Special Team, Special Time

“That’s why it hurts so bad. This is a special team, and it was supposed to be our special time.” –Macky Escalona

Tell me to get over Ateneo losing to UST last season. I just couldn’t.

While I was fixing the articles I had over the course of two or three years of basketball addiction (baseball addiction came only a year later, thanks to Ate Faye), I saw what I had in my mini-collection: the La Salle ineligibility controversy (And now it’s happening to PCU. What the hell is happening to the world?), UP’s UAAP games, the Ginebra blockbuster trade, the half a mil fine on the Red Bull Barakos for having a semi-walkout during one of their games, the mini-articles that I had every after game days. I also had a transcript of Mark Caguioa’s chat with his fans (thanks Cherine), and pictures of Joseph Yeo (courtesy of Cobie, yey!). The number of pictures in my basketball folder is outnumbering my personal pictures, but who the hell cares?

“This is a special team, and it was supposed to be our special time.”

Aah. The pain.

The pain of losing.

I wonder what the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat now think of their own teams, having lost their respective playoff assignments. Weird. They were the Western and Eastern Champions respectively, and Miami was the champion.

Why did they lose?

I don’t know, but I was rooting for Golden State Warriors and the Chicago Bulls kasi eh, so it doesn’t matter to me. I am just in the process of wondering how they are feeling, because I know it’s almost too painful.

I wish the Yankees would do good in their next few games.

I sure damn wish they do, and welcome to Roger Clemens, their new pitcher who’s being paid $4 million dollars a month. (Sarap maging kamag-anak, ano? Haha.) Either way, any baseball player should be a nice relative—that is, considering their paycheck *insert evil grin here*.

We Believe.

(Thanks Kev for informing me. Sorry din if I’m super kulit, ha?)

Anyway, since I’ve got a paper in aero-dance and NatSci1 to deal with yesterday, I didn’t have the chance to catch the Game 6 in the Golden State Warriors-Dallas Mavericks series, but I had Kevin text me whoever wins. And then right in the middle of my trip to SM North on my way home, he sent me this message: “panalo gs, 111-86.”

And I swear, ask the dude seated across me inside the jeep. I shouted “Yes!” as if I was the one who won the game, or as if I was there to actually witness them winning.

And this morning—while watching the Toronto Raptors fall to the New Jersey Nets (I am rooting for Toronto *sigh*)—I saw clips from yesterday’s game and saw GS fans waving banners and having t-shirts on with “We believe” printed on them.

And yes, we believe.

It was the third time, I think, that the eighth-seeded team beat the top-seed, and it was fun to see an upset. (Well, if you’re for Golden State, that is.) I rooted for Golden State because (1) this time I am going for the underdogs; (2) I didn’t like the Mavericks for they eliminated the Phoenix Suns last season in the second round playoffs; (3) I didn’t like the smug look on Dirk Nowitski’s face; (4) because of Baron Davis, who is, by the way, Mark Caguioa’s fave player from what I know; and (5) just because I wanted a new team to be known and to be there… just there for people to see.

And although they are reminiscent of UST (for their fans were wearing golden yellow like the UST crowd was when they bagged the championship versus Ateneo—forgive me, I just couldn’t get over it) not only because of the colors but also because of their Cinderella-like finish, much like what was attributed to UST back then. They were the eight-seed after all, and no kidding: Dallas owns the best win-loss record in the NBA, and for you to beat them in a 4-2 best-of-seven series?

That’s saying something.

And I’ve always wanted to see an upset.

Golden State.

Go.

I wish you’d beat out whoever comes out of the Houston-Utah series as well.

–

I watched Joseph Yeo play yesterday (that’s Friday) in the Coke versus Purefoods game, and I actually was shocked when he played in the first half. I was exhilarated, I was happy, flabbergasted, excited… and whatever else happy adjective I could place here.

And even though he didn’t score, I think he had one assist and a steal, and that’s good enough for me.

At least I still know he’s there, if you know what I mean.

Thursday night, I was out of things to do, so I came across my newspaper clippings and leafed through them. I actually was thinking of what is a nice way to compile them, because I swear I don’t want rats to mistake them for dinner. And then I saw those clippings I had from… last year, before Joseph got drafted into the pros.

