It could have been hard for us fans not to see Chris Pacana on the hardcourt for the longest time now. If it saddens us, I believe it is breaking Chris' heart. But with Chris' perseverance coupled with our prayers, our Lord blessed him another shot at the hardcourt.
Yes, Chris will be suiting up as a Kuala Lumpur Dragons in the Asian Basketball League. Here's an article about the GOOD NEWS:
Source: In The Zone
Kuala Lumpur Dragons' Ariel Vanguardia's US scouting trip
By: RICK OLIVARES
What’s in the life of a Filipino coaching abroad? For Ariel Vanguardia who was head coach for the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers and an assistant in Talk ‘N Text and Barako Bull, it’s an opportunity to get around and go up.
Now he does get around as coach for the Kuala Lumpur Dragons for they play in the domestic league, in tournaments in Indonesia, as well as the Asean Basketball League.
In an effort to beef up the Dragons for the coming ABL tournament, Vanguardia went to the United States recently to scout some American basketball players to augment his squad. He also convinced former PBA player Nic Belasco to give it one more go alongside Chris Pacana who last played for Meralco in the local pro league.
Vanguardia was also able to attend a coaches’ clinic conducted by Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari. He was also one of three coaches allowed to watch a closed door practice and a scrimmage by the Wildcats. Vanguardia also went to Stanford, where he was welcomed by former Duke Blue Devil and Philadelphia 76er Johnny Dawkins who is now coach of the Cardinals. His last two coaching stops were at Cal Berkley where he was a guest of coach Jeff Montgomery, the son of Golden State Warriors coach Mike Montgomery and in Fordham.
I met up with coach, who became a friend while I covered the Heavy Bombers first in the PCCL and after that in the NCAA, last Sunday night while watching the PBA. Vanguardia says that the trip was an enriching one and he hopes that it his recruits and his learnings will help him in his craft and pursuit to deliver a title to the Dragons.
Once a Baller, Always a Baller
Read User's Comments(0)
Chris Pacana Really Has Reputable Basketball History
Oh well, could this be enough proof that Chris does have reputable basketball history? Aside from being an MVP he had played and worked with a number of well-known basketball personalities. One of which is a reigning NBA Champion from the Dallas Mavericks, Tyson Chandler. Hey Chris, if you have a picture playing with or against him, care to share?
Last August 4, 2011, he had been reunited after ten (10) years with now Miami Heat Assistant Coach Chad Kammerer.
Photo Credits: Istib Lopez
By the way, don't forget to include him in your prayers. Let us all hope that he could land a next season. How about BMEG? *wink*
Meralco Posts First Two-game Win Streak with Victory Over Air21
Source : In The Zone
Date : November 14, 2010
By: Rick Olivares
The Meralco Bolts got a huge mega-watt charge with the return of Mac Cardona into action after being out for two weeks with an ankle injury.
Cardona scored 23 points including seven big ones in the final 90 seconds of play to outlast hardluck Air21 Express 95-93. The former La Salle Green Archer hit a triple from the top of the arc that gave Meralco the lead for good 92-91 with 1:04 left. He followed that with a fade away jumper over the outstretched arms of Ronjay Buenafe 81 seconds later to give his squad some breathing room at 94-91.
Buenafe atoned for a missed three-point attempt by picking Cardona’s pocket for a lay-up with 15 seconds left. Rookie Hans Thiele added the marginal point as Air21 was unable to get a good shot off with Buenafe well guarded from the three-point line.
The win gave the Bolts their first-ever two-game win streak in league history (they beat Alaska 83-71 in Victorias City, Negros Occidental last November 6) and a 4-5 record to move from out of the bottom into the middle of the pack.
“That’s how big that win was,” said victorious coach Ryan Gregorio. “One win and you’re in the middle of the pack. One loss and you’re in the cellar. That’s how competitive it is this Philippine Cup.”
