PBA D-League Updates - C. Lhuillier, Pharex cagers clobber foes

MANILA—Cebuana Lhuillier dominated Café France in the second half and pulled off an 83-62 triumph yesterday in the 2011 PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Gems hardly missed main Benedict Fernandez, who was ejected on a flagrant foul in the third quarter, as Allein Maliksi, Marvin Hayes and James Sena fueled a third-quarter onslaught that gave them a 61-42 spread.

“If you’re facing a team like Café France that has all college players, the pressure is on you to get a big lead right away,” Cebuana coach Luigi Trillo said of the squad built around Centro Escolar University standouts.

“In the second half we were able to adjust,” added Trillo, who also acknowledged the strong play of Café France in the first half.

In the opener, Pharex Bidang Generix rolled back Blackwater Elite, 100-90, with Marlon Adolfo, Raymond Aguilar and Jason Deutchman stepping up in the second half.

Maliksi topscored with 16 points for the Gems, who also drew double-double games from Hayes (12 points and 12 rebounds) and Sena (12  and 10).

Fernandez, who shone with the Philippine Patriots in the recent Asean Basketball League, was thrown out after his flagrant foul on Axl Jeff Garcia at 8:53 in the third period.

Blackwater, also banking on collegiate stars from the Arellano Chiefs, roared to a 12-0 start in the first five minutes, before Pharex settled down.

Adolfo Deutchman and Aguilar combined for 16 points at the start of the second half to help lift the Generix to their first double-digit lead, 64-54.

Deutchman, a 6-foot-5 Fil-Am from San Diego State U, debuted with a double-double of 16 points and 10 boards.(Inquirer)

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PBA D-League Updates - Cebuana Lhuillier triumphs over CafeFrance

(MB) MANILA, Philippines – Cebuana Lhuillier unleashed the full weight of its offensive might in the second half for an 83-62 victory over CafeFrance yesterday in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at The Arena in San Juan.

The Gems struggled in the first half in the face of CafeFrance’s tough defensive stand but slowly pulled away through the hot hands of Allein Maliksi and former Jose Rizal University stars James Sena and Marvin Hayes.

Maliksi, who is coming off a stint with the Philippine Patriots, scored 16 points, Sena made 12 points and 10 rebounds while Hayes likewise notched a double-double with 12 points and 12 boards.

Cebuana fell behind early as CafeFrance, composed mostly of players from the NAASCU's Centro Escolar University, took a 22-16 lead in the second period before the Gems rallied to take full control of the contest.

In the first game, Pharex also recovered from a lethargic start to beat Blackwater Elite, 100-90.

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PBA D-League Updates- CafeFrance, Blackwater start title bids

MANILA, Philippines — CafeFrance and Blackwater Elite will have the chance to feel the heat when they debut against separate rivals Thursday in the resumption of the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at The Arena in San Juan.

Of the two, CafeFrance faces the tougher challenge as it battles Cebuana Lhuillier at 4 p.m.

Cebuana Lhuillier is one of two fancied teams in the maiden tournament that drew a total of 13 teams – the other is North Luzon Expressway which debuted with an 82-71 win over Freego Jeans.

Clashing in the first game are the Blackwater Elites of former PBL chairman Dioceldo Sy and Pharex.

CafeFrance, owned by Johnny Yap and mentored by former La Salle cager Mon Jose, will field in most of its players from Centro Escolar University led by Chino Almario, Ryan Gallardo, Axl Jeff Garcia and Rock Mejos.

The team will be reinforced by former JRU guard JR Bulangis and erswhile National University center Jewel Ponferrada.

Arellano University stars Andrian Celada, Gerald Lapuz and Rocky Acidre will banner the Elites along with Gio Ciriacruz and Joshua Saret.

Benedict Fernandez, Pari Llagas, Allein Maliksi and Kelvin Gregorio, who all played for the Philippine Patriots, will spearhead Cebuana's campaign alongside former Jose Rizal University standouts Marvin Hayes, a reserve player for Alaska, and James Sena.

