Boracay Cup? 20 PBA stars on vacation

Boracay, for Pinoy basketball fans, is not a destination one aspires to visit. Instead, the term has become a long-running joke used for eliminated teams.

As the PBA Commissioner’s Cup nears its conclusion with early finalist Rain or Shine waiting for the semis winner between Purefoods Star and Talk ‘N Text, here's how the rest of the PBA teams making use of their so-called early vacation.

Check out how some of these stars are spending their break -- including a couple who really went to Boracay.

Mobile users can view the desktop version of the slideshow here.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Talk 'N Text beat Barako to move to 4-0

MANILA, Philippines – The Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters held off repeated rallies by the Barako Bull Energy to keep their record intact with a 101-96 win in the PBA Commissioners Cup Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Jayson Castro had 25 points for TNT while import Richard Howell added 23 points, and three other Texters scored in double-digits.

Barako had a slim 68-67 lead after the third quarter, but Talk ‘N Text took the lead for good early in the final period off three free throws from Nino Canaleta.

The Energy made repeated rallies behind their import, Josh Dollard, but the Texters answered with key baskets from Larry Fonacier and Castro, while also making their charities to keep Barako at bay.

Dollard finished with 33 points for Barako, but it was not enough as the Energy slumped to their third defeat in four outings.

Ronjay Buenafe added 18 points, Denok Miranda had 14, and JC Intal scored 13 for Barako Bull.

The scores:

TALK N' TEXT 101 - Castro 25, Howell 23, Canaleta 18, Fonacier 16, De Ocampo 11, Alapag 6, Williams 2, Aban 0, Reyes 0, Baclao 0, Carey 0.

BARAKO 96 - Dollard 33, Buenafe 18, Miranda 14, Intal 13, Miller 11, Pennisi 3, Jensen 2, Pena 2, Deutchman 0, Fortuna 0, Marcelo 0.

Quarterscores: 24-30, 45-48, 67-68, 101-96

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Finals MVP Thoss credits teammates

MANILA, Philippines – Alaska forward Sonny Thoss was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the finals series between the Aces and crowd favorite Barangay Ginebra after averaging a double-double over three games.

Thoss averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds per game for the Aces, who swept Ginebra in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals.

Speaking to Richard Dy of Spin.ph, Thoss said it was “overwhelming” to win the championship and the Finals MVP trophy to boot.

“I’m proud of my teammates. We’ve gone a long way,” Thoss said, crediting his teammates for their victory against the crowd favorites.

“I believe in my teammates. We fought our way through. We just get back to what we do, play defense, rebound and execute,” he said.

“Every single one of them are MVPs to me, especially the third group, because they work hard like the first group,” he added.

Thoss’s former coach, Tim Cone, praised the forward for his efforts through Twitter.

“Special congrats to Sonny. He was quietly dominant on both the offensive side, and especially the defensive side. Special guy,” Cone tweeted.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Balkman powers Petron to 5th straight win

MANILA, Philippines – Petron Blaze continued its winning ways in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, routing the Barako Bull Energy Cola 91-78 Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Blaze Boosters led wire-to-wire and were never threatened as they posted their fifth straight victory in the conference.

Import Renaldo Balkman again sparked Petron to victory, tallying a double-double of 33 points and 14 rebounds to go along with four assists and four steals.

Arwind Santos (14 points), JuneMar Fajardo (10) and Ronald Tubid (10) all scored in double figures as the Boosters led by as much as 25 points in the game.

Barako Bull import Evan Brock had a monster game of 20 points and 24 rebounds with four blocks, but it was not enough as the Energy Cola slumped to their second straight loss and third overall.

Petron now has a firm hold of solo second in the league standings with a 5-1 record and will face unbeaten Alaska (5-0) in their next game.

source: abs-cbnnews.com