aNyThInG gOeS!

Wonderful Body

2011-07-24T22:17:00.000+08:00

The average human body holds enough:

sulfur to kill all the fleas on an average dog, potassium to fire a thousand cannon, carbon to make 900 pencils, fat to make 7 bars of soap, 10 gallons of water, and phosphorous to make 2,200match heads. --www.ezwebsite.org

Andy Gibb - Don't Throw it All Away (Our Love)

2010-08-05T20:40:00.000+08:00

NBA Finals 2010: Bryant, Fisher lead Lakers to victory in Game 3, 91 - 84

2010-06-09T22:07:00.000+08:00

Derek Fisher rallied his teammates with a motivational speech on the bench during the break before the fourth quarter.

Then he went out and showed them how it's done.

"Derek, he's our vocal leader. He's the guy that pulls everybody together and is always giving positive reinforcement," Lakers guard Kobe Bryant said after Fisher made five baskets in the final period to lead Los Angeles to a 91-84 victory Tuesday night over the Boston Celtics and a 2-1 lead in the NBA finals.

"That's what he does. That's what he's been doing extremely well. He has a knack for saying the right thing at the right time."

Bryant scored 29 points and Fisher had 16, including 11 in the fourth quarter after Boston cut a 17-point first-half lead to one point.

Game 4 is Thursday night in Boston, and a Lakers victory would put them within one win of avenging the loss to their longtime rivals in the 2008 finals — not to mention the eight other times the Celtics have won an NBA title at the Lakers' expense.

"Our thoughts are really just still on how disappointed we are, or were, losing that second game on our home court. I think that had more of our attention and focus than what happened in '08," Fisher said. "We didn't doubt our ability to win here. ... We understand when you want to be the best, you have to win wherever, whenever."

Bryant had 25 points after three quarters, but he did not score for the first 10 minutes of the fourth. That's when Fisher took over, hitting four out of five Lakers baskets to help them reclaim the home-court advantage they lost when the Celtics won Game 2 in L.A.

"Derek Fisher was the difference in the game," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "He's just a gutty, gritty player and he gutted the game out for them. I thought Kobe was struggling a little bit, and Fisher — he basically took the game over. ... I don't know what he had in the fourth quarter ... but most of them were down the stretch."

Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum had 10 rebounds apiece for Los Angeles.

Kevin Garnett, who had just six points in Boston's victory Sunday, had 25 in Game 3. But Allen, who had 32 points in Game 2, missed all 13 field goal attempts — one shy of the NBA finals futility record — many of them while Fisher was guarding him.

"It's a hell of a swing, I'll tell you that," Rivers said. "It's basketball. That's why you can't worry about it. He'll be back in the gym tomorrow and getting ready for the next game. ... It happens to the best of us."

The Celtics had high hopes after splitting the opening two games in Los Angeles, but the "Beat L.A.!" chants at the TD Garden couldn't help them overcome poor shooting.

And it couldn't stop Fisher.

Fisher, 34, came into the league with Bryant in 1996 and has a history of clutch shots, from the heave with 0.4 seconds left to beat San Antonio in the 2004 playoffs to the late jumpers in a series-swinging victory over Orlando in Game 4 of last year's finals. The Lakers went on to beat the Magic in five games, earning their 15th NBA title — second only to Boston's 17.

"I think as you grow in this game and you put in the work that's required to still be around 14 years later, you start to recognize that being in this moment, on this stage, it's not a given. It's not something that happens every season," Fisher said. "Five or 10 years from now, when I'm long gone, I would have hated to feel like I didn't just do everything I could have to help my team. Things have worked out well, and we have two more wins to get to really put a nice cap on it."

The Lakers opened a 37-20 first-half lead, but Boston cut the deficit to four late in the third quarter and then made it 68-67 early in the fourth on consecutive drives by Glen "Big Baby" Davis and Rajon Rondo. With a chance to take the lead, Allen was called for an offensive foul away from the ball.

Fisher then scored four of the Lakers' next five baskets to give them a five-point lead with about 4 1/2 minutes left. He scored another with 49 seconds left before being flattened by Davis, among others, and adding the free throw to make it a three-possession game.

"He saw the opening and went and made a very bold play. ... It was imperative that it goes in for us to win," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "When he's got an opportunity to hit a key shot, it seems like he's always there and ready."

Allen missed all eight 3-pointers, all five 2-pointers and got to the line just twice. He was spared of matching the worst shooting performance in NBA finals history when Garnett was called for an offensive foul away from the ball in the final minute while Allen clanged another shot off the rim.

"We obviously didn't expect him to go 0 for 13, but it's a tough gig for him to run around offensively the way he has to and then have to guard Kobe on the other end," Fisher said. "I mean, that takes anybody's legs out. It takes my legs out chasing him. So there are going to be nights maybe when his legs aren't there because he's having to work so hard on both ends, but we won't see 0 for 13 on Thursday night, that's for sure."

NOTES: Boston missed half of its 12 free throws in the first half and was 2 for 12 from 3-point range at the break. ... Baltimore's Chick Reiser missed all 14 shots in a 1948 finals game against Philadelphia, and Dennis Johnson was 0 for 14 for Seattle against Washington in 1978. ... Rondo, who had a triple-double in Game 3, finished with 11 points, eight assists and three rebounds.

NBA Finals 2010: Ray Allen led Boston Celtics to a 103 -94 win over LA

2010-06-09T22:00:00.000+08:00

Ray Allen led the Boston Celtics to a 103-94 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 2 of the NBA Finals; the series is now tied 1-1. Now, the Celtics will go back to Boston for the next three games against the Lakers. Allen was on fire in the first half of the game going 7-8 from the three point line. He ended up with 32 points on 11-20 shooting from the field. Rajon Rondo had a tremendous game as he put up a triple double of 19 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists with only 3 turnovers. Pau Gasol had another great game for the Lakers with 25 points, 8 rebounds and 6 blocks. Andrew Bynum put in 21 points along with 6 rebounds and 6 blocks. Kobe Bryant had a quiet game for his standards with 21 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists.

Boston did a much better job on the boards in Game 2 as they outrebounded the Lakers by 5. They got a great game from both Rondo and Allen, but will need Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to step up if they want to win a few more games. Pierce only had 12 points while Garnett only had 6 points and 4 rebounds. Pierce needs to get going offensively because the Celtics cannot expect Allen to have another night where he goes 8-11 from the three point line. Garnett does not need to score a lot of points, but he does need to get more rebounds and at least score in the double digits to make Gasol work on defense. Boston also needs to do a better job of getting to the free throw line. The Celtics only had 26 free throw attempts compared to the Lakers' 41. Although some of the discrepancy in free throw attempts can be attributed to the game being in Los Angeles, it does not change the fact that the Celtics need to attack the rim more. If Pierce can get going on offense, he will be able to attack the rim and get to the free throw line while also maybe getting the Lakers' front court in free throw trouble.

The Lakers' big men continued to bruise the Celtics' frontline as both Gasol and Bynum had great games. Boston needs to figure out a way to at least keep one of the big guys in check. Although the Lakers lost, they have to be happy about Bynum's performance. There have been many questions circling around Bynum and whether he will be able to perform on the court. In Game 2, he answered any questions about whether he can make a positive impact. One problem the Lakers had in Game 2 was their bench which scored a total of 15 points. Nobody expects the Lakers to get too many points from the bench, especially when the starters play so many minutes. However, Lamar Odom is the one player that should be scoring more than 3 points, even in limited time. Odom can be an X-Factor coming off the bench as there is nobody on the Celtics that can really match up well with him.

This was a good win for the Celtics as they now go back to Boston with the series tied. However, Pierce and Garnett need to get something going in this series. They should not expect Allen to score 32 points on a regular basis and it is also unlikely that Bryant will only score 21 points for the Lakers. Game 2 was much better than Game 1, not only because the Celtics won, but it was a close and exciting game.

Tougher Lakers beat Boston 102-89 in finals opener

2010-06-04T21:45:00.000+08:00

Ron Artest proved it in his opening-minute scuffle with Paul Pierce, tumbling to the ground with a vise grip on the Celtics star’s elbow.

Kobe Bryant emphasized it one last time with a rub-it-in 3-pointer in the waning seconds of an NBA finals opener that was already a rout.

These aren’t the same Los Angeles Lakers who got pushed around by their biggest rivals on the NBA’s biggest stage two years ago. They’re rougher and tougher—and surprisingly willing to play the Boston Celtics’ bad-tempered game.

Bryant scored 30 points, Pau Gasol had 23 points and 14 rebounds, and the defending champion Lakers did a remarkable job of the dirty work in a 102-89 victory over Boston in Game 1 on Thursday night.

Artest scored 15 points after his tangle with Pierce in the opening minute of the 12th finals meeting between the NBA’s most decorated franchises. Artest and Pierce backed into each other with their elbows locked while battling for rebounding position. Both got technical fouls after they crashed to the court and got up ready to rumble.

“That’s not a tone that we want to set,” Artest claimed. “I was a little emotional, and I had a little bit of anxiety at that point, and I was fired up.”

Yet other Lakers were grateful for the tone, and they weren’t surprised Artest set it. The Lakers’ defensive stopper is their only new player this season, and he quickly showed Pierce—the 2008 finals MVP—that trophies won’t be quite so easy to earn against the Lakers this time.

“I knew it was going to be physical. That’s a given,” Gasol said. “After consecutive finals, we understand the nature of the game. We understand who our rival is, how they play. You’ve got to compete, and you’ve got to match that physicality, that aspect of the game to be successful.”

The Lakers overwhelmed the Celtics in the third quarter, taking a 20-point lead with sturdy defense and a quick-strike offense. Los Angeles outrebounded the Celtics 42-31, outscored them in the paint 48-30 and put up a lofty shooting percentage until a fourth-quarter slump.

Bryant added seven rebounds and six assists to his 12th 30-point game of the postseason. Andrew Bynum( scored 10 points on his injured right knee as the Lakers improved to 9-0 at home in the playoffs, with 12 straight postseason home wins dating to last year’s championship run—and not many were more physical than this one.

Pierce scored 24 points and Kevin Garnett added 16 after a slow start for the Celtics, who might not want to know Lakers coach Phil Jackson’s teams in Los Angeles and Chicago have won 47 straight playoff series after winning Game 1.

The Celtics were frustrated after giving up 100 points for just the second time in their last 10 games.

“They were the more physical team by far,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “They were more aggressive. They attacked us the entire night. I didn’t think we handled it very well.”

Game 2 is Sunday night at Staples Center.

While the Lakers played to their strengths, the Celtics’ ostensible advantages—toughness, defense and veteran savvy—weren’t so much in evidence. Rajon Rondo had 13 points—just three in the second half—and eight assists for Boston, which went 1 for 10 on 3-pointers.

“You can’t ease into the game, especially in the finals,” Pierce said. “That’s one of the better rebounding teams in the NBA. We’ve just got to do a better job rebounding the ball, eliminating easy opportunities. When I look up and we’ve given up 100 points, I haven’t seen that in a while.”

Ray Allen scored 12 points in just 27 minutes, saddled with constant foul trouble while trying to guard Bryant. Pierce also picked up early fouls, while Garnett simply struggled, going 7 for 16 from the field and grabbing just four rebounds—even inexplicably missing an open layup with 5 1/2 minutes to play.

That’s mostly because of Gasol, the Spanish 7-footer determined to assert himself after admittedly getting pushed around by Garnett two years ago. Gasol capped a strong game by sprinting downcourt and catching a long pass in stride for a dunk with 6:21 to play.

“Pau played a big game tonight,” Jackson said. “I thought they did a good job on him in the post, but his movement and his activity was important.”

After Artest and Pierce got wrapped up, the mood didn’t improve much in a game featuring 54 fouls. Yet the Lakers’ aggressiveness was reflected in 10 free throws apiece for Bryant and Gasol, who made 16 of them, along with steady guard penetration from Bryant, Derek Fisher and backups Jordan Farmar and Shannon Brown.

Bryant also praised the defensive effort of Artest, whose block on Glen Davis triggered the fast break that led to Gasol’s dynamic dunk.

“I think he does a great job for us of setting the tone defensively with his intensity and with his energy,” said Bryant, who greeted Artest with a hug after that block. “I was just letting him know it was well appreciated.”

NOTES: An entertaining jump ball occurred midway through the second quarter when 5-9 Nate Robinson(notes) tied up the 7-foot Gasol. The Spaniard won the tip. … Celtics C Kendrick Perkins didn’t get his seventh technical foul of the postseason, which would have resulted in an automatic one-game suspension, but technical-foul legend Rasheed Wallace got one for arguing late in the third quarter. … Fans near courtside included Jerry West, Leonardo DiCaprio, Charlize Theron, David Duchovny, Will Ferrell, boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., Terrell Owens, Steven Spielberg, Snoop Dogg, Mike Epps and Hilary Swank. Chris Rock, David Spade, Kevin James and Adam Sandler sat together at courtside to promote their “Grown Ups” movie, opening in three weeks.

