Amal McCaskill Leads Magnolia Into Semifinals

Defense really wins a basketball series or a championship, whatever is being contested. Rejoice Magnolia Beverage Masters basketball fans as our basketball team advanced to the semifinals of PBA Fiesta Conference for the second straight year under coach Siot Tanquincen's leadership.

The Coca-Cola Tigers struggled all night long under intense defensive pressure capped with their horrible shooting that sealed their doom in the season-ending Fiesta Conference.

Next in line are the offense-minded Air21 Express whom we will engage starting this Sunday, possibly without their prolific import Steven Thomas. I like our chances for this basketball series and if our vaunted defense clicks once again, I won't be surprised if we trip back to the Finals and possibly win the championship against an equally strong foe from the other bracket contested by Barangay Ginebra and Red Bull Barakos.

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MAGNOLIA BEVERAGE MASTERS BARGES INTO FINAL 4
Magnolia Beverage Masters take on Air21 in best-of-7 affair

Source: Philippine Basketball Association
Friday, 18 July 2008

ANTIPOLO -- The Coca-Cola Tigers put up tremendous basketball intensity and energy but seemed to forget how to shoot, enabling the Magnolia Beverage Masters to book the last slot in the 2008 Smart PBA Fiesta Conference Final Four.

The Magnolia Beverage Masters beat out the Tigers, 78-60, in their knockout tussle last night at the Ynares Center here, gaining the right to challenge the Air21 Express in a best-of-seven semifinals basketball showdown.

The Final Four begins Sunday at the Astrodome in Pasay with Barangay Ginebra and Red Bull pitted in the other semis basketball match-up.

"We’re tight offensively but our defense held on," said coach Siot Tanquingcen as they overcame the Tigers for a second straight Fiesta Conference semifinals and sixth semis in the last eight PBA basketball tourneys.

The Magnolia Beverage Masters did struggle at the start but slowly picked up their rhythm, winning the battle without yielding the lead at anytime in the basketball contest.

It helped that the Tigers practically threw bricks in the basketball contest.

Coca-Cola shot a league all-time low of 20 percent in the entire contest and franchise-lows of 9.5 percent in the first quarter and 17.5 percent in the first half.

"I think it’s a result of a little of our basketball defense and their poor shooting. We had a hand in their every shot," said Tanquingcen.

Amal McCaskill, Lordy Tugade and Dondon Hontiveros played well on both ends of the basketball court, leading the team to the semis against the Express.

McCaskill said he’s well familiar with Steven Thomas’ basketball gamme, expressing confidence Magnolia Beverage Masters will emerge victorious.

Tanquingcen thought it’s difficult to play Air21, believing their only advantage against the Express is their being the more experienced basketball team.

Chances are Air21 will play minus Thomas at the start of the semis Sunday as he’s been invited to attend the Cleveland Cavaliers’ basketball training camp. His original plan was to return Saturday after attending just the basketball tryouts for the Korean basketball league in Las Vegas.

"Minus Steven, it would be very difficult but not impossible to make an upset. It would depend on how my players are going to take it mentally," said Air21 basketball coach Bo Perasol.

Magnolia Beverage Masters and Coca-Cola figured in a tough defensive basketball battle in the first half ending in the Magnolia Beverage Masters’ favor at 29-25.

The Tigers trailed by as many as nine points but scored five charities in the last 20 seconds to narrow the gap to four going into the final half.

Largely behind McCaskill’s efforts, the Magnolia Beverage Masters pulled away in the final half en route to sending the Tigers to the basketball season exit.

Coca-Cola joined in the sideline deposed Fiesta Conference champion Alaska, All-Filipino ruler Sta. Lucia, Talk n Text, Purefoods and Welcoat. (NC)

The scores:

Magnolia 78 – McCaskill 18, Tugade 14, Hontiveros 14, Cortez 9, Pingris 6, Ildefonso 6, Racela 5, Pena 3, Bono 2, Gonzales 1, Villanueva 0, Tolomia 0.

Coca-Cola 60 – Buenafe 22, Dixon 16, Taulava 9, Belasco 4, Macapagal 3, Dean 2, Cabagnot 2, Telan 2, Catli 0, Dimaunahan 0.

Quarterscores: 15-12, 29-25, 52-41, 78-60

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Magnolia Beverage Masters Battles Coke on Knockout Friday

It's win or go home for the Magnolia Beverage Masters as they try to advance to the semifinals after bowing to Coca-Cola on Wednesday with a one-point loss courtesy of a dagger shot from rookie Ronjay Buenafe.