Yes, I am talking about the Harbour Centre stint he had, and the championship. After all, he won that Game Five for his team.

I remember, they were the lowest-seed ever to win a championship, and it’s what I want to happen for the Golden State. (Well, part of me. Of course I am still a Phoenix Suns fan first and foremost, so if Golden State meets Phoenix Suns in one way or another, I guess I’ll have to be at the Phoenix side.)

Wedding Bells

(I wrote this sometime in December that I didn’t get to post in my last blog because I wasn’t updating it around that time. December 17, from what I know.)

Amazingly, for a girl who doesn’t want to get married when I come of age, I’ve been thinking about how my marriage would be one day.

This morning, while I was at the church with my mom, we witnessed a couple getting married. And all throughout the wedding ceremony—it was pretty short, I think the couple didn’t have much budget—I was thinking and imagining how my wedding would be.

The wedding I witnessed this morning was pretty much in a tight budget: no flowers down the aisle, the secondary sponsors were in different gowns, the gowns weren’t pretty much coordinated, and all. The bride and groom both looked like they’ve just turned 18. There were TWELVE pairs of principal sponsors—my mom was saying it made the marriage looked like a business—and there wasn’t much synchronization when it came to the candle, veil and cord part. It was, for me, a sort of impersonal wedding.

As for MY wedding, let’s start with the venue first. Like Mandy Moore in A Walk to Remember, I want to get married where my mom and dad got married. (And apparently, that was the same place where Aga Muhlach and Charlene Gonzales got married.) My mom and I compared aisles. She reckons St. Joseph (in Baguio) has a longer aisle than Manila Cathedral—I have yet to see both—and she smiled at me when I told her I wanted to walk down the longest aisle, with flower girls dressed like fairies are throwing petals gently down the red carpet as I walk.

Flowers. I want my wedding to be flower-ful. The aisles, the groomsmen, the bridesmaid, the bridal car, the seats… everything has to be flower-ful. I want them imported from someplace, somewhere where they grow pretty flowers, for the want of a better word to describe it. I want roses… BLUE roses. Not the artificial ones where they just spray the blue dye all over the white roses. I want those “genetically modified” to be blue. Or maybe green. My mom suggested aquamarine, and I might just consider.

See me dreaming too far?

I’m not yet done.

Gown. I want my gown to have the longest train ever. I want my bridesmaids’ gowns and everybody’s gowns—especially my mom’s—to be perfect. I want them designed by the BEST designer ever here in the Philippines. I want mine to be sexy and conservative all at the same time. The guys—and especially my groom—should wear coat and tie. But my soon-to-be-husband’s should be the best of all the coat and tie there. I want him to be handsome, and me… beautiful. I want the day to be perfect.

Everybody should be oriented on how the ceremony should go. I don’t want my wedding day to be on a Sunday. I want it to be private, only around fifty people invited. I want the priest to be someone close to both me and my soon-to-be, and… I want personal vows to be given. Ayoko ng superficial na “through death do us part” na sobrang gasgas na. Para may effort naman.

I want love on my wedding day—and the days and years after that. I want my groom to love me and see me as something he couldn’t let go, and I wouldn’t let go of him either.

Maybe I’m thinking all about this because I want love now.

For someone who’ll really love me, even just for a moment or two, to come.

But still, that doesn’t… change the way I feel about getting married. I just want someone who’ll make me feel loved… kahit sandali lang.

One Tree Hill Overload

I was watching One Tree Hill for the second time in three hours the other night. And I really don’t know why I love One Tree Hill.

I want to be Brooke Davis. And I want to find my Lucas Scott.

I remember Kuya Tupee asking me once before: If you were a character in OTH, who would you be and why?

I answered: I want to be Brooke. And I really don’t care about her slutty before she met Lucas, but I want to be her, because I can relate to her.

And I couldn’t count the number of times I’ve cried just because of this TV series.

“Don’t worry. We’re just friends.”

How could just one damn line make me cry?

