2008 PCC in Pictures

Saved in the cam card but as i've mentioned not much time to post it on a per game basis. More for archiving than anything (but do click if you the pictures if you want the larger version):

RP National Team Practice

The perks of this job. Not only you enjoy the work that you do but there's always some extra things that you get which you don't expect. In one of the PCC coverages the past couple of weeks, the team (luckily) came across the Philippines Men's Basketball National Team coached by Yeng Guiao as they practiced after the PCC double-header at the San Juan Arena while One U was shooting one of its episodes. So, anyway, this is long overdue (as other pictures in next posts) but only had the time (and the net speed) to post it now:

Pacquiao's Motivation

If you can't see the truth, there's a problem with your vision--- better yet, your perception. If you can't recognize then accept what is in front of you, i don't know how intentionally, stupidly blind you are. Been to a lot of forums and still have this (on-going) arguments with friends that Manny Pacquiao is not supposed to be put in a pedestal. After today's epic showing against Oscar de la Hoya, they ate more crow, then had pride for desert--- and still failing to even see what is really essential: Pacquiao is inarguably the greatest Filipino athlete this country has seen and one of the best in the world. This is not about beating opponents in the squared ring now, this is about chasing history.Outside the usual obvious motivation of Manny--- being very competitive, fighting for his country and fighting for money--- i do believe that there's a more twisted, darker reason why he beats up his opponents badly. These guys, Mexicans most of them, are better-looking than the Filipino icon. It eats so much inside Manny that at the end of each bout he crushes them (specifically, the face) to a pulp and ultimately, he becomes the fresher and yes, better-looking fighter. Here's a quick look at the before-and-after appearances of Manny's victim.

Barrera (before):
Barrera (after):
Marquez (before):
Marquez (after):Morales (before):
Morales (after):
And the latest, De la Hoya (before):
De la Hoya (after, or during):
Pacquiao, meanwhile always looks good (or the same) after every bout (who wouldn't after every victory). Ricky Hatton is a nice-looking English gentleman, eh? Maybe it's time to re-arrange that face.

On a more serious note: Thank you, Manny for making the country feel very proud once again.

PCC Final Four: ADMU vs. CSJL/DLSU vs SBC

ATENEO-LETRAN

Letran took the lead early on but Ateneo made their run courtesy of Rabah Al-Hussaini's semi hooks.The size factor really took its toll on the Knights early as a slew of defenders were thrown at Rabah but he was still quite effective. Ryan Buenafe saw action in his first PCC by coming off the bench--- he was rusty and hesitant on both ends of the floor but quicky picked up his rhtyhm as the game went along. Other Eagles namely Baclao, Reyes and to an extent, Austria played their roles to the hilt--- with Letran's pressure defense the pair of guards had to work over time and Baclao did what he did best--- rebounds and defense. Those long arms bothered a lot of shots.

While it looked like the Eagles collapsed on the end part of the game, it was more of Letran being (even) more aggressive on the defensive end that made it a very, very interesting game. With the game tied at 61 apiece, Daa was called for a (ticky tack) foul--- or just plain stupid because he was reaching in all over the place and got called--- that pushed the lead back to three points (He also reacted quite strongly which merited a technical foul--- i thought the refs reacted quite strongly too-- in this game so-oh-close that extra free throw could mean the game...) A few plays later Reyes made his only three in the ballgame which, if i remember correctly stretched the lead to 8 points. If the Knights showed more poise, or if the refs showed a bit more compassion, I do believe that it would be the Eagles trying to make their run at the end game and not the other way around.

But when everyone in San Juan was thinking it was all over (around 3 or 4 minutes left) Letran slowly crept back into the game. Jazul got hot. Even that Poch Juino lookalike (even his game/jumpshot is a copycot of Mr. Juino's) Regin Ranisis made the long shots and eventually, it was a close game.

What surprised me was the fact that Letran made their run without a true point guard. Alas chose to go with the back court of Jazul-Lanete or Jazul-Teczon. It was surprising because the Knights still maintained their pressure on the backcourt and never lost that speed to bother the opposing guards.

Meanwhile, Ateneo was just too composed in the end game. Trailing by a single point, they went to Buenafe, arguably the best slasher in today’s game, who made that falling-fading bank shot which gave the Eagles that lead.

Letran showed good heart, but clearly Ateneo had the tools to win these close games.

