From The Stands Episode 27: The Mengke Bateer Episode
The guys talk about the Jones Cup championship and what it means to them. They also come up with a fantasy Jones Cup grudge match: the 1998 Centennial Team vs the 2012 Team Pilipinas. Brilliant fantasy grudge match idea! Duremdes/Meneses/Caidic vs Norwood/Chan/David -- who plays better in international play...it gets more interesting.
@chuck_araneta: I'm just in awe of what Gilas was able to accomplish in that game (vs USA).
@polo_bustamante: I'll pick LA Tenorio over Johnny A in the Jones Cup.
@carlo_pamintuan: Si Allan Caidic kaya niya pareho yung shooting ni Gary David and Jeff Chan.
Join the intense debate! Listen to From The Stands Episode 27 here:
The best part about Rajon Rondo's basketball clinic for UAAP and NCAA players at the Ronac Art Center last Tuesday:
Photos by Victor Fraile / The Power of Sport Images
Rajon Rondo didn't simply teach the fundamentals. He taught the Rondo-style fundamentals. Which an ultra-traditional coach might say isn't fundamental at all.
So guys like Ateneo's Kiefer Ravena, San Beda's Baser Amer, Letran's Kevin Alas, Altas super-shooter Jett Vidal and Mapua's Jonathan Banal all tried Rondo's moves. Consider that these guys were always taught to avoid the fancy pass or shoot with the correct foot.
Rajon Rondo uses a pick set by Ateneo Head Coach Norman Black.
Then Rondo comes in, shows them how to effectively play out-of-the-box basketball. The one-hand fake. The proper form for a behind-the-back-pass. The ideal space on the floor for a Euro Step. The right way to do the Super Floater. It's The Rondo Way. We already know, as most frustrated NBA defenders do, The Rondo Way wins games!
Red Bull Gives You Wings: Rajon Rondo in Manila 2012 continues today (Wednesday August 29) at the San Juan National High School in Barangay Corazon de Jesus in San Juan from 3:00 to 4:00pm. Rajon Rondo will lead the basketball court refurbishing initiative "Manila's Got Wings" by Red Bull Product of Europe. MH
News Alert: James Yap and PJ Simon - Manong Brigade na!
But since it might start a worldwide panic among Purefoods/BMeg/SanMigCofee fans, I decided to change it at the last minute. Pero is it just me? Kasi I see the difference sa facial features ni James, PJ, John and KG. They really look older. Manong Brigade talaga. Pero bakit si Maierhofer, parang walang nagbago?:) MH
We saw the Mark Caguioa and James Yap infographic before. Nothing will prepare us for this -- The Robert Jaworski Infographic. This is (pause for dramatic effect) legendary. Now if only a Gaconatic will make one for the other Big J, you know, Jerwin Gaco, then life will be complete. MH
As part of Red Bull Gives You Wings: Rajon Rondo in Manila 2012, Rajon Rondo will conduct an intensive skills development session for selected UAAP and NCAA players at the RONAC Art Center today (Tuesday, August 28) 4:00-6:00pm.
Rondo is on an Asian tour for the Red Bull King of the Rock worldwide tournament in Taiwan and Hong Kong. There are plans to stage a Red Bull King of the Rock in Manila in 2013.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, August 29, Rajon Rondo will lead the court refurbishing initiative at the San Juan National High School in Barangay Corazon De Jesus in San Juan. Ceremonies start at 3:00pm. MH
Red Bull Product of Europe brings Red Bull Athlete and Boston Celtic Rajon Rondo to Manila.
The 2-day tour starts tomorrow (Tuesday) August 28, 4:00-6:00pm, with the "Red Bull Skills Clinic" at the Playground inside the RONAC Art Center, Ortigas Avenue, San Juan. Rajon will conduct an intensive skills development clinic for selected UAAP and NCAA basketball players.
On Wednesday August 29, Rondo will visit the San Juan National High School in Barangay Corazon de Jesus, San Juan for the "Manila's Got Wings" project. Rondo will preside over the court refurbishing initiative by Red Bull from 3:00-4:00pm.
