BuzzerBeater Forums

Dimov breaks out of slump to lead Blades past Saltiks; advances to Round 6

National Tournament Round 5
Bacoor Blades @ Boston Saltiks
16:01

In their first encounter with a team from a higher division in this Season's Philippines Cup, the Bacoor Blades won convincingly, 99-57 to advance to the 6th round of the one-and-done tourney.

The feat was accomplished in large part due to the re-emergence of Iliya Dimov. The 6-foot Bulgarian finally broke out of his slump since returning from injury a few weeks back by notching 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including 3-of-5 from the three-point line, all within just 20 minutes of floor time.

"It was awesome. To finally get a game like this that I can hang my hat when things go rough again." said the 28-year old hotshot, who has been critical in numerous late-game situations for the Blades over the seasons.

"But I don't want to go back to that stretch. It was tough. I hope this is start of a big turnaround." he further added.

The Blades also saw double-double performances from frontliners Kelly Paul and Eugenio Genco, with the former seconding Dimov in game points with 17 and 11 rebounds and the latter with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Three other Blades players scored in double-digits.

The Blades are to face Blue Jeanz in the 6th round: a former PPL team which will prove as the toughest challenge to date for the Blades.

Co-captains power Blades past Sangi Teeth

League IV.43 Elimination Round
Bacoor Blades @ Sangi Teeth
19:55

With their co-captains leading the way, the Bacoor Blades rout yet another opponent on the road as Sangi Teeth didn't stand a chance against the visiting Bacoor five, 101-39 at the Astro Dome to remain unblemished now that the first round of the eliminations have come to a close.

Kelly Paul and Mark Louis Hugos, who have inherited the captaincy from former Blades great Insa Saady, turned out tremendous performances for the ballclub, with Paul notching a double-double of 21 points and 15 rebounds and Hugos with 19 points, four rebounds and five assists. Iliya Dimov proved that his shooting touch has returned gunning for 16 points on 50% shooting.

"It's like a blueprint win. The players you'd expect to lead did lead and the players you'd expect to fill their roles filled their roles. It was a great win!" said team manager TheDogMan, who had led the Blades to an 11-0 win-loss record so far this season.

"There have been a lot of great performances from a lot of different players from the team this season. But win like these assure you that things can still be done well under a normal rotation."

"Well I took a back seat the last game. So I wanted to come out strong as early as possible for this game." said Paul about his performance the last game, where he deferred his minutes to Laurence Lacambra.

"Ang balak ko talaga pag naglalaro eh pumasa muna." said Hugos about his approach to the game. "Pero hindi naman ako mahihiyang tumira. Minsan nga lang, napapadalas ang dating ng bola sa akin pagkatapos ng play."

"Kahit ano para sa ikabubuti ng team, masaya na ako."

The Bacoor Blades play white spiders at The Bacoor Forum on the 16th before they take on two big games against BLuE Jeanz in the National Tournament on the 18th and the battle of the top seeds as the Blades finally face Citta Italia Rangers before the All-Star break.

Short-handed Blades clip white spiders

League IV.43 Elimination Round
white spiders @ Bacoor Blades
22:23

Blades team manager TheDogMan decided to give his main guns their needed rest for the upcoming big games. But this did not prevent the rest of the team from trumping yet another foe in white spiders, who were bludgeoned from beginning to end, 94-39 at the Bacoor Forum.

Only seven Blades players saw action in the game, as starters Mark Hugos, Iliya Dimov, Pedro Horcasitas and Kelly Paul were all allowed by the Blades head honcho to rest in preparation for the two big matches that they will have over the weekend: a National Tournament showdown with BLuE Jeanz and the battle for the league's top spot in as they face off with Citta Italia Rangers for their one and only meeting at least in the elimination round.

"I want their legs beneath them. I want them to have no reason not to perform during those games. We hope to continue playing this good music we have together. Everyone is in sync and knows their roles. These next few games shall test our mettle for sure." said the Blades manager.

The Blades were led by Regan Elizaga's 32 markers, followed by Eladio Martin's 23 points and 14 rebounds. Vergel Meneses Nufable nearly notched a triple-double as with his 14 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.

"The team has been used to these types of situations." said Eladio Martin. "It's easy for TDM to be criticized for resting the our starters. But it actually gives us motivation to play harder and contribute to the team's betterment."

"Situation like these help the rookies as well as the younger pups in the squad gain their much-needed confnerence."

