Warriors will their way to Finals
By Alder T. Almo
24 September 2009 07:20 PM

Manila – The University of the East (UE) Red Warriors willed their way to the Finals after hacking out a come-from-behind 78-72 upset of the second seed Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws on Thursday in the 72nd UAAP Final Four at the Araneta Coliseum.

Trailing for three-fourths of the game, the Warriors tightened up on defense to sweep the twice-to-beat armed Tamaraws and earned the right to challenge the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles in the Finals.

After Aldrech Ramos gave FEU a 68-63 lead at the 8:10 mark of the payoff period, back-up guard Rudy Lingganay came out from nowhere to help the Warriors win their first Final Four series since the format was introduced in 1994.

Lingganay scored five straight points and fed Pari Llagas for the go-ahead lay-up, 70-68, midway the final period. The 7-0 spurt jumpstarted a 15-4 finishing salvo that preserved the Warriors' unbeaten run to eight dating back to the eliminations.

“I challenged my veterans especially the senior players at halftime and asked them, do you want this to be your last game,” UE rookie coach Lawrence Chongson said. “We just showed the “Warrior will”.”

UE is now in the Finals for just the fifth time since winning its last title in 1985 when the team was still bannered by Allan Caidic and Jerry Codinera.

The Warriors’ last finals appearance was in 2007 when they posted a 14-0 elimination sweep but got swept in the Finals by the De La Salle Green Archers, who just came back from a one-year suspension.

The remnants of that fateful 2007 team scored all but two of UE’s total points in this game.

Paul Lee and Val Acuna paced the Warriors with 17 points each while Llagas, Lingganay and Espiritu combined for 37 points. Even seldom-used Toto Bandaying chipped in five markers as a surprise starter.

“Basta gusto naming makabawi sa mga masasakit na talo namin noon. Gusto naming ibahin ang tingin nila sa UE at i-break ‘yung jinx,” said an emotional Lee afterwards.

For the second straight game without the banished Andy Mark Barroca, FEU lost what looked like to be a won game.

Behind the hot hands of Ric Cawaling and Cameroonian rookie Pippo Noundou, FEU opened the game with a 12-point lead, 27-15, late in the first period and still had a 51-45 lead at the break.

However, the Tamaraws collapsed again in the second half and sorely missed a go-to-guy down the stretch. FEU shot a woeful 29 percent from the field in the second half after waxing hot in the first two quarters with 48 percent clip.

Malaking bagay rin na wala si (Andy Mark) Barroca. “Di mo matatawaran ang talent nung bata,” assessed Chongson.

The Tamaraws will miss the Finals for the fourth straight season or since Arwind Santos led FEU to the title in 2005.

“Masakit kasi ang ganda naman ng ipinakita namin. We just fell short,” said FEU coach Glenn Capacio, who took the reins in 2007.

Cawaling and Noundou led FEU with 19 and 16 points, respectively but they were held to just a basket each in the second half.

The Scores:

UE 78 – Lee 17, Acuna 17, Llagas 16, Lingganay 15, Espiritu 6, Bandaying 5, Acibar 2, Zamar 0, Tagarda 0, Reyes 0, Ayala 0.

FEU 72 – Cawaling 19, Noundou 16, Garcia 13, Cervantes 12, Ramos 10, Sanga 2, Tanuan 0, Manalo 0, Eguilos 0, Caluag 0.

Quarters: 19-27, 45-51, 61-64, 78-72.

advice to Capacio: make sure Cawaling and Garcia won't screw this next year

Ano na ang nangyari kay Zamar? Bat di na maganda laro niya? Same also with Espiritu.

Maganda pala pinakita ni Val Acuna. Gusto ko talagang mapanood ang laro.:cry:

Congratulations to Coach Lawrence!

Prediction UAAP Finals: Ateneo via sweep. Good for the Sesqui celebration this year!

One Game at a Time
Ateneo-UE finals will be lightning-quick
By Sev Sarmenta
First Posted 22:55:00 09/24/2009

THE UE-ATENEO UAAP championship series is going to be a lightning bolt that will slash quickly and fade just as swiftly into the annals of the league.

The series will be frenetic with passions heating up on the court, as well as in the galleries.

Expect a high-octane series, what with both teams on winning streaks. Game One will be the most explosive with both squads going with the strengths that brought them to the finals. Adjustments will come later.

The team that plays the better defense should win the title. Defense brings you back to earth in the heat of the championship series. It will always be there even when the offense goes astray.

Ateneo will mark Paul Lee and it will be up to the red-hot guard how he will disassemble the Eagle defense by passing off at the right time.

Check out how he will try to find Val Acuña in the wings or dish off to Pari Llagas or Elmer Espiritu at the post.

UE will have to stop Ateneo’s ability to find the corner shooters that seem to wiggle open when Ryan Buenafe or Eric Salamat takes over the point guard chores.

If you’re UE, you have to keep your eyes peeled for Jai Reyes and pocket rocket Emman Monfort, the usual suspects who can hit treys in those corners.

Check how the key players are marked in the series. This will determine whether Ateneo defends its crown, or UE finally ends one of the longest title droughts in its history. Watch very closely because it will happen in a flash.


* * *

The UAAP has delivered its usual share of thrills for the communities of its schools this season. Even hoop fans not associated in any way to the schools have found the games engaging, and it’s not because there’s no PBA or NBA as alternatives.

The games have been well fought, period.

It’s sad, nevertheless, that its current season has to be footnoted by the Mark Barroca story.

Well, what is a college season without its share of stories happening off the playing court.

We may never really find out the real score but we remain hopeful that the talented young man will come out of this bit of a mess a better player for the national squad or whatever team that signs him in the commercial leagues.

It was quite a sacrifice for Far Eastern to take Barroca out of its roster at a critical time of the tournament.

Whatever its reasons, the school decided in what it believed to be in the best interest of the team. This hurt FEU in its two losses in the Final Four to UE, but it was a decision it stood by to the very end.


* * *

Schools, and perhaps churches, are just two of the few remaining bastions of value formations in this country. And it is never easy to read stories about alleged game fixing or messing up with player eligibility.

You cringe just a little, regardless of which school is involved, and wonder why this happens to school leagues.

Schools only have the strengths of their traditions and educational systems to shield them from forces that want to turn their leagues inside out.

That’s why the UAAP and the NCAA and their member schools have been around for so long. Sports is important in the context of education. But it should never be given priority over values.

Thursday, September 24, 2009
The Smart Choice
http://chris-tiu.blogspot.com/2009/09/smart-choice.html


It's been more than a month since i last posted and so much has happened in so short a time. So many issues. We know of the Japeth, Marc Barocca and Jobe Nkemakolam issues. 2 out of 3 are current teammates in Gilas (although Japeth is unofficial) and 1 was a former Blue Eagle teammate. All of a sudden, Smart Gilas is back in the spotlight. After mutually agreeing that the Smart Gilas team will compete in the upcoming international competitions after the Powerade team's stint in Tianjin, now they want to review the by-laws of the SBP and push for another PBA-backed team. Then, a ban of Japeth to play in the PBA is the works. I'd rather not talk about these issues right now, but rather my experiences being part of the Smart Gilas team for more than half a year now.

We just completed a 2-day trip to Singapore to play against the Singapore Slingers composed of several American and Australian imports coupled with domestic players. We came out victorious by 3 points, could have been more if not for the lapses of the Singaporean referees. But that's always the case if you're playing a home team abroad. Surprisingly, there were more Filipinos than Singaporeans in the crowd. Thanks to al the Pinoys who came to support us!

It was a very short and tiring trip, but very fruitful indeed. Cj Giles, JV Casio, Mac Baracael, Jason Ballesteros, Magi Sison, Mark Barocca, Japeth Aguilar, Fil-Australians Sebastian Salinas and Matt Schmechtig, and myself made up the 10-man lineup. And guess who was assigned to be my roommate, the hottest man on the news Mark Barocca! We had a long and emotional chat. I was being very attentive and open-minded. I could feel his sincerity, disappointment and frustration. He was very open and candid, which made me realize that he was indeed a victim. I gave him a rosary and a St. Josemaria Escriva prayer card from my mom. He thanked me and he took out a St. Jude prayer booklet which he read before going to bed.

Going back to our trip, we arrived in Singapore on Tuesday around 3 in the afternoon. We arrived at our hotel around 330pm starving!! Because apparently you have to pay extra to be served lunch on the budget airline that we took (Oh, and also an additional $20 to be transferred to a bulkhead seat regardless if you're 5'0 or 6'10 like CJ and Japeth). We grabbed a quick bite and went straight to practice from 5 to 7pm. Mind you, it wasn't even a light practice. After dinner at a Chinese tea house, we were given the option to look around the city for a while with a curfew at 12. I stayed in because my body was shutting down. The following morning, we had breakfast all together as always at 9am. Then, at 12nn we went to the gym to shoot around and get familiar with the rim and the balls. Then back to the hotel for lunch and to rest. We left for the game at 6pm. The game lasted from 8 to 10pm. Thankfully we won and because it was CJ Giles' 24th birthday, we were allowed to check out the nightlife in Singapore but with a curfew because we had to leave for the airport at 4am. On our way home to the hotel, we were all getting anxious because if we were a minute late for curfew, we knew we were going to be in deep deep trouble! We made it on time, whew!

That's Coach Rajko Toroman for you. Discipline cannot be compromised. The Singapore trip, just like any other out of town trip, is no vacation. Every day, every hour is like clock work. Everybody eats together for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Like in Jakarta, you would see players from the other Asian countries coming in the dining hall one or two at a time, eating on their own. That's a no no for Coach T. There's no such thing as a day-off. If game time is still in the afternoon, there's always a shoot around session in the morning. Time for rest means no one leaves his hotel room. And if we have time to check out the city, we always go as a group. Reminds me of my college/high school team where everything is so disciplined and 'professional'. It may sound too rigid for some, but ironically, we have lots of fun traveling abroad as a team despite all that. I always look forward to out of town trips.

And that's what i love about this group. We're all about the same age and full of energy. Practices are always intense. Coach T himself is very intense in every single practice, more so during games. Sometimes we fear for his blood pressure. He is never ever late and there's no excuse for being late. He runs the drills himself while the assistant coaches support him, not the other way around like in many professional teams. He is extremely particular with the details and making the right decisions in every play offensively and defensively. He is a perfectionist.

I truly admire Coach T's dedication to the team, reminding me of my former coaches Norman and Sandy. When he took us to Serbia (his hometown) for 2 weeks of exhibition matches last April, he stayed with us in the hotel during our entire stay there despite his residence being just 10 minutes away. Even during our weights sessions, he would sit there for the entire 2 hours while we work out with our strength and conditioning coach. Some other coaches would probably use that time to take care of their other 'rackets'.

We are aware that there has been some resistance from the local basketball community regarding hiring a foreign coach to be the captain of the ship for the national team. Being under him for several months now, i have come to really appreciate the new system and tactical changes that he has introduced. For that and all the other things that i have mentioned earlier, i am truly grateful to be part of this experience, to be under his wing. I sincerely hope that more local coaches can humble themselves and try to learn this new European philosophy that Coach T has adopted rather than being so close-minded thinking that we already know it all. Maybe you're good enough locally, but outside is an entirely different competition. We always want to learn from the US style, but then again we must accept that we are not genetically gifted like them. This is a great opportunity for Philippine basketball to regain its rightful position in the international spectrum.

This is why i believe that i made the smart choice. Actually, i was more of lucky because i finished my collegiate career right at the perfect time while this new program is being developed. God just has His ways. If i had joined the PBA draft, i might have been disillusioned and my passion for the game might not be the same as it is right now. What better feeling it is to be playing the sport you love, traveling around the world, playing intensely with a special bunch of guys, and most importantly, playing for ONE goal - that is the Philippine flag. A goal that is not unique for the Gilas team, but one that is shared by the 90 million Filipinos all over the world.

Chris

P.S. Who can ever blame Japeth for making that same decision "to play for country"??

Posted by chris at 11:42 PM

^^ Just hope that SBP will be able to get the services of Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringles. That would certainly beef up the national team.

^^ nice blog entry from Chris Tiu there. This is gonna put other people who don't believe in this team into another side of the program--a first hand insight and comment. Just imagine how they are strictly following the curfew time unlike those PBA back national teams before who can just move around places without regard to a coming game in the morning. This is where success starts--discipline. Apart from that, the coach really does the drills himself unlike what we see in professional coaches, I really think this is the "smart" choice for Japeth and the others.

This is the beauty of it, when these players become mature, they will be able to impart what they have learned from the system to the future teams if they may opt to coach someday.

^^ Just hope that SBP will be able to get the services of Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringles. That would certainly beef up the national team.

Is Stanhardinger a Filipino? Coz according to his credentials, he has already played in the German junior team. With that and according to FIBA rules, he is no longer allowed to play in any other national team apart from the first national team he represented. Just like Giles, if he is already listed in our national team and have played FIBA sanctioned games under the Philippine colors, he will no longer be allowed to play in other national teams or the US Team if he may opt to represent another national color even if he is already out of our national team.

Pringle has a chance, he is a good ball handler and a good passer. He has not represented a national team before. If we have this guy on our team along with Chris Lutz and Sean Anthony, our team will be formidable even against Iran.

Is Stanhardinger a Filipino? Coz according to his credentials, he has already played in the German junior team. With that and according to FIBA rules, he is no longer allowed to play in any other national team apart from the first national team he represented. Just like Giles, if he is already listed in our national team and have played FIBA sanctioned games under the Philippine colors, he will no longer be allowed to play in other national teams or the US Team if he may opt to represent another national color even if he is already out of our national team.

Pringle has a chance, he is a good ball handler and a good passer. He has not represented a national team before. If we have this guy on our team along with Chris Lutz and Sean Anthony, our team will be formidable even against Iran.

^^ With respect to Standhardinger, Christian is half Filipino and has indeed represented the German junior team and as a "general" rule, he is prohibited from representing another country. However, under the FIBA rules, an exception is allowed as long as the original home federation releases the player to the requesting federation.

An example is Jordan's 7'0 Dshamal Schoetz (renamed Jamal Almutusem Habes Almaaytah) who already represented the German national team in a FIBA tournament but was allowed to play for Jordan in the recent 2009 FIBA-Asia Championships in Tianjin. Jordan took the third spot en route to qualifying into the Turkey Worlds.

Another example is the Dominican Republic's Villanueva who likewise represented the USA national team in a FIBA tournament. Villanueva was released by the USA federation to allow him to represent the Dominican Republic in the recent FIBA-Americas. Unfortunately, the Dominican Republic failed to qualify even if they were heavy favorites.

So SBP right now is trying to get Christian Standhardinger into the fold but he is prioritizing his studies first as he just transferred from Germany to the US. But he is reported to be open to represent the Philippines.

Stanley Pringle is now in Belgium and is reported to be keen on joining the Euroleague. He tried out in Las Vegas for the SMART Gilas team and is under consideration. He was reported to have some "unorthodox" behavior but has a very high leaping ability and 3 point accuracy.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u197/venntro/big_image_1196426658983.png

Christian Standhardinger
# 11
Forward - F
Height: 6-8 Weight: 210
Freshman
Previous Affiliations
Erdgas Ehingen/Urspringschule
Previous Experience
HS
Munich, Germany

Courtesy: NU Media Relations
Release: 05/08/2009


Before Nebraska

Standhardinger is relatively unknown to college basketball fans in the United States but has earned a reputation of being a tough-nosed competitor with an ability to score from anywhere on the court in his native Germany. He has good size to play small forward and possesses a solid basketball IQ. He comes from the same school in Germany as current Husker center Christopher Niemann.

In 2009, Standhardinger averaged a stellar 22.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.6 steals over 26 games for Ehingen. He hit 54.7 percent (151-of-276) from the floor, including 40.6 percent (43-of-106) from beyond the arc. At the charity stripe, he knocked down 146-of-202 attempts for a solid 72.3-percent accuracy.

In possibly his most impressive game of the year, Standhardinger posted a season-best 41 points against Speyer when he hit 11-of-19 from the field with five 3-pointers while draining 14-of-16 attempts at the charity stripe. He also added 13 rebounds in the contest.

Standhardinger also had highs of 16 rebounds, eight assists and six steals during the campaign. His 16 boards and eight assists came in the same game against Freiburg, when he hit 8-of-17 from the floor to post 22 points. He tied his season best with two blocks in the contest.

On the year, Standhardinger topped 25 points seven times while posting at least 20 points in 21-of-26 games played. He nailed at least 10 field goals in six contests, including hitting at least two 3-point shots in nine of his last 12 games. At the foul line, he had double-figure attempts eight times with a season-high 18 attempts (11 made) in the third game of the season. During his strong start to the season, he was named the league's Youngster of the Month for November 2008.

The previous year, Standhardinger averaged 17.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game for Ehingen while hitting 47.3 percent from the floor. He has made tremendous improvements from long range, as he hit just 18.9 percent (10-of-53) from beyond the arc in 2007-08. In the 2-point area, he hit 115-of-211 (54.5 percent) that season.

Standhardinger came to the United States with the same Urspringschule squad as Niemann that played in the Arby’s Classic in Bristol, Tenn., in the winter of 2007-08. Standhardinger led the team to a fourth-place finish in the tournament and was the only player from his team named to the all-tournament squad. In the final of the 2008 U19 German Championship, the 6-8, 210-pounder scored 37 points and posted 12 rebounds. He also earned top scorer honors at the Europe’s Best Junior Tournament in 2007 and was the MVP of the German Top 4 in 2007.

