G8: Force powers past Red Bulls in exhibition, 89-65

Report by Jun Rana

Simon Wong and Ferdinand Mendoza combined for 22 points in the second half to lift Team Force to an 89-65 victory over Red Bulls in an exhibition game. Wong, not exactly known as a three point shooting artist, had 12 points all coming from 4 triples, in the second half. Team Force also held Red Bulls top scorer Jake Cortez scoreless in the second half after a tight first half.

Early in the first half, Red Bulls took the lead 9-6 on tree point shot by Cortez. However, Red Bulls was not able to pull away in the first half even with the torrid shooting of Cortez and able support from Joseph Pangilinan and Karl Malicdem. Force players Ferdinand Mendoza and Marcus Chiu combined for 29 points, including 5 triples to grab the lead at halftime, 45-42.

In the second half, Force behind Wong and Mendoza, slowly pulled away and Red Bulls started missing its shot attempts. Force took advantage of Red Bulls cold shooting spell and went on a shooting spree of their own, hitting eight triples, jump shots and lay ups in succession. Team Force also received help from Joe Nicdao, its guest player from TFC who contributed 10 points in the game.

In the second half Red Bulls’ Jet Deleste, Paulo Tanjuakio and Pangilinan tried to make a game of it but without much success. With 39 seconds remaining and with the smoke of the battle clear in the air, Team Force had built an insurmountable 87-65 lead.

Mendoza top scored for Force with 27 points, followed by Wong and Chiu with 19 and 15 points, respectively. For Red Bulls, Cortez, Pangilinan, and Paulo Tanjuakio were the high scorers with 18, 13 and 10 points, respectively.

G7: Wala Sa Ayos nips Red Bulls in overtime, 41 - 39

Report by Jun Rana

Lester Dabu played the game of his life punctuated by a buzzer beating jumper as time expired to lift Wala Sa Ayos (WSA) to a thrilling overtime victory over Red Bulls, 41-39. It was a heart breaking loss for Red Bulls who had several chances to win the game. WSA nailed the last spot in the semifinal playoffs and eliminated Red Bulls. Dabu top-scored for WSA with 15 points and has 4 rebounds for the game. The game ended at 36-all in regulation.

The game has been low scoring and a nip and tuck affair with no teams leading by more than 5 points. With the score tied at 8-all, Jun Lelina scored on a lay up to put WSA on the lead for the first time at 10-8, with 8 minutes remaining in the game. Both teams then traded baskets, with WSA maintaining a one point lead at halftime 17-16. Chris Balan had 6 points for Red Bulls in the first half.

In the second half, WSA maintained the lead until 21-20, with 18 minutes remaining in the game. At this juncture, Jake Cortez of Red Bulls converted back to back triples to put Red Bulls on top 26-21, with 15 minutes to go. However, Red Bulls was not able to pull away from WSA. In the following crucial 12 minute stretch, Dabu, Marlon Oniate, and Zorab Fernandez ignited a 15-10 bomb to tie the score at 36 all, 1 minute and 21 seconds remaining. Both teams muffed shots in the ensuing possessions. With 4 seconds remaining, Red Bulls had ball possession after a miss by JP Raymundo of WSA. A desperation mid court shot by Chris Balan did not hit the rim as the two teams went into overtime.

In overtime, WSA grabbed the lead on two free throws by Michael Alegarbes and one free throw by Raymundo, with 4 minutes remaining 39-36. The two teams went on a scoreless spell until Jake Cortez hit another three point shot to tie the score at 39-all. With 23 seconds remaining Red Bulls yet again had a chance to win the game with the ball possession. However, Jake Cortez missed a jumper with 3 seconds remaining. A time out was called by WSA. In the ensuing possession, Dabu eluded his guard and made the game winning 9 foot jump shot as time expired.

WSA will face powerhouse GK warriors in the seminal round.

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Box Scores:

Wala Sa Ayos:

Dabu, Lester, 15; Lelina, Jun, 6; Oniate, Marlon, 6; Raymundo, JP, 4; Fernandez, Zorab, 4; Alegarbes, Michael, 4; Vergara, Felix, 2

Red Bulls:

Cortes, Jake, 15; Balan, Chris, 10; Pangilinan, Joseph, 8; Brunzuela, Adrian, 2; Tizon, Richie, 2; Deleste, Jet, 2

Game 7: Road to the Finals

View the Video Highlights of Games 5 & 6. Click here.
View updated Photos for Game 6. Click here.

As the games wind down to the Magic 8 enroute to the Final Four, intensity has pervaded the matches. The biggest twist coming to the second round of the play-offs is the elimination of last year's runner-up, TFC Mainline and the surprising entry of Team Force to the Magic 8. Will there be new twists and turns in Game Seven that will surprise us?

Here are the highlights for Game Seven:

• Despite their loss to Red Bulls in the last game, Casa Rap gets a new lease on life on their hopes of a first finals appearance as they face the mighty GK Warriors, who have yet to lose a game since 2008. Will the Antonio-led Bomb Shells ignite the league with a monumental upset?
  
• Maricas, who suffered its first loss to Team Force, gets a second chance at their hopes to enter the Final Four by facing powerhouse Dynamic Excel-Phi. While the odds may be against Maricas, a win will solidify their claim as the Pilipino-division leaders.


• Former Palaro champions, Red Bulls (2007) and WSA (2006) square it off in the "Battle of Champions". Both teams have lingered in the middle ranks this season and their steady plays have brought them at the brink of a Finals showdown. When the smoke clears, who will be in the Final Four?


• Team Force, who was left for dead by the blog voters, springs to life as they face rainbow artists, Baltimore Dragons. The Dragons who lost its first two games got their bearings going by winning 4-straight. Will Team Force douse the Dragons' fire and enter the Final Four?
  

Who will be in the Final Four? Vote now on our blog surveys!

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

PAAD PALARO YOUTH BASKETBALL

PAAD Palaro 2009 is proud to launch its first PALARO Youth Basketball this coming Saturday, August 1, 2009. Youth games start at 11:30 AM alongside some festivities to warm-up the playoff games. Please join us in the fun as we support our Fil-American youth!!

G6: Red Bulls raps Casa Rap, 48-44

Report by Jun Rana

In what proved to be thrilling game of the day, Red Bulls edges Casarap 48-44, to avenge their loss in the first round to Casarap and advance to the next round of the playoffs. Jake Cortes proved to be hero in Red Bulls victory by top scoring with 23 points and hitting crucial free throws in the dying minutes of the game.

Casarap however grabbed the last slot in the eight team playoffs with the second best record among the losers.

Cortez waxed hot in the first half with 14 points including 2 three pointers as Red Bulls built a 30-20 lead at the half. Justin Tanjuakio, Karl Malicdem and Jet Deleste provided much needed bench support in that 10-point Bull's run.

Given up for dead, Casarap rallied in the second half behind the heads up play of Jason Del Rosario, Paul Valencia and Dexter Quezon to move to within two, 43-41 with a minute and a half remaining. In the ensuing play however, Del Rosario committed a foul on a driving Cortez. Cortez converted the two free throws to make it 45-41 with a minute remaining.

Another quick basket by Casarap made it 45-43 time down to 45 seconds. Red Bull did not score in the next possession. Dexter Quezon of Casarap then raced to the basket for a layup and was fouled time down to 12 seconds. The foul sent him to the free throw line with a chance to tie and send the game to overtime. Quezon however missed one of the free throws to narrow the gap to 45-44 for Read Bull. In the next possession, Casarap intentionally fouled Cortez of Red Bull and sent him to the free throw line. Cortez converted both free throws to widen the lead to 47-44, 2 seconds remaining.

With no time outs remaining, Casarap team captain Steve Antonio called for a time out and was hit for a technical foul. Jake Cortez converted another free throw to make the final score 48-44.

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Box Scores:

Red Bulls: Cortez, 23; Balan, 4; Deleste, 4; Tanjuakio J, 4; Pangilinan, 4; Malicdem, 4; Tizon, 3; Branzulea, 2

Casa Rap: Del Rosario, 13; Valencia, 10; Quezon, 9; Agui, 6; Antonio, 3; Pangan, 2; Fernandez, 1

G5: Maricas defies the odds, tramples Red Bulls, 53 - 39

Maricas will surely be this season's Cinderella team as it defies the odds and clinches its 5th win over Red Bulls. In the past 3 seasons, the core of the Maricas team, under the name KOP/Pinoy used to hug the cellar and has never seen a the light to the playoffs. This year, after a complete make-over and a new team sponsor, Maricas remains unbeatable in the regular games, tied only to the mighty GK Warriors.

At gametime, Maricas showed poise in beating Red Bulls 53-39. The team's balanced scoring, combined with their fluid offense and superb defense carried the day for Maricas. BJ Advento who had only 2 points in the first half caught fire in the second half with 12 points, for a game high 14 points. The win puts Maricas in second place in the over-all rankings and top spot in the Pilipino division. Red Bulls, on the other hand, slides to 7th over-all.

-With reports from Jun Rana and Scribbs.

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Box Scores:
MARICAS: Advento, 14; Savella, 8; Setters, 7; Persons, 7; Jersey 14, 5; Aquino, 4; Carabio, 3; Ramiscal, 2; Alday, 2.
RED BULLS: Pangilinan, 10; Deleste, 9; Borres, 8; Tizon, 6; Balan, 4; Brunzuela, 2.

G4: Red Bulls overwhelms Exit Realty, 73 - 58

With 5 Red Bulls players scoring in double-digit figures, the Bulls were virtually unstoppable as they overwhelmed a stunned Exit Realty team, 73 - 58.

In the first half of play, the teams were separated by a mere 4 points with the Red Bulls gaining the upper hand. Scott McInnes kept Exit Realty in the ballgame by spearheading the Realtors with 8 points in the first half.

But as soon as the second half started, Joseph Pangilinan of the Red Bulls thwarted his Exit guards by exploding with 4 of his 6 three-point bombs to give the Bulls a comfortable lead. Pangilinan led the Bulls in scoring with a game-high, 22 points.

So fluid was the Bulls' offense that Richie Tizon was one assist shy of a double-double performance as he dished 9 assist passes together with 11 points and 6 rebounds. Tizon ties Red Bulls center, Deleste, in rebounds. Chris Balan, on the other hand, completed the Bulls' triangle offense by contributing 15 high-percentage points.

The win puts the Bulls in a four-way tie with a 2-2 win loss card, improving their chances for a playoff berth. The Realtors' loss, however, slides them down to 1-3 card tied with 5 other teams.


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Box Scores:
Red Bulls: Pangilinan, 22; Balan, 15; Tizon, 11; Deleste, 10; Borres, 9; Malicdem, 2; Tanjuakio, 2; Wu, 2.
Exit Realty: McInnes, 23; Ramos, 10; Velarde, 9; Makasakit, 6; Tan, 5; De Guzman, 4; Sta. Ana, 1.