Adding firepower for the squad of coach Luigi Trillo are current Letran star Kevin Alas and former University of the Visayas big man Ariel Mepana.(MB)

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PBA D-League Updates - FCA, NLEX subdue rivals

MANILA, Philippines – FCA made its presence felt right away as it blasted Junior Powerade, 89-71, in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup Tuesday at the Far Eastern University gym in Morayta, Manila.

Determined to make an impression after so-so showing in the PBL and the short-lived Tournament of the Philippines, the Cultivators went to big man JR Gerilla and former University of the East guard Raffy Reyes in crushing the Tigers.

Gerilla finished with 17 points, including 10 in the third period as FCA led by 24 points at one point. Reyes registered 15 points and five assists as FCA tied opening day winners RnW Pacific Pipes and Cobra Energy Drink.

North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) also got off to a hot start by weathering off Freego Jeans’ late comeback for an 82-71 win in the second game.

The trio of Calvin Abueva, Ogie Menor and Clifford Hodge anchored the team’s early breakaway before helping douse cold water on Freego which made a late rally.

Abueva dominated both ends of the floor to finish with 18 points and 14 rebounds highlighted by six straight points in the final two minutes of the second quarter that gave them a 41-27 halftime lead.

Menor had 16 points, eight in the first period, while Hodge chipped in 11.

Former Mapua forward Sean Co hit nine points while ex-San Sebastian bruiser Gilbert Bulawan fell a basket shy of a double-double with eight points and 10 rebounds.

Alvin Padilla and Mike Gamboa scored 14 points each. (MB)

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PBA D-League Updates: Team RnW Pacific Pipes

Head coach: Topex Robinson

Assistant coaches: Bernie Mercado and Dino Enrile

Players:

Anthony Del Rio

Enrico Tirona

Franz Ian Delgado

Vic Manuel

Jim Bruce Viray

John Carl Melegrito

Erwin Cornejo

Raymund Ilagan

Raffy Ynion

Vincent King Importante

Maclean Sabellina

During his eight-year PBA career, Christopher “Topex” Robinson was known as a blue collar-type point guard who made the most of his talents. He wasn’t the quickest or strongest, but he was good enough to make the PBA All-Defensive team once. Now, after hanging up his playing sneakers, Robinson is embarking on a new career as a coach. On March 12, Robinson will make his coaching debut with RnW Pacific Pipes in the PBA D-League, and despite the lack of preparation, both for his team and for himself as head coach, the former point guard is hoping to make his team a reflection of his own approach to the game.

“As of now, I consider myself a rookie as far as coaching is concerned,” said Robinson. “So the challenge is pretty much okay because I know that what I have right now are pretty hardworking players. As much as possible, when I build this team, I want to get scrappy players. My trademark is just scrappy, just fighting for, you know, getting the character of the team.”

Given the short time to form the team and get his feet wet, Robinson hasn’t had much success in recent scrimmages. But he’s confident things will pick up once the tournament starts.

“So far, even though I’ve lost all of my tune-up games, I’m upbeat that I have a good team here, a good core. Expect this team to be a hustle team. Since this is a new team, I don’t want to complicate things. I have young guys, and I think my team is one of the youngest as far as experience is concerned. Most of them just came out of the collegiate leagues, so as much as possible, just keep it simple, don’t make things complicated, make it easier for a young team like what I have right now.”

A quick glance at the roster won’t reveal any big-name collegiate stars, save for Ateneo’s Ryan Buenafe, but rather a bunch of tough, hardcore players whom Robinson hopes to mold into a running unit. They’re led by Raymund Ilagan of the St. Francis Doves, former PBL MVP Vic Manuel of PSBA, former Letran Knight Kojack Melegrito, Mapua Cardinal and PBL veteran Erwin Cornejo, and ex-pro Jim Viray. It’s a small team, too, with STI’s Maclean Sabellina the only legitimate center and the tallest at 6’4”. After him there’s an array of power forwards who will have to help each other out with the rebounding chores and defending the paint. Viray, Ilagan and Manuel all stand a generous 6’3” and the onus will be on them to provide interior muscle since Sabellina is reed-thin.

