Chris Pacana

I was there at the Araneta Coliseum last night. After getting disappointed from Purefoods TJ Giant's (PF) loss against the Coca-Cola Tiger's, I hoped for a Sta. Lucia Realtor's (SLR) win against the Burger King Whoppers (BK) in that PBA Freaky Friday.

All throughout the game, SLR dominated the boards; with quarter scores: 25-15, 54-40, 75-63, 101-93. Their main man had been Josh Urbiztondo. He had 24 big points, 4 assists, and 2 steals (I thought he had more than 2 steals). He had a great alley-oop to Kelly Williams that night. I so thought that he shoot the ball, but I was surprised seeing Williams slamming the leather.

Dennis Daa also had a great game. I am seeing a Willie Wilson’s play at him, a high percentage shooter. Well, I got to make fun of him before when he was calling for a time-out while up on air, going out of bounds, during the SLR-PF championship match.

I had cheered for Ardy Larong all-night. He is a former PF, and so I gave him applauses. But, he had committed a number of mistakes on the hard court. Anyhow, I am happy for him being utilized at SLR, and not being spoiled at the bench when he was still with PF. But I remember Williams hitting him at his private part, still during the SLR-PF championship match.

Ryan Reyes is a consistent play maker and top in steals. He is the JayJay Helterbrand of SLR. He had always been helping SLR to win each game. Last night, Urbiztondo had proclaimed himself worthy. It was, indeed, Josh’s night. Winning the game for SLR, 101-93.

Sadly, Chris Pacana failed to deliver last night. Am I an unlucky charm? LOL. I counted his points, a split charity from the line, and 3 missed field goals. He had the moves, the drives, excellent dribbles, but the ball just don’t make it to the goal. But I will never quit cheering for him. I will be patiently waiting for him to make me proud. I know it will come, sooner or later. The 2 Dream League MVP’s already made their marks. HE'S NEXT.

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It was unexpected that I would be able to watch the game LIVE last night; hence, I am unprepared. I don't have camera with me. I only got to use my low quality camera from my cellphone. Please bear with these pictures.

I am posting this late because I had been tired with my second run last Sunday. Nonetheless, better late than never.

I had been sleeping almost all day after the tiring Adidas King of the Road (KOTR) 2009. But I got to wake up just in time for the battle between the Sta. Lucia Realtors (SLR) and Talk N' Text Tropang Texters (TNT). Sadly, SLR falls to TNT, 100-83.

Well, obviously, it was Kelly William's off night. He barely earned a basket. Ending the game with just 9 points. Anyhow, he had 16 big rebounds, 5 of which are offensive. Also, with Ryan Reyes hurting his ankle (?), there had been no offensive threat for the Realtors.

Beyond that loss, I got that smile on my face because Chris Pacana had a great game that night. His first appearance in the game immediately created a play for Dennis Daa courtesy of his behind the back pass. He only got a total of 3 assists. But it is already enough to have one of those as the KFC Delivery Assist of the (4th) Quarter. Jimmy Alapag had been featured for Quarters 1-3, but Pacana grabbed the 4th.

He only got 2 points. Mainly because (I guess) he do not have the license to shoot. Unlike Williams, Reyes, and Joseph Yeo. Most likely, he'll make the shot when necessary (running out of the 24 seconds shot clock), or when it is a sure ball. But his 2 points was a brave drive (a coast to coast) from Williams rebound at the other end to their goal. I am looking forward at seeing a lot of those in the near future.

Mon Oct 26, 2009 (2:09PM ET) by poormanscommish in asianballers, overseas

I actually have to give credit to Dream League friend Dan Rosen, who writes for SLAMonline (e.g., insider article on Kevin Garnett’s knee). He sent me an email the other day about the player in the Philippines Basketball Association (PBA) who punched a fan and was subsequently suspended for the entire season — and the season just started!

Of course, a quick Google on Josh Urbiztondo is always a required exercise everytime I get the occasional news tip on the PBA. After all, he did help my Dream League Bay Area select team win the 2008 Gotham Games tourney in NYC. The tournament was held by Dream League New York and they named Urbiztondo tournament MVP. It was an amazing experience (good and bad!) coaching him.

To my amazement, a quick look at Urbiztondo’s PBA team roster, the Santa Lucia Realtors, revealed that former #3 PBA draft pick Ryan Reyes is on his team too! Why am I amazed? Well, because Reyes was also a one-time Dream League tournament MVP (unfortunately, not for my team!). Specifically, Reyes was the MVP of the 2006 Asian American National Championship held annually in Las Vegas.

But that’s not all!

I easily could’ve missed this, but buried down at uniform #22 on the Realtors’ roster is Chris Pacana! Who’s that? Well, the co-MVP of our 2004 Summer Vegas Tournament, of course! [Note: Our Asian American National Championship didn't happen until 2005.]

