miguel Beermen website. Click here.
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Samigue may play for Magnolia soon
Source: The Daily Tribune
September 13, 2008
This No. 2 overall pick in last year’s Draft has yet to prove anything in the Philippine Basketball Association after he was sidelined at once by injury.
But with American physician Steve Lombardo giving him a clean bill of health, Eman Samigue may finally suit up for Magnolia in the coming Philippine Cup of the league’s 34th basketball Season.
Lombardo, a resident doctor of the Kerlan Jobe Clinic in Los Angeles, California , said Eman sustained only “bruised bones,” and that he is fit already to play for Magnolia.
Lombardo, who has had cage legends Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson among his clients, also said Eman needs only a series of therapy to strengthen his knees, and that he doesn’t need any surgery anymore.
The 6-foot-8 Eman, who was second to overall pick Joe Devance in last year’s rookie draft, has undergone 16 sessions already, and that he would be ready to return home on Sept. 23, according to Magnolia coach Siot Tanquincen.
Eman was used sparingly in 16 of the team’s 20 basketball games because of his recurring knee injury. He played only once in the Fiesta Conference before he was sent to California for treatment.
“We’re glad with the diagnosis on Eman. He can come home early to join us in basketball practice,” said Tanquincen.
The same couldn’t be said of two-time MVP winner Danny Ildefonso who was operated on both ankles in the same clinic. Tanquincen said ldefonso can rejoin them the earliest by January.
Last Thursday, Magnolia has formally signed up Mick Pennisi in what was seen as a precautionary measure for Magnolia to avoid vacuum in its basketball frontline.
The Beverage Masters also acquired Jay Washington through trades.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Jay Washington, Mick Pennisi, Bonbon Custodio Signed to Play for San Miguel Beermen
Photo Credits: Digital Photographer Philippines
With the acquisition of three players during the off-season, the San Miguel Beermen strengthened its already formidabble lineup. Anthony Jay Washington, Mick Pennisi, and rookie Bonbon Custodio were all signed to play for the team next season.
Jay Washington and Mick Pennisi were acquired via trade to address the void left by injured two-time MVP Danny Ildefonso and Samigue Eman. Custodio was hired to provide the team a slasher who can penetrate the lane and open up the opposing team's defense.
Will their entry provide the necessary changes needed by the team or just a mere rehash of what they have done last season when they acquired stars like Enrico Villanueva, Larry Fonacier, etc.?
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Visit the new
San Miguel Beermen website. Click here.
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SanMig back with revitalized lineup
Source: Manila Bulletin Online
By Waylon Galvez | September 12, 2008
San Miguel Corporation has decided to bring the San Miguel Beermen back and shelve Magnolia Beverage Masters when the PBA opens its 34th basketball season next month.
San Miguel is the league’s all time leader in basketball championships with 17 conference titles to its name but has not won a single title the last three years.
The basketball team hopes to end the drought with new recruits from other basketball teams.
The Beermen yesterday formally welcomed wingman Anthony Jay Washington, center Mick Pennisi
and rookie guard Bonbon Custodio who all attended team practice and later met with the top
executives of the company.
"We are happy with the basketball players we got this off-season," said SMB team manager Hector Calma, a former national player who won seven of his eight PBA championships as a basketball player of San Miguel in the 80s.
The 6-foot-6 Washington recently signed a three-year deal with SMB.
Although Calma refused to divulge details of the contract, he mentioned it’s near the maximum
salary of R350,000 monthly.
SMB got Washington via a trade with Talk ’N Text for the No. 3 overall pick in the PBA Rookie Draft
few weeks back.
However, a basketball league insider, who asked not to be named, said that Washington’s contract is worth between R10 million to R12 million.
As for the 6-foot-9 Pennisi, the basketball team obtained his rights from Red Bull, also via a trade in exchange for a first round pick next year.
The team will continue paying the remainder of his basketball contract, which expires in 2010.
The addition of Washington and Pennisi solidified the basketball team’s frontline, specially now that former two-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) Danny Ildefonso is recuperating from a foot injury.
