B-MEG Llamados defeated Meralco Bolts 88-83 for its 3rd straight win

It was a sloppy game for B-MEG last night, as it committed 21 turnovers but its defense pulled through to get its 3rd straight win, winning 88-83 over Meralco Bolts. B-MEG is now tied at second place with sister team Petron at 3-1.

B-MEG won with its defense, and what better to show its defense with a 12 blocks in the game, and surprisingly one of the players leading the block party, James Yap who had a total of 3 blocks together with Rafi Reavies with 3 also, Yancy and Import Marqus Blakely had 2 blocks a piece, Pingris and Barroca had 1 blocks for the total of 12 for the team.

But even though with B-MEG's defense clicking their turnover really hurt them which enable the Bolts to hang on, especially with Meralco Bolts main man Mark Cardona exploding with 27 points and point guard Chris Ross contributing with 18 points, but had little support from import.Oguchi only managed to score 12 points in the game.

B-MEG's import Marqus Blakely had another all around performance with 31 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals and 2 blocks. James Yap contributed with 19 points and the Pinoy Sakuragi Marc Pingris had10 points and 11 rebounds.

The Meralco Bolts are now tied with its sister team Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters  at the bottom together with Alaska at 1-3. Meralco's next opponent will be the Alaska Aces, while B-MEG Llamados will play Air 21 Express in an out of town game at Digos City.

Meralco Bolts wins Game 1 over B-MEG Llamados 103-81

The Meralco Bolts came out on fire in Game 1 of their best of three match against B-MEG Llamados. The Bolts outplayed the Llamados from the opening tip off, starting with their point guard Chris Ross who pressured the Llamados point guard, which disrupted B-MEG's triangle offense, on top of that Bolts import Earl Barron clearly outplayed his counterpart Bowles in the opening quarter which saw Meralco Bolts leading 32-19 and then finishing the first half with a 54-38 lead.

"This is a first playoff win for us in five conferences. It's an enormous breakthrough for this franchise," said Gregorio.

"But we know that a best of three isn't win by one game. After taking a shower, we'll focus again for Wednesday," Gregorio added.

The Llamados actually waged a chase in the second half even cutting the lead to 3 80-77, but that was the closest the Llamados can get, as Cardona spearheaded a spirited 18-0 run to scutle B-MEG's bid.

Meralco Bolts import Earl Barron lead all scorers with 34 points while Cardona added 22 points to help the Bolts which can go for the clincher in game two this Wednesday at 5:15 pm.

The Llamados was lead by James Yap with 21 points, Bowles added 18 but was clearly outplayed by Barron.

Alaska Has no Plans of Trading LA Tenorio

Rumors have been circulating around the net that Alaska is planning to trade star point guard LA Tenorio.

But the Alaska management is quick to react that LA Tenorio isn't going anywhere.

Alaska team manager Joaqui Trillo said the team's prized point guard is not on the trading block.

"He's very happy with us and we have no plans of trading him," said Trillo.

"Talks about Tenorio being put on a trading block are all rumors," added Trillo. "In fact, I've talked to La in one of our practices and joked with him that if ever he wants to be traded, isama niya ako"

Alaska so far has one minor addition to its roster and that is Nino Gelig. Gelig began his career with Talk N Text Tropang Texters from 2004 to 2006 and last played for the Welcoat Dragons from 2006 to 2008.

B-MEG defeated Alaska 92-89 in a double Overtime

It was their second meeting this conference, and Alaska was aching to get back at B-MEG for their loss in their first meeting. For Alaska its about revenge and also wanting to get out of the 9th spot since the last two teams on the end of the elimination gets booted out. For B-MEG it would extending their winning streak to 3.

B-MEG won for the second time over Alaska 92-89 in a thriller double overtime game.

B-MEG's superstar James Yap struggled early in the game but was a major factor during overtime and with B-MEG's supersub PJ Simon injured, rookie Mark Barroca stepped up his game to score 22 points his best performance so far this conference.

LA Tenorio who had a sub par game in their first meeting came out on fire in this game as he scored 28 points to lead Alaska, but was a non factor in overtime as he suffered cramps.

JR Reyes could have won the game for Alaska in regulation but missed his under goal attempt.

On the first overtime though, Alaska was in full control leading 80-75 with 2:25 left, but Yap and Barroca hit huge shots to tie it 80 all. Both teams had a chance to take the lead but both failed to make a shot leading to a 2nd overtime.

Then James Yap took over, hitting all of his attempts to give the Llamdos a 92-87 lead with just 43 seconds remaining.

"Very, very important for us to go over .500," said Cone. "Two or three weeks ago, we're in 9th place, now I think we're tied for 5th. We're now making our move and that's very important for us."

B-MEG's next opponent will be sister team Barangay Ginebra Kings, while Alaska will face Powerade Tigers.

Time Cone Is Now The New B-MEG Llamados Head Coach

It's been a while since I updated this blog, and my last post was about Tim Cone retiring. Although there were rumors circulating in the net that Cone will end up coaching a SMC team preferably B-MEG the rumors fizzled out when Del Rosario was named acting head coach. Days passed and a new rumor came out again. This time Tim Cone will be back but not as a coach but as a consultant for B-MEG then after 1 conference he will assume the Head coach position from Del Rosario.

Then came the big surprise, I think B-MEG can't wait to have Tim Cone handle the Llamados as Tim Cone is now officially the new Head coach of the Llamados. Along with Tim Cone is his former players Johnny Abbarientos and Jeff Cariaso. Now its clear that the Llamados would use the triangle offense with Tim and his former players around not to mention Devance is also in the Llamados lineup.

Things look brighter now in the B-MEG's camp, with the Llamados almost having all of their injured players back, except for Jonas Villanueva and maybe Barroca if he will still be in the Gilas lineup.

Time Cone Retires: Joel Banal is Aces New Head Coach

Whoaaa, when I first saw PBA, Jawo was still playing, Ginebra was for me the Bad Boys of the PBA, I think purefoods at that time look like the glamour boys of basketball - as for Alaska, I always say to my self the team with the American coach, who always wear sleeves and ties.

There were many coaching change during those year's and Tim Cone remained as an Alaska coach for so long, and now HE'S RETIRING OR PLANNING TO RETIRE?

I first saw this in a newspaper. Tim Cone will no longer be the head coach of the Alaska Aces as he will retire soon. His retirement will be announced by Mr. Fred Uytengsu, the President of the Alaska Milk Corporation. The possible replacement of Cone will be coach Joel Banal who steered the Ateneo Blue Eagles to a championship in 2002.

Some of the Alaska fans doesn't want coach Tim to leave. They are saying that Alaska could no longer give the salary that Cone wants that's why he's leaving the team. But apparently, they are all wrong because Mr. Uytengsu said that it's about coaching fatigue. Here's what he said:

"Coaching fatigue. He wanted to do something different. Tim's assistant, Joel Banal, will replace him"

FATIGUE? All I know is if you loved your job, you wont even feel fatigue. But hey, that's just me.