Tale of Two Sisters: The Semis

by **MR. FAST** Tue Apr 10, 2012 11:20 am

Tale of Two Sisters: The Semis

The B-Meg Llamados fought tooth and nail to score Meralco’s second straight loss to arrange a duel against the Barangay Ginebra Kings.

B-Meg messed up the Bolts’
chances to clinch their first-ever semifinal appearance since taking over the
franchise of the Sta. Lucia Realtors.
Jonas Villanueva, one of many pretenders to Olsen Racela’s throne, provided the stifling defense to “limit” Sol Mercado. Mercado did well with a
team-high 27 points but could have scored more had not for Villanueva.
Meanwhile, Marc Pingris did an
excellent job for the second straight game coming off with 6 points and 16
rebounds.

While Earl Barron had 23 points, the former Miami Heat center was outplayed by Denzel Bowles who finished with 28 points and 11 rebounds.

It also didn’t help that Macmac Cardona was only good for four
points in two games with the first two points because of ejection and the final
two points because of shin injury.

So what now?

A faceoff with the Barangay
Ginebra Kings – that’s now.

ELIMINATION ROUND FACEOFF:

B-MEG
VERSUS GINEBRA

MARCH 11, 2012

Tale of Two Sisters: The Semis Capture2jw

In crowd of more or less
16,000, the Llamados cruised over the Kings with a fourth quarter tear. Denzel Bowles’ double-double handled Jackson Vroman’s almost triple-double
with great ease – thanks to his teammates. James
Yap and Peter June Simon combined with 36 points while Mark Barroca and Josh Urbiztondo effectively launched seven triples
in B-Meg’s first game since sending old reliable Roger Yap to the ABL’s San
Miguel Beermen. Dylan Ababou, Mark Caguioa, and Jayjay Helterbrand scored
in double figures that had little help from former celebrated Llamado Kerby Raymundo. To even up the odds
though, ex-Ginebra player JC Intal
went scoreless in 17 minutes.

Aside from Intal, B-Meg players
to have donned the Ginebra jersey are Rafi
Reavis and Yancy De Ocampo. As for Ginebra, Raymundo, Enrico Villanueva, KG Canaleta, and Billy Mamaril are among the
players who have played for the Purefoods/B-Meg squad.

The semis will be a different
case for both squads and I doubt if they’ll try to reminisce their first
encounter. Ginebra’s run and gun play has been toned down with the arrival of
more post up threats. The Llamados on the other hand are slowly but surely
getting in the know with Tim Cone’s dreaded triangle offense.

This is a good series from both
teams. For Siot Tanquingcen, it’s time to break out from a title slump while
for Tim Cone it’s time for him to return to the throne.

Denzel Bowles and Jackson Vroman
will face off again. Both imports are flawed with the younger Bowles’ maturity
in question and Vroman’s horrendous 33 percent free throw shooting.

Both teams’ scoring machines will
also be put on the test with Mark Caguioa’s injury and James Yap’s slump. The
core of Joe Devance, Marc Pingris, Peter
June Simon, Josh Urbiztondo, Mark Barroca, Rafi Reavis, Yancy De Ocampo, Jonas
Villanueva, and JC Intal will likely help Yap and Bowles in their cause
while for Ginebra they have a cabinet filled with stars but they’ll pretty much
use Mike Cortez, Raymundo, Ababou, Rudy
Hatfield, KG Canaleta, Willy Wilson, Rob Labagala, and Jayjay Helterbrand
to help Caguioa and Vroman.

Where is Enrico Villanueva you may ask?

I think Siot will use Menk more
than E-Vil.

Why?

I have no idea.

Regardless, I think Ginebra has
slightly the edge in this fight. Unlike Meralco, Ginebra has a lot of scorers
but that edge might go bye-bye once Caguioa gets sidelined. But for B-Meg
though, they have to be weary of the Gins because logic dies out when their
crowd suddenly drums up to “Hulk Up” their crew.

It should be an exciting bout.

Game over!

Source: Sydrified.org