The Wutz Up in the Philippines!

FOR ALASKA COACH TIM CONE, the best-of-seven semifinal series against Ginebra actually starts with Game 2 Friday.

“They’ll take a deep breath and we’ll start the series on Game 2,” Cone said, referring to the battle-weary Gin Kings, who were soundly beaten at every department by the Aces in a 104-79 victory in Game 1 Wednesday night.

Cone expects Ginebra to regroup and give the Aces a tougher time when they clash at 7:30 p.m. as action in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup shifts to the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay.

San Miguel will also shoot for a 2-0 lead in its own series with Purefoods at 5 p.m.

Ginebra is coming off an emotional five-game quarterfinal series with Talk ‘N Text and the Gin Kings showed little spunk in Game 1, enabling the Aces to dominate the boards, 59-40, and score heavily inside the paint.

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MANILA, Philippines—There will be a fearsome figure joining Barangay Ginebra Wednesday night—at least during the round robin.

Gunslinger Mark Caguioa has been reactivated by the Gin Kings in time for their crucial clash with Talk ‘N Text, but coach Jong Uichico said he does not see his superstar swingman actually playing even as the jockeying for outright spots in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup playoffs intensifies at the Araneta Coliseum.

“We would want to find opportunities for him to get some minutes,” Uichico told the Inquirer over the phone after the Kings informed league offices that it has placed Doug Kramer on the injured list to activate Caguioa.

“If those opportunities arise, then he will play,” Uichico added. “If they don’t, no problem.”

Caguioa’s mere presence, though, could fire up the Gin Kings and the Barangay Ginebral faithful.

The “Spark” saw action in the first two games of the Kings before hurting his left knee. He was out of commission for close to three months but started practicing before the holidays.

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MANILA, Philippines—San Miguel Beer made Talk ‘N Text choke on too much meat Wednesday night, taking control early in the match and then weathering a late run by the Tropang Texters for a 100-90 victory in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

The Beermen made two big offensive plays off huge stops on the other end to win their second straight match after starting out 0-2 while handing the Texters and coach Chot Reyes—who referred to this match as the “meat” of his team’s coming schedule, their first loss in four outings.

San Miguel forced an air ball from Yancy de Ocampo and got a twinner from Arwind Santos in the ensuing play for a 93-85 cushion, after the Texters had whittled a 25-point spread to just six. Ahead by seven in the final minute, the Beermen forced another miss and then drew a huge triple from Mick Pennisi to peg the final count.

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MANILA, Philippines - In the final reckoning, Talk n Text simply proved it was the better team, carving out a 93-89 win to capture the KFC PBA Philippine Cup crown before a mammoth cheering crowd last night at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Tropang Texters beat out the Aces in yet another tough game, completing an epic comeback from 0-2 and 2-3 deficits in the best-of-seven series to claim a second all-Filipino championship in seven years.

Macmac Cardona, the tournament scoring leader, delivered an exclamation point in his wondrous performance in the tourney with a 23-point game he also laced with two rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block in 39 minutes of play. He was later named the Mighty Bond Finals Most Valuable Player.

Rookie Jason Castro found no better time to perform his best game in the series, putting in 19 points, eight rebounds and the same number of assists with Ranidel de Ocampo, Jimmy Alapag, Ali Peek, Renren Ritualo and Harvey Carey giving their own valuable contributions to give Talk n Text the championship that completed a “grand slam” for team owner Manny V. Pangilinan. [Read full article...]