It wasn’t only the return of Cardona that boosted Meralco. Gregorio also attributes the acquisition of forward Thiele from Barako Bull as a big pick up for them for the former University of the East Red Warrior’s ability to hit the outside shot and his penchant for hauling down those rebounds. “That’s something we need since we don’t have Asi Taulava (who is at the moment with Smart Gilas in the ongoing Asian Games in Guangzhou, China).”
The two-game win streak also coincides with the addition of Thiele and the call up of Chris Pacana who was on the reserve list. Thiele added 16 points in Meralco’s winning cause over Air21 on top of six boards. Since his arrival, the 6’5” forward has averaged 14.0 points and 7.0 rebounds for Gregorio.
Pacana has added some backcourt depth to Meralco and scoring sock. The former St. Francis of Assisi Dove who was born in California, USA, tallied eight points, two rebounds, and four assists.
“I think our defense is getting better.” explained Gregorio. “It’s a part of our growth as a team.”
Cardona seemed a little tuckered at certain points of the game but he was just glad to be able to contribute. “Okay naman makapag-contribute ng ganito na kababalik lang. Makakatulong yan sa confidence ko.” Entering the match, Cardona was the sixth leading scorer in the Philippine Cup with a 16.8-point average.
Air21 rookie Rabeh Al-Hussaini kept his team in the game with 20 points and seven rebounds. His missed shot preceded Cardona’s triple that gave Meralco the lead.
Boxscores:
Meralco 95 – Cardona 23, Thiele 16, Gamalinda 9, Ross 9, Espinas 9, Pacana 8, Aquino 8, Weinstein 5, Omolon 4, Menor 2, Belga 2
Air21 93 – Al-Hussaini 20, Buenafe 17, Quiñahan 15, Matias 11, Urbiztondo 7, Baclao 6, Najorda 6, Gonzales 2, Sharma 3, Arboleda 2, Guevarra 0, Arellano 0, Rodriguez 0
Kings repulse Aces
I got no updates about Chris Pacana, so allow me to share with you an old article mentioning his A+ basketball skills. For a chronological listing of articles, visit the Articles section of this blogsite.
Date: October 30, 2006
Byline: Noli Cruz
THE ARANETA Coliseum resembled a graveyard in the first half as the Alaska Aces dominated the Barangay Ginebra Kings.
Mark Caguioa and Mark Macapagal turned it into party place in the second half as the Kings rallied for a 98-91 win last night in the Talk 'N Text PBA Philippine Cup.
Caguioa sparked the turnaround by pumping in 14 of his 27 points in the third period while Macapagal delivered the killing blows with 17 of his career-high 28 points coming in the fourth.
The Kings improved to 5-2, next only to the league-leading 5-1 card of the Sta. Lucia Realtors.
Macapagal's three-pointer early in the fourth handed the Kings the lead, 70-68.
Another Macapagal triple midway in the period pushed the lead to 81-70.
The Aces, who led 33-18 at one point, offered token resistance from there.
It was their fifth straight loss and sixth in seven games overall.
Meanwhile, Chris Pacana and Allan Salangsang capped their career norms with critical hits to shove the Coca-Cola Tigers past the Welcoat Dragons, 92-86.
Pacana, a rookie nobody thought would land a spot in a professional ball club, scored 14 of his career-high 18 points in the fourth quarter, including the go-ahead three-point play with 1:54 to play.
A basket by Denok Miranda a sequence later pushed the lead to five, 85-80, but Jercules Tangkay drained a three-pointer to trim the gap to two.
Salangsang, who had 21 points and 10 rebounds, made his fifth trey for an 88-83 lead.
Pacana's basket off a gorgeous spin move sealed their third win in seven games, 18.8 seconds left.
"I told the boys that they all have to step up in this game because we've got three key players missing," Tigers coach Binky Favis said, referring to Ali Peek, William Antonio and Neil Raneses.
