You're probably wondering why this article is posted here as Kelly Williams is a Sta. Lucia Realty player.
Yes, I agree. But let me just take this opportunity to feature and congratulate one of my favorite players aside from our very own Magnolia Beverage Masters.
This guy is phenomenal. He's an epithome of hardwork and great work ethics. You had probably seen how his career blossomed in less than two years. Despite his achievements, he remain a humble person and continuously improves his game to the next level.
And oh, don't you remember that he was supposed to be one of Beermen if he was not taken by the Realtors in the draft two seasons ago? I'm just wondering where our team would be if he was around?
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Kelly Williams Named Best Player of the Conference: Son of Cebuana Mother is First-ever Realtor to Win Conference MVP Plum
Source: PBA.PH
Machine Gun Kelly is on a fiery roll, gaining yet another feather in his cap in only his sophomore year in the local pro league.
Prized Sta. Lucia Fil-Am player Kelly Williams won a Best Player of the Conference award after taking the Rookie of the Year honors last season.
Williams was the first Sta. Lucia player ever to win a Best Player of the Conference award.
Marlou Aquino and Danny Seigle were the only players to win the same award on a quicker pace. Both players won a BPC plum in their rookie years in the league – in 1996 and 1999, respectively. Aquino won it while still with Ginebra in the 1996 Governors Cup while Seigle won it with the Beermen in the 1999 Governors Cup.
"It’s a big honor for me to win this award. I’m sharing this with my teammates. Without them, I wouldn’t get this," said Williams, whose mother, Andrea, is from Cebu.
The 6-foot-5 high-flyer, a member of the RP team in the recent FIBA Asia Olympic qualifier in Tokushima, Japan, said he’ll be happier if they win the Smart PBAPhilippine Cup championship.
Williams was the runaway winner of the award as he gained the nod of the media, ABC Sports and the Commissioner’s Office. He placed second to Santos in the statistical race.
Williams amassed 1393 overall points to Miller’s 878, Raymundo’s 810, Santos’ 413 and Taulava’s 390.
Being the BPC winner, Williams will automatically make it as candidate for the season’s MVP award.
Before Game Four, Williams was averaging 18 points, 11.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
He’s one of only six players averaging in double-double in the tourney and had made aleague-high 19 double-double outings after Game Three.
Williams emerged the top rookie last season, beating Santos for the award. Both made it to the Mythical Second Team.
The two players, who were Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, in the 2007 Draft, figured in a close fight in the stats race in the Philippine Cup. But while Williams was able to boost his team all the way to the finals, Santos and his team were booted out after the wildcard round.
Williams has providing the Realtors not just the scoring, rebounding and defense but all the intangibles not reflected on the stats sheets.
Recent history favors Williams in the MVP race, as nine of the last 10 winners of the trophy in the last 10 regular seasons have come from the all-Filipino champion. (NC)
Friday, February 22, 2008
Kelly Williams Named Best Player of the Conference: Son of Cebuana Mother is First-ever Realtor to Win Conference MVP Plum
Friday, February 15, 2008
Trade Rumors: Larry Fonacier to Purefoods TJ Giants?
With the ouster of the team in the quarterfinals by the Red Bull Barako, there are several trade rumors luring around as a superstar-laden Magnolia Beverage Masters failed to the expectations of many as the favorites this conference.
Magnolia Beverage Masters insider Than of the PBA forum sheds light to these rumors as well as his analysis of the poor performance of the team despite the rich talents in its lineup.
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San Miguel Beermen website. Click here.
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Source: Than PBA Forum
Regarding the Business Mirror column about Fonacier to PF, its just plain rumor.
Why? Because teams in the semis cannot trade players. They can only change their roster via activation of players on their inactive list just in case someone got injured.
Then, theres also this rule that prohibits sister teams to do direct trades. They need a conduit team to make it happen.
With regards to JC Intal going to Ginebra, there were casual talks, i say Casual only & nothing concrete. Ginebra asst coach Allan Caidic wanted Intal even before this conference started but cannot close a deal at that time. Lets just wait & see if he can do it this time.