Aside from Ildefenso, the Beermen decided to place 6-foot-9 Samigue Eman, the No. 2 overall in
last year’s Rookie Draft, on the injured list.
The two will join the basketball team’s formidable frontline unit of Marc Pingris, Dorian Peña and Danny Seigle.
Washington, the former No. 1 pick in the Draft in 2005, played his first three seasons with TNT, while
Pennisi was the last remaining Red Bull player from its original basketball roster when it joined the PBA in 2000.
On the other hand, the 6-foot Custodio, who played for University of the East in the UAAP and for
San Mig-Coffee in the PBL, inked a two-year deal.
He was drafted No. 8 overall in the first round.
"Maganda ang pinakikita ni Bonbon sa ensayo, and we’re optimistic na makakatulong s’ya sa team," Calma said.
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Thursday, September 11, 2008
Trade News: Mick Pennisi Joins San Miguel Beermen
So the trade rumors circulating around about Mick Pennisi moving to San Miguel Beer were all true. That's exactly what happened when Mick Pennisi was dealt to San Miguel Beer in exchange for future draft picks. As a result, he will be reunited with former teammate Lordy Tugade in the team.
The relegation of bigmen Danny Ildefonso and Samigue Eman to the injured list triggered the trade so as to fill the void left by the two. Mick is a great addition to the team with his hard-nosed defense and deadly beyond-the-arc snipping, enough to make the San Miguel Beermen competitive enough to compete on the upcoming 2008 season.
Now the question I want to leave with you is that does this move contribute to the team's long-term plan to rebuild the team in leiu of its aging players or was it just a quick fix to fill an immediate need? Can Mick quickly adopt to Siot's system? Who will be traded once the two bigmen reported back?
And oh, before I forget, the team has excess players who need to move out once the lineup is trimmed to 12 players. Who will those be?
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Last of Raging Bulls Also Gone
Source: Philippine Star
By Nelson Beltran
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Mick Pennisi, the last remaining member of the original Red Bull basketball team, is now also set to leave the Photokina Marketing franchise, joining former basketball teammate Lordy Tugade at San Miguel Beer.
At press time, Red Bull and San Miguel were finalizing the details of the trade deal that will send Pennisi to the San Miguel Beermen in exchange for future draft picks.
San Miguel Beer worked for the deal to fill in a big void in its frontline rotation with two-time MVP Danny Ildefonso and Samigue Eman both on the injured list. Ildefonso has undergone surgeries on both feet while Eman is strengthening his legs in the US.
Coach Yeng Guiao said they will certainly miss Pennisi but the basketball team would still be there aspiring to keep their long streak of constant finishes in the Final Four.
“Even with the departure of Mick, the semifinal round will be our objective. If we make it there, everything is already a bonus for us,” said Guiao, setting a modest goal with a basketball lineup devoid of basketball superstars.
“We have to make adjustments. We’ve just lost a basketball player on a spot where we’re weak. And I don’t think we can still find a basketball player of consequence taking over the spot of Mick,” Guiao also said.
Most of the members of the original Red Bull team are gone with only three others left, now playing for other basketball teams — Tugade with San Miguel, Junthy Valenzuela with Ginebra and Kerby Raymundo with Purefoods.
A team official called Pennisi “the last jewel of our crown.”
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Trade Rumor: Mick Pennisi To San Miguel Beermen?
Lordy Tugade, Enrico Villanueva, Larry Fonacier. These are just some of the basketball players whom the Red Bull Barako have traded to the San Miguel Beermen - a tradition that they have been consistently doing these past few years.
Rumors are circulating around basketball forums that another Red Bull player, Mick Pennisi, will be traded to the San Miguel Beermen. If this is true, San Miguel Beermen will toughen its frontline that already boosts of Dorian Pena, Danny Ildefonso, Danny Seigle, Marc Pingris, Samigue Eman, and newly acquired Jay Washington. Then there's Ken Bono whom I think needs to be shifted to other team.
