Magnolia Beverage Master Faces Alaska Aces For Win # 1

It's interesting to watch the matchup between the basketball players who were involved in the pre-season trades.

Mike Cortez and Ken Bono
vs.
L.A. Tenorio and Larry Fonacier

It will be an exciting ballgame!


-------------------

Hot Red Bull battles TNT; Magnolia Beverage Masters duel Alaska Aces

Source:
By: June Navarro
INQUIRER.NET
April 11, 2008

Red Bull, the surprise of the young Smart PBA Fiesta Cup, shoots for a third straight win and a share of the lead against Talk 'N Text on Friday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

The Barako take on the Phone Pals at 4:50 p.m. with the spotlight on Red Bull's seven-foot import Adam Parada following two explosive performances against Ginebra and Air21.

Magnolia Beverage Masters tries to break into the winner's circle against the Alaska Aces in the mainer at 7:20 p.m.

The Magnolia Beverage Masters seek to bounce back after absorbing bitter setbacks from Purefoods TJ Giants and Sta. Lucia Realty even as the Alaska Aces seek a second victory in three gammes.

Parada, a seven-footer from Mexico, debuted with a 28-point, 21-rebound, 5-block performance in the Bulls' win over Ginebra, and then followed it up with another huge gamme of 28 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocks against Air21.

On Friday, he will take on Aaron McGhee, the first import to arrive here who will try to steer the Phone Pals to back-to-back wins after a lopsided, 36-point (131-95) win over bottom-dweller Welcoat Friday last week.

Meantime, Barangay Ginebra may play all-Filipino when it faces Philippine Cup champion Sta. Lucia on Saturday in an out-of-town gamme in Tacloban City.

The Gin Kings are in the midst of replacing their import Rahshon Turner, who suffered a hamstring injury in their 89-102 loss to the Alaska Aces last Sunday.

The smallest reinforcement in the tournament also was not a factor in Ginebra's first two gammes, only scoring a combined 24 points.

At 0-2 (win-loss), Ginebra is in its worst start since the 2002 Governors' Cup.

Continue reading...

Than's Post Trade Analysis: An Assessment of Magnolia Beverage Masters Recent Trade Deals

As the Fiesta Conference gets near, the Magnolia Beverage Masters engaged in several trade deals that sent some of their stars, notably those who came from Ateneo to other teams in exchange for role players.

Were these good moves by the management? Let our resident Magnolia Beverage Masters insider Than analyze the deals for us.


*************************************************************
Visit the new

San Miguel Beermen website. Click here.

*************************************************************

-------------------
Source: Than of PBA Forum

Coach Siot wanted to add some Role/Defensive players.

Its a "One step backward, Two steps forward" for the team!

You released some star players, but you may play your other star players more & re-establish their feel for the game which was lost last conference.

Lets break it down:
Last conference, because of so many big stars in the team, "nag iinit pa lang" ang isang player, kelanagn mo ng ilabas because you still have some stars you need to give playing time also. Then ganun din ang rotation, "nag iinit palang yung bagong pasok, kelangan mo na ulit ilabas because you have another stars waiting to come in".

Basically, hindi ma maximize yung talent ng alam naman nating very talented players ng team because of so limited playing time na paghahatian pa nila.

Eveybody is a star at their own right. Its hard for the coaching staff to transform them to accept a different roll on what they've been brought about when they entered the PBA.

Only Olsen Racela, Danny Ildefonso & Hontiveros are willing to accept a different roles just to accomodate some of their superstar newcomers.

So, changes have to be made. But owning 3 teams in the league doesnt make changing as easy as anybody thought of.

SMC doesnt act or cannot act solely as independent team. They have to think of their other sister teams first in any trade plans & see how they would help each other by their trade deals.

Usually, they dont want their marquee players to go anywhere other than their sister teams.

Only those less heralded or some whom they thought could be easily replaced where being dealt outside SMC teams.

Now with regards to my opinion on the MBM-Alaska trade, its a good trade for Alaska.

Why, they got young talent who can almost approximate what Cortez does with them. But what a plus factor they acquired in Larry Fonacier! He will be the next important player of Alaska.

As with MBM, nothing! Parang wala lang because LA & Cortez would cancel each other out. Hindi rin kawalan si Larry in a sense that he wasnt a factor naman sa MBM last conference because of minimal playing time brought about by having 2 more players ahead of him in his position.

Ken Bono at first i thought will be insignifacant with this team. But, by dealing Willie Wilson, i think Ken will play more & assume the role of Wilson with the team. Wilson & Bono is like the second coming of what happened to Abuda & Belasco years back.

Bono is an upgrade of Wilson just like Belasco does with Abuda when he came to the team from Pop Cola.

Wilson, with his limited height, playing a power forwards position & trapped in the Small forwards body, cannot really guard an opposing teams top small forwards. He became effective last year on garbage points because opposing teams usually left him open because the concentration of their defense is with the other 4 more heralded superstars of MBM on the floor.

Now, Bono is an upgrade in height & heft. What he must learn is how to defend well on his natural Power Forward position. He can also shoot from the perimeter.