Now, touching on the Olsen Racela rumor, friends i've been in a read only mode the past couple of days & understand everyone's sentiments.But i guarantee you all that Olsen Racela doesnt carry any ill feelings against coach ST.It was already an agreement at the start of this conference that Olsen will play less minutes to prepare LA & back up Jonas for big time roles.
Olsen, the professional that he was, fully understood his new role with the team. He fully supports his protege's & was unselfish. He was like Danny Ildefonso to Eman & Enrico.
Olsen enjoys his transformation from being a court general to slowly but surely learning the ropes of coaching!He knows he's not getting young & needs to undergo transition.
Then lastly, about coach Siot's performance. Well, i was one of those believers of coach Siots abilities & brains in coaching. Im very happy when he almost salvage SMB last conference from being the 1st team almost got eliminated to being a team almost making it to the Final round.
But this conference is so different, honestly, coach ST was completely out coached in the Red Bull series by counterpart Yeng Guiao. No more excuses, he was completely out coached & he knows that.
The teams problem isn't familiarity, nor lack of talent either. Its making the players understand their ROLES with the team. MBM is the most talented team in papers, but papers cannot WIN games! The team is very disorganized because almost everyone except Danny I, Dondon, Wilson & Olsen, wanted to score whenever they had the ball.
Even point guard LA Tenorio keeps on driving to the basket before setting up plays for his other team mates. But sometimes, he's very hyper naman. Inconsistent as you may call it but understandable because he's still young & experience will be a good teacher.
Hontiveros & Tugade, two of the most feared off guards & slashers in the league were contented on taking a lot of 3's instead of maximizing their abilities to penetrate for a higher percentage shot or dish for a foul.
Larry Fonacier should be the designated hitman from the outside because thats his strength! He's not good in penetrations because he doesnt jump that high & a little bit small.
ST should design plays for him ala Allan Caidic of old when he gets double or sometines triple screens from his team mates to have a clear look at the basket.
Enrico Villanueva will not be the Ex-King Bull for nothing! But what happened to him in Magnolia Beverage Masters? Plays designed for him is to pop out the rainbow are, receive the ball, then throw it to the 3 point shooter(Hontiveros or Tugade or Calaguio). If they missed the shot, NO opportunity for an offensive rebound because he was outside the shaded area. Worst, he was frequently called for a pushing foul. That was the very common play ST used, that other coaches learned to adjust. He must give Enrico some plays that will show he's true strenght as a Bull strong power forward/center!
Ditto with Samigue Eman & Dorian Pena! Eman shows some promise at the start of the conference but suddenly went out of ST's rotation! He must prove himself in practice from now on. Thats the consequence of being on a very deep team in your rookie season!
Dorian Pena? Well he was placed on the unrestricted list for quite sometime, 1 team i know wanted to get him but he declined because his loyalty is with the SMC franchise.
Danny Seigle is Danny Seigle! He will almost always look to score than to pass! Why? Because thats his role ever since! He's not trained to defend nor to be a playmaker! He's the Asaytono of the Ron Jacobs Era! The only player that time with license to shoot! To live or die with him!
But now is a different case, this years SMB/MBM team is 3 times more talented than the Jacobs team. Danny Seigle should learn to change his game!
Now, who would make Hontiveros & Tugade maximize their strenghts?Who would make LA Tenorio be a consistent pass first point guard?Who would make Enrico Bull strong again?Who would make Larry Fonacier the next Allan Caidic?Who would make Samigue Eman a force inside the paint?Who would make Danny Seigle understand his not alone anymore?
Mr. Danding Cojuangco? The Ball Boys? Their Families? The Media?...
...it should be the coach!!!
But can't blame him, maybe 14 egos were too much for him to handle. So, whats the remedy? Replace him? or Let him learn for himself how to handle 14 EGOS by making them embrace & understood each & everyones ROLE within the team!
