Gaming Master

Ginebra will decide within the week if Joe Devance's long-delayed surgery on his injured foot may have to be set aside again or not. Jaime Campos THERE’S a chance that Joe Devance can still suit up for Barangay Ginebra this PBA Governors’ Cup, after all. The Gin Kings veteran utlity man has been scheduled this week to undergo a long-delayed surgery on his foot, an injury that has hobbled him since the Philippine Cup, that could take him out for at least a month. But in the wake of news about the PBA moving the opening of the next season to December to give way to Gilas Pilipinas’ preparations for the Fiba World Cup Qualifiers, Gin Kings coach Tim Cone bared they are pondering if they can postpone the surgery until the end of the season-ending conference. “We’re still debating on what to do with Joe,” Cone said. “Now that we have the long break between conferences coming up that we’ve heard, if that’s the case, then maybe we’ll see if Joe can fight his way through another...

The PBA board has cleared the participation of veteran players like June Mar Fajardo, Calvin Abueva, Terrence Romeo, Japeth Aguilar, and Allein Maliksi for the Fiba Asia Cup in Lebanon. TAIPEI - The PBA board has approved the release of June Mar Fajardo, Calvin Abueva, Terrence Romeo and other veteran players to Gilas Pilipinas for the Fiba Asia Cup, giving national coach Chot Reyes a deeper pool to choose from for his 12-man team to the August 8-20 showcase in Lebanon. PBA commissioner Chito Narvasa said on Tuesday members of the PBA board gave veteran players who are part of Gilas' 24-man pool the green light to take part in the reformatted Asian championship that now features heavyweight Australia and New Zealand. Aside from Fajardo, Abueva, and Romeo, other PBA veterans in the 24-man lineup submitted to the Fiba Asia are Japeth Aguilar, Allein Maliksi, Raymond Almazan, Jayson Castro, Kevin Alas, Baser Amer, Norbert Torres, Troy Rosario and the recently recalled Gabe No...

KIA Picanto has found its replacement import in Markeith Cummings in time for the opening night of the PBA Governors’ Cup on Wednesday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. After second choice Chane Behanan went a sliver – or 1/16 of an inch to be exact – above the 6-foot-5 limit for reinforcements, the Picanto turned to a familiar name in Cummings, who suited up for GlobalPort in the season-ending tournament four years ago. Team manager Eric Pineda and coach Chris Gavina confirmed the news in separate text messages on Saturday, saying Cummings is set to arrive on Sunday. The 6-foot-5 Cummings led the Batang Pier to a quarterfinal appearance in his stay here, averaging 28.7 points on 60.1-percent shooting and 45.2% from beyond the arc, 10 boards, three assists, 1.8 steals, and 0.7 block in 43.4 minutes in the eliminations before they lost to Rain or Shine in one game in the playoffs. The 28-year-old Cummings’ 2013 stint with the Batang Pier was his first international foray, becomi...

JUSTIN Brownlee weighed the pros and cons of Barangay Ginebra fielding an intact lineup from the PBA Commissioner’s Cup for its Governors’ Cup title defense. On one hand, the Gin Kings import welcomed the continuity and cohesion his team is bringing from the midseason tournament where he was also tapped as their reinforcement. But on the other hand, Brownlee admitted that familiarity is also an advantage to other teams. “For the team, yeah, for the chemistry, got us in a good rhythm I think,” Brownlee said after the Kings' tune-up game against Alaska. “But I think it’s also a disadvantage only because teams know us more than I guess the other teams know each other, because they’ve seen our team so much.” “I think they’re going to adjust to it very easily,” he added. That familiarity favored the Aces on Thursday when they led from start to finish against the Gin Kings on the way to a 96-87 victory. The Gin Kings, though, are not the only team that other squads are fam...

THE NCAA has seen a bevy of players who used MVP seasons as a springboard to great PBA careers. Recent college stars like Calvin Abueva, Scottie Thompson, and Raymund Almazan to now PBA legends Alvin Patrimonio and Samboy Lim became household names, thanks to the country's oldest collegiate league. Sadly, there are also a few players whose MVP careers in the college ranks didn't translate into successful PBA careers. Here are a few of them in recent times: KELVIN DELA PENA Until Allwell Oraeme came along, Dela Pena was the last Mapua Cardinal to win an NCAA MVP in 2007. The athletic two-guard, however, struggled in the PBA where he only played for two seasons with Alaska and averaged only 1.1 points per game in nine outings. JAY SAGAD The 2005 NCAA MVP had an impressive amateur career and was even made a direct-hire by expansion team Welcoat when the Dragons entered the PBA in 2006. The College of Saint Benilde standout's pro career, however, lasted only on...