“Actually, as far as ceiling is concerned, my tallest is 6’3” or 6’4”. As of now, we’re still searching for a legitimate big man, so I guess with the league about to start, knowing that big men are really hard to find, as of now I’m happy with the fours (power forwards) I have right now.”

Melegrito will be part of a guard rotation that includes San Beda’s Chico Tirona, SSC’s Anthony Del Rio, and ex-SSC Stag Franz Ian Delgado, who will anchor the running game Robinson envisions for his team.

“We know that we don’t have the size to match up against bigger teams, so I guess expect us to be running,” Robinson said. “We’ll be pressuring. I guess that’s the only advantage that we have because we don’t have the size.”

Buenafe is clearly the most impressive name on the roster, although he has yet to play in any of the team’s tune-up games and was curiously not mentioned by Robinson when asked about the team’s main guys. Another name to watch is King Importante, a former PCU junior varsity star whose collegiate career never got off the ground.(Yahoo! Southeast Asia)

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PBA D-League Updates - NLEX, Freego fives clash in D-League

MANILA, Philippines - Pre-tournament favorite NLEX heads three other teams making their debut today at resumption of the 2011 PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the FEU gym.
NLEX takes on Freego Jeans in the 4 p.m. main game with the Road Warriors bringing in a solid roster headed by former PBA player Ogie Menor, collegiate standouts Eric Salamat and Calvin Abueva. Former PBA champion coach Boyet Fernandez will be the man at the helm of NLEX.
But Freego Jeans is going all out to foil NLEX on a team built around the core of the Adamson Falcons, led by Julius Colina, Alexander Nuyles, and Lester Alvarez. Leo Austria will call the shots for the team.
Junior Powerade, meanwhile, and the FCA Cultivators tangle in the 2 p.m. opener.
Meanwhile, the matches will be aired on a delayed telecast starting at 6 tonight.
The Junior Tigers are backstopped by the UP Fighting Maroons team of coach Ricky Dandan led by big man Magi Sison.
The farm team of Powerade also boasts of the twin tower combination of former La Salle Archer Brian Ilad (6’6) and Fil-Am Mark Anthony Jeffries (6’5).
The Cultivators, on the other hand, will lean on former Mapua standout Sean Co, Alfred Gerilla, and a host of former collegiate aces to be handled by coach Arsenio Dysangco.
Pacific Pipes and Cobra Energy Drink currently share top spot after winning their respective matches on opening day at The Arena in San Juan. (ThePhilippineStar)

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PBA D-League Updates - Ironmen hold off Dragons in opener

MANILA, Philippines –  Cobra Energy Drink shackled Maynilad Water with a rugged defense and Paul Lee exploded with 26 points as the Ironmen hammered out a 78-70 victory over the Water Dragons in the inaugurals of the PBA Developmental League at The Arena in San Juan City yesterday.

Lee also dished off 11 assists and missed turning in a triple-double performance with eight rebounds in an impressive start by the former University of the East stalwart.

While Lee took charge of offense, the rest of the Ironmen provided the defensive gem as they held the Water Dragons, bannered by the core of the San Beda team that swept its way to last year’s NCAA crown, with a physical defense all game.

“The game plan was to frustrate them with a defense we hoped they haven’t encountered before and we succeeded,” said Cobra coach Lawrence Chongson.

“Despite some lapses, Paul (Lee) just played true to form but we haven’t seen his A-game yet,” he added.

Earlier, RnW Pacific Pipes gave its rookie coach Topex Robinson a fitting welcome as it turned back a tough PC Gilmore side, 76-72, in the very first game of the league, which serves as a breeding ground of talents.

Jim Bruce Viray, who played pro ball for Barako Bull, paced the Green Pipers with 18 points while Vic Manuel, a product of PSBA, added 15 points.

Lee fired four triples in the third period as Cobra closed out the quarter ahead by a whopping 22-point lead, 65-43, before the Ironmen cruised to victory in the fourth.