NBA finals is Lakers-Celtics, Part 12

2010-05-30T15:34:00.004+08:00

Here comes Kobe Bryant’s chance against the team that beat him two years ago.
He’s far from the only Lakers great to fall short against Boston.
Get ready for Lakers-Celtics, Part 12, the league’s most storied franchises renewing their rivalry in the NBA finals.
Boston beat Los Angeles in the 2008 finals, with a dominant defense that made life miserable for Bryant, that season’s MVP. When they meet again starting Thursday at Staples Center, the Lakers can show how much better they are since then.

“We’ll see, we’ll see how much we matured,” Bryant said. “They challenged us extremely well in the finals a couple years ago. Now is a chance to see how much we’ve grown.”
Los Angeles will be going for its second straight title and No. 16 overall. The Celtics still have the edge, hanging their 17th banner with their victory two years ago in six games.
“We remember more than anything losing on our home court, a situation where we had some defensive lapses and they took advantage of it,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. “This year we have homecourt advantage, and we look forward to the rematch with great intensity.”
The Celtics improved to 9-2 in the finals against the Lakers, having dominated the series for decades even against the likes of Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor until Los Angeles won twice in the 1980s.
That was back when a Lakers-Celtics finals was expected. Nobody predicted this one.
While the Lakers were the best of the West all season, the Celtics stumbled over the second half and were only a No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference.
But they’re rediscovered the defense that contained Bryant two years ago, and after eliminating Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, now they get another shot at the Lakers star.
The Celtics limited Bryant to 25.7 points per game in the finals—he had averaged 31.9 through the first three rounds—and 40 percent shooting. Bryant would say: “They definitely were the best defense I’ve seen in the entire playoffs.”
This one is pretty good, too.
The Celtics knocked off James and Cleveland, which had the league’s best record, in the second round, then upset Orlando, last season’s Eastern Conference champion. The Big Three of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett ) and Ray Allen is still going strong, but point guard Rajon Rondo has perhaps been their best player in the postseason.
That sets up a potential ratings winner for the league, with Bryant’s popularity and the Lakers-Celtics history sure to attract plenty of viewers.
The defending champion Lakers are making their third straight finals appearance, best since they won three in a row from 2000-02. Bryant was the sidekick to Shaquille O’Neal on those teams, but the ’08 finals was his first chance to win one alone.
It went horribly, but the Lakers think this time can be different, since they have the home-court advantage.
“Losing that game on our home court, we felt like was really the turning point,” guard Derek Fisher said. “We’re looking forward to getting this thing started on Thursday night.”
Bryant made the go-ahead basket with 7.3 seconds left to beat the Celtics 90-89 on Jan 31. Boston won the rematch in February, but Bryant sat out that game with a sprained left ankle.
The Lakers will host the first two games before the series shifts to Boston for the next three, if necessary. Both teams will be well-rested—the Celtics clinched their 21st trip by finishing off Orlando on Friday, while the Lakers are making their league-best 31st appearance after wrapping up their series against Phoenix in six games Saturday.

Celebrity winners and losers in May 2010 polls, Who rocked,,,who flopped?

2010-05-11T21:37:00.001+08:00

More than a hundred celebrities tried their luck in the recently concluded May 10 elections, but whose stars shone on the ballots?
Here are some of the celebrities who are leading their respective races in the counting of votes based on the unofficial tally of GMA Network, based on 85 per cent of election returns nationwide that have been transmitted to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Senators Ramon “Bong" Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada, and former senator Tito Sotto are almost sure of regaining their seats in the Senate. Their colleague Lito Lapid, however, is still hanging precariously to the 11th spot in the tally.
‘Star for All Seasons’ Vilma Santos is likewise set to be re-elected as governor of the province of Batangas, while Emilio Ejercito, more popularly known as George Estregan Jr., is likely to be elected as governor of Laguna province.
Also leading the race for Bulacan vice governor is Daniel Fernando, who was almost disqualified by the Comelec for using his screen name instead of his real name.
Almost certainly, Sarangani’s lone district will have for its Congressional representative Pinoy boxing icon Manny Pacquiao. TV host Lucy Torres-Gomez, who replaced her husband Richard Gomez in his electoral bid, is also slated to be the next representative of Leyte’s 4th district.
Bong Revilla’s wife Lani Mercado-Revilla is ahead of her rivals in the Congressional race for Cavite’s second district.
Actor Dan Fernandez’s bid for re-election as Laguna’s first district representative has also prospered, even as he was ousted by the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) due to residency issues. The Supreme Court later reversed the HRET decision.
Former child star Herbert Bautista has been proclaimed as Quezon City mayor, given his wide lead. Alfred Vargas, Roderick Paulate, and Precious Hipolito also garnered enough votes to win seats in the city council.
In Manila, Isko Moreno is assured of re-election as vice mayor, along with city councilors Lou Veloso and Robert Ortega.
Marjorie Barretto and Roselle Nava are likewise leading in the counting of votes for councilor in the cities of Caloocan and Parañaque, respectively.
In a GMA News Research report, 16 out of the 109 celebrities who ran in the May 10 elections were eyeing national positions.
Falling stars
The candidacy of so many showbiz stars have indeed dazzled the first ever automated polls, but for the more unfortunate celebrities, their future in politics seems bleak as seen in the initial results of the counting of votes.
A far second in the presidential race is long-time action star and former President Joseph Estrada, who is trailing front runner Sen. Noynoy Aquino.
In the vice presidential derby, popular television host Edu Manzano is currently in fourth place.
In Bohol, action star Cesar Montano is trailing two other candidates in the gubernatorial race while Rommel Padilla meanwhile is at second place in the vice gubernatorial race for Nueva Ecija.
Aiko Melendez failed to secure the vice mayoral position of Quezon City while in Parañaque, comedians Joey Marquez and Anjo Yllana are facing imminent defeat in the electoral races for mayor and vice mayor, respectively.
Tito Varela and Jestoni Alarcon are also unlikely to clinch Congressional posts for Caloocan City and for the second district of Rizal Province, respectively. – Fidel R. Jimenez and Jerrie Abella/YA, GMANews.TV

Manny inks deal to fight Mayweather

2009-12-10T18:43:00.002+08:00

Manny Pacquiao has officially signed on to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. in what could be the biggest and richest fight in boxing history, the Filipino ring icon’s trainer said today.

Speaking to 8CountNews, Freddie Roach confirmed that his ward has indeed placed his signature on the fight contract, adding that the bout will be held on March 13.

“March 13th is the date, that's not going to change,” he told 8CountNews.

The multi-awarded trainer said that with Pacquiao inking the deal, it is now up to Mayweather to complete his end the deal.

“Well anything is possible with Floyd Mayweather involved, but we signed our contract and that's all I care about. There is nothing that I can do about the other guy. I don't know if they officially signed, but we have,” Roach said.

The bespectacled trainer added that among the things that the Pacquiao camp has agreed on were the glove size to be used and the weight class on which the fight would be held. He, however, did not provide further details.

“Everything looks good. We have agreed on the glove size, and the weight. I talked to (Pacquiao’s promoter Bob) Arum, Dallas wants the fight, MGM wants the fight, Yankee Stadium wants the fight, so it's just trying to find out where the venue is. The fight looks good,” Roach said.

And with the fight now closer to being finalized, how does Roach see Pacquiao matching up against Mayweather?

“It's a difficult fight, it's the most difficult style for us to go against because he (Mayweather) is a runner and a counter-puncher. We will go to camp and we will make some changes, we will set traps for this guy. This is completely opposite of the (Miguel) Cotto fight, opposite of the (Ricky) Hatton fight, and opposite from the (Oscar) De La Hoya fight. We will come up with a new game plan, a 10-week camp, and some changes. We will work on setting traps and taking Floyd's speed away from him,” he explained.

A Pacquiao-Mayweather bout would pit two of the best pound-for-pound fighters in their primes. It is expected to shatter existing pay-per-view records, with both fighters having proven themselves to be mammoth box-office draws.

A Poem from Joey de Leon

2009-08-14T21:16:00.001+08:00

The funeral cortege of former Pres. Cory Aquino: My tears came naturally

Wala na sa piling ng mga Pilipino,
Tinig ng awiting Mga Kababayan Ko,
At lumisan na rin noong isang Sabado,
Inang nagpalipad sa awiting Bayan Ko.
Ako'y sumasaludo, paalam Pangulo,
May isa 'kong lihim, kay tagal itinago,
Sa lahat nang inabot kong mga namuno,
Tanging ikaw lang sa luha ko'y nagpatulo.

Marami ang nalungkot sa iyong pagyao,
Magalang ang lahat at puno ng respeto,
Nagpasalamat pa nga Kapamilya sa 'yo,
Dahil kanilang himpilan naibalik mo.

Subalit ano itong nabalitaan ko?
Nangyari noong Lunes, a-tres ng Agosto,
Habang inililipat ang mga labi mo,
Ika'y parang nabastos sa isang TV show.

At ang napakasaklap at masakit dito,
Ang nambastos pa'y kapamilya ng anak mo,
Napanood ito ng tao at publiko,
Kakaunti na nga, ngunit lahat nahilo.
Sabi ng TV host na mainit ang ulo
Pagkakita sa video na kanyang kasalo,
"Sandali, meron akong ano... sa'ting ano...
Hindi naman sa ano," nagkaanu-ano!
Ayon sa Internet, meron pa s'yang nasambit,
"Sana pakitanggal muna 'yan sa'ting traffic..."
At 'di maaalis sa iyong pag-iisip,
Ang parada ng patay ang pinaliligpit!
At dagdag pa daw ng naghahari-harian,
"I don't think na dapat n'yong ipakita iyan..."
Nasaan naman ang paggalang, o nasaan?
Mga sinasabi natin minsa'y pag-ingatan.

At 'di pa nangimi nang sumunod na araw,
Pinilit pa ring ginawa n'ya ay tama raw,
Mga nakarinig 'di na nakagalaw
At ayon sa iba sila na la'y napa-wow!

"... Pero ako, totoo 'ko eh ... ", sabi kuno,
Totoo nga at totoo ring walang modo,
Pwede namang sabihin itong pa-sikreto,
Kaya't wala na rin mga paliwanag mo.

"Kung ganyan, pakita na lang 'yan!", ang hamon pa,
Para bang ang prusisyon nila-"lang - lang" lang ba,
Ang pangasiwaan ay pinapili pa n'ya,
Sumunod ang himpilan, nung August 5 wala s'ya.

May mga komentong pwede nang pang-harapan,
"On camera" baga sa TV ang tawag d'yan
At kung sensitibo man ang gustong bitawan,
Pagpasok ng commercial, hintayin mo na lang.

Matutong magbaba muna ng mikropono
At saka idikta lahat ng iyong gusto,
Lagi kang mataas lahat daw takot sa 'yo,
Ratings lang ang mababa — totoo ba ito?

The breaking news breaks your heart — at 'yan ang bawi mo,
Nang mahalata mong sumablay ang pasok mo,
Pero sigurado ika'y maa-abswelto,
'Di ba ikaw rin ang may-ari ng network n'yo?
Nung Hueves nag-apologize sa diario naman,
O, akala ko ba wala kang kasalanan,
Tapos ng angalan, sunod paliwanagan —
COMPLAIN before you EXPLAIN ka na naman!
O ito kaya ay isa na namang "glitch" lang,
Tulad ng "two-zero" 'di na natin nalaman,
O ito ay maliwanag na kabobohan?
Sa tingin ng marami, mahirap lusutan.

Ang sabi ng iba — istupidong mayabang,
At giit ng iba — istupidong mayaman,
Mayaman man o mayabang ang tiyak diyan,
Napakayaman n'ya sa kaistupiduhan.

Buti pa ang apat na honor guards ni Cory —
Sina Malab, Laguindan, Rodriguez, Cadiente,
Walong oras tumayo sa ulan at viaje,
Ang lahat ay tiniis at walang sinabi.

Samantalang ikaw na may bubong sa ulo,
Komportable ka lang sa malamig na studio,
Nang kapirasong libing sa TV sumalo,
Angal at inis ang sumambulat sa iyo.

Maaari din namang pabayaan na s'ya,
Subalit ang nangyari'y mabigat talaga,
Namayapang pangulo'y huling paalam na,
'Di mo pa pinagbigyan ... hoy, nag-iisa ka!

At nais ko lang sabihin at ipagyabang
Sa mahigit na s'yam na libong tanghalian,
Sa limang pangulong sa Bulaga'y dumaan,
Kahit isa wala kaming nilapastangan.

Thousands line streets for Cory

2009-08-04T00:22:00.000+08:00

MANILA - An estimated crowd of 17,000 lined the whole length of Ayala Avenue in Makati City and thousands more viewed the funeral convoy of former President Corazon Aquino as she was brought to Manila Cathedral from La Salle Green Hills on Monday.

In scenes reminiscent of the 1986 People Power revolution that catapulted Aquino to the presidency, Makati employees threw confetti out of their office windows while the electronic ticker outside the Insular Life Building on Paseo de Roxas-Ayala Avenue flashed pictures of Aquino and the words "Paalam, Cory."