Meralco's Allen Durnham drives as Justin Brownlee of Ginebra defends in Game One of the 2016 PBA Governors Cup finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. MANILA, Philippines – It’s that time of the year where PBA teams prepare for the season-ending Governors’ Cup. For the Meralco Bolts, it’s revisiting a ghost of the past and hoping to banish them into the light of a new and bright day. During last season’s tourney, the Bolts fell to Barangay Ginebra in the final play of Game Six. The Bolts had their chances to win, then to send the series to a seventh and final match. However, it wasn’t meant to be. The final play of that game, where Justin Brownlee launched a three from far out, well, Bolts’ “balik-import” Allen Durham still sees it from time to time (as does his teammates). “I still have memories of that,” said the 6-foot-6 Durham, who arrived last week after a stint in Uruguay. “I still see it. I feel that we left some stuff on the court. We let get away some games that ...

BOUNTY Agro Ventures Inc. is going all out in its support to Gilas Pilipinas that the parent company of the national team’s major sponsor, Chooks to Go, is willing to bankroll a national side if and when it will feature full-time national players. Chooks to Go boss Ronald Mascariñas bared the plan on Wednesday during the sendoff for the national team bound for Chinese Taipei for the Jones Cup, saying he plans to offer national standouts salaries equivalent to the maximum in the PBA just to go full-time with Gilas. “The main objective really is for the country to play in the Olympics so ang Pilipinas, just like all other countries, challenge dun sa schedule ng mga professional ballclub,” Mascariñas said. “We’re offering, making this offer, if we can work out with the SBP and the PBA, we’re willing to finance – full time national team players. As an incentive for them, we’re willing to give the maximum salary to each national player – if that is at all possible.” Mascarina...

JuneMar Fajardo (left) and Japeth Aguilar in file photo MANILA, Philippines - Gilas head coach Chot Reyes is hoping that PBA veterans JuneMar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Calvin Abueva, Allein Maliksi and Terrence Romeo will be allowed to play by their pro teams for the FIBA Asia Cup at the Nouhad Nawfal Stadium in Zouk Mosbeh, a town 12 kilometers north of Beirut, on Aug. 8-20. The deadline to submit the preliminary 24-man lineup for the tournament to FIBA Asia fell last midnight and Reyes named the five PBA players to the pool. He will choose the final 12-man roster from the 24. “No problem with the Cadets,” said Reyes. “They’re cleared to play by the PBA.” The Gilas cadets in the pool are Alaska’s Carl Bryan Cruz, Barangay Ginebra’s Kevin Ferrer, Blackwater’s Mac Belo, Phoenix’ Matthew Wright, Rain Or Shine’s Mike Tolomia, Star’s Jio Jalalon and TNT’s Roger Pogoy. San Miguel Beer’s Arnold Van Opstal was struck out of the list for failing to report to practice while Mahindra’s Ru...

The Beard has the richest contract in NBA history. The Houston Rockets signed guard James Harden to a four-year contract extension for about $160 million US Saturday, giving him a total six-year deal with $228 million guaranteed. With Harden under contract on his existing deal for another two seasons, the extension will not affect Houston's aggressive pursuit of free agents this summer as the Rockets try to make a run at the Golden State Warriors. "Since he arrived in Houston, James has exhibited the incredible work ethic, desire to win, and passion to be the best that has made him one of the most unique and talented superstars in the history of the game," Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said in a statement issued by the team. "Additionally, the commitment he has shown to our organization, the city of Houston, and Rockets fans all over the world makes him a perfect leader in our pursuit of another championship." Harden is coming off of his finest seasons...

NBA offseasons are often filled with rumor, speculation and a bevy of massive contracts. While all of those boxes have been checked again this year, there have been a few more surprises than normal. A number of big-name players will be suiting up in different uniforms next season, as teams continue to build their rosters in an attempt to catch the Warriors and Cavaliers. Here are the three best, and worst, moves so far during this NBA offseason: Best Jimmy Butler to Timberwolves — The Timberwolves have been collecting young players, biding their time for a big move. They decided to pull the trigger this offseason by adding Butler to team with Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns, two of the game's brightest young stars. Not only does Butler give Minnesota another proven scorer, he provides them with a much-needed veteran who has won playoff games (and a gold medal). Butler's move to Minnesota won't instantly make the Timberwolves contenders in the loaded West...