With the season on the line, Magnolia should not forget how they were able to win against the opposition in the past, that is playing excellent defense. I do hope Danny Seigle is healthy enough to contribute to the team's offense. Lordy Tugade was a marked man last Wednesday and was not able to contribute much in scoring.

Will Magnolia Beverage Masters advance to the semis is a question that will be answered tonight. Glue to your TV screen as this might be our last battle this season or the start of a good beginning.

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SEMIS OR BUST FOR COCA-COLA, MAGNOLIA
Winner to take on Air21 in semis starting Sunday

Source: Philippine Basketball Association
Thursday, 17 July 2008

After staving off elimination and forcing sudden death playoff, coach Binky Favis believes his Coca-Cola Tigers have a little more juice left in their system to complete a sensational comeback.
With their season on the brink, the Tigers gave their all Wednesday and pulled the rug from under the Magnolia Beverage Masters in a nerve-wracking shootout to pull off a scintillating 91-90 decision in the Gamme Two of their quarterfinal series.

Coke's thrilling victory essayed with the help of rookie Ronjay Buenafe's 15-foot jumper with 7.2 seconds remaining provided some rays of hope to an already troubled semifinal bid.

"All we asked for is a new lease on life. With the basketball gamme now tied and just one gamme left to decide it all, I think we have a good shot," said Favis.

The Coca-Cola mentor said he has strong reason to believe that they are going to clinch the deciding match.

He said his troops have displayed their resiliency time and again. They also seem to generate so much energy and intensity whenever death is staring at them in the face.

"Not to take anything away from Magnolia Beverage Masters but I like our chances in Gamme 3. I am very confident my players will rise to the occasion. They have this tendency to always play their best whenever our backs are against the wall," Favis said.

On Wednesday day, Favis played his veterans namely Alex Cabagnot, Asi Taulava, Mark Macapagal and Nic Belasco on extended minutes.

He is expected to dwell on the same pattern knowing too well that experience will be vital in Gamme 3.

The Coca-Cola-Magnolia Beverage Masters showdown is set at 7 p.m. Friday at the Ynares Center.

The winner will face eliminations topnotcher Air21 in a best-of-seven series. The other series will be contested by Red Bull and Barangay Ginebra. (DBC)

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Ronjay Buenafe Rifles in Marginal Basket to Keep Tigers’ Hopes Alive

Coca-Cola Tigers rookie Ronjay Buenafe saved their basketball team from elimination as has he sanked a clutch basket in the dying seconds. The Magnolia Beverage Masters got a chance to win it but Dondon Hontiveros' desperation three point shot did not hit the mark.

The Magnolia Beverage Masters were not able to finish off the Coca-Cola Tigers on Wednesday but I do hope they get the job done on Friday. If not, it's vacation time once again for us. I'm sure coach Siot Tanquincen will make the necessary adjustments on knockout Friday.

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COCA-COLA TRIPS MAGNOLIA, FORCES RUBBER MATCH
Buenafe rifles in marginal basket to keep Tigers’ hopes alive

Source: Philippine Basketball Association
Wednesday, 16 July 2008

ANTIPOLO -- Ronjay Buenafe banged in what’s easily the biggest basket of his basketball pro career thus far, keeping the Coca-Cola Tigers in the hunt for the 2008 Smart PBA Fiesta Conference basketball championship.

Buenafe drained the winning basket with 7.2 seconds left as Coca-Cola forced a sudden death with Magnolia Beverage Masters in their best-of-three quarterfinal basketball showdown with a 91-90 thriller of a win Wednesday night at the Ynares Center here.

The Magnolia Beverage Masters actually had a chance to finish off the Tigers but Dondon Hontiveros missed a three-point attempt at the buzzer.

"I didn’t say much before the battle, forgetting the Xs and Os. I just told the boys to just do their best, and they rose to the challenge," said Coca-Cola basketball coach Binky Favis.

"Same thing on Friday. For as long as we’re alive, we’ll be there fighting. We’ll maximize the one day rest to be ready for another basketball tough grind," Favis added.

The two teams figured in a fierce fourth-quarter basketball battle that wasn’t decided till the final buzzer.

The Tigers squandered double-digit spreads in the third quarter and flirted with disaster as they fell behind at 89-90 on a five-point binge by Amal McCaskill and Wesley Gonzales.

But the Magnolia Beverage Masters won’t complete the job with Buenafe saving the day for the Tigers on a tough jumper after faking off two defenders.

