GILAS and the Non-Believers

Captured by: Nuki Sabio

Heart over Height.

Napaka-exciting ng mga game. Kada umaga ng isang game-day, para bang hindi ako mapakali at gusto ko sanang mag 8:30 ng gabi na agad. At ang galing. Parang umayon ang lahat ng pagkakataon para sa pambansang koponan ng Pilipinas. Kinapos man sa dulo ng laban nila kontra Chinese-Taipei, eto't sila'y bumangon at nakarating uli sa Final-Four at 'di nagtagal; ay nakamit ang pangarap na makasaling muli sa World cup.

Parang isang panaginip. Finally, nakawala ang Pilipinas sa sumpa at tinumbasan ang mga pagka-bigo sa Korea ng isang napaka-gandang panalo. Hindi ako agad makatulog no'n. Tatlong oras yata akong nakapikit; at naaalala ko parin ang mga pangyayari sa laro. Yung mga drive ni Jason Castro, Yung mga hustle-play ni Pingris, yung dunk ni Japeth na gusto kong ipagyabang na HOY, PINOY YAN!.

Ansaya no? Matapos ang tatlong dekada, sa wakas, nasa Fiba-World na ulit ang Pilipinas.

AND THEY GET INTO THE FINALS

Baka-marahil maraming hindi magaakalang aabot pa sa puntong 'to?. Pero para sa puso ng lahat ng tunay na Pinoy na may nananalaytay pang dugo ni Andres Bonifacio, iisipin mong hinding-hindi 'yan susuko at patuloy lang yan na mananalo.

Size advantage ng kalaban? Given na 'yan. Di makakapag-laro ang Sentro natin?, walang magagawa e. Pero hindi sila sumuko. Nahirapan din ang kalaban. At hindi nila tayo natambakan ng bente-puntos kahit para nalang silang nagbibisikleta na kulang ng isang pidal. Dahil kung hindi lang sana na-penalty agad noong third quarter? Kung naglaro lang sana si Douthit?, e baka nagkabaliktad ang lahat.

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Ang sakit lang isipin na may mga kontra. May mga hindi parin bumilib. May mga nagsasabing hindi nila kaya. At ang mas masakit, PILIPINO din sila.

Para sa iba, wala lang. Para sa 'instant-fan' lang, parang dumaang laro lang ang lahat.

Pero ako? o kahit sino mang tunay na fan ng Philippine Basketball, hindi ko/natin agad to makakalimutan. 'Yung mga three-point-shots nila Jeff Chan. 'Yung mga buwis-buhay-sama-puso drive ni Jason Castro. 'Yung mga tres ni Jimmy Alapag na galing pang Baclaran. 'Yung mga dakdak ni Japeth Aguilar. 'Yung mga nakakakilabot na rebound ni Marc Pingris. Kung tunay na fan ka, di mo agad makakalimutan yan.

Kaya para sa mga hindi naniniwala, para sa mga wapakels lang, para sa mga nagdududa sa ibilidad nila. Sayang, hindi n'yo man lang naramdaman ang saya, galak, pagkatuwa na naramdaman namin. Sayang hindi n'yo naranasang ma-excite sa bawat game nila; yung tipong habang papalapit nang papalapit ang oras ng pagsisimula ay para bang 'di mo maintindihan ang pakiramdam at gusto mo na agad magstart ang game. Yung parang pakiramdam na meron kang litsong kawali sa kamay mo na isasawsaw mo nalang sa Mang Tomas saka mo kakainin (gano'n ka-exciting para sakin e). Yung nakaka-kuryenteng pakiramdam kapag naririnig mo yung libo-libong mga pinoy na sama-samang sumisigaw sa loob ng Moa Arena. Ang sarap sa pakiramdam, parang lagi lang laban ni Pacquiao.

Pero higit sa lahat. Salamat sa Gilas dahil binigyan nila tayo ng mahigit isang Linggong kaligayahan.

Ako ay isang Pilipino; Mahilig sa Sinigang at Adobo; buong pusong sumasaludo sa Gilas Pilipinas!

Congrats, Gilas Pilipinas!

Salamat sa Pagbabasa! :)

Big things happened in 2011

Here's the top issues and topics happened this 2011,

Spratly Islands Issue, the arguing of 6 countries to the territorial ownership of Spratly Islands

Try to read one of my blog-entry focusing on this issue
Sa Pinas ang Spratly Islands

Japan hits by devastating Tsunami with a 12 meter high of waves caused by a magnitude 9.0 Earthquake, 15,842 are confirmed dead.

