PBA: 10 to follow in the upcoming Governor's Cup

PBA: 10 to follow in the upcoming Governor's Cup
ADRIAN DY, GMA News May 17, 2012 6:34pm


The third conference of the 2011-2012 PBA season kicks off Sunday and with it comes a new set of exciting storylines and sensational players to follow. But before the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, the Alaska Aces, the Petron Blaze Boosters and the Powerade Tigers try to jump-start the Governor's Cup with a win, here are 10 locals to keep an eye on, as they look to play key roles in their respective teams' success.

10. Nelbert Omolon—Air21 Express
Commissioner's Cup averages: 28.67 minutes, 12.22 points, 5.67 rebounds, 0.89 assists, 0.56 steals, 0.78 blocks

An early 3-2 record had everyone thought the Air21 Express, formerly the winless Shopinas.com Clickers, had turned the corner. Instead, they sank like a stone in their remaining four games, getting blown out by an average of 21 points.

The Express acquired Omolon prior to the Commissioner's Cup with the hope that his veteran smarts would rub off on the young club. And while he was their best local
scorer, his savvy and "gulang" haven't quite been absorbed yet by his teammates. That said, it's hard to imagine a team's culture changing over a span of one conference. Now that they've finally notcheda few wins, it's time for Omolon to take the next step and carry this squad to a post-season berth.

9. Danny Seigle—Barako Bull Energy
Commissioner's Cup averages: 22.54 minutes, 13.92 points, 4.54 rebounds, 0.85 assists, 0.85 steals

After a slow start to the Commissioner's Cup saw him sit four of his team's
first five games, "Dynamite" Danny lived up to his nickname, exploding
in the Energy's last nine matches with a 17-point average. Seigle
seemingly turned back the hands of time and was the catalyst for the
"Manong Republic's" unlikely semifinal run, but now the question is, can
he do it a second time?

8. LA Tenorio—Alaska Aces
Commissioner's Cup averages: 37.14 minutes, 13.64 points, 5.00 rebounds, 5.68 assists, 1.08 steals

From the Triangle Offense, to an up-tempo, run-and-gun style, and now back
to the Triangle again, the Alaska Aces have gone through three coaches
in four conferences, a highly unusual level of turnover for a franchise
that used to be known for their stability.

But if it's stability on the court they crave, it will likely come from Tenorio,
whose numbers under former coach Joel Banal's Triangle system and more
free-flowing system are just a few hairs away from being exactly the
same. If he can make the transition back to their old ways without a
hitch, it's more than likely the rest of his squad will follow step with
their "Lieutenant."

7. Paul Lee—Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
Commissioner's Cup averages: 25.44 minutes, 11.56 points, 4.11 rebounds, 3.22 assists, 1.00 steals

Lee's rookie campaign kicked off with a bang as Rain or Shine, behind his
stellar plays, came so close to making it to the All-Filipino Cup
Finals. But when the second conference came around, the former
University of the East standout saw his entire numbers drop, as he
seemingly hit the rookie wall dead-on.

That said, Lee's final Commissioner's Cup game was his best, as he unloaded 18
points on Talk 'N Text's defense. If he can use that as a jumping-off point for the next conference, he could truly be the "Lee-thal Weapon" once more.

6. Asi Taulava—Meralco Bolts
Commisioner's Cup averages: 19.92 minutes, 5.62 points, 5.46 rebounds, 0.46 blocks

With the Bolts needing a spark (no pun intended) to power them into the post-season, the team found it in the form of their veteran center, as
Taulava produced a vintage three-game stretch where he logged in averages of 14.67 points, 10.67 rebounds and 1.33 blocks. Not coincidentally, Meralco went 3-0 over that span, and when his numbers became normal again, the Bolts bowed to the eventual champions, the B-MEG Llamados.

Which Taulava, the dominant center or the slowed-down role-player, will show up in the Governor's Cup is anyone's guess. The Bolts though, made sure to cover their bets, acquiring Jay-R Reyes in a trade before the start of the next conference.

