Coca Cola Tigers

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is looking at reverting to its old, winning formula by next season.

Deputy league commissioner Chito Salud said plans are afoot at enforcing anew the three-conference format when the PBA turns 36 next year, a proposal the Board is leaning to approve.

The plan was made to accommodate the all-pro national team in its preparation for international tournaments.

"The Board is thinking about that and they are seriously considering it," said Salud, the man expected to succeed Sonny Barrios as PBA commissioner beginning next year.

"There will be extra costs entailed, but it looks positive."

Although there were already suggestions before to adopt anew the three-conference format, it is only now that the Board has seriously contemplated on the matter as means of significantly improving both the gate attendance and tv ratings of the league.

If ever the PBA Governors approve it, Salud said there will definitely be an added twist in its adoption.

"I think our fans and the Board prefer shorter conferences where there will be exciting eliminations and even more exciting playoffs," he pointed out.

"Ever since we started the PBA, there are one All-Filipino (conference) -- traditionally the longest -- and two shorter conferences with imports," Salud said. "What we intend to do is to apply a handicapping system in the Third Conference after looking at the performance of the teams during the first two conferences."

Under the format, the son of the former PBA commissioner Rudy Salud stressed that as much as possible, the league would try to avoid non-bearing games.

But while the plan is aimed at making the league more profitable, Salud mentioned that the Board is likewise scrutinizing the effects of the new format as far as the financial feasibility of it is concerned.

After all, three tournaments in a season entails the team to bring in not just one but two imports. And while the conferences may be shorter, there will definitely be more games to be played, which may translate to added expenses such as players' bonuses. - RCJ, GMANews.TV

Rain or Shine continued to be the thorn on Coca-Cola's side.

Jervy Cruz played the best game of his rookie season and Solomon Mercado exploded when needed most as the Elasto Painters bucked the absence of fouled-out import Rod Nealy in the homestretch to eliminate the Tigers for the second straight conference, 98-93, Wednesday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

The come-from-behind win shoved Rain or Shine into the quarterfinals of the PBA Fiesta Conference, which begins Friday. The Elasto Painters play no. 3 seed Derby Ace Llamados in Game 1 of their best-of-five series.

The Elasto Painters trailed by as many as 12 in the knockout, wildcard game and played catch-up ball three-fourths of the way.

But thanks to the fourth-quarter heroics of both Cruz and Mercado, the Welbest franchise is in the quarterfinals for the fourth straight conference.

The Elasto Painters also beat the Tigers, 99-84, in a similar do-or-die game for the last quarterfinals berth of the Philippine Cup.

"I just told the boys not to stop on playing, that there will come a stretch in the game when breaks will finally go our way," said coach Caloy Garcia. "And good thing Sol exploded for us in the endgame."

Mercado, who almost missed the knockout match after his father suffered a heart attack in the U.S., topscored for 19 markers, including five straight. He had a three-pointer that broke a 90-90 standoff, and gave Rain or Shine its first taste of the lead, 93-90, in the final 1:33 mark.

By the time he left the court after committing his sixth personal foul, the Elasto Painters were already in control of the highly-emotional encounter, 95-91, with 27 seconds left.

Gabe Norwood had a double-double with 17 points and 16 rebounds, while Nealy added 15, but fouled out at the 2:30 mark of the fourth and Rain or Shine trailing, 86-88.

Cruz, the team's first-round overall pick this season, finished with 13 and scored six in the fourth that kept the Elasto Painters within striking distance of the Tigers.

It was another heartbreaking loss for Coca-Cola, which got 29 points each from import John Williamson and Gary David, who earlier engaged Mercado in a verbal tussle.

After taking control for the most part, the Tigers collapsed just when pressure began to mount, scoring only three points after Nealy fouled out.

Asi Taulava's inside foray brought the Tigers to within 93-95 in the final 23 seconds before Jeff Chan split his free throws to make it a three-point, Rain or Shine lead.

But Mark Macapagal and Williamson missed two straight tries from rainbow country to finally seal the fate of Coca-Cola.

Turnovers and poor field goal shooting grounded the Elasto Painters early on, trailing by as many as 31-19, after a cutting Larry Rodriguez scored on a lay up with 8:09 to go in the second period.

It was not until Nealy, already saddled with three fouls at that point, and Mike Hrabak, hit back-to-back three-pointers as Rain or Shine finally got back on track.

The Elasto Painters cut down the deficit to as low as three, only for the Tigers to force their opponents to commit errors in four of their last five possessions as Coca-Cola preserved a 52-42 halftime lead. - RCJ, GMANews.TV

For the second straight conference, Rain or Shine and Coca-Cola meet in the final stage of the wildcards to dispute the last available slot in the quarterfinals.

The Elasto Painters and the Tigers rekindle their feud today at the Araneta Coliseum, clashing in a knockout match for the right to play the B-MEG Derby Ace Llamados in the PBA Fiesta Conference quarterfinals.

The lone match is set at 7 p.m.

League watchers consider it as anybody's game although the Elasto Painters have dominated the Tigers in their last few games.

Rain or Shine topped Coca-Cola, 99-84, in the same stage of the recent Philippine Cup then swept the Tigers in two elimination-round games in the current season-ending tourney.

Even Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia, however, is saying both teams have equal chances of winning, recognizing the fact that the Tigers have shown great improvement with import John Williamson.

The Tigers have won four of five matches with Williamson in tow.

"It's a tough one. We have to play better as a team. We have to stop their shooters and neutralize their big men if we want to win," said Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia.

Coca-Cola coach Bo Perasol expects his team to go flat-out to stay alive in the tourney.

"We've won crucial games as of late but everything would mean nothing if we don't win this game," said Perasol

While the winner advances to the quarters versus Derby Ace, the loser hits the end of the road in the season, joining Barako Energy Coffee, Air21 and Sta. Lucia Realty in the sidelines.

The Elasto Painters eased out the Express, 92-89, while the Tigers bundled out the Realtors, 100-84, Sunday to advance to the final knockout stage of the wildcards.

Williamson and Rod Nealy are expected to figure in a battle in their matchup and so do Gary David and Sol Mercado in their own duel.

Mercado played well despite the news of his father suffering a heart attack in the United States, logging 17 points, seven rebounds, five steals and four assists to help the Elasto Painters get past the Express.

The energetic Fil-foreign guard is expected to continue leading the RoS charge on his decision to forego a plan of rushing to father's bedside.

He decided to finish their remaining games in the tourney before leaving for the United States. - www.philstar.com