TWENTY-FIVE years ago, a young Bong Ravena was drafted by Swift head coach Yeng Guiao in 1992 in the Philippine Basketball Association as he felt the youthful do-it-all wingman can do wonders.

True enough, Ravena made his presence felt immediately as he won Rookie of the Year honors and had a fruitful and lengthy PBA career.

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo

THE championship for the season-ending Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup gets settled once and for all today as protagonists Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings and Meralco Bolts tangle in a winner-take-all Game Seven at the Philippine Arena.

Set up after the Bolts showcased a gutsy performance in Game Six on Wednesday to stave off elimination, 98-91, the two teams now go at it for all the marbles in the scheduled 7 p.m. encounter at the Bocaue, Bulacan, arena that attracted humongous crowd in Games 5 and 6.

THE stay of Chito Narvasa as Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) commissioner is now over after a majority of league board members moved not to endorse and support the extension of his term.

In a special board meeting held yesterday at the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City, seven present board members, citing primarily “loss of confidence,” all voted not to back Mr. Narvasa’s retention as league commissioner.

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo

THE championship of the season-ending Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup is going the full route of seven games after the Meralco Bolts staved off defeat last night in Game Six, beating the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings, 98-91, to force a sudden death.

In front of yet another mammoth crowd at the Philippine Arena of 53,642, the Bolts kept their title hopes alive with a gutsy showing against a determined champions Kings who were eager to finish the affair.

THE San Miguel Beermen get to parade their version of the twin towers while the NLEX Road Warriors were able to pluck arguably the best homegrown talent there is in a while. This, after the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) held its annual rookie draft yesterday.

Held at the Robinsons Place Manila, San Miguel and NLEX, which selected first and second, respectively, as expected chose Christian Standhardinger and Kiefer Ravena in the first two picks.

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo

ONE win away from repeating as Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup champions, the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings go for the jugular when they battle the Meralco Bolts today in Game Six of their best-of-seven championship affair at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

Took Game Five, 85-74, on Sunday, the Kings now use the first of the two tries they have to close out the Bolts and race to their second straight Governors’ Cup title and 10th PBA championship in franchise history.

THERE were plenty of heroes in Barangay Ginebra’s title conquest.

None stood taller than the smallest man on the court in LA Tenorio who put off surgery to remove bone spurs in his elbow to lead his team to back-to-back victories as Ginebra retained the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup crown.

DON'T be surprised if Sunday’s  much-awaited PBA Rookie Draft at Robinson's Place Manila  provides as much excitement as the PBA Governor's Cup title showdown

between Barangay Ginebra and Meralco. While Fil-German Christian Standhardinger is expected to be made No. 1 pick by San  Miguel  Beer  (after the trade with Kia

Picanto), the rest of  the  rookie hopefuls could end up with teams which desperately need to bolster their lineups.