I’m so happy I had the time back in the day to write those reports on the Vegas tourney. Props to the DLNY crew for the write-up on Urbiztondo. So, you think you got what it takes to make basketball your profession? Try this on for size…

• Pacana: 34 pts, 9 reb, 4 stl in a 6-point championship loss, playing on a scrap team that doesn’t normally organize for tournaments, against the legendary Filpino Bay Area Heads hoop tourney squad.
• Reyes: 18 pts, 10 reb in a 9-point championship shutdown of legendary Filipino tournament squad, the Stockton Ballers.
• Urbiztondo: 32 pts in a 7-point championship win over the stacked Dream League New York all-star squad, which has been doing some damage out East in 2008-09.

I remember Pacana being about 6′1″, maybe 6′2″ or barely 6′3″ with shoes (he’s listed at 6′1″), and having sick handles. He was a smooth handler, less of an AI-like lateral juke and more like the MJ dip-your-shoulder-and-bye-bye drive. He was left-handed. His outside shot was a little suspect, but man, those moves to the hoop. Pretty.

Reyes was like Billups, but not as buffed (not many people are as buffed as Chauncey, though). Just an incredibly strong guard, tall. Strong bones. He’s 6′2″ and can be listed at 6′3″ (with shoes), which by Asianballer standards, is a big ballhandler. A very deliberate style of play. Nothing terribly fancy, but just very composed, didn’t lose the ball, the kind of guy you just don’t worry about. Very fundamental and athletic, yet not that flashy. Hard to describe.

Conversely, Urbiztondo’s like a flash of lightning. He’s only about 5′9″ although the Sta Lucia roster ridiculously lists him at 6′1″. His heart must beat like a hummingbird. I mean, you just will…not…catch…him. NBA speed. I mean, if he had a bigger frame, holy smokes, he’d be playing in the NBA, I kid you not. Urbiztondo’s outside touch isn’t the prettiest, but it’s getting better and the thing is, he can set up his set shot because he’s got more gears than you. A truly special player in that I can’t even make any NBA comparisons!

It’s really weird. It’s as if the GM of Sta Lucia came and saw all three tournament runs. On one side of the spectrum, you have lightning in a bottle with Urbiztondo. On the other end you have the no-nonsense Reyes. And in between you have the guy who can weave a thread through the defense in Pacana.

Oddly, I’d put them all at point guard as well. To point out the obvious, you could build three different Asian tourney teams around these guys.

I’d pay money to watch them go at it in Sta Lucia practice scrimmages.

My Hate Day of the Month had always been a blessing in disguise for me, at least, when it deals with me watching Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). I could have, once more, missed Chris Pacana's game if not for it.

Well, I guess I have to learn to like Sta. Lucia Realtors (SLR) now that Pacana is in their line-up. I can still clearly remember my post about Sta. Lucia and Their Dirty Defense about their game against my well-loved team, the Purefoods TJ Giants. But I gotta have a change of heart. Likewise, I should temporarily forget the ninja moves of Joseph Yeo against James Yap.

I am happy for Kelly Williams now that he's back in shape. He's not that bad anyway. He is nice in my encounter with him in Hoop for Life. And I'll be now cheering for his dunks, for as long as Pacana is his teammate, he he.

The game versus Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (RoS) was a very close fight. In fact, they were the first game that had to be decided in an Over Time (OT). But let me just voice out that I really don't like Ryan Araña. He is not that good for me. I will always remember his moves that had hurt Pacana and J.Yap. See the thing he had done against Marlou Aquino? That is very likely him.

Dean Quinito Henson mentioned that SLR is the second best defensive team in the last season (I wonder who's the first). With that, I realized that Pacana had landed on the team that he is suitable at. Simply because, he is a great defensive player. I am equally happy for him as with Wiliams for he had been given quality minutes by Coach Boyet Fernandez. I got even glad when he had been called in for the inbound in the 4th quarter, a very crucial inbound that could make or break them.

Hoping to see more of him this season.

Click to enlarge

From PBA Online



Previous Season Game Log

Last Friday is the debut game of Chris Pacana as a Realtor. But unfortunately, I missed the game, I missed him. I am preoccupied making my PowerBuilder application run in Ubuntu (Linux) Environment. And that had been the cost. Not to mention that I had to buy a battery for my cellphone that had been dead since Thursday. Anyhow, I am glad to see his statistics from PBA Online that he had played 13 minutes. Well, it is more than a quarter. Unlike last conference wherein he averaged only 10 minutes or less. I hope he would take advantage with that ample playing time to show his defensive skills. For now, we got to be satisfied with what he had contributed to his new team.

And since I failed to see the game, I am currently downloading it from MixMakers.net. Would likely make a post about it if I got the time.

by Josef Ramos

At long last, the wait is over. Today is the opening of the much awaited PBA's 35th season. So, do save the following dates! I'm sure you won't want to miss a game or two.

Game Date	Venue	Time	Team (Dark)	Team (Light)
Wednesday January 13, 2010	Araneta Coliseum	7:30 PM	Alaska Aces	Sta. Lucia Realtors
Sunday January 17, 2010	Araneta Coliseum	4:00 PM	Sta. Lucia Realtors	Barako Bull Energy Boosters
Friday January 22, 2010	Ynares - Antipolo	7:30 PM	Purefoods TJ Giants	Sta. Lucia Realtors

Source: PBA.PH