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Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Blessing in Disguise!

I admi it, I still feel dab aboutour lose to Jordan yesterday (monday) which means we can kiss our Beijing Olympic hopes good bye. Yes it is time to mourn, but that doesn't mean that we have to stop training. Look on th bright side, now we have 4 years to prepare instead of just 5 months for another Olympic shot. Who knows, maybe we can beat the hell out of Yao Ming and his crew. In my opinion, I would like the team to remain intact with Coach Chot at helm. I really like to give him another shot at that. Dreams maybe shattered for a greater and better future, something that don't see coming. Let this defeat be our stepping stone towards success.

VIVA PILIPINAS!!!

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Another Classic Game between the Green and Blue

Ateneo waited 22 long months to get back at La Salle.
Yesterday, before a huge, boisterous crowd at the Araneta Coliseum, the Blue Eagles didn’t lose that chance as they dealt the Green Archers a stinging 80-77 loss in overtime.
The last time the two teams met was in Sept. 25, 2005. It was the Final Four, and the Green Archers won, 74-57, to reach the finals. La Salle beat Ateneo in all three meetings that year.
For Ateneo coach Norman Black, it was his first win over La Salle and its coach Franz Pumaren, his former assistant in the PBA
“Yes, that’s right. This is my first win over La Salle as a coach. It feels good,” said Black, who never ran out of heroes in the 45-minute ballgame played as if the world was at stake.
“We dedicate this win to the school, to our supporters who stayed behind us even if we didn’t do well against La Salle in the last few games,” said Black.
The victory pushed Ateneo up in the standings at 4-1, just barely behind unbeaten University of the East at 4-0. The loss, meanwhile, was the second straight for La Salle, which took a bad loss to UE last Sunday.
Ateneo, from its big men to the little ones, was just more determined to win this one, holding their ground against JV Casio’s one-man show in the final quarter.
“We just showed a lot of desire, and a lot of hunger to win. We did a good job rebounding, too. We ran into a team that’s very difficult to beat,” added the Ateneo mentor.
Cliff Arao, Jobe Nkemakolam, Rabeth Al-Hussaini manned the paint for Ateneo while Kurt Long, Jai Reyes and Chris Tiu provided the spark, the latter sinking the clincher, a triple from left wing with just 9.9 ticks left.
But still, it was Reyes, nephew of former Blue Eagle and now RP team head coach Chot Reyes, who carried the fight for Ateneo. He had 18 points, two rebounds, six assists and a steal in just 26 minutes.
Casio, a member of the previous teams that won the title for La Salle, scored 15 points in the third period, all of them coming in a 21-16 run that tied the game at 65-all late in regulation.

Source: http://www.philstar.com/

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Sponsors of RP Team

I know that Nike and SMC are the major sponsors of Team Pilipinas that will play this July 28- Aug. 4 at Tokushima. This team will vie for an Olympic slot in Beijing next year. I was wondering, other than this major sponsors that they have, who else have sponsored the team?? For example, what energy drink do this players use during their practice and the games itself? Is it Gatorade, Activade, 100 Plus, Shark, or Extra Diyos? There may be other energy drink as well. Maybe they only use plain water. Hmmm. Well, I guess I will have to observe them then this saturday.

Don't forget to watch the games at 5Pm on RPN 9 and 7PM on BTV!!!

Let us Support our country and Pray that they win the championship!!!

Viva Pilipinas!!!