Brooke and Lucas. At the start of the whole series, I wouldn’t have thought Luc would’ve fallen head-over-heels in love with the cheerleader-con-flirt of OTH. But then again, come to think of it, he hadn’t really realized how much he loved her not after he cheated on her. And that’s how Brooke changed for good.

And I love the Brooke that she is now.

Her parents are broke.

Maybe a tad bit just like mine.

And you know… maybe I’d also give anything just to have the closeness of Luc and his half-brother Nathan. I wish my brother and I are close.

I wish.

Argh.

And I still love Chad Michael Murray’s eyes.

Brooke: If we (Luc and her) didn’t make it as a couple last time, what makes you think it’s gonna work this time?

Peyton (her best friend): Well for one thing, I wouldn’t make out with him this time—

Brooke: uhhuh.

Peyton: Uhhuh. And besides, he’s a different guy now. And you’re different too.

Damn.

I need to stop this, you know. Self-pity.

Damn. How could people stay friends after they’ve been lovers?

Well, Andrei and I stayed friends, but… I don’t really consider him as one of those ‘serious’ boyfriends. (As if I already had many.)

[No offense meant to Andrei, but we both know we were young back then. Come on.]

How?

Reminiscing Ginebra’s Philippine Cup Championship

[Since I was in a bit of tamad mode to write new entries—and man, these were the entries I wrote before that I never got to upload, so I have to give it justice—I am uploading some of the entries I wrote back in February, the latter part of it, during the Finals of the PBA Phil Cup. Bear with me. Bear with the addict in me. ]

Anyway, congratulations to Mark Caguioa of the Barangay Ginebra Kings for FINALLY (and I mean it) winning an individual award this 2006-2007 PBA Philippine Cup: Best Player of the Conference. Yey!

And I also know it may sound silly, but when they announced that it was he who won it, I was jumping up and down my room, as if I was the one who actually won it.

I’m in mass communication, right?

And I am fully aware of the power of media, and the influence it has on things.

I used to hate the PBA Press Corps for giving Mark Caguioa what (I think) is due him, and maybe all the bitterness Caguioa is taking out shook them. Naawa na rin siguro kasi ilang conference nang umaasa yung tao. Come on, how many conferences na ba na he’s leading in stat points tapos he’ll only flop in media votes? Yeah, maybe he just wouldn’t care about what the media says about him. Sabi nga niya, he wouldn’t make an effort to kiss the media’s ass. He knows he’s good, so why bother?

Haha. Malamang deep inside, nabubuwisit na rin yun kasi, kahit napapansin nga ang efforts niya, hindi naibibigay yung one thing na every (sane) player wants: a Best Player of the Conference award or a Most Valuable Player award.

But maybe he has opened his mind to the sheer possibility (and likelihood) that the media just wouldn’t… give it to him.

Yey for him.

And he didn’t flop last night. He’s got around 20+ points (I didn’t know if he reached 30. In my count, he did, but in the television, I don’t think he did.), some assists and some rebounds. (Sorry, I still don’t have the exact number. I think it was 7 assists.)

Go Mark Caguioa! Hehehe.

(Am I pathetic?)

I hated Ginebra when they lost Game One, which I watched live by the way. I hated Rafi Reavis even more when he flopped on the free throws, and must have cursed him to hell when he muffed the three-pointer (JUST WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?). And now Ginebra pulls off two—convincing, I might say—wins over San Miguel: a 131-101 and a 146-111 one. (Pretty high scoring, don’t you think? Talo pa ang NBA.)

I’m writing this down because I know nobody would listen to me. (And most probably I turned you guys off with this whole basketball thing.)

Ginebra wins it—and wins it in fashion

What more could you ask for? A heart-stopping, jaw-dropping finale of the 32^nd season of the Philippine Basketball Association’s Talk ‘n Text Philippine Cup.

Right now, I am really just overwhelmed by the emotion of seeing my favorite team win. And it’s not just that.

I feel for Mark.

(And yes, I know you know that I have a very weird attachment to this player, and you should know why.)

