The Magnolia Beverage Masters are once again in the winning track. Thanks to the decision of SMC management to replace turnover-prone import Jameel Watkins. Thank you Jameel for your contribution to the team!
I was not able to fully watch the basketball game but based on what the news says, it's rookie guard Jonas Villanueva who provided the big lift. It's very nice to see him started to blossom on the opportunities given to him. New import Amal McCaskill also performed well. He has more to show on the upcoming basketball games.
Playoffs is getting near and hopefully, the Magnolia Beverage Masters peaks at the right time. Is it the start of our team's winning streak? Read on...
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Source: PBA.ph
June 13, 2008
Rookie guard Jonas Villanueva took advantage of Mike Cortez's absence as he fired a career-best 12 points, nine coming in the final frame as he helped Magnolia Beverage Masters beat Philippine Cup champion Sta. Lucia Realty, 80-74, in the Smart-PBA Fiesta Conference Friday night at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
The 6-foot Villanueva, who averaged just 4.4 points in his first nine basketball games this conference, scored five straight points – a three-pointer and a lay-up against the outstretched arms of new SLR import Lee Benson, giving the Beverage Masters a 72-57 lead with 7:04 left in the basketball game.
Another basket by Danny Seigle, who finished with 11 points, put Magnolia Beverage Masters ahead, 74-57, with six minutes to play.
“As much as possible, every young guy wants to get (playing) minutes,” Magnolia Beverage Masters head coach Siot Tanquingcen said of Villanueva, the team's ninth overall pick in the PBA Rookie Draft last August.
“Jonas is our up and coming point guard. He is learning from two very good point guards (Mike Cortez and Olsen Racela), but the good thing about him is he can move up to shooting guard. It speaks well of his talent,” he added.
Villanueva, a nephew of Jesus Is Lord (JIL) leader Bro. Eddie Villanueva, also came off the bench to collect four rebounds and four assists. In nine previous basketball games he played, the one-time Far Eastern University stalwart averaged just 12 minutes as the third point guard Cortez, sidelined due back spasms and the veteran Racela. He played 19 minutes against SLR.
“I know I have to wait for my time, and in this basketball game kailangan tumulong,” said Villanueva, 25, whose previous high was 11 points in against Red Bull last Sunday, making it the second straight basketball game he reset his career-high in scoring.
The Beverage Masters improved their record to 8-7, while dealing the Realtors their fourth straight defeat to drop to 6-8. It also avenged an 86-88 defeat to Sta. Lucia in their first round meeting last April 6.
Magnolia Beverage Masters' new import Amal McCaskill, an NBA veteran who replaced Jameel Watkins, finished with 16 points and 18 rebounds.
“I’m satisfied,” Tanquingcen said. “Amal somehow gave us what we expected from him.”
“The main thing we’re concerned is we can’t relax, we have to make sure that we build on it. It’s either we end up in the semis, or quarters or wildcard,” Tanquingcen.
Dorian Pena split his free throws and Don-Don Hontiveros, who had 12 points in his first basketball game back after missing their last three because of a severe ankle sprain, nailed a jumper for a 78-67 lead when Sta. Lucia moved within nine, 67-76.
Benson, the Realtors’ third import after Wesley Wilson and Jamar Brown, had 19 points and 17 boards, while Kelly Williams added 16 and 12 boards. Nelbert Omolon came off the bench to contribute 11.
Sta. Lucia, which was held to its lowest output this season, played without Joseph Yeo and rookie Philip Butel, who were reportedly suspended for the basketball game by team officials for figuring in a fight with each other during a team practice last Monday. (WG)
The scores:
Magnolia 80 -- McCaskill 16, Hontiveros 14, Villanueva 12, Seigle 11, Pena 9, Pingris 7, Ildefonso 6, Tugade 5, Racela 0.