Footage taken by ABS-CBN's Sky Patrol showed the crowds flashing the "L" for Laban sign, which was popularized during Aquino's presidential campaign in 1986. Others clapped and cheered as Aquino's funeral convoy pulled in close near the Benigno Aquino monument on Ayala Avenue corner Paseo de Roxas.

Escorted by around 50 policemen, Aquino's funeral convoy left De La Salle Greenhills Gym in Mandaluyong City around 11 a.m. enroute to the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros Monday.
Aquino's coffin was loaded on a flatbed trailer, which was adorned with yellow and white flowers.

The presidential cortege passed through EDSA, then right on Ayala Avenue in Makati. It is expected to turn left on Buendia, then right on South Luzon Expressway. It will then turn left on President Quirino Avenue and right on Roxas Blvd., then finally right on Intramuros.

Supporters of the former president also showered the convoy with yellow confetti and released yellow balloons as it reached EDSA-Ayala Avenue.

Tarlac Bishop Florentino Sinese earlier celebrated Mass at the De La Salle Greenhills Gym before the convoy left.

In his homily, Sinese said Filipinos see in Cory "the best in each and everyone of us."
"The more we praise her, the more we reveal that we too desire to be like her. May these stories continue to be told and better still may these stories unfold forever," he said.

Sinese said critics of the former president often criticized her for always resorting to prayer in everything. "Prayer cannot be a last recourse but instead the first recourse in everything," he said.

"Certainly, Cory Aquino was not perfect but her imperfections were never an excuse not to govern and rule wisely. As we pay tribute to our beloved former president may we not only heap praises on a dead person but instead let her lfe and virtues challenge us to strive to do even better. We all dream to have a better country. She did her share. We also must do our own share," he said.

Sen. Mar Roxas, meanwhile, filed a resolution declaring January 25, the date of birth of former President Corazon Aquino, as “Cory Aquino Day.”

Imelda Marcos says she wants Aquino peace

2009-08-04T00:07:00.001+08:00

Former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos said Monday she wants a reconciliation with the family of former leader Corazon Aquino, whose "People Power" revolution forced Marcos' husband from office.

Aquino, whose husband was Ferdinand Marcos' arch-enemy and was assassinated by his forces after returning home from exile in 1983, died at the weekend following a more than year-long battle with cancer.

"I can feel the pain, the loss of a loved one, so I am in prayer. If these two families reconciled, there will be a miracle for the Philippines," Marcos said on local television.

The Aquino family earlier said members of the Marcos family could attend the wake for the former president, who died Saturday at the age of 76, but should not expect a warm welcome.

Marcos' comments came after the youngest of Aquino's children, Kristina Bernadette Aquino, thanked Marcos for offering Sunday prayers for her mother.

"I never thought the time would come (that I would say this), but thank you to the Marcoses for really praying for Mom," Aquino said.

Marcos' aides have said the former first lady or her children may attend Aquino's wake later Monday, although there were no concrete plans.

Aquino led a popular revolution that toppled Ferdinand Marcos's brutal 20-year regime. The Marcos family was forced into exile in Hawaii, where the former dictator died in 1989.
Imelda and her children were subsequently allowed by Aquino to return home, although no member of the Marcos family has been prosecuted.

The Marcoses are alleged to have plundered the government coffers of up to 10 billion dollars from the national treasury.

In an interview with AFP when she turned 80 last month, Marcos said she bore no anger towards Aquino, and offered prayers for her swift recovery.

Marcos is known worldwide for her 3,000 pairs of shoes that symbolised her opulent and excessive lifestyle.

She has also said she felt vindicated that courts have not convicted her of any crime 23 years after they were deposed from power.

Cory children not keen on GMA visit

2009-08-03T23:58:00.002+08:00

President Arroyo can visit the wake of former President Corazon Aquino if she wants, but the Aquino children have made it known that they are not looking forward to it.

Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and television host Kris Aquino-Yap said they were not keen on seeing Mrs. Arroyo at their mother’s wake or funeral which is set on Wednesday.
President Arroyo cut short her US trip reportedly to attend the necrological services for Mrs. Aquino.

But Noynoy said the family would respect President Arroyo’s decision to go to his mother’s wake.

He said that in their younger years, his parents taught him and his siblings to be polite and respectful to elders.

“May kalayaan naman po siyang dumalaw. At tayo po’y nung batang bata pa’y talagang parating inuulit ng ating ama at ng ating ina yung katagang di gawain ng edukadong tao ‘yong pambabastos (She has the freedom to visit. My parents have always inculcated in us since we were very young that as educated individuals, we should not be rude),” Noynoy replied when asked by GMA-7’s Jessica Soho in an interview Saturday night if President Arroyo was welcome at the wake.

Noynoy said he would be polite toward Mrs. Arroyo if she comes to the wake and prays for his mother, but not to the point of being eager to see the President.

“Kung pupunta ho dito, kung gusto ho niyang magdasal, siguro ho eh thank you na rin ho (If she will come here and wants to pray, she’s welcome and well, thank you) Pero yung point naman na I’m looking forward to it, I’m not,” Noynoy admitted.

In separate interviews with reporters, Noynoy also said the family would welcome the President “if she shows up.”

“But an enthusiastic welcome is, I think, a bit too much to ask for,” he said.
He said his lack of enthusiasm had to do with the many unresolved issues of the Arroyo administration.

“(We) have all these issues that remain unresolved, starting with ‘Hello, Garci,’ NBN-ZTE, the fertilizer scam. I don’t want to go through the list, which is quite extensive,” he said.

Mrs. Aquino herself had a falling out with President Arroyo and repeatedly demanded that she step down after her administration had been accused of being involved in a string of scandals involving massive corruption and election fraud.

Until March last year, when Mrs. Aquino withdrew from public life after being diagnosed with colon cancer, she had been active in street protests denouncing widespread government corruption.

Apart from the corruption issues against the Arroyo administration, Noynoy has also been vocal in criticizing President Arroyo over her decision to pardon the killers of his father, former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.

Noynoy has criticized Mrs. Arroyo for her double-talk – “consistently” admiring Ninoy’s heroism but at the same time allowing the release of 13 of the 15 convicted murderers of his father.

“Through the years, Mrs. Arroyo has praised my father consistently. How does one reconcile her words of praise for my father as a champion of democracy and a victim of injustice with her action of freeing those who carried out the injustice? Is this the way to show reverence to a person she claims to admire and whom she wanted to emulate on the 25th year of his martyrdom? One day even this wrong will be righted,” Noynoy said in a statement last year when the family marked the 25th death anniversary of Ninoy.

Youngest daughter Kris, in an emotional interview with Boy Abunda in the afternoon show “The Buzz” aired from the La Salle Greenhills gym, said she was hurt when the government ordered the members of her mother’s security detail to return to their mother units, ostensibly “for accounting purposes.” All former presidents are accorded security details.

She said the escorts, Mel and Cris, always accompanied their mother to the hospital when she went for her check-ups, and when she had surgery. They were like family, and Kris revealed that Mrs. Aquino had even asked her eldest daughter Ballsy to make sure to take care of Mel and Cris when she was gone.

“A little respect. Don’t take away the security blanket of my mom. It really hurt me. Pag may impluwensya ka, pahirapan mo kalaban mo (When you’re I power, you make life difficult for your enemies),” she said.

Kris added that she decided to be the one to speak out about this so that her brother Noynoy would not have to bring this up, adding she has no political plans whatsoever.

Kris also said their family decided not to have state honors for their mother, saying all the honors have come from the people, so honors from Malacañang were unnecessary.

She also recounted an incident when a Palace official, who had remained friends with the faily, offered a state funeral for her mother and lying-in-state in Malacañang. The official told them that the Palace faces a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don’t situation, since not offering state honors would be bad, and offering it but being rejected would also be bad.

Kris said she was very emotional when she told the official it was not her problem anymore, and her only concern was her mother

JPE no plans yet to go to wake

Meanwhile, a staff member of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said there are no clear plans yet if he will attend Aquino’s wake or funeral.

Enrile was tagged in a number of coup attempts against the Aquino government.

Enrile’s office, however, issued a statement on Mrs. Aquino’s death.

“On behalf of the Philippine Senate and the members of my family, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy and condolences to the bereaved children of former President Corazon Aquino, especially to my colleague, Sen. Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III,” the Senate president said.
Enrile said the demise of President Aquino is not only a loss to her loved ones, but is also an immense loss to the entire nation.

“President Aquino’s contribution to the well-being of the country cannot be measured by mere words, structures and monuments for she has done much, much more. She played a key role in this nation’s struggle for freedom, and she has done noble service in the restoration of democracy in our society,” Enrile said.

“Although, by a twist of fate, we have had differences and disagreements in politics, I have always held President Aquino in high regard and great respect as a worthy leader of our people,” said Enrile, adding his family will continue to pray for her.

“As a Filipino, and as a former member of her Cabinet, I believe the nation owes her much, having sacrificed her life in the service of our people. She thus truly deserves the prayers, respect, admiration and appreciation of the Filipino people,” Enrile said.

Kris recounts last moments with her dying mother President Aquino at hospital

2009-08-03T23:38:00.003+08:00

Grief-stricken Kris Aquino, youngest daughter of former President Corazon Aquino, recounted Sunday the family's final days with her mother as she battled colon cancer at the Makati Medical Center, detailing significant moments from June 25 to the early morning of Aug. 1 when she died.

Her voice cracking and tears flowing, Kris recalled during the TV program ''The Buzz'', which was broadcast live from the De La Salle Greenhills gymnasium, how she and her siblings decided to spend time with their dying mother at the hospital.

Kris had earlier taken a leave of absence from her TV-hosting job at ABS-CBN to enable her to be with her ailing mother. Kris recalled that July 8 evokes the most painful memory because it was the first time her mom broke down in pain.

''It's so hard to see your mother cry and yet you can't do anything. She even told me that she wanted to go home, which means she already wants to join God,'' Kris said.

She said that she tried her best not to cry in front of her mother and went inside the bathroom where she poured out her emotions.

On July 18, her elder sister, Pinky, told Kris to go home and stay with her husband James because he was about to leave for Taiwan to be with the Philippine basketball team, but Kris decided to stay with her mother until her last breath.

July 22: Her mother's pain became worse. Doctors inserted a catheter. When asked what she wanted, Mrs. Aquino reportedly answered, ''Family''.Kris then called her siblings, and they promised to take care of each other, and that she will always be with her brother Noynoy (Senator Benigno Aquino III). They kept on praying, but then their mom pleaded them to stop it.

July 23: Kris signed the hospital papers that they have to stop giving life support to her mother because she already had a terminal case. She then prayed using her mom's rosary and asked God to give her the right decision and pleaded God to embrace her mom.

July 24: The family allowed their closest friends to visit her mother.

July 25: Her aunt, Tessie Aquino Oreta, told her that she dreamt of her brother Ninoy and told her to bring stargazer flowers to Mrs. Aquino, which she did.

July 27 to 29: Former President Joseph Estrada visited her mother. Although Estrada later told the press that he only managed to talk to Kris and Noynoy, Kris said that they allowed Estrada in her mother's room. She sincerely thanked him because she said that Estrada had quietly been good to her mom.

Kris said Estrada told the media that he was not allowed to see the former president in order not to put political color on the visit.

By July 30, Kris and her siblings told their mother how much they loved her and that they've already talked that they are ready to set her free.

''We told mom that we are so guilty that we're letting her suffer a lot. That is why we've decided that we'll let her join dad (Ninoy), and promised her that we will take care of each other,'' Kris recalled.

The day after, the former president told them that she saw her late husband who was offering her to come with him in the afterlife. Kris said it was the first time she saw her mom smile again.

On July 31, her mother's vital signs fluctuated wildly starting at 11 a.m. There's was a mass offered at 4 p.m., but Kris decided not to leave her mom.

At 2 a.m. on Aug. 1, her mother woke them up and they started praying the rosary.

After the reciting sorrowful mystery at 3:18 a.m., Mrs. Aquino drew her last breath.

Kris said she saw a sign that her mother was already resting in peace when the Heritage staff put Stargazers flowers over her mother's casket. It was the time she celebrated her mom's life in heaven and vowed that she will continue her mother's faith and devotion to Mama Mary.

She likewise recalled that a top official offered them to hold the wake in Malacañang, but she refused, saying ''Now she's dead, you want to give her honor, but when she was still alive, you want her powerless.

''That person whom Kris did not name also said that they had to remove her mother's security details she identified as Mel and Cris allegedly for accounting purposes. She said the security details took care of her mother when she became a private citizen.

Kris also thanked the Marcoses for praying for her mother, saying she felt the sincerity of their prayers.

Saguisag says Cory unites Pinoys again...It's like 1986 again.

2009-08-01T23:44:00.004+08:00

MANILA - Through her death, former President Corazon Aquino has reunited the Filipino people once again, the late president's former spokesperson said Saturday.

"I think today, the Fillipino nation is again united the way it was in 1986. Ninety-nine percent are very admiring, sympathetic and grateful for what she and Ninoy have done for us," human rights lawyer Rene Saguisag, Mrs. Aquino's former presidential spokesman and legal adviser, told radio dzMM in an interview.

