NCAA: Red Lions, Stags try to stay perfect before ‘duel’

source: inquirer.net

MANILA—San Beda and San Sebastian look to stretch their winning runs to eight games when they tangle with separate rivals today in the 87th NCAA basketball tournament at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Toting a perfect 7-0 record like the Stags, the Lions face the struggling Jose Rizal U Bombers at 4 p.m., after San Sebastian takes on Mapua.

Final Four participants last season, both Mapua and JRU have struggled to find their rhythm this season. Both teams own 2-5 records.

San Sebastian coach Topex Robinson has warned his team not to be fooled by the Cardinals’ record.

“Mapua is a top contender,” said Robinson. “They may have started bad, but they are pretty good team. They dominated the summer leagues and (Yousef) Taha is one of the best big men in the league.”

Today’s games will be San Beda and San Sebastian’s last warm-up before their keenly-awaited duel on Aug. 19 which will mark their first meeting since last year’s finals. The Lions swept the Stags in two games last season.

San Beda will be one man short for today’s match as power forward Jake Pascual will sit out the match because of a one-game suspension slapped by commissioner Aric del Rosario.

Pascual’s flagrant foul 1 on Mapua’s Yousef Taha in the Lions’ 74-68 win over the Cardinals was upgraded, meriting a ban.

The Lions, though, can take relief at the thought that the Bombers don’t have a frontline as big as that of the Cardinals, who gave them problems with their size and quickness.

Dave Marcelo, coming off his best game this season with 13 points and 12 rebounds, provides the Lions of a solid defensive presence.

Coach Frankie Lim is also hoping Garvo Lanete stays consistent. The guard from Zamboanga has been averaging 22 points in the past four games for the Lions, who will also be looking to extend their league-best streak of 25 games in a run that dates back to last season.

The Stags will have their hands full against the Cardinals, who boast of versatile big men and an explosive guard in Allan Mangahas.

The 5-foot-11 Mangahas almost single-handedly carried the Cardinals past the Lions last Wednesday.

San Sebastian, however, has a “Big Three,” which has shouldered most of the scoring load for the Stags this season.

Ronald Pascual, Calvin Abueva and Ian Sangalang combined for 71 points in the 92-79 triumph over Arellano last Monday.

Robinson, though, wants the Stags to improve on the defensive end.

“It’s a given that we could play offense,” said Robinson. “What bothers me is our defense coming into the last two games. There’s really a lack of effort.”

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Kobe, CP3, banner NBA selection vs Smart Gilas, PBA

source: gmanews.tv

Early this week, Los Angeles superstar Kobe Bryant described the Philippines as "home away from home." It didn't take long before he decided to come back.

Bryant, along with New Orleans Hornets' Chris Paul, Sacramento Kings' Tyreke Evans, Oklahoma Thunder's James Harden, and Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Derrick Williams will be coming to Manila this July 23-24 to play against a selection of Smart Gilas and PBA players.

Talk n' Text head coach Chot Reyes initially shared information about the event via his Twitter account Friday.

"Kobe,Chris Paul,Tyreke Evans,Deandre Jordan,James Harden,Derrick Williams + 2 more @ d Araneta on July 23-24. Buy ur tickets now! 9115555," Reyes said on his Twitter page "@choachot."
He followed up the message with information about the ticket prices saying: "SMART ULTIMATE ALL STAR WEEKEND TICKETS: Patron P5500 Lower Box P3800 Upper A 1500 Upper B 800 GA 350. 4 a chance to watch KB & CP3 Live!"

MVP Foundation president Al Panlilio finally confirmed the event in a message to GMA News Online.

GMA News Online tried to confirm with Ticketnet as to whether or not tickets are already being sold, but the ticket agent advised interested parties to wait, as there hasn't been any information released on when tickets for the event will be released.

Event organizers will hold a press conference 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Araneta Coliseum to disclose more details about the event. — Renee A. Fopalan/RSJ/OMG, GMA News

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PBA stars depart for Bora bash

source: By Nelson Beltran  
(The Philippine Star) 

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Basketball Association delegation starts leaving for Boracay today in batches for the staging of the 2011 Hala Bola! All Star Weekend slated May 18-22.