Sta. Lucia 74 -- Benson 19, Williams 16, Omolon 11, Espino 8, Mendoza 8, Miranda 6, Reyes 2, Aquino 2, Gonzales 2, Coronel 0.
Quarterscores: 20-16, 37-37, 60-51, 80-74.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
JONAS VILLANUEVA STEALS LIMELIGHT FROM NEW IMPORTS: Villanueva-led Magnolia Beverage Masters shackle Sta. Lucia Realtors
Monday, April 7, 2008
STA. LUCIA JOINS RED BULL, COKE ON TOP: Magnolia Beverage Masters tumbles to 0-2 on woeful FT shooting
It could have been a won ballgame...
...if not for the bricks that the team threw at the free-throw line.
Sta. Lucia Realty escaped with a two-point win against the Magnolia Beverage Masters who managed to keep the ballgame close but lost too many points with their misses in the 15-foot line.
Better spend more time shooting free throws during practice.
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STA. LUCIA JOINS RED BULL, COKE ON TOP: Magnolia Beverage Masters tumbles to 0-2 on woeful FT shooting
Source: PBA.ph
Sunday, 06 April 2008
ANTIPOLO City – The Magnolia Beverage Masters may have to devote more of their time practicing their free throw shooting.
Betrayed by their woeful stint from the foul line Sunday night, the Beverage Masters lost for the second straight time in the 2008 Smart-PBA Fiesta Cup, falling prey to the Sta. Lucia Realtors, 88-86, in a wild-and-wooly gamme at the Ynares Center here.
The Beverage Masters shot a woeful 45 percent from the 15-foot line (16-of-38) that made the big difference in a contest that wasn’t decided until the final buzzer.
Import Jameel Watkins and Danny Seigle finished with 20 and 19 points respectively, for Magnolia Beverage Masters but was a combined 9-of-25 from the free throw line.
The most crucial of those misses came in the last 16 seconds when Seigle bungled the back end of his two free throws and Magnolia Beverage Masters trailing, 86-87.
Coming at the heels of their 126-127 double overtime loss to Purefoods, the Beverage Masters are now 0-2, tied with Welcoat at the cellar.
The loss sent the Beverage Masters reeling down the cellar in a tie with Welcoat at 0-2, a stunning development early into the import-laden conference to a team sees by many as a major title threat.
In contrast, Sta. Lucia rolled off to its second straight win in as many gammes to join Red Bull and Coca-Cola at the top.
Counting their victory in the decisive Gamme 7 of the Finals, the Realtors have now won all of their last three matches.
Wesley Wilson was again a towering presence for Sta. Lucia in the middle with 20 points and was complemented by the team-high 20 of leading Most Valuable Player contender Kelly Williams.
Rookie Ryan Reyes added 14, including a free throw with 7 seconds left that proved to be the marginal basket, 88-87.
Magnolia Beverage Masters still has a chance to win the gamme, but Lordy Tugade’s three-pointer in the waning seconds missed its mark.
A tentative start had the Beverage Masters trailing by 17, 20-3, with seven minutes gone by in the gamme.
But soon after Seigle waxed hot, Magnolia Beverage Masters was back into the gamme, even grabbing a 29-28 lead early into the second quarter.
They wouldn’t take the upperhand again until middle of the payoff period, 74-73, plus free throws and balll possession following a flagrant foul committed by Nelbert Omolon on Seigle. Unfortunately, Seigle failed to capitalize as he missed his foul shots.
The scores
Sta. Lucia Realtors (88) – Williams 27, Wilson 20, Reyes 14, Aquino 8, Yeo 7, Miranda 3, Daa 2, Omolon 0, Espino 0, Gonzales 0.
Magnolia Beverage Masters (86) – Watkins 20, Seigle 19, Cortez 16, Pingris 8, Racela 6, Hontiveros 6, Ildefonso 5, Tugade 2, Pena 2, Calaguio 0.
