PBA: Stormin’ Norman

By WAYLON GALVEZ Manila, Philippines – Even after scoring a convincing 4-0 sweep of the best-of-seven Finals in the PBA Philippine Cup against Rain or Shine, Talk ’N Text head coach Norman Black thinks it’s too early to talk about a second coaching Grand Slam for him. Incoming search terms:Lattest trde humor 2013 may (2)Coach samboy basketball clinic (1)hector calma family... 

Will Fajardo be the next PBA superstar?

By WAYLON GALVEZ Manila, Philippines – MANILA, Philippines — Petron Blaze got what it wanted, and then pulled a minor surprise when it drafted at No. 3 a 6-foot-3 Fil-American, while Chris Tiu, considered a guard with a high basketball IQ, was passed up by five teams before being picked up by recent PBA champion Rain Or Shine at No. 7 during Sunday’s Rookie Draft at Robinson’s... 

Graceful exit

by Tito S. Talao Manila, Philippines – PETRON Blaze coach Ato Agustin is making plans for the future, albeit cautiously. With the 37th PBA season over for the Boosters, Agustin is looking ahead through double vision lens – one extending up to the start of the Philippine Cup which starts this September, the other reaching only as far as the PBA Rookie Draft in August. Incoming... 

Morning after

by TITO S. TALAO Manila, Philippines – THIS is the morning after Game 7 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals, and I dread the thought of the losing coach facing the day, him knowing that he had come within reach of achieving another career milestone only to fall short.  Read More »

PBA semis: Lost in translation

By TITO S. TALAO Manila, Philippines – The demanding PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series, now dragged to a pair of Game Seven matches, is proving to be a bane to men of eloquence, a waterloo of masters of argumentation and debate in the coaching profession. Mentors who have shunned the banal, colorless commentary have now slipped into the lifeless realm of clichés, spewing mundane... 

Petron a win away from PBA finals

MANILA, Philippines — Not even a tear on his right calf could prevent 14-year veteran Danny Ildefonso from delivering another vintage performance. Ildefonso weaved his magic again, hitting a go-ahead jumper that enabled Petron to complete another stirring 85-82 come-from-behind win over Talk ’N Text for a commanding 3-1 lead in their PBA Philippine Cup semifinals series at the Smart-Araneta... 

Alex

by TITO S. TALAO Manila, Philippines – MAYBE I had watched Johnny Abarrientos too ardently in his heyday. But Alex Cabagnot’s demeanor after he made that huge three-point shot which won Game Three for Petron Blaze last Monday reminded me so much of the Flying A. Cabagnot’s reaction? Nothing. Zilch. Except for his roaming eyes which glowered like an owl’s, Cabagnot was stone-cold... 

Cabagnot triple seals Petron miracle

Game Today (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 6:45 p.m. Rain or Shine vs Powerade (Tigers lead series, 2-1) Manila, Philippines – Alex Cabagnot resumed his heroic duties last night as Petron seized the lead in their PBA Philippine Cup semifinals series with Talk N’ Text. The long-haired guard came through with a booming triple in the dying seconds as the Boosters came back from a 20-point... 

PBA: Push now comes to shove

By TITO S. TALAO Texters, Boosters break tie today Game Today (Cuneta Astrodome) 6:45 p.m. ­ Talk `N Text vs Petron Manila, Philippines – Push now comes to shove for Talk `N Text and Petron. With the PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series reduced to a best-of-5, Game Three tonight between the defending champion Tropang Texters and the Blaze Boosters should give the winner momentum... 

PBA Trade Rumors: “BREWING” yet “LOGICAL”

by Brian Yalung Manila, Philippines – For the past weeks, we have been hearing of a blockbuster trade that has been on and off. There were a lot of protagonists in this one but perhaps the most glaring was the rumor about Alaska and Ginebra trading players. The names of Sonny Thoss, Enrico Villanueva and JC Intal are the leading names abuzz and today through Twitter, Atty. Noli...