The Talk N Text Tropang Texters settles for third place in the current PBA Fiesta conference as they beat B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados, 113-95. The game was close in the 1st half but TNT made a run in the 3rd quarter led by Mac Cardona with 30pts while Derby Ace decided to rest Tony Washam in the second half and James Yap in the 4th quarter.

Nino “KG” Canaleta and Peter June Simon led Derby Ace with 21pts and 18pts respectively in behalf of James Yap (only 8pts) who played sparingly.

In the Game 1 of the PBA finals, the Alaska Aces takes Game 1, 89-83 beating Best Player of the Conference, Jay Washington and Best Import of the Conference, Gabe Freeman.

Game scores:

Talk ‘N Text 113 – Cardona 30, Carey 24, De Ocampo 11, Yee 10, Castro 10, Williams 8, Dillinger 5, Alapag 5, Quinahan 4, Aban 4, Daniels 2.

Derby Ace 95 – Canaleta 21, Simon 18, Washam 11, Adducul 10, Yap R. 9, Yap J. 8, Timberlake 6, Salvador 6, Allado 4, Maierhofer 1, Artadi 1, Fernandez 0, Reavis 0.

Quarterscores: 26-23, 52-47, 88-67, 113-95

Best Player of the Game: Marc Pingris – 17pts, 10rebs, 4asts

Gabe Freeman vs Don Allado

Tony Washam with 28pts, 8rebs and 3asts

Alex Cabagnot between defenders

Yap-Artadi combination

More pictures at the Derby Ace vs San Miguel Semifinals Gallery

*photos by gmtan

San Miguel Beermen is back in the finals after beating B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados, 91-83 and ending their best of seven semifinals series 4-2. San Miguel got back at Derby Ace (Known as Purefoods Tj Giants last conference), who defeated them in the Philippine Cup semifinals, 4-2. Although San Miguel led most of the game, Derby Ace made a couple of runs in the 3rd and 4th quarters to threaten the Beermen, but uncharacteristic was James Yap (14pts, 6rebs), missing two free throws that could have cut the lead even further.

Derby Ace Import Tony Washam led the team with 30pts, 12rebs, 2asts and 2stls but was clearly bothered by San Miguel’s defense on him. Roger Yap led all locals with 15pts and also contributed 7rebs and 8asts. Derby Ace will still have its last game this Friday for 3rd place.

In the other semifinals match up, Alaska beats Talk N Text and forces a Game 7 this Wednesday.

It was a great year for Derby Ace/Purefoods, winning the All-Filipino Conference via sweep and hope they still have the heart to take 3rd place this friday vs the loser of the Alaska vs Talk N Text semifinals this Wednesday. We are proud of the team and what they have accomplished. Go B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados!

Game Scores:
San Miguel 91 – Freeman 26, Washington 18, Santos 14, Cabagnot 12, Yeo 8, Hontiveros 5, Ildefonso 5, Villanueva 3, Pena 0.

Derby Ace 83 – Washam 30, Yap. R. 15, Yap J. 14, Simon 6, Artadi 5, Pingris 5, Reavis 4, Maierhofer 2, Allado 2, Canaleta 0, Adducul 0.
Quarters: 25-16, 51-42, 71-58, 91-83

August 1 will always be remembered as the day former President Cory Aquino passed away. As everyone knows, Cory Aquino was James Yaps biggest fan, and to commemorate the death of her mother-in-law, James Yap will try to lead Derby Ace in Game 6 on Sunday to force a do-or-die Game 7 in their semifinal series vs San Miguel.

The Llamados barely survived Game 5 as James Yap only had 7points but Derby Ace Import Tony Washam together with Marc Pingris and Rafi Reavis carried the load in the 4th quarter to stay alive in this series.

Great players usually bounce back from a low performance on a previous game, we believe James Yap will have a great game tomorrow, but the others must step up also, specially Tony Washam. They must stop Gabe Freeman who had half of San Miguels rebounds with 25 big rebounds in Game 5.

Let us all pray for our former president Cory Aquino on her 1st year Death Anniversary and continue supporting our team the B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados!

James Yap was held to only 7pts but made crucial baskets in the 4th quarter but the other locals stepped up specially Marc Pingris with 17pts, 10rebs (7offensive), 4asts, 1blk and 1stl and also Rafi Reavis with 16pts, 13rebs (6 offensive) and 2blks.

Although San Miguel still led in rebounding in this game 50-48 (Gabe Freeman with 25rebs), the Llamados had big defensive stops and rebounds in the 4th quarter as they showed that they still have the heart and fighting spirit in this series after being down 3-1. Game 6 will be this Sunday, August 1, 6:30pm at the Araneta Coliseum.

One game at a time, let us give our all out support this Sunday.

Game Scores:

Derby Ace 88 – Washam 28,Pingris 17, Reavis 16, Artadi 10, Yap J. 7, Simon 5, Yap R. 3, Canaleta 2, Maierhofer 0, Adducul 0, Allado 0.

San Miguel Beer 82 – Freeman 18, Yeo 14, Santos 14, Washington 14, Hontiveros 7, Racela 5, Villanueva 4, Cabagnot 4, Ildefonso 2, Tugade 0, Pena 0.

Quarterscores: 23-18, 44-43, 64-64, 88-82

Purefoods has comeback from a 0-2 and 3-1 series deficit in the past and is only 1 of 2 teams to win 3 straight wins after being down 3-1 (against Alaska in 2006). Will history repeat itself? Derby Ace will try to take it one game at a time and try to stop Powerhouse San Miguel in Game 5 Today at the Araneta Coliseum.

