Japeth saves Kings anew at the buzzer

MANILA, Philippines -- Barangay Ginebra lit fireworks three nights ahead of New Year’s Eve as the Kings made an improbable comeback from five points down in the last 15 seconds and jolted the Meralco Bolts, 83-82, in the Petron Blaze-sponsored PBA Saturday Special at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The PLDT MyDSL PBA Philippine Cup front-runners came through with the game-saving back-to-back three-pointers from unlikely sources JayR Reyes and Japeth Aguilar – the last one at the buzzer sending the predominantly Ginebra crowd to a great ecstasy.

Aguilar delivered the dagger trey off Reynel Hugnatan, providing a surreal climax to another night of dunking spree for the ultra-athletic 6-foot-9 forward.

Rising up from death bed, the Kings firmed up their hold of the lead with a sixth straight win and ninth in 10 games in all.

The Kings faced imminent loss against the very team that dealt them their lone defeat in the tourney as they stared at a five-point deficit, 77-82, with 15.1 ticks left.

Ginebra refused to lose, though, and as Reyes and Aguilar connected with the surprise three-point bombs, the Kings sent the Bolts reeling to a seventh loss against three wins.

“We’re just really lucky,” said Ginebra coach Ato Agustin.

True enough, the Kings pulled through just with the help of huge breaks at the finish.

For one, the Bolts bungled no less than five charities in the last 90 seconds of play.

Former Ginebra player John Wilson muffed three in the last 15 seconds, the last one enabling Ginebra to get final possession.

Actually, LA Tenorio nearly fumbled the ball before handing it out to Aguilar atop the key with three seconds to go.

With one dribble and side step, Aguilar gained some breathing room off Hugnatan, then launched the three-pointer that hit the target.

A little earlier, Reyes bombed away his own triple coming off the bench.

The Gins Kings totaled nine three-pointers in the game as against the Bolts’ three.

Even then, the Bolts dragged the heavily favored Kings to a battle and nearly repeated an upset with their good game plan.

“Meralco deserves credit they played great especially on defense. They were able to control our bigs, and they really made it difficult for us with their quickness,” Agustin also said.

The Bolts ran the breaks at every opportunity. Without an opening, they used the clock to find the best attempt possible.

In the end, they’re able to battle the Kings through 10 dead locks and 18 lead changes.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

San Mig Coffee wins Governors' Cup title

MANILA – San Mig Coffee drubbed Petron Blaze in the winner-take-all Game 7, 87-77, to clinch the PBA Governors’ Cup at a jam-packed Araneta Coliseum on Friday night.

San Mig Coffee took a 41-39 halftime lead before closing out Petron in the next two quarters.

The win enabled Mixers’ coach Tim Cone to match the all-time best record of 15 titles set by PBA coaching legend Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan.

San Mig Coffee also frustrated the campaign of Petron’s rookie coach Gee Abanilla, who steered the Boosters to a sensational 8-1 run in the eliminations only to lose in their best-of-7 title series versus the Mixers, 4-3.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Balkman gets lifetime ban from PBA

Petron Blaze import Renaldo Balkman has been slapped with a lifetime ban and fined P250,000 by the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) following a stunning meltdown that saw him choke teammate Arwind Santos.

Balkman, who previously played for the New York Knicks and the Denver Nuggets in the NBA, went berserk in the final seconds of the Boosters’ 73-83 loss to the Alaska Aces last Friday at the Araneta Coliseum.

After playing the worst game of his short PBA career and scoring only six points, Balkman wound up arguing with the game officials while protesting a non-call.

He shoved Petron's assistant coaches, who tried to calm him down, as well as teammates Ronald Tubid and Santos. When Santos pushed him back, Balkman shockingly choked the former Far Eastern University Tamaraw.

In a statement posted on the league website, Salud said he considered "Balkman's track record" in determining the sanction for the import.

"I took into consideration Balkman's track record including the head-butting incident during a FIBA-Americas game between Puerto Rico and Venezuela, and his altercation with the bench of the Alaska Aces during a pre-season game in Cebu City,” Salud said.

"I also took into consideration Balkman’s evident disregard for local and the host country’s sensibilities highlighted by his choking act on-court in full public view of his own teammate who was trying to pacify him," Salud added.

"Stiff as it maybe, this decision upholds the tenets of contextual accountability and the over-all interest of the league and fans."”

Supported by teammates, coaches

Balkman met with Salud in the PBA office earlier Monday and was accompanied by his Petron teammates and coaching staff.

The import had apologized to his teammates, as well as Santos' family, following Friday’s game. He also issued a public apology on his Twitter account and appeared on AKTV Center on Sunday to explain his actions.

"I just want to let the fans know, I know everybody has their own opinions, but I am human and everybody messes up one time in their life. I think this is the one time in my life that I messed up, and I truly apologize about it," Balkman said.

Balkman had said he was prepared to face the consequences of his actions.

"I have to deal with it. If I'm sent home I have to take it and deal with the consequences. I'm ready for that possibility," he said.

Santos, who also appeared on the TV show, said he was hopeful Balkman will get a second chance and stressed that he considers the import as a brother.

"Ang team namin ay parang isang pamilya. Natural lang na may girian ang mag-kuya," Santos said. "Balkman is like my brother. Natural lang na minsan hindi natin nako-control ang mga emosyon natin."

Petron coach Olsen Racela was also willing to give Balkman another chance, although he said the final decision will be left to his bosses.

"We're here as a family in support for Rey... He's been with us the past two months. We know the kind of person he is," Racela said, as quoted by the PBA’s official Twitter account.

Racela also said that Petron management will mete its own sanctions against Balkman.

Balkman was averaging 28.2 points per game coming into the game against Alaska and had led the Boosters to a 5-1 record.

Accountability

Not only was Balkman's meltdown witnessed by a nationwide audience, it was also picked up by international media, including the basketball blogs of Yahoo!, CBS Sports, and Deadspin.

The import told AKTV Center that he was only trying to explain his frustration to the referees, but the situation got out of hand.

"My main focus was to let the referees know I was frustrated throughout the game. It escalated to be something that shouldn't have happened, and I regret everything that happened out there," Balkman said.

In his statement, Salud said he "encourage(s) passion for the game, but I also want to firmly instill a culture of accountability among our players."

"If one does something that violates the rules and the norms of sportsmanship and decent behavior, he will be made accountable," Salud said.

The Petron management has yet to give an official response to Balkman's ban and fine. It remains to be seen who will take Balkman’s place as the Boosters’ import, although Spin.ph earlier reported that Rodney White is being considered as a potential replacement.

source: 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