Peek had a swelling left knee, Antonio a groin injury and Raneses a family matter to attend to. Favis got a favorable response as all nine players he fielded in scored at least four points.
There was a pair of blowouts on the road Saturday night.
The San Miguel Beermen had seven players in double figures in a 118-102 victory over the Air21 Express at the Subic Gym.
In San Fernando, Pampanga, the Sta. Lucia Realtors improved their league-leading record to 5-1 with 102-90 blasting of the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals at the University of Assumption Gym.
The Tigers were crouching in the early goings, trailing by three at the end of the first three quarters before engaging the Dragons into a fierce endgame battle.
Tangkay led the Dragons with a career-high 25 points. His three free throws with 38 seconds remaining proved to be the last breath from the Dragons, 86-88.
There was a pair of blowouts on the road Saturday night.
The San Miguel Beermen had seven players in double figures in a 118-102 victory over the Air21 Express at the Subic Gym.
Wesley Gonzales and Danny Seigle combined for 27 points in the first half to set the tone and the Beermen led by as many as 25 points in the fourth quarter after a trey by Chris Calaguio, 102-77.
It was the third straight win for the Beermen after dropping their first three. The Express fell to 2-4.
In San Fernando, Pampanga, the Sta. Lucia Realtors improved their league-leading record to 5-1 with 102-90 blasting of the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals at the University of Assumption Gym.
Top overall pick Kelly Williams scored a career-high 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Realtors. Former MVP Kenneth Duremdes added 17.
COPYRIGHT 2006 Manila Bulletin Publishing Corp.
COPYRIGHT 2009 Gale, Cengage Learning
Outside The Lines
This is a three year old video courtesy of Rafi Reavis. This is dated June 9, 2008 wherein Mike Holper, Jay Jay Helterbrand, Rafi Reavis, Chris Pacana, Alex Cabagnot, and Sherwin is having a blast (lunch) at Robinson's Galleria!
The conversation is not that clear, but you can still understand most of it.
Let's Reminisce
I started following Chris Pacana's PBA career when he was still with the Barangay Ginebra Kings (BGK). Well, August of 2008, BGK were hailed as the 2008 Fiesta Conference Champions. Jay Jay Helterbrand's injury at that time had been a blessing in disguise for Chris and Paul Artadi. They've been given quality time in the hard court to prove themselves and show off their basketball IQ.
The following conference is not that great. He had been sidelined at the bench. Then, the next thing I know, a year after the championship, he had been traded to Sta. Lucia Realtors (SLR). Watching basketball games is not that hype for me anymore. But yes, I still follow his PBA career and would like to know the results, on how he performed and the like. Sadly, he is not given enough minutes.
I become occupied with running and other things that I had been not into PBA that much. SLR become Meralco Bolts to be headed by Coach Ryan Gregorio. With that changes, Chris had been put in the reserved list. And Coach Ryan had been struggling to get a 'W'. But when he reactivated Chris from the reserved list, he immediately get that victory that he longed hoped for.
But I guess it is not yet time for Chris for he is, again, put on the reserve list. And what can you expect? Meralco is at the bottom three of the PBA's current conference. Well Chris, like what Coach Taylor told David in the movie, Facing the Giants,
Your job is to do the best that you can and leave the results up to God.
Chris Pacana in Meralco Bolts' Reserve List
So it's official, Chris Pacana is in the reserve list of Meralco Bolts. *sigh*
I can't believe it. Coach Ryan Gregorio might have done something real bad in his decision-making. What more can I expect, they are in the bottom in the team standing of this conference. He failed to remember that the time he activated Chris last conference, Bolts win one game after the other.
Alright, enough of sour-graping. Let me just share you a picture of Chris the last time I saw him wearing a Meralco Bolts-related uniform.
This picture was taken by a dear friend at SM North EDSA Annex last November 19, 2010. You can also share photos of Chris in his official Facebook Fanpage. *spread the word*
Do continue supporting him through prayers. Soon, he'll get what he deserve.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)