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

NATIONALS LEAVE FOR TOKUSHIMA READY TO WAGE WAR

MANILA – Spurred on by a nation where a Summer Games appearance was a lofty dream once, and where the politics of hatred finds momentary solace when a local athlete's pursuit of worldwide sporting excellence takes center stage, San Miguel-Team Pilipinas, the modern-day version of Jason and the Argonauts, leaves Wednesday afternoon for Tokushima, Japan to vie for the Golden Fleece – an Olympic berth in the FIBA-Asia Men's Championship.
No less than the FIBA-Asia title, or a runner-up finish to defending champion China and nobody else, will be acceptable to national coach Chot Reyes, who brought together within a five-month period, and against an array of adversities, 15 men, all but one of them PBA stars, who will wage war with the best of Asia for the chance to represent the continent to the Beijing Olympiad in August next year.Of the 15 – Asi Taulava, Jimmy Alapag and Renren Ritualo of Talk N Text, Tony de la Cruz of Alaska, Mark Caguioa, Jayjay Helterbrand and Eric Menk of Barangay Ginebra, Dondon Hontiveros and Danny Seigle of San Miguel Beer, Ranidel de Ocampo of Air21, Kerby Raymundo and James Yap of Purefoods, Kelly Williams of Sta. Lucia Realty, Mick Pennisi of Red Bull, and Gabe Norwood of George Mason U who secured his Philippine passport late Monday evening after getting clearance from the justice department earlier – three will be dropped before the Team Managers Meeting on July 27 to make way for the Final 12.The trimmed-down Nationals then embark on their quest by taking on Iran on July 28, China on July 29, and Jordan on July 30 in the preliminary round."We've done everything humanely possible to prepare for Japan," said Reyes, who talked as though he trained not players but gladiators for combat in the Roman Colosseum."It now boils down to execution, desire and pride. And prayers from the Filipino nation."PBA commissioner Noli Eala recalled the sacrifices the national team undertook from Day One."For nearly 147 days, the PBA-backed SMC-Pilipinas national team labored and sacrificed for one solitary chance of a lifetime in search of our Olympic dream," Eala said."Today, with our collective sweat and hard work as our capital, and our faith in the Almighty as our guide, we embark on a mission undaunted by the enormity of the task ahead."This is a quest to bring honor, pride and respect to 82 million basketball-loving Pinoys. With each game, we carry their dreams and their hopes, and we ask the whole nation to pray for our team."PBA chairman Ricky Vargas urged the Nationals to pour their hearts out in the fulfillment of their commitment."It is not committing to do your best that is hard, you have already done that," Vargas said. "It is living up to that commitment that is difficult. So live it up to the fullest by achieving the task ahead of you."We are proud of what you have become as a team. The impossible is possible. Let's go to the Olympics!"SMC-RP team manager Robert Non said the tournament is as much about redemption and respect as anything else."This is it, the culmination of our sacrifices and hard work for the past two year," Non said. "Now it is time for us to pray and support the SMC-Pilipinas team as our national players carry our dreams of redemption in international basketball."It's not only the championship that matters, but more importantly bringing back respect for us Filipinos."The Nationals attend one last practice at Sportskamp in The Fort Wednesday morning before proceeding to the Centennial Terminal for the 2:30 p.m. Philippine Airlines flight to Osaka.A two-hour bus ride will take them to the Tokushima Prince Hotel at around 9 p.m.

Source: http://www.pba.ph/content/view/1731/59/

Go Philippines!!! Make us Proud

Monday, July 23, 2007

All Systems Go for Japan Bound SMC Pilipinas

The suspense is gripping and everybody is dying to know.But the final composition of the San Miguel-Pilipinas team that will do battle in the FIBA-Asia Men's Championship in Tokushima this weekend is a secret as closely guarded as the identity of the would-be Asian qualifier to the Beijing Olympics in August next year.
National coach Chot Reyes said he will submit the final lineup on July 27 during the FIBA-Asia Managers Meeting, a day before the Philippines is to meet Iran at the start of the preliminary round.Defending champion China is up next on the 29th and Jordan on the 30th, with the Nationals needing at least two wins to gain a strong chance of moving on to the quarterfinal round.It's likely Reyes already has the names of the players he wants down pat but is keeping them close to his chest in the event of unforeseen last-minute injuries and technical problems.The Nationals practiced Monday morning at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center and are scheduled for one more scrimmage Tuesday and Wednesday prior to their departure, and then two more when they arrive in Tokushima.It’s all systems go it seems as Philippine passports have already been issued to Sta. Lucia Realty's Kelly Williams and George Mason University standout Gabe Norwood, two key figures in the RP squad.The players are not allowing the suspense to get the better of their expectations."It's an exciting time for us as players, the coaching staff, the PBA, and especially the Philippines," said point guard Jimmy Alapag of the Talk N Text Phone Pals."We got a great opportunity. Hopefully, we'll reap the fruits of our labor in the last four, five months. We're just excited to get to Japan.""The team is looking good. We just need to sharpen up just a little bit before our first game," said Asi Taulava of the Phone Pals."After winning the Manila Invitational, it feels good. Malaking kumpiyansa bago kami pumunta ng Japan," said Mark Caguioa of the Barangay Ginebra Kings, adding the enormity of their task hasn't hit him yet."Hindi ko rin kasi iniisip. Mape-pressure ka lang lalo e. You're representing the country so that's already a big pressure for you, so I'm not really thinking too much about that."San Miguel's Danny Seigle, who rejoined his teammates during the Kuwait tuneup games after missing three weeks of training due to a pulled hamstring and an ankle sprain, said his injuries are healing fast."It feels pretty good and it no longer bothers me that much," said Seigle, who sat out the Busan Asian Games in 2002 because of a torn Achilles tendon. "Of course I have to work off a little bit of rust, but I'll be prepared mentally and physically come game time."Even the recent additions, Eric Menk of Ginebra, the Realtors' Williams, and James Yap of Purefoods, have put behind their individual ambitions to be part of the overall effort to send a Philippine team back to the Olympic Games basketball competition after 35 years."Of course, everyone would like to know as soon as we can, but we understand that it's kinda out of our hands," said Menk. "What's best for the team is what's best for our chances. We just have to be patient.""Regardless of what happens, we're gonna work as hard as we can, all 15 of us, up to the last day," said Williams. "We're all on the same page. It's not an individual effort but a team effort where everyone will put in 120 percent for the team.""Lahat naman dito deserving. Maraming player ang gusto masama rito at ngayong napili kami, achievement na rin ito," said Yap. "Kahit di ako makuha, okey lang dahil na-experience mo rin naman yung praktis ng RP team. Wala naman talagang mawawala sa'yo. Pag nanalo yung RP team, para na rin sa'ting lahat 'yon."The Nationals leave on the afternoon of July 25 aboard a Philippine Airlines flight that will take them to Osaka before boarding a bus for the two-and-a-half hour drive to Tokushima.