Mike Cortez? Well, i hope he'll do an Asi on this team! What i mean is, when TNT traded Asi, a lot of people thought thats an OK trade because judging from Asi's last playing years with TNT, parang wala na siyang gana! Nag sawa na or complacent na sa laro niya. Wala ng challenge for him. Sometimes change in scenery will change a players motivation!

Thats what i saw on that Asi trade & look how he transformed 100%. Ganadong ganado to prove something!

That is what Cortez should do or will do with his new team! He will prove to everyone that he is great PG as being thought of him when he entered the league!

MBM wants to win now while also looking at the welfare of their sister teams especially PF.

Contrary to what others think, PF had the upper hand on the Enrico trade. Its not just players per players but it also has that plus factor: Marketability!

With the Health Problem of Rommel, SMC sacrificed MBMs supposed to be Danny Ildefonso of the future in Enrico Villanueva just as so not let their other teams left behind this coming conference! Well...it needs to be seen in actual PBA games. SMC just made that move for their other teams but its up to the player & coaching staff to transform that ingredient into Championships!

How many promising young center do we have in the league? You can just count it with 1 hand.

The Tolomia acquisition is like an insurance policy in case either Hontiveros, Tugade or Calaguio got injured. He is a talent waiting to explode. That player doesnt carre on how you will use him.

Just give him instructions & little playing time to show what he can do!Remember Mike Mustre?

Ginebra gained what they lost when Hatfield left! A bruiser & doesnt carre attitude in hustle or defense. He will compliment the style of Ronald Tubid! Of course he cannot duplicate what the Hatman can do every game but at least they got the nearest clone!

While only losing Macapagal whom i think is playing redundant position with Ginebra!

To sum it all, all these trade movements means one thing, the fans will be back in the PBA & excitement is Back!

Continue reading...

Tenorio, Fonacier Traded to Alaska for Mike Cortez, Ken Bono

The much-awaited trade of Larry Fonacier has now materialized. But hold your breath, he's not going to Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants as some of you are expecting. Google searches for "Fonacier to be traded to Purefoods" these past few days landing on this site expected him to be traded to Purefoods. Sorry folks, he's not meant to be in that team.

My comments on the trade:
1. Alaska gets younger with the acquisition of LA and Fonacier.
2. MBM gets an experienced pointguard in Cortez. I wonder why they get Bono.


I suspect he will be traded again to another team in exchange for a defensive player. MBM doesn't need another scorer in Bono.

This seems to be just the first salvo for more trades that will happen in the next few days. As it turns out, the all-star lineup of Magnolia Beverage Masters does not work out well in the defense department placing near the bottom of the 10 PBA teams in the All FIlipino Cup.

Please do check out this site once in a while as more trades seems to be coming in the next few days. Be the first one to scoop for these hot news!

------------------------------------------
Source: alaskaaces.com.ph

The Alaska Aces received a pair of former Ateneo De Manila University Blue Eagles from the Magnolia Beverage Masters in point guard Lewis Alfred (LA) Tenorio and Larry Alexander Fonacier in exchange for Mike Cortez and rookie big man Ken Bono.

The 5-foot-8 Tenorio, 22, played five seasons with Ateneo from where he graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Arts in 2006 and joined the Philippine Basketball Association in the same year as the 4th pick in the Draftt.

The 6-foot-1 Fonacier, 24, was drafted 14th overall by the Red Bull Barakos in the 2005 PBA Draftt but bucked the odds to win the Rookie of the Year award.

The two were members of the Ateneo team which won the championship of the 2002 Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines basketball tournament.

Both Alaska and Magnolia Beverage Masters will benefit from the trade according to Alaska General Manager Joaqui Trillo.

We get a pure point guard in LA (Tenorio), said Trillo. We expect him to excel especially in the triangle offense of coach Tim Cone. Larry (Fonacier) gives us help at the two spot where he will back up Jeff (Cariaso). The two players will definitely help Alaska a lot.

Trillo said the Beverage Masters also got good players in the former Alaska Aces in return.

Of course Mike (Cortez) is also a good player who has played well for Alaska all these years, said Trillo. And Ken (Bono) has the potential to become a star in the PBA. So Magnolia Beverage Masters also gained a lot from this trade. We wish Mike and Ken all the best with their new team.

Tenorio and Fonacier are reunited with their former Ateneo coach Joel Banal who handled the reins of the star-studded 2002 UAAP champion team.

Eight members of the 2002 Ateneo champion team - Enrico Villanueva (Magnolia Beverage Masters), Rich Alvarez (Red Bull), Wesley Gonzales (Magnolia Beverage Masters), Paolo Bugia (Red Bull), JC Intal (Air21), Doug Kramer (Air21), Tenorio and Fonacier - eventually landed in the PBA.

Tenorio attended high school at San Beda College where he was coached by the venerable Ato Badolato.

Tenorio joined Ateneo in 2001 and made an immediate impact as a rookie leading his team to the finals where they lost to bitter rival De La Salle University. In 2002 the Blue Eagles won the UAAP title. They advanced to the UAAP championship for the third straight year in 2003 but lost to the Far Eastern University Tamaraws.

Continue reading...

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.


*************************************************************
Visit the new

San Miguel Beermen website. Click here.

*************************************************************

--------------------
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!

Continue reading...