That move will surely impair Red Bull's plans of strengthening its thin frontline that also saw the departure of Paolo Bugia. That left Carlo Sharma, Rich Alvarez, rookie Larry Rodriguez, and newly acquired Gabby Espinas to man the post.
Oh man, is this a depleted lineup? Don't say that to seasoned coach Yeng Guiao who has a knack of pulling the best from his basketball players with his proven system. Will his players be up to the challenge? If yes, we might see another overachieving Red Bull team next season.
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Is Red Bull giving away Mick Pennisi?
Source: The Daily Tribune
By Arman Carandang | September 10, 2008
The rumor going the rounds yesterday is that deals are underway that would send 6-foot-9 Red Bull stalwart to Magnolia in exchange for a draft pick or picks. It was not clear, however, if both camps are talking about a future pick or a trade involving Magnolia’s catch in the recent draft.
Whatever, trading a 6-foot-9 stalwart who has the knack shooting three-pointers would undermine the seriousness of Red Bull to beef up its frontline.
Red Bull basketball coach Yeng Guiao said he is unaware of off-court gopings-on, saying he always believed such a practice, granting it is true, rests solely on management.
The other day, the Bulls acquired former NCAA Most Valuable Player Gabby Espinas from Air21 in exchange for 2009 first round pick, in a move the management hopes will spur remarkable improvement for a basketball team that has made the semifinals for seven consecutive conferences.
Guiao said they are in search for a big man to man the middle, something lacking in the basketball team laden with talents and shooting guards, including big man Pennisi.
Guiao said letting Pennisi go will create a dent not only on the line-up but also in the basketball team’s morale.
“While I have no idea about the rumored deal, it will certainly hurt those who will be left behind. Pennisi’s relationship with the rest of the team members is so deep,” Guiao said. “We need a veteran like Mick in the basketball team.”
Red Bull also dropped Thopex Robinson, who went to Purefoods which is also in a massive build-up for the coming 34th season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Purefoods formally signed up Jonathan Fernandez and free agent Richard Alonzo late Monday night, each inking a two-year deal. No monetary details were revealed, but a reliable source said the two cagers who played for Harbour Centre in the Southeast Asian Games and SEABA “are happy with the basketball contracts they got.”
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Trade News: Gabby Espinas Shipped to Red Bull Barako
This is great news for the former NCAA MVP and former San Miguel Beermen Gabby Espinas. For two seasons, he was playing behind the shadows of superstars of talent-laden teams like the San Miguel Beermen before being traded to the Air21 Express.
Now that he is in the Red Bull Barako camp under coach Yeng Guiao, expect this young man to be given the minutes that he badly needed to show his basketball talent. If he blends well with coach Yeng's system, I will not be surprised if he becomes the future star of Red Bull Barako.
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RED BULL UNDERGOES REVAMP Acquires Espinas, 2 rookies; lets go of Robinson, 2 others
Source: Philippine Basketball Association
Wednesday, 10 September 2008
Red Bull has undergone a minor revamp, acquiring Gabby Espinas from Air21 through a trade and signing up rookie draftees Larry Rodriguez and Jeff Chan.
The Photokina Marketing basketball franchise has let go of Topex Robinson, Mark Andaya and Paolo Bugia but is keeping a firm hold on Rich Alvarez notwithstanding tempting trade offers for the young versatile basketball forward.
The Barakos had to give up their 2009 first round draft pick to beef up their frontline rotation with their acquisition of Espinas.
Coach Yeng Guiao said Espinas, at 6-foot-4, is not that big but he can compensate and match up with the power forwards of the other basketball teams with his inside skills.
“We’re almost complete with our acquisition of Espinas and the signing of Larry Rodriguez and Jeff Chan. The two remaining slots are being contested by Kiko Adriano, Paolo Hubalde and Al Magpayo,” said Guiao.
Robinson has left the franchise to join Purefoods even as Reed Juntilla faces possible revocation of his basketball contract for going AWOL (absence without leave).
