"Philippines Bombs Lebanon": akala ko guerra. We can't join a war; basketball - yes.
===============
QUOTE(j_diddy @ Aug 17 2006, 04:31 AM) [snapback]2185670[/snapback]
Team Pilipinas who was just formed days ago... drops a 2-0 stunner on Lebanon - Asia's 2nd best basketball team.The biggest three-point shot of the night belonged to Michael Pennisi (204-F-75, college: E.Michigan) the 6"9 forward of Red Bull Barako; the biggest dunk to Kelly Williams (196-F, college: Oakland) But coming away with the biggest regret was Chot Reyes, the San Miguel-Pilipinas head coach.
“We beat Qatar (the third placed team in the Asian Championship) in the Jones Cup and now Lebanon (the No. 2 team) twice,” said Reyes. “Both are going to the World Championship (in Saitama, Japan) and we’re not.”
Coach Coughters advise to the Philippine team to be on Top of this region is to settle the suspension of FIBA and just send your best players.
Bittersweet though the victory was, Reyes, who arrived from
Taipei just hours before the game where his San Miguel team was invited to play in the Asian Professional Basketball Tournament, had to savor it.
“I was 0-and-10 going into this game,” he said. “And all I asked from the players before the game was for them to break the streak. And they came through.”
Renren Ritualo, who had 23 with seven three-point shots when SMC-RP shelled the Lebanese 94-75 last Sunday with coach Norman Black subbing for Reyes, had 19 points with five triples this time, sparking the Nationals back to life after a slow start.
But it was Pennisi who saved the day for the locals with a huge 3-pointer with 53 seconds remaining, shattering a 98-all tie and keeping his head coach away from the brink of an 11th straight loss.
And it was Williams, a potential No. 1 pick in Sunday’s rookie draft, who delivered the evening’s most electrifying play.
Coming from the baseline, Williams, a 24-year-old forward from Oakland University in Detroit, soared to snatch what looked like a weak floater from Jimmy Alapag, who had 10 assists, viciously throwing it down with a two-handed slam that had the Lebanese players fighting each other over defensive responsibility.
Don Allado’s free throw made it a three-point lead before Joseph Vogel, a 6-11 center with a deft outside shot, tipped it in for 102-100.
Ritualo then came through with two important free throws, sealing the outcome.
Both Paul Coughter, Lebanon’s American coach, and veteran player Fadi El Khatib questioned perceived non-calls in the closing seconds, and, for a while, it seemed like the Lebanese were not going to finish the game.
But Lebanon’s team manager persuaded his team back into the playing court and Alapag delivered the final charities.
The Nationals narrowly took the half 46-44 but only after enduring heavy bombardment from Lebanon in the first quarter.
Lethargic from lack of sleep the first time out, the Lebanese had eyes wide open for the rematch.
They completed three 3-point plays in the first 10 minutes, two by team skipper El Khatib, and Joseph Vogel drained a 3-pointer in powering their team to a 22-8 lead.
Switching defense and outright aggressiveness by Lebanon appeared to surprise the Nationals who went scoreless in their first four possessions.
Ritualo, the sharpshooter that scuttled the Lebanese defense for seven triples in their first game Sunday, then found his mark.
Shooting over the taller Lebanese, Ritualo buried three 3-pointers late in the opening period and the start of the second as the Nationals returned fire.
With Asi Taulava standing his ground against the veteran El Khatib, SMC-RP closed to within 36-37 on a Willie Miller 3-point shot, before Taulava had a steal, setting up Miller for the go-ahead fastbreak.
Alapag limped off the court midway in the second quarter after taking a knee on the left thigh. But he returned in the thrilling third to direct play along with Mike Cortez and Miller, keying a run that built a 75-74 edge going to the fourth period.
The Scores:
SMC-RP 105 – Ritualo 19, Williams 14, Allado 14, De Ocampo 13, Alapag 13, Miller 10, Pennisi 9, Taulava 5, Reavis 4, Santos 2, Cortez 2, Mamaril 0, Miranda 0.
