Ex-UAAP star Kiefer Ravena, joins the PBA rookie draft

           
Two-time UAAP Champion Kiefer Ravena has announced today that he will participate in the PBA rookie draft at the end of October.

Ravena announced this decision in a post in his Twitter account: "#PBADraft2017 Here we go."

The announcement came a few hours after his fellow amateur Jeron Teng revealed his intention to submit his draft application in the league.

According to Ravena's representative Marvin Espiritu, Ravena deeply contemplated this decision.

He also reported that Ravena talked to his family about such matters.

He added that even though he was offering a lot to the former Ateneo de Manila University star, he knew it was his time to join the PBA.

Ravena is expected to submit its draft application this afternoon.

As a reminder, 23-year-old Ravena of the Philippine club team became the team captain to participate in the FIBA ​​Asia Champions Cup last month where the country grabbed the fifth spot of the tournament.

Kiefer proved to basketball fans his high-level basketball IQ, leadership skills, and just superstar-caliber talent in every international tournament that he joined. There is no doubt that he deserved to be a professional player in Philippines premiere basketball league.

Coach Yeng Guiao already expressed his intention to draft Kiefer if Standhardinger will be chosen as the number 1 player on the list. NLEX has the right to choose the number two draft.

Whichever team would land the two-time NCAA MVP, it is expected that he would make a lot of difference and be even a consistent team captain for the Philippine national team.

Kiefer is the son of the former PBA player and is now assistant coach of the TnT KaTropa, Bong Ravena.

The deadline for the Philippine-born players is October 12 to submit their draft application, which will take place on the 29th of the same month in a Manila mall.
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Heat wins vs Hornets, Detroit edged Pacers, Hawks fly high vs Grizzlies; Magic did not work on Mavs

           
The Miami Heat ruled over the Charlotte Hornets, 109-106.

Justise Winslow secured Miami's win over his layup in the last 20 seconds of the game.

Josh Richardson and Tyler Johnson joined the Heat with a combined 18 points.

On the other side, Malik Monk and Dwight Howard scored 19 and 16 points, respectively.

Heat has 2-2 records, while 1-2 is Charlotte.

On Thursday, the Miami and Washington Wizards will be fired, as well as the Hornets and the Boston Celtics.

Meanwhile, the Detroit Pistons in Indiana Pacers scored their first defeat in the preseason, 107-97.

Ish Smith, Reggie Jackson, and Boban Marjanovic were in charge with a record of 14 points for the Pistons.

On the other hand, Damien Wilkins leads the Pacers with 14 points.

The next game for Indiana is Maccabi Haifa, while Toronto Raptors will take on Detroit, which will take place on Wednesday.

The Memphis Grizzlies failed to take care of their 2-0 winning streak after the Atlanta Hawks handed them a loss, 100-88.

They missed the 14 points James Ennis seized for Memphis. Malcolm Delaney scored 15 points for the Hawks.

The Hawks have a record of 2-2, while the Grizzlies have 2-1 in the preseason.

Following the Houston Rockets on Thursday, the Dallas Mavericks will face Atlanta on Friday.

In that regard, the Dallas Mavericks also beat the Orlando Magic, 99-96.

Dennis Smith Jr. gave the Mavs 16 points while DJ Augustin scored 24 points for the Magic.

Orlando and San Antonio Spurs will meet on Wednesday.
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Black: 'No plans to reinstate Nabong despite the size disadvantage of the team vs. Gin Kings'

           
Meralco Bolts coach Norman Black clarified that he did not intend to remove the imposed indefinite suspension at their center, Kelly Nabong.

It was Black's admission that they had size disadvantage in their Barangay Ginebra fight for their rematch in the finals of the PBA Governor's Cup.

“First, the team's leadership suspended Nabong after an altercation against their assistant coach Jimmy Alapag.”

According to Black, there is no more update on the incident.

He wants to make the issue private because he considers Nabong's privacy and their own team.

Black also insisted he did not want to think about that because they were in the middle of preparing for the championship series.

Black also said they would still have size disadvantage even though 6-foot-5 Nabong will play.

He upheld that there would be no disadvantages that can stop them slow them down as they face the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings.

“Even if we had Kelly Nabong, we would still have a size disadvantage, so it doesn’t really… Either way, they’re the biggest team in the league, so that size advantage is going to be there no matter what,” added by Black.

Even with the absence of Nabong, analyst believed that Meralco is a much stronger opponent now against the Kings. The addition of Ranidel de Ocampo will spread the frontcourt of Ginebra to cover the perimeter shots and might give more space for Durham to operate in the shaded area.

On the other hand, Slaughter is now playing with a stable game as evident on the TNT semifinals series. The combined presence of Greg, Japeth, and Joe would be a challenge for the Bolts.

The Gin Kings will defend their title with a rematch against an improved Meralco Bolts Game 1 of the PBA Governors Cup 2017 Finals starts on Friday, October 13, 7 pm in Lucena.
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San Miguel Beermen Commissioner’s Cup champions again

           
After 17 years the Beermen regained the crown of the PBA Commissioner's Cup.