Saguisag said he had mixed feelings of pain and relief when he learned about Mrs. Aquino's death.

“Of course it’s painful, but at the same time, relieved that she is now beyond all pain,” he said.

He said the last time he saw the former president was in early 2008 when he was recuperating from the injuries from a car accident that killed his wife.

"Mahigit isang oras na consoling me, comforting me. That was early 2008," Saguisag said.
He remembers Mrs. Aquino as how she is perceived by all Filipinos--a true symbol of democracy. He said Mrs. Aquino did not only restore democracy in the country, she practiced it during her administration from 1986 until 1992.

Saguisag was one of the many opposition figures who convinced Mrs. Aquino to run for president against Marcos. He served as Mrs. Aquino's campaign spokesman and was eventually appointed presidential spokesman and legal adviser.

He said it was also Mrs. Aquino who convinced him, through his late wife, to run for senator in 1987.

"Ayaw ko rin namang pasukan iyon, pinatawag ang asawa ko. They had a very tearful session in the guest house," Saguisag said.

Saguisag said that from 1987 to 1992, Mrs. Aquino practiced what she preached.

For more news on Cory, log on to http://coryaquino.abs-cbnnews.com

Goodbye Tita Cory

2009-08-01T23:38:00.000+08:00

The Aquino family has opted for a private funeral for the late Corazon Aquino instead of a state funeral given to former presidents, according to Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.
Aquino said this was because his mother had chosen to be a private citizen when she finished her term in 1992, years after she was installed as the first woman president during the People Power revolution.
The democracy icon succumbed to colon cancer 3:18 am, August 1.
“We want to spend as much time as possible as a family,” said Aquino, as he thanked the public for following their advisories that visitors were not allowed at the Heritage Memorial Park.
He added that a necrology service in Malacanang might not be possible.
“I’m not anticipating an offer, I’m not asking for an offer. There’s a point in time that we would want privacy,” he said.
A public viewing, however, has been scheduled at the La Salle Greenhills gym starting 5 pm Saturday until Monday morning. The former president will then be brought to Manila Cathedral for an overnight vigil, requiem masses and necrological services. Interment will be at the Manila Memorial Park on Wednesday, the Aquino family said.
Aquino said his mother will wear her signature yellow dress and will be buried beside her husband, former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, whose assassination sparked the first EDSA revolution.
Fighting back tears during the press conference, Aquino said his sisters have been very emotional, but the death of their mother brought them closer.
“We draw strength from the five of us,” the senator said in a press conference Saturday.
He said he last talked to his mother days ago, before doctors gave the former president morphine to ease her pain.
“We were told to say everything we want to say because after the morphine she will be sleeping all the time,” he said.
He related that instead of complaining about her illness, the former president would first think about her children’s welfare or check what was on the news.
“Nung first time ko magbantay, she would ask me kung kumain na ako. Other times nagbabasa ako ng diyaryo itatanong niya ano laman niyan. She never demonstrated pain,” he said.

Enrile hits drug firm for 'bribe' offer

2009-07-14T20:56:00.000+08:00

MANILA - A pharmaceutical company offered to provide 5 million discount cards to the government to impede the enforcement of the Cheaper Medicines Law, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said Monday.

"To offer 5 million cards to the highest leader of the land at a time when we are discussing the enforcement of this law and the implementing rules and regulations is a very delicate matter," Enrile said at the Senate committee hearing on the Cheaper Medicines Act.

Drug manufacturer Pfizer Philippines reportedly offered 5 million "sulit cards" to the government to "provide cheaper medicines to the public," which Enrile said could be valued at P100 million or more, depending on the usage done by its recipients.

The offer, which was purportedly rejected by the government, was made as President Arroyo was set to issue a maximum retail price (MRP) for 22 most prescribed drugs in the country as a provision of the Cheaper Medicines Law (Republic Act 9502), which was passed in 2008.
Reiner Gloor, executive director of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP), however, made it clear that the offer was made to the Department of Health, and not to President Arroyo.

He denied it was a bribe offer, saying it was made even before the government was finalizing the guidelines for the MRP.

Still, Enrile said the offer is a bribe, regardless of who it is offered to.

"Even if it was offered to the Secretary of Health, it's the same thing. Even if it was offered to Sen. Roxas, still, it's the same carabao. [It was made] to prevent the enforcement of the cheap medicines law. That's the way it impresses me as a lawyer," he said.

Instead of offering discount cards to a selected number of people, Enrile said Pfizer could have just offered to lower their prices as a function of competition. This, he said, would cast less doubt on their intentions to stall the Cheaper Medicines Law.

"If they could afford to lose the value of that discount (around P100 million), how come it could not afford to lower the price of its medicinal products that are marketed in this society?" he said.
"Why only select 5 million people in this country, why not let the whole mass of 90 million Filipinos enjoy, not the benefits of charity but the benefit of market forces in this country?" Enrile added.

'Secret' meeting

Sen. Manuel Roxas II previously accused the government of setting a "secret meeting" with Pfizer and other drug companies early this month to postpone the enforcement of the standard MRP for 22 essential medicines.

A representative of Pfizer, however, has made it clear that it requested the meeting to express concerns about the implementation of the Cheaper Medicines Law, saying that a direct notice should have been given to pharmaceutical companies regarding the matter.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has already admitted that President Arroyo did meet with the said pharmeceutical companies, but denied that it was intended to stall the implementation of the MRP for selected drugs.

Philippines to witness solar eclipse on July 22

2009-07-10T18:32:00.002+08:00

The Philippines will witness a partial solar eclipse on July 22, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Thursday. The state weather bureau said the path of the moon's umbral shadow will begin in India and is expected to cross Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Central China, the Pacific Ocean, Ryukyu Island, Marshal Island and Kiribati. It said a partial eclipse will be witnessed in several parts of the Philippines including Metro Manila, Calayan Island, Laoag City, Tuguegarao City, Baguio City, Angeles City in Pampanga, Puerto Princesa in Palawan, Lucena City, Naga City, Iloilo, Cebu, Zamboanga, Sulu, Davao and General Santos City. PAGASA said the eclipse will start in Metro Manila at exactly 8:33:01 a.m. The eclipse's full visibility will be seen at 9:43 a.m. and will end at 11:01:51 a.m. Other areas in the globe that will witness partial solar eclipse are those in eastern Asia and the Pacific Ocean. The weather bureau, meanwhile, cautioned spectators to avoid directly looking at the eclipse without safety eye devices. It said people can cover their eyes with X-ray films, sun glasses, smoked glass and photographic films and negatives. It said the safest method to view the eclipse is by indirect viewing "like projecting the image with a pinhole camera."

Philippines warns Mayon volcano may erupt soon!

2009-07-10T18:27:00.002+08:00

Philippines authorities warned that Mayon, one of the country's most active volcanoes, is showing signs of life and could erupt again soon.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said it is raising the 2,460-metre (8,070-foot) mountain's alert status to "moderate unrest" from that of "low-level unrest."

Nearby residents were reminded not to venture into a "permanent danger zone" in a six-kilometre (nearly four mile) radius from the crater.

The zone was also extended to seven kilometres on its southeast flank, which faces Legazpi, a city of 160,000 people.

"This alert condition signifies a state of unrest which could lead to ash explosions or eventually to hazardous magmatic eruption," the institute said in its latest advisory.

The increased frequency of low-level volcanic quakes had pushed toward the crater lip "a cone-shaped pile of hot, steaming old rocks, possibly remnants from previous eruptions which could be the source of the glow at the crater," it added.

Seismologist Renato Solidum, the head of the government institute, said the immediate danger if volcanic activity escalates was of ash explosions that could affect aviation at Legazpi airport or crush roofs of nearby houses.

"Sudden explosions and rockfalls from the upper slopes" are also a threat, the advisory said.

Mayon has erupted 48 times since records began, most recently in 2006. A major eruption in 1814 buried the town of Cagsawa.

HELTERBRAND FIESTA BPC ANEW, FREEMAN BEST IMPORT

2009-07-05T11:37:00.001+08:00

Barangay Ginebra ace guard Jayjay Helterbrand captured the Best Player of the Conference (BPC) honors in the PBA reinforced tourney for the second straight year.

Helterbrand repeated as Fiesta Conference best player, winning the coveted award this season over Burger King's Arwind Santos, San Miguel's Dondon Hontiveros, Coca-Cola's Asi Taulava and Talk ‘N Text's Jimmy Alapag.

The 32-year-old Kentucky State-Lexington product was awarded his plaque by PBA Commissioner Sonny Barrios in a simple ceremony before Game Two of the Ginebra-San Miguel showdown for the Fiesta Conference championship.

The Best Import award went to San Miguel's Gabe Freeman who won it over Ginebra's David Noel, Burger King's Shawn Daniels and Rain or Shine's Jai Lewis.

"I'm happy to win this award but this would mean nothing if we don't win the championship. I'm sharing the honor with my teammates who also worked hard to help where we are right now," said Helterbrand, the first player in eight years to successfully defend a BPC award.

Helterbrand won the award last year over Santos, Mark Caguioa, and Kelly Williams.

Nelson Asaytono (in the 1997-98 All-Filipino Conferences) and Danny Ildefonso (2000-2001 Governors and Commissioner’s Cups) were the first two players to achieve the feat. Both gained the awards while with San Miguel Beer.

Ildefonso actually won five straight BPC awards leading to back-to-back MVP conquests in those years.

Helterbrand was the runaway winner in this BPC race, amassing 1357 points to Santos' 857, Hontiveros' 423, Taulava's 325 and Alapag's 316.

He leads all local players in scoring with a 17.7-point average and ranks second in assists behind Jimmy Alapag (6.3) with 5.2 per outing.

In a remarkable feat, he was Best Player of the Game in four of their last five won ballgames

Sister Company...Ready to clash in PBA Finals!

2009-06-29T23:46:00.000+08:00

MANILA, Philippines - Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer finished off Rain or Shine and Burger King in their respective semifinal playoffs last night to rekindle their sibling rivalry, arranging a duel for the Motolite PBA Fiesta Cup crown at the Araneta Coliseum last night.
The Kings dominated the Elasto Painters for a third straight game, hacking out a 108-100 win for a return stint in the second conference finale.

San Miguel is challenging its sister team for the championship as the Beermen eased out the Whoppers, 118-103, later in the night.

The Kings and the Beermen are engaged in the Last Dance for the fourth time in league history. The “Sister Act IV” starts Wednesday in the same venue.

“Anytime you get to the championship, you’re happy the time and effort you spent in all your preparations paid off. But it doesn’t stop there. You still have to try your best to win it all,” said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico.

“We’ll be up against San Miguel. We have to come out prepared each game or we’ll be in trouble,” Uichico added.

“It’s gonna be an exciting series. It’s something different from our battle with Burger King. The key is gonna be guys being from free from any injuries,” said San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen.
“People have been saying our players are talented. But talent doesn’t mean a thing if we don’t work together. Basketball is a game of five. I’m not saying lamang kami but I’m not also saying dehado kami,” Tanquingcen added.

The Beermen overpowered the Whoppers in the second half last night to gain a 29th finals entry.
Gabe Freeman dished out a double-double job with 26 points and 14 rebounds with Jonas Villanueva, Marc Pingris, Jay Washington and Danny Ildefonso each contributing at least 14 points as the Beermen bundled the Whoppers out in six games in their best-of-seven semis series.

David Noel and Ronald Tubid put in 23 points and 10 points each while Jayjay Helterbrand and Paul Artadi scored 17 apiece as the Kings finished off the Painters also in six games, gaining an 18th final appearance for a shot at a ninth championship in franchise history.

Rested Kings, Beermen open Final 4 drive

2009-06-18T00:22:00.000+08:00

The Final Four of the Motolite PBA Fiesta Cup gets going today at the Araneta Coliseum with a pair of best-of-seven matches pitting two of the league’s most popular teams that had the luxury of a long rest against virtual underdogs that had to take the hard route to get into the semis.
San Miguel Beer, which topped the classification phase in impressive fashion but had not seen action the last four weeks, finally plunges into the battle against Burger Machine, which is coming off a rousing 120-72 victory over Sta. Lucia Realty in their sudden death for the third semis berth last Sunday.
Gametime is at 5 p.m.
Barangay Ginebra, which made a big surge after a sputtering start to clinch the other outright semis seat, also tries to shrug off the ill effects of a long layoff against a fired-up Rain or Shine squad that outfoxed a fancied Purefoods side, 93-89, in the other rubber match, also last Sunday.
“We know we are the overwhelming underdogs. But that’s the way we like it. These guys have already over-achieved but I believe we’re not done yet. We’ll bring this as far as we can,” said BK coach Yeng Guiao.
SMB coach Siot Tanquingcen knows fully well of the pressure on the Beermen to show their competitive fire, stressing they need to re-display the form they showed in the elims to stay on track of their title drive.
“We have to come out with our A-game. Otherwise, we would be in trouble. We saw Sunday that Burger King is in top condition. They played like a well-oiled machine against Sta.Lucia,” said Tanquingcen.
During the long break, San Miguel and Ginebra had only one tune-up match against each other which the Beermen won.
“We had beaten Rain or Shine twice in the classification round but the semis is an entirely different game because this is now the playoffs,” said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico. “They have the advantage in the opener since they’re enjoying momentum coming from a win Sunday.”
But Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia said Ginebra is a tough team to beat although he remains upbeat of his wards’ chances against the crowd favorites in their 7:30 p.m. duel.
“Ginebra has the size and quickness that they can get lots of mismatches which make them a tough team to beat. But we are optimistic that if we don’t get too excited and be mentally focused, we have a chance,” said Garcia.
PBA experts and watchers, however, point to San Miguel and Ginebra as the overwhelming favorites in terms of manpower and perhaps crowd support.

