Chot Reyes in the Cole Haan LunarGrand Wingtip.

Smart Gilas Head Coach Chot Reyes has to be the best-dressed National Team Coach, possibly, on the planet. He rocked Cole Haan LunarGrand Wingtips during our meeting today.

Coach Chot's Cole Haan LunarGrand Wingtips.

www.nikeblog.com

I can't even imagine Coach K of Team USA doing this. Chot even rocked it perfectly; with folded chinos and "invisible" ped socks (which he found in Japan). Good job Coach. Good job. MH

Barangay Gilas reacts to Gilas' 4th place finish.

While we all have different reactions to the 4th place finish of Gilas in the FIBA Asia Cup and it's important that we share them with each other, I think it's also important to share how fans in Japan - that slice of the global community we can now call Barangay Gilas - felt about the team's performance. Fans like Alvin Palmones, Mack Muscolino, Reggie Salvador, Maden Lee Rubio, Nabila Lim and many others were there. They chanted De-Fense. They saw it all first-hand. Their feedback, therefore, carries a different relevance:

Barangay Gilas is Worldwide!

It's not the first time this has happened. But it's a story worth repeating anyway. Filipinos love their basketball. We love our basketball. Wherever we are. I totally agree with Jason Webb when he says the Philippines can enjoy home court advantage in any arena in the world. Because we are all over the world.

I'm glad social media allows us to see this. Barangay Gilas was in Taiwan for the Jones Cup. Now, Barangay Gilas is in Japan for the FIBA Asia Cup. They cheer for our players. They confuse opponents with their fictitious shot clock countdown. They chant Gi-ne-bra! Gi-ne-bra! Parang nasa Big Dome lang. Parang nasa PBA lang. Parang nasa Pilipinas lang.

Saludo ako sa Barangay Gilas. Dahil pang-champion ang suporta ninyo.

FIBA Asia Cup: Watch the Gilas Gangnam Style.

This is the AKTV Center's major contribution to the national cause. When Gilas players Ranidel de Ocampo, Gary David and Marcus Douthit visited the AKTV Center two weeks ago, we introduced them to the Oppa Gangnam Style phenomenon:

Ranidel watching Oppa Gangnam Style for the first time on YouTube.

Oppa Gangnam Style makes Marcus smile. Gilas Asst Coach Jong Uichico
intently studying the dance moves.

After watching the video on YouTube, Ranidel said, "Pwede. Pwede."

Gary made an even bolder comment when we asked if he can teach the Gangnam moves to his Gilas teammates, "Ah madali lang yan."

So to prepare ourselves for day 1 of the FIBA Asia Cup, we share a key weapon for Team Pilipinas in the tournament --> The Gilas Gangnam Style:



Great video guys! But where's the version with Coach Jong??? It's what the country needs to see.

Anyway, back to serious business. It's PHL vs China today 3:30pm live on AKTV. Replay 8:00pm.

Laban Pilipinas! MH

FIBA Asia Cup: Marcus Douthit needs our help!

Gilas starting center Marcus Douthit needs our help. The Philippines will face China tomorrow (Friday) 3:30pm live on AKTV. For Marcus to compete at his best, he needs...sleep.

So to help Kuya Marcus, you can a) give him suggestions so he can sleep better or b) mag-makaawa na lang kay roommate Enrico to not snore too loud. Remember, para sa bayan yan. But seriously, Good Luck Team Pilipinas! Laban Pilipinas! MH

The many, many faces of Ranidel de Ocampo.

Last Saturday, we had Ranidel de Ocampo as a guest in a special Jones Cup Edition of AKTV Center. Coach Chot Reyes said that the two best jokers on Gilas were Gary David and Ranidel. So we asked Ranidel to share one of his jokes live on-air:



Okay, so maybe Gary is the better joker. Di bale. Para sa Bayan naman yung joke ni Ranidel. All good.  Now we also asked Ranidel if it's true that he only has one facial expression for all kinds of emotions. He said, "Hindi totoo yan!" So, he agreed to show the many different facial expressions he has for different situations:

When Ranidel is serious.

When Ranidel is happy.

When Ranidel is upset.

When they won the Jones Cup.

When he saw Santa Claus for the first time.

When he wins the Super Lotto Jackpot.

The next time he sees me...

From The Stands Episode 27: Jones Cup Dream Match 1998 Centennial Team vs 2012 Smart Gilas.

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:

Podcast Powered By Podbean

@LA_Tenorio I Love You !!! FanSign - All-Star Edition.

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:

The FanSign we used for this...

Ronald Tubid 

Extra Rice Inc is proud of you LA!!!

Dondon Hontiveros

Even La Salle Legends are proud of LA. Mwah.

Matteo Gudicelli

Payag na ako. LA mas gwapo ka na sakin...

PBA refs show LA some love.

Derek Ramsay says LA...You The Man!

Jones Cup starts today. Good Luck Gilas!

It begins tonight. The National Team starts its campaign in the Jones Cup in Taiwan when it faces Jordan at 8pm later. More than wanting to know if this composition of Gilas can win games, a good reason to watch the games is finding out if this composition of Gilas can work together.

I'm also excited to see LA Tenorio, Gary David and Jeff Chan on the National Team and see how they can help. Watching a team, especially the new version of the National Team, compete in its first tournament is always an anxious and interesting experience.

Watch Philippines vs Jordan at 8:00pm tonight on AKTV. See complete Jones Cup Broadcast Schedule here: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/broadcast-schedule-of-the-34th-william-jones-cup-on-aktv  MH