5. Rabeh Al-Hussaini—Powerade Tigers
Commissioner's Cup averages: 10.00 minutes, 1.75 points, 1.25 rebounds

After two conferences of the Tigers essentially playing small ball due to a
lack of a true center, the Tigers acquired Al-Hussaini in exchange for
the do-it-all Lassiter, all but ensuring that their style of play is
going to change.

Powerade is keeping its fingers crossed hoping that the Al-Hussaini they've acquired is the 2010-11 PBA Rookie of the Year version, and not the injury-plagued incarnation of
the recent past. If they get lucky, the Tigers could be looking at a return to the Finals, especially if Jvee Casio and Gary David continue to click from long-range.

4. Dylan Ababou—Barangay Ginebra
Commissioner's Cup averages: 23.29 minutes, 7.93 points, 2.57 rebounds, 0.71 assists

The Barangay Ginebra Kings seemingly withered late in the Commissioner's
Cup quarterfinals. With Best Player of the Conference Mark Caguioa out
with an eye injury, their import Jackson Vroman shrinking, and Nino
Canaleta flashing his inconsistency, it was Dylan Ababou who provided
the much-needed offense, scoring 17 points in 24 minutes. He enters the
Governor's Cup having broken Samboy Lim's scoring record in the All-Star
game, unloading 44 points, so if the Kings are once again looking for
offense, they ought to know that this rookie is more than willing to
have the ball in his hands.

3. Jimmy Alapag—Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters
Commissioner's Cup averages: 26.90 minutes, 10.33 points, 2.57 rebounds, 4.76 assists, 0.33 steals

Another player who stepped into a time machine and came out rejuvenated when
his team needed it most last conference is Jimmy Alapag, who put on a
show of a lifetime in Game Seven of the Commissioner's Cup Finals with
29 points on 9-of-14 shooting. Eventually, he was made mortal by cramps,
leaving behind a "what if" in the minds of PBA fans.

In spite of his coach calling him out and accusing him "going on
vacation," it seems the truth is Alapag was merely picking his spots,
conserving his energy only for when his team really needed the old
"Mighty Mouse." It's likely going to be the same approach he'll employ
in the Governor's Cup, as his team looks to continue their streak of
Finals appearances.

2. Marcio Lassiter—Petron Blaze Boosters
Commissioner's Cup averages: 39.80 minutes, 17.70 points, 5.90 rebounds, 3.60 assists, 1.30 steals, 0.90 blocks

On the heels of a Finals run in the All-Filipino Cup, the overall number
four pick in the 2011 rookie draft was the subject of a "will they trade
him or won't they" scenario, due to Petron's incessant desire to
acquire the former National team wingman.

In the last off-season, his former team, the Powerade Tigers, finally pulled the trigger, and now he finds himself as the savior apparent to a team that
went from a win away from the Finals, to cellar-dwellers. While his
defense, energy and hustle will always be there, will he still have the
same amount of touches as he used to? And if he doesn't, can he still be
effective?

1. James Yap—B-MEG Llamados
Commissioner's Cup averages: 35.00 minutes, 15.29 points, 4.33 rebounds, 2.33 assists, 0.63 steals

They don't call him "Big Game James" without reason you know. After a sub-par elimination round that saw him fail to hit 20 markers, James turned it on in the post-season and spelled the difference several times in the Finals, including clutch 21-point and 30-point victories. Coupled with a Finals MVP award, and the All-Star game scoring record that saw him score 44 points to out-do Samboy Lim, all that's left for us to ponder heading into the Governor's Cup is, "What's next for James?" — JVP, GMA News


Source: Gmanetwork.com

Super Ababou! taas ng confidence level nyan ganda ng pinakita nung ALL-STAR game eh

Wala yang mga yan kay SUPER ABABOU!

may injury si lassiter..sa mga rookie na mag lalaro ngaun sa governors cup si ababou ang aabangan..sana mag rookie of the year din sya

Sorry nalang kayo nganga kayo kay MC..best player lang nman sya at nag MVP pa

"What's next for James?" — JVP, GMA News

BOY DAPA!

para kay James Yap i try nya munang magkaron ng serious injury saka nila sabihing magaling

eh takot na takot ngang masaktan yan

baka pag naka bukol yan mahirapan na ring maka shoot...