Game 5: Bryant leads Lakers to 15th NBA title

2009-06-15T23:20:00.004+08:00

Kobe Bryant jumped and punched the air. He did it again, seven years of pent up frustration freed in a fit of joy.

This was the one he wanted more than all the others.

The one to top them all.

One year after failing miserably in the finals against Boston, Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers found redemption. They finished a season they felt was theirs with a 99-86 win over the Orlando Magic on Sunday night in Game 5 to win the 15th NBA title in franchise history.

For Bryant, this was the missing piece from his resume, his fourth championship and first without former teammate Shaquille O’Neal.

“I don’t have to hear that criticism, that idiotic criticism anymore,” said Bryant, the finals MVP. “It was annoying.”

For Lakers coach Phil Jackson, this was title No. 10, moving him past legendary Celtics coach Red Auerbach for the most by a coach in league history.
“I’ll smoke a cigar in honor of Red,” Jackson said. “He was a great guy.”
For Pau Gasol. For Derek Fisher. For Lamar Odom. For Trevor Ariza and for Andrew Bynum and the rest of the Lakers, this was a title to savor. “It’s a dream come true,” Gasol said. “The completion of a goal.”

Odom scored 17 points, Ariza had 15, Gasol 14 and 15 rebounds, and Fisher, whose two big 3s in Game 4 saved L.A., had 13 points.

It took longer than Bryant expected, but he has stepped from O’Neal’s enormous shadow—at last.

Bryant averaged 32.4 points, 7.4 assists, 5.6 rebounds and more than a dozen cold-blooded glares per game. He wasn’t out to make friends in these finals, he was out for redemption. Throughout the playoffs, he didn’t smile. He just snarled and bared his teeth.

“I was just completely locked in,” he said. “I was grumpy for a while and now I’m just ecstatic, like a kid in a candy store.”

O’Neal, who won three titles with Bryant before the pair had a major falling out, was glad to see his former teammate win another.

“Congratulations kobe, u deserve it,” O’Neal said on his Twitter page. “You played great. Enjoy it my man enjoy it.”

Bryant and Jackson, whose relationship strained and briefly snapped under the weight of success, are again at the top of their games.

Together.

Following the game, the pair shared a long embrace.
Jackson, who once called Bryant “a selfish player” now sees the 30-year-old in a far different light.

“He’s learned how to become a leader in a way in which people want to follow him,” Jackson said. “That’s really important for him to have learned that because he knew that he had to give to get back in return, and so he’s become a giver rather than just a guy that’s a demanding leader. That’s been great for him and great to watch.”

After the final horn, Bryant and his teammates bounced around the floor of Amway Arena. Moments later, Bryant swept his two daughters, both wearing gold Lakers dresses, into his arms.

It was just as he dreamed.

“It finally felt like a big old monkey was off my back,” he said. “It felt so good to be able to have this moment. For this moment to be here and to reflect back on the season and everything that you’ve been through, it’s top of the list, man.”
Bryant had come up short twice in the finals before, in 2004 with O’Neal against Detroit, and again last season against the Celtics in the renewal of the league’s best rivalry. The Lakers were beaten in six games, losing the finale in Boston by 39 points, a humiliating beatdown that Bryant and his teammates had trouble shaking.

They went to training camp with one goal in mind. This was going to be their season, and except for a few minor missteps, it was.

In the locker room afterward, Bryant made sure Jackson got a champagne shower.

“He took his glasses off, threw his head back and soaked it all in because this is a special time,” Bryant said. “For us to be the team that got him that historic 10th championship is special for us.”

Orlando will be haunted by moments in a series that swung on a few plays and had two overtime games.

After losing Game 1 by 25 points, the Magic had their chance in Game 2 but rookie Courtney Lee missed an alley-oop layup in the final second of regulation. In Game 4, Dwight Howard clanged two free throws with 11.1 seconds, and the Magic allowed Derek Fisher to nail a game-tying 3-pointer to force OT.

Howard, the Magic’s superhero center, was hardly a factor in Game 5. He scored 11 points and took just nine shots. Rashard Lewis scored 18 points, but was only 3 of 12 on 3s for Orlando, which after living on the 3, finally died by it.

The Magic went just 8 of 27 from long range.

When the game ended, Howard didn’t move. As his teammates headed to the locker room, Howard stayed on Orlando’s bench and watched as the Lakers celebrated on the Magic’s floor. Jameer Nelson, Orlando’s point guard who came back for the finals after missing four months with a shoulder injury, finally joined him.

The two sat stunned.

“What I just told Jameer is look at it, just see how they’re celebrating,” Howard said. “It should motivate us to want to get in the gym, want to get better.”
Orlando was trying to become the first team to overcome a 3-1 deficit in the finals. They had rallied to knock off Philadelphia and Boston, and then upset LeBron James and Cleveland in the conference finals. The Magic always felt they had a shot at history.

Bryant, though, wouldn’t be denied his place.

“They had an answer,” Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said, “for everything.”

Game 4: Fisher saves Lakers

2009-06-12T21:38:00.002+08:00

Kobe Bryant is one win from an NBA title to call his own.

Derek Fisher got him there.

Fisher forced overtime with a 3-pointer with 4.6 seconds left in regulation and then drilled another one with 31.3 seconds to go in overtime as the Los Angeles Lakers outlasted the Orlando Magic 99-91 in Game 4 on Thursday night to open a 3-1 lead in the NBA finals.

It was the first time since 1984, when Magic Johnson's Lakers and Larry Bird's Celtics hooked up, that two games in a finals have gone to overtime.

When the clock expired, Bryant, trying to win his first championship without Shaquille O'Neal, looked at Tiger Woods and wiped sweat from his brow in relief. Fisher, who has bailed out the Lakers in plenty of big games before, thrust both arms in the air in triumph.

The Lakers can wrap up their 15th title on Sunday night in Game 5.

Bryant finished with 32 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Trevor Ariza and Pau Gasol each had 16 for Los Angeles, which came back from a 12-point halftime deficit. Ariza had 13 of the Lakers' 30 points in the third quarter.

The Lakers are 7-0 following a loss in this postseason.

Unless they can force a Game 6, the Magic will remember this as another finals game that got away.

Dwight Howard was magnificent everywhere but at the free-throw line. Orlando's superman of a center had 16 points, 21 rebounds and a finals-record nine blocks. But he made just 6 of 14 foul shots, and it was his two crucial misses with 11.1 seconds to go in regulation that doomed the Magic.

First, Fisher, who has made a career of hitting memorable shots in clutch situations, pulled up and without hesitating dropped a 3-pointer over Orlando's Jameer Nelson with 4.6 seconds left to tie it 87-87. The shot stunned the Magic's maniacal crowd, which was hoping the home team could win its second straight finals game after dropping its first six.

"I was just going to take over and kind of survey the situation but Nelson was giving me a lot of space and I like to step into those 3s," Fisher said. "Even though I wasn't making them, I felt like I could do that. I felt good to help the team that way."

Fisher had missed his first five 3s, but came up with one the little left-hander will cherish forever.

"My teammates and my coaches kept giving me that confidence to continue to believe in myself," Fisher said. "I wanted to come through for the guys."

Just as they did in Game 2, Orlando had one final try, and this time guard Courtney Lee, who misfired on a tougher-than-it-looked layup in that loss, wasn't on the floor. The Magic inbounded the ball to Mickael Pietrus, but his long and contested jumper was off.

Bryant scored two quick baskets in the overtime, and Howard tied it when he split two free throws with 1:27 remaining.

On L.A.'s next trip, Ariza grabbed his own miss to get another 24 seconds and Fisher lined up and drilled his 3-pointer from the top of the key to make it 94-91.

As he retreated down court and Orlando called a timeout, the Lakers bench stormed onto the court and surrounded the popular 34-year-old Fisher, who came back to the team after a short stint in Utah.

Game 3: Magic tighten series with 108-104 win over Lakers

2009-06-10T23:27:00.003+08:00

Rashard Lewis stood at the free-throw line with less than one second left as several workers hurriedly broomed off confetti that had fallen prematurely onto the Amway Arena floor.

This was the sweep Orlando had waited to see for 14 years.

On their seventh try, the Magic, swept in four straight games by Houston on their previous visit in 1995, got their first win in the NBA finals.

Shooting a finals record 63 percent from the field and clamping down on Kobe Bryant(notes), the Magic closes within 2-1 in the best-of-seven series with a 108-104 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 on Tuesday night.

After two straight cold performances in L.A., the Magic were more accurate than any team in NBA finals history.

“They pretty much made all their shots,” Lakers forward Trevor Ariza(notes) said.

Pretty much.

The Magic shot a blistering 75 percent (24 of 32) in the first half and cooled off in the second half when they were only 16 of 32.

The basket looked big, and Orlando hardly missed it. With a loss, the Magic would have fallen into an 0-3 crevasse—a hole no team has ever crawled from. Now, they have a chance to become the fourth team in finals history to come back from an 0-2 deficit and win it all.

“Why not?” Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu(notes) said. “We believe in each other and as long as we’re playing our game, our system and fighting for 48 minutes— why not?”

In the series opener, the Magic couldn’t throw it in the Pacific Ocean. They made only 29.9 percent and were blown out by 25 points. In Game 2, they were only slightly better, shooting 42 percent in an overtime loss. But back on their home court, they shot themselves back into this series.

As Shaquille O’Neal(notes), still a presence long after leaving both franchises, posted on his Twitter page following the game: “By george I think we have a series.”

Game 4 is Thursday night, and Game 5—now necessary—will be at Amway Arena on Sunday.

Bryant, seeking a fourth title and his first since 2002, scored 31 points for the Lakers but the superstar, widely considered the game’s best closer, was awful in the final minutes. He scored just 10 points in the second half, went only 4 of 15 from the field after the first quarter and looked tired in the fourth.

He also missed five free throws, points that could have given the Lakers that 3-0 lead.

“It was a bad night,” he said.

With their season 48 minutes from all but disappearing, the Magic had five players score at least 18 points. Lewis and Dwight Howard(notes) had 21 apiece, Rafer Alston(notes), who was just 3 of 17 from the field in the first two games, had 20 and Turkoglu and Mickael Pietrus(notes) 18 each.

“We lost two games, but there’s no need to roll over,” Howard said. “It’s a seven-game series. A team has to beat you four times to end the series and we felt good knowing that we had three games at home.”

Pau Gasol(notes) scored 23 points but had just three rebounds and the Lakers were only 16 of 26 from the line.

For a while, it appeared the Magic couldn’t or wouldn’t miss.

From 20 feet, swish. From 10 feet, nothing but net. Layups, runners, banks, pull-ups, didn’t matter. You name it, if it went up, more times than not it went in.

“We lost this game on the defensive end,” Bryant said. “We had been playing very good defense and the team tonight shoots 62 percent from the field.”

Despite Orlando’s unconscious shooting, the Lakers went into the fourth down just 81-75.

After Pietrus was long with a wide-open 3, Gasol was fouled at the other end and made two free throws to make it 99 all with 2:41 remaining.

“Oh, boy,” muttered one fan near the media section.

But Pietrus calmed fears by dunking in a rare miss to put the Magic up two, and when Lewis hit a jumper—it was originally called a 3 but replays showed his right foot was on the line—Orlando was up 104-101. Bryant then had a chance to pull the Lakers within one, but split two free throws.

The Lakers got the ball back but Bryant, who scored 17 in the first quarter and 21 by halftime, tried to do too much on the next possession. He crossed over to get past Pietrus, but Howard, the league’s defensive player of the year known mostly for his blocks underneath, made like a point guard and tipped the ball away. Pietrus was fouled and made both to make it 106-102.

“It’s disappointing,” Bryant said. “I’m used to coming through in those situations. The team trusts me to come through in those situations and it just didn’t happen tonight. Just got to bounce back.”

The Lakers then became desperate, missing four straight 3s in the closing seconds.

Bryant finally dropped a putback to make it 106-104 with 0.5 seconds left, but Lewis was fouled and hit his free throws to close it out.

Game, set, Magic.

Lakers' engine is purring heading to Orlando

2009-06-05T21:12:00.004+08:00

Kobe Bryant couldn't repeat his 40-point performance of game one, but then he didn't have to as he got all the help he needed from a balanced attack in game two of the NBA finals.

Bryant had 29 points, eight assists to go with seven turnovers as the Lakers survived a scare in game two of the best-of-seven series for a 101-96 triumph and a 2-0 lead.