A year earlier while playing for Urspringschule, the talented wing/forward scored a career best 52 points in a contest against Ulm as he hit 19-of-21 shots in the game. Later that season, he posted a career-high 22 rebounds against Mittlehessen. He averaged 7.1 points and 2.5 rebounds per game in his first year at Urspringschule while hitting 53.9 percent from the field and 66.2 percent at the line.

Standhardinger has also been a member of the German Junior National Team, where he averaged 8.0 points and 2.0 rebounds per game at the 2007 U18 European Championships. He posted his best games with 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting against Israel and added 15 points with five rebounds (four offensive) against Russia in back-to-back games.

Standhardinger was the fourth international signee with the Huskers since coach Doc Sadler took over the program before the 2006-07 campaign.

^^ With respect to Standhardinger, Christian is half Filipino and has indeed represented the German junior team and as a "general" rule, he is prohibited from representing another country. However, under the FIBA rules, an exception is allowed as long as the original home federation releases the player to the requesting federation.

An example is Jordan's 7'0 Dshamal Schoetz (renamed Jamal Almutusem Habes Almaaytah) who already represented the German national team in a FIBA tournament but was allowed to play for Jordan in the recent 2009 FIBA-Asia Championships in Tianjin. Jordan took the third spot en route to qualifying into the Turkey Worlds.

Another example is the Dominican Republic's Villanueva who likewise represented the USA national team in a FIBA tournament. Villanueva was released by the USA federation to allow him to represent the Dominican Republic in the recent FIBA-Americas. Unfortunately, the Dominican Republic failed to qualify even if they were heavy favorites.

So SBP right now is trying to get Christian Standhardinger into the fold but he is prioritizing his studies first as he just transferred from Germany to the US. But he is reported to be open to represent the Philippines.

If that's the rule, then, Standhardinger is a good addition to the team. With him, Giles, Aguilar, Pringle, Lutz, Anthony together with Barroca, Ababou, Casio, Tiu, Fajardo, Baracael, and Al-Hussaini, this will be a formidable line up that even the top three Asian Championship teams will have a hard time beating.

THe PBA will really be "envious" apart from Aguilar with these players on the line-up. They will realy think how an all amateur team will be able to beat the supposedly "Asia's Best" basketball league.
____________________________________________________________

Another thing about the Aguilar issue, the PBA really is pushing it to the limits by not allowing the SBP to sign Aguilar to Smart Gilas.

^^
Is Rico Maierhofer part of the team?

^ nope, he beg off and joined the PBA instead.

sayang Rico would be a good addtion to Smart Gilas. he has outside shots with high leaping ability.

^^
What i thought also. Even Khazim Mirza.
Rico is a very promising player.

If that's the rule, then, Standhardinger is a good addition to the team. With him, Giles, Aguilar, Pringle, Lutz, Anthony together with Barroca, Ababou, Casio, Tiu, Fajardo, Baracael, and Al-Hussaini, this will be a formidable line up that even the top three Asian Championship teams will have a hard time beating.

THe PBA will really be "envious" apart from Aguilar with these players on the line-up. They will realy think how an all amateur team will be able to beat the supposedly "Asia's Best" basketball league.
____________________________________________________________

Another thing about the Aguilar issue, the PBA really is pushing it to the limits by not allowing the SBP to sign Aguilar to Smart Gilas.

Not all the players mentioned have contracts with the Smart Gilas. Officially, from the names mentioned above, only Barroca, Ababou, Casio, Baracael and Tiu have multi-year contracts until possibly 2012. Jason Ballesteros of Baste also has a similar contract. CJ Giles only has a one year contract while Aguilar still has no SBP contract. Lutz, Anthony, Al Hussaini, Pringle and Fajardo are all under consideration but have not been offered contracts.

Rest assured though that SBP is on the lookout for homegrown and foreign based Filipinos to beef up the national team. As of now, two fil-aussies are trying out with the team together with UP's Magi Sison.

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/9848/spo7.jpg

Ex-PBA chair an ‘Ondoy’ casualty

Barako’s Chua drowns in raging floodwaters
MANILA, Philippines - Late Saturday evening, Barako Bull coach Leo Isaac sent a text message to the team’s board representative, Antonio “Tony” Chua, asking permission to cancel Sunday's practice because of the havoc tropical storm “Ondoy” wrought on the metropolis and nearby provinces.
He never got a reply.

The affable, well-liked Chua, who served as Philippine Basketball Association chair during the 2006-2007 season, passed away late Saturday evening—a casualty of the flash floods triggered by heavy rains brought by “Ondoy.”

“We are still in shock,” said Isaac. “He’s a big loss to the Barako Bull organization.”
The tragedy shocked and saddened the far reaches of the sporting community, from basketball to football, after PBA commissioner Renauld “Sonny” Barrios made the announcement yesterday morning.

Barrios said that Chua drowned after he was swept away by the raging floodwaters while walking on his way home with his driver, identified only as Jun, and personal assistant Jonare Peda on a flooded section of Marcos Highway.

“They probably went out of the vehicle after their car got stalled,” said Barrios, who received the news from Barako Bull team owner George Chua. “From what I was told, there were several people walking on the flooded road so they thought it could be safer if they leave the car and walk.”

PBA chair Lito Alvarez said Chua, who lives at Filinvest subdivision along Marcos Highway, came from the warehouse of Photokina Marketing Inc., the distributor of Barako Bull in the country, near Santolan Avenue, at around 9:30 p.m. when the accident happened.

Based on accounts of the accident, Barrios said Chua and his driver were forced at first to cling to a tree on the side of the highway for safety after Pedal was swept by the floodwaters. Pedal remained missing at press time.

But Barrios said Chua later lost his grip when a piece of wood hit his head and he plunged into the chest-deep flood waters that had overflowed from the Marikina River.

Barrios said the driver tried to rescue Chua and was able to retrieve him from the raging waters minutes later but the Red Bull executive was no longer breathing.
Almost immediately, tributes to the man who always had a ready smile on his face came pouring in.

“He cracks jokes but he is someone who commands respect when he talks,” said Isaac.

Barako Bull consultant Andy Jao, who worked with Chua for 10 years at the Photokina franchise, expressed sadness over the tragedy.

“I was with him yesterday morning,” said Jao. “It’s very unfortunate for this to happen to a person who was at the prime of his life.”
Jao added that the 58-year-old Chua “may have his own opinions on how things should be done, but we always respected each other.”

National coach Yeng Guiao, who called the shots when the franchise was still known as Red Bull for nine years until last year, said he owes Chua a lot in his career as PBL commissioner and PBA coach.
Guiao deeply shocked

“I’m deeply shocked,” Guiao said in a text message to the Inquirer. “He was well-liked by everybody in the basketball community. We were like family in the Red Bull organization. We remained very close even after my transfer to Burger King. I owe him a lot in my career as PBL commissioner and as a PBA coach.”

“It’s a big loss to Barako Bull and the PBA. We offer our sincere condolences to his family,” said Alvarez.

“He was a good friend; a great guy,” said Barako Bull alternate governor Raffy Casyao. “He was the perfect officemate.”

Pablito Araneta, who worked with Chua at the Philippine Football Federation said Chua was “very instrumental in finsing support for the national teams during the time of [former PFF president] Johnny Romualdez.

His remains lie in state at the Sanctuarium along Araneta Ave., Quezon City. Barrios said other funeral details would be announced later.

Chua was instrumental for bringing the Photokina franchise to the pro league in 1999 after the ballclub won several championships in the Philippine Basketball League.
He also served as vice president of the Philippine Football Federation from 2004 to 2007.

^^
Congratulations UE! Sana i replay ang laro nila ngayong Saturday or Sunday.:( Wala kasing Skycable dito.

So, who was the main man for both teams?

UE vs. ADMU. Very interesting. When was the last time that these two teams fought in the finals?

1987 ata or 1988

UE vs. Ateneo for the UAAP Finals. WooHoo Animo Ateneo! One Big Fight! Mas masaya ang Ateneo 150th anniversary and grand reunion niyan if we bring the trophy back home again! :banana: :banana: :banana:


One Game at a Time
Ateneo-UE finals will be lightning-quick
By Sev Sarmenta
First Posted 22:55:00 09/24/2009

THE UE-ATENEO UAAP championship series is going to be a lightning bolt that will slash quickly and fade just as swiftly into the annals of the league.

The series will be frenetic with passions heating up on the court, as well as in the galleries.

Expect a high-octane series, what with both teams on winning streaks. Game One will be the most explosive with both squads going with the strengths that brought them to the finals. Adjustments will come later.

The team that plays the better defense should win the title. Defense brings you back to earth in the heat of the championship series. It will always be there even when the offense goes astray.

Ateneo will mark Paul Lee and it will be up to the red-hot guard how he will disassemble the Eagle defense by passing off at the right time.

Check out how he will try to find Val Acuña in the wings or dish off to Pari Llagas or Elmer Espiritu at the post.

UE will have to stop Ateneo’s ability to find the corner shooters that seem to wiggle open when Ryan Buenafe or Eric Salamat takes over the point guard chores.

If you’re UE, you have to keep your eyes peeled for Jai Reyes and pocket rocket Emman Monfort, the usual suspects who can hit treys in those corners.

Check how the key players are marked in the series. This will determine whether Ateneo defends its crown, or UE finally ends one of the longest title droughts in its history. Watch very closely because it will happen in a flash.


* * *

The UAAP has delivered its usual share of thrills for the communities of its schools this season. Even hoop fans not associated in any way to the schools have found the games engaging, and it’s not because there’s no PBA or NBA as alternatives.

The games have been well fought, period.

It’s sad, nevertheless, that its current season has to be footnoted by the Mark Barroca story.

Well, what is a college season without its share of stories happening off the playing court.

We may never really find out the real score but we remain hopeful that the talented young man will come out of this bit of a mess a better player for the national squad or whatever team that signs him in the commercial leagues.

It was quite a sacrifice for Far Eastern to take Barroca out of its roster at a critical time of the tournament.

Whatever its reasons, the school decided in what it believed to be in the best interest of the team. This hurt FEU in its two losses in the Final Four to UE, but it was a decision it stood by to the very end.


* * *

Schools, and perhaps churches, are just two of the few remaining bastions of value formations in this country. And it is never easy to read stories about alleged game fixing or messing up with player eligibility.

You cringe just a little, regardless of which school is involved, and wonder why this happens to school leagues.

Schools only have the strengths of their traditions and educational systems to shield them from forces that want to turn their leagues inside out.

That’s why the UAAP and the NCAA and their member schools have been around for so long. Sports is important in the context of education. But it should never be given priority over values.

SBP holds fund-raiser for victims (http://http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=509519&publicationSubCategoryId=69)
(The Philippine Star) Updated September 29, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, in an admirable show of unity, cooperation and love of country, yesterday set blockbuster exhibition games featuring the best of professional and collegiate basketball for the benefit of typhoon “Ondoy” victims.

Dubbed “Pinoy Basketbol Kakampi Nyo,” the worthy event is slated Monday at the Araneta Coliseum pitting the UAAP-NCAA selection versus PBL-Liga selection and Smart Gilas versus Powerade Pilipinas.

Officials of SBP, PBA, PBL, Liga Pilipinas, the UAAP and the NCAA met yesterday and agreed on the staging of the charity event in cooperation with the Big Dome management.

“Araneta has agreed to the event’s free use of the venue. We will donate to the typhoon victims all proceeds from tickets,” said Smart Sports head Patrick Gregorio in a text message to The STAR.

“We are also asking all leagues to donate old rubber shoes or rubber slippers. We all decided to give donation to the ABS-CBN Foundation,” Gregorio added.

Coach Yeng Guiao is reuniting with his Tianjin Fiba Asia RP team going up against coach Rajko Toroman and his Smart Gilas developmental team.

The cream of the UAAP and the NCAA, meanwhile, join forces in this endeavor before returning to their respective teams for the closing stage of the collegiate season. – Nelson Beltran

Smart Gilas vs. Powerade Team Pilipinas
Oct. 5, 2009 (Monday) ? ipalabas kaya 'to sa Btv and C/S?

UAAP Finals Game 1:
Eagles rusty? Warriors are raring to pounce
BY CHRISTINE MONCADA
Malaya
http://www.malaya.com.ph/oct01/spor1.htm

AFTER a 10-day layoff, Ateneo plunges into action anew today, staking its title against University of the East in Game 1 of their best-of-three battle for the 72nd UAAP men’s basketball championship at the Araneta Coliseum.

Living up to expectations, the Blue Eagles whipped University of Santo Tomas 81-64 last Sept. 20 in their Final Four showdown and secured the first finals berth, in the process gaining a 10-day reprieve and raising questions whether they will go into the title showdown rusty.

"It is a possibility but we’re doing everything to make sure that doesn’t become a factor. We’re doing everything to offset ’yung days of lack of action," said Ateneo assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga.

"The boys have stayed focused in practice so we are not really bothered. We want to assure everybody that we are not rusting and we are not resting," he added.

In contrast, the Red Warriors needed to beat Far Eastern University twice in their semis match-up to earn the right to face the Blue Eagles and get another chance at ending more than two decades of frustration.

After routing the Tamaraws 84-74 last Sept. 19, the Red Warriors returned five days later to score a come-from-behind 78-72 win in their do-or-die match for the second finals berth.

The Red Warriors last won the crown in 1985. They had consistently made it to the Final Four since 2002 and barged into the finals in 2007 after completing a 14-game sweep of the eliminations, only to be swept in two games by La Salle in the title match.

Coach Lawrence Chongson, who has guided the Red Warriors to the finals in his rookie year with the team, said they intend to dethrone the Blue Eagles.

"Sa simula sinabi namin na ang goal namin is this year is to win the title. We’ve come this far and we hope we can push this on until we achieve our goal," said Chongson, adding their defense will be their biggest weapon.

"We intend to defeat Ateneo with our defense. Our defense has been ridiculed, sinasabi na ‘walang sistema’ or ‘a system without a system’ but we keep on winning," Chongson stressed.

Manpower-wise, Ateneo has the decided edge, with reigning Most Valuable Player Rabeh Al-Hussaini expected to dominate the shaded lane with his bulk. Also expected to step up for Ateneo are Jai Reyes, Noy Baclao and Ryan Buenafe, among others.

Leading UE, which intends to dictate the tempo in the series, are the trio of Paul Lee, Elmer Espiritu and Pari Llagas.

In their head-to-head duel this year, the Eagles swept the Warriors. They came back from a 17-point deficit and hammered out a 72-57 win last July 16 and repeated the trick with an 80-75 triumph last Aug. 13.

Not all the players mentioned have contracts with the Smart Gilas. Officially, from the names mentioned above, only Barroca, Ababou, Casio, Baracael and Tiu have multi-year contracts until possibly 2012. Jason Ballesteros of Baste also has a similar contract. CJ Giles only has a one year contract while Aguilar still has no SBP contract. Lutz, Anthony, Al Hussaini, Pringle and Fajardo are all under consideration but have not been offered contracts.

Rest assured though that SBP is on the lookout for homegrown and foreign based Filipinos to beef up the national team. As of now, two fil-aussies are trying out with the team together with UP's Magi Sison.

I know. That listing of mine was just a wishful thinking and with it , I think we will have a formidable line up in the future FIBA Asia tournaments given they have already mastered the system of TOroman.

Congratulations Ateneo!!! Good luck sa October 4.:D:D

sana magka game3, go ue. :D

Smart Gilas vs. Powerade Team Pilipinas
Oct. 5, 2009 (Monday) ? ipalabas kaya 'to sa Btv and C/S?

sana completo ang line up ng Smart Gilas.

Tigers outlast Niños
By Emmanuel B. Villaruel (The Freeman) Updated October 03, 2009 12:00 AM


CEBU, Philippines - The Coca-Cola Tigers were lucky enough to have a “Rock” to lean on in troubled times.

Game today

(Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex)

6 pm Mandaue-Cebu Landmasters vs. Coca-Cola Tigers

Bull-strong center Paul Asi Taulava unloaded 11 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter to help the roaring Tigers of PBA escaped past the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños, 83-79, in their charity game last night at the Cebu Coliseum.

Proceeds of the event will be donated to the victims of tropical storm Ondoy that devastated Metro Manila and outlying Luzon provinces.

Sensing danger in the face of tenacious resistance by the gritty Niños, Taulava wisely made use of his huge frame and brute force to swallow the defense of M. Lhuillier.

At the height of the very close battle, Taulava came in to wreak havoc on the Cebuano hosts.

After Bruce Dacia scored on a 5-0 blitz to put he Niños on top for the last time, 70-69, Taulava bulldozed his way against every M. Lhuillier blocking his way to nail five straight points and give the lead back to Coca-Cola for good, 74-72.

The Niños threatened for the last time at 73-74 as Alex Cabagnot knocked in a 3-pointer and then Larry Rodriguez made back-to-back clutch hits to give the Tigers an 81-76 breather with a little over a minute left to play.

The Niños actually had several chances to send shivers down Coca-Cola’s spines but Basco, who had a nearly flawless sniping from the long-range territory, shot a measly 1-of-4 from the foul line.

Compounding their woes was the sub-par performance of Stephen Padilla from beyond the arc.

Nevertheless, the Niños could still hold their heads up high as it was their lowest losing margin in their five-game marathon against PBA squads in six-week span.

Taulava paced the Tigers with 13 points, even as four other cashed in double figures. Ricky Calimag scored 11, while Christopher Ross, Rodriguez, and Cabagno each dished out 10 markers.