MILF attack and 19 Marines confirmed dead

Typhoon Sendong leaved 1,453 death toll in Northern Mindanao

Shamcey Supsup third runner up at Miss Universe 2011 pageant, ost. Tsunami Walk

Manny Pacquiao win over Antonio Margarito and the controversial win over Juan Manuel Marquez.

Star Cinema's films gathering the top spots in Philippine highest grosser film of all time
(No Other Woman and Praybeyt Benjamin)

Smart Ultimate All-Star Weekend
the visiting of 9 basketball player from the greatest basketball league in the world (NBA) to the Philippines.

ex President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's sickness and allegation on her charged cases.

Dallas Mavericks 2011 NBA Champion  Mavericks win the series with 4 games to 2 for Miami

2011 is the best year for moviegoers, this year Transformers third film was released, Pirates of the Caribbean 4th installment, Harry Potter's 8th and last film in their franchise, Twilight's Breaking Dawn and the release of the trailer of much awaited movie The Hobbit, gathering 10 Million views on it's trailer in just 3 days.

Filipino athletes also have a big part of this year. Philippine Dragonboat team, Smart Gilas's impressive Fiba Asia appearance and the beginning of Azkal's era.

at yan ang ating recap :D
Mauuna na akong bumati, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
Thanks for reading!

4th place is not bad, Hats off to our National Team Smart Gilas

Kung ikaw ay isang Basketball fan o Basketball lover sa Pinas siguro ay pinanuod o napanood mo ang mga laro ng National team nating "Smart Gilas Pilipinas" maliban na lang kung talagang wala kayong channel 13 sa TV niyo. kahapon lamang  may pag-asa ang Gilas para makapasok sa Finals ng Fiba-Asia pero ayun kinapos pawang may konting malas po sila sa kanilang mga shooting. at hindi na nga po sila pinalad na makapasok sa Finals pero may pagkakataon pa naman para makalusot papunta sa 2012 London Olympics ang manalo sa Battle for 3rd para maging pangatlo sa rangking ng Fiba-Asia.

Lamang ang Pilipinas sa unang bahagi ng laro subalit talagang malakas po talaga ang South Korea team. hinabol po nila ang kalamangan ng Gilas hanggang sa tuluyan na nga silang lumamang sa dulo hanggang sa puntong ito. 69-68 ang score lamang ang Korea ng isa nakatingin ang lahat sa TV (siguro). at may pagkakataong mabawi ang lamang ng Pilipinas sa pamamagitan ng dalawang napakaimportanteng free-throw ni Kelly Williams. subalit talaga yatang hindi nakaguhit sa tadhana na magkaroon ng pagkakataong makatapak sa Olympics ang Pilipinas. ilan pang mga free-throw ang sana ay nakapagtabla o nakapagpanalo sa Gilas ang hindi pumasok sa ring. at natapos na nga ang laro sa score na 70-68 panalo ang Korea sa lamang na dalawang puntos.

Nakakapanglungkot, nakakapanghinayang, o sabihin na nating "We're bleeding inside because of that loss". alam naman natin ang ginawa ng Gilas para maabot ang lugar kung nasaan man sila ngayon. ginawa nila ang lahat para manalo pero talagang hindi pa nila pagkakataon ngayon.

Nakakainis lang kapag nakakarinig ka ng mga linya na nagsasabing "walang pag-asa yan", "asa pang manalo yan diyan" tapos sa kapwa pinoy mo pa maririnig. Nakakairita di'ba? Ang kalimitang nagsasabi niyan eh yung matataas yung standard. na pag sinabing Basketball eh NBA lang ang pinapanood nila at wala silang pake kung ano man ang nangyayare sa Basketball sa Pilipinas. Ibig sabihin talaga nila eh no-match ang mga pinoy sa mga banyaga.

Kung ikaw eh nagiisip ng mga ganyang bagay eh Huwag mong sasabihin na Basketball fan ka dahil NBA fan ka lang. Hindi mo kasi tinitingnan ang mga bagay na dapat mong isa-alang alang kapag ikaw eh nagoobserba. napakalaki kasi ng pagkakaiba ng mga lahi ng tao lalo na sa "height". tapos ipagkukumpara mo yung mga Basketball players ng Pinas kay Jordan o kay Kobe na para bang pantay lahat. kung hindi pa rin nagegets ng mga taong yun tong mga sinasabi ko eh subukan na lang nila na i match-up nila ang sarili nila nang suntukan kay Mayweather.