As he requested, Robinson was given his release papers Tuesday, allowing him to negotiate with the team of his choice freely.
The Purefoods management and Robinson had prior talks with the Giants expressing their desire to include the former San Sebastian Stag in their guard rotation.
"It's a choice between Topex and (rookie free agent) Al Vergara. Wise money will be placed on Topex who's got a lot of positive attributes. He's a pesky guard who can defend the likes of Mike Cortez and Jimmy Alapag," said Purefoods basketball coach Ryan Gregorio.
However, Robinson's arrival came a little late, disallowing him to join the Giants in their trip to Qatar.
Juntilla may lose his two-year basketball contract with Red Bull for his sudden disappearance.
"He had that reputation in the amateurs but we still gave him a chance thinking he may not do that in the pros. But he's back to his old ways," said Red Bull basketball team manager Andy Jao.
"We've informed the Commissioner's Office and his manager of his case. Coach Yeng (Guiao) wants him out of the basketball team," Jao added.
Enlisted by Red Bull towards the end of the 2007-08 season, Juntilla had just been signed to a fresh two-year contract before his disappearance.
"He even asked for a cash advance then he's gone supposedly in Cebu attending to his girlfriend," said Jao. (NC)
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Jason Castro To Join Talk and Text Phone Pals Soon
The supposed-to-be 3rd overall pick of the San Miguel Beermen, Jason Castro will be joining the Talk and Text Phone Pals after completing a tournament in Malaysia to complete his contract with the Singapore Slingers.
I'm still not fully convinced with the recent trade that net the San Miguel Beermen Jay Washington instead of a possible future great talent in Jason Castro. The results will be seen at least after the Philippinne Cup stints of these two basketball players.
What's your take on this issue? If you have the power to decide, who among the two basketball players would you choose and why? Express your opinion by writing comments for this post.
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JASON CASTRO HOME SOON TO JOIN PHONE PALS
’08 Brunei Cup MVP severing ties with Singapore Slingers
Source: Philippine Basketball Association
Saturday, 06 September 2008
Jason Castro is playing a second basketball tournament with the Singapore Slingers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia then will return home to play for Talk ‘N Text in the Philippine Basketball Association.
"He's under contract to play with the Slingers in the National Basketball League in Australia. Since the Slingers have left the NBL, Jason wants out. He's looking forward to play for Talk ‘N Text," said Castro's agent-adviser Danny Espiritu.
"The Slingers want an addendum in their basketball contract to keep Jason, but Jason has made up his mind to go home after the Malaysian basketball invitational," Espiritu added.
Castro played his first basketball tournament with the Slingers in the recent Sultan Cup in Brunei, leading the basketball team to the championship and emerging as the basketball league MVP.
The day after the Sultan Cup championship, the flamboyant guard out of Philippine Christian U was picked No. 3 overall in the 2008 PBA Rookie Draft. He's one of four draftees chosen by the Pals aside from Jared Dillinger, Rob Reyes and Pong Escobal.
After the Malaysian basketball invitational, the Slingers are to return in their homebase in Singapore playing host to the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants and Air21 Express among other foreign guest basketball teams in their own invitational tourney.
"Jason wants out after Malaysia so he can start practicing with Talk ‘N Text," said Espiritu.
Four Australian basketball players had left the Slingers after the Brunei Sultan Cup.
Apparently, Espiritu has closed a deal with Talk ‘N Text for Castro while the basketball player was abroad. The basketball player is likely to get an P8.7 million package in three years as what Dillinger and Reyes stands to receive at the Smart/PLDT basketball franchise.
Elsewhere, Red Bull has extended the playing contracts of Cyrus Baguio and Carlo Sharma, Air21 has re-signed Homer Se and KG Canaleta while Alaska has acquired 6-foot-7 center-forward Ervin Sotto. (NC)
Friday, September 5, 2008
Jay Washington Excited to Join San Miguel Beermen Camp
I was one of the fans who are rooting to get Jason Castro or any talented rookie in the 2008 Annual Rookie Draft so that the basketball team can start infusing young blood in its roster.