Basco, who went 4-of-5 from the three-point land, paced the Niños with 21 points. Dacia was the only other double-digit scorer for the M. Lhuillier side with 12 (FREEMAN NEWS)

First Game: UAAP/NCAA vs. PBL
Second game: PBA powerade Team Pilipinas vs. Smart Gilas Nat'l Team

October 5, 2009 (Monday) @ 5 PM Araneta Coliseum with a primetime telecast at 6 PM

C/S 9

^^ live at CS9? ill be watching out for this...

UE vs Ateneo. 88 to 68 in favor of UE. Ateneo can be beaten I have to admit it. It wasn't a case of a fluke win or a team with a big heart beating a great team. It was a massacre of a great team by another great team. A team like UE with no big man to go toe to toe with Rabeh, just made the game look like a college hoop team going against a barangay league. Bill Velasco and a a guy from Rebound magazine made a prediction that Ateneo would win big. I believed it. That was just smug. On the other hand, Gretchen Fulido, i think, predicted a UE win without even really being knowledgable in the sport. Lesson: if you get beaten once, you can get beaten again.

Anyway, if Ateneo loses to UE, I can respect that. But...

One Big Fight! Go Ateneo!

Ganda ng laban kanina. Pero sa UE lang, hindi sa Ateneo. Nagkakalat kasi sila eh.:ohno:

Oh well, congratulations UE! You desrve this win. Naisturbo nyo si Rabeh kanina.:lol:

Excited na tuloy ako sa game 3.;) Go Ateneo!

Ganda ng laban kanina. Pero sa UE lang, hindi sa Ateneo. Nagkakalat kasi sila eh.:ohno:

Oh well, congratulations UE! You desrve this win. Naisturbo nyo si Rabeh kanina.:lol:

Excited na tuloy ako sa game 3.;) Go Ateneo!

Espiritu must've ate something. That dunk was phenomenal. It was like Rabeh, Salamat, Buenafe, Long, and Baclao vs Espiritu.

^^
Sayang nga eh. Ineexpect ko pa naman sana ang block ni Baclao kay Espiritu. Gaya ng ginawa niya kay Rico.:lol: Nabigo ako. Elemr's performance was superb!

^^
Sayang nga eh. Ineexpect ko pa naman sana ang block ni Baclao kay Espiritu. Gaya ng ginawa niya kay Rico.:lol: Nabigo ako. Elemr's performance was superb!

It just can't be done I guess. Kailangan ng Ateneo na kumain ng puto at yung ang sikreto daw ni Paul Lee nung game laban sa FEU. Puto ang sagot!:lol:

^^
Cheap daw ang puto abi ng mga Atenista.:lol::jk:

^^
Cheap daw ang puto abi ng mga Atenista.:lol::jk:

mais kasi kinakain ng atenista. daming japanese corn dyan sa katipunan.

^^
:lol:

Kailan ang game 3? Thursday ba or Saturday?

UE vs Ateneo. 88 to 68 in favor of UE. Ateneo can be beaten I have to admit it. It wasn't a case of a fluke win or a team with a big heart beating a great team. It was a massacre of a great team by another great team. A team like UE with no big man to go toe to toe with Rabeh, just made the game look like a college hoop team going against a barangay league. Bill Velasco and a a guy from Rebound magazine made a prediction that Ateneo would win big. I believed it. That was just smug. On the other hand, Gretchen Fulido, i think, predicted a UE win without even really being knowledgable in the sport. Lesson: if you get beaten once, you can get beaten again.

Anyway, if Ateneo loses to UE, I can respect that. But...

One Big Fight! Go Ateneo!

Yep, ok lang matalo sa UE wag lang sa La Salle, pero sana maka back to back.

Just like when Ateneo lost to UST a few years back, masakit pero ok lang, so what.

Di kaya ma de ja vu ang Ateneo ngayon?

Gaya nung 2006 versus USte? They won game 1 but UST won games 2 and 3.

Di kaya ma de ja vu ang Ateneo ngayon?

Gaya nung 2006 versus USte? They won game 1 but UST won games 2 and 3.

there are similiarities, both Pido then and Chiongson now are both rookie coaches entering their first finals match.

Both Uste then and UE now lost the 1st game but won the second game.

Both dismantled the vaunted ateneo defence which was then touted to be indestructible.

The only way ateneo can win now is to do their homework, and admit the mistakes and then surprise UE.

UE to win this is banking on the sunday massacre's momentum. I hate to say this but UE is actually entering the 3rd game not as the underdog anymore. They have to keep up what Llagas and Espiritu were doing, big men shooting from the outsides and diminutive guards denying the likes of Baclao and Al-Husseini any inside shots.

To think that we dismissed UE as showing everything they can give. We never expected Llagas, Espiritu, Lee, Acuna actually playing better when faced with tougher opponents.

So, game 3 this thursday we will see two equally matched teams playing for gold. Height advantages, scoring advantages, and even rebounding advantages have been thrown out the windiow.

I'm not saying I'm so sure but I hope and pray Ateneo wins.

This is what is needed:

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u197/venntro/RabehPray.jpg

May difference din naman ang UE sa USTe.

Wala silang Jervy Cruz at Jojo Duncil ngayon.:lol:

Oh well, good luck for both teams.

Watch Pinoy Basketbol Kakampi Nyo Charity Game on CS9

game 1: UAAP/NCAA vs Liga Filipinas/PBL

game 2: Smart Gilas Vs. PBA all star

^^
I definitely won't miss that.:lol:

watch it now carl... nag start na, delayed telecast nga lang

GO! Powerade team :banana::banana::banana:

share ko lang:

im not a Basketball player but sometimes naglalaro din 3 on 3 pusta ice water pag nanalo :lol:, but luckily 10 out of 10 ako sa free throw line...eh swerte na 2 to 3x lang ako makahawak ng bola o makapaglaro in 1 year :banana::banana:

Lumalamang ang RP Smart Gilas Pilipinas Developmental Team ah!:lol:

Ganda ng performances nila Giles at Aguilar.

Nanalo Liga/PBL nung first game.:D:D

GO! Powerade team :banana::banana::banana:

share ko lang:

im not a Basketball player but sometimes naglalaro din 3 on 3 pusta ice water pag nanalo :lol:, but luckily 10 out of 10 ako sa free throw line...eh swerte na 2 to 3x lang ako makahawak ng bola o makapaglaro in 1 year :banana::banana:



pano ba yan, talo yung team mo...hhehe


congrats Smart Gilas

Winner take all Game 3 on Thursday! Should be an exciting one! Go Ateneo! One Big Fight! :banana: :banana: :banana:

Coach Black undaunted by Warriors' surge
By Joey Villar (The Philippine Star)
October 06, 2009 12:00 AM

Losing by a rout in a game it was fancied to win is no big deal for Ateneo coach Norman Black, who remains confident of the Eagles’ title retention bid in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament.

“It’s just one game,” said Black, referring to Ateneo’s 68-88 loss to University of the East last Sunday that sent the UAAP title series into a winner-take-all match.

It was Black’s worst defeat since absorbing a 60-78 blowout from La Salle four years ago and it could haunt him and the Eagles in the next three days as they try to figure out what went wrong and what should be done in Thursday’s keenly-awaited sudden death.

“What happened in Game Two has no bearing on what’s going to happen on Thursday. But as far as I’m concerned, we will show up to win on Thursday, that’s the bottom line,” Black said.

But for Ateneo, which took the opener, 78-71, to complete its back-to-back title run and fifth overall, the Eagles would need to toughen up on defense, particularly against UE’s pair of Elmer Espiritu and Pari Llagas, who torched the Eagles with a combined 40-point output in Game Two.

“The most important thing is that we have to defend better, I mean we’ve got to this point in the season of having the chance to win the championship because of our defense,” Black said. “And our defense really broke down in the second half. Of course, they shot the ball well but we just have to play good individual and team defense as well.”

Last year’s MVP and Ateneo’s tower of power Rabeh Al-Hussaini must also assert his might in the shaded lane.

“Rabeh took 11 shots. If you look at our guards, they might have combined for 25 three-point shots. On the contrary, we didn’t give the ball to Rabeh enough and we relied too much on the perimeter shooting,” said Black.

Eric Salamat must also provide not only the leadership for the Eagles but also the big points as the spitfirish guard normed just four points in the series.

“He’s the guy that shoots well inside the arc but he can make the outside shots. He’s a lot better when he’s attacking the basket so that’s what I’ll probably encourage him to do in Thursday’s game,” Black said of Salamat.

The Eagles also hope to use their championship experience against a team oozing with confidence in a game which could go either way.

“Based on what happened in Game Two, I think they’ll be brimming with confidence on Thursday, that’s for sure,” Black said.

pano ba yan, talo yung team mo...hhehe


congrats Smart Gilas

grabe di ako makapaniwala na nilampaso ang PBA-RP National Team ng 29 points! I was expecting na matatakot ang Smart GILAS sa Powerade pero the opposite prevailed.

Smart GILAS RP Developmental Team 98 Powerade RP Team 69

Aguilar shot 3 three pointers, had a good jump shooting. He has a lot more to improve. Giles is a good defender and is a good scorer too. The GILAS team has a good system that really works. It showed the skeptics how a TEAM game demolished the 1 on 1.

Maganda ang set-up ng mga 3 pointers nila at talagang pasok kung kelan kailangan.

Meron nagsabi kasi meron daw IMPORT eh ano masasabi mo na tinalo ng POWERADE ang PBA IMPORTS before Tianjin and Jones Cup? Ngayon is lang pero di kinaya. Meron talaga sistema at di yung import lang ang rason.

Smart Gilas beat Powerade Team Pilipinas, 98-69

source: gmanews.tv

The Smart Gilas team of Serbian coach Rajko Toroman has served notice of its readiness to play in the Philippine Basketball Association.

And they showed it by beating the country’s cream of the crop.

Relying not on anyone but everyone, Smart Gilas easily demolished an out-of-shape and undermanned Powerade-Pilipinas team, 98-69, Monday in the “Pinoy Basketball, Kakampi N’yo" fund-raising game at the Araneta Coliseum.

CJ Giles and Japeth Aguilar combined forces in possibly the most formidable frontline in Philippine basketball. Andy Barroca and JV Casio alternately played the point and held their own against their more experienced counterparts. And Dylan Ababou, Aldrech Ramos and Jason Ballesteros did a little bit of everything in handing Smart Gilas an easy triumph.

It was a game dominated by Toroman’s wards majority of the way.

They were only feeling their way around in the first few minutes of the first period, trailing by seven, 7-14, with James Yap and Willie Miller leading the way for Powerade.

Then came a big scoring outburst by Smart Gilas.

Giles and Aguilar made their presence felt inside and JV Casio fired a trey to cap off a big 17-5 exchange as the all-amateur team seized a 24-19 lead at the end of the first.

It was all Smart Gilas from there, leading by as many as 20 points twice in the third canto.

And with Giles and Chris Tiu combining for a one scintillating play to complete an alley-oop slam and push Smart Gilas to a 92-76 lead with only 2:16 left , the curtains finally fell on the all-pro Powerade-Pilipinas five, which didn’t have the chance of practicing since its eighth-place finish in the last FIBA Asia Championship.

Overall, Smart Gilas outplayed Powerade in almost all fronts.

Toroman’s troops shot the ball decently, making 37 of 78 attempts for a 47% clip, while Powerade struggled all game long and shot only 34%.

Smart Gilas, as expected, played better as a team, dishing out 17 assists more than Powerade-Pilipinas.

On rebounds, Giles, Aguilar and Ballesteros were too much as they terrorized the shaded lane and clobbered their rivals. Smart Gilas grabbed 60 rebounds to only 36 by Powerade.

Former Los Angeles Lakers Giles finished with 22 points, 16 rebounds and five shot blocks for Smart Gilas, which will play as a guest team in the coming PBA. Aguilar, the controversial top overall pick who previously suited up for Powerade-RP, had 24 points and four rebounds.

A project of basketball stockholders in the country led by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and the PBA, the game was held for the benefit of victims of tropical storm “Ondoy" and in memory of Barako Bull executive Tony Chua, who perished at the height of the storm.

The torch has been passed:


http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u197/venntro/Smart20Gilas20vs20Powerade20Pilipin.jpg

Gilas will be testing the newly assembled Philippine Patriots tonight at the San Juan gym. Game time is 6:30pm.

^^ meron bang live streaming to mamaya?

^^ meron bang live streaming to mamaya?

Baka wala. Fil-am Brandon Powell will be headlining the Patriots but I think Gilas will win this hands down.

By the way, the Eaglets will gun for the UAAP junior crown this afternoon against Lasalle. Bring home the bacon, Eaglets. Kiefer will be the man to watch!

Di ba nila kukunin i Greg Slaughters sa Developmental Team?

By the way, the Eaglets will gun for the UAAP junior crown this afternoon against Lasalle. Bring home the bacon, Eaglets. Kiefer will be the man to watch!

Ravena. Idol ko yan. hahaha...


Good luck eaglets!

Kiefer Ravena:

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u197/venntro/n684067971_1319607_2328.jpg

^^ parang c jolas ang mukha...

The torch has been passed:


http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u197/venntro/Smart20Gilas20vs20Powerade20Pilipin.jpg

The Smart Gilas team looks very promising. sana hindi ito maging casualty nang walan katapusan na power struggle sa Phil Basketball governing body.

Naging misirable ang laro ni Kiefer nung 1st half.:lol: Supalpal makalawa..

Sana makabawi siya ngayong 2nd half. Galing mo Banal!

Kawawa ang Powerade team ko..:lol: walang preparation kasi, walang sistema ang laro nila lastnyt.. sayang wala si Helterbrand at Santos...... Purefoods team vs. Smart Gilas, cant wait na... :banana:

Di ba nila kukunin i Greg Slaughters sa Developmental Team?

maglalaro si Slaughter, Al-Husaini, Lee at Fajardo( sana papayag ang UC para makalaro siya sa RP Team).

congrats to PBL/Liga at siempre sa Smart Gilas. the underrated now a strong team to beat na. watch out PBA teams.di pa completo yang Smart Gilas.

Go Go go UE red warriors....

40-25 halftime lamang Ateneo.. hmmmm

Missed the game, ang laki naman ng lamang, but anyway, ok na rin, back to back after two decades! :banana:

Congratulations Eagles! 13 points ang lamang.:D:D

Parang walang kahirap-hirap..:D:D

Congratulations kay Rabeh! MVP for the finals! Good job veterans. Reyes, Al Hussaini, Baclao!!:banana::banana::banana:

maglalaro si Slaughter, Al-Husaini, Lee at Fajardo( sana papayag ang UC para makalaro siya sa RP Team).

I think University of the Visayas si Greg.

Buti naman at maglalaro sila. Si Espiritu sana i train din nila.:D:D

Champions League is coming.

WooHoo Ateneo wins the UAAP championship once again! Congrats! :banana: :banana: :banana:

Ateneo is UAAP back-to-back champion
By Lily O Ramos
http://positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Sports_28/Ateneo_is_UAAP_back-to-back_champion.shtml

MANILA, Oct. 8 (PNA) -- "How sweet it is!" blurted UAAP 72nd season back-to-back champion Ateneo de Manila University coach Norman Black after his wards gave upstart University of the East a big 71-58 spanking Thursday evening at the Araneta Coliseum.

Black proudly commended his boys, particularly Rabeh Al- Hussaini, Nonoy Baclao and Jai Reyes whom he will miss in 2010 after five years of patiently training, teaching and coaching them personally.

"This is the most difficult series we have undergone and it's also the sweetest because both schools worked doubly hard to reach the finals. Yes, we're champion in 2008 so everybody was looking at us with eagle eyes. Fortunately, we're the back-to-back champions," Black told the sports media that swooped on him.

"Experience is the best teacher. When we lost in 2006, I swear this crop should not suffer the harrowing and painful feeling that washed us. We didn't want to throw away what belongs to us," added Black, a former Mr. 100 Percent PBA import with numerous awards.

Black emphasized he used the 2-2-1 zone defense against the Warriors and that the Blue Eagles took control and ran the breaks and scored well.

It was reminiscent of their battle against La Salle last year where the Green Archers were adept in employing full court press.

By not allowing the Warriors to bend Hussaini low so they could take away the ball, the Eagles gathered speed and provided ample space for Hussaini to make undergoal stabs and shoot at all angles, particularly at mid-range with lots of success.

What's more, the other guys like Kirk Long, Erik Salamat and former San Sebastian star Ryan Buenafe regained their shooting hands and contributed well to the cause while supporting Hussaini, who went home richer with a P30,000 bonus for topping the Finals MVP race.

On the other hand, UE mentor Lawrence Chongson will have to wait for another opportunity to gain peer recognition. He did so well by equalizing the best-of-three series at 1-1 last Sunday for a soaring confidence not only for personal pride but for the glory of the school owned by his friend, Bong Tan.

The Warriors could not keep up with the roaring Eagles as Narciso Llagas could only manage three points throughout the game and Elmer Espiritu was held at 16 and Val Acuna could chip in only eight markers.

It was only Paul Lee who put up 21 points to match adversary Hussaini's output.

With barely a minute to go, Chongson realized it was a lost cause for his wards so he rose and went the other bench to congratulate Black.

It was the point-of-no-return in the third quarter when Ateneo stamped mark, 57-41 and even went higher by as much as 19 points.

The UE boys were devastated and downcast as some of them shed some tears at the dugout. They were inconsolable for crumbling at the most crucial moments.

