Fearless Forecast Round 5

Basketball news from back home muna tayo. Petron is one win away from winning the PBA Governor's Cup 3 - 2 against Talk N Text. NCAA tournament has San Beda and San Sebastian leading while in the UAAP Ateneo has won all their games in the first round.

PBA will hold their draft soon and will be introducing a rule that will issue a lifetime ban on players drafted but then refuses to play for that team. Wow lifetime ban? Sounds tough, but deserving I supposed. Of course association's can ban players as they see fit. Hmm, sounds familiar.

NBA, not from back home of course but basketball news pa rin. Lockout continues with both sides refusing to budge. The player's union is standing firm on their position while the owners along with NBA commissioner David Stern accuses the union of bad faith during the latest round of negotiations.
Here in Auckland, pinoy basketball addiction continues. Four different leagues are on going.at the moment, 3 open division and one for our younger kababayans. Perhaps one of these days a one off tournament can be held with all the different teams participating under one tournament.

In our very own PBA, we are now in the last playing date of the first round. And as expected Manila Motors/CMR is leading the pack with a 3 win and no loss record. Two exciting games this Saturday, with the first game pitting potential finalists Manila Motors/CMR against new entry JR Panels. The second game is a battle between 2 teams that are still looking for their first win in this year's LS Banal Cup.

Games Recap - New World Almost Upsets League Leader Manila Motors
Last week Manila Motors/CMR was so dominating they seemed like they were toying with defending champs Dimond. This week was a different story, although winning by 11 points they had to stave off repeated rallies by a determined New World squad.

Half time score was 47 - 41 in favor of the West based team. The third quarter saw New World threaten several times with their running game but last year's MVP Kris Patriarca scoring 11 of his 24 points kept his team ahead. Fourth quarter saw the point differential down to only 1 point at one stage but Manila Motors kept their poise when it mattered most converting crucial baskets while the Supermarketeers squandered one opportunity after another.

New World had their chances but they simply could not execute. In the end Coach John's team keeps their record clean final score 78 - 89. As usual the Eldialde brothers contributed when it mattered most scoring 12 of their team's 20 total points in the final quarter. Titan Sioco top scored for the losing team with 17 points while rookie of the year candidate chipped in 16.

Dimond/Ampelite Stuns JR Panel
After getting demolished the week earlier, we were not sure how Dimond would perform. JR Panel on the other hand was coming off a solid win. So different results for these 2 teams the week prior. However, this is the first time last year's MVP finals winner Dennis Lorenzo was facing off with against his former team mates. The first half saw both teams missing a lot of easy baskets, it was a game of spurts as the Roofmakers would lead by as many as 15 points only to see the Panelbeaters make their own run. Half time score was 44 - 46 advantage to the defending champs.

Two MVP candidates starred for each of their teams in the 3rd quarter. Ferdie Manuel was scoring from all over, three point arc; perimeter area even from the free throw. Scoring 10 of his season high 27 points in the third quarter. Not to be outdone was newly acquired Roofmaker Hebron Canlas, scoring over half of his team's total output for the quarter, 14 out of 26.  Third quarter ending 72 - 67. Early fourth saw Dimond pad their lead by as many as 10 points but the Ablanida boys caught up leveling the score at 77 all. With Lorenzo fouling out and Becker dominating the boards and blocking shots (season high 5 blocks) the Roofmakers pulled away for a 102 - 85 win.

JR Panel (2-1) vs Manila Motors/CMR (3-0)
This game is a possible preview of the finals. Both teams certainly has the capability to win all the way. Manila Motors is riding on an 8 game winning streak if you count their wins in the Ambassador's Cup. Plus they are also competing in another tournament and reports have it that they also have won all their games there so far, so easily more than 8 games. This team is certainly running on a high from their victories. No one has solved the mystery of Patriarca plus Eldialde and Evangelista siblings' high octane offense and defense.

JR Panel last week saw the second of the "Bruise Brothers" Jambo Tabaquero play his first game. The third brother Edmond Quizon was watching from the sidelines fresh from a holiday. This will certainly improve their frontline as Lorenzo has been playing a lot of minutes in the absence of a second legitimate centre. Add MVP contender Ferdie Manuel and Peirce del Rosario and this team is certainly a title contender.

JR Panel needs this game more, a victory will square the top three teams with a 3-1 win loss card while a loss will drop them to third. Manila Motors will be gunning for a win to solidify their chances for a final berth. If JR Panel can slow down the game then they will have a chance, they will also need to maxiise their advantage at the paint to have a chance. But if Manila Motors is able to run their high octane game then it is probable that they will run away with this game.  Fearless Forecast: Manila Motors/CMR  by 6 points.

New World (0-2) vs LM Money Transfer (0-2)
Both teams toting the same record will be keen to get their first win. Both teams have had their chances against the top 3 teams of the league coming close several times but always coming short. This just goes to prove that they can match any team on any given day in this tournament. Which is why this game will be an interesting one to watch.

One is composed of veterans while the other is composed of young guns. One takes awhile to heat up while the other plays a running game. Who will win is anyone's guess. El Presidente Norman Latosa; Leo Mandajos; Ross Ganzan; Ronnie Hidalgo and Most Improved Player candidate Restie Almoite formn the frontline of LM Money Transfer. Veterans with a lot to offer indeed in terms of experience.

New World's frontline is composed of Mark Santos; Titan Sioco; Dondee Salvador; Denmark Dillague and Daniel de Silva. Their advantage will be to outrun the veterans and out hustle them. But they need to limit their errors and improve their transition game.

If the Money Transferers can control the boards then they have a chance. But if New World get their offensive game going then they can score their first win.  Fearless Forecast: New World by 8 points.

Remember guys, see you at the games and bilog ang bola!!!