Blades score upset with win over BLuE Jeanz to advance in Cup

Philippine National Tournament Round 6
BLuE Jeanz @ Bacoor Blades
19:41

The Bacoor Blades used a third quarter barrage to survive their first major challenge in the National Tournament with a victory over BLuE Jeanz, 79-69 in front of a rowdy and raucous crowd at The Bacoor Forum to advance to the next round of the tournament.

An ugly game from the get-go, it looked like BLuE Jeanz would begin to slowly wrest the game following a 19-11 first quarter in their favor. But the Blades managed to get baskets from their top guys to make the comeback in the second quarter off perimeter baskets from Mark Louis Hugos and Iliya Dimov that led to the Blades being able to manage to even take the lead at the interval, 30-29.

But the third quarter began to tell the story as the game began to open up from beyond the three point line for the Blades. Led by Pedro Horcasitas and Iliya Dimov, who were able to convert from the great beyond as they won the quarter again to make it 56-47 entering the final canto.

The early stages of the fourth saw the Blades pad on the lead to as much as 19 at one point, 70-51. But a comeback attempt was staged by BLuE Jeanz off baskets by Dobrogost Tadeusiak and Enrique Anguiano. But the Blades were able to quell the run before it meant a game turnaround as Horcasitas nailed key baskets down the stretch as well as the solid play of the young backups Laurence Lacambra and Chester Maynard as they held the fort when Paul and Genco were on the bench.

"What can I say. The rest worked." said team manager TheDogMan, talking about the rest he gave four of his starters in preparation for this game. "They wanted a win like this in a long, long time. They couldn't get these types of win that often back in Division III. So for them to be able to manage to beat a team within the country's top 100, not to mention a former PPL team at that. tells the development of the players as a cohesive unit."

Horcasitas topscored for the Bacoor side with 18 points. Dimov, who struggled on the field still managed to put up 15 markers, while the duo of Paul and Genco had double-double performances of 13 and 12 and 13 and 11 respectively. Hugos ended up with 12.

"It was an exhausting game. It takes a toll on you to have games of this magnitude." said the 6'8" Spaniard Horcasitas, who received a standing ovation after the game from the Bacoor faithful "But if you win, all the pain just melts away."

This marks the end of the first half of this big game weekend for the Blades as they face the Big 8 top seed Citta Italia Rangers in their other big game this Saturday in a battle of the undefeated teams in League IV.43.

Blades end a blockbuster week with win over Rangers

Bacoor Blades @ Citta Italia Rangers
Citta Italia Arena
22:45

In what have been called by many as the biggest week of the season so far, the Bacoor Blades pulled through as they notched their 13th win in a row at the expense of Citta Italia Rangers in the battle of the undefeated teams, 99-72.

Both teams entered the encounter holding identical 12-0 marks, although earned in different manners. The Blades won convincingly in all of their games so far in the League this season, while the Rangers have been tested a lot of times this season, winning by closer margins. The Blades were also coming off the heels of an upset victory over BLuE Jeanz in the National Tournament just two days prior.

But as it turned out, the Blades' firepower was just too much for the Rangers as they tried to keep in step, but were just outplayed in almost all fronts highlighted by the Blades' 47% shooting from the field as compared to the Rangers' 33% and their 58-35 rebounding edge.

Eugenio Genco had his better scoring games in a little while as he notched 20 points, while Iliya Dimov and Pedro Horcasitas, both coming off heroic performances in the Cup, both had 14 to their name. Eladio Martin and Regan Elizaga round up the double-digit scorers as they both had 11 points each.

"Tremendous effort from the guys. Genco was our top man here no question." said team manager TheDogMan. "We really don't draw up plays for him, not even for this game. But for some reason, the play usually ends up with him making the basket." the head honcho further added.

"We just came off a big Cup win. I wanted to keep the momentum going so I tried to play a good game as much as possible. Luckily, I did." said the 7-footer Genco, who made key plays in the Blades' Cup win as well.

"This win takes us to the top." said Horcasitas, "This was the game everyone was looking forward to. We both had good players and good team play."

"Baka nga eto ang maging Finals ng season eh." said a delighted Mark Hugos. The co-captain dished out 10 assists to his team for the game. "Ganda ng ikot ng bola ng parehong koponan. Pero siguro mas consistent kami sa execution buong laro."

The Blades will have one more game as they take on Hunger Games Elite Champions on the 23rd in their seventh National Tournament assignment before heading into the All-Star break.

Bacoor Blades well-represented in All-Star festivities

League IV.43 All-Star Weekend
12:52

Five players from the Bacoor Blades roster will participate in this season's League IV.43 All-Star weekend next week at the home court of ESTORYAHEE!, ZANQU.