Some of the boys will be graduating with feelings of regret that they were unable to win a championship crown after 24 years of waiting.

Yet they are proud of being the first runner-up, well ahead of second runner-up Far Eastern University, one of the touted teams at the start of the season.

There's nothing to be ashamed of for UE; after all, after all it was not one of the favorites. But patience, diligence and hard work brought the Warriors to the finals.

"It's not everything that I say comes true. They're only wishes that sometimes do not end in fulfillment," said Chongson.

The 2009 season ended with a boisterous crowd of 18,851 that watched the match.

According to long-time Araneta employee who keeps records of events of the renovated sports and entertainment venue, the number is the biggest so far this season.

And there were an number of personalities like UE's living legend, Robert Jaworski Sr., Ateneo's Chris Tiu who sat with US Ambassador Kristie Kenney, coach David Zamar and Elmer Reyes who cheered for their sons, and of course, Gina Lopez of the coveror ABS-CBN and this year's host FEU headed by Anton Montinola.

Well, as Black and Chongson said, "See you next year!"

congrats team Philippine patriots winning over Indonesia in ABL...

Coach Franz steps down as Head Coach (http://www.greenarchers.ph/2009/10/06/coach-franz-steps-down-as-head-coach/)

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp197/carl_vilches21/RYN-2120.jpg

As reported by GreenArrows at Archerpride.com, Coach Franz Pumaren will step down as the head coach of the Green Archers after the PCCL tournament (http://forums3.archerpride.com/index.php?showtopic=4138). Coach Franz will be running for a local position in next year’s elections. Team Manager Terry Capistrano has likewise tendered his resignation to concentrate on his business endeavors.
In 11 seasons under Coach Franz, the Green Archers has made it to the finals 9 times winning 5 (6 if you count the 2004 season). His best achievement was piloting the squad to a remarkable four-peat in his first 4 years under the helm. His coaching track record speaks for itself and I believe it would be difficult for anyone to even equal what he has achieved.
He will be best remembered as a coach who brought out the best in all his players. It was his system that made the Archers a competitive team year in and year out. Coach Franz will soon assume the role as team consultant.
We would like to thank Coach Franz as well as Mr. Capistrano for their valuable contributions to the team through the years. We will be forever grateful to the both of you.

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp197/carl_vilches21/RYN-2123.jpg
With this, we welcome the new head coach of the Green Archers, no other than Dindo “The Bullet” Pumaren. After a successful tenure with UE, Coach Dindo returns to his alma mater and thus becomes the 4th Pumaren to be the team’s bench tactician after father Pilo and older brothers Derrick and Franz (note: thanks to our readers for the correction 10/7).
Good Luck Coach Dindo! An1mo!

kala ko ba mas gusto ni Japeth sa Smart Gilas?? eh bakit biglang pumirma sa Burger King?? tsk tsk tsk

pipirma din pala sya!

^^ Ang resulta, tambak sa 1st game vs. Purefoods :D

kala ko ba mas gusto ni Japeth sa Smart Gilas?? eh bakit biglang pumirma sa Burger King?? tsk tsk tsk

pipirma din pala sya!

Si MVP ang nag-intervene kasi siya ang majore stakeholder ng BK, Talk n Text, at Smart GILAS. Pero meron na bagong scheme sa kanila: 1 year na lang ang contract niya sa BK, tapos trade with Talk n Text and then Talk n Text will release him to GILAS.

He will no longer play with GILAS in the PBA but he's still practicing with them and play with them in international competitions.

Burger King trades away controversial rookie Aguilar

10/12/2009 | 09:00 PM
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Controversial rookie Japeth Aguilar’s first game with Burger King also proved to be his last.

In yet another twist in the never-ending saga involving the lanky, 6-foot-10 freshman, the Whopper management announced that it is trading away Aguilar in a shocking development that rocked the PBA Philippine Cup still at its infant stage.

Aguilar is expected to end up with the team he wants to play for – the RP-Smart Gilas team - but will have to be traded first to Barako Bull and eventually, shipped to Talk `N Text. The Tropang Texters then will unload him to the national team.

Handled by Serbian coach Rajko Toroman, the Smart-Gilas team is being bankrolled by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), the amateur governing body headed by Talk ‘N Text owner Manny V. Pangilinan.

Barako Bull had to act as conduit to the trade since Burger King and Talk`N Text can’t be involved in a direct deal as per PBA rules since Pangilinan has stakes in both franchises.

PBA chairman and Burger King representative to the league Board Lito Alvarez made the announcement inside the Whopper’s dugout shortly after the team lost to Purefoods, 93-80, on Sunday.

His statement caught the whole team by surprise as the Whopper stayed in their dugout for about two hours following the game.

Aguilar, who had stints with Western Kentucky University in the US NCAA, had 10 points, nine rebounds and a shot block in 24 minutes of action during his PBA debut.

More comfortable with Gilas

“Japeth really wants to play for Smart-Gilas," said Ronnie Nathanielz, Aguilar’s manager-adviser. “He is more comfortable there and he thinks that he can learn more from (Rajko) Toroman."

Burger King coach Yeng Guiao said letting go of a player who from the start appeared not really inclined to play for the team could yet be the best answer to the situation.

“Maganda na rin yan sa isang banda. At least, hindi lang isang kampo ang masaya," said Guiao, who also handled Aguilar with the Powerade-Team Pilipinas squad in the FIBA Asia Championship.

“Besides, we’ve prepared naman for the season without Japeth."

In return for trading the year’s top rookie pick, Burger King will get the No. 2 and 3 picks of Talk 'N Text in the 2010-11 Draft, assuring the Whopper of owning the top three selections since it already has the right on the No. 1 pick.

Aguilar is expected to suit up for Smart-Gilas on Friday when it takes on Burger King. The Nationals will only play for 10 games in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup (the first round of the eliminations) before they compete in a series of tournaments overseas.

The 22-year-old Aguilar earlier became the center of controversy for refusing to join Burger King and deciding to hook up with the Smart Gilas squad instead. Facing possible ban from the pro-league, Aguilar eventually agreed to ink a one-year pact with Burger King worth P1.8 million in time for Sunday’s PBA opening. - GMANews.TV

mukhang pinagkakitaan lang nang BG si Aguilar.. ayus!

si kuya inaaway si japeth. :ohno:

feeling ko pa naman siya ang ricky rubio ng pinas.

PBA GAME SCHEDULE:


http://www.pba.com.ph/schedule

congrats team Philippine patriots winning over Indonesia in ABL...

saan mapanood ang game ng Patriots? (ABL)

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http://teampilipinas.info/

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i think I saw it on ESPN also.

Plantsado na pala ung kontrata ni Japeth bago pa nagsimula ang laro niya sa BK. Isang laro lang pala talaga siya sa BK tapos trade with Red Bull as the conduit team because sister teams are not allowed to directly trade. BK's Japeth to TnText in exchange for 2 future first round drafts tapos ang TNT na ang mag-loan sa kanya sa SMART GILAS.

After 3 years stint with GILAS, he will be with TNT where he has a contract.

i think I saw it on ESPN also.

Yup. ESPN ASIA. Sa punchsports stream ako nanood. Yesterday nawala daw ang punchsports, nag change daw ng bagong website name.

Al-Hussaini signs up with Olympics-seeking RP Smart Gilas

10/15/2009 | 11:14 AM


The RP-Smart Gilas team hooked up another rising amateur player in Ateneo ace Rabeh Al-Hussaini, who agreed to sign up with the squad being geared for a shot at the 2012 London Olympics.

Al-Hussaini came to terms with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), the cage body responsible for the formation of the Gilas team, late Wednesday.

Terms of the deal were not immediately divulged, but SBP executive director Noli Eala said the Ateneo star center had agreed to a two-year deal lasting up to 2011.

“The SBP is happy to announce that Rabeh Al-Hussaini has accepted our offer for him to play for the Smart Gilas Pilipinas national team commencing immediately," said Eala in a statement.

Al-Hussaini’s signing up came just a two days after the Gilas team of Serbian coach Rajko Toroman re-acquired the services of controversial big man Japeth Aguilar.

A former UAAP Most Valuable Player (MVP), Al-Hussaini is fresh from steering the Ateneo Blue Eagles to a back-to-back men’s basketball title at the expense of the University of the East Warriors. The half-brother of Burger King stalwart Carlo Sharma was adjudged Finals MVP of the series.

“We are excited and proud to have Rabeh in Smart Gilas. He is definitely a major addition to the team and will play a vital role in our campaign towards making the London Olympics," Eala said.

“We thank the family of Rabeh, his friends and advisers and the Ateneo community for the trust and support they have reposed up the SBP and Smart Gilas," he added. - GMANews.TV

I hope they would recruit Elmer Espiritu also.:(

maglalaro na kaya si Rabeh mamaya? 2 pm daw ang laro ng GILAS vs BK.

Any live stream guys?

maglalaro na kaya si Rabeh mamaya? 2 pm daw ang laro ng GILAS vs BK.

Any live stream guys?

justin.tv?

CS9 live stream

http://hackafile.blogspot.com/2009/08/watch-cs9-live-stream.html

maglalaro na kaya si Rabeh mamaya? 2 pm daw ang laro ng GILAS vs BK.

Any live stream guys?

The scores:

Burger King 115 -- Buenafe 25, David 24, Belga 17, Lanete 14, Yee 11, Quinahan 9, Yee R. 7, Aban 5, Sharma 2, Matias 1, Billones 0, Arboleda 0.

Smart Gilas 105 -- Casio 28, Tiu 21, Aguilar 18, Baracael 14, Giles 12, Barroca 4, Ballesteros 4, Al Hussaini 2, Ababou 2, Cawaling 0, Ramos 0.

Quarterscores: 27-29, 54-55, 85-82, 115-105

by: Chris Tiu

Today, we got clobbered, literally and figuratively, by the BK Whoopers! It was more of a boxing match than a basketball match. We expected it, but we didn't see it coming this bad.

Our offense wasn't so bad as we were still able to score 105 points and shot 47% from the field. BUT it was our defense that killed us, as we allowed 115 points for BK.

We lost the rebounding battle as well by 12. BK played a great game today as well and made the necessary adjustments. They shot 59% from the field! That's excellent.

For me it's not so much about the X and O's. It was their viciousness that got us out of our normal rhythm. 4 flagrant fouls in the first half and Winnie Arboleda's "attacking a fan" moment saw our 13 point lead disappear at an instant. Our players became hesitant to drive to the basket and dive for the loose balls. And that is what all coaches will probably instruct their players to do when playing against a younger, skinnier and faster team. It was a fitting initiation for us in our debut game in the PBA.

It was a sorry loss for the Gilas team. We don't expect the referees to cut us some slack as seen today. It's as if there were two different standards for both teams. But that's precisely why we're in the PBA as a guest team. We're here to learn, to toughen up when playing more experienced and physical players.

It's just really embarrassing to see a veteran/franchise player behave so unprofessionally. After getting away with a slap to the face of JV Casio, an elbow again to the face of JV and a football tackle to Mac Baracael, he still hasn't had enough and goes up to the stands to beat up a Gilas fan (who i do not know, contrary to reports). All that in just 3 minutes. I am really curious to see what actions or inactions the PBA will take for such actions.

Nevertheless, it was an entertaining game. See you Wednesday vs Talk and Text.

Chris



^^
ayaw matanggap ni Chris Tiu ang pagkatalo, parang ayaw nya masaktan.. eh talagang physical lang ang game sa PBA..

Sino ba ang nanuntok galing BK?

Sino ba ang nanuntok galing BK?

si arboleda ang nanuntok ng fan, sinabihan kasi na matanda...:lol:

^^

PBA suspends Arboleda for rest of the season
10/19/2009 | PBA, Smart Gilas | 40 comments »
914 Views
source: gmanews.tv

The Philippine Basketball Association on Monday handed down its severest penalty to date, suspending veteran Burger King guard Wynne Arboleda without pay for the rest of the 2009-10 Season.

Arboleda went after a heckler at courtside during the Whopper’s game against Smart-Gilas at the Araneta Coliseum last Friday, landing a kick and some punches before being restrained by cooler heads.

The suspension means P2.73 million in lost income for Arboleda, not counting won game, advancement and player award bonuses. For committing two flagrant fouls penalty 1 in the game, the nine-year PBA veteran also drew a P20,000 fine and a one-game suspension, which would be served on Wednesday in their game against the San Miguel Beermen.

In his decision letter sent to Arboleda, PBA commissioner Renauld "Sonny" Barrios said, “As we pointed out to you, even granting that said fan was foul-mouthed and verbally abusive as confirmed by reports to us, there is a ‘line’ that a PBA player cannot and should not cross: to physically harm a fan."

Coming just a few months after two separate incidents involving players and fans, commissioner Barrios told Arboleda that “your serious breach of this ‘line’ at this time and in the manner described herein endangers the PBA as being perceived by the public as unwholesome and not deserving of fan support."

The PBA Commissioner ended his letter by saying a repeat of the same or similar act will result in a lifetime ban from the league.

Barrios, who met with Arboleda Monday morning at the PBA Commissioner’s Office in Libis, added that the PBA must send a strong signal that such an unwanted act has no place in the league and will never be taken lightly, stressing that the fans’ interest is always the league’s primordial concern as established by PBA forefathers over the years.

While serving his suspension, Arboleda cannot be present at the playing venues during Burger King’s games.

As a contracted PBA player even while suspended, Arboleda likewise may not play in any other league.

Physical injuries

Katigbak, for his part, said that he is ready to file a case of physical injuries against the Whopper.

“Sa totoo lang, nang-asar ang kliyente ko, sinabihan nya matanda na sila at wag na sila manakit ng bata, pero hindi siya nag-mura,” said Katigbak’s lawyer, Atty. Angelo Agcaoili.

“Bukas sasamapahan na namin ng kaso si Aboleda sa korte,” the lawyer revealed.

He said his client also wants a harsher punishment for Arboleda, that of banning the Whopper from the PBA for life.

http://teampilipinas.info/2009/10/pba-suspends-arboleda-for-rest-of.html

siguro sising sisi si Arboleda ngayon suspended w/out pay, sa August 2010 pa siya maka pag lalaro dapt malaikng katawan ang pinatulan niya para December lang suspensyon LOL

siguro sising sisi si Arboleda ngayon suspended w/out pay, sa August 2010 pa siya maka pag lalaro dapt malaikng katawan ang pinatulan niya para December lang suspensyon LOL

brother kaya yan ni Karen Katigbak ang sinuntok nya? :lol:

RIP Arboleda's season










FYI: na-feature to sa Ball Don't Lie

asawa niya yung anak ng boss nya... kaya ok lang.. hehe

Talk N Text routs Smart Gilas, 103-70
10/21/2009 | PBA, Smart Gilas | 33 comments »
2129 Views
source: pba.ph

After a close first half, the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters got their acts together and played the way defending champions should.

Mark Cardona scattered 16 points and Ali Peek had 10 points and 10 rebounds as the Tropang Texters taught Smart Gilas a neat lesson in pro basketball with a 103-70 blowout Wednesday night at the Cuneta Astrodome.


Jarred Dillinger, Jimmy Alapag and Ranidel de Ocampo warmed up in the second quarter as TNT made 52 percent of its shots and stormed a to 46-33 advantage late in the period before returning to the locker room holding on to a 10-point lead.

Their second straight win in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup earned the defending champions a first place tie with idle Alaska Aces and Barangay Ginebra Kings.


(Photo source: PBA.ph)

“I really thought the best way to help the RP Team is to play hard,” said Talk ‘N Text head coach Chot Reyes.

He said the ability of his players to execute their gameplan to the letter was the key.

“We know (Smart Gilas) plays with a lot of energy and executes its offense flawlessly. So we devised a defensive game plan that offers different looks and made sure we match their intensity. I guess we did both well.”

The TNT coach though downplayed their blowout win saying they just “caught a break” when Smart Gilas decided to sit out American C.J. Giles the rest of the game after a sub-par showing in the opening quarter.

Alapag scored 14 points and dished six assists while Dillinger and Jason Castro added 12 apiece for the Tropang Texters who mugged the Nationals off the boards, 59-42. Talk ‘N Text’s ability to dominate the offensive boards also gave them a 21-10 edge on second chance points.

Mark Barroca turned in 16 points and had nine assists and eight rebounds and JV Casio and Japeth Aguilar had 14 apiece for Smart Gilas, which trailed by just two points after one quarter but lost momentum after shooting 29 percent (5-of-17) from the perimeter in the second quarter. The Nationals never recovered from there.

Giles, who went scoreless in five minutes, was visibly not in the mood to play and Smart Gilas coach Radjko Toroman, apparently upset over his showing, decided to sit him out.

The Nationals, who are preparing for the 2011 FIBA-Asia Championships, picked their second straight loss.

It was the most lopsided game in the league since Burger King eliminated Sta. Lucia 120-72 last June 14 in Game 3 of their best-of-3 quarterfinal in the 2009 Fiesta Conference. (DBC)

The scores:

Talk N' Text 103 - Cardona 16, Alapag 14, Dillinger 12, Castro 12, Peek 10, De Ocampo R. 9, De Ocampo Y. 8, Belasco 7, Escobal 5, Isip 4, Carey 4, Ritualo 2.

Smart Gilas 70 - Barroca 16, Casio 14, Aguilar 14, Barracael 8, Cawaling 7, Ramos 5, Ababou 3, Jazul 2, Ballesteros 1, Giles 0.

Quarterscores: 19-17, 46-36, 76-54, 103-70.