In order for the Llamados to win, they must match the energy and intensity of the Beermen specially Gabe Freeman who has been killing them with his rebounding. The locals specially Derby Ace bench must show up tonight to keep fresh legs on the floor specially Paul Artadi, Nino Canaleta, Peter June Simon and Rico Maierhofer.

But the key in Game 5 is rebounding (this is where we are missing the services of Kerby Raymundo and Marc Pingris, who is playing with an injury) and of course the play of Derby Ace Import Tony Washam is critical, Washam played poorly in the 3 games that Derby Ace lost to San Miguel, we hope his championship experience in other leagues will show tonight.

Go B-meg Derby Ace Llamados!

San Miguel outrebounded Derby Ace 61-45 as they take a 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven semifinals series and try to close out on Game 5 this Friday, 5pm at the Araneta Coliseum. James Yap led Derby Ace with 18pts but it was another subpar performance for Derby Ace Import Tony Washam who only scored 12pts on 2 out of 19 from the field.

Although the Beermen now needs just one win in 3 tries, the Llamados must take it one game at a time and keep up with the energy of the Beermen. The other locals actually played well, like Roger Yap who had 15pts, 5rebs and 7asts, Marc Pingris with 8pts and 9rebs and Rico Maierhofer with 6pts, 7rebs and 3asts but we need more production from Washam in scoring and specially in rebounding (Gabe Freeman had 24 rebounds in this game).

Let us give our all out support in Game 5 and take it one game at a time, last conference we won 3 straight games vs San Miguel and we must believe it is still possible this conference.

Game Scores:

San Miguel 83 – Freeman 22, Santos 12, Hontiveros 12, Washington 11, Yeo 7, Cabagnot 7, Ildefonso 7, Racela 3, Vilanueva 2, Pena 0.

Derby Ace 75 – Yap J 18, yap R 15, Washam 12, Pingris 8, Maierhofer 6, Simon 6, Reavis 4, Canaleta 3, Artadi 2, Allado 1.

A big lead in the 1st half, a see saw battle in the final 2 quarters and a thrilling finish, just like in Game 2, but this time around it was San Miguel who played catch-up as Derby Ace erected a 17-point lead in the 2nd quarter which the Beermen cut to 12 at the half. And it was a very close game in the 4th quarter as the two teams exchanged baskets and finally Arwind Santos knocking a big three point shot with the score tied at 70-all to give San Miguel a 2-1 edge in their best-of-seven semifinals series.

In Game 2, it was San Miguel who had a big lead and Derby Ace made a run in the final quarter to tie the series. The Llamados only scored 25pts in the 2nd half as the defense of San Miguel kicked in, Tony Washam led Derby Ace with 22pts, 13rebs, 4asts and 3stls but was only 1 out of 8 from three point range. For the locals, only James Yap (17pts) and Don Allado (10pts) who scored in double digits.

A highlight of the game was a block by Olsen Racela on a buzzer beating three point shot by Nino “KG” Canaleta at the end of the 3rd quarter which pumped up the beermen and tightened their defense more in the last quarter where Derby Ace shot very poorly. The locals specially the bench players must step up in Game 4 (Wednesday, 7:30pm at Cuneta Astrodome) in order for Derby Ace to have a chance in this series.

Game scores:

San Miguel 74 – Hontiveros 17, Freeman 14, Washington 12, Santosd 8, Pena 6, Villanueva 5, Yeo 5, Cabagnot 5, Seigle 2, Racela 0, Ildefonso 0.

Derby Ace 70 – Washam 22, Yap J. 17, Allado 10, Timberlake 5, Artadi 5, Pingris 4, Canaleta 3, Maierhofer 2, Salvador 0, Yap R. 0.

Quarterscores: 14-24; 33-45; 57-58; 74-70

Derby Ace Import Tony Washam made a 3-point play with 7.9 seconds left in the game to give Derby Ace the lead 95-94 and also made a crucial steal to seal the win for the Llamados to tie their best-of-seven series vs San Miguel at 1-1. Washam was named Best player of the game with 33pts, 7rebs, 1ast and 4stls.

San Miguel led most of the game with their biggest lead at 18points, 45-27 in the 2nd quarter, but B-Meg made a couple of runs at the end of the 2nd and 4th quarters to inch closer to San Miguel. James Yap led all locals with 19pts (11/13 FT) but struggled from the field, only 1 of 6 from three-point range and 2 of 7 from two-point range.

Don Allado had a great game specially in the 1st half scoring 15pts but fouled out early in the game. It’s back to square one for these two teams as they face each other again this Sunday at 4pm for Game 3.

Game Scores

Derby Ace (95) - Washam 33, Yap J. 18, Allado 15, Yap R. 9, Pingris 6, Reavis 5, Timberlake 2, Salvador 2, Artadi 2, Simon 2, Maierhofer 1, Canaleta 0.

San Miguel Beer (94) - Santos 19, Freeman 18, Washington 13, Hontiveros 9, Ildefonso 9, Villanueva 8, Cabagnot 8, Yeo 7, Seigle 3, Pena 0.

Quarterscores: 18-30, 45-57, 74-79, 95-94

Tony Washam was guarded well by SMB

Marc Pingris blocks Danny I

Only a few highlights for Derby Ace including a Slam by Rico Maierhofer

More pictures at the Derby Ace vs San Miguel Semifinals Gallery

* photos by gmtan