The main bulk, including the North and South All-Star teams, departs Manila via a Cebu Pacific flight to Kalibo, Aklan this morning.

Upon arrival in Kalibo, they pay a courtesy call to Gov. Carlito Marquez then motor to Caticlan, starting the All-Star activities with an autograph-signing session at the Jetty Port.

They then sail to Boracay, attending a welcome dinner prepared by Mayor John Yap.

The second wave of PBA stars, including participants in the skills events, leaves for Boracay tomorrow in time for the outreach programs in All-Star Week sponsored by Coca-Cola, Talk N’ Text, Meralco, Puma and Alta Vista Boracay.

The PBA board will be the last group to leave for the island paradise Friday. Commissioner Chito Salud, board chairman Rene Pardo and the other PBA governors will convene in a meeting Saturday.

Excitement and thrill have built up with only two days to go before the PBA stars bring their act to the Boracay festivities presented by Smart, Accel, Molten, Islander, Rain or Shine and Powerade.

The center of action is the Boracay Convention Center where the All-Star Game is set Sunday, ushered in by the All-Star side events and the Rookies vs Sophomore Blitz Game Friday.

The All-Star Game pitting the North stars and the South stars highlights the festivities with the former looking to repeat their 133-132 decision in Puerto Princesa, Palawan last year.

Rain or Shine’s Gabe Norwood, the All-Star MVP in Puerto, is back to lead North’s repeat quest.The other North starters are Derby Ace’s Marc Pingris and Kerby Raymundo and Ginebra’s Mark Caguioa and Willie Miller, and the reserves are Alaska’s LA Tenorio, Meralco’s Mark Cardona, Talk n Text’s Ranidel de Ocampo and Harvey Carey and San Miguel Beer’s Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Arwind Santos and Alex Cabagnot.
Calling the shots for the North squad is Ato Agustin.

Derby Ace’s James Yap, the player who drew the largest number of fan votes, banners the South team that includes other starters Jay Washington of SMB, Kelly Williams of TnT, Eric Menk of Ginebra and Cyrus Baguio of Alaska.

Coming off the bench for the South team of coach Chot Reyes are TnT’s Jimmy Alapag, Derby Ace’s PJ Simon, Meralco’s Asi Taulava, Air21’s Dondon Hontiveros and Danny Seigle, and Alaska’s Joe Devance and Sonny Thoss.

Williams, Norwood and Washington show their stuffs in the slamdunk contest versus JC Intal, Ronald Tubid, Elmer Espiritu and Rey Guevarra while Mark Macapagal takes at shot at a second straight three-point shootout title against a crack field including former winners Jimmy Alapag, Dondon Hontiveros and James Yap.

Also entered in the three-point shootout are Mark Cardona, Joe Devance,Ronald Tubid, Ronjay Buenafe and Sunday Salvacion. The top three in this event will challenge legends Alvin Patrimonio, Ato Agustin and Allan Caidicin a special shootout.

Vying for the Obstacle Challenge plum are title holder Jonas Villanueva, Alapag, Buenafe, Cabagnot, Miller, Tenorio, Chris Ross, Josh Urbiztondo and Gary David.

It will be the 22nd edition of the PBA All-Star Week since it was institutionalized in 1989. The Veterans squad then of coach Baby Dalupannipped the Rookies-Sophomores-Juniors team, 132-130.

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Gilas 5 faces Saudis in opener

source: By Joey Villar  
(The Philippine Star) 

MANILA, Philippines - Smart Gilas Pilipinas opens its FIBA-Asia Champions Cup campaign against Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia on May 28, seeking no less than a victory at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

As hosts, the Nationals are grouped with tournament lightweights ASU of Jordan, Duhok of Iran and the Kuala Lumpur Dragons of Malaysia and are expected to ease through the quarterfinal round.
The Phl-Saudi Arabia game is set at 6 p.m.