Enter the surprise trade and Jason Castro was gone and Jay Washington from Talk and Text enters into the picture. Personally, I don't like Jay Washington's game but that's the way things goes with what the San Miguel management's decision.
Too bad for me, I'm not the owner of the San Miguel Beermen franchise. But as in any person, I'm giving Jay Washington another chance to shine with the San Miguel Beermen. He showed some promise last year during the 2007 Fiesta Conference when he was given the time to play when the superstars of the Talk and Text Phone Pals were lent to the National Team specially big man Asi Taulava.
To Jay Washington, show us what stuff you are really made of. Oh, before I forget, I forgot to mention that you were part of the First Mythical Team in the 2006-2007 PBA Season. So that should give us a clue as to what you can give.
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Washington excited to join SanMig
Source: Manila Bulletin Online
September 4, 2008
By Waylon Galvez
Forward Jay Washington is looking forward for a fresh start when he suits up for San Miguel Beermen in the coming PBA season.
Washington was shipped by Talk 'N Text -- his home for three years -- to San Miguel Beermen during the Rookie Draft last Sunday in favor of the latter's No. 3 pick.
"He's happy to be with San Miguel Beermen," Charlie Dy, who represents Washington, said yesterday. "He can't wait to play, he's excited and he hopes to contribute in San Miguel's basketball campaign."
The 6-foot-6 Washington, the former Eckerd College stalwart, will be back in the country this weekend after a vacation in the United States.
The addition of Washington, who is expected to get near the maximum salary spread over three years, will improve the guard and forward rotations of SMB basketball coach Siot Tanquingcen.
Tanquincen denied reports they will use Washington only as a trade bait, saying they want to make full use of his basketball talent.
"We'll definitely use him. No plans of a trade," said Tanquingcen. "Washington is a type of player who can play 2, 3 and 4 basketball positions. Definitely, he's a good addition to our team (formerly Magnolia Beverage Masters)."
Washington's arrival to SMB also came at a time when the basketball team is looking for a substitute for Danny Ildefonso who is still recuperating from surgeries on both ankles to remove bone spurs.
The former two-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) will be out for at least four months.
"That's why the trade made sense because we want somebody who can fill the void while Danny is out," he added.
San Miguel Beermen will be Washington's third basketball team. He was originally Air21's No.1 pick overall during the 2006 Rookie Draft, but he was traded to TNT where he signed a three-year basketball contract, which expired last August 15.
He is likely to share playing minutes with Danny Seigle, Lordy Tugade and Wesley Gonzales.
A member of the First Mythical Team during the 2006-07 Season, Washington ranked 12th overall among the top performers of the previous season averaging almost 12 points, six rebounds and two assists in 32 games with the Pals.
Meantime, TNT has signed forward Rob Reyes, its No. 4 pick overall, to a maximum allowable deal for a rookie.
The deal is worth P8.7 million in three years, where the one-time stalwart of Harbour Center stands to receive P150, 000 in his first year (2008-09), P225, 000 in the second year (2009-10) and a maximum of P350, 000 in the final year (2010-11).
TNT is also negotiating with three other rookies, Fil-Am forward Jared Dillinger, the No. 2 pick overall in the Draft, Jason Castro (No. 3) and Pong Escobal (No. 11).
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Trade News: Joe Devance, Solomon Mercado Swap Teams As Alaska and Rain or Shine Closed on Trade Deal
In a move to further shore up their respective lineups, the Alaska Aces and Rain or Shine Elastopainters agreed on a trade deal that sent 2007 # draft pick Joe Devance to Alaska Aces in exchange for 2008 #5 rookie pick Solomon Mercado. Second round draft picks and Eddie Laure were included in the deal.
The trade benefits both teams as Rain or Shine wants a different look for their basketball team who wants to have a run-and-gun team with their newly acquired young bloods. Their frontline, however, got thinner with Devance's departure.