San Miguel finished their championship series against TNT Katropa after posting 115-91 at Game Six of the 2017 PBA Commissioner's Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Beermen closed their best-of-seven titular showdown against Tropang Texters at 4-2 to grab the franchise’s 24th title.

San Miguel won the Game Two, 102-88, Game Three, 109-97, and Game Five, 111-102, while TNT Katropa took Game One, 104-102 and Game Four, 102-97.

Beermen's last stay, played in their 38th finals appearance, was the title of the mid-season conference in 2000 against Sta. Lucia Realtors.

San Miguel posted 18-point lead, 48-30 from Arwind Santos's dunk in 7:56 minutes of second period until TNT Katropa took the 28-point advantage, 94-66 at the end of the third quarter.

The Beermen no longer released such an advantage against Tropang Texters and listed 108-80 in the last 2:48 minutes of the final quarter.

Alex Cabagnot was also featured as Finals MVP.

Meanwhile, Star will have the import Cinmeon Bowers for the 2017 PBA Governors' Cup which will open on July 19.

The 24-year-old Bowers will start playing in Israel.

Although listed as a 6-foot-7 player, Bowers under-sized power forward is expected to import 6'5 in height.
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Chris Paul has the Rockets uniform

           
James Harden will have a great partner for the Houston Rockets backcourt – not just great – arguably the best point guard of the game.

This is after the Los Angeles Clippers give Chris Paul the Rockets for the first major off-season trade of the NBA before the free agency market opens on Saturday.

In turn, Rockets give the Clippers Sam Dekker, Patrick Beverley, Lou Williams, DeAndre Liggins, Darrun Hilliard, Montrezl Harrell, and Kyle Wiltjer.

The agreement also includes a 2018 first-round NBA Draft pick of Houston and worth $661,000.

"Any day you can acquire a Hall of Fame-level player is a good day for the franchise," said Rockets general manager Daryl Morey.

The 32-year-old point guard helped the United States to win the Olympic gold medal in 2008 in Beijing and in 2012 in London. He will join Harden for the expected 'most dynamic backcourt' next season.

Paul may sign a Clippers new contract worth $34 million a year, but he's more likely to sign a five-year, $205 million maximum extension to the Rockets under the NBA salary cap rules.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Cavaliers are also targeting Paul George but he is most likely to land to OKC.
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Tankoua, Noah goes to the Red Lions

           
After a few hours of deliberation, the San Beda College ruling included Cameroonians Donald Tankoua and Arnauh Noah in lineup with the NCAA Season 93 men's basketball tournament beginning July 8 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The winner included Nigerian Toba Eugene but San Beda decided that Tankoua and Noah were only able to strengthen the Red Lions to try to secure back-to-back titles.

"After hours of deliberation, we decided that Tankoua and Noah should stay as San Beda's foreign players in Season 93," said San Beda team manager Jude Roque.

Tankoua will be back in action with ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in the final round of elimination last year while Noah is presenting the Season 92 Finals MVP.

Noah is expected to sign the Red Lions title in the first round as Tankoua can play with the second round.

Noah and Tankoua will join San Beda with other veteran players who have been part of the champion team last year.

Robert Bolick tops the list with San Beda as he takes over the championship in the pre-season Premier Cup tournament two weeks ago.

There are also Jayvee Mocon, Jose Presbyterian, Ben Adamos, AC Soberano and talented rookie transferees Clint Doliguez and 6-foot-8 Kenmark Carino.
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TNT, Beermen rally on Crucial Game 5

           
Things are getting more exciting as the Beermen and Tropang Texters will battle for the advantage as they are now tied up in the best of seven game Championship series.

San Miguel and TNT Katropa will play for a crucial 3-2 advantage in their 7 pm Game five of the 2017 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

After Game 2, 88-102 and Game 3, 97-109, the Tropang Texters rose to claim a 102-97 win over Game 4 on Wednesday for a 2-2 win over their best-of-seven titular showdown against the Beermen.

TNT Katropa has previously landed a 104-102 win in Game 1 from imported Joshua Smith's game-winning basket before San Miguel took the following two games in the series.

"Of course, you want to finish it shorter in your favor," said head coach Nash Racela at his Tropang Texters in their 17th Finals stint and hunt for their eighth crown. They won the PBA Commissioner's Cup in 2015.

With their Game 4 win, point guard Jayson Castro scored 10 points in the last six minutes of the fourth quarter.

Beermen mentor Leo Austria regretted that they failed to deliver a big 3-1 advantage in the series.

"The last game we could have got a 3-1 lead and it should have been a big advantage. Instead, we're in a virtual best-of-three, a virtual brand-new series," Austria says.

"We have to step up. We should keep our intensity high. The other energy is shown in the last game," he added.

San Miguel plays in their 38th finals appearance and intends to win the 24th championship.

The Beermen did not lose two in a row in the mid-season conference, however, ruled by Rain or Shine Elasto Painters last year.
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