Magnolia Beverage Masters Basketball Games Updates

Barangay Ginebra Kings vs. Air21 Express in PBA Fiesta Conference 2008

After being eliminated by the Air21 Express for the battle for the last finals slot, the season is practically over for the Magnolia Beverage Masters even if there's still a third place battle on Wednesday.

The team name Magnolia Beverage Masters will soon return to San Miguel Beermen. With this change, I'm sad to inform you my dear readers that updates for this website will be permanently over once the best-of-seven series of the finals comes to an end. And to wrap things up, I will be supporting the campaign of our sister team, the Barangay Ginebra Kings in its bid for the championship so expect basketball games updates here also for that series.

But don't be sad as I will be launching a new website that will give the same basketball games updates, this time bearing the name of the San Miguel Beermen soon.

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Air21 vs Ginebra final emerging as a classic

Source: Manila Bulletin
August 3, 2008
by Waylon Galvez

There's no doubt that, since the late 80s and until now, Barangay Ginebra remains as the most popular basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Generally, an opposing team considers the Kings' throng of basketball supporters as the "Sixth Man" and that will certainly play a big factor when they start their championship basketball duel against the Airr21 Exprress.

Airr21 Coach Bo Perasol actually said that if he is given the choice, he prefers the Exprress facing the Gin Kings in a "closed door" basketball gamme.

"I'll bet on my basketball team if it's a closed door encounter," Perasol said.

Of course, he's just trying to add comic relief in what could be a thrilling best-of-seven showdown between two of the fast-paced basketball teams in the league for the Smart-PBA Fiesta Cup starting Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Kings will be playing in their 17th Finals and are gunning for an eighth PBA basketball crown. They currently share fifth spot with the Purefoods Giants in the all-time list of winners.

The Exprress, on the other hand, are aiming for their first-ever basketball title in their first Finals appearance since joining Asia's first pro cage basketball league in 2002. The best finish the Exprress had was third in the 2005 Fiesta Conference.

Ginebra will troop to the court fully refreshed after sweeping Red Bull, 4-0, in their semifinals duel while the Exprress will try to carry the momentum of their 4-2 victory over Magnolia Beverages which they booted out last Friday, 99-91, at the Astrodome in Pasay City.

Although they are in unfamiliar territory, Perasol said they would do everything to win the basketball title.

"I like my chances against Ginebra," he said. "I'm positive that we have a good chance against them. Of course, it's a big factor (crowd), but regardless of the situation, we'll still have the same intensity and passion to win it.

"We're here to win our first basketball title, we're not just content to be in this position. We want to win it as well."

The Kings and the Exprress actually split their elimination phase encounters with Airr21, which topped the eliminations with a 12-6 card, winning the first, 97-88, and Ginebra taking the second, 97-92.

In their first encounter, it was only the second basketball gamme for Chris Alexander, Ginebra's third import after Rashon Turner and Earnest Brown.

Alexander proved to be the missing link for the Kings, which started 0-5 but finished the elimination with a six-game winning run. They kept their hot streak with six more wins in the playoffs for a franchise-best 12 straight victories.

Since the arrival of the 7-foot Alexander, the Jong Uichico-mentored squad improved to 16-3 win-loss card.

Alexander, who averages 19.3 points as well as league-leading 20.6 rebounds and 3.1 shots blocks per game, will be pitted against a smaller but hardworking 6-foot-8 Steven Thomas (22.1 points, 16.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists).

Alexander and Thomas are locked in a tight battle for the conference Best Import award.

Also expected to provide excitement in the series are the teams' backcourt men, with Ginebra relying on Mark Caguioa, Jayjay Helterbrand, Paul Artadi and Junthy Valenzuela, while Airr21 will have Gary David, Wynne Arboleda, Egay Billones and rookie Marvin Cruz.

The frontline will also play a major role are the Kings' Eric Menk, Rafi Ravis, Billy Mamaril and Alex Crisano will be up against Ranidel de Ocampo, Arwind Santos, Homer Se, Niño Canaleta and Earvin Sotto.