He was crying, and the whole time that the ABC Sports courtside reporter was talking to him? I was crying. I was… I felt his pain. I felt the fatigue. And maybe when Ginebra won tonight? It was something that… I know I wanted, not for me, but for them. Mark Caguioa needed to prove himself, and prove himself he did.

Game One was a blowout game, for San Miguel, that is. Game Two was closer one; and again, screw Rafi for that two flubbed free throws and the muffed three-pointer. Game Three and Four were absolute blowouts: 30-pt and 35-pt wins, respectively. Game Five was a more respectable loss for San Miguel in terms of they only lost by around ten points instead of 30. And Game Six was the ultimate heart-stopper.

I don’t care what you guys say, but I guess when I was there alone in my boarding house’s living room, I must have prayed a hundred prayers.

Is this Dallas Mavericks-Miami Heat, the repeat?

For those of you who don’t know, Dallas Mavericks opened last season’s NBA Finals with a 2-0 lead and then muffed the next four, “handing” Miami Heat the championship.

And Game Six?

It was a close one as well, decided by Dwayne Wade’s free throws, as much as the Game Six of PBA was decided by Jayjay Helterbrand’s free throws.

Okay. For one, I have to scream, holler and shout at Jayjay and Mark for forgetting their “better halves” in their thank you speeches. I don’t know why, but it irritated me that you guys forgot the women who stayed by your sides and watched games live (I wish I was one of them. Hahaha.) I didn’t hear any “Lauren” or “Charlotte” in your speeches, and poof…

Rudy Hatfield’s speech was… for the most part, unintelligible because he was half-eating half-shouting his words, but I deduced it was a nice, and spit-ful one. Hehe. (Kawawa ang microphone ng ABC Sports ) Eric Menk was totally hot, and… what else?

Congrats to Johnny A.

(I didn’t know Ronald Tubid was married already.)

Thank you, Ginebra for an exciting series.

Thank you, Mark Caguioa for the emotions you’ve caused me. hehehe. for the clutch baskets and for the energy… the “spark”… and the heart.

Thanks Jayjay Helterbrand for the assists, the TWO ALL-IMPORTANT FREETHROWS THAT WON THE MATCH, and for your… cute smile. Hahaha.

Thanks to Rudy Hatfield for the heart… the offensive rebounds and the three-point plays. For your “warrior” presence.

To Johnny Abarrientos, the steals champ, thanks for the running game, the steals and the rebounds that aren’t really expected for a guy your size. But thank you, just the same.

To Eric Menk: Though you sat out most of the series, I have to admit when you came back, Ginebra sprung back to life. And yes, I might say, you are one MAJOR PAIN. go eric. I hope you get your game back.

To Rafi Reavis: Sorry for cussing at you for muffing those two free throws and the three-pointer, and… thanks for redeeming yourself in Game Three. (hahah.) for being a defensive player… thanks.

To Billy Mamaril: Though I never really liked you in Game Six because you missed the free throws, okay lang, kasi nag-champion naman na kayo. Hehehe.

To Sunday Salvacion: waah. Mr. Clutch Basket. Where’s Rodney Santos now, huh? (am kidding) anyway, thanks for the life-saving and life-sustaining three-pointers that you’ve drained throughout the season, and I’m looking forward to more.

To Mark Macapagal: For the cuteness. Hahaha. (Joke) for the three-pointers and defensive stops. Though I would’ve wanted you to have really just played it out and have more minutes on the floor, I have to admit Ronald Tubid has more intensity and firepower. Don’t worry, you’re still the “FIERY.”

To Mr. Fearless, Ronald Tubid: I hate your sniggers and smirks, but love your drawing of offensive fouls. Bring in the firepower, and thanks.

To Andy Siegle: For the smiles you bring to the Ginebra fans every time you enter the ball game (which is not often, I tell you), thanks.

Mike Holper: the ever cute sophomore. You bring intensity, you know that? Hope you were used more, though.

To Coach Jong Uichico: salamat sa championship! Marami pa ha?

