Whoever said that the Miami Heat was D-Wade’s and LBJ’s empire and theirs alone must be chocking on their words now.

Me included.

Jan 5 2012, evening (Eastern Time) / Jan 6 2012, morning (PH Time)

 

A Very Merry Sporty Christmas

The Philippine weather is rather deceiving but the holidays is here already and in lieu of the beginning of December, I gathered a couple of wonderful news to keep you, sports fans, on your tippy toes! Enjoy and have a Happy Christmas!

1.

The NBA lockout has somewhat ended because an agreement, although temporary, has been made. The 66th season will tip off on Christmas Day, no less, with 5 awesome games lined up.

12pm/et on TNT: Boston Celtics at New York Knicks
2:30pm/et on ABC: Miami Heat at Dallas Mavericks
5pm/et on ABC: Chicago Bulls at Los Angeles Lakers
8pm/et on ESPN: Orlando Magic at Oklahoma City Thunder
10:30pm/et on ESPN: Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors

2.

Kelly Kelly, one of my favorite Divas, is on the cover of the December 2011 issue of Maxim. I’m pretty sure all the men out there are rolling on the floor with joy. I, on the other hand, can’t get enough of the photographs either! She’s such a fitspriation for me. I mean.. look at that body. Plus, she’s been really doing great stunts in WWE recently and I just can’t help but admire her new found athleticism. Check it outtt

3.

I think that more than anything, I am one of the happiest to hear about this news. The Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) won the bid to host the Asian 5 Nations Division 1 Championships here in Manila. Details will be announced later on and I’ll be first to tell you all about it. The event schedule, though, is secured on the dates April 15 18 & 21 2012 so you better have those days reserved!

4.

No words required for this one. Just a lot of crossed fingers.

My #EndTheLockout face.

I changed my Facebook profile picture to my “pretty please #EndTheLockout now” face.  You think it’s going to work?

Game Time: anyone, anywhere, anytime

I got messages on my wall a few days ago from my friends, Rage and Forest. In line with the current NBA Lockout, these two videos from Nike couldn’t be any more relevant. Some of the biggest names of NBA, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, Kevin Durant, Dirk Nowitzki, Lebron James, and Carmelo Anthony to name a few, came together for these two Nike Basketball commercials to remind everyone that ballers are ballers in and out the court. Heck even Coach K is in one of the videos. Check ittt!

BASKETBALL NEVER STOPS

 

LOVE THE GAME

I know what it’s like to love a sport beyond reason- committing to it despite all the difficulty, and the need to have it in your life despite all the broken bones and pulled muscles. The love for sports can sometimes be irrational, I know, but who fucking cares right? Now, I know that I can’t play ball to save my life but I’m a fan and I love the sport. I just think that these two videos are great reminders that the we shouldn’t let this lockout bring our spirits down. Basketball is everywhere. One of the scenes that I deeply appreciated was a bit wherein a couple of friends were playing arcade basketball.  It easily depicts one the best things about sports: it doesn’t discriminate. Basta basketball, kahit sino, kahit saan, kahit kelan.

But I still think that this all so crazy. This is has to stop.
#EndTheLockout

Empty.

This has got to be the most heartbreaking set of photographs I’ve seen in relation to the NBA Lockout. Another month of cancelled games.

#EndTheLockout

SMART All Star Weekend: where everyone is a fan.

The Smart All-Star weekend last July 24-25 2011 proved to be one of the most historical events to happen for Philippine Basketball. Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, JaVale McGee, Derek Fisher, Tyreke Evans, James Harden, and Derrick Williams came to the country to play against the PBA All-Star selection team and the Philippine National Team, Smart Gilas.

photo from http://nbaoffseason.com

The game against Team Gilas Pilipinas turned to be more competitive than the previous day’s game. PBA All Star selection only managed to score 105 against the NBA team’s whooping 131. Gilas , on the other hand, was only left behind by 9 pts at the end of the game. (89-98) I personally think that this was inevitable because Gilas, unlike the PBA selection team, was an actual team trained together and have competed together. They knew each other’s game so they were more capable of controlling the towering NBA players and were able to run plays more effectively.