REPLAY:
tonight 11:30PM @ CS9
CS9 Free Live Streaming (WATCH HERE)

^^ nawala lang si Giles parang UAAP na maglaro ang Gilas :lol:

akala cguro ng Gilas porket natalo nila ang Powerade sa exhibition game eh kaya na nila ang Pba teams sa official game, syempre non-bearing un, pero iba na ang situation sa official game kasi affected na ang standings dito..

brother kaya yan ni Karen Katigbak ang sinuntok nya? :lol:

eh ano ngayon eh Father in law naman niya ang may.ari ng BK... Barako King! :D

Ginebra beat Smart Gilas : 100 - 72

Ginebra playing without Caguiao and Menk, and CJ Giles to Gilas...

^^ nawala lang si Giles parang UAAP na maglaro ang Gilas :lol:

akala cguro ng Gilas porket natalo nila ang Powerade sa exhibition game eh kaya na nila ang Pba teams sa official game, syempre non-bearing un, pero iba na ang situation sa official game kasi affected na ang standings dito..

Okay lang na matalo sila against PBA teams. Total isa naman tong experience for them. Obviously, matatalo talaga sila kasi PBA rules naman ang gamit sa game. Kung nasa FIBA rules siguro, I dont think they can be beaten this bad. But, a loss is a loss though their loss is a welcome situation for them to grow more developed as a team. Just to remind that this team is a developing team, they are not yet a their peak. Rajko Toroman even told the team is still at their 60% potential. In 3-4 years, they will mature as a team.

and the team is not in their complete lineup yet.

^^ nawala lang si Giles parang UAAP na maglaro ang Gilas :lol:

akala cguro ng Gilas porket natalo nila ang Powerade sa exhibition game eh kaya na nila ang Pba teams sa official game, syempre non-bearing un, pero iba na ang situation sa official game kasi affected na ang standings dito..

ito namang si king city, imbis na suportahan, tinawanan pa. :ohno:

Philippine Patriots too good for Thailand Tigers
- Oct 25, 2009 (by Eurobasket News)
Philippine Patriots - Thailand Tigers 74:61

The Philippines Patriots celebrated the second win in the ASEAN League inaugural season. The Patriots outscored the Thailand Tigers at home court to remain in the second spot in the ladder. The Tigers in the meantime suffered the second straight defeat in the championship.
The teams traded baskets in the opening quarter but the Patriots managed to craft a 4-point lead at the first intermission. The Filipino team shifted the gear in the second quarter. They unleashed 24 points and limited their opponents to just 8 earning a 20-point advantage at halftime. The Tigers however changed the complexion of the game in the third frame. The Thai team finally picked up the tempo firing 28 points in the quarter. They cut the distance to only 10 points heading into the final period. But the home team stiffened their defensive schemes in the fourth term and escaped with a comfortable win at the end.
Jerwin Gaco (191-F) knocked down 15 points to pace the Patriots. Brandon Powell (194-G/F-87, college: Marshall), Rob Wainwright (196-F-73, college: Solano CC) and Jason Dixon (205-C-73, college: Liberty) had 9 points each in the win. Chaz Twan Briggs (201-F-80, college: W.Virginia) and Axel Doruelo (183-G) finished with 15 points apiece in the loss. Ikenna Nwankwo delivered 12 points and 13 boards for the Tigers.

Cesafi, Cebu's collegiate league is very exciting this Finals with the matchup of the Philippines' tallest college players. Greg Slaughter (7'0) and Junmar Fajardo (6'10"). magaling lang mga guards sa UV. UV now leads the series 2-1 of their best of 5 series.

di ba sila kukunin ni rajko torroman?

^^
Si Slaughter kukunin ata.. Congrats UV! Natanggal ang yabang ni Fajardo. Saw the match live yesterday.:)

Fajardo and Slaughter wwere selected by Rajko Toroman.

basing on the reviews i read regarding slaughter, i expect him to be a better center compared to rabeh al-hussaini.

rabeh's a big hype. kasing height din niya attitude niya.

Slaughter and Fajardo kept on improving. both of them are good shotblockers. more publicity lang for Al-Husaini.

Slaughter refuses to join RP Smart Gilas for now

By Marian C. Baring

GREG Slaughter, the seven-foot basketball stalwart of the University of the Visayas Green (UV) Lancers, saw his basketball career catapulted to greater heights with several offers including an all-important stint with the Smart-Gilas RP team.

But Slaughter is taking it easy.

“He is not signing anything with Smart Gilas just yet. He decided to still train and play for the national team but also still maintain his scholarship with UV because according to him he wants to graduate,” said UV head coach Elmer “Boy” Cabahug.

Sun.Star accepts donations for victims of Typhoon Ondoy

After towing UV to an unprecedented ninth straight title in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi), UV’s prized center, decided to take things slowly.

After UV agreed to let him go if he decided to suit up for the national team, it was expected that the Filipino-American would rush back to Manila to play for the Smart Gilas team in the PBA.

However, Slaughter extended his stay in Cebu and decided he wanted to finish school.

“He said he still wanted to play for UV next season and finish his accounting management course. This actually made us very happy not just because we will still have him in Cesafi next year, but because out of his own resolve, he chose this,” said Cabahug.

Cabahug said they have always made it a point that Slaughter is given a free hand at making decisions about his career.

“We are here to guide him. Sir Eddie (Gullas, UV president) was very impressed at how he weighed his options and made his decision because at least we know if he decided a career in basketball, he will already have a degree. And if he graduated with UV, we can really claim that he is a UV product,” said Cabahug.

“Basketball is temporary, really. If he has a degree then he has something to fall back on,” said Cabahug.

With Slaughter’s decision, the same regimen will be followed with him jetting back and forth Cebu and Manila, wherever his services are needed.

^^
Okay. Let's respect his decision. "for now" lang naman.

I think Greg is a better center than Rabeh. Nakaya ni Rabeh ang mga centro sa UAAP dahil maliliit. Gaya nina Llagas, Ramos, Ponferrada, Ferdinand. Although Galinato and Sison are tall and big, di naman nila ginagamit ang katawan nila sa mga post up plays. Sa international leagues iba na ang mga makakatapat niya. mas malalaki at mas matatangkad. Ewan ko kung kakayanin pa niya. Opinion ko lang naman.

Ang ayaw ko lang kay Greg eh madaling mapagod. Nung 4th quarter naglalakad na nga lang siya papunta sa other side ng court.

Sino sa inyo ang gustong magkaroon ng Lithuanian imports sa PBA?

^^
Okay. Let's respect his decision. "for now" lang naman.

I think Greg is a better center than Rabeh. Nakaya ni Rabeh ang mga centro sa UAAP dahil maliliit. Gaya nina Llagas, Ramos, Ponferrada, Ferdinand. Although Galinato and Sison are tall and big, di naman nila ginagamit ang katawan nila sa mga post up plays. Sa international leagues iba na ang mga makakatapat niya. mas malalaki at mas matatangkad. Ewan ko kung kakayanin pa niya. Opinion ko lang naman.

Ang ayaw ko lang kay Greg eh madaling mapagod. Nung 4th quarter naglalakad na nga lang siya papunta sa other side ng court.


Sa tingin ko hindi gagamitin si Rabeh as Center. either sa 4 or 3 spot siya
better nga kung puro nasa 6'9 average yung forwards e..

si Japhet nga is better kung Forward..

napaisip lang bakit kilala si japhet as an EX Atenean? hmm ilang season ba siya dun???

kasi nung high school yan nakikita ko yan sa Mapua high.. payat pa siya nun parang bamboo grass

Sino sa inyo ang gustong magkaroon ng Lithuanian imports sa PBA?

i think they're better off with smart gilas. para mas masanay mga bata sa international style of play.

kukunin na daw si Slaughter and Fajardo.



PBA to lose exciting games, says Toroman
11/04/2009 | 05:46 PM

Losing all of their games in the ongoing KFC-Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup is not much of a concern for Smart-Gilas mentor Rajko Toroman.

For the 2007 FIBA Asia champion mentor, the biggest test awaits overseas when his troops compete in two tough tournaments in Amsterdam and Dubai in December and January next year.

“I have no problems with that," Toroman told GMANews.TV, referring to the league’s decision to count their first three games – where they were beaten convincingly by Burger King, Talk ‘N Text and Barangay Ginebrea – as no bearing. “But I felt the PBA will lose some of the exciting games."

The PBA board gave commissioner Sonny Barrios the authority of changing the rules after Smart-Gilas’ controversial 103-70 loss to Talk N Text.

Several board members went up in arms with the result, especially when CJ Giles only played for five minutes while Chris Tiu and Rabeh Al-Hussaini didn’t see action.

Smart-Gilas used import CJ Giles for only five minutes and Chris Tiu and Rabeh Al-Hussaini didn’t see action.

“The PBA is not our priority. Our priority is making the Olympics via our good showing in the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship. The real test for us is the coming international tournaments," said Toroman, who steered Iran to the 2007 FIBA Asia Championship earning the country its first Olympic stint in basketball.

Smart-Gilas is set to leave after completing its 10-game schedule in the PBA.

First up for the RP developmental pool is the Haarlem basketball tournament in Amsterdam where they will compete against the national teams of Russia, the Netherlands, and the national and club champion squads of Brazil and South America.

The RP developmental team, which will represent Asia in the tournament, will be away from their families this Christmas since the games will be held from Dec. 26 to 30.

“This tournament is a bit tougher than the PBA, so we expect to learn so many things from this tournament," said Toroman.

After Haarlem, Smart Gilas will also see action in an invitational tournament in Dubai from Jan. 14 to 21.

“All the tough teams from the Middle East will be there competing, including Iran, Syria and Lebanon," said Toroman, who will most likely add 6-foot-11 Greg Slaughter from the University of the Visayas and 6-foot-10 Junmar Fajardo of University of Cebu. – GMANews.TV

smart gilas 98 - Coca cola 93

so far what's the chances of smart gilas sa olympics?

we can't really say anything right now. it's like asking how the GDP would grow under Noynoy's Administration.

pero about greg slaughter, i asked a writer for a basketball blog about him and unfortunately, he isn't impressed. he's quite a softy daw. he thinks rabeh is still better than greg.

?: May winless team po ba sa PBA na tumalo sa isang undefeated team bago po talunin ng Rain or Shine yung Alaska last Nov 13?

so far what's the chances of smart gilas sa olympics?

non-existent?

we can't really say anything right now. it's like asking how the GDP would grow under Noynoy's Administration.

pero about greg slaughter, i asked a writer for a basketball blog about him and unfortunately, he isn't impressed. he's quite a softy daw. he thinks rabeh is still better than greg.

kaya nga eh. ansarap siguro nun kung mag qualify RP team sa olympics.

Young Japeth and Rabeh. Look at their hairdos.... :lol::lol:

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u197/venntro/Japethrabeh.jpg

Giles out of Smart Gilas (http://http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=524130&publicationSubCategoryId=69)
By Joaquin Henson (The Philippine Star) Updated November 17, 2009 12:00 AM



MANILA, Philippines - Smart-Gilas’ would-be naturalized player C. J. Giles, once considering to settle down permanently in Manila to set up a T-shirt business, has been cut from the Philippine national basketball team, it was learned yesterday.

Giles, 24, and his brother Malcolm left Manila for the US last Sunday. Giles’ former Oregon State teammate Wes, who accompanied him here, followed yesterday morning.

There was no explanation from the SBP as to why Giles was released but the speculation was he proved to be a handful for Serbian coach Rajko Toroman. Giles reportedly used to show up for practice with a hangover from heavy drinking the night before. It was also rumored that he tested positive for marijuana in a drug examination and in a fit of dysfunctional behavior, beat up his brother, banging his head on a wall to later send him to the hospital for stitches.

Giles had a history of irresponsibility as a varsity player at Kansas and Oregon State where he was similarly cut. He was once considered one of the US’ top high school cagers and even played for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA preseason last year despite being undrafted.

At the FIBA-Asia Champions Cup in Jakarta early this year, Giles powered the Philippines to fifth place, averaging 18.8 points, 13.2 rebounds, 2.3 blocked shots and 1.7 steals in six games. He played a key role in Smart-Gilas’ 98-69 masscare of Powerade Team Pilipinas in a charity exhibition game at the Araneta Coliseum last month.

A source from Smart-Gilas said Giles begged for a second chance to stay with the team but it was too late for a reconsideration. He was even granted a one-week home leave during the PBA Philippine Cup to visit his ailing four-year-old son Jaden in California and his mother in Seattle. But when he came back, Giles’ poor attitude was unchanged.

Giles sat out Smart-Gilas’ 96-95 loss to Sta. Lucia Realty last Friday, purportedly because of an ankle sprain. In his last PBA game, he scored 11 points as Smart-Gilas defeated Coca-Cola, 98-93, last Nov. 6.

“He didn’t turn out to be a good influence on his teammates,” said a source. “If he stayed, it would’ve gotten worse.”

With Giles gone for good, the SBP is now scouting for a replacement. In the short list are 7-foot Earl Barron of the University of Memphis, 6-10 Shaun Pruitt of the University of Illinois and 6-11 Jamal Sampson of the University of California at Berkeley.

Barron, 28, played for Red Bull as a PBA import in 2005 then saw action for the Miami Heat in three NBA seasons. He went on to suit up in Italy and was cut by the New Orleans Hornets during the NBA offseason. Pruitt, who turns 24 next week, averaged 12.6 points and 7.3 rebounds for Illinois in the 2007-08 NCAA campaign. Sampson, 26, was Utah’s second round pick in the 2002 NBA draft and has played for Milwaukee, the Lakers, Charlotte, Sacramento and Denver in five NBA seasons.

Sampson is highly recommended by scouts. California coach Ben Braun said, “Jamal is such a presence on the court – he’s going to alter your game from a defensive standpoint because he can block shots and offensively, he’s a legitimate threat on the block and he can step out to the high post.”

In 2004-05, Sampson averaged an NBA career high 5.3 rebounds with Charlotte. At Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California, Sampson averaged 16.5 points, 10 rebounds and 2.4 blocked shots as he led the varsity to the California state title with a 33-2 record as a senior in 2000-01.

Meanwhile, Smart-Gilas is negotiating to arrange a Middle East tour next month in preparation for the Dubai invitationals on Jan. 14-21. The tour may involve playing against top-caliber clubs in Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain before overseas Filipino workers.

The proposed Middle East tour will replace the Haarlem tournament that has been scrapped this year. Smart-Gilas was booked to play in the six-team Amsterdam meet on Dec. 26-30. The competition would’ve brought in the Brazilian and Dutch national squads, the Russian national developmental team, a US collegiate selection and a top Brazilian club.

Luc Vergoossen, director of the Haarlem Basketball Week, blamed the cancellation on the tournament’s previous owner, BV Slam Amsterdam, for refusing to cooperate in the transition process. Vergoosen said the tournament will be back next year and assured Smart-Gilas of a slot in Holland’s most prestigious basketball event.

we can't really say anything right now. it's like asking how the GDP would grow under Noynoy's Administration.

pero about greg slaughter, i asked a writer for a basketball blog about him and unfortunately, he isn't impressed. he's quite a softy daw. he thinks rabeh is still better than greg.

meron bang politics thread dito sa scc?? dati bawal yata??

update naman sa patriots???

ung mga college and universities na final 16 sino ang nakapasok??? salamat

Young Japeth and Rabeh. Look at their hairdos.... :lol::lol:

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u197/venntro/Japethrabeh.jpg

high school days ba 'to? buti di pa mukhang bakulaw si rabeh dito. hehehe.

ALASKA 130 - Willie Miller 21, Rey Hugnatan 18, Sonny Thoss 15, Joe Devance 14, Larry Fonacier 13, LA Tenorio 10, Mark Borboran 10, Jeff Cariaso 9, John Ferriols 7, Tony Dela Cruz 6, Mike Burstcher 5, Kelvin Dela Pena 2.




GILAS 99 - JV Casio 24, Rabeh Al Hussaini 21, Mark Barracael 16, Mark Barocca 11, Japeth Aguilar 9, Dylan Ababou 7, JR Cawaling 6, Aldreich Ramos 3, Jayson Ballesteros 2, RJ Jazul 0, Ryan Buenafe 0.

Quarter scores: 24-18, 63-43, 98-71, 130-99.

Sino bagong import ng Gilas? kinuha pala nila si Buenafe? Lee is far better than him. Even montecastro.

SBP gears up for hosting important tilt (http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/sports/20169-sbp-gears-up-for-hosting-important-tilt.html)

THE Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) wants to host two major regional tournaments next year to convince Fiba, the world governing body for basketball, to allow the country to stage a more important tournament in 2011.

SBP deputy executive director Bernie Atienza told the BusinessMirror on Thursday that the federation will bid for the hosting of the Southeast Asian Basketball Association (Seaba) Women’s Championship and the Fiba-Asia Under-18 Men’s Championship.

Hosting the two tournaments, Atienza said, is part of the SBP’s grand plan to convince Fiba-Asia officials to award the hosting of the 2011 Fiba-Asia Men’s qualifier for the 2012 London Olympics.

“These are the major tournaments that the SBP is hoping to host and MVP [Manny V. Pangilinan] pointed out that we have to show the Fiba-Asia officials that we are capable of hosting these events,” said Atienza.

The Seaba Women’s Championship will be in June 2010 and according to Atienza, the country has a good chance of bringing the tournament here because no other country has offered a bid.

Hosting the Fiba-Asia U-18 tournament, however, is more tasking because Lebanon, Syria and Yemen have expressed interest in staging the tournament where a team under Eric Altamirano will take part in.