Alaska, on the other hand, got a bigman to help Sonny Thoss and other frontliners to man the shaded lane. Devance is a good choice as he fit coach Tim Cone's triangle offense, which require good shooting touch for his position.
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DEVANCE TO ALASKA, MERCADO & LAURE TO RAIN OR SHINE
Deal seen to benefit both teams
Source: Philippine Basketball Association
Tuesday, 02 September 2008
Less than 24 hours after acquiring Solomon Mercado from the Draft, Alaska dealt the Fil-Am guard together with Eddie Laure to Rain or Shine (formerly Welcoat) in exchange for 2007 top Draft pick Joe Devance plus two future draft picks.
Alaska basketball coach Tim Cone said it's a gamble on their part to fill a vacuum in their basketball lineup at big forward position.
"Mercado will be a great basketball player without a doubt but Devance is to fill an immediate need for us," said Cone of the basketball trade deal consummated the morning after the 2008 PBA Annual Draft where they picked Mercado at No. 5 behind Gabe Norwood, Jared Dillinger, Jason Castro and Rob Reyes.
"We'll miss Eddie but he'll be able to play a bigger basketball role at Rain or Shine," said Cone on Laure, who's reunited with his former PBL basketball team.
The Aces hope they gained added basketball offensive clout on the entry of Devance, a 6-foot-7 Fil-Am who played college basketball for the University of Texas at El Paso.
The Honolulu, Hawaii native, son of an ex-US Armyman and a Filipina mom from Escalante, Negros, led the Dragons in scoring with 16.1 points a basketball game in the Philippine Cup. He also normed seven rebounds, one assist, 0.7 steal and 0.8 block a ballgame in the same basketball tourney.
Alaska had a mediocre showing in the 2007-08 basketball season notwithstanding its acquisition of rookies Ken Bono and JR Quinahan, and later the arrival of Larry Fonacier and LA Tenorio.
The Rain or Shine management, meanwhile, said they agreed on the trade as they wanted a different look for their basketball team in the coming basketball season.
The Dragons picked Norwood and TY Tang from the Draft. The basketball team earlier acquired Gherome Ejercito from the free agent pool and reactivated Denver Lopez from the injured list.
With their prized acquisitions, the Asian Coatings Corp. basketball franchise, 10th and dead last in its first four PBA conferences, hopes to finally make an impact in the professional basketball league. (NC)
Continue reading...
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
San Miguel Beermen Insider "Than" of PBA Forum Explains SMB Management's Draft Trade Decision
Are you shocked at the surprise the San Miguel Beermen Management pulled during the Rookie Draft day? Are you at lost as to why they made such moves?
Well, wonder no more as our San Miguel Beermen Insider "Than" of PBA Forum explains the complexities of the plans of the San Miguel Beermen management and how it affected their draft day decisions.
And there's more. He also disclosed that there's one more trade that is being cooked. I know you're excited, so keep reading...
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Source: Philippine Basketball Association Forum
By Than of PBA Forum
Forum Post #1
I was there in Market Market earlier at 3pm. Before the start of the drafting itself, i saw Mr. Robert Non shook habds with some TNT officials whose table was just beside the SMB table. Then Mr. Non rush to where Mr. Tony Chua of Red Bull is seated, whispering something. Shook hands & went back to SMB table.
At first, i thought that they'll make some surprises in the draft procedures. Then suddenly, when SMB's time to pick the #3 pick, Mr. Robert Non was suddenly flanked by a lot of press people & thus announcing they have traded their 3rd pick to TNT for JWash!
SMB just got the player or shall we say the position they are really looking to fill. A back up or someone who could also play identical to DS's style.
Sure, they have a chance to pick a Jason Castro or a Sol Mercado. But both players are very effective playing the Shooting guard/Off Guard position rather than PG. Maybe they want to groom Jonas Villanueva nest season to be the chief reliever of Mike Cortez since Olsen will have less playing time to prepare him for an asst. coaching job in the near future.