Okay. This is the end of the reminiscing. Hehe. ayan ha. Happiness. Finally I got these entries out, and I am still feeling that feeling I felt when I wrote these articles. I’m still happy for Ginebra, and I’d always be. Promise, I’d have to admit that I somehow doubted that they could still make it where they are now in the present conference because most of their key players are either loaned to the RP team, injured or plainly just not there (Yes, that’s you, Rudy. I know it’s cornball romantic to be there for your soon-to-be, but you have a job to do.).

But then again, they’re not Ginebra if they just drop down and die.

Never say die.

Mag-aaral na ako! (Hirap naman kasing mag-aral para sa isang exam na alam mong multiple choice, diba.)

Who is Barangay Ginebra Kings’ Most Valuable Player and why?

I was watching Hardball before, hosted by Bill Velasco, Jinno Rufino and Boyet Sison, and this was their question, way before the wildcard phase of last conference started. (See how outdated this entry is?)

Of course, off the bat I would answer: MARK CAGUIOA—and you do know I am biased.

Bill Velasco pointed out that Mark COULD be the MVP “if you need points in a hurry.” Boyet Sison said that Rudy Hatfield provides the intensity on- and off-court, and since I am in love right now with his eyes (and I just noticed it last night), I would also seriously consider calling up the show right now (if I was in Manila) and answer their question.

(Okay. Where is Rudy Hatfield? From what I heard, he promised that he’d take Ginebra to the championship even without Mark and Jayjay and Rafi, but then again… where is he? I mean, I understand that he needs to be with his soon-to-be, but… I don’t know. *shrug*)

I’d list the Brgy. Ginebra players from memory (last conference): Jayjay Helterbrand, Mark Caguioa, Eric Menk, Rafi Reavis, Rudy Hatfield, Sunday Salvacion, Mark Macapagal, Mike Holper, Andy Seigle, Billy Mamaril, Ronald Tubid, and Johnny Abarientos. Partida pa yan kasi injured si Rodney Santos, but I heard he’ll be back come semis time. You also have Gec Chia and Paolo Hubalde back there sitting behind the bench. (Congrats to Gecgec! Yey. You doing a good job this conference, man.) Then on the coaching staff you’ve got Coach Jong Uichico, and Siot Tanquincen (before he was shipped to San Miguel. Pahirap sa buhay, sana nagpalit nalang talaga sila diba?) to back him up.

Did I say star-studded?

Yeah.

As they say, Ginebra looks good on paper, but it’s different when you also look good on court. And surprise, surprise, they started with a blasting 3-0 run tied with Sta. Lucia, and then Red Bull (argh) dealt with them their first loss and they strung up some more loss(es)—can’t remember, sorry—and bam! Seven-game win streak. 13-4 win-loss card.

“It’s a coach’s dream to have a team like this… and for Coach Jong to NOT win a championship with a team like this…”

And win the championship they did.

for regine (pictures galore)

dahil hindi ata makuha ang pictures for some reason from this blog, i'll insert them in hopes that Regine could copy it this time. hehehe.

isaw trip part 1, sa may harap to ng ilang. after ng masterful film debut ni angelo.

isaw trip part two.

isaw trip part three.

 BABALA: ang mga sumusunod na mga litrato ay mula sa madugong paggawa ng paper namin sa cres115. (nyek)

sa kawalan ng ginagawa. *sigh*

masyadong seryoso si regine, tingin niyo?

produkto ng aming dugo't pawis. (eek.)

ang madugong spss data file.

yey. hope nakopya niyo na this time around.

Batch 04-05

I’m left here holding nothing but my memories and I don’t know if my memories are true. – Ally McBeal

Call me ungrateful or anything close to that but I never really returned to my high school after my graduation. Hell, my last day there was on the day of our graduation, and I never came back. I have always thought some of the things that happened to me there—especially during my senior year—had hurt me so much beyond repair that I never wanted to come back.

There was a point in time when I don’t remember anything about my last two years in high school, just the prom and the graduation. Nothing else in between. Every time a batch mate would message me and tell me something that he or she missed back in high school, I simply just couldn’t share the sentiment for I couldn’t remember both the feeling and the memory itself, and I hated myself for that. I cried myself to sleep for countless of nights during my first two years in college for I simply just couldn’t remember; I wanted to come back but I’m scared of what coming back would do to me.