MIAMI— They came to the Miami Heat a year ago almost as afterthoughts, two guys with less-than-stellar reputations who didn’t exactly have an abundance of options. Those days are long gone for James Johnson and Dion Waiters. They’re now cornerstones of Miami’s plan to return to contention. Capping several days of salary-cap maneuvering to make sure all the pieces fit the right way, the Heat announced the signings of Johnson, Waiters and newcomer Kelly Olynyk on Friday to new four-year contracts. All were agreed upon earlier this week, though Miami didn’t start closing those deals until more cap space was created earlier in the day by trading Josh McRoberts to Dallas. Combined, Johnson, Waiters and Olynyk’s deals have a maximum value of about $165 million. Those three played for $10 million last season. “As soon as Kelly Olynyk became an unrestricted free agent, we pursued him,” Heat President Pat Riley said. “He is not only a post player, he can also play away from the baske...

Cheers from PBA Commissioner's Cup champions San Miguel. Jerome Ascano MARCIO Lassiter can drink as quickly as he can release his shot. The San Miguel Beer sniper proved he can somehow hold his liquor as he teamed up with an SMB fan in winning a beer drinking game that was one of the highlights of SMB’s victory party on Wednesday night at the San Miguel Corp. compound. Lassiter won the game that sought to determine who the fastest drinker was among the four two-player teams, including that of Alex Cabagnot, Keith Agovida, and Arnold Van Opstal, as the Beermen celebrated their conquest of the Commissioner’s Cup. Agovida actually consumed his drink first among his four SMB teammates, but it was Lassiter’s team that finished first as a unit – thanks to his partner, KR. “All that matters was we won,” Lassiter said. KR had a message for Lassiter, who saved his best for last in Game Six of the title series against TNT, draining five treys on the way to 24 points after st...

ONLY one conference separates the current batch of San Miguel Beermen from basketball immortality. After ruling the first two tournaments of this PBA season, most recently the Commissioner’s Cup, the Beermen are on the cusp of capturing their second grand slam in franchise history. Can anyone stop them from achieving the rare feat in the Governors’ Cup? We asked two multi-titled PBA coaches on which team, or teams, they think can deny the Beermen in their bid to become only the second team in league history to win the Triple Crown twice after Crispa. Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes, however, admitted that the grand slam is for the Beermen to win or lose. “Honestly, I don’t think there’s any one team who can beat San Miguel if they’re playing at their best,” the eight-time PBA champion coach said. “That’s how good that team is. I think the only team that can stop San Miguel is themselves.” Reyes, winner of nine PBA championships and a five-time Coach of the Year awar...

Manny Pacquiao, right, of the Philippines and Jeff Horn of Australia fight during their WBO World welterweight title bout in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday, July 2, 2017. Pacquiao lost his WBO welterweight world title to Horn in a stunning, unanimous points decision in the Sunday afternoon bout billed as the Battle of Brisbane in front of more than 50,000 people. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard) Manny Pacquiao asked the WBO to act on a request by Philippine sports officials for a review of his welterweight world title loss to Jeff Horn, saying he didn’t want to see the boxing industry “dying because of unfair decision and officiating.” While Pacquiao has accepted his defeat to Horn, who fought in his first world title bout in Sunday’s so-called “Battle of Brisbane,” the Philippine senator said in a statement Wednesday he had a “moral obligation to uphold sportsmanship, truth and fairness.” The 11-time world champion cited a request by the Philippines’ Games and Amusements Board, or G...

"PBA officials are terrible." --- Joshua Smith. Joshua Smith may have finally snapped. Walking off from the Big Dome Friday down 2-3 in the 2017 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals, the hulking TNT import said something that may be already obvious to others but will most likely earn him a hefty fine from the league. "PBA officials are terrible," Smith said after the the KaTropa dropped Game 5 to San Miguel Beer, 102-111. Asked to elaborate on his comments, Smith didn't flinch and repeated what he said with a straight face. "PBA officials are terrible. Number 14, 17, [and] 40," he said. It's unclear what's Smith issue is with officials although one quick look at game stats will show that TNT was called for nine more fouls and shot 17 less free throws compared to San Miguel. As for Smith himself, he scored 15 points on perfect 7-of-7 shooting and added seven rebounds and four assists. He played 28 minutes and was called for four ...

Stephen Curry's agent, Jeff Austin of Octagon Sports, told ESPN that the deal will be worth $201 million US over five years, a record for the NBA. (Ben Margot/The Associated Press) One of the NBA's biggest bargains until now, Stephen Curry is about to receive his massive payday. Golden State general manager Bob Myers said Friday the Warriors will finalize a contract with the two-time MVP once the free agency moratorium ends July 6. The champion Warriors confirmed that in an email to The Associated Press on Friday night. "We intend to enter into a Player Contract with Stephen once the Moratorium Period ends," Myers said. Curry's agent, Jeff Austin of Octagon Sports, first told ESPN that the deal will be worth $201 million US over five years, a record for the NBA. Austin didn't immediately return emails from AP. Curry, who won the MVP in 2015 and '16 and earned $12 million this season, averaged 28.1 points in the playoffs while also contributi...