“We’re aiming for a finals appearance at least and see what happens from there,” said Smart Gilas coach Rajko Toroman. “We know the Filipino people are coming to watch and cheer for us and we don’t want to disappoint them.”

The Nationals are taking the Dragons next at 6 p.m. on May 29 before taking a rest the next day.
Malaysia is expected to field in the maximum of three reinforcements, including Filipino players the way they did in the Asean Basketball League.

The hosts square off with Duhok of Iran next at 8 p.m. the following day before closing out their elimination round campaign against the group’s toughest squad in ASU of Jordan at 8 p.m. on June 1.

The other group, considered the “Group of Death,” is composed of defending champion Mahram of Iran, reigning West Arab League and Lebanese titlist Al Riyadi of Lebanon, last year’s runner-up Al Rayyan of Qatar, Al Jalaa of Syria and Al Shabab of United Arab of Emirates.

Smart Gilas will be spearheaded by naturalized Marcus Douthit, and a pair of pro cagers in Asi Taulava of Meralco and Dondon Hontiveros of Air21.

Toroman had hoped to get Kelly Williams, Jimmy Alapag and Ranidel de Ocampo of back-to-back PBA champion Talk n Text but the troika begged off to backstop the team in the nine-day event.

Still, the Gilas roster remains formidable with team captain Chris Tiu, co-skipper Mark Barroca, JV Casio, Mac Baracael, Marcio Lassiter, 6-9 Japeth Aguilar, seven-footer Greg Slaughter, Dylan Ababou, Chris Lutz and Aldrech Ramos.

“We have to be prepared because we know the competition is going to be tough,” said Toroman.

Smart Gilas is seeing action in the annual event for the third straight time, reaching the quarters in Jakarta in 2009 and in Doha, Qatar last year where it lost to tall, more experienced Qatar and Lebanon squads.

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Thunder oust Grizzlies to advance in NBA playoffs - AFP

source: AFP

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma — NBA season scoring champion Kevin Durant poured in 39 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder past Memphis 105-90 and into the Western Conference playoff final.

The Thunder defeated the Grizzlies four games to three in the best-of-seven second round series and advanced into the league semi-finals against the Dallas Mavericks, who will host game one on Tuesday.

"This was a physical series," Durant said. "They relied on their big fellows. That helped us a lot (preparing for Dallas). We're excited to play the next series."

Russell Westbrook added 14 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds for Oklahoma City, which has the youngest team in the playoffs with an average age of 25.4 years per player.

"He has been doing this for us all year. Why stop now?" Durant said of Westbrook.

Durant scored 18 points in the first half to give the Thunder a 42-34 lead at half-time. Memphis pulled within three points late in the third period before the Thunder pulled away for good.



"No matter if I was shooting 10-for-30, I was going to be aggressive," said Durant. "My teammates did a great job getting me the ball and I was able to get some good shots."

James Harden added 17 points for Oklahoma city while Nick Collison grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds for the Thunder.

Mike Conley led Memphis with 18 points while Zach Randolph added 17 points and 10 rebounds and O.J. Mayo contributed 14 points for the Grizzlies.

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Heat and Bulls have a lot of similarities, except in number of superstars

source:—Mark Heisler

  latimes.com

Mark Heisler looks at the NBA Eastern Conference finals.

NO. 1 CHICAGO VS. NO. 2 MIAMI

Season series: Chicago, 3-0.

Key stat: At 28.8 points and 8.2 assists, Derrick Rose scores or assists on 45 of the 95 points his team is averaging in the playoffs, but his 45% shooting during the season is down to 42%.

Outlook: If these teams haven't clashed much to date, this marks the launch of the blood feud that should dominate the East for years.

Aside from climate differences and the fact one favors red and the other black, they're like the same team.

Both are built on defense, using the same lane-packing scheme everyone (including the Celtics and Lakers) originally stole from San Antonio, avoiding double teams and rotation to limit penetration and open three-pointers.

Both have struggling, incomplete supporting casts they expect to upgrade.