Lebanon 100 – El Khatib 33, Vogel 26, Fahed 12, Samaha 9, Bechara 7, Mahmoud 6, Abdel Nour 3, Tawby 2, Balaa 2, Turk 0.
Quarters: 21-27; 46-44; 75-74; 105-100
pba.ph
PHILIPPINES NATIONAL TEAM BEAT LEBANON BY 19 POINTS - Aug. 13, 2006 - by Benny Lirio
Ren-Ren Ritualo had 15 of his game-high 23 points in the second period -- all from three-point range -- as the San Miguel Beer-backed Team Philippines bucked a lackluster start to rout Lebanon’s national squad 94-75 Sunday at the Cuneta Astrodome in the first of their two-game goodwill series.
Led by Ritualo’s second quarter explosion, the Filipinos outscored the Lebanese 39-19 in that period, overcoming deficits of as much as 10 in the first 12 minutes of play.
The third-leading local scorer in the past 2005-06 season of the PBA, Ritualo went 5-of-8 from behind arc in a 22-9 run by the SMB-RP Team which turned a 15-24 deficit at the start of the second period into a 37-33 lead which the Filipinos held on to until the final buzzer.
Ritualo went 7-for-16 from rainbow country overall.
“Our players did what they had to do and credit should be given them. They executed well and held their own in rebounding against Lebanon, who also probably didn’t have the legs yet after having arrived just a few days ago,” said coach Norman Black, who handled the Nationals in lieu of national coach Chot Reyes, who is currently in Taipei with the San Miguel Beermen in an Asian Invitational club tournament.
But Reyes, in a text message he sent to his players through SMB-RP Team assistant coach Djalma Arnedo after the game, said he was so proud of the Nationals’ effort.
“There is nothing that makes a coach prouder than to see his team flourish in his absence. It means the players and coaches understand what true teamwork is about. Congrats!” Reyes said in his text message.
Ranidel de Ocampo and Mike Cortez also finished in double figures with their 12 and 10 points, respectively, and were two of five players who had five rebounds to lead SMB-RP in rebounding. De Ocampo had eight of his points also in the second quarter as he and RItualo outscored the entire Lebanese squad in that period by themselves 23-19.
Jimmy Alapag, who also had five boards, quarterbacked the team beautifully with seven assists, more than making up for his finishing only with three points.
SMB-RP, which led by as much as 21 points, shot 37% from three-point range, making 14 of their 38 attempts, compared to just 22% (6 of 27) for the Lebanese. The Filipinos also had 26-19 edge in assists and only had 17 turnovers to Lebanon’s 24.
Lebanon, which is using the two-game series to prepare for its upcoming stint in the World Basketball Championships in Saitama, Japan later this month, was led by the 16 points and 10 rebounds of Brian Feghali.
The Lebanese, who also got strong efforts from big men Roy Samaha (15 points and eight rebounds) and Joseph Vogel (13 points and six rebounds), will have a chance to avenge the defeat when it takes on the Filipinos again this Wednesday at six in the evening at the Araneta Coliseum.
With top player Fadi El Khatib scoring 10 of his 11 points in the first period alone, Lebanon raced to 18-8 and 20-10 leads in the first period before Ritualo woke up sparse crowd with his outside sniping in the second quarter.
The Lebanese qualified for the world championships after finishing a strong second behind China in the Asian Basketball Confederation tourney last year. It is one of four Asian teams competing in the world championships, the other three being China, Qatar and host Japan.
The Philippines failed to compete in that Asian qualifying tournament as a result of its still being suspended by FIBA. (FM)
The scores:
SMB-RP 94 – Ritualo 23, de Ocampo 12, Cortez 10, Allado 9, Miller 9, Pennisi 8, Reavis 6, Taulava 6, Santos 4, Alapag 3, Miranda 2, Williams 2, Mamaril 0.
Lebanon – Feghali 16, Samaha 15, Vogel 13, El Khatib 11, El Turk 7, Mahmoud 5, Fakhreddin 4, Nour 2, Balaa 2, S. Khoury 0.
Quarterscores: 15-24, 54-43, 74-59, 94-75.
pba.ph
"Philippines Bombs Lebanon": akala ko guerra. We can't join a war; basketball - yes.