Source: http://www.pba.ph/content/view/1729/59/

GOODLUCK Y'ALL!!

Philippines Drubs Kuwait TWICE!!!

Lebanon? Syria? Kuwait? Questions regarding these Middle Eastern teams will be dealt with in due time.Right now, only one squad from that desert wind-swept region matters: Iran.Even Jordan, which San Miguel-Team Pilipinas faces after Iran and defending champion China in the preliminary round of the FIBA-Asia Men's Championship in Tokushima, Japan next week, will have to await its turn.The Nationals had put away Syria and Lebanon and its star player Fadih El Khatib in topping the Smart 4-Nation Manila Invitational Championship a week ago.And Saturday night at the Caruncho Sports Center in Pasig, SMC-Team Pilipinas handed the Kuwaiti national team a consecutive loss, 100-65, following an 84-68 beating at the Sta. Lucia East Mall gym Friday.
With all pre-war strategies mapped out, and the troops armed and ready for battle, the generals of the Philippine team tasked with sending the country back to the Olympic Games basketball competition after the last one left in 1972 in Munich now buckle down to work on how to get past the Iranians on July 28.The Chinese, possibly reinforced by Team A players after the way they were embarrassed by the Lebanese and the Syrians during the Manila Invitational, come up next for the PBA-backed squad on the 29th, followed by the burly Jordanians, who beat the Nationals in the 29th William Jones Cup tournament, on the 30th.If SMC-Team Pilipinas survives the so-called "Group of Death" and advances to the quarterfinal round, then, Lebanon, Syria and Kuwait, assuming they move on from their respective groups, may have to be taken care of.Judging from the way the Nationals carried themselves in their last tune-up game, Kuwait, if it comes up later, shouldn't be much of a problem for RP coach Chot Reyes and his staff.Gabe Norwood led the Nationals, who took a 55-21 lead at the half, with 13 points.Asi Taulava and James Yap had 12 points each, Danny Seigle 11, Mick Pennisi 10, Jayjay Helterbrand 9, Kelly Williams 7, Tony de la Cruz 6, Renren Ritualo 6, Eric Menk 4, Dondon Hontiveros 4, Jimmy Alapag 3, Mark Caguioa 2, Ranidel De Ocampo 1, and Kerby Raymundo 0.Prior to its departure on July 25, SMC-RP takes a break Sunday, returns to practice Monday morning at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center and then attends afternoon mass at the San Miguel building.The team meets at Sportskamp at The Fort on Wednesday morning before proceeding to the Centennial Terminal for the afternoon flight to Tokushima.
Source: http://www.pba.ph/content/view/1727/59/

VIVA PILIPINAS!!! GODBLESS

Friday, July 20, 2007

Philippines Vesus Kuwait

Here is an update about Philippine NT's training for the upcoming Tokushima Qualifying games.

