Chris Pacana

Source : In The Zone
Date : November 14, 2010
By: Rick Olivares

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

Credits: The Visayan Daily Star

A one-point lead, 13-12, by Meralco Bolts against Alaska Aces, in a low-scoring first quarter threatened to disappoint the Negrense crowd that trooped to Victorias City Sports and Amusement Center, Saturday for another out-of-town PBA game.

But coach Ryan Gregorio and the Bolts electrified the crowd and stunned the Aces middle of third quarter to get away with a come-from-behind 83-71 win that made the game one of the classic actions in PBA’s Philippine Cup.

“It’s a monster victory for us. We fought hard, did not give up and were rewarded with our effort,” Gregorio said in the PBA website as he lauded his wards for a good job.

“We dug deep into our hearts and made the impossible possible. Defense was the key and we scored enough to win,” Gregorio said.

Chris Ross provided the spark late in the third quarter as rookie Hans Thiele and Chris Pacana combined forces to erase a 14-point Aces lead in the early quarters.

With Macmac Cardona still nursing an injury, the Bolts kept their focus to deal the Aces their fourth straight victory in the tournament.

Guangzhou Asiad-boudn Asi Taulava provided the bulk for the Bolts, while Beau Belga engaged Aces big men at low post as the Bolts pulled away in the final quarter for their third win in eight games.

Five Meralco players scored in double figure -- Ross 16, Gab Espinas 14, Taulava 12, Thiele 11, Belga 10 -- as the squad displayed an outstanding performance that earned the respect of the basketball-loving Negrenses.

Alaska was led by Joe Devance with 21 points while Sonny Thoss contributed 12 markers. Cyrus Baguio chipped in 10 points for the Aces losing quest as LA Tenorio ended the game with seven points.*NAB

I know everyone's missing Chris Pacana for so long now. To pacify that feeling, I am encouraging you to watch Hoop For Life tonight at Pasig Sports Center, 7-9 in the evening. But the gate will be open by 5PM.


Along with Chris are PBA All-Stars including PBA legend Atoy Co, Kelly Williams, Asi Taulava, Mac Mac Cardona, Jimmy Alapag and Marc Caguoia. It is a charity basketball game for the benefit of the Real LIFE Foundation. There will also be the special appearance by World Boxing Champ Nonito "The FIlipino Flash" Donaire. All proceeds will go toward the construction of the very first Real LIFE Community Center in Pasig. Tickets are only P200 (courtside), P100 (goalpost), and P50 (general patronage).

By: Zean Macamay

WHICH team now has the best backcourt combination?

If Jay-Jay Helterbrand is healthy, which coach Jong Uichico says that he should by the time the Philippine Cup kicks off on Oct. 4, Ginebra is still right up there. Rain or Shine – which has No. 1 draft pick Gabe Norwood and burly Solomon Mercado — looks promising, but untested.

And don’t forget Talk ‘N Text, which had just transformed from a near-aging team into one of the youngest after acquiring three new faces from last month’s Draft.

Jason Castro is the man under watch whether what he did in the PBL could be carried onto the PBA as he is now a part of the Phone Pals’ solid backcourt crew, a cast of swift scoring ballhandlers that also include Jimmy Alapag, Mac-Mac Cardona and Ren-Ren Ritualo.

“He can play alongside Jimmy and can also play the point,” said TNT team manager Frankie Lim of Castro, the No. 3 pick. “We’re a faster team right now and we’re more of an exciting team to watch.”

Castro was one of the players Talk ‘N Text snatched from the Aug. 31 Draft along with No. 2 Jared Dillinger, the Fil-German, and Rob Reyes. The Phone Pals also got Pong Escobal of San Beda, but was the only one left out in the contract-signing process.

Castro, Dillinger and Reyes were all given the maximum P8.7 million, three-year pact allowable for rookies.

But there’s no question that Castro is the player everyone wants to succeed in a line-up that’s filled with stars, having been a three-time Most Valuable Player in the PBL and who is fresh from an overseas stint with the Singapore Slingers.

Castro and the two other draft picks Talk ‘N Text’s snatched have just made the Phone Pals’ average age at 26, coming from 31. They traded Jay Washington to San Miguel and then unloaded Khalani Ferreria.

But is youth really the difference?

“I think it’s a good move,” said Lim. “May mga bagong dugo na nadagdag. We’re a younger team right now.”

Castro’s entry into a team that has had disappointing results that past two conferences would surely make Talk ‘N Text’s backcourt cast deeper, but not necessarily the one that could break the grip of Ginebra as the ball club with still the most fearsome cast.

That would, of course, depend on whether Helterbrand, who played only two games in the Fiesta Conference Finals after being named the tournament’s best player, would fully recover.

“He (Helterbrand) should be healthy by then,” said Uichico.

Helterbrand suffered a delicate hamstring injury in Game Two of the Finals against Air21. It did not, however, stop the Gin Kings from collecting their eighth title as Paul Artadi, Ronald Tubid, and Chris Pacana all stepped up in a series that shattered gate attendance counts, with Game Seven drawing more than 22,000 fans.

Chot Reyes, the Talk ‘N Text coach, believes that the team he has right now is competitive.

“Presently, we are competitive,” he said. “But we also have this promise for the future.”

The Phone Pals will be aiming to bounce back from dismal, unmemorable stints. On both tournaments in the 2007-08 season, they failed to make it past the wild card, beginning in the Philippine Cup when they traded ex-franchise player Asi Taulava to Coca-Cola.

They still couldn’t make it into the quaterfinals the following tournament despite tapping Reyes as their new head coach in place of Derrick Pumaren, bowing in the wild card stage topped by Philippine Cup champion Sta. Lucia.

In a related development, Bonbon Custodio, San Miguel’s lone draft choice, was given a two-year deal, according to his manager Danny Espiritu. Details of the pact, such as the amount, were no longer revealed.