And for some weird reason I felt the urge of writing something about the batch that took me in (I was a transferee), about the batch that made high school a bit more exciting and happy—and I wanted to tell them that no matter what, I wouldn’t want to have it otherwise.

I used to remember my first day in my new school as the day when I saw two of the most gorgeous guys ever in my life (that was before I met basketball and the players): Kevin and Caloy (not Caloy-college, okay? For clarity’s sake, I’d call Caloy-high school “Gian”). Kevin has the most wonderful smile, the killer smile, that Close Up smile. Gian was the soft-spoken guy who had girls woo over him for he was simply that: the perfect gentleman and the nicest guy, pero nasa loob ang kulo. Gian and Kev were part of these barkada (Most of them heartthrobs, class clowns, mga pasaway, and all that. Very nice blend, if you ask me.) that was most influential, and they had a girl-group counterpart that is equally flashy, beautiful and influential.

I was never a part of that group, but I’d like to think that I was at one point in time. Bianca and Leah (a.k.a. Meh) are the most fabulous girls that I’ve ever met, and I’ve always wished I had gotten close to them earlier. But of course we moved in different social circles, and I was more of a part of a floating barkada—either that or we had a barkada of our own. I never really got to know that. But if there is Jesy, you’d better be sure I’m there as well. She was my best friend, the same best friend I pushed away when he hurt me (see Three Days Ago)—or should I say, I hurt myself with him?

Koko, Anjelyn, Gia, Marian, Tasha, Lea, Lyn, Maita, Ellaine, Shylla, Rowel, Rachelle, Rhea, Avonne, Grace, Mica, Amanda, and Ed—one full house group. Lotsa fun and lotsa talk in this one. Missed them lots.

JD, Doc, Bry, Nero, Gian, Vince, John, Robbi (my promdate), Kevin, Tolits, Migs, Kitoy, Amboy, Nikko, Aron, Kester, Daniel, Erico, Christian and Jelo—collectively known as “Okokx.” There is one weird etymology to that word, and from what I know, it was derived from the sound of drinking beer, the ulk ulk sound you hear when you gulp down anything liquid. They loved to drink from what I know, and judging from the video JD or Nikko made in their very own Friendster account, their sponsor is Red Horse and Marlboro Red.

And then another boy group: Justin, Magalong, Ronnie, Owen, DJ, Hurgo, Jose Ong, JM, Jasper, Joey (ex-Okokx), AJ, Nowen, Nowie, Ian, Andren, Bonix, Ellison, Kenji, Victor and Sytu—most of the dudes in this group are either Senior Boy Scouts and math geniuses or just plainly genius. They’re the ones who usually stay behind in the classrooms to play chess while Okokx guys go down and eat their hearts out or go girl watching (If they are girls to watch. From what I remember, the only students who have lunch breaks at our slot were just us.) or make tambay outside the room playing a plethora of Parokya ni Edgar songs.

The Okokx girl counterpart group (they don’t drink and smoke like these guys do, they’re just one of the major groups in the batch): Bianca, Meh, G, DA, Bei, Pau, Khat, Tat, Dhi, Karen, Joyee, Karess, Nicka, Issa, Tasha, Tsarm.

And then there’s me and Jesy. We’re more like the floaters. We could go with either barkada, Koko’s or Bianca’s. Call us flexible.

In every batch there is an outcast. And in ours, it’s Daphne.

And then there are those in our batch that went away: Ruth, Andren and Aiko.

I hope I mentioned all 78 in our batch (not including the ones that “went away”—to the States mostly).

Missed them.

Dude, kelan ang reunion?

Swimming!

Pass the Baton

      I realized while I was in the restroom washing my clothes that love is very much like a relay—yes, those guys who are passing on the baton to win the race. I don’t really know how I came to this conclusion and maybe I’ll be forcing it a bit, but try and listen.

I’ve given up way too many guys for the happiness of my friends and for their own happiness, and I used to joke that I was a recycle bin for after they throw ‘them’ away, I would pick them up and care for it, and when they want it back, I would willingly ‘restore’ them in their proper ‘places.’ I have passed on the baton far too many times to be able to win the relay, and I’ve always wondered if I could have just not given it up… if I could still have won the guy’s heart in the end.