By his own admission, Bryant said he didn't play well and could have done a better job of figuring out the Magic's game plan.

"I didn't read the coverages well but we still managed to win the game," Bryant said. "It is up to me to make those adjustments. It is like when the quarterback throws an interception once in a while."

Lakers coach Phil Jackson said the Magic did a better job of guarding Bryant and preventing him from getting to the basket.

"I didn't think Kobe had a good game at all as far as his standards go," Jackson said. "They double-teammed him and they trapped him. They came on all his drives and we didn't adjust to it immediately.

"We were able to find other guys that did things for us. Lamar (Odom) had an outstanding game, Pau (Gasol) was there again."

Gasol and Odom combined to shoot 15-of-23 from the field for the Lakers, registering 24 and 19 points. Four Lakers hit double figures as they forced Orlando into 20 turnovers and matched Orlando's normally potent three-point attack (33.3 percent).

"I don't think we had a drop off, our engine was higher," Bryant said of game two. "We have a great coach and we made great adjustments."
Asked if they got lucky, Bryant said, "I don't think we dodged a bullet. I think they (Orlando) played well enough to win. They bounced back like we knew they would."

Bryant said his teammates have done everything he has asked of them.
"We did our job defending home court," Bryant said. "The last two series we didn't do that. We put ourselves in jeopardy having to go on the road and win a game three and here we managed to do it. Now it is time to go to Orlando and see if we can't get one."

Under the 2-3-2 format, the Magic host the next three games, including game three on Tuesday.

The Magic, who are zero-of-six in franchise finals games, are up against long odds.

The 2006 Miami Heat are the only team since 1985 to win a NBA championship after losing the first two games.

"I've seen series turn," Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said. Right now it is frustrating not to have gotten (a win). We had chances to win."
Jackson, who once described Bryant as headstrong and "uncoachable" in a book he authoured several years ago, said Bryant has matured as an individual and a teammate on the court.

"That was a contentious point for us when I first got here because I felt that there were a lot of times Kobe was trying to commandeer games. With the team and the talent we had, we didn't have that kind of an activity or a presence on the floor because you always had the equalizer to be able to throw the ball into a post player and take control of the game through that.

"So over the years he's kind of learned how the game feels, what it feels like and the difference between taking on a challenge of an individual to the challenge of the team."

Game 2: Bryant, Gasol lead way in Lakers' 101-96 overtime victory

2009-06-05T21:12:00.003+08:00

The Lakers just don't do things simply.

Crisp and clean isn't their style.

They seem to relish drama and excitement.

The Lakers' 101-96 overtime victory Sunday night over the Orlando Magic in Game 2 of the NBA Finals was another example of their inability to take the easy route. In plain fact, they could have lost in the closing seconds of regulation play.

Twice.

The Lakers lost track of Orlando guard Courtney Lee on two critical possessions in the final 11 seconds, but he missed layups that could have put the Magic ahead. He missed one with 10.9 seconds left and then failed to convert a lob pass at the buzzer.

Given a reprieve after Lee's second try clanked off the rim as a sellout crowd of 18,997 at Staples Center held its collective breath, the Lakers regrouped and seized control of the game and, ultimately, the series.

The Lakers lead the best-of-seven series, 2-0.

Game 3 is Tuesday night in Orlando.
"I don't think we had a drop-off at all," Kobe Bryant said. "Our energy was higher than the other night. The energy was there. It was just that they made their adjustments. Now we have to make ours. We have to be ready to go in Game 3."

History is on the Lakers' side since only three teams in Finals history have rallied to win after losing the first two games of the series, with the Miami Heat most recently accomplishing the feat against the Dallas Mavericks in 2006.
The Portland Trail Blazers did it in 1977 against the Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics rallied against the Lakers to win in 1969.

After a resounding 25-point victory in Game 1 and a five-point overtime win in Game 2 that was accomplished with a little perseverance and a lot of good fortune, the Lakers will attempt to take a three-games-to-none stranglehold on the Magic on Tuesday.

No team in NBA history has staged a comeback from a 3-0 series deficit, and it's happened only twice in the NHL and once in Major League Baseball.
The Lakers have yet to win three consecutive games in a series in 2009. What's more, they split the first two games at home in the second round against the Houston Rockets and again in the Western Conference finals against the Denver Nuggets.

It almost happened for a third time.

"There is a sense of relief, because they played very well," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said, referring to the Magic's bounce-back from their Game 1 drubbing.
Certainly, the Magic had their chances to even the series in the closing seconds of regulation, when Lee darted through the Lakers' defense but missed a wide-open layup that could have broken an 88-88 deadlock with 10.9 seconds left.

After a timeout, Orlando's Hedo Turkoglu blocked Bryant's jump shot from behind with 1.8 seconds left. Turkoglu alertly grabbed the loose ball and called a timeout. After a video review, the referees gave the Magic the ball with 0.6 seconds left.

Turkoglu made another superb play, lofting the inbounds pass to Lee, who shed Bryant by running past a screen set by Magic forward Rashard Lewis. Lee caught the pass, and only had to drop it into the basket from mere inches away.
Lee's shot glanced off the rim as the buzzer sounded.

Asked later what he was thinking as the ball was in the air, Bryant said, "(Spit)."
"Heck of a play designed by a heck of a coach," he added, referring to Orlando's Stan Van Gundy. "Brilliant play, a very, very smart play he drew up."

The Lakers made the Magic pay in overtime, taking the lead for good, 92-91, on Bryant's runner from just to the right of the paint with 2:18 remaining. They would make only one other basket, a layup by Pau Gasol, but hit all nine of their free throws in OT.

Bryant led the Lakers with 29 points on 10-for-22 shooting.

"Not one of his better games," Jackson said.

Said Bryant: "I didn't read the coverage the way I did (when he scored 40 points in Game 1). It's on me to make those adjustments.

"It's just like a quarterback who throws an interception once in a while."
Gasol contributed 24 points, 10 rebounds and determined defensive pressure on Howard after Andrew Bynum got into foul trouble in the second half. Lamar Odom had 19 points and eight rebounds, and Derek Fisher scored 12 points.
Rashard Lewis led Orlando with 34 points on 12-for-21 shooting to go with 11 rebounds. Turkoglu scored 22 points, and Howard had 17 points and 16 rebounds after scoring 12 points and taking 15 rebounds in Game 1.

Lee scored only two points.

Game 1 waltz: Lakers drub Magic in NBA Finals opener

2009-06-05T21:12:00.002+08:00

GAME 1 ANALYSIS

Turning point: The Lakers holding the Magic scoreless on eight consecutive possessions midway through the second quarter while going on a 10-0 run and taking a 53-43 halftime lead. Kobe Bryant scored 12 points in 6:36.

X factor: The Lakers' interior/perimeter defense, shutting off passing lanes, guarding the three-point line. The Lakers held Magic center Dwight Howard to six field goal attempts, keeping a body on him, forcing him from the rim.

Unexpected: The Magic, a jump-shooting team by nature, couldn't find the Pacific Ocean, sinking 23 field goals (29.9%).

How teams must respond: Lakers: Preserve home-court edge. Magic: Regroup. Better shooting and rebounding but most of all, better energy.

LOS ANGELES — Maybe it was something Jerry West said after all.
The former Los Angeles Lakers Hall of Famer, who was responsible for the franchise acquiring Kobe Bryant 13 years ago, recently said that the Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James had surpassed the Lakers guard as pro basketball's premier player.

GAME 1 REPORT: Lakers 100, Magic 75

LITTLE MAGIC: Howard, teammates go cold in opener

In one of the most dominating openers to the NBA Finals, the strictly business Bryant invigorated the Lakers with 40 points in a crushing 100-75 triumph Thursday against the Orlando Magic.
"I think the best thing we can do is forget about it," said Bryant, who added eight assists, eight rebounds, two steals and two blocked shots. "This is a resilient Orlando Magic team."

It was the Magic's worst loss in these playoffs, and it was their lowest point total since Feb. 11. They defeated the Lakers in both regular-season games.
"As a team, they kicked our butts on the board," said Dwight Howard, league defensive player of the year, held to one field goal and 12 points.

Bryant, providing a momentum burst, scored 30 points during a 16-minute span from the second quarter into the third.

The Lakers pounded the Magic, outscoring them 56-22 in the paint and outrebounding them 55-41. "We're going to have to pick up our competitive nature," Magic guard Rafer Alston said.

And put down the history books.

The Magic, heading into Sunday's Game 2 in Los Angeles, face an ominous deficit even after one game.

Orlando must stare down history to overcome the favored Lakers: Phil Jackson-coached teams have a 43-0 record after winning the first of a best-of-five- or seven-game series.

"We've just got to keep our foot on the gas and keep our head down and just keep on working," Bryant said.

The last time the Lakers were seen in the Finals, they were heading toward their locker room in Boston last June and summer break after being drubbed by 39 points in a series-ending Game 6 by the Celtics. The renewed rivalry between the league's superpowers never panned out.

Bryant and his teammates have used that humiliation to motivate them all season and throughout these playoffs.

They are on a mission.

The Magic, who went 2-0 against the Lakers in the regular season, appeared a touch overwhelmed in their first Finals appearance since 1995. Not even the return of All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson from a four-month layoff after shoulder surgery could help the Eastern Conference champions.
Orlando center Howard was engulfed by two and three Lakers every time he touched the ball and scored 12 points — 10 on free throws — on just 1-of-6 shooting.

"We did a good job on him, but he'll be ready to go Game 2," Bryant said. "We worked very hard on the perimeter, keeping those guys out of rhythm, then we did a good job on him inside — giving him different looks."
And the Magic's outside shooters, so deadly while eliminating MVP James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the conference finals, were off the mark. The Magic went just 8-of-23 on threes and shot only 30% overall.

"We've never had a shooting night this bad," Howard said. "We've just got to come out and give a better effort than we put out tonight."

Bryant slithered around Magic defenders with ease. Bryant scored an effortless 18 points in the first half and then took over in the third quarter, scoring 18 of L.A.'s 29 points with an assortment of jumpers, fadeaways and layups.

"He was great. He was tremendous," said Van Gundy, who felt his team did a poor job defending the Lakers' pick and roll. "We were giving him too much space on his pull-up jumpers and he did a good job of attacking us. I know this: We are a lot better than we showed."

With the 24-second shot clock running down on one possession, he froze Mickael Pietrus with a head fake and then sliced between Howard and Rashard Lewis, who looked as if they might applaud him, too. Moments later, Bryant whipped a pass to teammate Trevor Ariza, who buried a three-pointer to make it 80-58.

Bryant pumped both fists and yelled toward Ariza. But this time, Bryant, who can be demanding of those around him, was offering support. Accused of being aloof and selfish, he has become a better teammate and a better leader.
Nelson sat the first quarter as he has throughout the playoffs, but Van Gundy started him in the second quarter and the healed guard made an immediate impact.

Nervously chomping on his black mouthpiece and darting as always, he made a sweet bounce pass to Marcin Gortat for a dunk on Orlando's first possession in the period. Nelson then set up Lewis for a three before making his first basket in four months on a short baseline jumper.

Nelson was back and the Magic, who dethroned the champion Celtics and toppled King James, looked as if they'd give the Lakers a run.
Bryant, though, outran them by himself.

Notes: Bryant's 40 were a career high in the finals, and it was the 10th time he has scored 40 or more in the playoffs. ... Van Gundy said the toughest part of his decision to play Nelson was telling guard Tyronn Lue he would be inactive. ... Bryant is ranked as the world's 10th biggest celebrity by Forbes. Bryant was the second highest ranked athlete, trailing only Tiger Woods, who was No. 5. According to the magazine, Bryant made $45 million in salary and endorsements this year. ... With 206 playoff wins, Jackson trails only Hall of Fame hockey coach Scotty Bowman (223) for the most wins in postseason history.

Contributing: The Associated Press

Magic Moment: Orlando beats Boston to advance

2009-05-15T18:42:00.003+08:00

BOSTON (AP)—Dwight Howard remembers the reaction when he first talked about bringing an NBA championship to Orlando.

“Everybody laughed,” the Magic center said after helping Orlando beat the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics 101-82 on Sunday night and advance to the Eastern Conference finals.

“I believe we can win a championship. We’re not going to stop going after one until we get it. We have the right team. We have the talent. We have the coaches. It’s just on us to go out there and play hard. I have a long way to go, but I’m still hungry.”

Howard scored 12 points with 16 rebounds and five blocked shots, and Hedo Turkoglu had 25 points with 12 assists for Orlando, which trailed for just 36 seconds after the opening basket and held on to earn the right to play LeBron James and the Cavaliers for a spot in the NBA finals.

Game 1 is Wednesday in Cleveland.

Orlando won the season series 2-1, but the Cavaliers swept both of their postseason series and have been waiting for their next opponent since last Monday.

“Cleveland is playing at a much higher level than anybody else in the playoffs. We’re going to have to take it up another notch,” Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. “But that’s for us to worry about tomorrow. I am going to enjoy this one until I get on the plane tonight and start watching film.”

