Basketball
Pat Aquino era begins with grit, growing pains for Blackwater
ANTIPOLO — Pat Aquino has no intentions of toning down his fiery episodes on the sidelines now that he’s calling the shots for Blackwater in the PBA.
It’s been the style of coaching he’s known for since mentoring in the collegiate ranks with National University and famously in the Gilas Women program, and don’t expect any switch-up whatsoever in his leap to the professional ranks.
“I don’t know if I’m gonna change or what, but the thing is, I just need them to know how I feel about the game,” the former player turned bench tactician said.
Aquino made his debut on Tuesday when the Bossing took on TNT in a Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup encounter, and although they lost, the outing alone shall be a sign of how much the team has been buying in with their new head coach.
They ultimately bowed to a 99-94 result, yes, but not before giving the Tropang 5G a run for their money, as they charged back from 10 points down entering the final two minutes and got to within a point with 44.6 seconds left.
Blackwater just couldn’t figure out a way to get ahead and close it out, and the tandem of Calvin Oftana and Bol Bol would go on to put it away. Nonetheless, it was a gallant stand–and probably a solid response to their new coach.
(C) PBA Images
The crew showed the kind of fight that simply wasn’t there in their previous matches, particularly in their humiliating 56-point defeat to current league leaders Rain or Shine and then a narrow loss to the struggling Titan Ultra.
As for the 54-year-old, it was quite an awakening for him as well, on how challenging coaching could get in Asia’s pioneering play-for-pay league.
“Hirap pala mag-coach sa PBA,” he expressed. “It’s so hard. I mean, a lot more adjustments to go. I know we fell short, but may little changes–I think you saw naman, may konting pagbabago, but we need more of that.
“And natapat pa tayo roon sa shooting woes namin, parang 2 out of 25 ata. Sobra,” he lamented, referring to their dismal outside shooting.
Still, it’s a learning experience not just for him but for the whole squad as well, although they’re at least meeting one another halfway as far as what Aquino and the rest of his coaching staff would want to instill in the entire Bossing.
“As I’ve told them before, I’m gonna work, and you’re gonna work. And, I’m a winner, you should be winners,” said Aquino, who’s easily the Philippine women’s national team’s most successful head coach of all time.
“I think they’re getting it. Hopefully, they get used to it, all the shouting that I’ve been doing and everything,” the three-time SEA Games gold medalist and six-time UAAP champion furthered.
“Hopefully we’ll do more next time.”
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NLEX took the solo lead in Group A following a convincing 110-96 victory over the erstwhile perfect San Miguel to extend its unbeaten run to four in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup on Sunday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
In a game where they showed a bit of everything, the Road Warriors went on a tear in the second chapter, inflated the lead to its biggest at 25 in the third, and then displayed solid poise in the defining chapter to put the Beermen away.
Robert Bolick connected on a four, then came Robbie Herndon with a triple not long after as that 7-0 spurt pushed their lead back to 99-84 with 6:23 to go, and that proved to be enough to restore order after their foes cut the gap to eight.
DeQuan Jones took over afterward to lead the strong closeout as they went on to become the lone team without a loss thus far as the Beermen fell to 3-1.
In what’s becoming a trend since Coach Jimmy Alapag arrived, NLEX leaned on another balanced attack that saw a five finish in double figures
Jones himself led the way with 27 points and 10 rebounds. Deschon Winston finished with 24 points, four rebounds, and four assists as he triggered the 14-0 run in the second chapter for a 44-27 lead that set the tone for the rout.
Tony Semerad had 15 points as his long bombs helped put together the solid finish. Bolick came just short of a triple-double with 14 points, nine rebounds, and 12 assists while Herndon added 13 markers to lead the bench mob.
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Joseph Yeo and Chris Tiu rekindled their legendary partnership as Xavier School edged the James Yap-led Hua Siong College-Iloilo, 75-72, in Game 1 of the 40 Years Division finals of the Fil-Chinese Athletic Association Inc. on Friday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Though no longer as quick or explosive as they were in their prime, the Powersox-AcroCity-backed Xavier stars remained deadly from beyond the arc, delivering clutch baskets down the stretch to topple the defending champions in the opener of their best-of-three title series before a sizable crowd.
The Golden Stallions now stand one win away from the championship and a measure of revenge after falling to Hua Siong in last year’s finals. They can seal the title with another victory on Monday.
Yeo turned back the clock with a game-high 30 points, highlighted by four three-pointers, to outduel fellow PBA great James Yap. He scored Xavier’s final seven points, including a crucial triple that stretched the lead to 71-66 late in the contest.
Yap answered with 18 points, knocking down two booming three-pointers, but his efforts were not enough as the Lamtex Pipes-backed Hua Siong absorbed its first loss after sweeping all eight elimination-round games. Hua Siong had also cruised past GT Radial-Grace Christian College, 108-74, in the semifinals.
Tiu also played a key role in the victory, finishing with 17 points while sinking two of Xavier’s 13 three-pointers. Hua Siong, meanwhile, connected on nine triples.
In the battle for third place, Grace Christian College rolled past SCAG-St. Stephen’s, 60-40, behind Allan Anson Tan’s 20-point performance to finish third in the nine-team tournament.
With Yap struggling to find his rhythm late, Ken Bono tried to keep Hua Siong within striking distance, but Xavier would not be denied.
The league is backed by Smart Sports, Tanduay Athletics, Genius Hardware, Ultraforce Tires, Cellboy, PGFlex Linoleum, Boysen, Lamtex Pipes, Jiang Nan, Hangry Pares, Powerhouse Tools, L.F. Fireworks, BYD Valenzuela, BAIC, Jetour, Yong Kee Roasting House, 1118 Autospa, and TCL.
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Ramon Cao asserted himself in the endgame to help Macau complete a 132-126 comeback win over Titan Ultra to break through in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup, Saturday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The reliable big man finished with 27 points and 13 rebounds as he basically took it upon himself to bring the Giant Risers home after seeing themselves staring at a 120-119 deficit with 1:52 remaining.
He scored seven straight to give themselves the 126-120 lead with 31.1 seconds left, which were enough to put them ahead permanently while the opposition could only try to answer back but to no avail
De’Vondre Perry helped him out to keep their foes at bay before Cao applied the final blow with a cleanup from point-blank as the former Bay Area Dragons forward produced 11 of Macau’s last 13 points of the bout.
With this, the guest team improved to 1-4 while sending Titan crashing back to earth after beating TNT previously.
The post PBA: Ramon Cao powers Macau’s stunning comeback to first win at Titan’s expense appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.
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