Hontiveros had a decent attempt in their final offensive thrust but his shot went a little strong, sending the Coca-Cola bench and the Tigers’ supporters to a frenzied celebration.

The Tigers lived to fight another day despite another mediocre showing from new basketball import Brandon Dean.

"I know Brandon has something to show, but he’s in a tough situation playing a knockout basketball battle right away," said Favis of Dean, who was good for only six points, four assists and two rebounds.

For the second straight basketball gamme, McCaskill showed up Jason Dixon only to see his efforts go to naught.

McCaskill churned out another double-double basketball gamme highlighted by a crucial sky hook, then a steal setting up Gonzales for the trey that made it 90-89 for the Magnolia Beverage Masters.

Three-pointers came aplenty in the payoff period with Alex Cabagnot firing away three, the last giving the Tigers an 89-85 cushion with 1:07 left.

Gonzales delivered big plays coming off the bench in the fourth quarter, counting a short stab and a charity in an 11-4 opening run in the fourth quarter that pushed Magnolia Beverage Masters ahead at 79-74. (NC)

The scores:

Coca-Cola 91 – Cabagnot 17, Dixon 16, Taulava 12, Belasco 11, Buenafe 9, Macapagal 9, Dimaunahan 7, Dean 6, Telan 4, Catli 0.

Magnolia 90 – McCaskill 19, Hontiveros 18, Ildefonso 13, Tugade 10, Cortez 9, Gonzales 6, Racela 5, Pena 5, Villanueva 3, Pingris 2.

Quarterscores: 23-22, 46-41, 70-68, 91-90.

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Barangay Ginebra and Magnolia Beverage Masters Seek Semis Seats

It's time to go for the jugular this evening. Magnolia Beverage Masters should treat this gamme as do-or-die if battle it wants to advance to the semifinals. No more Gamme 3 period.

The team who dominates on defense will win this one. Another factor if the team wants to win is to minimize the turnover. It's been the team's achilles heel all conference long. Lessen this one to avoid giving easy points after a turnover to the opposition.

To all Magnolia Beverage Masters fans out there, please do support the team on this crucial part of the conference. As I am always saying, we have a good chance of getting another championship. Do you share my opinion? Just leave a comment and thank you for dropping by.
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Source: Philippine Star
Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Kings, Masters seek semis seats


The Sta. Lucia Realtors, who survived two knockout gammes, are confident of rising up to the challenge again, this time against the Barangay Ginebra Kings for a crack at a possible season sweep.

The All-Filipino champions play a third do-or-die gamme in eight days when they tangle with the Kings tonight at the Ynares Center, looking to force a rubber match in their best-of-three Smart PBA Fiesta Conference quarterfinals showdown.

The Realtors overcame the dethroned Alaska Milk Aces and the Talk n Text Phone Pals in two previous knockout tussles.

Joseph Yeo came through with career-high numbers on both gammes and became the recipient of the Smart-Accel Player of the Week honors for the period July 9-13.

But Ginebra sent Sta. Lucia on the brink of elimination again with a come-from-behind 92-90 win at the start of their quarterfinal round duel Sunday at the Astrodome.

Magnolia Beverage Masters also moved within a win of a semis stint as the Beverage Masters whipped the Coca-Cola Tigers, 108-96, in the opener of their own quarterfinal showdown.

Coaches Jong Uichico of Ginebra and Siot Tanquingcen of Magnolia Beverage Masters said they would need to work doubly hard to finish off their respective rivals today.

“Sta. Lucia is a great defensive team that we need to match their intensity. They dominated Gamme One and we just turned things around in the fourth quarter. We have to come out and do a better job if we want the series over Wednesday,” said Uichico.

“In a best-of-three series, winning Gamme One is a big advantage. But it will mean nothing if you’re not able to finish the job. For sure, it won’t be easy,” said Tanquingcen.

Sta. Lucia has proved it’s a team that thrives under pressure, having survived a total of four do-or-die gammes already in the season, counting Gamme Seven in the semifinals and finals of the recent Philippine Cup.

“No one can question the character of the boys. They show the stuff they’re made of when their backs are against the wall,” said Sta. Lucia top official Buddy Encarnado.

Ginebra rode high on clutch plays by Junthy Valenzuela to seize control in the fourth quarter and eventually steal the gamme from Sta. Lucia Sunday. Curiously, Valenzuela struggled early on, going scoreless in the first three quarters.

“He’s a veteran and he’s been there before. We know we can count on him to do things even as he struggles in the early part of a gamme,” said Uichico in lauding Valenzuela after the contest.

