Tag: perfect

Sean Chambers ‘perfect’ as Gilas assistant, says Tim Cone

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Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone adds Sean Chambers (third from the left) to his coaching staff. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—There’s another connection brewing inside Gilas Pilipinas’ camp en route to the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga, Latvia.

Coach Tim Cone has added another long-time colleague to his coaching staff in the form of Sean Chambers.

Chambers and Cone had an Alaska connection built way back from 1989 to 2001 with the former as an import and the latter as the head tactician.

So when Gilas found themselves shorthanded in the staff department with LA Tenorio being busy due to Ginebra duties, Cone had no hesitations in bringing in Chambers.

READ: Gilas coach Tim Cone praises ‘ageless’ Alex Cabagnot

“Sean came at the last minute. He stepped in. He played with me for 13 years, he knows me personally as well as anybody I’ve ever met,” said Cone after Gilas’ 74-64 win over the Taiwan Mustangs at Philsports Arena on Monday.

Cone also revealed that it took some “begging” from him to the Far Eastern University, which has installed Chambers as the Tamaraws’ head coach for the upcoming UAAP season.

“We begged him and we begged FEU. Thank goodness, he said yes and FEU said yes,” explained the Ginebra mentor.

During their time together in the early 90s, the tandem of Cone and Chambers went on to win six PBA titles including a Grand Slam in the 1996 PBA season.

READ: Gilas coach Tim Cone says Scottie Thompson presence ‘irreplaceable’

It was also under Cone’s tutelage that Chambers won the Best Import award during the 1996 Governors’ Cup and the “Mr. 100%” Award in the 1991 season with the now-defunct Milkmen.

Now with the tandem on full display in the Gilas’ coaching staff, Cone is satisfied to have one of his former players calling the shots who knows how to play his own system.



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“He knows our system, he knows the Triangle, so he’s just the perfect guy. If you have been around him, he’s one of the most valuable people around you,” Cone said.

UP rallies past La Salle to complete perfect Filoil title run

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UP Fighting Maroons’ Francis Lopez during the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup. –HANDOUT

MANILA, Philippines — University of the Philippines completed a perfect championship run in the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup after pulling off a come-from-behind 69-66 win over its UAAP tormentor La Salle in a winner-take-all final on Wednesday.

The Fighting Maroons needed to recover from a 23-43 deficit, unleashing a 29-6 second quarter and a 46-point explosion in the second half to complete a golden repeat in the preseason tournament.

“During the halftime, [our coaches] told us that we can’t shoot and failed to execute our defense. So entering the second half, we tried to bounce back,” said Gerry Abadiano, who restored the order for UP. 

READ: While building perfect Filoil record, UP tries to solidify its culture

Abadiano finished with 12 points to earn the Finals MVP award after leading the collective effort of the Fighting Maroons.

“For me, we can’t stop [with a preseason championship]. We have to keep on improving,” he said.

JD Cagulangan was also instrumental with 13 points, five rebounds, and four assists, while Francis Lopez contributed an all-around game of eight points, 12 rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

Cagulangan and Lopez were part of the Mythical Five with Far Eastern University and Colegio de San Juan de Letran impact rookies Veejay Pre and Jonathan Manalili and La Salle’s Kevin Quiambao.

READ: Pressure is key for La Salle’s improvement, says Topex Robinson

Quiambao earned the tournament MVP with 14 points and 10 rebounds but missed two crucial three-pointers in the final seven minutes of the championship game.

CJ Austria stepped up for the Green Archers with 14 points as they settled for silver.

Meanwhile, FEU bagged the bronze medal after escaping Letran, 80-78, behind Jorick Bautista’s 21-point effort to give rookie coach Sean Chambers a podium finish in his first major tournament.

The Scores:

UP 69 — Cagulangan 13, Abadiano 12, Alarcon 9, Ududo 9, Lopez 8, Torres 7, Torculas 7, Felicilda 2, Alter 2, Stevens 0, Walker 0, Bayla 0, Briones 0, Belmonte 0, Tan 0

LA SALLE 66 — Quiambao 14, Austria 14, Ramiro 7, Agunanne 7, Gollena 7, Dungo 6, Policarpio 4, Macalalag 3, Marasigan 2, Cortez 2, Zamora 0, Buenaventura 0, Gaspay 0, Abadam 0, Rubico 0, Alian 0



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QUARTERS: 17-14, 23-43, 48-53, 69-66

Allein Maliksi finds his mark at a perfect time

On: By: admin


Meralco Bolts’ Allein Maliksi in during Game 5 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—In a game where the Meralco Bolts needed not to be gun-shy, veteran shooter Allein Maliksi proved the perfect man for the job.

Riding Maliksi’s hot hands, the Bolts broke a deadlock in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals and moved just a win away from getting the franchise’s first league title.

Maliksi became the bearer of bad news for San Miguel as he finished with 22 points and five rebounds in only 26 minutes of action.

READ: Meralco on brink of first PBA title after Game 5 win over San Miguel

After figuring in a string of cold shooting slumps in the Finals, Maliksi became “more assetive” on offense in hopes of lightening the load for his fellow Bolts.

“I was asking plays for myself,” said Maliksi at Araneta Coliseum on Friday after their 92-88 win over the Beermen in Game 5.

“I was more assertive in calling plays for myself. I want to always be involved. I just continued to find my touches because I really needed to step up because they (Bolts) already did. It was my turn [tonight].”

HIGHLIGHTS: PBA Finals Game 5 San Miguel vs Meralco

In the veteran gunslinger’s stellar night, Maliksi registered an efficient 58 percent field goal shooting clip, sinking 10 of his 17 tries from the field.

No performance is perfect, however, and even Maliksi knows that to be true.

He lamented how San Miguel was always just a step behind in such a crucial game in the best-of-seven clash.

Thankfully, he and the Bolts had composure in their arsenal which avoided any hopes of a Beermen rally in the dying seconds of the game.

“For me, it was just our composure,” Maliksi said.  “We needed to answer on defense. That was our focus. All of us have to be on our toes on defense. On the offense, we’re packed. We have no problem.”



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The Bolts look to close out the series and make history on Sunday at the same venue at 6:15 pm.