The two days was a complete spectacle for all basketball fans out there and here are a couple of entertaining moments that had me wishing I was actually there in the the newly christened Smart Araneta Colisuem.

1. NBA Players in the Philippines

I know I wasn’t there live in the Smart Araneta Coloseum but the thought alone that they were in Philippine soil was enough to get me all jittery and giddy like a kid in a candy store. These NBA players  (Technically, we don’t get to call them NBA players because of the lockout but whatever.) are my heroes and to see them play in our local coliseum knocked the life off of me.

photo from http://www.interaksyon.com

photo from http://www.interaksyon.com

You can see in the reigning MVP Derek Rose’s face the joy as Filipino fans cheered on while he shoots from the Free Throw line. He misses but the fans still go cheer wildly for him!

Kevin Durant throws his jersey to the Filipino audience and everyone goes wild. Other players also threw their shoes to the crowd. Everyone was going crazy! I wish I was there to catch their huge-ass shoes. Those would be worth a lot of money on e-bay. Kidding!

2. Kobe’s Assist to an Alley-Oop by D-Rose

This video shows McGee’s dunk and an Alley-Oop by D-Rose both assisted by Kobe. The MVP to MVP alley-oop has been circulating in the internet and is proving to be the highlight of the weekend.

I would also like to take this time to say that Derek Rose is a really goodlooking guy and I think that the most appealing thing about him is how he is such a silent guy despite it all. I just really like quiet boys. Also, this boy dunks like a booster rocket. Wala man lang bwelo, basta talon lang!

3.  Fans everywhere!

At one point in the show, I saw a bunch of boys fangirling while Cp3’s was entering the court and then I realized that it was Simon Atkins being a kid over Chris Paul. That was just priceless.

From actual fans in the stands, to both PBA and NBA players- everyone was being a fan that weekend! To be a basketball fan is something but to see your idols being fans- that’s just something else. I guess just to see your idols being fans is just a humbling sight to see.

Don Don Hontiveros acted like a 12 year old girl around Kobe

Kobe and Hontiveros having a moment. Kobe also looks so funny in the picture on the right!

Hontiveros isn’t really guarding Kobe here. Truth is, he was just trying to get a hug. (photo from http://www.interaksyon.com)

In an interview, Don don shares that he really asked for Kobe Bryant’s jersey even before the game started and that the superstar gladly obliged. (photo from http://www.interaksyon.com)

The lucky guy who got Kobe’s shoes was coincidentally Hontiveros’ driver. Sounds fishy, doesn’t it? Just kidding!

Arwind Santos getting a photograph with MVP Derek Rose

Two great basketball players. Damn, I love these two! (photo from http://www.interaksyon.com)

Chris Tiu with Tyreke Evans

NBA Stars having autographs and pictures takenwith Manny Pacquioa: Seeing Derek Rose ignoring some of his fans because he was too busy having his jersey signed by the pound for pound king just blew my head off. I remember there was this moment wherein CP3 or Durant (I don’t remember which) was shooing away a camera man while they were having their picture taken with PacMan because he was getting in the way. At that point, I was rolling on floor while laughing! 

photo from http://www.interaksyon.com

Did you see how Kobe playfully jabbed Pacquioa? (photo from http://www.interaksyon.com)

4. And I guess the best part of it all is simply seeing your beloved local players battle it out with your favorite NBA superstars.

Derek Rose and Kobe Bryant

Aguilar, Hontiveros, & Douthit

Jimmy Alapag breaking away from D Rose

Chris Tiu gets close with Kobe Bryant and James FEAR THE BEARD Harden

And the one I waited for the most..

the match-up of the two PGs, CP3 and JVC

S0 I wasn’t there to see it for my self but hey, I think I was one with every Filipino basketball fan out there. I just have to make sure I don’t miss the next time this happens. God bless this Basketball player but more importantly, God bless the fans!