Chris Pacana

by Waylon Galvez

Both coaches – Jong Uichico of Barangay Ginebra and Bo Perasol of Air21 – consider Game 1 of the Smart-PBA Fiesta Cup Finals as crucial, a gauge on how the best-of-seven series would develop.

The Kings and the Express, of course, are eyeing a strong start and action, as predicted, will be fast-paced with the two contending teams relying on their run-and-gun attack.

How they would start depend on their respective starting units.

During the elimination phase, Ginebra and Air21 experimented with their starting fives, and during the course of their campaigns until the semifinal round both teams found the right formula.

A strong start–more or less–translates to a win and draw first blood in this championship showdown that is why having a solid "starters" is very important for Uichico and Perasol.

Here is a close look on the possible starting units of both teams and who will come off the bench:

Point Guard

Chris Pacana (Ginebra)

Elimination: 10.1 mins, 1.3 pts, 2.1 rbs, 0.9 assts, 0.5 stls, 0.0 blks

Semifinals: 16.3 mins, 3.8 pts, 2.8 rbs, 1.5 assts, 0.0 stls, 0.0 blks

Wynne Arboleda (Air21)

Elimination: 32.8 mins, 10.6 pts, 4.1 rbs, 4.3 assts, 1.6 stls, 0.2 blks

Semifinals: 35.8 mins, 9.3 pts, 3.8 rbs, 5.7 assts, 1.7 stls, 0.0 blks

This match up, man-for-man, is actually a no-contest. Arboleda is in his eighth year in the league while Pacana is only a sophomore. But putting Pacana as starter helped Uichico with his backcourt rotation. Paul Artadi comes off the bench to give the Kings the spark. The third man on this rotation is rookie Macky Escalona. Helterbrand can actually play point during crucial times when he plays alongside Mark Caguioa and Valenzuela. Arboleda, of course, has been Perasol’s top playmaker with the likes of rookie Marvin Cruz and veteran Egay Billones playing back-up roles. This position has been the strength of Ginebra in its 12-game winning streak.

Advantage: Ginebra

Shooting Guard

Jayjay Helterbrand (Ginebra)

Elimination: 37.2 mins, 19.0 pts, 4.1 rbs, 6.1 assts, 1.0 stls, 0.0 blks

Semifinals: 33.0 mins, 18.3 pts, 3.8 rbs, 8.0 assts, 0.3 stls, 0.0 blks

Gary David (Air21)

Elimination: 24.8 mins, 14.1 pts, 1.9 rbs, 1.3 assts, 0.4 stls, 0.0 blks

Semifinals: 34.2 mins, 20.7 pts, 3.3 rbs, 1.8 assts, 0.5 stls, 0.0 blks

It’s a battle between a multi-faceted guard in Helterbrand against one of the rising sharpshooters in the league in David. Helterbrand, of course, has the experience playing in big stage like this, but David has shown during the course of Air21’s campaign this conference that he has the ability to compete against the best. Helterbrand share minutes with Caguioa, or jump to the point guard spot and allow his buddy to stay in the game and terrorize the offense with his scoring ability. Valenzuela is another player who can play the position. As for the Express, they enjoy the height advantage in this spot with players like Arwind Santos, an MVP contender, Nino Canaleta and rookie JC Intal providing support to counter the Kings’ quickness.

Advantage: Even

Small Forward

Junthy Valenzuela (Ginebra)

Elimination: 29.7 mins, 8.7 pts, 3.4 rbs, 3.1 assts, 0.7 stls, 0.3 blks

Semifinals: 28.0 mins, 9.3 pts, 6.0 rbs, 1.0 assts, 1.8 stls, 0.3 blks

Ranidel de Ocampo (Air21)

Elimination: 32.9 mins, 10.8 pts, 5.4 rbs, 2.8 assts, 0.4 stls, 0.2 blks

Semifinals: 34.2 mins, 13.2 pts, 7.8 rbs, 1.7 assts, 0.5 stls, 0.5 blks

It’s actually a mismatch between the 6-foot-2 Valenzuela against the 6-foot-6 De Ocampo. But an eighth-year veteran like Valenzuela knows how to work his way around the perimeter even during his days with Red Bull. Traded to the Kings early in the conference, his addition gave Uichico’s wingman rotation versatility with Sunday Salvacion. Ronald Tubid could have been another contributor but he’s still recovering from an ankle injury. Again for the Express, from big, they can play small with this position but still keep pace with the Kings by tapping off the bench Santos, Canaleta, Intal and Gaby Espinas.

Advantage: Air21

Power Forward

Billy Mamaril (Ginebra)

Elimination: 21.8 mins, 4.6 pts, 4.0 rbs, 0.6 assts, 0.3 stls, 0.7 blks

Semifinals: 11.3 mins, 2.3 pts, 2.5 rbs, 0.8 assts, 0.5 stls, 0.3 blks

Homer Se (Air21)

Elimination: 21.8 mins, 8.1 pts, 6.8 rbs, 1.1 assts, 0.6 stls, 0.6 blks

Semifinals: 27.3 mins, 13.8 pts, 6.8 rbs, 1.3 assts, 0.3 stls, 0.5 blks

Se has proved his detractors this conference about his basketball skills. Although there were times he was labeled as a troublemaker, Perasol has been successful in developing the one-time San Sebastian stalwart as one of his team’s assets. However, Se, and those who will come off the bench like Earvin Sotto and Espinas, will have to deal with players who have championship experience like Billy Mamaril, one-time MVP Eric Menk, Rafi Reavis and Alex Crisano.