===============
QUOTE(j_diddy @ Aug 17 2006, 04:31 AM) [snapback]2185670[/snapback]
Team Pilipinas who was just formed days ago... drops a 2-0 stunner on Lebanon - Asia's 2nd best basketball team.The biggest three-point shot of the night belonged to Michael Pennisi (204-F-75, college: E.Michigan) the 6"9 forward of Red Bull Barako; the biggest dunk to Kelly Williams (196-F, college: Oakland) But coming away with the biggest regret was Chot Reyes, the San Miguel-Pilipinas head coach.
“We beat Qatar (the third placed team in the Asian Championship) in the Jones Cup and now Lebanon (the No. 2 team) twice,” said Reyes. “Both are going to the World Championship (in Saitama, Japan) and we’re not.”
Coach Coughters advise to the Philippine team to be on Top of this region is to settle the suspension of FIBA and just send your best players.
Bittersweet though the victory was, Reyes, who arrived from
Taipei just hours before the game where his San Miguel team was invited to play in the Asian Professional Basketball Tournament, had to savor it.
“I was 0-and-10 going into this game,” he said. “And all I asked from the players before the game was for them to break the streak. And they came through.”
Renren Ritualo, who had 23 with seven three-point shots when SMC-RP shelled the Lebanese 94-75 last Sunday with coach Norman Black subbing for Reyes, had 19 points with five triples this time, sparking the Nationals back to life after a slow start.
But it was Pennisi who saved the day for the locals with a huge 3-pointer with 53 seconds remaining, shattering a 98-all tie and keeping his head coach away from the brink of an 11th straight loss.
And it was Williams, a potential No. 1 pick in Sunday’s rookie draft, who delivered the evening’s most electrifying play.
Coming from the baseline, Williams, a 24-year-old forward from Oakland University in Detroit, soared to snatch what looked like a weak floater from Jimmy Alapag, who had 10 assists, viciously throwing it down with a two-handed slam that had the Lebanese players fighting each other over defensive responsibility.
Don Allado’s free throw made it a three-point lead before Joseph Vogel, a 6-11 center with a deft outside shot, tipped it in for 102-100.
Ritualo then came through with two important free throws, sealing the outcome.
Both Paul Coughter, Lebanon’s American coach, and veteran player Fadi El Khatib questioned perceived non-calls in the closing seconds, and, for a while, it seemed like the Lebanese were not going to finish the game.
But Lebanon’s team manager persuaded his team back into the playing court and Alapag delivered the final charities.
The Nationals narrowly took the half 46-44 but only after enduring heavy bombardment from Lebanon in the first quarter.
Lethargic from lack of sleep the first time out, the Lebanese had eyes wide open for the rematch.
They completed three 3-point plays in the first 10 minutes, two by team skipper El Khatib, and Joseph Vogel drained a 3-pointer in powering their team to a 22-8 lead.
Switching defense and outright aggressiveness by Lebanon appeared to surprise the Nationals who went scoreless in their first four possessions.
Ritualo, the sharpshooter that scuttled the Lebanese defense for seven triples in their first game Sunday, then found his mark.
Shooting over the taller Lebanese, Ritualo buried three 3-pointers late in the opening period and the start of the second as the Nationals returned fire.
With Asi Taulava standing his ground against the veteran El Khatib, SMC-RP closed to within 36-37 on a Willie Miller 3-point shot, before Taulava had a steal, setting up Miller for the go-ahead fastbreak.
Alapag limped off the court midway in the second quarter after taking a knee on the left thigh. But he returned in the thrilling third to direct play along with Mike Cortez and Miller, keying a run that built a 75-74 edge going to the fourth period.
The Scores:
SMC-RP 105 – Ritualo 19, Williams 14, Allado 14, De Ocampo 13, Alapag 13, Miller 10, Pennisi 9, Taulava 5, Reavis 4, Santos 2, Cortez 2, Mamaril 0, Miranda 0.
Lebanon 100 – El Khatib 33, Vogel 26, Fahed 12, Samaha 9, Bechara 7, Mahmoud 6, Abdel Nour 3, Tawby 2, Balaa 2, Turk 0.
