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Tropang Texters end 6-year title drought

THIS is one championship Talk N Text will not let slip away.

Not when the Tropang Texters gutted it out over the Alaska Aces for a 93-89 victory Wednesday and cop the KFC PBA Philippine Cup crown at the packed Araneta Coliseum.

The Texters' tritty stand was nowhere more evident than in the last 2:36 of the game where they held the Aces scoreless after the latter came charging back from as much as a 63-76 deficit.

Only after Willie Miller's last desperate heave of a troiple missed just before...

By WAYLON GALVEZ

Talk ’N Text guard Mark Cardona yesterday said he will not change the way he acts on the playing court despite Alaska coach Tim Cone’s warning.

Cardona said he has high respect for Cone, but he doesn’t believe that his action constitutes trash talking or taunting.

"Bakit naman ako inaaway at gustong saktan ni coach Tim. Malaki ang respeto ko sa kanya. Talagang passionate lang ako sa paglalaro," he said.

Cone had warned that he would order his players to retaliate if Cardona continues to taunt them.

By WAYLON GALVEZ

Four coaches pick Alaska to beat Talk ’N Text in Game 7 of the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup, citing the Aces’ championship experience and tenacious defense.

"I think Alaska (will win it) because of its experience," said San Miguel Beer coach Siot Tanquingcen.

Tanquingcen’s prediction was shared by Sta. Lucia’s Boyet, Fernandez, Coca-Cola’s Kenneth Duremdes and Hapee Toothpaste’s Gee Abanilla.

"I think Alaska will win it. They have the experience especially in a Game 7 situation. Though Talk...

Alaska, Talk n Text go at it one last time for Jun B Trophy

Six games just aren't enough for the Alaska Aces and the Talk N Text Tropang Texters to resolve who’s really who in their title showdown.

Now, it all boils down to a deciding Seventh Game.

How the previous six encounters have been won or lost is history. The only thing that matters for both sides is to play as best as they could in the final 48 minutes of the series Wednesday evening.

Chot Reyes, the TNT coach, said this is the type of situation where truism holds true...

Miller, Cardona lead 7-player pack in contention

No less than four Alaska players and three Talk n Text stalwarts are locked in a close fight for the Mighty Bond Finals MVP award going into the deciding Game Seven of the 2008-09 KFC PBA Philippine Cup finale at the Araneta Coliseum Wednesday.

It's a wide-open race among Alaska Aces Joe Devance, Sonny Thoss, LA Tenorio and Willie Miller and Talk n Text Tropang Texters Macmac Cardona, Jimmy Alapag and Harvey Carey.

The award will be handed out by the PBA Press Corps, in coordination with the league,...

By WAYLON GALVEZ

PBA Commissioner Sonny Barrios yesterday said he will not allow trash talk and taunting to ruin what he described as a beautiful title series between Alaska and Talk ’N Text in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup.

Reacting to Alaska coach Tim Cone’s post-game outburst against Talk ’N Text guard Mark Cardona, Barrios said he’d like to think that the multi-titled mentor made those remarks in the heat of the moment.

"But I’m not setting aside his (Cone) concern so I will tell the referees to pay close attention to anyone that...

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

THREE standouts from the collegiate ranks decided not to sign the contracts offered them by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Noli Eala to join the national pool under Serbian coach Rajko Toroman.

Ogie Menor of National Collegiate Athletic Association champion San Beda College, Rico Maierhofer of La Salle and Marcy Arellano of University of the East told www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that they decided not to accept the SBP contracts and instead enter...

By Joel Orellana

SERBIAN Rajko Toroman is still having difficulty finding the right materials that could propel the country back on the world basketball map.

With the refusal of three amateur stars to commit themselves to the team and the uncertainty of finding an effective naturalized player, the road back to the Olympics seemed bumpier for the national team of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).

Toroman, the man tasked to fulfill the Olympic dream, admitted that forming a real competitive squad is easier said than done—especially that some candidates...

By Waylon Galvez

Almost two years since he left the PBA as commissioner, Noli Eala proved that he already has moved on.

In partnership with the PBA, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas-backed Smart-Gilas RP men’s developmental team played two exhibition games against PBA teams, which, somehow opened the door for Eala’s return to the pro league.

"My stepping into the PBA only manifest that I’ve moved forward," Eala, the SBP Executive Director, said yesterday.

"I’m happy returning to the PBA, and doubly happy to return...

By WAYLON GALVEZ

Serbian mentor Rajko Toroman yesterday said the Smart-Gilas national development team showed that it can play in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

"We didn’t expect that we could be competitive. But we were competitive," Toroman said. "We have a very young team, very competitive, very talented. They have character, they want to learn and they want to improve."

Smart-Gilas, a collection of collegiate stars, battled Burger King to a 95-all standoff in game preceding Game 4 between Alaska and Talk ‘N Text...