Advantage: Ginebra

Center

Chris Alexander (Ginebra)

Elimination: 42.3 mins, 20.5 pts, 22.5 rbs, 2.2 assts, 0.5 stls, 3.0 blks

Semifinals: 40.5 mins, 15.5 pts, 17.5 rbs, 2.3 assts, 0.3 stls, 4.0 blks

Steven Thomas (Air21)

Elimination: 41.6 mins, 23.4 pts, 16.6 rbs, 3.9 assts, 0.8 stls, 1.6 blks

Semifinals: 40.8 mins, 13.0 pts, 15.0 rbs, 3.2 assts, 1.6 stls, 2.0 blks

Since Alexander’s arrival, Ginebra has improved to 16-3 highlighted by a franchise-best 12-game winning streak. He has 20-20 outputs during the elimination round with 20.5 points and a league-best 22.5 rebound. Alexander also owns the league-best 3.0 shot blocks per game average. Although his numbers dipped a bit in the semifinals, he was able to contain fellow 7-footer Aam Parada of Red Bull. Now Alexander will face a smaller but hardworking Air21 import in 6-foot-8 Steven Thomas. It’s going to be a test for both players, particularly for Thomas as he is expected to limit the production of Alexander. The fact that both imports have been successful is leading their respective teams to the Finals that it’s going to be an exciting battle between two reinforcements contending for the Best Import award.

Advantage: Ginebra

Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/SPRT20080806131747.html

by john geoffrey dacanay

It was a night of upsets and career games. Ex-Ginebra forward Allan Salangsang scored all but two of his career-high 16 points in the fourth quarter to key the Coca Cola Tigers' breakaway over the defending All-Filipino champs Purefoods Chunkee Giants, 92-77, in the 2006 PBA-Talk N Text Philippine Cup eliminations at the Araneta Coliseum. Aside from Salangsang, the Tigers also drew some strong games from Jason Misolas (14 points and 10 boards) and rookie Joseph Yeo (13 points), both career-highs.

Chris Pacana had another brilliant game for the Tigers contributing 8 points and 5 assists as a backup to starter Denok Miranda. The Tigers have now won back-to-back games after losing their first two games of the season. The loss spoiled the career-high 18 points of Purefoods' mercurial point guard Paul Artadi. Artadi also grabbed 5 boards, dished off 5 assists and stole twice.

The Tigers led by as much as 14 points in the first half but couldn't pull away from its visibly out-of-sync opponent. The Chunkee Giants finally found its rhythm in the third quarter to pull even at 49-all but a blistering 13-4 run by the Tigers at the end of the third quarter took the starch out of the Giants.

Ali Peek paced the Tigers with 19 points, 8 of those in the fourth quarter to keep Purefoods at bay. Peek also grabbed 8 boards. John Arigo was not able to finish the game after suffering from cramps in the third quarter and wound up with only 8 points, the lowest in the tournament so far for the league's leading scorer (25.7 ppg).

Kerby Raymundo backstopped Artadi with 15 points. Peter June Simon had another great game, finishing with 14 points for the Giants who played without Jun Limpot and Jondan Salvador. 2006 PBA MVP James Yap struggled all game long and could only chip in 10 points. The loss was the Giants third in four games.

In the nightcap, the Air21 Express leaned on the career games of Ranidel de Ocampo, Gary David and Wynne Arboleda to deal the Talk N Text Phonepals its first loss of the season, 127-110, thereby arresting also its three-game losing skid.

Ranidel de Ocampo and Gary David exploded for a career-high 33 and 30 points, respectively, including a combined 24-point output in the fourth quarter to blow the game wide open. Express point guard Wynne Arboleda dished off a career-best 18 assists. Super rookie Arwind Santos only had 12 points but had two emphatic blocks on Asi Taulava. The Express continued to miss the high-flying Nino Canaleta who suffered a broken nose two games ago.

The Phonepals were led by Taulava's 21 points and Don Allado's 18 points. Fil-Am Anthony Washington couldn't get his game going and contributed only a listless 5 point-effort. The loss leaves the Sta. Lucia Realtors as the only unbeaten team in the tourney.

First Game:
Coca-Cola 92 = Peek 19, Salangsang 16, Misolas 14, Yeo 13, Pacana 8, Miranda 8, Arigo 8, Gavino 2, Caceres 2, Raneses 2, Ferreria 0, Antonio 0.
Purefoods 77 = Artadi 18, Raymundo 15, Simon 14, Yap J. 10, Pingris 7, Yee 4, Castillo 4, Bautista 3, Yap R. 2, Evangelista 0.
Quarterscores: 19-19, 41-38, 62-53, 92-77

Second Game:
Air21 127 = de Ocampo R. 33, David 30, de Ocampo Y. 13, Santos 12, Tubid 10, Telan 9, Arboleda 9, Avenido 7, Se 4, Sotto 0, Dimaunahan 0.
Talk n Text 110 = Taulava 21, Allado 18, Ritualo 15, Alapag 13, Carey 12, Cardona 8, Belano 8, Pablo 6, Washington 5, Andaya 4, Fran 0.
Quarterscores: 29-26, 60-all, 91-85, 127-110