Photo by PBA | Nuki Sabio

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel used a suffocating zone defense to cruise to a surprisingly easy 93-64 victory over the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers on Friday at SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

The Gin Kings pounced on a lackluster effort by the Mixers to tie their Manila Clasico semifinals series in the PLDT Home DSL Philippine Cup at 1-all.

“Adjustment namin defense namin, start namin maganda,” said Ginebra coach Ato Agustin. “We were able to limit their offense (to just) 60-plus.”

Greg Slaughter dominated with 15 of his 21 points in the first half. But it was on the defensive end where Ginebra made hay, springing a 2-3 zone that shackled the San Mig Coffee offense for a 48-32 lead at the half.

Instead of letting up, Ginebra opened the third quarter on fire, scoring the first five points of the second half to open up a 21-point edge. The Gin Kings fended off numerous fightback attempts by San Mig Coffee, led by stars James Yap, Peter June Simon, and Marc Pingris.

The Mixers couldn’t sustain the run with their second unit, allowing the Gin Kings to take a 69-53 lead heading into the fourth period. Ginebra put the final nail on the coffin with an 8-0 run, and nursed the lead the rest of the way.

Slaughter finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Jayjay Helterbrand and Billy Mamaril provided offensive boost off the bench for the Gin Kings, chipping in 11 and 10 points, respectively.

LA Tenorio added 10 points and eight assists for Ginebra, winning his matchup with San Mig Coffee point guard Mark Barroca, who struggled for the second straight game with just seven points on 1-of-6 shooting from the field.

Simon led the Mixers with 16 points, Pingris added 15, while Yap finished with 14.

Game Three is set on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena at 5 p.m. Agustin said he expects San Mig Coffee counterpart Tim Cone to go back to the drawing board.

“San Mig will adjust sa zone defense namin. Kelangan ma-anticipate namin yung gagawin nila,” said Agustin.

The scores:

GINEBRA 93 – Slaughter 21, Helterbrand 11, Tenorio 10, Mamaril 10, Reyes 8, Caguioa 8, Aguilar 7, Monfort 5, Ellis 4, Faundo 4, Baracael 3, Forrester 2, Ababou 0.

SAN MIG SUPER COFFEE 64 – Simon 16, Pingris 15, Yap 14, Barroca 7, De Ocampo 3, Acuna 3, Mallari 3, Devance 2, Cawaling 1, Gaco 0, Sangalang 0, Melton 0, Holstein 0, Reavis 0.

 



 


Source:

http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/ginebra-delivers-29-point-beatdown-of-san-mig-coffee-to-tie-manila-clasico-semifinals

With an eye toward the future, the San Mig Coffee Mixers sent starting point guard Josh Urbiztondo to Barako Bull in exchange for a first round pick next year.

San Mig Coffee team executive Rene Pardo confirmed the news to InterAKTV in a telephone interview.

“We don’t have a first and second round picks next year, so we have to give something to gain something,” said Pardo, who added that it was Barako Bull which initiated the trade.

Barako Bull coach Junel Baculi confirmed that the team asked for Urbiztondo’s services because rookie guard Eman Monfort was injured.

“He dislocated his finger and he will be sidelined for the next three months,” said Baculi.

At Barako Bull, Urbiztondo joins a guard corps that includes veteran Celino Cruz and rookie Lester Alvarez.

Roger Yap, another former guard from the Purefoods franchise, has also been signed by Barako Bull.

The Energy Colas own four first round picks next year, owing to trades the franchise undertook when it was still known as the old Air 21 Express. To sweeten the pot, Barako Bull will give San Mig Coffee the option to pick which of its four first rounders to give in exchange for Urbiztondo.

“We have the option of picking which among the four picks will be given to us,” said Pardo.

With Urbiztondo’s departure, the ballhandling duties for the Mixers will fall on Mark Barroca, Jonas Villanueva, and newly-signed Chris Pacana.

http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/cone-heartbroken-after-mixers-send-urbiztondo-to-barako-for-draft-pick

For two seasons, the B-MEG Llamados brand has been associated with top players James Yap, Marc Pingris, and Peter June Simon.

But beginning the 38th season of the PBA, the Purefoods franchise will be known as the San Mig Coffee Mixers.

Team executive Rene Pardo confirmed the news to InterAKTV.

Like B-MEG, San Mig Coffee is one of the brands under San Miguel Purefoods Company, Inc. which owns the PBA franchise.

The franchise joined the PBA as the Purefoods Hotdogs, and used the squad as a vehicle for promoting different brands, such as hotdogs, noodles, corned beef, and ice cream. The team switched to the name B-MEG midway through the 2009-10 season.

Source: InterAksyon