Sensational rookie Regan Elizaga has been chosen to represent the Bacoor side in the three-point shootout. The 18-year old gunner has led the Blades in three-point field goals attempted and made. Not only that, if given a minimum attempt limit, Elizaga leads the team in 3pt percentage with an even 50%.

For the All-Star Game, four players have been voted in for Bacoor. Kelly Paul and Eladio Martin will be All-Star Game starters while Mark Louis Hugos and Eugenio Genco will fill the role as substitutes. All four players will be participating in an All-Star Game for the very first time.

"They deserve to be there for sure. They worked so hard this season to get their bearings back." said team manager TheDogMan. "They made the team for a reason. And I'm pretty sure that they will be able to show that in the game."

"Wow! To be given the privilege to play in the all-star game is an honor." said Kelly Paul. "I just watch these games growing up and to be a part of it now is just unbelievable."

"Napakasaya ko, hindi lang dahil napili akong maging all-star." said Mark Hugos. "Masaya rin ako dahil yung mga kasama ko sa team, kasali rin. Kumbaga, mashe-share namin yung karanasan at hindi lang iisa ang makakaranas."

Legendary Blades player Saady retires

Three seasons after last donning a Bacoor Blades jersey, legendary baller Insa Saady called it a career after 16 seasons.

The 6'7" French international averaged 16.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals in 423 games spanning 8 teams. Dubbed as the Blades' first superstarhis entry to the team prior to the start of Season 18 became the starting point of the team's rise from cellar-dwellers to title contenders in Division IV.6. He also led the Blades during their 22-0 elimination round back in Season 20, his last stint with the team.

"It might sound unfortunate to hear that a player of his caliber had hung up his jersey, but I will not hesitate to tell you that his contributions to the team will never, ever, be forgotten, ever." reaffirmed team manager TheDogMan. Saady appeared in 81 games for the Blades, this includes playoff and National Tournament appearances, where he averaged 22.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.2 assists.

"We hope to give him the proper retirement ceremony that he deserves. And since the teams that he played the most for during his career have already folded, I believe we are the only ones eligible to retire his name in our Hall of Fame."

Dimov's big night not enough as Blades bow out of Cup

National Tournament Round 7
Bacoor Blades @ Hunger Games Elite Champions
13:34

When it was all said and done, Iliya Dimov scored 34 points on 13-of-24 shooting, including 4-for-8 from beyond the arc to typify his escape from his long shooting spell.

But as it turns out, the closest thing he got to a help was from Blades co-captain Kelly Paul's double double of 15 points and 14 rebounds as the Blades bowed out of the National Tournament and conceding their very first loss this season in both domestic competitions, 103-85.

Paul fouled out after 37 minutes of play but it was already a game wrapped up from the second quarter onward as the Elite Champions methodically built their lead with their sturdy defensive stance.

"We did not deserve to win this game. We were flat from the beginning 'til the end and it was so evident that they just pounced on us on all fronts." said team manager TheDogMan.

"Simply put, we were hopeless in the game."

"Siguro ang makukuha na lang naming aral dito yung hindi pagiging kampante sa laro." said co-captain Mark Louis Hugos, who only had nine points, but had six rebounds and six assists.

The Blades will return to League action on the 27th vs. Necroumancerz, but not before the All-Star break as the team has 1 representative in the Three Point Shootout and four All-Stars.

Blades players shine in All-Star festivities

All-Star Break
13:55

It was a night to remember as the Blades players did not fail to shine in their moment under the spotlight in the showcase of the best players in the league for the All-Star Game.

Unfortunately for rookie sensation Regan Elizaga, he cannot advance to the final round of the three-point contest as his 10 points was just one short of the qualifying mark. Fruto Nicolas of DLSU Archers won the three-point plum as he edged out Claudio Agra of Creators creation, 15 points to 10.

But in the main event, the All-Star game, the Bacoor contingent did not disappoint as they led the Great 8 All-Stars to victory, 133-128. Eladio Martin had 27 points, six rebounds and three assists while Kelly Paul had a double-double of 22 points and 12 rebounds. Mark Louis Hugos and Eugenio Genco had 17 and 8 points respectively, with the latter contributing eight rebounds as they were able to make the most out of the short time they had on the court.

"This was a rewarding moment for us. But despite that fact, it was all about the fans and their continuing support for the league." said Kelly Paul, whose elation was across his face for the entire time. "This was just our way of giving back their support to us."

Now that the festivities are over, the Blades look to get back to the court as they resume their road to redemption with a game vs Necroumancerz on the 27th.