Atienza said the SBP will submit its bid for the 2011 Fiba-Asia tournament to the Fiba central board even before the December 30 (2009) deadline.

“We’re just preparing our presentation and we are also just waiting for the invitation of the executive board of the Fiba-Asia for the presentation,” he said.

The country hosted the Fiba-Asia Men’s Tournament in 1978. It was known then as the Asian Basketball Confederation Championship.

Atienza said Iran and Lebanon are also interested in hosting the tournament that will select the continent’s representatives to the 2012 London Games.

Iran is the reigning Asian champion after it beat a Yao Ming-less China in Tianjin. Iran and Lebanon are going to the World Championship next year in Turkey. The Lebanese were given a wild-card entry for finishing fourth in Tianjin.

The country previously targeted the hosting of the Fiba-Asia Champions Cup but the tournament’s schedule (May 7 to 14) will coincide with the 2010 national elections. Joel Orellana

i will watch that 2011 event. sana tayo nga host.

^^sana nga wag mapurnada para mas may chance tayong manalo...

SBP-GMA 7 ink partnership for Smart Gilas Mideast tour (http://positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Sports_28/SBP-GMA_7_ink_partnership_for_Smart_Gilas_Mideast_tour.shtml)

MANILA, Jan. 6 (PNA)--The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) formally announced Tuesday that it has entered into a media partnership agreement with television network giant GMA-7 for the series of games of the Smart Gilas Pilipinas National Team in the Middle East.

Smart Gilas is slated to leave Wednesday for Doha, Qatar as part of a 17-day tour of the Gulf as it begins preparations for the Asian Games this November in China.

The young National Team led by Serbian Coach Rajko Toroman will play two games against the Qatar National Team on January 8 and 9 before participating in the tough 21st Dubai International Tournament from January 14 to 23.

Prior to the tournament, Smart Gilas will play exhibition games for the Filipino communities in Dubai as well against a club team from Jordan and the UAE.

Toroman and his players, led by team captain Chris Tiu and UAAP most valuable player (MVP) Dylan Ababou, along with SBP officials Rico Meneses and Perry Martinez, paid a courtesy call to GMA Network, Inc. chairman, president and CEO Felipe L. Gozon and EVP and COO Gilberto R. Duavit prior to the team’s departure.

Under the partnership, GMA will cover Gilas’ Middle East activities and air a special on GMA’s PinoyTV.

GMA has also agreed to provide subsidy for the Mideast trip of the National Team and is studying the possibility of even acquiring the tapes of the Dubai tournament for airing on its network.

"We fully support the national team, financially, morally and spiritually because we need to have athletes who will represent the country and win. And basketball is the national sport," said Gozon, who warmly welcomed the team that is tasked to bring the Philippines back into the Olympics by 2012.

For his part, Duavit said the coverage of Gilas intends to “create a lot of interest in terms of what the national team is doing" especially among OFWs in the places that they will be visiting.

SBP Executive Director Noli Eala lauded the partnership as a “milestone agreement that augurs well for the campaign to bring back national pride.”

“In behalf of our President Manny Pangilinan, we are very grateful for the support of a respected industry leader like GMA led by visionaries like Chairman Gozon and Mr. Duavit to the Smart Gilas National Team.

The resources that GMA network are providing the team is a big boost in our aggressive campaign to prepare to qualify for the Olympics,” Eala said.

“The best part is because of this historic partnership, Smart Gilas will have more interaction with our Filipino communities in Qatar and the UAE. We need all the support and prayers of our countrymen in our quest to bring back pride and glory to the Philippines.” Eala added.

Smart Gilas and GMA have also agreed to study further the possibility of expanding the ties to include the future international trips of the team to Australia, US and Canada.
The Dubai International tournament will feature teams from Syria, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and the UAE in what is billed as the “toughest international tournament in the Middle East.” (PNA)

Gilas bows to Syrians (http://mb.com.ph/articles/238629/gilas-bows-syrians)

DUBAI — Smart-Gilas Pilipinas put up a gallant stand in the absence of naturalization candidate Jamal Sampson but its effort fell short, losing to Al Jalaa of Syria, 76-90, at the start of the import-laced Dubai Invitational Friday here.

Egged on wildly by thousands of Filipino fans at the Al-Ahli Sports Complex, JV Casio, only on his second real basketball game since being sidelined by a contusion he sustained in an exhibition game with Alaska, carried most of the fight for the country as he unleashed a 23-point outburst.

But the absence of Sampson, a 6-foot-11 former NBA veteran who is being eyed by RP for naturalization, hastened the downfall of the Natrionals who struggled against the size and height of the Syrians, who played with three American reinforcements.

Filipino-American Marcio Lassiter, Mac Baracael, Japeth Aguilar, and Jason Ballesteros tried to plug the gaping hole by chipping in 11, 11, 10 and 10 points, respectively, but the void left by Sampson was too big to fill into.

Curiously, Sampson complained of pain on his knees and decided not to play only during the pre-game warm up.

“It’s always very difficult for us to play this game because all these teams, they have three Americans,” said RP’s Serbian coach Rajko Toroman.

“We played without Sampson and it shocked us in the beginning.”

“This competition, if we play without a big guy, we will not do too much,” he added.

SBP wants Asian test for Smart Gilas five (http://sports.inquirer.net/amateur/amateur/view/20100203-251148/SBP-wants-Asian-test-for-Smart-Gilas-five)

AFTER CHECKING OUT THE FIELD in the Middle East, the Smart Gilas Pilipinas national team now wants to size up Asian powerhouses China and Korea.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Noli Eala said Smart Gilas should now test its mettle against the Chinese and the Koreans to get a clear picture of the opposition in the Asian Games in November.

“At this point, it’s time for us to play against China and Korea, and probably Kazakhstan, because its important for our boys to take a mental note of these teams,” said Eala.

Smart Gilas held its own against the tough Middle East competition when it faced Lebanon, Jordan and Iran in the Fiba Champions Cup in Jakarta last year and the 21st Dubai International Tournament last month.

Teams in the Dubai tournament, where Smart Gilas copped the bronze medal at the expense of Syria’s Al Jalaa, were represented by national players with three imports.

“These teams are getting older and weaker going into the Fiba (Asia) Championships while we are getting stronger and stronger every day,” said Gilas coach Rajko Toroman.

Smart Gilas is preparing for the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China on Nov. 12 to 27 and the 2011 Fiba Asia Championship, which offers a single ticket to the 2012 London Olympics.

But Toroman said it’s not easy to arrange a date with the Chinese national squad even in an exhibition game.

“Based on my experience, the only time you get to play China is during the Fiba (Asia) Championships,” said Toroman, who steered Iran to the 2007 Fiba Asia crown on the way to its first Olympic stint in Beijing in 2008.

As for the core of the Korean and Kazakhstan national teams, Toroman said these countries usually join the annual Jones Cup in Taipei where Smart Gilas is also set to compete.

isama na rin nila ang chinese taipei and japan. mahirap na.

BritAma seals title showdown with Patriots
(The Philippine Star) Updated February 09, 2010 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Indonesia’s Satria Muda BritAma downed the Singapore Slingers, 86-76, in their sudden death duel at the Singapore Indoor Stadium last Sunday to arrange a title showdown with the Philippine Patriots in the Asean Basketball League.

Satria Muda’s import Nakiea Miller took charge for Indonesia in the second half, scoring 20 points to power BritAma to the victory and into the best-of-five title series with the Patriots.

The playoff starts on Friday at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig with Game Two set Feb. 17 at The Arena in San Juan. Game Three will be played at the BritAma Arena in Indonesia on Feb. 21. If necessary, Game 4 will also be held at BritAma on Feb. 24 while Game 5 is set at the Ynares on Feb. 28.

Though the Patriots, co-owned by Harbour Centre president and CEO Mikee Romero and Tonyboy Cojuangco, have swept the Indons in their three meetings in the elims, Romero and coach Louie Alas said the title series will be an entirely different phase.

“We have an intense rivalry with Indonesia dating back our days in the SEABA Club Championship, so I expect the series to be an emotional one. But I have strong faith in our boys, we’re determined to win the first-ever title of the tournament,” Romero said.

Romero, who also funded the RP team in the 2007 SEA Games where the Nationals posted a record winning average margin of 42 points, said the Patriots, especially imports Gabe Freeman and Jason Dixon, are all primed up against the Indons.

“They’re all ready for the series,” said team manager Erick Arejola. “Coach Louie is now working on the details of our preparation.”

Held to just two points in the first half, Miller came out smoking in the second half, coming through one big play after another to frustrate the home crowd.

Okay ba tong Ynares Sports Center?
THE YNARES COLISEUM IN ANTIPOLO CITY
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c373/Joshua8888/Ynares01.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c373/Joshua8888/Ynares02.jpg
The state-of-the-art P350 million Ynares Center is erected in Antipolo City. The coliseum was constructed in a 5-hectare lot located at the heart of Antipolo City. This is the current landmark in the province where PBA games and big concerts are held regularly. This is also the site of the 100th Foundation Anniversary Celebration of the province.

ALASKA 130 - Willie Miller 21, Rey Hugnatan 18, Sonny Thoss 15, Joe Devance 14, Larry Fonacier 13, LA Tenorio 10, Mark Borboran 10, Jeff Cariaso 9, John Ferriols 7, Tony Dela Cruz 6, Mike Burstcher 5, Kelvin Dela Pena 2.




GILAS 99 - JV Casio 24, Rabeh Al Hussaini 21, Mark Barracael 16, Mark Barocca 11, Japeth Aguilar 9, Dylan Ababou 7, JR Cawaling 6, Aldreich Ramos 3, Jayson Ballesteros 2, RJ Jazul 0, Ryan Buenafe 0.

Quarter scores: 24-18, 63-43, 98-71, 130-99.

^^ay naku alaska pa nga lang, talo na...ano kaya kapag international teams ang kalaban...

it's NBA All-star weekend. I'm hoping the West team to win over their eastern counterparts.

Congrats Patriots for winning against SMB in game 1 of the ABL Finals...

sabado pa ata yun diba?

panalo east. 141-139. boooooooooooo!

I believe Kobe's not present..:D

congrats Patriots and Purefoods :banana:


Patriots : 2 - 0 SMB
Go! Purefoods 2 - 2 San Miguel

I believe Kobe's not present..:D

injured eh. pati si jason kidd.

Boston won against LA less kobe pero good game

good game din ang Lebron vs Carmelo.. nuggets won.. spoils Lebron's triple double

Purefoods go! go! go! ("j)

today:

http://www.clutchfans.net/images/tmac_knicks_uniform1.jpg

this summer:

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/7935/lebknickscopyoe9.jpg

:lol::banana:
______________
i personally don't like LBJ in the knicks though... para kasing bibilihin lang nila yung talent... mas maganda kung drafted talaga at sa team mo nag-evolve at na-develop.. oh well....

TMac and King LeBron on Knicks? That would be great. kaawa-awa ang franchise na yun.

Robinson + McGrady + James= NBA Title.:lol:

Congratulations to our Philippine Patriots for becoming the first Asean Basketball League champions!!:banana: they swept the series 3-0 against Indonesia's Satria Muda Britama.

congrats to us! :cheers:

Purefoods beats San Miguel :banana:
Philippine Basketball Association

KFC-PBA Philippine Cup Semifinals Game 6
Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants vs San Miguel Beermen
Purefoods wins 87-78

Purefoods TJ Giants is back in the Finals after beating San Miguel Beermen 87-78 and closed out their best of 7 semifinals series 4-2. Roger Yap led Purefoods with 20 points, 11 rebs and 4 assists including an acrobatic [...]

Philippine Patriots rule 1st ASEAN hoops championship:cheers:
Posted on February 22nd, 2010 under Sporting Gold

The Philippine Patriots celebrate their ABL championship [GMA News]

The Philippine Patriots completed a sweep of Indonesia Satria Muda BritAma with a 75-67 Game 3 triumph to capture the first ASEAN Basketball League championship at The BritAma Arena in Jakarta, Indonesia.

“I’m proud that we won the first ABL championship but I’d also like to congratulate Satria Muda for giving us a very very difficult fight,” said Harbour Centre owner Mikee Romero, who co-owns the team with businessman Tonyboy Cojuangco.

Patriots import Jason Dixon buried a game-high 28 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as the Patriots recovered from an anemic start. While fellow import Gabe Freeman finish with 17 points and 19 rebounds.

Rob Wainwright, Warren Ybañez and Jerwin Gaco also starred in key runs that pushed the Patriots ahead by as many as 16 points, 68-52.

Nonoy Baclao, Elmer Espiritu and Christian Coronel also came through at the defensive end when Indonesian team star Ronny Gunawan and import Nakiea Miller rallied Satria Muda within eight, 70-62.

“We expected a long series, but luckily our guys played hard especially on defense,” said Patriots coach Louie Alas.

A 7-0 spurt gave the Patriots their first double-digit lead, 42-31, after wresting the halftime lead, 35-31.

“The Patriots deserve the win,” said Indonesian coach Fictor Roring. “It’s hard to defeat the Patriots. We need more bullets.”

The Patriots, who took Games 1 and 2 at home, also outrebounded Satria Muda, 51-37.

The scores:

PHILIPPINES 75—Dixon 28, Freeman 17, Wainwright 9, Gaco 9, Ybañez 7, Sta. Maria 3, Coronel 2, Alcaraz 0, Acuña 0, Espiritu 0, Baclao 0, Mirza 0.

INDONESIA 67—Gunawan R. 20, Hartman 14, Miller 13, Prihantono 9, Sondakh 8, Wuysang 2, Wijaya 1, Achmad 0, Gunawan G. 0, Siregar 0, Situmorang 0, Arifin 0.

Quarters: 13-17, 35-31, 64-52, 75-67

Kulelat naman kse ang mga nasa ASEAN countries.. pag ang pinas sumali sa Asian league or jones cup... tsambers lang na maka panalo ng isa.. like what happened in Dubai a month ago... bronze ata sila... chamba lang yon.... kse wala ang china at korea...

sino ba naman ndi mananalo jan.. na tatlo tatlo ang import... pag puro pinoy lang kaya ang player... mananalo din ba kaya sila? gustuhin ko pang mag laro ang puro pinoy lang.... sana wala ng import.. kse pano natin ma bigyan ng chance ang ibang pinoy kung kukuha ng madaming import. Pero bilib din ako sa mga pinoy kse kinukuhang import ng ibang country like singapore, malaysia and brunei. :cheers:

Philippine Patriots rule 1st ASEAN hoops championship:cheers:
Posted on February 22nd, 2010 under Sporting Gold

The Philippine Patriots celebrate their ABL championship [GMA News]

The Philippine Patriots completed a sweep of Indonesia Satria Muda BritAma with a 75-67 Game 3 triumph to capture the first ASEAN Basketball League championship at The BritAma Arena in Jakarta, Indonesia.

“I’m proud that we won the first ABL championship but I’d also like to congratulate Satria Muda for giving us a very very difficult fight,” said Harbour Centre owner Mikee Romero, who co-owns the team with businessman Tonyboy Cojuangco.

Patriots import Jason Dixon buried a game-high 28 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as the Patriots recovered from an anemic start. While fellow import Gabe Freeman finish with 17 points and 19 rebounds.

Rob Wainwright, Warren Ybañez and Jerwin Gaco also starred in key runs that pushed the Patriots ahead by as many as 16 points, 68-52.

Nonoy Baclao, Elmer Espiritu and Christian Coronel also came through at the defensive end when Indonesian team star Ronny Gunawan and import Nakiea Miller rallied Satria Muda within eight, 70-62.

“We expected a long series, but luckily our guys played hard especially on defense,” said Patriots coach Louie Alas.

A 7-0 spurt gave the Patriots their first double-digit lead, 42-31, after wresting the halftime lead, 35-31.

“The Patriots deserve the win,” said Indonesian coach Fictor Roring. “It’s hard to defeat the Patriots. We need more bullets.”

The Patriots, who took Games 1 and 2 at home, also outrebounded Satria Muda, 51-37.

The scores:

PHILIPPINES 75—Dixon 28, Freeman 17, Wainwright 9, Gaco 9, Ybañez 7, Sta. Maria 3, Coronel 2, Alcaraz 0, Acuña 0, Espiritu 0, Baclao 0, Mirza 0.

INDONESIA 67—Gunawan R. 20, Hartman 14, Miller 13, Prihantono 9, Sondakh 8, Wuysang 2, Wijaya 1, Achmad 0, Gunawan G. 0, Siregar 0, Situmorang 0, Arifin 0.

Quarters: 13-17, 35-31, 64-52, 75-67

Go for 4-0 Purefoods!

LeBron’s M.J. tribute is all about business
Adrian Wojnarowski

By Adrian Wojnarowski, Yahoo! Sports 7 hours, 7 minutes ago


LeBron James(notes) isn’t honoring the greatness of No. 23, but manipulating Michael Jordan’s marketing savvy. The changing of his jersey number as a nod to M.J.’s basketball career is a purely fictional cover story. It’s a tribute to Jordan all right, but more like a cynical ode to his business sense. James wants to grow his global brand and push product; flooding the market with a fresh jersey number does the job.

LeBron James' No. 23 jersey has trailed Kobe Bryant's No. 24 in sales the past two seasons.

Between now and then, James ought to spare us the fantasy that moving from No. 23 to No. 6 is about anyone or anything else.
Related Coverage

All about Michael?

This is all about LeBron.