In the obvious, crucial difference, the Heat over-depends on two superstars and the Bulls on one.

Even facing teams that weren't equipped to take much away from Rose, the Bulls had to claw their way here.

The Heat won't let one player beat it and has the perimeter defenders to keep Rose out of the lane more often than the Pacers or Heat did.

The Heat's problem is offense.

First, it doesn't run much, rarely attacking from inside the defense unless LeBron James or Dwyane Wade dribbles his way in, taking shots so hard, it looks as if they're evening up the odds for all their star power.

Second, Miami's role players all but collapsed against Boston.

After Games 1-2, with Mike Miller a shadow of himself, the shooters who are supposed to knock down the open three-pointers James and Wade get them made 21%.

Prediction: If neither should be this beatable again soon, the Bulls are more beatable now.

Heat in five or six.

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Saudi, Iran teams complete FIBA-Asia Champions Cup cast - gmanews

source: Reuben Terrado, JVP, GMA News

Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad and Duhok of Iraq completes the final cast in the 2011 FIBA-Asia Champions Cup on May 28 to June 5 at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

Al Ittihad will take the place of Japan, which decided to withdraw from the tournament after they are still recovering from a devastating earthquake that hit the country last month. Duhok, meanwhile, is the Middle East representative.

Korea also turned down FIBA-Asia's invitation to participate in the tournament.

Al Ittihad and Duhok will join Pilipinas-Smart Gilas, ASU of Jordan and KL Dragons of Malaysia in a much-lighter Group A.

With the composition of Group A now complete, Gilas coach Rajko Toroman is confident that the Nationals can take one of the top two spots.

"I expect our team to be either first or second in the group because Jordan also has national players in their line-up," said Toroman.

Group B, meanwhile, will have the strong teams in Al Riyadi Beirut of Lebanon, Al Rayyan of Qatar, Al Shabab of United Arab Emirates, Mahram of Iran and Al Jalaa of Syria.

Gilas defeated Duhok in last year's FIBA-Asia Champions Cup to earn a quarterfinals berth in the tournament.

Toroman said that Al Ittihad's coach is also a Serbian.

"He is a Serbian guy and he was one of my former assistant coach so we will arrange a tune-up game before the competition," Toroman said. - Reuben Terrado, JVP, GMA News

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Hontiveros' performance impresses Gilas coach - gmanews

source: Reuben Terrado, JVP, GMA News

Pilipinas-Smart Gilas coach Rajko Toroman is impressed on the impact Air21's Dondon Hontiveros is making with the team.

In fact, Toroman believes that Hontiveros will be a vital part of the team even though he has only joined them in practice after the Express was swept by Talk 'N Text in the semifinal round of the PBA Commissioner's Cup.

"Dondon has really picked up the system," said Toroman in Tuesday's Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum. "I think that he is the puzzle that we have been missing. He is a guy that can do a good job for us."

Hontiveros along with Meralco's Asi Taulava have joined Gilas in their build-up for the FIBA-Asia Champions Cup on May 28 to June 5 at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

Jimmy Alapag and Kelly Williams of the newly-crowned PBA Commissioner's Cup champions Talk 'N Text have also been included in the team but has yet to show up in practice after a grueling six-game finals series against Barangay Ginebra.

"We will still make a decision if they will be part of the team for the FIBA-Asia Champions Cup," said Toroman.

But the Serbian mentor hopes that Alapag and Williams could make it to the team especially Williams, who expects to play a big role on defense if he becomes part of Gilas.

"We are a little weak in the four-position and I expect Kelly to help us defensively. He has helped up on defense during the Asian Games in that position. He covered the holes in our defense," said Toroman.

Toroman said he hopes the inclusion of pro cagers in Gilas' line-up could the Nationals' chances in the FIBA-Asia Championship set in September in Nanjin, China. The tournament will be a qualifier for the 2012 London Olympics. - Reuben Terrado, JVP, GMA News

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Thunder win wild Game 4 in triple-OTwith VIDEO -AFP

source: Agence France-Presse


MEMPHIS—Kevin Durant scored six of his 35 points in the third over-time Monday as Oklahoma City won a Western Conference thriller 133-123 to tie their NBA playoff series with Memphis at two games each.

