Petron Blaze Boosters Basketball Updates

Photo Credit: PBA.ph

I don’t know what was running in the San Miguel Beermen coaching staffs’ mind when they refused to change their defensive strategy in the third quarter when the Barangay Ginebra Kings kept on sinking three point shots lead by Jayjay Helterbrand. In my opinion, that was the pivotal point of the game as the San Miguel Beermen were slaughtered by the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 82-87 to close out their elimination round game.

They switch to man-to-man defense only when the lead shoot to 18 points more or less. That’s sloppy coaching for you at the finest!

Now this game already happened a few days ago. I was too lazy to post it due to frustrations. I thought of not posting this anymore but it can give us a little history archive of this shameful SMB performance in its fancied franchise history.

The loss relegated the Beermen in the wildcard phase after the Barangay Ginebra Kings won against Rain or Shine Elasto  Painters on Christmas day. Would it have a good effect if their backs are against the wall? Wildcard phase coming up! Better step up that game or take early vacation. If they take the boot early, I will not be surprised if a major shakeup of the team happens before the Fiesta Conference.

For a full game story, enjoy the news article from the Philippine Basketball Association(pba.ph) below:

CAREER GAME FROM JAYJAY HELTERBRAND AS KINGS NIP BEERMEN
Barangay Ginebra keeps slim outright semis hopes alive with road game win
Sunday, December 21, 2008

BATANGAS CITY. – Jayjay Helterbrand was back in his elements Saturday keying a decisive Barangay Ginebra victory that kept the team in the hunt for an outright semifinal berth.

The Best Player of the Conference in the 2008 Fiesta early this year, Helterbrand checked a personal slump, pouring in a career-high 35 points as the Kings topped the San Miguel Beermen, 87-82, in a crucial road game in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Batangas City Sports Center here.

Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel swapped places in the team standings as the Kings avenged a rout at the hands of the Beermen in their previous tiff.

The Kings caught up with the Sta. Lucia Realtors at fourth place at 9-8. They gain a tie at second place at the end of the double-round elimination phase should they beat the Rain or Shine and Talk ‘N Text loses to Air21 Express in the elims’ final playdate on Christmas Day.
The Beermen closed out their elims stint at 9-9.

Sliding to sixth place on a third straight defeat, the Beermen are now even in danger of missing an automatic passage in the quarterfinals.

Helterbrand dashed the Beermen’s hopes for a Top Two finish on an A-1 performance built around an 8-of-18 three-point shooting.

“I felt down in our last two games coming off a battle with injury. But this is an important game, I had to step up,” said Helterbrand, limited to an average of 8.5 points in their last two games against Talk ‘N Text and Alaska Milk.

Danny Seigle returned from a long layoff but hardly made his presence felt in the rugged contest marred by the ejection of Jay Washington on two technical fouls and separate technical infractions by Barangay Ginebra players Junjun Cabatu, Willy Wilson and Ronald Tubid, and San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen.

Helterbrand stayed cool and composed as he broke his previous conference high of 31 and previous career best of 34.

The prolific Fil-Am guard fuelled Barangay Ginebra’s breakaway in the third quarter and himself delivered the clutch baskets sealing their win at endgame.

Helterbrand and Tubid took turns in delivering the goods for the crowd-favorites early on as the Kings started with an 18-4 run before settling for a 41-38 lead at the half.

With Helterbrand stepping up his game all the more in the second half, the Kings built an 18-point lead at 58-40 and kept the Beermen at bay the rest of the way.

Tubid backed up Helterbrand with 18.

Dorian Pena and Olsen Racela also both scored 18 to pace the Beermen in what was likely the first-ever game in 22 years in Batangas City. (NC)

The scores:

Barangay Ginebra 87 –  Helterbrand 35, Tubid 18, Cabatu 8, Valenzuela 7, Salvacion 5, Wilson 4, Mamaril 4, Menk 4, Artadi 2, Pacana 0, Escalona 0

San Miguel Beer 82 –  Racela 18, Pena 18, Washington, Hontiveros 12, Pennisi 9, Washington 7, Pingris 6, Tugade 5, Seigle 4, Villanueva 3, Baguion 0, Gonzales 0

Quarterscores:  22-13,  41-38,  66-54,  87-82