When LeBron James should be most concerned with taking Kobe Bryant’s(notes) NBA title, he’s making a bid for his standing as the No. 1 seller of NBA jerseys. James watched Bryant make the switch from No. 8 to No. 24 and how it moved him to the top of the list. For the past two seasons, James has finished second to Bryant. No more, James decided. Kobe gave him the blueprint for selling out stock, and now LeBron’s embraced it.

Looking back, Bryant never tried to turn his jersey change into some magnanimous gesture. He switched numbers, and that was that. He wanted to sell jerseys, and he did. He never pretended it was a genuflection to anything but commerce.

Somehow, James has boxed himself with this ridiculous story about how no one should ever wear No. 23, and he’s the first to give it up and maybe everyone else should follow him. This was met with a roll of the eyes, with everyone asking: Wait, you’re giving up No. 23 to take … No. 6?

What about Bill Russell and his 11 NBA championships? Jordan, the greatest ever, cleared a path for the worldly basketball star. But Russell was a black star in turbulent Boston in the 1960s. He anchored the greatest dynasty in the sport’s history, and they’ll remember him as the most dominant defensive player to ever live. In the end, James and everyone else understand this has nothing to do with Jordan or Russell, with No. 23 or No. 6. This is business, and he’s insulting everyone’s intelligence suggesting it’s something else.

The idea that James is honoring Jordan is, well, pure mythology. In a lot of ways, LeBron’s working to distance himself from him. Truth be told, they are rivals far more than confidants. With different lines of shoes, they are competing for power within Nike. They’ll be competing in the Eastern Conference, where the Charlotte Bobcats have beaten the Cavaliers two of three times this season and could be an opening-round opponent. They’ll be competing in collective bargaining talks, owner versus player.

They’ve never been close, although Jordan has never been overly generous with the next generation of NBA icons. He’ll show those players within the Jordan Brand some attention, but his interaction with LeBron and Kobe mostly stems from professional courtesy. Jordan is still protective of his legacy as the greatest player ever, and he’s never been terribly motivated to lend a hand in the overtaking of that.

Around the time James started with his bit about retiring Jordan’s number, Jordan sat with Pat Riley in Miami for a Cavs-Heat game in November. It didn’t go unnoticed to those sitting around them how often James would peer over, searching for some kind of approval from Jordan. He’d make a play and glance over – and it was probably no accident that Jordan offered little to no response. After all, Jordan was there to promote Dwyane Wade(notes) as an endorser to his line of shoes, so James was treated as afterthought.

“He’s always looked for that approval from Michael,” one Jordan associate says, “and I don’t know that he’s ever really gotten it – or ever will.”

So James filed paperwork with the NBA prior to the Wednesday deadline, and should he stay with the Cavaliers he’ll wear his Olympic team No. 6 next season. Should he leave, he can wear whatever he wants. Between now and then, no one else will care much about how many jerseys he sells, about how far he surpasses Bryant on the NBA’s list in 2011.

For all his fascination with global branding, with empire building, peddling jerseys doesn’t move LeBron closer to Jordan and Bryant and Russell. Only championships do.

This time, the Cavs have delivered James the supporting cast to do it. No more excuses. James comes armed for the Lakers now. He comes with his legacy on the line, measured in one indisputable and defining way: Before he beats him in the NBA Store, LeBron James needs to beat Kobe Bryant in the NBA Finals.

===

I used to be a Kobe hater, but now I'm a Lebron hater. I'm with Kobe on this one, Lebron doesn't even have a ring and couldn't get past Superman last season! :bash:

A SEABA gold as Asiad ticket for RP women's cage team (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=5&sid=&nid=5&rid=263035)

MANILA, March 6 (PNA) -- The RP women's basketball team must first hurdle the FIBA (international basketball body)-sanctioned Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) tournament if it wants to join the Philippine delegation to the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games in December.

And the ladies must win no less than the gold medal if they want to don the national colors, according to coach Heidi Ong.

The Philippines will play host to the SEABA championship in June.

For further toughening training and toughening of natural skills and talent, the cagerettes may go for an international stint in Australia and then invite teams from China and Japan to play pocket tournaments in Manila.

Ong also bared that the 6'3" Chinese girl they are tapping as reinforcement is unlikely to make the RP SEABA team due to tedious citizenship issues. (PNA)

Patriots set to get ABL rings
By JONAS TERRADO
March 8, 2010, 7:03pm
MB

The Philippine Patriots will receive their championship rings this Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for winning the first ASEAN Basketball League title last month in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Aside from getting their rings, the Patriots, led by team owners Mikee Romero of Harbour Centre and businessman Tonyboy Cojuangco, will officially get their official championship trophy.

“This championship is another indication that we still rule the region as far as basketball is concerned,” said Romero. “But we should not rest on our laurels since other countries, like Indonesia and Singapore, are improving very fast.”

Patriots proclaimed ABL champs
By JONAS TERRADO
March 10, 2010, 4:46pm
MB

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – The Philippine Patriots formally received their championship rings Tuesday for winning the inaugural ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) tournament at the luxurious Garden Hotel here.

Dressed in Barong Tagalog, the Patriots, led by team owners Mikee Romero of Harbour Centre and Tonyboy Cojuangco, got their gold-plated rings from league founder and Malaysian business tycoon Tony Fernandes.

The Patriots won the title in style as they swept Indonesia’s Satria Muda BritAma in their best-of-five title series.

"I would like to congratulate this team because they worked so hard for it. They underwent a lot of sacrifices to win the championship trophy," said Patriots co-owner Mikee Romero.

It was the 10th crown for the Harbour Centre boss after winning seven straight titles in the Philippine Basketball League, the Southeast Asian Games and the SEABA Champions Cup championships held in 2007.

"We actually thought that the ABL season would be a walk in the park. It didn't turn out that way but we worked so hard for it and we enjoyed our time participating in this league," said team co-owner Tony Boy Cojuangco.

The Patriots won 11 of 15 games during the elimination round then swept aside both the KL Dragons and Satria Muda to claim the league's first-ever title.

The night was doubly special for Warren Ybañez and import Jason Dixon as they won the Finals MVP plum and Best Import award, respectively.

Dixon averaged 13.9 points and 10.1 rebounds highlighted by 16 double-doubles in the last 17 games.

The season MVP went to the Thailand Tigers lefty forward Attaporn Lertmalaiporn.

A new crop of Patriots will likely join next season as some of the current players on the team are hoping to play in the PBA either through free agency or in the annual Rookie Draft.

Barako Bull, which signed a sponsorship deal with Harbour Centre recently, is reportedly eyeing several members of the team like Rob Wainwright, Jerwin Gaco, Ybañez, and Christian Coronel.

This will definitely beef up our NT roster. Opting for naturalization?:lol:
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs175.snc3/20272_105565762794456_100000230973791_133638_2965826_n.jpg

^^the uniform looks good on him. sana totoo!

PBA Fiesta Conference starts today (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/sports/view/20100321-259966/PBA-Fiesta-Conference-starts-today)
By Calvin Cordova

Games Sunday:
(Araneta Coliseum)
4:00 p.m.- Barako Energy Coffee vs. Sta. Lucia
6:30 p.m.- Barangay Ginebra vs. Talk N Text

Two returning imports and two veterans try to lead their respective teams to auspicious starts as the 35th PBA Fiesta Conference opens today at the Araneta Coliseum.

The new-look Barako Energy Coffee Masters try to give their new head coach Junel Baculi a rousing debut when they collide with the Sta. Lucia Realtors in the first game, while the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings and the Talk N Text Tropang Texters renew their rivalry in the main game.

The conference will be spiced up by imports who stand not taller than six-foot-six.

The Coffee Masters were one of the busiest teams in the conference-break after bringing in Baculi, who replaced Leo Isaac, and new recruits Rob Wainwright, Jerwin Gaco and Christian Coronel.

“Being last placers in the previous conference, I believe the team has nowhere to go but up,” Baculi told pba.online.net.

Barako will be led by import Sammy Monroe, whose mettle will be tested by Sta. Lucia's veteran PBA reinforcement Anthony Johnson.

The Realtors will also parade new players in Bonbon Custodio, whom they got from San Miguel in favor of Joseph Yeo. Sta. Lucia will also welcome the returning Cebuano cager Donbel Belano (from Barako).

The Gin Kings, the losing finalists in the same conference last year, will parade their own new import in Awvee Storey, who once played alongside Gilbert Arenas with the Washington Wizards in the NBA.

Ginebra unloaded Rich Alvarez and Doug Kramer but also brought in quality big men in John Ferriols and Yancy de Ocampo .

Talk N Text will have the burly Shawn Daniels as its import who had previously played with the Air21 Express.

Aside from De Ocampo, gone from the Texters lineup are Renren Ritualo, who is now with Air21 while new faces for Talk N Text are JR Quiñahan, Mark Yee and Aaron Aban.

The Texters and the Kings figured in a drama-filled quarterfinal battle in the Philippine Cup that was marred by a Talk N Text walkout.

The Kings eventually won the series but got swept by the Alaska Aces in the semifinals.

^^ syempre Purefoods parin kasi sila ang kaka-tsampyon lang eh.
Kahit hindi pa nakikita ang laro ng mga import, iba talaga ang momentum ng nasabing koponan.


:cheers1:

THE YOUNGEST IN CHARGE (Kevin Durant)

At 21 years and just 197 days, Durant is the youngest scoring champion since a 23-year, 48-days old Shaquille O’Neal accomplished the feat during the 1994-95 season.

Durant is also the first player 21 or younger to lead the league in scoring, besting Chicago’s Max Zaslofsky, who was 22, and 105 days when he was the scoring champ during the 1947-48 season.

(You have to love Durant for allowing us to even bring up Max Zaslofsky’s name.)

As my main man from SLAM Magazine, Lang Whitaker, reminds me at every turn, I wasn’t convinced Durant was some once in a generation player in those days leading up to the 2007 draft.

I am now!

I knew he was good. But I had no idea he would be this good, this soon.

If he’s not on your MVP ballot, and he needs to be high, you’re crazy.

The man scored 25 or more points in every game for two solid months. TWO MONTHS STRAIGHT!

***
NBA.com

Portland take Game 1!! CRAP$#!T!!

Here's a nice book for pinoy bball entitled Pacific Rims
done by Rafe Bartholomew:cheers:

http://rafebartholomew.com/sites/default/files/pacificrims_cover.jpg

Before I moved to the Philippines in 2005, I, like many Americans, knew next to nothing about the island nation in Southeast Asia. I remembered from high school history class that it had been a colony of Spain and the United States, and that was about it. Now, even though I moved back to New York after three years in Manila, the Philippines is with me all the time. I listen to Tagalog rock songs during my daily commute, and I sing along loud enough to attract the perplexed ire of fellow pedestrians. I devote most of my spare thoughts to the country. I disappear from work for a two-hour lunch once or twice a month to ride the Subway out to Woodside, Queens, for the buffet at Krystal's Café.

How did this happen? Basketball. In the Philippines, I found a nation of people who love hoops as passionately as I do. At first, it was hard to believe. How did a tall man's game become a cultural force of nature in a Southeast Asian country full of fairly short people? But Filipinos have a basketball history that stretches back to the early 1900s, and over the past century the sport has become ingrained in nearly every aspect of Philippine society. On the sides of jeepneys, in every town square, on billboards and commercials for a dizzying range of products that includes sneakers, vitamin syrup, tires and margarine, you see basketball. Almost everywhere in the Philippines, you see basketball.

Pacific Rims is the first book that attempts to illustrate the sport's grip on Philippine society. It follows the Alaska Aces, a pro team sponsored by a milk company, through a season in the Philippine Basketball Association. It introduces characters like Rosell Ellis, the American import player recruited to spearhead Alaska's quest for a title; Jeffrey Cariaso, a veteran guard whose distinguished career and steady leadership brings together the team's homegrown Filipino and Filipino-American players; and Willie Miller, a half-American, Philippine bred guard who is the PBA's clown prince and one of its most dynamic guards. Along the way, there are detours to study the sport's history in the Philippines, the way politicians have learned to exploit their constituents' love of basketball for electoral gain, and the author's misadventures as a hired gun in provincial tournaments and an occasional soap opera actor (the role, of course, was linked to hoops).

Pacific Rims is the story of a nation's passion for hoops and a writer's falling in love with that nation.

^^pwede! maganda yan ah.

sana nabuhay nalang ako nung mga panahon nina Jaworski, Distrito, Fernandez.. atbp.. Ampanget na maglaro ng mga Pinoy ng basketball ngayon. Maliban kay Baguio. :D

yuck, malamang taga barangay ginebra ka:D

Hindi naman. :D

Smart Gilas-RP past Dohuk-Iraq, enters quarterfinals

DOHA - Serbian import Milan Vucicevic’s success on the paint at the buzzer took Smart Gilas to the quarterfinal with a 76-74 win against Iraq’s Duhok on Wednesday.

The Filipinos with this win – their first in the competition in four games – thus completed the quarterfinal line-up earning a last eight clash against Al Riyadi Beirut (Lebanon).

“The team showed a lot of character especially in the pressure moments,” said Smart Gilas coach Toroman Rajko.

“We had lost a couple of games, which probably we could have won. But then this needs this experience,” he added.

Marnel Baracael opened the scoring for Smart Gilas, and the game, but it was Duhok who took charge with an 8-0 run.

Smart Gilas were to be done with and they replied with their own run – a 7-0 spree.

Those were in the opening moments of the game.

The proceedings from then on went on even keel with neither able to forge ahead into any substantial lead.

With less than three minutes left and the scores tantalizingly tied at 62, Chris Tiu scattered the rival defense followed Serbian import Milan Vucicevic’s back-to-to back successes on the paint to put Smart Gilas ahead.

Six of Vucicevic’s 10 points for the game came incidentally in the last three minutes of the game.

Calvin Cage proved Duhok’s savior at this stage helping the side level the score at 74, with about six seconds left on the clock.

And then came the move to clinch the issue with Mark Baroca’s assist opening up the needed space for Vucicevic to score.

“We missed too many shots when we needed them,” lamented Iraq coach Hama Bakkal.

“But we can be proud of the way we fought and lost,” he added.

Court of Arbitration for Sports rules against BAP
This is good news for pinoy bball!:banana:

The Court of Arbitration for Sports in Lausanne, Switzerland has ruled against the Basketball Association of the Philippines and upheld the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas as the recognized and legitimate National Sports Association representing basketball in the Philippines.

The SBP is headed by esteemed businessman-sportsman Manny Pangilinan as president with Governor Oscar Moreno as chairman and Ricky Vargas as vice chairman.

The CAS decision was handed down earlier this month and marked a final setback for the BAP in its efforts to question the status of the SBP and its recognition by the international governing body for basketball, FIBA.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that the appeal submitted by the BAP dated August 10, 2009 against the decision of the FIBA Special Commission for the Philippines is dismissed.

The CAS also ruled that the appeal submitted by the BAP against FIBA dated August 23, 2009 was rejected.

According to the decision FIBA’s actions in this matter have been “proper and correct” and as a consequence the decision of FIBA to recognize the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Inc., as its national member federation “is confirmed.”

It was also made clear that the BAP ‘ has no status in FIBA and has no right to represent the country internationally and/or to deal with other members national federations.”

A letter from FIBA secretary general Patrick Baumann stated that the BAP “represents merely one of many Philippine interest groups surrounding the sport of basketball in that country (Philippines.)

Baumann also stated that the CAS decision “is final” and in line with Article 36 of FIBA’s general statutes, FIBA Asia and all stakeholders were instructed “to accept and enforce this decision with immediate effect.”

ron artest was crazy! hahaha! lakers now lead 3-2.

ron artest was crazy! hahaha! lakers now lead 3-2.

From zero to hero :lol:

-the ballgame 2010-

from 80's to 90's , from 90's to oughties: riley-byron, jackson to jordan, bird to miller, bryant-phil

limiting celtics to 84-86 pts means a clear and positive advantage to lakers, 100 plus pts for lakers means a momentun for game 2 & 3. forget the homecourt advantage.

classic 80's, visualization of the ballgame

lakers draw first blood!:cheers:

A very boring NBA Finals for me..
OKLAHOMA and PHOENIX laglag na

it's ok man. i hope kevin durant won't do a chris paul. na after challenging the lakers in the previous year's playoffs, biglang di na pumasok sa playoffs the next season.

you just have to give it to the lakers. andami nilang haters pero, they're just really good. and i don't think he's still the buhakaw guy everybody claims him to be. mataas siya mag-assists ngayon.

i'm happy with the way game 1 went. kahit 4 points lang si kobe sa 4th quarter, they still won with a 13 point margin. good job for them!

^^ No more Pau Gasoft

it's ok man. i hope kevin durant won't do a chris paul. na after challenging the lakers in the previous year's playoffs, biglang di na pumasok sa playoffs the next season.

you just have to give it to the lakers. andami nilang haters pero, they're just really good. and i don't think he's still the buhakaw guy everybody claims him to be. mataas siya mag-assists ngayon.

i'm happy with the way game 1 went. kahit 4 points lang si kobe sa 4th quarter, they still won with a 13 point margin. good job for them!

I think Lakers is the best team in NBA, but I love watching young and underdog teams with fast pace tempos than the aging ones.

Datapwat sa tingin ko Lakers pa rin ang mag chachampion ngayong taon...

dapat nga sila mag-champion. :D

although tambak sila sa celtics ngayong 2nd Q ng game 2.

Ang ganda ng laban ng B-Meg vs. San Miguel kagabi. Makapigilhininga.:lol:

dapat nga sila mag-champion. :D

although tambak sila sa celtics ngayong 2nd Q ng game 2.