Oklahoma City regained the home-court advantage that the Grizzlies had snatched and now host game five on Wednesday.

Russell Westbrook led the Thunder with 40 points. James Harden added 19, and Daequan Cook chipped in 10.

The Grizzlies, playing to a packed house despite floods that have swelled the Mississippi River and displaced thousands, looked weary in the third over-time, making just one of their nine shots from the floor.







Zach Randolph led the Grizzlies with 34 points and 16 rebounds and Marc Gasol added 26 points and 21 rebounds in the losing effort. O.J. Mayo had 18 and Mike Conley 16 before both fouled out. Greivis Vasquez had 14.

The winner of this series will play the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference finals for a chance to face a team from the East for the NBA crown.

The Mavericks have a chance to rest up after ousting the two-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in the minimum four games.

The Memphis-Oklahoma City series, in contrast, is a dog-fight. Monday's nail-biter came just two days after the Grizzlies edged the Thunder in over-time.

Conley forced the first over-time with his only three-pointer of the game. Vasquez, the rookie who came in after Conley and Mayo fouled out late in the first extra period, hit a three-pointer to set up the second over-time. Gasol's tip-in set up the third over-time.

The Thunder had chances to win at the end of regulation and the first two extra periods.

Westbrook's jump shot hit the rim just before the buzzer to end regulation.

Durant, the NBA scoring champion, saw a three-pointer miss at the end of the first over-time and Westbrook's leaning long-range jump shot brushed the rim at the buzzer to end the second over-time.

Oklahoma City took charge in the third extra period, when Westbrook's basket with 3:38 remaining put them ahead for good.

Durant added a pair of free throws and his running lay-up gave the Thunder a 129-123 lead with less than a minute to play.

Durant stole the ball from Randolph on the other end and made a shot over Shane Battier with 29.3 seconds left.

The Grizzlies can look back and regret letting an early 18-point lead slip.

Oklahoma City could have put it away sooner, too, surrendering a 10-point fourth-quarter lead.

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While TNT is seeking a triple crown, Fonacier has already won a Grand Slam - gmanews

source: source: Rey Joble

Only one player from Talk N Text has already achieved a Grand Slam of sorts on a night the Tropang Texters have just scored their second straight crown.

Larry Fonacier, who won the 2009-2010 Commissioner’s Cup crown as a member of the Alaska Aces, was traded to the Tropang Texters during this season’s Rookie Draft.

“It’s hard to lose Larry. He is an essential part of our team’s success. But we need to free up some space for our salary cap," said Alaska coach Tim Cone, who was also forced to unload Reynel Hugnatan for Meralco’s Hans Thiele in this season’s Philippine Cup for the same reason.

Fonacier was traded to Talk N Text for its first-round pick this season.

Quickly, Fonacier found himself a spot in the Texters’ star-studded roster.

“I call him Lucky Larry," said Reyes. “He’s an important part of our roster and he can play either the No.2 or No. 3 spots. He provides stability in our wing position."

Fonacier said his success was unexpected, but when he saw it, he added some extra hard work and made it look worth it.

“Parang naka-plano yung pagdating ng success and I think my personal success should be involved more on our team’s success as well," said Fonacier.

But why is Talk N Text successful this conference?

The former Ateneo Eagle credited it to the smallest man on the squad, who takes care of the bigger responsibilities — Alapag.

‘When you see Jimmy already practicing two hours earlier, gaganahan ka rin talaga and mahihiya ka. Imagine, your best player is the earliest to come. He truly leads by example," said Fonacier. - Rey Joble, GMA News

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A title away ; TNT - journal

source: Zean Macamay

TWO down, one to go. The 2010-11 season may just be an all-Talk ‘N Text show.