Ray Allen scored 23 points for Boston, and Paul Pierce had 16 before they were taken out of the game for a courtesy cheer with 2:30 left and the Magic up 99-78. The other member of the new Big Three, Kevin Garnett, awaited them on the bench, where he watched the whole series in street clothes with a right knee strain.

Garnett’s absence derailed the Celtics’ title defense before it started, forcing them to fight through a seven-overtime, seven-game series against Chicago in the first round and leaving them perpetually playing from behind in the second.
“We still felt like this was a team that could have gone to the championship and won it, regardless of the injuries,” Pierce said. “It felt like we ran out of gas.”
Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Garnett had been holding off on having surgery on the chance he could come back if the team prolonged its season.

“There’s no way he was going to play the next series,” Rivers said. “We were hoping. But I didn’t think it will happen.”

The Magic nearly blew a 28-point lead in Game 1, then did waste a 14-point lead in Game 5 to give the Celtics a 3-2 advantage in the best-of-seven series. Boston, which won its unprecedented 17th NBA title last year, had never lost a series after being ahead 3-2.

But Orlando came back from a 10-point deficit on Thursday night to force Game 7.

And there was no panic on Sunday. Just a lot of Magic.

“I would like to say we played the game exactly the way we wanted. We actually played it better,” Van Gundy said. “When you look at a team that’s 32-0 when leading a series 3-2 and then you win by 19 points, that’s a big win. I can’t say that I’ve ever had one that I’ve ever been happier with.”

Make that 32-1, as Van Gundy wrote on the visiting locker room white board.
“We learned a lot, coming in here and beating the world champs on their own floor,” Howard said. “Everybody was talking about experience. The biggest thing was effort and energy. The team that played the hardest was going to win.”
Orlando led by 14 in the second quarter before Boston cut it to 45-42 in the third period. Rajon Rondo’s long 2-pointer at the buzzer to end the quarter made it a 66-61 game, but Orlando scored the first eight points of the fourth to open a double-digit lead.

Orlando led 81-64 with 8:04 left when Howard picked up his fifth foul and went to the bench, then Boston cut the deficit to 90-78 on Allen’s 3-pointer with 4:12 to play. But Turkoglu sank a 3-pointer, Kendrick Perkins was called for a charge and Turkoglu made a fadeaway jumper to extend the lead to 17 points.
Turkoglu was 9 for 12 from the field, scoring 10 points in the fourth quarter alone.

Real Lakers show up, rout Rockets 89-70 in Game 7

2009-05-15T18:42:00.002+08:00

LOS ANGELES (AP)—All is well again in La-La Land. The real Los Angeles Lakers showed up, and in a Game 7, no less.

With Pau Gasol dominating on both ends of the court, the Lakers emphatically silenced the doubters and the Houston Rockets, winning the decisive final game of the Western Conference semifinals 89-70 on Sunday.
Playing with emotion, Gasol scored 21 points and grabbed 18 rebounds. The Lakers looked like the conference’s top-seeded team, not the maddeningly inconsistent one that was pushed to the limit by the undermanned, smaller Rockets.

Trying to reach the NBA finals for the second straight year, the Lakers host the opener of the conference finals against the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night. Los Angeles won three of four from Denver this season.

The Lakers have been so up and down in this series that coach Phil Jackson said before Game 5 that they had a little bit of Jekyll and Hyde in them. That was the night the Lakers raced to a 40-point win at home, only to follow it up two nights later with a 15-point loss, the second straight game they were blind-sided in Houston.

There are any number of theories as to why the Lakers have had a split personality.

Asked what the Lakers learned from this series, Kobe Bryant cracked: “That we’re bipolar.”

Added Lamar Odom: “To make it interesting. It’s Hollywood, you know.”
It turns out that home-court advantage and a smothering defense were all it took to jump-start the Lakers, who made sure they didn’t choke this one away against the No. 5 seed.

The Lakers dominated the paint on both ends, forcing the Rockets into turnovers and bad shots. The owned the backboards, taking a 55-33 advantage, and blocked 10 shots. They had an 8-0 lead a few minutes in and widened it to 25 points on Gasol’s jump hook shortly before halftime.

After the game, Bryant patted Gasol on the shoulder and offered words of congratulations.

“I was just proud of the way he played,” Bryant said. “He answered the challenge and he played like one of the best players in the world. I was just excited for him.”

Gasol kept Rockets point guard Aaron Brooks from penetrating, as he did often in this series. The Spaniard had 12 defensive rebounds and swatted away three shots.

“We all know what he can do offensively. I just felt like defensively, he had a superb game,” Bryant said.

Gasol made 10 of 19 shots. He left to a nice ovation with 3:34 remaining in the game.

Trevor Ariza scored 15 points while Bryant and Andrew Bynum had 14 apiece. Bryant added five assists and seven rebounds.

Brooks was held to 13 points and Luis Scola to 11 for Houston. Ron Artest (seven points) and Shane Battier (three) were non-factors.

“I think we learned that if we play hard every night and we’re ready to compete, starting on the defensive end, we’re going to give ourselves a chance,” Gasol said. “Hopefully we’re going to carry that into the next round and to a championship. That’s something we need to do consistently, no matter what, no matter where we play.”

This one was practically over before the fans settled into their seats.

With Houston missing its first 12 shots, Los Angeles used two Houston turnovers and a blocked shot in racing to an 8-0 lead. Gasol blocked a shot by Scola and fed Bryant for a layup. Scola’s turnover led to Ariza’s tip-in of Gasol’s miss. A turnover by Brooks set up Ariza’s 3-pointer, forcing Houston to call timeout with 9:32 to go in the quarter.

Houston missed seven shots during the next 2 1/2 minutes, and didn’t get on the scoreboard until Brooks made two free throws just more than five minutes in.

“Coming in here for Game 7, we knew they were going to give us their best shot, especially in the first quarter,” Battier said. “To be honest with you, we just didn’t have energy to match it. Unfortunately, after we got past the first quarter we played them pretty straight up, but the damage had been done at that point.”

During one sequence, Odom blocked a shot by Brooks, Bryant ended up with the ball and whipped a crosscourt pass to Ariza for a 3-pointer and a 13-2 lead.
It wasn’t until then that the Rockets made their first basket, a layup by Chuck Hayes

Houston made only 5 of 20 shots in the first quarter, while the Lakers had 17 rebounds, including 12 on defense.

The Lakers were up 22-12 at the end of the first quarter and steadily pulled away.

Leading by 19, the Lakers scored six straight late in the quarter. Bryant stole a pass and fed Ariza for a slam dunk, bringing Jack Nicholson out of his courtside seat.

It was 51-31 at halftime.

“Obviously, the Lakers are more experienced than us, but I thought we were the better team,” Artest said. “I thought it was a good learning experience for these guys. They’ve been through a Game 7. Most young teams get swept. That will really help the Rockets in the future.”

Orlando forces game seven in NBA playoffs

2009-05-15T18:42:00.001+08:00

ORLANDO, Florida, (AFP) - - Dwight Howard scored 23 points and grabbed 22 rebounds to power the Orlando Magic to a 83-75 win over the Boston Celtics and force a decisive seventh game.

"We came out from the get go and were ready to play. That is what it takes," Howard said. "I got myself open and ran the floor. That is what I have got to do. I can't worry about how many touches I have."
Howard carried the Magic on his back in game six and will try to do the same in game seven on Sunday in Boston.

"Thank God we are going to Boston. We have got a game seven," Howard said.
The Magic closed with an 11-2 run as Hedo Turkoglu sank a key three pointer. Rashard Lewis scored 20 points for Orlando who haven't made it out of the quarter-finals in a dozen years.

Rajon Rondo finished with 19 points and 16 rebounds and a half dozen assists while Paul Pierce scored 17 for the Celtics, who led by 10 points in the second half. Rondo also had four steals.

Orlando kept their playoff hopes alive by holding the Celtics to just 13 points in the fourth quarter.

Boston has never dropped a series when it goes up 3-2, going 32-0 over its franchise history.

Pierce had nine rebounds, but missed two key free throws late in the game that would have given the Celtics the lead.

Orlando made just six-of-26 three-point attempts and shot 36.6 percent.
Boston sank only three-of-18 from behind the arc and made eight-of-13 free throws.

"The offense definitely struggled," Pierce said. "But we still played enough defense to win the game. We turned the ball over too much."

Howard challenged and blamed coach Stan Van Gundy for not getting the ball more after the Magic's game five stumble, when they blew a large final quarter lead.

"You've got a dominant player, let him be dominant," Howard said.

Celtics rally to beat Magic in pivotal game five

2009-05-11T23:01:00.003+08:00

BOSTON (AFP) - - The Boston Celtics rallied from a 14-point deficit by closing with a 17-3 run to beat the Orlando Magic 92-88 in the pivotal game five of their NBA quarter-final series.

Glen Davis scored 10 of his game-high 22 points while Stephon Marbury scored all of his 12 points in the fourth quarter for the Celtics who seized a three to two series lead.

"Toughness, a lot of character, when you go through trials and tribulations like that during the game, and to come back and win is unbelievable," said Davis. "Our guys showed a lot of character. Stephon Marbury led the charge in the second half, and made some things happen, and that energy fed me."
The Celtics will try to wrap the best-of-seven series up Thursday in game six in Orlando.

"Well there was a point in time where we decided to lock down, we locked down and didn't give them the basket, and that's what created the positive offense for us," said Davis. "We did our assignments on defence, and that's how we won the game."

Ray Allen nailed a three pointer with 80 seconds left in a fourth quarter where Davis and Marbury combined to shoot nine-of-11 from the field in the final frame.

On Sunday, Davis also hit the game-winning jumper at the buzzer in Boston's 95-94 victory over the Magic.

Boston's Paul Pierce finished with 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists while Allen scored 13 points. Kendrick Perkins had 11 rebounds for Boston.
Rashard Lewis scored 19 points and Hedo Turkoglu scored 18 for the Magic who missed their final eight shots from the field.

Orlando's Dwight Howard finished with 12 points and 17 rebounds and Rafer Alston scored 16.

"It's just a game that really hurts you know that you had it under control all night and the last few minutes it's slipping away...it really hurts," said Turkoglu.
"We got nothing else to do right now. We can't really be down on ourselves and think about it. All we have to do, just be a strong team, get ourselves together, win in Orlando and come back here and try to finish it here."

The Magic compiled a 28-point lead in the third quarter of game one at TD Banknorth Garden and won by just five points. It was an overall collapse on Tuesday.

"I think defensively we didn't pressure like we did when we built the lead and offensively we didn't do what we did to get the lead," said Howard. "We have to recognize when we have a lead instead of trying to burn the clock out, we just need to move the ball and that is the reason we were winning with five minutes to go."

LeBron's 47 gives Cavs win and 3-0 series lead

2009-05-11T23:01:00.001+08:00

By PAUL NEWBERRY,AP Sports Writer AP - Monday, May 11
ATLANTA - The Cleveland Cavaliers were actually being challenged. Finally, LeBron James had seen enough. James scored 47 points in his best game yet of these playoffs, leading the Cavaliers to the brink of their second straight postseason sweep with a 97-82 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night.

"He took the ball, put it in his hands and said he was going to score for us, so I told him, 'OK,'" Cleveland coach Mike Brown said. "I just told everybody else, 'Let's defend.'"

Back home after two blowout losses in Cleveland, the Hawks put up their best fight of the series. It didn't matter, not against King James. They now find themselves just one defeat away from calling it a season, the Cavaliers pushing out to another 3-0 lead after breezing past Detroit in the opening round.
Cleveland kept up its dominating run through the playoffs, setting an NBA record with its seventh straight double-figure win to eclipse the mark set by the 2004 Indiana Pacers. The only solace for the Hawks: They stopped Cleveland's streak of 20-point playoff wins at three.

The Hawks were only down 47-46 at the halftime, and they surged back into their first second-half lead of the series with a 13-0 run in the third quarter. But Zaza Pachulia got ejected for arguing a foul call _ acting as though he might attack the officials _ and Atlanta faded away down the stretch.

James eclipsed his previous high in these playoffs of 38 points vs. the Pistons, and finished just one off his best playoff performance ever, a 48-point night against Detroit while leading Cleveland to its first trip ever to the NBA finals.
They appear to be on the way again, especially with the league's MVP leading the way.

James hit a running 13-footer to send the Cavaliers to the final period with a 72-65 lead. If the Hawks had any thoughts of a comeback, James quickly erased them.

He hit a jumper near the courtside seat and slapped his hands in delight with just over 8 minutes remaining. On Cleveland's next possession, James stood out near the half-court line, barking instructions at his teammates. Delonte West and Zydrunas Ilgauskas both popped out to set picks, and James weaved his way through the Atlanta defense before pulling up to launch a floater just off the foul lane.

Nothing but net.

James repeated the same drill from the opposite side, only this time he cut along the baseline, drawing virtually every Atlanta player his way, before dumping off to a wide-open Ilgauskas under the basket. The Hawks had no choice but to hack the big man as he went up to shoot, stopping the layup but sending him to the foul line.