Quarterscores: 28-24; 48-42; 68-67; 88-86
Sunday, April 6, 2008
BallGame Updates: Magnolia Beverage Masters vs. Sta. Lucia (1st Round)
Starting Five:
MBM
Mike Cortez
Chris Calaguio
Lordy Tugade
Danny Ildefonso
Jameel Watkins
SLR
Denok Miranda
Ryan Reyes
Marlou Aquino
Kelly Williams
Wesley Wilson
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First Quarter:
10:23
MBM - 1
SLR - 8
Reyes drive - 2
Watkins FT - 1/2
Wilson jump shot - 2
Williams jump shot -2
Reyes jump shot -2
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8:00
MBM - 3
SLR - 16
Watkins drive -2
Marlou hook - 2
Wilson jump shot -2
Wilson FT - 2/2
Wilson FB - 2
MBM in big hole.
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2:40
MBM - 17
SLR - 22
KW - 2
Marlou Jshot -2
Tugade FB -2
KW FT -1/2
Pingris drive - 2
Watkins hook - 2
Wilson FT - 1/2
DS drive, goal tending - 2
Cortez - 3
Cortez - 3
Magnolia Beverage Masters on a roll, Cortez hot on 3-point range
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End of first quarter
MBM - 24
SLR - 28
Watkin alley hoop - 2
Espino 3rd personal foul
Pingris FT - 1/2
DS jshot -2
KW alley hoop - 2
Reyes FT - 2/2
DS drive - 2
Daa buzzer beater- 2
Magnolia Beverage Masters are back in the ballgame after being down with 17 points.
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Second Quarter:
5:29
MBM - 34
SLR - 39
DH jshot -2
Pingris FT - 1/2
Racela FB -2
Aquino Jshot -2
Technical foul, coach ST
Mendoza FT - 1/1
KW - 3
DS - 2
KW alley hoop - 2
Watkins - 2
Mendoza - 3
Watkins FT - 0/2
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1:48
MBM - 40
SLR - 43
Yeo FT - 2/2
Watkins FT - 2/2
KW jshot -2
Watkins - 2
Cortez - 2
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End of second quarter
MBM - 42
SLR - 48
Reyes - 3
Cortez - 2
Wilson - 2
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Half-Time Report:
Half-time Score:
MBM - 42
SLR - 48
Magnolia Beverage Masters came back from a 17-point lead by SLR
lead by Mike Cortez who converts 2 consecutive threes.
Leading Scorer
MBM
Watkins - 12
Cortez - 10
Seigle - 8
SLR
KW -14
Wilson - 11
Reyes - 9
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Third Quarter:
6:04
MBM - 55
SLR - 60
DS - 2
KW FT - 2/2
Pingris -2
Miranda - 3
Cortez - 2
Watkins blocked Omolon
DS FT - 1/2
KW FT - 1/2
DH FT - 2/2
Wilson 3rd personal foul
Watkins FT - 2/2
KW - 3
Watkins - 2
Yeo -3
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3:25
MBM - 57
SLR - 64
Watkins FT - 0/2
Boyet Fernandez Technical Foul
DS Technical FT - 0/1
DH - 2
Wilson -2
Wilson -2
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2:05
MBM - 61
SLR - 66
DS - 2
Reyes - 2
DS - 2
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End of 3rd Quarter
MBM - 67
SLR - 68
Watkins FT - 0/2
Reyes FB - 2
Racela - 3
Racela - 3
Racela's back-to-back three point shots get Magnolia Beverage Masters closer to 1 point.
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Fourth Quarter:
7:59
MBM - 74
SLR - 73
Aquino -2
DI - 2
Mendoza - 3
DS - 2
DP - 2
Flagrant foul penalty 1, Omolon
DS Technical FT - 1/2
Omolon 6 fouls, fouled out of the ballgame, 0 points
Magnolia Beverage Masters got back the lead.