Valenzuela and Mark Caguioa have to play extended minutes with Ronald Tubid sustaining a dislocated ankle in the team’s last gamme in the elimination round.

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LORDY TUGADE-LED MAGNOLIA BEVERAGE MASTERS PUTS COKE ON THE BRINK

It's another good basketball gamme of Magnolia Beverage Masters that I missed watching. The good thing is that the team won. I don't have much comments on this so I will just give some insights for the remaining battle(s) of the series.

It's playoffs time, probably the best time that you can see the experience of the team show up against an unexperience team like the Coca-Cola Tigers. The battle will always be defense against defense as what these two teams would normally engage on.

I expect Magnolia to go for the clincher this Wednesday as letting the Tigers recover will be a big mistake. The Tigers will make the necessary adjustments and the two imports will show more aggresiveness. Danny Seigle's injury is not that serious so I expect him to contribute to the team on Wednesday.

The team is on the right track towards getting another championship. Dispatching Coke would setup a semis duel with Air21 Express, which I think we have a good fighting chance.

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Source: Philippine Basketball Association
Sunday, 13 July 2008

TUGADE-LED MAGNOLIA PUTS COKE ON THE BRINK
'Dynamite'-less Beverage Masters a win away from 2nd straight Fiesta Final 4 stint

Magnolia Beverage Masters moved a win away from clinching a semifinal berth in the 2008 Smart PBA Fiesta Conference as it downed Coca-Cola, 108-96, in Gamme 1 of their best-of-three quarterfinal series Sunday night at the Astrodome in Pasay City.

Wingman Lordy Tugade scored 20 points and grabbed a career-best 15 rebounds to lead the Magnolia Beverage Masters against the Tigers, who got sub-par performances from their two imports.

Magnolia Beverage Masters, which lost to eventual champion Alaska in the Final Four of last season’s Fiesta Conference, can arrange a showdown against Air21 in the best-of-seven semifinals with another win in Gamme 2 on Wednesday in Antipolo City.

“In a short series it’s good. But it does not mean anything because we need one more win. We feel good tonight but we have to go back to work tomorrow (in practice),” Magnolia Beverage Masters coach Siot Tanquingcen said.

Protecting a 76-72 lead after three quarters, Magnolia Beverage Masters used a 17-6 run capped by a three-pointer by Tugade for a 93-78 advantage with 6:05 to play. Mike Cortez’ three put the Magnolia Beverage Masters ahead for good, 99-82, 4:37 left.

Tugade started the gamme at the wing spot with Danny Seigle sitting out the gamme because of a mild strain on his quadriceps. He shot 6-of-11 from the field, including 2-of-5 from the three-point area, and made 6-of-10 free throws.

Import Amal McCaskill also had a double-double performance of 20 points and 11 boards. The 7-foot McCaskill also helped in limiting Coke’s import Jason Dixon, who was held to a personal conference-low six points with seven boards. The 6-foot-10 Dixon averaged 22.6 points and 11.7 rebounds in the elimination.

“We tried our best to contain him (Dixon). It’s hard to stop him. But somehow, we played good defense on him and at the same time we caught him on a bad night,” Tanquingcen said.

The Tigers mew second reinforcement Brandon Dean, their fourth after Calvin Cage, Gee Gervin and Donald Copeland, also struggled with eight points on 3-of-11 shooting.

But Tanquingcen expects the one-time Arkansas stalwart to play better in Gamme 2. “May advantage and disadvantage bringing in a new import. Nangangapa pa sa system. Pero at the same time kasi coming in to this gamme, hindi rin kilala. I think may ibibigay pa because of his quickness and toughness,” he said.

Cortez came off the bench to contribute 18 points for Magnolia Beverage Masters, while Dondon Hontiveros and Danny Ildefonso added 13 points apiece. Asi Taulava led Coke with 20 points and 12 boards, while Nic Belasco added 17. (WG)

The scores:

Magnolia 108 – McCaskill 20, Tugade 20, Cortez 18, Hontiveros 13, Ildefonso 13, Pingris 8, Bono 7, Pena 6, Racela 3, Villanueva 0, Gonzales 0.

Coca-Cola 96 – Taulava 20, Belasco 17, Buenafe 15, Cabagnot 12, Macapagal 9, Catli 9, Dean 8, Dixon 6, Dimaunahan 0, Misolas 0.

Quarterscores: 30-18; 51-41; 76-72; 108-96

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