Follow @slamonlineph and @RedBullPh on Twitter to know more about Red Bull Gives You Wings: Rajon Rondo in Manila 2012. MH
Moments after the Philippines won the Jones Cup in Chinese Taipei last night, guys who joined Asi Taulava's Charity Basketball Game at the Ynares Sports Arena decided to show Jones Cup hero LA Tenorio some long-distance love.
Presenting the "@LA_Tenorio I Love You!!!" FanSign - All-Star Edition:
Asi Taulava invites everyone to the "Built Upon The Rock" Charity Game for people affected by the recent floods. He hopes to see you guys tomorrow 7:00pm at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City. Gates open at 6:00pm.
Check out Kuya Asi's tweets reminding participants for tomorrow's game:
AKTV will air Built Upon The Rock via delayed primetime broadcast tomorrow night. For event details and ticket queries, contact Asi on Twitter thru @AsiTaulava5 or Sheryl Reyes thru @FemaleAgentSR. Let's all support Kuya Asi. Let's support The Rock. MH
I remember May 2011 clearly: it was the
first time I approached my previous employer to actually request for a story. I
took pride in being a good company soldier, never bitched about the workload, always
tried to come up with stories required of me. But this one I just had to have.
Kobe Bryant was coming back to the country in July. I wanted the chance to
interview Kobe Bryant. 5 minutes. One-on-one with the great one.
I
didn’t sleep the night before. I had everything prepped, from my questions to
the outfit. Underneath my black-long sleeved polo, I wore a black Nike tee with
Kobe’s face in Laker gold on the front. On my feet, I rocked the Zoom Kobe V in
Team USA’s red, white, and blue. I had to act professional in front of the
Mamba, but underneath I was a basketball fanboy basking in basketball euphoria.
He walks in the room, and I just barely manage to conceal my fanboy grin. Then
bam, I lose it. I just shook the hand of the best clutch player in the game
right now. That’s the shooting hand of the guy who scored 81 points in a game.
I
manage to get back to business and ask him my first question, “You’ve done
almost everything in the game, what else does Kobe Bryant have left to prove?”
He replies with something that explains his very essence to me.
“Most of the time, going out to ‘prove
something’ works, but when I walk out on the floor it’s always about giving the
best in what I do. When I get out there, I’m ready to play, I’m ready to go, I
want to win.”
Hearing Kobe’s thoughts on the game of
basketball and in life via YouTube fan tributes is one thing, getting him to
say it to me face-to-face is another. Kobe Bryant is a winner through and
through (much to Vanessa Bryant’s delight I suppose). It’s all about showing
your respect to what you love by making sure you do everything to the best of
your ability.
It’s like saying, be the Kobe Bryant of the Sales Department. Be
the Black Mamba of the Bank. Kill the heck out of that pasta you’re cooking for
your girlfriend. Let out that Kobe-scowl when you get the last parking spot at
the San Juan Arena for the NCAA games (never mind that the guard is giving you
a puzzled look). Be so good in whatever you do, even the nastiest of haters
will have to respect you.
Haters
gon’ hate. Call him MJ’s clone. Say he’s done in the era of LeBron James and
Kevin Durant. But if you ask me, this man has too much pride to just fade into
retirement. That, plus a hall-of-fame point guard, a skilled Spaniard, a
Rottweiler named Metta World Peace, and the most dominating force in the paint
in the game today to back him up.
He’s
ready to play. He’s ready to go. He wants to win.
Happy
birthday, Kobe Bryant! JV
James Velasquez is a sports anchor for the NCAA on AKTV and writes for SLAM Philippines. He was a former TV news reporter for GMA News before becoming a part-time sports commentator and full-time sneakerhead. Follow @_jamesvelasquez on Twitter.