It’s been 15 years since a franchise accomplished the greatest team achievement in the PBA – the Grand Slam. And shortly after winning the Commissioner’s Cup Sunday night at the jampacked Araneta Coliseum, head coach Chot Reyes couldn’t hide his desire to capture one of the league’s rarest feats.
“Two down! Two down! Let’s get another one,” said Reyes at mid-court during the trophy presentation.

That objective, no matter how difficult it may seem, will depend largely on how Talk ‘N Text will react the moment Jimmy Alapag, the PBA Press Corps’ co-Finals MVP along with Jason Castro, and Kelly Williams abandon the ball club to suit up for Smart-Gilas as it prepares for the FIBA-Asia Championships in China in September.

It will also depend on how good Talk ‘N Text’s import would be in the season-ending Governors’ Cup where the Texters will only be allowed to field a 6-foot-2 reinforcement, the handicap they will have to follow for finishing No. 1 for the season’s first two conferences.

Still, Reyes feels excited about the mission at hand.

“Now that we’ve won the second conference, there’s only once jewel missing in the Triple Crown,” Reyes said. “Of course, we’ll go for that. It will be very difficult, but as what we’ve proven in this game, you cannot under-estimate the heart of this team. We’ll figure out how to make another championship run and, who knows?”

Alaska was the last franchise that captured a Grand Slam in 1996. Before the Aces, San Miguel Beer did it in 1989 six years after the fabled ball club Crispa recorded its second three-peat under Tommy Manotoc. Virgilio ‘Baby’ Dalupan was the first head coach to chronicle a Grand Slam in 1976 with the Redmanizers.

Without any doubt, the Texters still hunger for championships. The Commissioner’s Cup may have been the team’s first title in a tournament with imports, but they now see an opportunity to be regarded as one of the greatest franchises of all time if ever they do make it big once again in the Governors’ Cup that kicks off on June 2.

As players and team officials flashed the No. 1 sign while champagne poured all over the dugout after Talk ‘N Text’s gripping 99-96 overtime victory over Ginebra in Game Six, Ali Peek described it best what it took for them to end up at the top.

“In order to be No. 1, you have to go through them (Ginebra Kings),” said Peek.
“Thank you Ginebra for giving us a tough fight,” Ricky Vargas, Talk ‘N Text’s representative to the Board, said.

Looking back, the championship series against Ginebra might have taught Talk ‘N Text a lot. Likewise, the best-of-seven showdown hardened the Texters’ character.

Talk ‘N Text was nine minutes away from being dragged to a pressure-filled Game 7, falling behind by as many as 81-66. Yet what looked like an imposing deficit only sparked the fighting spirit within the Texters, and the franchise that has not lost back-to-back games throughout the conference whirled back into contention by sending the game into extra time.

When Rob Labagala missed a point-blank shot in the waning seconds of regulation, Talk ‘N Text did not let the opportunity slip away.

Alapag, Castro, and Ranidel de Ocampo each knocked in three-point shots in extra time, and the man they also call the ‘Mighty Mouse’ added two free throws before the Kings blew their chances to send the match into a second extra period when Willie Miller committed a passing error intended for John Wilson as time expired.

Paul Harris, who will be credited as the first import to lead the Texters to a championship, picked up the ball and scooted downcourt, his one arm clutching the leather and the other raised in triumph as Talk ‘N Text recorded one of the most intense and thrilling climaxes in a title-clinching game in years.

But in the end, it was all about how Alapag and Castro carried the ball club when the chips were down.

“What a luxury to have two point guards who genuinely like playing together and can play well together,” said Reyes of Alapag and Castro. “That’s one of the secrets to our success.”

In winning the title, Talk ‘N Text can now forget the demons of the past. Before these championships, the Texters have not won any series against Ginebra, losing the 2004-05 Philippine Cup Finals, 4-1, and the 2009-10 best-of-five quarter-finals series after leading 2-0 and marred by a walkout in Game 4.

It was also the first time that Reyes won back-to-back championships, even though the triumph was his seventh personally while giving Talk ‘N Text its fourth crown. Reyes also is one title away from tying the man he defeated in the series, Jong Uichico, at third spot for coaches with most titles won behind Dalupan (15), and Tim Cone (13).

