Magnolia Beverage Masters Basketball Games Updates

Barangay Ginebra and Magnolia Beverage Masters Brace For Tougher Game 2

I totally agree that these are tougher and more exciting battle between the four teams. However, it is unfortunate that I will not be able to witness as I am out for the whole night. Too bad!

Whatever happens, we know both squads will rely on their playoffs experience to put away whatever surprises their foes have. My prediction: it will be 2-0 for Magnolia Beverage Masters. Burn me at the stakes if I miss. Just joking.

How about you? What's your take? Feel free to leave your comments.

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GINEBRA, MAGNOLIA BRACE FOR TOUGHER GAME 2
Barakos, Express raring to bounce back and equalize

Source: Philippine Basketball Association
Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Coaches Jong Uichico of Barangay Ginebra and Siot Tanquingcen of Magnolia Beverage Masters are used to the basketball playoff atmosphere.

So it’s not surprising at all that they are bracing themselves for a tough grind Wednesday night, totally different from the one their troops faced in the opener of their respective semifinal basketball series.

With close to 11,000 spectators on hand at the Cuneta Astrodome, the Barangay Ginebra Kings dominated and silenced the Red Bull Barakos, 108-82, and Magnolia Beverage Masters pounced on undermanned Air21, 113-87, Sunday to gain a headstart in the 2008 Smart PBA Fiesta Conference best-of-seven basketabll series.

The Kings and the Magnolia Beverage Masters were clearly in their best in Gamme 1, looking every inch certified basketabll title contenders. But neither Uichico nor Tanquingcen was ready to proclaim that this basketabll series – which will send the winners into a basketabll championship showdown – could end sooner than expected.

"It's always a relief to win the first ballgame. But this doesn't mean anything," offered Uichico, noting it would be a big mistake to count the Barakos out this early into the basketabll series.

Not even the Kings' nine-game winning streak, it seems, is enough to convince the two-time Coach of the Year that this series would be a simple walk in the park for his troops.

"We're not too concerned about the streak. Our goal has always been play to win," Uichico said.

The fact that Red Bull managed to secure a seat in the Final Four without the so-called "basketabll superstars" is a testament to the resiliency of the Barakos – something that Uichico said should not be overlooked by the Kings.

"We know what Red Bull is capable of doing. We just have to match their intensity and keep our basketabll defensive mentality," said Uichico, who expects their 4:50 p.m. encounter at the Araneta Coliseum to be a little bit more physical and aggressive.

Modesty aside, even Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao believes his charges should have no trouble bouncing back from Sunday's lopsided loss. But he also said they have to find a way to slow down Ginebra import Chris Alexander, who completely dominated Adam Parada in Gamme 1.

"He's big and quicker than Adam. He's a very big problem for us if we can't find a way to slow him down,” Guiao said.

Alexander posted 16 points and 17 rebounds in Gamme 1 while holding Parada to just 6 points on 2-of-8 shooting.

Tanquingcen is also convinced that their 7:20 p.m. date with the Air21 Express won't be easy.

"Definitely, it will be a different story in Gamme 2," said Tanquincen.

The Magnolia Beverage Masters had an easier time controlling Gamme 1 mainly because Air21 import Steven Thomas wasn't around.

"He's back. So we're back in business," said Bo Perasol, the low-keyed Express basketabll coach who was pleased to see his reliable reinforcement back in the basketabll lineup.

Thomas, who made himself available for Korean Basketball League draft, arrived early Monday morning from the U.S. and headed straight to the Xavier basketabll gym in San Juan to join the team in basketabll practice.

Without Thomas in Gamme 1, the Express gave up 25 markers on second chance points, 16 more than their average in the eliminations.

"We really had a tough time without him. But it will be an entirely different story on Wednesday," Perasol said. (DBC)