I always end up losing myself.

But I’d rather not dwell on what ifs.

I was hurt, yes, when I gave them up, but I also know it was for the better. I knew they would be better off without me—or they’re better off if they weren’t with me. Not that they loved me the way I wanted them to. A friend of mine used to tell me that I was “always the best friend, never the girlfriend,” and I have always fitted that role for such a long time that guys treat me always as their barkada or little sister, and I fall in love with them and get nothing but friendly-friends love in return.

Funny how passing it off would do you bad.

It wouldn’t win the race for you all the time, for you are letting another person take on the responsibility of winning the race instead of winning it yourself.

What if you drop the baton in the middle of passing it on?

Who picks it up first?

I usually do the picking up part, and the brushing off the next in line would do.

They reap what I sow.

Damn it. What a martyr.

Pathetic me.

“Back then I kept saying that I didn’t want to fall in love ever again. However, no matter how hard and painful it was, I wanted to live that dream again, I wanted to love someone deeply.”

All-Stars

April 30, 2007 19:24

Yes, I didn’t watch it live, but still I wouldn’t miss it for the world.

I watched it on television, and I have to congratulate each and every PBA player who participated (like Eric Menk who came and danced even though he had an injury—his way of giving back to the fans who voted him into the South All-Stars) and especially those players who won.

First, to Willie Miller who won the obstacle challenge, a precarious second over Denok Miranda, I think. For Dondon Hontiveros, who won the three-point shootout over Willie Miller, Gary David and Mark Caguioa (and he’s griping about the media again. Tsk.). Then to the three-peat slam dunk king who hails from Tarlac, Niño “KG” Canaleta. Who else?

Oh. To the former-Coca-Cola-Tiger-now-turned-Sta.-Lucia-Realtor Denok Miranda for bagging the trickshot challenge over Ronald Tubid.

Whee.

And I am doing all of this from memory, okay?

To Dominic Uy (hot shooting, honey), Jayjay Helterbrand and the city councilor of La Union won the shooting stars challenge, go lang ng go guys. (Off night, Jayjay?)

Then to Dominic Uy again, Mark Macapagal and that dude from the Mayor’s office of Baguio who made the half-court shot, congratulations guys.

To the top three of the three-point shootout (Willie, Gary, and Dondon) who beat out the “legends” (which includes Pido Jarencio who shot a measly total of 6 points—eech. And you call yourself a shooting coach. Nice.—still haven’t forgiven him, I’m sorry.) in the three-point legends shootout, go guys.

And finally (insert deep breath here) to the North All-Stars: Mark Caguioa, Jayjay Helterbrand, John Arigo, Ranidel de Ocampo, Enrico Villanueva, Kerby Raymundo, Macmac Cardona, Willie Miller, Danny Ildefonso, Rommel Adducul, and Larry Fonacier.

Jayjay and Willie were co-All-Star MVPs.

Whee.

North won in a pretty much defensive game (insert sarcasm here). The score was 145-142, highest-scoring ever in the history of All-Stars.

Mark said with utter defiance that North would win the game, and then jokingly added that they would win “dahil andito ako.”

Oh diba. Ang level ng confidence ni Papa Mark.

That’s why he’s called The Spark.

:)

And how could I forget? The rookies won over the sophomores, burying them to be exact. Yey to Joseph Yeo, Arwind Santos, LA Tenorio, Mark Andaya, Aaron Aban, Jireh Ibañez and Jay-R Reyes (both former UP Maroons), and last but not the least Gabby Espinas.

And I hated Mico Halili (I’ve always loved him) at that moment when he continuously laughed and picked on Joseph about wearing the wrong color of jersey. Yes, he may be wrong, but he finally scored and played well—Arwind won’t be getting those freaking dunks that wowed the crowd if it wasn’t for his assists—and can’t you just appreciate that?

Grr.

Sorry. I hate everyone and anyone who is against and is saying bad things about Joseph Yeo. (And any basketball player I love for that matter.)

Love him that much.

Haha.