Saturday, February 11, 2012

BMEG nips Meralco



    Published on February 10, 2012

B-Meg import Denzel Bowles turned out as good as advertised – at least in his first game in the
local pro league.

The 6-foot-10 European league veteran churned out 27 points and 11 rebounds in a solid PBA debut,
leading the Llamados to a 96-93 win over the Meralco Bolts on opening night of the mid-season
Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday.

He obviously got tired playing 36 minutes but nonetheless played tough and helped the Llamados
through versus Jarrid Famous and his Meralco teammates. 

“A lot of people talk about him (Bowles) for good reason,” said B-Meg coach Tim Cone.

“Denzel played about 24 minutes a game in Lithuania, and he’s now playing 36 minutes a game
here. It will take sometime for him to get used to it. But once he does, he’ll be something
else,” Cone added.

James Yap and the other key B-Meg local players provided the needed support as the Llamados got off
to a winning start following their sorry fold-up in the Philippine Cup.

“It was actually a struggle, but it’s always a struggle in the first game. You’re not clean
with what you do. But it’s good to get the first win under your belt,” said Cone.

The Llamados, topping the Philippine Cup eliminations only to be eliminated by the Powerade Tigers
in the first stage of the playoffs, had a rollercoaster ride, emerging victorious in regaining
control towards the end of the third period.

Bowles, Yap and Josh Urbiztondo stood at the forefront of B-Meg’s bid as they overcame 11-point
deficits in the third period and led by as many as 13 in the fourth.

Urbiztondo set up Bowles for two thunderous jams to highlight their romp.

“Me and Josh have been working on it,” said the B-Meg import after the game.

Bowles went 10-of-17 from the field and 7-of-12 from the stripe to pace the Llamados.

Mac Cardona led all scorers with 32 points while Famous produced 24 points and 15 rebounds for
Meralco.

Prior to the game, Famous worked out with the Bolts for just three days, being a mere replacement to
the injury-hit Jelani McCoy.

New Meralco acquisition Paul Artadi contributed 13 points, three assists and one rebound while Chris
Ross, coming from an injury, finally played extended minutes, chipping in nine rebounds, seven
points and five assists.

Former Ginebra player JC Intal joined Bowles, Yap, Urbiztondo and Joe Devance in the starting lineup
in his B-Meg debut. He scored 10 points though used for only one minute in the second half.

Cardona got away with a perfect shooting with a triple, a charity and six twinners as Meralco took
the half at 46-43.

The Llamados started strong, setting the pace in the first quarter, 33-18, but the Bolts hit their
stride in the second period, outscoring B-Meg, 28-10.

Artadi sparkled in the second quarter with 2-of-3 shooting in both the three-point area and the
two-point zone. The whole Meralco team overwhelmed B-Meg with a 52.4 field-goal shooting in this
period.

The Bolts stretched their lead to 11 early in the third before the Llamados regained their bearing
and moved back on top at 69-68.

Urbiztondo beat the buzzer with a breakaway layup off a steal by PJ Simon as the Llamados led,
73-71, going into the payoff period. (SB)

The scores:

B-MEG 96 - Bowles 27, Yap J. 18, Urbiztondo 10, Intal 10, Simon 10, De Vance 7, Yap R.7, Pingris 5,
Barroca 2, Reavis 0, De Ocampo 0.

MERALCO 93 - Cardona 32, Famous 24, Artadi 13, Ross 7, Borboran 6, Hugnatan 6, Macapagal 3, Espinas
2, Timberlake 0, Taulava 0.

Quarters: 33-18, 43-46, 73-71, 96-93 

MILLER TIME MARKS START OF COMMISSIONER’S CUP


Miller Time came early in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup for the Barako Bull Energy.

Miller “took under his wings” import DerMarr Johnson who debuted for Barako Bull without much
fanfare Friday night, putting up numbers that didn’t bring back memories of great reinforcements
before him but impacted enough in the eyes of head coach Junel Baculi.
“He is what we need, a No. 3 (shooting forward), something we lacked last conference,” Baculi
said.
Drafted sixth overall in 2000 by the former Atlanta Hawks, Johnson shot 1 for 9 from 3-point range
and just had eight rebounds but the figures hardly mattered as Miller unloaded 25 points and the
Energy zapped the Alaska Aces, 98-78, at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The two-time MVP went 2 for 3 from beyond the arc, had six rebounds and two assists in 28 minutes.

“Willie stepped up,” Baculi confirmed. “We have a good import, but he can only be good if our
locals deliver, and tonight they did, including Ronald Tubid.”

Tubid played his first game after getting traded by Barangay Ginebra and added 10 points.

“He contributed a lot with his energy,” said Baculi of Tubid, adding in jest. “Maybe because
he’s now drinking Barako Bull.”

The Aces put up forgettable numbers: 1 of 12 from 3-point territory, 31 of 84 from the field
overall, 15 of 22 from the line, and 22 turnover points yielded through 19 errors.

They were beaten in the perimeter, 56-17, and gave up 70 points on Barako Bull jump shots, 24 of
them open looks.

Baculi didn’t take any credit though.

“It’s too early. Maybe Alaska just played bad. We didn’t play good either,” he said.

Barako takes on B-Meg next this Wednesday.

“We’ll see when in our next game. They have a tough import.”

Asked how many games he requires for Johnson to prove his worth further, Baculi said, “As long as
we’re winning, we’ll be contented with him.”

Johnson had 12 points in the first half and Miller 10 as Barako took a 39-34 lead, the opening two
quarters marked by five deadlocks and 12 lead changes but little dramatic action.

Neither team shot well from the perimeter, and the Aces were hurt even more by their woeful 1 of 7
from 3-point range, with Cyrus Baguio going 1 of 3 and LA Tenorio 0 for 2.

Desperate to shed off misfortunes of the recent past, the Aces abandoned their standard triangle
offense – the Phil Jackson system adopted by Tim Cone to establish a minor Alaska dynasty with 13
championships – for a more free-wheeling approach.

But the Aces groped for familiarity with their return to a more conventional offense, and the
defensive effort of import Adam Parada, who suited up for Red Bull years ago, failed to inspire his
local teammates.

A third quarter Barako Bull explosion settled the outcome as the Energy, with Miller going 6 for 6
from the floor, shot 13 of 23 while forcing the Aces to miss 17 of 23.

After three quarters, Parada had 14 points and Baguio 11. But Mac Baracael shot 1 for 6, LA Tenorio
1 for 7, Jay-R Reyes 1 for 7, and Sonny Thoss 3 for 11, and the Aces fell behind by as many 26 in
the fourth period.

Both teams wrapped up the first conference Philippine Cup by losing their last four games, with
Alaska winding up with a 3-11 card and finishing ninth to miss the playoffs. (TT)

The scores:

BARAKO BULL 98 – Miller 25, Johnson 19, Najorda 10, Tubid 10, Allado 10, Pennisi 9, Salvador 6,
Aquino 4, Sorongon 3, Arboleda 2, Gatumbato 0, Lanete 0, andaya 0, Pena 0.

ALASKA 78 – Parada 16, Baguio 13, Baracael 11, Custodio 9, Tenorio 8, Thoss 8, Reyes 5, Salamat 3,
Eman 3, Bugia 2, Gelig 0.

Quarterscores: 17-16, 39-34, 72-51, 98-78