Painters No. 3 behind Gin Kings, Mixers

RAIN or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said he could not believe what PBA commissioner Chito Salud had announced during last Monday’s prefinals press conference at Sambokojin Restaurant in Eastwood City,

“Two of the league’s three most popular teams today are playing in this third conference best-of-five championship series,” Salud had said in his speech, but nobody seemed to have paid much attention.

“Hindi nga ako makapaniwala,” Guiao told the Inquirer, as he accepted the congratulatory handshakes of the scribes in my table. He reiterated that his Elasto Painters are just out to win a championship in this conference and not to spoil the opponent’s Grand Slam bid.

Salud explained later when we caught him on his way out of the venue, that Ginebra and San Mig Coffee are almost tied for first place, with Rain or Shine a distant third. Ginebra is still No. 1, according to the latest survey.

“But distant or close, they’re in third place. Talk ‘N Text comes next, then San Miguel Beer.”

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For the first time, online writer Snow Badua, who knows practically everything that’s going on in the PBA, did not have a clue as to which three teams are knocking on PBA doors.

He might not have the inside info, but his guesses, he said, were educated.

“Hapee is the consumer product (which happens to be a consensus) Air 21 is the returnee. and the sister company chair (Mon) Segismundo is referring to is a sister company of Kia,” Badua said, sounding very sure of the last item.

Segismundo neither confirmed nor denied Badua’s educated guesses.

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Talk ‘N Text public relations man Virgil Villavicencio told us that NLEX cager Kirk Long and wife Cristina recently became parents to a 7.7-lb baby girl who measured 20.5 inches at birth, last June 14. She will be named Jayden Kaliya.

“We have another prospective cager, but in this case, for the ladies’ team,” said Villavicencio, who informed us that Long, who is an American missionary, will continue to play in the D-League. Like Alaska coach Alex Compton, the NLEX cager cannot play in the PBA unless as an import, because he has no Filipino blood.

Cristina is the daughter of PSC chair Richie Garcia.

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After their success in Pinoy Pride 26 “Fists of the Future” held at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino last month, ALA Promotions is preparing brothers Albert and Jason Pagara for bigger assignments late this year.

“The Pagara brothers will fight in the undercard of WBO light flyweight champ Donnie Nietes bout in November,” said ALA’s Dennis Canete.

As of now though, Nietes’ opponent has yet to be picked, according to Canete. Among the possible venues are the US, Dubai or the Philippines.

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HOOPVINE: An online scribe informed us that Bb. Pilipinas-Universe MJ Lastimosa’s cager-friend in the PBA used to be the boyfriend of courtside reporter Miakka Lim, daughter of PBA legend Frankie and Olen Lim. The duo broke up about a year ago,” he said.