SAN BEDA – LA SALLE

The second game had ingredients for a blowout. San Beda had energy, and La Salle looked lost in the scheme of things most of the time. And anyway, after the first game thriller what were the chances of a cardiac game happening in the same day, same venue?

San Juan was in for another treat. After trailing by as many as 17 points, the Green Archers put the boost on in the final quarter and recorded what could be the greatest comeback in the short history of the PCC.

And it was one for the highlights reel. Trailing by one, with 24 seconds and some to go in the game, Pumaren and the Archers decided not to foul and just play good old honest defense--- and it worked. Pressured by the long arms of Barua and active Casio they forced a turnover on Teczon (or was it Lanete?) leading up to a Barua steal-assist to Casio who was all alone for the easy, easy lay-up.

Menor’s mad try at the end was just a bit too quick and too much of an isolation play (but what can you really do with six and change left)… It was in a way, a very apt way for the end of the Lions because they played that way in the final moments of the game.

So the key to the La Salle win? Injuries to both point guards did San Beda in. While La Salle ceased their full court press in the final six minutes, there was no real court general for the Lions at crunch time. Villanueva suffered a sprained ankle at the start of the fourth and Tirona was missed the final minutes with an injury as well. Tirona--- for all the turnovers and ill-advised shots was effective both on offense and defense.

Another point is Lim’s questionable rotation decision at the end.

A) He never put Taganas back in. He practically bullied his way against the likes of Walsham (and of course, the much thinner Maierhofer) in the 3^rd and helped with the offensive boards. Him and Jake Pascual was a joy to watch… Ekwe was fine on the defensive end but was trying to do too much on offense. By the time the fourth came (Ekwe and Pascual in) the roles were a bit jumbled and it created confusion on the Lions execution.

B) Lim chose to bench Tirona. As I mentioned, the point guard was a bit too erratic and too excited on his shots. But he did make that one clutch three pointer (ill advised still and was effective in calling the plays… You take the good with the bad and i do think this was about trusting your point guard and Lim did not. (By the time he was looking for a point, the latter was injured)

And finally, i saw how good of a coach Pumaren is. This was a masterful job by Franz--- in-game adjustments and just pacing, knowing and maximizing his players. For three quarters, Casio had a semi-bad outing but in the fourth quarter, Pumaren went to his leader and Casio delivered on some crucial baskets.

Very bad loss for San Beda and I feel bad for San Beda fans at the stands because they were celebrating for pretty much 90 per cent of the ball game. La Salle even had that “we’ll get them next time” faces and was just hanging around. Lesson here? Hang around hang around, eventually you’ll get your breaks. And it happened at the end game for De La Salle.

Pain and Common Sense

We lost the game. Actually, we never even took the lead. It was a matter of just putting a good run (White did cut the lead down to two points sometime in the fourth quarter) but it never came. That's the bad news... The good news/bad news is... i never got to play.

15 minutes before tipoff, it was the usual pregame warm-up for both squads--- a little shooting, lay-up and running... Then it hit me, i couldn't run!!! i couldn't even get a rebound the ball bouncing off one foot away from me! Imagine, what could have happened during the game!

In the end, the ankle told me that this wasn't to be. This wasn't going to be the night that i was going to suit up... Destiny, in the end won once again. And i hate losing. (To fate or any other being or non-being)

That said, there's Game Three on Tuesday and i am still not even sure that i am going to play. My teammates are pissed off and so am i. More than anything, very pissed off with ourselves (i acted as pseudocoach by the way because that spot doesn't need your ankles to work) and our performance.

Heck, it's 1-1 and we still have a chance to win this 'ship. To play or not to play, that is the question. To win or not win, that is the bigger issue.

Ankle Breaker

It's over. It's done. 10 or so years of waiting when i can finally win in something--- and something i love dearly--- then you break something that could very well break your dreams.

It happened right in the middle of the night when i least expected it to happen. Quick realization: i NEVER EVER expected it to happen. Suddenly--- out of thin air, right off the magician's hat--- it just fucking happened.

i woke up last Sunday with a sprained ankle. And i don't freaking know how it happened. i have a few theories: a) playing with a mild sprain gameday-in-and-out, maybe it finally fell off--- it, meaning the tendons or whatever that supports the joint/s of this uncooperative right foot. b) that i somehow slipped somewhere on Saturday night and because i was so tired i completely neglected the pain before going to sleep or c) that karma is a bitch and it fucks you around at the worst possible time.