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4:22
MBM - 77
SLR - 78
DI FT - 0/2
DI FT - 1/2
KW - 2
Marlou got his 5th personal foul from the driving Watkins
Watkins FT - 0/2
Pingris - 4th personal foul
KW FT - 1/2
Cortez - 2/2
KW alley hoop (3rd) - 2
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1:24
MBM - 83
SLR - 87
KW FT - 2/2
Pingris - 2
Wilson FT - 1/2
Cortez - 2
Yeo - 2
Wilson FT - 2/2
Watkins slam - 2
Wilson FT - 1/2
Wilson FT - 1/2
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0:25
MBM - 85
SLR - 87
Watkins 3-point play
Watkins FT - 0/1
DH FT - 0/2
Magnolia Beverage Masters players missing badly in the free throw line.
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End of Fourth Quarter
MBM - 86
SLR - 88
DS FT - 1/2
Reyes - 1/2
Lordy Tugade missed a ballgame winning 3 point shot.
Magnolia Beverage Masters absorbed another close ballgame loss mainly because of their awful free throw shooting.
Best Player of the Ballgame
Kelly Williams:
27 Points
10 Rebounds
2 Steals
Magnolia Beverage Masters Test Sta. Lucia's Mettle
It's Magnolia Beverage Masters vs. All-Filipino Cup champions Sta. Lucia Realty.
The team will have its hands full as the realtors are backed by big and reliable import in Wesley Wilson. It will be an interesting matchup between Jameel Watkins and Wesley Wilson who will both man the post.
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Magnolia Beverage Masters Test Sta. Lucia's Mettle
Source: Manila Bulletin Online
By WAYLON GALVEZ
04/06/2008
Realtors Eye Second Win
Philippine Cup champion Sta. Lucia Realty guns for its second straight win today when it battles Magnolia Beverage Masters in the Smart-PBA Fiesta Cup at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.
The Realtors collide with the Magnolia Beverage Masters at 6:50 p.m., after the defending champion Alaska Aces and the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings clash at 4:30 p.m.
Sta. Lucia, which captured the all-Filipino title last month, is fresh from a 93-86 win over Alaska which saw 6-foot-11 import Wesley Wilson collect 24 points, grab 13 rebounds aand swat six shots before finishing with 10 turnovers.
The Realtors will face a team eager to bounce back from a heartbreaking 126-127 double overtime loss to sister team Purefoods TJ Hotdogs.
Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez considers Magnolia Beverage Masters as one of the strong contenders this conference — with its deep roster and talented import in 6-foot-11 Jameel Watkins.
"Magnolia Beverage Masters is one of the teams to beat in this conference. They have a strong line-up and with Mike Cortez around, their point guard rotation is more stable in terms of experience," Fernandez, referring to Magnolia Beverage Masters midseason acquisition of Mike Cortez and Ken Bono from Alaska for LA Tenorio and Larry Fonacier, said.
"The last time we had a tune-up gamme versus Magnolia Beverage Masters we were blown out. So now we know what are our mistakes," he added.
However, as far as Magnolia Beverage Masters mentor Siot Tanquingcen is concerned, there’s no question that the Realtors are the tournament favorites.
"They (Realtor) are the all-Filipino champion and now they added another inside threat in Wilson. They are really tough and to beat them, we need to play tough as well and smart basketball in executing our gamme plan."
Except for the 10 turnovers, Wilson, who played for Shell in this same conference four years ago, did well in leading the Realtors together with Philippine Cup Best Player of the Conference winner Kelly Williams and Joseph Yeo.
Fernandez said that the former Georgetown University stalwart is adjusting to the system. Together with his mainstays, his team is getting into "gamme shape".
"Wesley and the local crew is slowly but surely getting in shape," the 36year-old Fernandez said.
The onetime PBA playmaker Fernandez is also excited to see the battle between Wilson and Watkins, who are former Hoyas teammates under revered coach John Thompson, saying: "It’s going to be an interesting match between ex-teammates."
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
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)