If Kobe Bryant is celebrating his birthday today, should KobeSaya be celebrating his birthday too? Of course! KobeSaya has no choice! It's specified in his contract. Besides, I know one fan who really, really wants to be with KobeSaya on his birthday:
Happy Birthday Bro. Iba ka, KobeSaya. Iba.MH Follow @Kobe_Saya24 on Twitter
Chuck Araneta, Carlo Pamintuan and Polo Bustamante are back with a new FTS Podcast. They dwell on the recent PBA Draft and really dwell on Ginebra not picking Chris Tiu. They also discuss the Jones Cup and why Gary David and Jeff Chan are perfect for the National Team. May Jones Cup special mention din si Big Beau Belga. Beau, kung ma-offend ka, sabihin mo lang. No prob. I'll give you their cellphone numbers.
Highlights:
@carlo_pamintuan: I wanted Chris Tiu to be with the most-loved franchise in the league. It's the perfect marriage. @polo_bustamante: I'm continuously shocked that Gary David, at his age, can continue to deliver at such a high level. @carlo_pamintuan: I'd die to see Marc Pingris play for the National Team.
I have a feeling some creative Ginebra fan will use these pics in the next Manila Clasico. Haha. Ano ba peg nito: Walking Dead or Shake, Rattle and Roll 13? My guess: I think these guys want to play basketball already. Is this Instagram? Nope. It's Instanity! MH
Those are strong, brave and candid words. Or was it just
Coach Topex Robinson trying to hype up his best player who will soon play in
the PBA? Or is it simply the best way to explain Calvin Abueva’s performance in
the NCAA?
There isn’t much that Calvin has not accomplished in the
NCAA. In his rookie year, San Sebastian bagged the championship. Last year, he
brought home the MVP trophy. Now in his fourth and last year in the league,
Abueva has not slowed down a bit.
Calvin has been nothing less than dominating. He has posted
a double-double in nine of the ten games that they have played in season 88 so
far. That includes two triple-doubles. That includes two 23-rebound games. Seriously,
who the hell does that?
The only time those numbers happen is when, in your
inter-barangay league, a 20-year-old kid is playing in the mosquito division.
It’s not like that’s the case, right? Right?
With the way he plays and the stats he posts, Calvin makes
the NCAA look like a videogame on ‘rookie’ difficulty and quarter minutes set
to 12. In his worst game of the season, he managed to get 9 points, 8 rebounds
and 5 assists. That was his worst game. Those
numbers are others NCAA players’ career-highs already. Then again, that’s the
point. Calvin isn’t just any other player.
It’s understandable why people love to hate on Abueva. He’s
just too damn good. One bit of a problem, though – he wants you to hate him. He
wants you to despise him. The more you jeer and heckle him, the more pumped up
he gets.
What haters don’t understand about Calvin is that his game
is not about the numbers. It’s about the work he puts into it. The one time
that I got to visit a San Sebastian practice, I became a witness to persistence.
They were prepping for their JRU game. Calvin was down with the flu. It was a
bad case. But it had no chance of keeping him away from the court. When he was
not part of the group practicing the plays, he was either working with the
medicine ball, doing push-ups or sit-ups. He worked his ass off. Right after
the session, he rushed out of the gym telling Ronald Pascual, “’Maya na lang bro. May check-up pa ko eh.”
Now that’s dedication right there.
When Calvin fails to register a double-double in a game, it
makes me smile a little. Not because I’m against Baste or anything, but it
reminds me that he can have ‘bad games’. It reminds me that basketball can still
be a fair game after all. Ang daya kasi
pag may Calvin Abueva ka. You
have the league’s leading scorer, rebounder, and assists man. Then the
basketball gods decided to give him Pascual and Ian Sangalang as his support
crew. Un-freakin-fair.
It’s understandable, however, if people look back at that
2009 San Sebastian Championship team and say that it was Jimbo Aquino who led
that team. Furthermore, I probably won’t argue with someone who says that until
Calvin leads Baste to a championship this year, we can’t call him dominant.
Coach Topex’s statement might just be pure hokum. But the truth is, basketball at the college level just seems
so easy for Abueva. From what we’ve all seen so far, it’s probably safe to
say that there are three kinds of players in the NCAA right now – the good, the
better, and The Beast. JS
Jutt Sulit is a former courtside reporter for the Mapua Cardinals. He also writes for SLAM Philippinesand is part of the NCAA on AKTV production team. Follow @juttsulit on Twitter.