The first theory holds the more probable truth but the final one holds the other two theories. But whatever reason, it happened and here i am rolling a Gatorade (Ha! The irony!) with the sole of the injured foot.

Sprained ankles are more than normal. A sprained ankle 2 days before the first game of your office basketball league... Well, it's more than unfortunate--- it's the penultimate day before doomsday, it's one way street going to the end of the world.

What to do with it? The past couple of days, it's not just the ankle you are struggling with. Your confidence shattered because of the (paranoia) realization that you are never going to be a part of a winning team. A dream cursed by a series (or even just ONE) of events that will never let you realize that dream.

What i did with it? Let's talk about the ankle first, that's the easy part. Confidence and dreams to follow. Omega pain killer. Mefenamic Acid. Celebrex. Gatorade-rolls. Elevated the foot before going to sleep so the flow of blood should be going to the heart (Googled that one). More Omega pain killer More mefenamic. More celebrex. And lots and lots of Gatorade-rolls.

It feels better compared to last Sunday and early Monday--- but it's not full healed. The good news and the bad news. But times like this? i will take any news.

What about confidence and dreams? Hmmmm. i don't know. i really don't know. The only way of getting back that confidence is playing again. And if that costs playing through pain... So be it. Dreams? It's always there and you can do nothing about it but chase it and chase it and chase it... So, so be it.

Tomorrow night will be game two of the best-of-three series. And it could be our clincher (My team, White, won the first one via the slimmest of margins)... Meaning, i will effing play.

Send in the clowns, call in all the basketball gods. i have tapes, long long tapes. i will have Gatorade, lots and lots of it (not to roll but to gulp in the first quarter, even if i am on the bench, then another in the second then a couple of others for the final half) i might play for 20 minutes or 2 minutes i don't fucking care. And we will win the championship because that is what good players do. i did my part in this run and will continue to do so by playing whatever role i will have by gametime. We will win the title because i have even better teammates that will want to prove that this is the best team in our own little basketball world at the office.

Will it hurt the ankle? Sure it will.

Karma, Destiny or whatever you call yourself these days, you can break my ankle, you can shatter my confidence but you will never (NEVER) take this dream away from me.

(Watch out for my next post entitled Pain and Stupidity.)

PCC TV SCHED (Updated: Dec 2)

SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE.

PCC Sweet Sixteen: CSJL vs SSCR/JRU vs FEU

Earlier, the Knights had litttle trouble with the Baycats from Cavite and it showed in the final score: Letran 85, San Sebastian 70.

Now, after watching a slew of Sweet Sixteen games earlier this week then comparing it to the early energy and play of the Tamaraws and Bombers there's only one thing to conclude: Good games are made by good match-ups of good teams. No offense to the likes of the Dragons, Stallions, Pirates and the likes but at this level only the real good programs will have a chance to advance (save an upset miracle or two, say every other year)... Both FEU and JRU are showing that right now in the first quarter of the final round of 16 match-up. FEU holds the early lead though, a 12-point bubble with under 4 minutes to go..

Blame the rather big lead on FEU's better shooting--- JRU just can't make the easy ones. Both teams however are challenging every single shot and defense is already the premium in the first 12 minutes... i smell a JRU run in the 3rd, all for a close affair by crunch time.. We will see...

24-9. End of 1st. FEU leads.

Cagoco opens the scoring in the 2nd quarter... Cuts the lead down to 12 points... And just when they wer making a run, Bombers coach Ariel Vanguardia gets called for a pair of technical fouls! Some gentlemen behind the JRU bench (if i am near their spot, i will take a picture of them) actually threw a plastic bottle! Talk of class!

Back to the game... Bombers cut the lead to single digits once again but Barracael responds from the other end.. Pushes the lead back to double digits, 40-29.

After Sena hit a jumper in an earlier play, he's at the line for two freebies. And makes both. If the Bombers want a comeback they will have to do it via Sena in the 2nd and the 3rd.. Nocom hits a long 2 (stepping on the line) to cut the lead to 7 points.... However, Barracael responds once again. This time with a threee. Back to double digits lead for the Tamaraws, 43-33.

And that's the score for the half.