The Holster Feature: Midterm Measurements

The Bacoor Blades Mid-season Report
The Holster Headquarters
4:28

Halfway through the Bacoor Blades' road to redemption, we here at The Holster decided to evaluate the performance of the Bacoor side as we turn the page on the first half of the elimination round.

Offensive Statistics:

PPG: 103.3
FG%: 53
3PT%: 38
FT%: 56.8
TOPG: 16.5

Grade: B+

Not necessarily an offensive juggernaut, but the Bacoor Blades' triple-digit average in scoring proves that the Princeton offense has been very effective. Since reverting back to their old scheme after being a more post-centric team last season, the Blades have done a decent job in their campaign so far in the points department, highlighted by their 53% field goal average so far in the season. They also are doing a decent job from the three as their 38% average is second in the league thanks to rookie Regan Elizaga and Mark Hugos, who are shooting the lights out in lieu of the struggles of renowned gunner Iliya Dimov. However, during the last few games, the Bulgarian hotshot is starting to get his stroke back. And when he does, prepare for an even fearsome Blades team for the rest of the elimination round. Gotta work on those freebies and handles though, their average is one of the league's worst (their turnover average is actually league-worst). Good thing a lot of their league matches did not have to go down the wire.

Defensive Statistics:

PAPG: 58.4
RPG: 59.5
AFG%: 28.4
A3PT%: 19.9
BPG: 13.5

Grade: A+

Now this is when things get scary. Their offense may need a few tweaks here and there, but their defense is just amazing. The Blades are the best defensive team in the league, bar none. The first three statistics shown above are actually the league's best. That means that in every game in the league so far, the Blades have won by an average of almost 45 points per game! Yes they don't score as much as other teams, but they will almost always shut down their opponents with suffocating defense. The percentages shown indicate that their opponents are most likely to shoot more blanks than makes every single game. Their anchors in the middle have provided a lot of defensive gems this season. Any inside penetrator have become invitees to their block party. And even the guards join in on the fun, as four of their perimeter wards are averaging at least a block a game.

To simply put, when facing the Blades, you are in for a very long night.

Best Performers:

Kelly Paul (18ppg, 12rpg, 1.8bpg, 73%FG, 40%3FG)

There is no doubt in anyone's minds that Kelly Paul is the best player on the Blades roster. And the co-captain is finally showing what he can do by leading the team by example.

Mark Louis Hugos (14ppg, 7.1apg, 1.5bpg, 1spg, 53%FG, 49%3FG)

The other co-captain is showing is stuff as well. His leadership is invaluable and has been the staple voice of the locker room ever since the franchise began. Being the longest-tenured Blades player, his contribution to the squad is well-appreciated, and he reciprocates it so far with fantastic play.

Eladio Martin (13ppg, 5.7rpg, 3.6 rpg, 1.4bpg, 55%FG, 38%3FG)

The undisputed Blades' sixth man. Though not new to the role, his performance this season off the bench has been nothing short of spectacular. And the good thing is, he is capable of changing the complexion of the game not by scoring alone, as his stats show that he can be an all-around contributor for the team.

Blades extend unbeaten run; exorcises Necroumancerz

League IV.43 Elimination Round
Necroumancerz vs. Bacoor Blades
20:14

The Bacoor Blades treated their home crowd with yet another dominant performance against an inter-conference rival, Necroumancerz, 99-50 to extend their impressive unbeaten run to 14 games.

A relatively physical encounter in the first half, especially inside the paint saw Eugenio Genco enter into foul trouble rendering him ineffective for the rest of the game as well as Atong Gierza of the Necroumancerz suffering an injury that reportedly will render him on the shelf for one week. Blades rookie Regan Elizaga also suffered a minor bump during the game but although he did not play the rest of the game, he is okay as per team doctor Jesus Mulero's post-game findings.

"He tweaked his ankle. it looked bad at first that's why I made the preventive advice to not let him play." said Mulero. "But his ankle was found to be fine and no structural damage had been inflicted."

Co-captains Kelly Paul and Mark Hugos, as well as Eladio Martin led the Blades' charge as the first-time All-Stars wound up with 22, 19 and 13 points respectively, with Paul having grabbed 15 rebounds in another double-double performance. The other All-Star Genco only had five points and eight rebounds.

"Well you could easily mask a bad-paced game with a good defensive stand." said team manager TheDogMan. "That was the case in this game. But that should be the ideal way of approaching such struggle, and I commend the boys for doing so."

The Blades will have their next League game Televised Live as they visit jedjed team on the 30th of April.