If ever the team drafted either of the 2 rookies mentioned, they wont be given more playing time as the team had veterans Dondon Hontiveros, Lordy Tugade & Chris Calaguio as their chief SG's. Still in the lineup are role SG's like Tolomia & Wesley Gonzales.
While getting a JWash type of SF would make them very complete with player "duplicates" in every position.
Imagine in game subs from DS to JWash.
Hontiveros for Lordy/Calaguio/Custodio/Wesley.
Cortez for Jonas/Olsen.
Danny I for Pingris/Bono.
Pena for a US trained Eman.
Parang hindi ka rin nag sub sa kalibre ng mga substitutes.
Kailangan nalang talaga ay sistema at chemistry!
But this is not the end. I think theres 1 more deal coming..
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Forum Post #2
Sorry mga kaibigan. Down kagabi ang forum. Hindi ako naka pag post dito.
Remember when i said " SMB might pick a Fil-Am?"
He he he.... Nag katotoo, hindi nga lang galing sa draft!
Seriously, i think MOD Loffee had posted my post yesterday.
Lets just give the management the benefit of the doubt. Lets just trust them because they know what the're doing. They wont make a move if not to benefit the team.
Besides, i believe they will still make 1 more deal. So, pag plantsado na ang lahat at lumabas ang final lineup, then thats the time tayo ay mag analyze.
1 reason i failed to mention on my post yesterday, SMB is really looking for 3 years now, a player that will back up DS! Mind you, not just an ordinary back up, but someone who could almost approximate his talent.
Management knows why DS was oft injured. People tend to criticize the coach but they dont really understand the situation inside the team. What the management is thinking, contrary to what they say in media for as not to made public all their plans for the team.
In the PBA, a good management team doesnt compromise the career of a player just to win games. Even if they use a non 100% healthy, it will not guarantee a win. Thus, you might "jeopardize" the career of the player. Much more a very important & well loved player by his team!
From the managements perspective, there's no such thing as 80% or 70% healthy. Sa mga Press Releases lang yun. For them, its either 100% cleared to play by their team physicians or not fit at all.
Because of very long playing time, gruelling battles alone in his position, Danny Seigle became injury prone. They had similar problems with Danny I before. He was playing hard in his center position from his rookie year up to the emergence of those toweing & heftier Fil-Fors.
In common words, "Bugbog sarado ang katawan nina Danny S & Danny I" dahil sa haba ng oras sa loob at kakulangan ng worthy substitutes.
Thats why the team made movements before getting Adducul, then E-Vill & now Pingris to prepare for DI's retirement.
Regarding DS, they tried from Wesley Gonzales to Gabby Espinas but oth cannot really appoximate DS's impact. They thought Espinas can play the SF position in the PBA because he's small to play the PF spot.
Getting Sol or Jason CAstro doesnt really solve the poblem because both players are not pure PGs. They will have to buy time to compete for playing time with DonDon, Lordy, Calaguio & even Custodio, whom i think is a steal of the draft at #8, & Jeff Chan of RB at #17.
If we drafted either of the two rookies, it will "impede" the development of Jonas Villanueva!
Now, the team if ever there wont be any major trades, will be complete in all 5 positions as what i explained on my post above.
San Miguel Beermen Gets Jay Washington, Trades 3rd Draft Pick to Talk and Text
The surprise of the draft came when San Miguel Beermen traded its draft rights for the third overall pick to the Talk and Text Phone Pals in exchange for Anthony Jay Washington.
With this move, San Miguel Beermen passed on the opportunity to acquire either Jason Castro, Solomon Mercado, or Rob Reyes at #3. San Miguel drafted Bonbon Custodio, a possible draft steal at #8.
Such move does not sit well to some SMB fans and warrants some explanations from team insider "Than" of the PBA forum. Details of this explanations will be on the next post.
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NO. 1 PICK NORWOOD TO BOOST RAIN OR SHINE STOCK Talk N Text nets 4 promising talents for richest Draft haul
Source: Philippine Basketball Association
September 1, 2008
The Rain or Shine (formerly Welcoat) management and basketball coaching staff are hopeful the Dragons will show marked improvement following their acquisition of prized Fil-Am Gabe Norwood with TY Tang coming as bonus even as Talk n Text appeared to haul in the biggest total catch in the 2008 PBA Annual Draft.