Fil-Aussie Anthony Semerad, Dave Marcelo, Jake Pascual and Rome dela Rosa churned out double figure outputs with 13, 12, 11 and 10 points, respectively, but the Water Dragons had a tough time adjusting to the “no harm, no foul” rule of pro ball, which the D-League is implementing in its inaugural staging although each quarter is played over 10 minutes, unlike in the pros, which is 12 minutes.Cobra’s tough defense also held Sudan Daniel, the reigning NCAA MVP who anchored the Lions’ historic 18-game title sweep last year, to just three points and was ejected after a flagrant-2 foul on John Foronad late in the third. (ThePhilippineStar)

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PBA D-League Updates- Gilmore-RnW duel kicks off PBA D-League

MANILA, Philippines –  The PBA Developmental League (PBA D-League) begins today at The Arena in San Juan, unveiling a bold approach on amateur basketball that would serve as a breeding ground of players for the pro league.

Pacific Pipes and PC Gilmore clash at 12 noon shortly after the opening ceremonies that will officially welcome the 13 pioneering ball

Clubs in the tournament to be known as the Foundation Cup.

PBA chairman Rene Pardo and PBA commissioner Chito Salud will be on hand to declare the conference open.

From the Philippine Basketball League (PBL), the Cobra Ironmen bring their act to the D-League as they collide with the Maynilad Water Dragons in the main game at 2 p.m.

Handled by collegiate champion coach Frankie Lim, the Dragons are bannered by the core of the San Beda squad that swept last year’s NCAA crown via an 18-game romp.

At the helm of Maynilad’s campaign are Red Lion stalwarts Garvo Lanete, Rome de la Rosa and season and Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) Sudan Daniel.

Cobra will be mentored by former University of the East Warriors head coach Lawrence Chongson with former PBL MVP Paul Lee as their main man.

Meanwhile, PC Gilmore, owned by Avelino Relucio, will be boosted by the St. Benilde Blazers under coach Richard del Rosario, whose wards will be headed by 2010 NCAA

Rookie of the Year Carl John Lastimosa, nephew of PBA great and current Alaska assistant coach Jojo Lastimosa.

The PBA D-League’s inaugural season will also have former playmaker Topex Robinson as coach of Pacific Pipes, to be led by one-time PBL MVP Vic Manuel and PBA free agent Jim Bruce Viray.

The 13 teams have been bracketed into two groups for the classification phase.

Group A

PC Gilmore

Pacific Pipes

Pharex Naproxen Sodium

Freego Jeans

Blackwater Elite

NLEX Road Warriors

Group B

Maynilad Water Dragons

Cobra Ironmen

Café France

Cebuana Lhuillier

FCA Cultivators

Max! Bond Super Glue Sumos

Junior Powerade Tigers

The top two teams in each group advance to the second round of the playoffs outright. (ThePhilippineStar)

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13 teams compete in short PBA D-League

MANILA, Philippines – Thirteen teams divided into two groups will compete in the inaugural tournament of the Philippine Basketball Association’s Developmental League (PBA D-League) set to be unveiled on March 12 at the Arena in San Juan.

In Group A are Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), Freego Jeans, RnW PacificPipes, Black Water Elite, Pharex Naproxen Sodium and PC Gilmore.Comprising Group B are Maynilad Water, Junior Powerade Tigers, Max Bond SuperGlue Sumos, Cobra Energy Drink Ironmen, Café France and FCA.

“This is a short tournament so every game counts. Obviously, the format adds up to the excitement,” said PBA commissioner Chito Salud of the first D-League tournament to be known as the PBA D-League Foundation Cup.

The eliminations will be a single round robin. But because Group A has only six teams, each of them will play an extra game, the pairings of which has been decided by lottery.

The two bottom-ranked teams in Group B will play a knockout game for the last playoff spot.

The top two teams of each group after the elimination round earn outright passage into the second round of the playoffs while the third to sixth placed teams in Groups A and B will advance to the first round of the playoffs. The first and second round of the playoffs as well as the semifinal will be decided by knockout games while the Finals will be a best-of-three series. (abs-cbnnews)

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