Sana matapos na itong NBA Finals na ito..
Looking forward sa NBA Draft 2010 :)

Galing ng game 2 Lakers Celtics... Celtics can finish it at home!

(and I hate the Celtics too, being a NY fan)

My favorite play of the game was when Rajon stripped the ball from Kobe from behind. Made me laugh.

2010 Jones Cup dates set (Smart Gilas)

The R. William Jones Cup International Invitational Tournament, Taiwan's top international hoop event, will be held from July 13-21, a Taiwan basketball official said.

Seven men's teams and five women's teams will participate in the annual tournament in Taipei County's Sinjhuang Stadium, said Lee Yi-chung, deputy secretary-general of the Chinese Taipei Basketball Association (CTBA), Taiwan's top basketball governing body.

Host Taiwan will field its national teams and university all-star teams in both the men's and women's competitions, Lee said. Several of Taiwan's national players have injuries, however, and have said they will sit out in order to be in better shape to prepare for the Asian Games, which will be held in Guangzhou, China in November.

Among the men's participating teams are Japan's national team, Lebanon's national team, Iran's national second team, a club team from western Australia and the Smart Gilas - Philippines' national team.

Lee said he expected the Philippine team (Smart Gilas) to be the top box office draw as usual because there are many overseas Filipino workers in Taiwan and because Filipinos are known for their passion for basketball.

'Moreover, this Philippine team was selected to compete for a berth in the Asian zone for the 2012 London Olympics. I think the team will be highly competitive, ' Lee said.

In the women's competition, Japan, Kazakhstan and Lebanon will send their national teams to compete with the two home teams.

The Jones Cup started in 1977 as an invitational tourney with national teams, club teams and university teams mainly from the Asian region. It was named after Renato William Jones, one of the founders and former secretary-general of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

********

"Manila Invitational Cup will be on June 24-27 @ Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Confirmed Jordan NT, Dongguan CBA Club & Smart Gilas. 2 PBA auto semis also invited." - Noli Eala

wala lang share ko lang :lol:


http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/6228/30179146151966819715396.jpg


http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/1273/30179146269137748915396.jpg

ayan sige, magsayahan kayo. :ohno::ohno::ohno:

ang saya, 2-1 na lakers over celtics sa nba finals. :D

ang saya, 2-1 na lakers over celtics sa nba finals. :D

2-2

:D

go green!

yeah I saw that, I caught on the game in the last minute, Celtic won. Too bad I dindt get to see the whole thing, we were out for diner and I forgot it's their night again.

ok lang yan. go lakers pa rin.

reminds me of the 80's Johnson vs Bird...

Sana umabot ng Game 7 triple overtime and lahat ng starters fouled out! :D

problema yang si wallace and pierce

2-2
damn!

waah, talo Lakers. :(

LIKE!! :D

pano ba yan, 3-2 na in favor of Celtics! :lol:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs301.snc3/28676_1285723072711_1519185239_30578383_7697926_n.jpg

:banana: :banana: :banana:

waah, talo Lakers. :(

:lol: nanganganib ang LAKERS ko.... :D

i like Kobe's title "Air" ball Kobe :lol:

Crap. 3-2:ohno:

Lakers rout Celts, force Game 7 in NBA finals

http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/b2/fullj.951839b7bc531adeaac0e600952c47c9/951839b7bc531adeaac0e600952c47c9-getty-99174874mw108_nba_finals_ga.jpg

i hope the lakers will take it all the way! lakers ftw!

patawa ang Celtics kanina. :lol:

:lol:

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/9995/32545400695735058715360.jpg

:lol:

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/9995/32545400695735058715360.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs617.snc3/32474_131010176926537_100000526662907_258000_833876_n.jpg

^^di ko alam kung sino ba talaga kakampi mo kapatid :bash::bash::bash:

Lakers won 83-79

yey! and fyi hakz, ang anti-climactic ng post mo. :lol::lol::lol:

fiesta mode mga laker fans dito sa office. :D

^^:lol:

you read it here first:

next year, NEW YORK KNICKS na ang hahawak ng trophy!!!:banana::nuts:

^^i want the knicks to finally make it to the play-offs for the first time in a decade. i hope the nets would also create a bang next season.

let the Kobe vs Jordan debates begin! :lol:

Lakers WON!!! :colgate:

congrats LA!

Wala lang....

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d33/kiretoce/SSC%20pix/kobeceltics.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs488.ash1/26710_136674783013500_100000129361788_372646_6637842_n.jpg
:lol:

:lol:

narinig nyo na yung balita tungkol sa mom ni Lebron at Delonte West? :lol:

panalo din naman ang Celtics. :D
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs326.ash1/28437_401159738660_769228660_4317580_7648965_n.jpg

yellow or gold jersey?

mvp plum for kobe!

oooppss, 2010 Finals MVP lang pala!
napapaghalataan na maka-Kobe Bryant ako, at tolerated ko ang pagiging buwakaw niya sa laro.


Anyway,here's what I observed and analyzed on the NBA Finals this past 12 years: 1998-1999 season to 2009-2010.

Los Angeles Lakers being the winningest team, capturing 5 NBA titles.
Not bad to have a 5 championship ring in 12 years, in 7 campaign of NBA Finals appearance.

Again, I'm too bias being a Lakers fan

Considering San Antonio Spurs campaign in 9 years, 1998-1999 NBA season to 2006-2007 : Spurs made it 4 , a ratio of 4:9.

Also in 9 years, Lakers made it 3:9 of 2000-2001 to 2007-2008 season, with their THREE PEAT 2000-2001-2002 NBA Title, with Boston frustrating Los Angeles in 2008(2-4).

Detroit PISTON on 2004 (1-4);

Miami HEAT in 2006 against Dallas Mavericks(2-4)

To sum it all: the WEST dominates the NBA for the past 12 years.


That's Phil Jackson factor - NBA's baby D

;58834965']let the Kobe vs Jordan debates begin! :lol:

mas maganda at maumbok ang mga muscles ni Kobe Bryant :D

;58834965']let the Kobe vs Jordan debates begin! :lol:

I'm really a Kobe fan but in my unbiased opinion, Jordan is ranked higher in the all-time greats. Kobe is indeed a Picasso in basketball shoes. But Jordan's talent, consistency, will to win, and unflinching ability to rise in tough fourth quarter finals games are something that I find sublime.

I'm really a Kobe fan but in my unbiased opinion, Jordan is ranked higher in the all-time greats. Kobe is indeed a Picasso in basketball shoes. But Jordan's talent, consistency, will to win, and unflinching ability to rise in tough fourth quarter finals games is something that I find sublime.

^^tanggap naman ng lahat ng kobe fans yan. pero kobe does have a really good chance to surpass MJ's 6 rings by winning a seventh within the next 2-4 years before he retires.

Blazers fire GM Pritchard just before draft ?????? :lol:


Pinaka matino na GM, pinatalsik pa... :D

Which is better?

Bulls
LeBron, Bosh, Rose, Noah, Deng

vs

Miami
LeBron, Bosh, Wade,

^^

Knicks...;)

abante.com.ph :lol::lol:

RP women’s squad lusot sa Sri Lanka

SURAT THANI, Thailand --- Sariwa pa sa impresibong panalo kontra Syria, iniladlad ng Careline Pilipinas ang nakakasakal na half-court defense sa stretch para kubabawan ang Sri Lanka 76-62 at paigtingin pa ang kampanya sa elimination round ng FIBA Asia U-18 women’s championship sa Surat Thani gymnasium kahapon.


Sasagupain ngayon ng Pinay cagers sa krusyal na laro ang mas mataas at mabilis na Indian squad.
Pinulbos ng India ang Syria sa pangalawang laro 97-44 para samahan ang host Thailand bilang koponan na wala pang talo sa Level II.


Kailangang alpasan ng Filipinas ang India at umasa na matalo ang Indians sa kanilang huling asignatura sa eliminations kontra Thais para maupuan ang isa sa dalawang quarterfinal slots na nakataya sa Level II.

Which is better?

Bulls
LeBron, Bosh, Rose, Noah, Deng

vs

Miami
LeBron, Bosh, Wade,

i'd go with bulls. bosh, rose, noah, and deng need a leader like lebron. lebron seriously needs a ring, not until kobe completes another hat-trick! :D

I think the key is Bosh.

Noah and Bosh can seriously compete with Bynum and Gasol.
Pretty much now every team that wants to win a ring should build a team to beat LA.

Amare and Boozer are small. They will do great in the regular season but when they face the size of LAL they disappear.

Imagine
Noah vs Bynum
Bosh vs Gasol
LBJ vs Odom or Artest
Deng vs Kobe
Rose vs Fisher

I think the key is Bosh.

Noah and Bosh can seriously compete with Bynum and Gasol.
Pretty much now every team that wants to win a ring should build a team to beat LA.

Amare and Boozer are small. They will do great in the regular season but when they face the size of LAL they disappear.

Imagine
Noah vs Bynum
Bosh vs Gasol
LBJ vs Odom or Artest
Deng vs Kobe
Rose vs Fisher

that was a nice matchup! however, the noah vs bynum is a tricky one, knowing how inconsistent bynum can get. i don't think lebron can outlast an artest, especially during the playoffs though. and deng vs kobe? errrrr.....

Which is better?

Bulls
LeBron, Bosh, Rose, Noah, Deng

vs

Miami
LeBron, Bosh, Wade,


sa opinyon ko lang ha, i don't want wade and lebron to be team mates which could make wade a mere sidekick of lebron in the process. lebron maybe more talented but i think, wade is the better overall player. he's too good to be anyone's sidekick at this point in his career. if a game is on the line, i'd rather choose wade to take the winning or losing shot than lebron. for me, next to bryant and fisher, wade is the nba's top clutch player. sorry sa mga lebron fans, hehehe

pero syempre, malalaman natin ang lahat ng mga desisyon nitong mga free agents na 'to come july 1.

If LeBron and Bosh go to Chicago, that's it. I quit watching NBA.

Smart Gilas squad aiming for Jones Cup crown

After winning the 2010 Smart-Philippine Invitational Challenge, the RP-Gilas team will now set its focus for the Jones Cup on July 13-21 in Taiwan.

Serbian coach Rajko Toroman said that the RP nationals preparation will be again tested in the annual Jones Cup, where they will be pitted against strong Iran, Lebanon and Japan.

“It’s a big test, we’re going to play against much more stronger teams. It’s going to be our second big test. We passed this first test, now the second test will be the Jones Cup,” said Toroman.

The RP nationals surprised Jordan national team, 91-80, on Sunday to capture the 1st Philippine Invitational Challenge before a big crowd at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

“Our victory was very positive for the team. It was more of a mental win than something great. It’s really nice to be playing in front of this crowd and to win against Jordan, which will be playing in the world championship is something satisfying to all these fans, who came to watch the national team of the Philippines,” added Toroman.

Toroman, who transformed the Iran team into winning the FIBA-Asia Championship in 2007 in Tokushima, Japan, expressed a lot of optimism to the RP team’s chances in the forthcoming 2010 Asian Games in November in Guangzhou, China.

“We were not yet 100 percent. Marcus Douthit is still trying to adjust. Chris Lutz is still new in the team and some of our players are in the injury list. That’s our problem. But if you get everything and fight, you can do everything. You can see even against a physical team like Jordan, they can not play man-to-man against us,” stressed Toroman.

He praised Mac Baracael, Japeth Aguilar and Greg Slaughter as among those who shone brightly in the tournament including Filipino-Americans Marcio Lasitter and Lutz.

Toroman, who was hired by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas President Manny Pangilinan to handle the all-amateur squad until the 2012 London Olympics, said that he would recommend for Filipino naturalization of the American 6’10” Marcus Douthit, a former Los Angeles Lakers draftee in 2004.

“I will try to recommend him. I think he will be a very efficient guy. But we have to put him more in the system. He has a good attitude and he is a good player. If he passes the medical check up, we will keep him,” Toroman said.

Together at last: LeBron joining Wade, Bosh
James ends months of speculation, will leave Cleveland for Miami

LeBron James wanted to play with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. The only place that could happen was Miami.

Get ready, NBA: A superstar trio is born.

Ending weeks of silence and drama, the two-time MVP said on his ESPN special from Greenwich, Conn. on Thursday night that he's decided to join the Miami Heat and leave the Cleveland Cavaliers after an unsuccessful seven-year quest for the championship he covets.

"The best opportunity to win and to win now and to win in the future also," James said. "Winning is a huge thing for me."

It's a huge victory for the Heat, who got commitments from Wade and Bosh on Wednesday. That duo, along with James, formed the upper echelon of the most-celebrated free-agent period in league history.

Heat president Pat Riley landed them all, a three-pack of stars to help shape his quest for a dynasty in Miami.

And for Cleveland, a city scorned for generations by some of sports' biggest letdowns, James' long-awaited words represented a defeat perhaps unlike any other.

James is gone. Home sweet home no more.

He said he made the decision Thursday morning and knows it won't go over well in Ohio.

"They can have mixed emotions, of course," James said, adding that Akron will "always be home for me."

^^ WOW DYNAMIC TRIO!!!

ang lakas!!!!! cant wait for next season..:banana:

2010 William Jones Cup tournament schedule
July 14, Wednesday
1500 Philippines vs. Taiwan University All-Stars (M)
1700 Japan vs. Lebanon (M)
1900 Taiwan vs. Townsville Crocodiles (M)

July 15, Thursday
1100 Taiwan University All-Stars vs. Korea (W)
1300 Kazakhstan vs. Taiwan (W)
1500 Iran vs. Philippines (M)
1700 Townsville Crocodiles vs. Japan (M)
1900 Taiwan vs. Taiwan University All-Stars (M)

July 16, Friday
1100 Korea vs. Kazakhstan (W)
1300 Taiwan vs. Taiwan University All-Stars (W)
1500 Japan vs. Iran (M)
1700 Townsville Crocodiles vs. Philippines (M)
1900 Taiwan vs. Lebanon (M)

July 17, Saturday
1100 Kazakhstan vs. Taiwan University All-Stars (W)
1300 Korea vs. Taiwan (W)
1500 Taiwan University All-Stars vs. Townsville Crocodiles (M)
1700 Lebanon vs. Iran (M)
1900 Japan vs. Taiwan (M)

July 18, Sunday
1100 No. 4 vs. No. 1 (W)
1300 No. 2 vs. No. 3 (W)
1500 Taiwan University All-Stars vs. Lebanon (M)
1700 Iran vs. Townsville Crocodiles (M)
1900 Taiwan vs. Philippines (M)

July 19, Monday
1100 Lebanon vs. Townsville Crocodiles (M)
1300 Philippines vs. Japan (M)
1500 Taiwan University All-Stars vs. Iran
1700 Bronze medal game (W)
1900 Championship game (W)
2100 Award ceremony

July 20, Tuesday
1500 Lebanon vs. Philippines (M)
1700 Taiwan University All-Stars vs. Japan (M)
1900 Iran vs. Taiwan (M)
2100 Award ceremony
Venue: Sinjhuang Stadium, Taipei County

ang lakas!!!!! cant wait for next season..:banana:

ang lakas nga ng miami. i don't care if they'd win over the lakers next season. kawawa naman talaga si lebron.

pero siyempre, i hope the lakers will win next season. dipende na lang siguro kung gano kalakas ang miami bench.

Gusto ko ang trio because of the thought of an NBA Superteam..tapos unlike the super lineups before gaya ng sa Rockets (Clyde, Hakeem and Barkley then later Pippen) and LA (Payton, Kobe, SF, Malone and Shaq) and even Boston's Pierce, Allen & KG trio, Bosh, Bron and Wade are still YOUNG! hindi pa pa decline sa kanilang career. So its really interesting how much they will dominate the league.

grabe ang pressure though and anything less than a 60+ win season and a championship will probably be considered a failure..

I feel that this will dampen Lebron's shot at individual greatness though (but Im not a big fan of Bron anyway) kasi malaking stars din sila Wade and Bosh unlike if he went to Chicago where sya ang malaking star and about equal din ang chance nya for a championship team (given smaller names sa chicago pero mas kumpleto)

:lol: interesting :lol:

http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/gilbert_letter_100708.html


Open Letter to Fans from Cavaliers Majority Owner Dan Gilbert
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Dear Cleveland, All Of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers Supporters Wherever You May Be Tonight;

As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.

This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his "decision" unlike anything ever "witnessed" in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.

Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.

The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you.

There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you.

You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.

You have given so much and deserve so much more.

In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight:

"I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE"

You can take it to the bank.

If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our "motivation" to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels.

Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.

Sorry, but that's simply not how it works.

This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown "chosen one" sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And "who" we would want them to grow-up to become.

But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called "curse" on Cleveland, Ohio.

The self-declared former "King" will be taking the "curse" with him down south. And until he does "right" by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.

Just watch.

Sleep well, Cleveland.

Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day....

I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only:

DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue....



Dan Gilbert
Majority Owner
Cleveland Cavaliers

Which is better?

Bulls
LeBron, Bosh, Rose, Noah, Deng

vs

Miami
LeBron, Bosh, Wade,

Called it... :lol:


But don't give them the ring yet.
They traded Beasley to get more cap space. But that is still pretty small amount to get quality players. They still need to fill up their roster.


Heat will still have to beat out Orlando and Celtics... and Lakers.

Lakers: Bynum - Gasol - Odom - Kobe - Blake or Fisher with Artest coming off the bench.

Post away folks! :colgate: