Look who's growling now (In Retrospect 20)
THE Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup may be just a week old. But as early as now, one team is roaring loudly and making its presence felt where it counts the most—on defense.
When I visited one of the Coca-Cola Tigers’ practices back in the preseason, coach Binky Favis stressed that his team was still trying to find its “identity.” After his squad’s first two games, however, it seems as if the identity crisis has ended. Coca-Cola, which limited teams to the fewest points per game in the league last conference, is making squads bleed for points.
Against the run and gun Air21 Express, the Tigers limited the Fiesta Conference third placers to 38.9 percent field goal shooting from the field, and only 30 second half points after coach Bo Perasol’s wards put up 53 in the first half alone in typical Air21 fashion. Coca-Cola’s 104-83 shellacking of the Express showed that once the Tigers impose their will on the defensive end, they’re a tough team to beat.
In their 81-69 victory over the Alaska Aces, Coca-Cola’s defensive stance (the Aces were limited to 34.2 percent shooting from the field) again took center stage, alongside power forward Ali Peek’s historical 12 for 12 clip from the field, which eclipsed the mark he set back when he played for Alaska in 2001. In both games, the Tigers rotated perfectly on defense, helping out in the post and sagging on slashers. The paint, all of a sudden, has become a point of no return for opponents.
Meanwhile, the Aces, before bowing to Coca-Cola, chalked up a win early on in the week with a victory over San Miguel, 103-90. Former Beerman Nic Belasco was hitting on all cylinders in a seemingly effortless fashion, scoring 30 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. Alaska also had a +15 advantage on the boards, translating to a +14 edge in second chance points.
Likewise, San Miguel won its first game this week by defeating Red Bull, 101-93. Without taking anything away from the sharp-shooting Beermen and how balanced their attack was (six players scored in double figures), it was a game the Bulls could have won. I think the buck stops with Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao, who took out Celino Cruz and Larry Fonacier in the home stretch.
The problem here was that Cruz, Fonacier and Lordy Tugade hit three consecutive treys each to help Red Bull build a three-point lead in the fourth canto. When Cruz and Fonacier left the game, the Bulls were a much smaller and more vulnerable defensive team, which helped the Beermen score more easily in the endgame.
In the week’s two other games, Purefoods, led by James Yap’s 34 points, helped destroy a listless and lethargic Sta. Lucia Realtors, 104-88. The Chunkee Giants hit their stride on the scoring end, shooting 50 percent as a team. Defending champions Barangay Ginebra, meanwhile, dismantled the Talk N Text Phone Pals, 98-81. The Phone Pals may still be adjusting to new coach Derick Pumaren’s system, but giving up 50.6 percent shooting from the field and scoring just 3 fastbreak points cannot be attributed to any form of adjusting, particularly because Pumaren has emphasized that this conference’s team will be a defensive-oriented and running team.
Stats of the week: Sta. Lucia’s lumbering big man, Marlou Aquino, scored just 2 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 38 minutes of play... the Realtors redefined shot selection by throwing up 28 attempts from rainbow country, and converting on just 4... Talk N Text, who succumbed by 17 against Ginebra, never lost in double digits last conference... Three players, Yap, Red Bull’s Paolo Bugia and Alaska’s Willie Wilson, registered respective career-highs of 34, 12 and 10 points... San Miguel’s 55.7 percent field goal shooting clip is a 2005-06 season high, not just a conference high.
When I visited one of the Coca-Cola Tigers’ practices back in the preseason, coach Binky Favis stressed that his team was still trying to find its “identity.” After his squad’s first two games, however, it seems as if the identity crisis has ended. Coca-Cola, which limited teams to the fewest points per game in the league last conference, is making squads bleed for points.
Against the run and gun Air21 Express, the Tigers limited the Fiesta Conference third placers to 38.9 percent field goal shooting from the field, and only 30 second half points after coach Bo Perasol’s wards put up 53 in the first half alone in typical Air21 fashion. Coca-Cola’s 104-83 shellacking of the Express showed that once the Tigers impose their will on the defensive end, they’re a tough team to beat.
In their 81-69 victory over the Alaska Aces, Coca-Cola’s defensive stance (the Aces were limited to 34.2 percent shooting from the field) again took center stage, alongside power forward Ali Peek’s historical 12 for 12 clip from the field, which eclipsed the mark he set back when he played for Alaska in 2001. In both games, the Tigers rotated perfectly on defense, helping out in the post and sagging on slashers. The paint, all of a sudden, has become a point of no return for opponents.
Meanwhile, the Aces, before bowing to Coca-Cola, chalked up a win early on in the week with a victory over San Miguel, 103-90. Former Beerman Nic Belasco was hitting on all cylinders in a seemingly effortless fashion, scoring 30 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. Alaska also had a +15 advantage on the boards, translating to a +14 edge in second chance points.
Likewise, San Miguel won its first game this week by defeating Red Bull, 101-93. Without taking anything away from the sharp-shooting Beermen and how balanced their attack was (six players scored in double figures), it was a game the Bulls could have won. I think the buck stops with Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao, who took out Celino Cruz and Larry Fonacier in the home stretch.
The problem here was that Cruz, Fonacier and Lordy Tugade hit three consecutive treys each to help Red Bull build a three-point lead in the fourth canto. When Cruz and Fonacier left the game, the Bulls were a much smaller and more vulnerable defensive team, which helped the Beermen score more easily in the endgame.
In the week’s two other games, Purefoods, led by James Yap’s 34 points, helped destroy a listless and lethargic Sta. Lucia Realtors, 104-88. The Chunkee Giants hit their stride on the scoring end, shooting 50 percent as a team. Defending champions Barangay Ginebra, meanwhile, dismantled the Talk N Text Phone Pals, 98-81. The Phone Pals may still be adjusting to new coach Derick Pumaren’s system, but giving up 50.6 percent shooting from the field and scoring just 3 fastbreak points cannot be attributed to any form of adjusting, particularly because Pumaren has emphasized that this conference’s team will be a defensive-oriented and running team.
Stats of the week: Sta. Lucia’s lumbering big man, Marlou Aquino, scored just 2 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 38 minutes of play... the Realtors redefined shot selection by throwing up 28 attempts from rainbow country, and converting on just 4... Talk N Text, who succumbed by 17 against Ginebra, never lost in double digits last conference... Three players, Yap, Red Bull’s Paolo Bugia and Alaska’s Willie Wilson, registered respective career-highs of 34, 12 and 10 points... San Miguel’s 55.7 percent field goal shooting clip is a 2005-06 season high, not just a conference high.
posted by Christian Soler @ 6:52 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home