Quarters: 21-27; 46-44; 75-74; 105-100
pba.ph
PHILIPPINES NATIONAL TEAM BEAT LEBANON BY 19 POINTS - Aug. 13, 2006 - by Benny Lirio
Ren-Ren Ritualo had 15 of his game-high 23 points in the second period -- all from three-point range -- as the San Miguel Beer-backed Team Philippines bucked a lackluster start to rout Lebanon’s national squad 94-75 Sunday at the Cuneta Astrodome in the first of their two-game goodwill series.
Led by Ritualo’s second quarter explosion, the Filipinos outscored the Lebanese 39-19 in that period, overcoming deficits of as much as 10 in the first 12 minutes of play.
The third-leading local scorer in the past 2005-06 season of the PBA, Ritualo went 5-of-8 from behind arc in a 22-9 run by the SMB-RP Team which turned a 15-24 deficit at the start of the second period into a 37-33 lead which the Filipinos held on to until the final buzzer.
Ritualo went 7-for-16 from rainbow country overall.
“Our players did what they had to do and credit should be given them. They executed well and held their own in rebounding against Lebanon, who also probably didn’t have the legs yet after having arrived just a few days ago,” said coach Norman Black, who handled the Nationals in lieu of national coach Chot Reyes, who is currently in Taipei with the San Miguel Beermen in an Asian Invitational club tournament.
But Reyes, in a text message he sent to his players through SMB-RP Team assistant coach Djalma Arnedo after the game, said he was so proud of the Nationals’ effort.
“There is nothing that makes a coach prouder than to see his team flourish in his absence. It means the players and coaches understand what true teamwork is about. Congrats!” Reyes said in his text message.
Ranidel de Ocampo and Mike Cortez also finished in double figures with their 12 and 10 points, respectively, and were two of five players who had five rebounds to lead SMB-RP in rebounding. De Ocampo had eight of his points also in the second quarter as he and RItualo outscored the entire Lebanese squad in that period by themselves 23-19.
Jimmy Alapag, who also had five boards, quarterbacked the team beautifully with seven assists, more than making up for his finishing only with three points.
SMB-RP, which led by as much as 21 points, shot 37% from three-point range, making 14 of their 38 attempts, compared to just 22% (6 of 27) for the Lebanese. The Filipinos also had 26-19 edge in assists and only had 17 turnovers to Lebanon’s 24.
Lebanon, which is using the two-game series to prepare for its upcoming stint in the World Basketball Championships in Saitama, Japan later this month, was led by the 16 points and 10 rebounds of Brian Feghali.
The Lebanese, who also got strong efforts from big men Roy Samaha (15 points and eight rebounds) and Joseph Vogel (13 points and six rebounds), will have a chance to avenge the defeat when it takes on the Filipinos again this Wednesday at six in the evening at the Araneta Coliseum.
With top player Fadi El Khatib scoring 10 of his 11 points in the first period alone, Lebanon raced to 18-8 and 20-10 leads in the first period before Ritualo woke up sparse crowd with his outside sniping in the second quarter.
The Lebanese qualified for the world championships after finishing a strong second behind China in the Asian Basketball Confederation tourney last year. It is one of four Asian teams competing in the world championships, the other three being China, Qatar and host Japan.
The Philippines failed to compete in that Asian qualifying tournament as a result of its still being suspended by FIBA. (FM)
The scores:
SMB-RP 94 – Ritualo 23, de Ocampo 12, Cortez 10, Allado 9, Miller 9, Pennisi 8, Reavis 6, Taulava 6, Santos 4, Alapag 3, Miranda 2, Williams 2, Mamaril 0.
Lebanon – Feghali 16, Samaha 15, Vogel 13, El Khatib 11, El Turk 7, Mahmoud 5, Fakhreddin 4, Nour 2, Balaa 2, S. Khoury 0.
Quarterscores: 15-24, 54-43, 74-59, 94-75.
pba.ph
there was an asian qualification tourney and the philippines didn't qualify. this gmae was just a friendly, wasn't it?
