The stage is set for Alaska and Magnolia as the two storied franchises go all out to reclaim glory at the start of their best-of-seven championship tilt in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup.
Game 1 of the Finals is scheduled at 7 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City today as the Aces and the Hotshots both seek a nice jumpstart.
Highly-touted Bobby Ray Parks just made himself available in the coming Philippine Basketball Association Rookie Draft after submitting his application at the league office on Thursday.
The two-time UAAP and ASEAN Basketball League MVP was accompanied by representative Charlie Dy as the son of legendary PBA Import Bobby Parks made the first step in finally realizing his dream of playing in Asia’s pioneering pro league.
Poor sport.
That well describes the action of the Jordan national basketball team, which walked out from the second game of its tuneup match with members of Team Pilipinas training pool Wednesday night at the Meralco Gym.
The hosts were leading, 82-73, with six minute and 26 seconds remaining in the contest marked by rugged plays capped by bitter verbal tussle between national coach Yeng Guiao and his Jordan counterpart Joseph Steibing.
By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
THE University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons and Adamson Soaring Falcons make one last go at a spot in the finals of University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 81 when they clash in a do-or-die Final Four match today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
THE FINALS of the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup does not start until Dec. 5 to give way to the preparation and campaign of the league-backed national team for the fifth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers. It is a setup that Alaska Aces coach Alex Compton finds “different” but nonetheless welcomes on a personal level as it affords him time to rest and recharge following a gruelling ride they had to make to the championship stage.
Philippine Basketball Association coaches are finding it hard to pick which team has the advantage in the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals’ showdown between the Magnolia Hotshots and the Alaska Milk Aces.
“It’s a toss-up. The two teams are almost even, tingin ko walang nakakalamang,” said national coach Yeng Guiao.
Guiao and most of the PBA coaches foresee a grind-out battle in each game and a long series that may well reach the full distance.
Alaska Aces pulled off a huge escape act, coming away with a 104-102 Game 3 victory over the Meralco Bolts in the semifinals of the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome Thursday evening.
With the hard-earned win, the third-seeded Aces moved on verge of nailing a trip to the finals as they took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series.
TEAM Pilipinas has so far gotten a passing grade from its outspoken coach halfway through its preparation for the fifth window of the Fiba World Cup Qualifiers.
Yeng Guiao likes what he had seen so far with the national team, both in practice and in the two tune-up games it had played against visiting Jordan this week.
Barangay Ginebra had its never-say-die spirit in full display Wednesday night, as it survived the gritty Magnolia Hotshots in Game 3, 107-103, in the semifinals of the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