5 p.m. – Kuwait vs. SMC-PilipinasThe San Miguel-Pilipinas Nationals showed that how ready they were for the FIBA-Asia Men's Championship by defeating the Kuwait national team 84-68 Friday night at the packed Sta. Lucia East Mall.The two teams meet a second time at the Caruncho Gym in Pasig on Saturday in matches arranged by PBA governor Buddy Encarnado. The game will serve as the Nationals' final tuneup before they leave for Tokushima, Japan, on July 25, according to the RP team management Friday night.SMC-RP faces Iran on July 28, defending champion China on July 29, and Jordan on July 30 in the preliminary round of the FIBA-Asia Championships, the qualifying tournament for the Beijing Olympic to be held in August 2008.In Friday's game, the Nationals applied the finishing touches to a grueling five-month long training hampered at times by injuries and buoyed by the addition to the pool of three key players.Thus they pulled away from the Kuwaitis early in the game, taking a 46-25 halftime spread.In the FIBA-Asia Championships, Kuwait is bracketed in Group B with host Japan, Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates.National coach Vincent "Chot" Reyes viewed the games more as a commitment than as part of the immediate needs of the team."The Kuwaitis are nowhere near the teams we're preparing for," Reyes said. "They are small and quick while we're getting ready for tall opponents in Group A."Danny Seigle, hobbled by a hamstring pull and later an ankle sprain that kept him from suiting up for three weeks, saw limited action for the first time."He looked good. Kaya lang minedya-medya ko lang naman dahil nakakatakot eh," Reyes said. "Physical maglaro yung Kuwait at baka madisgrasya pa si Danny, eh paalis na tayo."At least three Kuwaiti players limped off the court with various injuries after the Nationals responded in kind to their opponents' bruising style.James Yap led the Nationals with 18 points. Seigle added 13, Renren Ritualo 13, Gabe Norwood 8, Ranidel De Ocampo 8, Asi Taulava 5, Eric Menk 4, Dondon Hontiveros 4, Tony Dela Cruz 4, Kelly Williams 3, and Jayjay Helterbrand 1.Mark Caguioa and Jimmy Alapag rested due to minor injuries and didn't play.
- GMANews.TV and
http://forums.interbasket.net/showthread.php?t=3990&page=5

GO TEAM PILIPINAS!!!!

Littlle injury

I don't know where I got this, but I got knee injury. It is just a Minor one, every time I bend or apply pressure to my left knee, I feel the pain. That is why I am having a hard time to jump sometimes. What do you think is the cause?? as of now, I've got no answer. Maybe a strained ligament or something. They said that I should get a Patella braise or something to support it. Well, I hope I get answers soon so that I'll know what to do. The pain is growing.. Oh the pain.. The agony!!!

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Mount Makulot Pics

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Basketball and the Four Nation Tounrney

I played basketball last night. Well, my left knee and ankle are a bit of a problem for me. I just used wights yesterday, hoping to increase my elevation. But I think that is not a good idea. I think it is the culprit why my ankle is in a bit of pain. My left knee, on the other hand have, is also in pain every time I bend it. The pain is just right under the knee cap. I'm planning to put a knee support or a knee braise, just like what Scottie Pippen used when he still plays ball. At least I feel good today. I feel good, and I'm in shape. My stamina is A okay. I played 4 straight games last night and was still aching for more, but other players are very tired and couldn't keep up. Well, most of us are Alumni of Lourdes School of QC.

Tonight will be the start of the four Nation tourney of the Philippine Basketball team. I will support them all the way. I hope they reach the Olympics. I hope I can also watch the game live tonight at the San Juan Arena. First assignment will be against Fadi Al Khatib-led Lebanon.
Check out this forum, it talks about Team Pilipinas' progress, latest news and development, opinions, and game results. Basketball galore. Philippine Basketball Forum

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

I always try to keep my self fit. Health is an issue here. Even though I eat a lot, or always stressed out because of work, I make sure that I have a scheduled exercise. For instance, I play basketball every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Then, I have Aikido sessions every Tuesdays and Thursdays (still white belt after seven months). Very tiring isn't it. I burn my fat every day, keeping my body in shape and ready to go.

There are times when my friends and I go up to the mountain, and camp there for a couple of days. What an experience. Outing + exercise = adventure of a lifetime. I have pics of it when went up to Mt. Makulot (my first time), I'll post them later.