Pero bago to matapos eh sasabihin ko muna na isa ako sa mga sumasaludo sa "Smart Gilas Pilipinas" the journey doesn't end here losing is just another path. One that a team must take.

Yun lang

Thanks for Reading!

Amazing Weekend because of Basketball

I think everyone now knows what happened this last Saturday and Sunday, (Kung hindi mo alam, malamang tulog ka) MVP sports foundation was the key to success in this event. 2 consecutive days of full excitements, amaze feelings and BASKETBALL. and this event knew as the "Smart Ultimate All-Star Weekend' that happened inside the Basketball Capital of the Philippines "Araneta Coliseum"

It's unbelievable to see Kobe Bryant on your front but what can you say if 9 superstars from the greatest Basketball league in the world will be play, shoot or Dunk together in one of the greatest moment in Philippine Sports History.

First DAY

Basketball fans here in the Philippines was so lucky to have the moment to see Superstars from Philippine's Best (PBA) and from the World's best (NBA) together in one court in Saturday night. And as all expected the MegaSuperstars of Basketball won the game in a lead of more than 20pts.

James Yap and Kobe Bryant

The game can describes as an exhibition game, a lot of dunks (as expected) crossover plays and Alley oop plays saw that night. the only bad thing after the game is when the comments of the observers come out. some are good as positive and some are badly as the Dark Lord Sauron :D. Obviously the two teams separated is a mismatch in terms of Height including Weight, athleticism and Physicality of two races. but some people did not appreciated it even that team(PBA) must have a support they just gave them a boo. but I know those talking bad like that in Philippine Basketball are people that knows nothing about Sports or even Basketball.

The two man in the picture above are the main man of that two teams. James Yap for PBA and in the other side is Kobe Bryant. Kobe scored in the game but James finished the game scoreless. day after that when I go on school my classmate boos me. and he said "Wala pala James Yap mo eh" and I just laughed after that. There are reasons why he did not play well that night, and I can give some. (1) That game is only a Exhibition game, even if he played hard I think they cannot beat the NBA stars. (and obviously the PBA All-Stars is an underdog team that night) (2) He just reserved his energy for a very important game than that game. (His team is on a Semifinal round right now) (3) Friday after that night he has a game, Saturday meron din at kinabukasan meron ulit. Second DAY The main Event of the Ultimate All-Star Weekend is the face-off among NBA All-Star and our very own National team "Smart Gilas Pilipinas" this time the game is serious but sometimes funny because of the 3 Gentlemen Commentators of the game. I just laughed, laughed and laughed after some lines of Mr. Mico Halili that night specially in the time when Javale McGee missed a Lay-up under neath the Basket and Jimmy are on McGee's back and He says "Oh McGee bothered by the defense of Jimmy Alapag" (natawa ako kasi wala namang ginawa si Jimmy that time) hahaha WTH Javale i think has 13 inches taller than Jimmy tho.

Syempre sa isang Basketball game ay hindi mawawala ang mga Slam-Dunk lalo na sa mga players ng NBA team pero mas nakakataba naman ng puso sa tuwing nakikita ko na ang gumagawa ng Dunk ay nakasuot ng Gilas Uniform.

In that event I heard a lot of cheer and there are three cheers that cannot forget by my mind. the First One when former President Joseph Estrada's face showed in the Big Dome's big screen then everyone shouted "ERAP! ERAP! ERAP!" the Second one when Manny pacquiao Enter the Big Dome then the whole Smart Araneta Coliseum saying "Manny! Manny! Manny!" and the last one happened inside the last four minutes mark of the game when Gilas made a Run. then the whole Big Dome seems like the home court of the team when every sounds that you here is cheering Gilas by "Defense! Defense! Defense!".

And after this blog finish let me ask ask you one question, do you think that this Gilas vs NBA is more interesting to watch than NBA All-Star Weekend (East vs West) for me YES!.

If your answer is NO Check it out again by watching it here

 

Thanks for Reading!

All photos are from: "The smart ultimate all star weekend facebook fanpage": http://www.facebook.com/Smart.Ultimate.AllStarweekend.DA.BEST