“Improvement is a must,” said Rain or Shine co-owner Raymond Yu with the two basketball players already with the Dragons on their table during the Draft exercise held at the Market! Market! in Taguig.
“Yung positions na mahina kami napunan na. So we’re hopeful we’ve already got a competitive lineup,” said Terry Que, the other owner of the Asian Coatings Corp. basketball franchise.
"With the entry of Norwood and TY Tang, madali na namin mae-execute ang running game. Malaking change ang nangyari sa pagpasok nila," said basketball coach Caloy Garcia.
The Dragons, as expected, made Norwood the first pick overall and got a steal in taking Tang at No. 12.
“It’d been a long year and a half of waiting. I’m happy I finally made it,” said Norwood after realizing his dream of making it to the PBA.
The lone amateur player in the RP team to the 2007 Tokushima FIBA-Asia basketball championship became the seventh Fil-Am basketball player picked No. 1 overall in the Annual Draft, following the footsteps of Andy Seigle in 1997, Sonny Alvarado in 1999, Mike Cortez in 2003, Jay Washington in 2005, Kelly Williams in 2006 and Joe Devance in 2007.
“I’m bringing in my basketball work ethic and hopefully I can help the basketball team get wins,” said the 23-year-old former George Mason U stalwart, who is expected to get the maximum allowable rookie pay of P8.7 million spread over three years.
Talk n Text is also looking forward to a better basketball season after getting four promising players from draft, including one through a trade transaction consummated on the draft floor.
The Phone Pals acquired Jared Dillinger, Jason Castro, Rob Reyes and Pong Escobal, hinting at a major overhaul of the TNT basketball roster.
San Miguel yielded its rights for the No. 3 pick to get Washington from Talk n Text which, in turn, used the pick to get Castro. Talk n Text enlisted from No. 2 to 4 Dillinger, Castro and Reyes.
Solomon Mercado went to Alaska at No. 5 before Mark Borboran was picked at No. 6 by Air21, Beau Belga by Purefoods at No. 7, Bonbon Custodio by Magnolia at No. 8, Larry Rodriguez by Red Bull at No. 9 and Kelvin Gregorio by Sta. Lucia at No. 10.
Only nine basketball players were chosen in the second round with Escobal going to Talk n Text, Tang to Rain or Shine, Cholo Villanueva to Air21, Chito Jaime and Christian Cabatu to Sta. Lucia, Kelvin de la Pena to Alaska, Jonathan Fernandez to Purefoods and Jeff Chan and Mark Cuevas to Red Bull.
Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes said they were forced by situation to trade Washington since basketball league rules permit no more than five Fil-foreign basketball players per team.
The exit of Washington allowed the Pals to pick Dillinger and Reyes. The other Fil-foreign basketball players in the Talk n Text lineup are Jimmy Alapag, Ali Peek and Harvey Carey.
“Now, we’ve got a new team. First we’re younger, second more versatile and third and most important, we’ve got a number of veterans. It means we’re competitive at the present while also looking good in the future,” said Reyes.
“We’ve got four new players. They’ll all be signed up and all will play…. That’s the plan,” Reyes added. (NC)
Monday, September 1, 2008
San Miguel Beermen Basketball Games Updates
Greetings San Miguel Beermen fans!
Welcome to San Miguel Beermen Basketball Games Updates website.
In this basketball website, you will find basketball news updates, games updates, trade rumors, trade news, and other basketball issues and topics related to our beloved Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) basketball team, the San Miguel Beermen. I will also be providing my own comments once in a while regarding the basketball team's performance and other issues.
On days with minimal updates of our basketball team, I will also be featuring other PBA basketball teams and how they are doing their preparations most specially during basketball off-seasons.
Thank you for dropping by. Hoping to you see you frequently in the coming days on this basketball website.