The Texters’ three previous titles all came in the Philippine Cups in 2003, 2007-08 and 2010-11 seasons.

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LeBron James, Heat clip Celtics in OT to take 3-1 series lead - AP

source: AP

BOSTON (AP) — LeBron James (FSY) scored 35 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead Miami to a 98-90 overtime victory over the Boston Celtics on Monday night and give the Heat a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Dwyane Wade (FSY) scored 28 with nine rebounds and Chris Bosh (FSY) had 20 points and 12 rebounds for Miami, which could eliminate the defending conference champions and advance to the East finals with a victory in Game 5 in Miami on Wednesday night.

James, Wade and Bosh scored 83 of Miami's 98 points and had 35 of its 45 rebounds.

Paul Pierce (FSY) scored 27, Ray Allen (FSY) had 17 and Kevin Garnett (FSY) had seven points and 10 rebounds for Boston.

James made up for a turnover at the end of regulation with a fallaway jumper to start overtime and give Miami the lead for good. The Celtics scored just four points in overtime, shooting 1 for 6 and making four of their 18 turnovers.

Rajon Rondo (FSY), who dislocated his left elbow Saturday night in Game 3, played 39 minutes with a padded sleeve covering what appeared to be a brace on his left arm, scoring 10 with five assists.

Boston took an 84-81 lead with 2:28 left after back-to-back three-pointers by Delonte West (FSY) and Allen, but James hit a 3 to tie it and then made a left-handed lay-in with 48 seconds to play to give Miami an 86-84 lead. Pierce drove to the basket to tie it, but James lost control of the ball while he was dribbling down the clock.

Allen went for it and was bumped by James Jones (FSY), giving Boston the ball out of bounds with 19.5 seconds left and the game tied at 86. Pierce got the ball, waited out the clock and then took a high-arcing fallaway jumper in the final seconds that bounced off the rim as time expired.

In the overtime period, Garnett threw the ball away and then James made a fallaway jumper as the shot clock expired to give Miami an 88-86 lead. Allen missed, Bosh dunked at the other end, West missed a three-pointer and then James drew a charging foul on Pierce. After another Boston turnover, Wade made a 2-pointer with his foot on the three-point arc to give Miami a 92-86 lead with 2 minutes left in overtime.

One game after the Heat's Big Three combined for just 44 points — their lowest total since they assembled their superteam in Miami — they provided almost all of the offense. No one else had more than four points, and the Heat's bench totaled just seven.

Miami won the first two games at home, but the Celtics responded when the series returned to Boston and clamped down on the Heat's Big Three to win Game 3 97-81. Garnett had his best game of the series, scoring 28 with 18 rebounds, but the star for Boston was Rondo.

The Celtics point guard returned from a dislocated left elbow and provided his team with the spark it had been missing.

There was some doubt about whether he would be ready for Game 4 — but not in Rondo's mind.

An MRI and CT scan on the day off were both negative, and Rondo was back in the lineup.

Instead, it was Heat coach Erik Spoelstra shuffling his lineup, activating Udonis Haslem (FSY) for the first time since November foot surgery and rewarding Joel Anthony (FSY) for his play in the early games with his first start of the playoffs.

Haslem made just one appearance in the first three quarters, playing 3 minutes and picking up an offensive foul, a loose-ball foul and a technical foul.

But the Big Three was back.

The Heat went on a 10-2 run in the third quarter to take a 63-59 lead. It was a three-point game when Allen hit a three-pointer and Boston scored 11 straight points to take a 73-65 lead before Miami scored the last two baskets — on layups by Anthony and James — to end the third quarter trailing by four.

Notes: Miami had zero assists in the second quarter, and just eight through three. ... Boston activated point guard Carlos Arroyo (FSY) in case Rondo's elbow and West's shoulder became a problem. He did not get into the game. ... Jermaine O'Neal (FSY) was called for a flagrant foul on James in the first five minutes, perhaps an attempt by the officials to make sure things didn't get nasty after Saturday night's takedown in which Rondo was injured.

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