Petron Blaze Boosters Basketball Updates

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Pre-season finalists San Miguel Beermen and Purefoods TJ Giants clashes once again to advance their position in the ongoing 2008-2009 KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome at 7:30pm.

The Beermen will try to bounce back from a sorry loss at the hands of the Alaska Aces last Sunday. They lead as much as 19 points at one time in the first half but lost control in the fourth quarter to the tune of a close 1-point loss.

In today’s basketball game, we should see the adjustments made by the coaching staff after a painful loss. If things don’t change, I wonder where will SMB go this conference. Another interesting questions to ask are:

- Will they start trading players again to tweak the lineup? or
- Will coach Siot Tanquincen be given the pink slip?

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Purefoods, Rain or Shine eye win No. 2

Source: The Manila Times (manilatimes.net)
by Frank Calapre | October 10, 2008

Purefoods and Rain or Shine try to stay on top when they tackle separate foes Friday in the 34th KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Purefoods seeks its second win against San Miguel Beer at 7:30 p.m. while Rain or Shine hopes to keep its winning form against Red Bull in their 5 p.m. encounter.

The Giants, last year’s runner up, survived the Barakos 77-73. They are aiming to duplicate their eight straight wins that enabled them to claim the first automatic semifinal basketball slot last year.

Basketball coach Ryan Gregorio reminded his players led by James Yap to regain their high level of confidence in their effort to remain on top of the basketball standings.

“This is a chance for me to tell my basketball players to be always in the high level of confidence,” said Gregorio after their victory Wednesday. He noted James Yap’s low eight-point basketball output against the Barakos.

Aside from the 2006 MVP Yap, Gregorio will also lean on Kerby Raymundo and Enrico Villanueva, Jun Peter Simon, Chico Lanete, Roger Yap, newly acquired Topex Robinson and rookies Beau Belga and Jonathan Fernandez.

San Miguel Beer, which lost to Alaska 84-85 on Sunday, will bank on Mike Cortez, Dorian Pena, Dondon Hontiveros, Marc Pingres, Jay Washington, Mick Pennisi and Danny Seigle.

The Elasto Painters, riding high on their 120-102 rout over Air 21 also Sunday, hope to make it two in a row, a feat that may bring them closer to their four-win finish in the recent Fiesta Conference.

Spearheading Rain or Shine in their quest for a second straight win are rookies Solomon Mercado, Tyronne Tang and top pick Gabe Norwood.

The Barakos will try to bounce back with the help of Celino Cruz, Warren Ybanez, Cyrus Baguio, Richie Alvarez, Carlo Sharma, Michael Hrabak and rookies Jeffrey Chan and Larry Rodriguez.