Red Bull guards Cyrus Baguiofinished with 19 points and Francis Adriano and Junthy Valenzuela scored 16 apiece to lead Red Bull past Purefoods 93-89 and level their best-of-seven semifinals series at one game apiece.

Red Bull head coach Yeng Guiao said they made the necessary adjustments after losing by 19 points in the Game 1.

"We forgot to bring our defense with us in the first game. But tonight we played better defense," said Guiao during the postgame news conference.

"I don't think there will be too many blowouts like what happened in Game 1. From hereon, I guess it's going to be a defensive series. I don't think you'll see a lot of games in the 100s. Every team will try to stop the other team and not just try to outscore them," offered Guiao.

"Those guys will eventually feel the fatigue. Kerby and James are just playing too many minutes and handling the ball too many times. So I guess the longer this series goes the better for us," the Pampanga Vice-Governor explained.

James Yap finished with 29 markers to lead Purefoods, Kerby Raymundo added 18.

Scores:

Red Bull 93 -- Baguio 19, Adriano 16, Valenzuela 16, Ybañes 10, Cruz 9, Pennisi 7, Sharma 6, Hrabak 6, Najorda 2, Bugia 2.

Purefoods 89 -- James Yap 29, Raymundo 18, Lañete 10, Simon 7, Pingris 6, R. Yap 6, Evangelista 6, Adducul 3, Salvador 2, Castillo 2, Sanz, 0, Yee 0.

Quarterscores: 22-13; 44-33; 66-55; 93-89

By Abac Cordero
Tuesday, January 29, 2008

On his first day at the job, as the new head coach of Talk N Text, Chot Reyes talked about winning his first title for the Phone Pals in the PBA.

First, the 44-year-old mentor said he must talk to the players whom he was scheduled to meet last night, forge some new ties and renew some old ones, and try to make a lasting impression.

“We have to make them believe that they can win again,” said Reyes, who came in to replace Derrick Pumaren, who spent two years with Talk N Text but was not given an extension.

Reyes, winner of four titles with Purefoods and Coca-Cola, said the fact that the team has never won the title since the 2003 All-Filipino could make it easier for him to motivate his players.

“The problem with losing is it becomes a habit. And maybe this team is in that stage. But this is a strong team. We have the material,” said Reyes last night at the PLDT main office in Makati.

Talk N Text board representative Ricky Vargas and team manager Frankie Lim introduced Reyes to some members of the press as their coach until the end of the 2010 season.

“Chot signed a contract until 2010. And that’s the longest contract we’ve had with a coach. We’re very hopeful but we will also be patient with this change,” said Vargas.

“Chot likes pressure, conflict and diversity and this is the place he can get it. We’re very, very excited,” added Vargas who earlier in the day announced that Pumaren will not get a contract extension.

“He’s a good addition to our group. He will bring a lot at the table in motivating the players plus his great knowledge of the game,” said Lim, who worked with Reyes before at Purefoods.

Reyes became the eighth coach of the Smart-PLDT franchise under Manny V. Pangilinan. He said it might bring some luck that he became the eighth coach in 2008.

“I like that. But another first thing for me to do is change my phone number (which belongs to a rival network). But I’ve always been a Smart user,” he said.

Others who have coached the franchise since 1996 were Norman Black, Eric Altamirano, Louie Alas, Bill Bayno, Paul Woolpert, Joel Banal and Pumaren.

Reyes’ entry came two months after Talk N Text traded Asi Taulava, considered as its franchise player.

Reyes, former coach of Coney Island, Purefoods, Sta. Lucia, Pop Cola, Coca-Cola and San Miguel, said he can’t wait to start calling the shots for the Phone Pals.

“I’m excited, of course. I’m looking forward to working and winning with a first-class organization like TNT,” said Reyes, who also coached the RP team that tried but failed to qualify for the Beijing Olympics.

www.philstar.com

Kerby Raymundo scored 24points and added 9 assists and 5 rebounds to lead the Purefoods TJ Giants to a 103-84 rout of Red Bull in game one of their best-of-seven semifinal duel.

Chico Lañete scored all of his 18 points in the second half, leading a third quarter breakaway that saw them leading by 25 at the end of three from a precarious four-point halftime lead.

"I think we went up against a battle-weary Red Bull. We came out strong and did a good job staying close with their shooters," said Gregorio.

"But Game Two is gonna be different. The two-day rest will give them enough time to rest. They’re always tough to beat because they have a big fighting heart," added Gregorio. "The only advantage that I can see right now is that we only need to win three games. They need to win four."

2006 MVP James Yap struggled with his shooting and finished with only 11 points.

Junthy Valenzuela led Red Bull with 15 points and 6 rebounds.

Scores:

Purefoods 103 – Raymundo 24, Lañete 18, Pingris 14, Yap R. 12, Yap J. 11, Yee 8, Simon 7, Adducul 5, Evangelista 4, Sanz 0.

Red Bull 84 – Valenzuela 15, Najorda 11, Baguio 10, Bugia 8, Sharma 8, Adriano 8, Hrabak 6, Ybañez 5, Duncil 4, Robinson 3, Cruz 3, Pennisi 3.

Quarterscores: 29-16, 48-44, 88-63, 103-84.

Alaska guards Mike Cortez, Willie Miller and Jeffrey Cariaso led the Aces' onslaught as they beat A Sta. Lucia team playing for the first time in two weeks, 107-94 yesterday to take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-seven-semis duel.

Cortez finished with 23 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, Miller added 19 points, 10 assists and 5 rebounds and Cariaso 18 points in 8-of-13 shooting from the field for the Aces.

We could have been blown up right in the first quarter. It took a lot of mental strain for us to stay in the game. But I felt the key was that we were able to stand our ground in the first quarter. By doing that we were able to comeback in the second and gain our bearings," observed Alaska head coach Tim Cone.

"I really thought Mike, Willie and Jeffrey did a really good job of staying emotionally steadfast. They didn't get rattled. Even when things weren't working for us, there was no finger-pointing and they didn't get mad," Cone explained.

Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is set Wednesday also at the Cuneta Astrodome.

The Realtors were led by Nelbert Omolon who finished with 26 points, Kelly Williams aded 21 points and 10 rebounds and Dennis Espino 16.

Scores:
Alaska 107 -- Cortez 23, Miller 19, Cariaso 18, Hugnatan 14, Dela Cruz 14, Thoss 8, Ferriols 7, Quiñahan 2, Junio 2, Aban 0, Laure 0.

Sta. Lucia 94 -- Omolon 26, Williams 21, Espino 16, Aquino 8, Mendoza 7, Yeo 6, Reyes 5, Miranda 4, Gonzales 1, Daa 0.

Quarterscores: 15-25; 45-46; 81-64 ;107-94