"LeBron was just out of his mind tonight," Atlanta's Josh Smith said.
Indeed, while James was a virtual one-man show, he kept his teammates involved by dishing out eight assists. If that wasn't enough, he led Cleveland to a dominant performance on the boards, 46-23, with a game-high 12 rebounds.
Finally, with 44 seconds remaining, James' work was done. He went off to a big ovation from the smattering of Cleveland fans who hung around to chant, "MVP! MVP! MVP!"

James has been incredibly efficient in this series, playing 108 minutes and scoring 108 points.

Atlanta was hardly in position to challenge the Cavaliers, who had the league's best record during the regular season (66-16). When factoring in that three starters _ Joe Johnson, Al Horford and Marvin Williams _ were hurting, there seemed little chance of Atlanta challenging the Cavaliers.

But they did for nearly three quarters. Though Pachulia's ejection seemed to take any life out of the raucous crowd _ and the home team. The Hawks were outscored 31-17 after the emotional Georgian was tossed.

"I thought it was an offensive foul," Pachulia said. "Maybe I overreacted."
Maybe it wouldn't have mattered anyway.

James was 15 of 25 from the field, went 5 of 10 outside the 3-point arc (even banking in one), and wound up making more free throws _ 12 of 16 _ than the entire Hawks' team attempted (7 of 11).

"He's not the MVP for nothing," Pachulia said. "He's the best player in the league. He knows when to push the gas. That's what he did."

Johnson, who didn't decide until game time that he was healthy enough to play, led the Hawks with 21 points. Smith added 18 and Flip Murray 17.
Ilgauskas scored 14, West had 12 and Mo Williams 11 for the Cavaliers.
Notes:@ Horford played more than 35 minutes on his gimpy ankle but wasn't much of a factor. He had six points and four rebounds. Williams played only 13 1/2 minutes and scored four points. ... There were plenty of celebrities in the sellout crowd of 20-143, including rappers T.I., Nelly and Young Jeezy, as well as producer Jermaine Dupree.

Pacquiao gets well-deserved rest

2009-05-10T23:35:00.000+08:00

Philstar.com - Sunday, May 10
MANILA, Philippines – Yesterday was a relatively easy day for Manny Pacquiao.
From a very hectic schedule Friday following his return from a devastating win over Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas, the Filipino boxing superstar had enough time to recharge his batteries.

Despite the cancellation of the traditional motorcade and his visit to Malacañang because of a poor weather forecast, Pacquiao had his hands full on his first day back home.

From the airport, he visited the Quiapo Church, dropped by at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and had lunch at the San Miguel Corp. headquarters.

A meeting with PLDT-Smart chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, a mini-concert at the SM Mall of Asia and dinner with executives of his media partner Solar Entertainment made his day.

According to Team Pacquiao member Jake Joson, Pacquiao was in his The Renaissance suite in Makati by 10 p.m.

Scheduled for tomorrow are the motorcade in and around Metro Manila and the courtesy call on President Arroyo.

Pacquiao should be in his hometown Tuesday or Wednesday when another huge welcome awaits him in Saranggani Province.

“He said he slept well – probably his best sleep since the day he beat Hatton,” said Joson, adding that first thing in the morning Pacquiao asked to be brought to Manila.

There he visited the old L&M Gym where he used to train, and is now being converted into an apartment/dormitory. He stayed there for some time, then took off.

“It was an unannounced visit and as expected he was mobbed,” said Joson.
Pacquiao enjoyed his lunch at the Harbour View restaurant owned by his dear friend Demi Dizon. The usual entourage came with the boxer who then went back to the hotel. – Abac Cordero - (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

Front-runners in the 2009 Miss Philippines-Earth tilt

2009-05-09T22:09:00.000+08:00

Tomorrow night, May 10, at the Arena Entertainment and Recreational Center of the People in San Juan City (to be aired on ABS-CBN and The Filipino Channel), 10 of the 50 hopefuls will be chosen as finalists from which five will be named Miss Philippines Eco-Tourism (also Miss PAGCOR), Miss Philippines Fire (also Miss Science & Technology), Miss Philippines Water, Miss Philippines Air and Miss Philippines-Earth (who will represent the country in the Miss Earth pageant later this year) in the annual search’s ninth edition.

Stay tuned and, as usual, play the spot-a-celebrity-lookalike game, among them Cindy Kurleto, Lalaine Edson, Isabel Granada, Sandara Park, Pia Guanio, Nancy Castigleoni and 2003 Miss Universe Amelia Vega.

Funfare’s “beauty experts” Francis Calubaquib, Gery Yumping, Joey Cezeare and Felix Manuel have chosen the following among the “front-runners,” one of whom will succeed 2008 Miss Philippines Earth Karla Paula Henry (also 2008 Miss Earth). Here they are (in alphabetical order):

•Miss Apalit Vanessa B. Johnson, 22, 5’5”, 34-26-34, a freelance model and semi-finalist in the 2009 Bb. Pilipinas Pageant;
•Miss Bataan Monique Teruelle P. Manuel, 20, 5’5”, 33-24-33, a Psychology student;
•Miss Calamba City Kathrina Camille M. Suarez, 19, 5’6”, 34-26-33, a B.S. Tourism student;
•Miss Cainta Jane Annalyn F. Sy, 20, 5’6”, 33-26-33, a B.S. Pharmacy student at UST where she reigns as Miss Pharmacy;
•Miss Philippines–Canada Tessa B. Kruger, 21, 5’7”, 35-26-35, a Life Sciences student;
•Miss Ilocos Sur Paula Camille M. Figueras, 22, 5’10”, 33-25-33, a Tourism Management graduate, one of the reigning Saniata Ti’ Ilocos Sur Queens and semi-finalist in the 2008 Turismo Pilipina pageant;
•Miss Malolos City Kenneth Shane A. Dimaapi, 19, 5’10”, 36-27-36, a B.S. Tourism student;
•Miss Manila Elaine Paola O. Esteban, 20, 5’4”, 33-26-33, a Dentistry student and Miss Chinatown title-holder;
•Miss Negros Occidental Sandra I. Seifert, 25, 5’9”, 33-24-33, a registered nurse;
•Miss Palawan Christine Barby D. Loredo, 20, 5’7”, 33-23-33, an HRM student and winner of the Best Cultural Attire in the 2008 Turismo Pilipina Pageant;
•Miss Pasay Karryl An Lopez, 21, 5’5”, 32-24-32, a B.S. Bio-Chemistry graduate;
•Miss Quezon City Patricia Marie G. Tumulak, 21, 5’7”, 33-26-33, a Child Development and Education graduate;
•Miss Romblon Reina A. Cuneta, 22, 5’7”, 33-24-33, a B.S. Nursing graduate;
•Miss Tarlac Evangeline Mae A. Castillo, 25, 5’8”, 33-26-33, a college graduate and Miss Friendship in the 2008 Bb. Pilipinas Pageant;
•Miss Victorias City Grezilda S. Adelantar, 21, 5’8”, 34-26-34, a B.S. Tourism graduate and 2008 Turismo Pilipina-Visayas; and
•Miss Philippines–USA West Coast Charmaine Therese R. Chiong, 24, 5’5”, 33-24-33, a Computer Science graduate.
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph or at entphilstar@yahoo.com) - FUNFARE By Ricardo F. Lo (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

4 Pinoys quarantined in Hong Kong to be released tomorrow

2009-05-08T00:36:00.000+08:00

Philstar.com - Friday, May 8
MANILA, Philippines – Four Filipino tourists who are currently quarantined at a Hong Kong hotel will be released tomorrow, the Philippine Consul General in Hong Kong said today.

According to Consul General Claro Cristobal, the four Filipinos — a female tourist and her son, and two other female guests of the Metropark Hotel in Wanchai — are currently in good health.

He said the Hong Kong government has already pledged to cover the hotel and travel expenses of the Filipinos and other hotel guests. The guests will also be given complimentary MTR and Ocean Park tickets, local authorities added.
Tomorrow marks the end of the seven-day quarantine imposed by Hong Kong health officials after a Metropark Hotel guest was confirmed as having contracted swine flu or influenza A(H1N1). - By Dino Maragay (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

Philippines typhoon toll hits 27, new storm builds

2009-05-08T00:30:00.000+08:00

MANILA (AFP) - - The death toll from a typhoon that lashed the Philippines rose to 27, with over 54,000 people left homeless, the government said Wednesday, as they warned of a new storm gathering in the South China Sea.
State weather forecasts said Typhoon Kujira has now blown out of the Philippines after dumping heavy rains and causing floods and landslides in the eastern Bicol region at the weekend.

Twenty-one of the casualties were recorded in the town of Magallanes in Sorsogon province, where a landslide buried a coastal village, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said.

Six others were either drowned or electrocuted by fallen power lines, it said. Eight other people are still missing.

Over 54,000 people remained homeless in 175 evacuation centers in Bicol, it said.

As emergency relief workers and local governments rushed aid to the affected areas the government warned the public to brace for another storm that is expected to make landfall on Thursday.

Storm Chan-Hom, packing winds of 110 kilometers (68 miles) per hour, was hovering over the South China Sea around 700 kilometers west of Luzon Wednesday.

"This weather disturbance is expected to enter over the western boundary" of the country by tomorrow morning, the state weather bureau said in an advisory.
While still far away, the agency said thunderstorms and rain showers will already be felt in parts of Luzon, and could cause flash floods.

"It will grow stronger as it approaches the country," said chief weather forecaster Nathaniel Cruz, adding that the northern and central parts of Luzon could bear the brunt of the storm.

The capital Manila, he said, will also experience heavy rains.
About 20 typhoons hit the Philippines every year, some causing massive death and destruction.

After Mayweather, Marquez to settle score with Pacquiao

2009-05-07T00:14:00.001+08:00

MANILA, Philippines – Unified lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez is still very much looking forward to a rubber match with pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao — that is, after the rugged Mexican takes care of his toughest fight to date against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

A day before Pacquiao demolished Ricky Hatton in two rounds, a press conference announcing Mayweather’s July 19 comeback fight against Marquez was held.

According to reports, Mayweather and Marquez will be meeting at a catchweight of 143 pounds — in which Marquez will be scaling in at least eight pounds heavier than his normal fighting weight.

In the event he beats Mayweather, Marquez said he will take on Pacquiao before the end of the year to settle their “unfinished business.”

“If I defeat Mayweather, I would be ready to move forward with a Manny Pacquiao fight,” Marquez told the Mexico-based daily Esto.

Pacquiao and Marquez battled to a controversial draw in 2004, with the Filipino spitfire decking the Mexican thrice in the first round. Pacquiao won a razor-thin split decision in their rematch four years after — in a fight many boxing observers thought Marquez won. - By Dino Maragay (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

Pacquiao-Khan fight impossible, says Roach

2009-05-07T00:09:00.001+08:00

Philstar.com - Thursday, May 7
MANILA, Philippines – Renowned boxing trainer Freddie Roach is never considering a fight between pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan — both of whom train under his guidance.
Speaking to The Daily Star, Roach said he’ll prevent both fighters from facing each other in an actual bout.

“They spar together and they’ve become great friends so I don’t think we will see them fighting each other for real. I’d like Manny to have two more fights and then be done with it. As trainer of both of them, I’m going to try to prevent them from fighting each other,” Roach said.

Khan, a British lightweight contender, used to spar with Pacquiao as the latter was preparing for his fight with Oscar De La Hoya last December.
According to reports, Khan will be moving up to the junior welterweight class — the same division Pacquiao settled in — to challenge WBA champion Andreas Kotelnik on June 27.

Pacquiao, on the other hand, is still savoring his massive victory over Ricky Hatton and has not selected a definite opponent for his next outing. - By Dino Maragay (Philstar News Service, http://www.philstar.com/)

Roach rates Manny performance a '10'

2009-05-07T00:04:00.001+08:00

Philstar.com - Wednesday, May 6
LOS ANGELES – Freddie Roach couldn’t have asked for anything more from his prized pupil, Manny Pacquiao.

“He did what he was supposed to do. He fought the game plan. He did it so I give him a 10 – perfect,” said the three-time Trainer of the Year Monday as he went back to business calling the shots at the Wild Card Gym.

Roach had just wrapped up his training with his other boxer, Amir Khan, when he reminisced the events that led to Pacquiao’s sensational victory over Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand last Saturday.

It was performance that’s being talked about, and that will be remembered for a long time. This early, it’s being dubbed as “the knockout of the year” and Pacquiao the “athlete of the year.”

Roach said Pacquiao simply took advantage of Hatton’s weaknesses, particularly that of leaving himself open when he’s on the attack, and getting ready to throw his left hand.

“Everything went on as planned. Manny took advantage of him to the fullest. He was surprised, I knew that once we hurt him. He has never fought guys who can finish him off like Manny and Manny fought well,” said Roach.

“So, that’s three perfect fights in a row,” he added, referring to the fights against David Diaz and Oscar dela Hoya last year as the other “10s.”

“Ricky just couldn’t stop making the same mistakes. He got hit by that right hook about 12 times. So he couldn’t make the adjustment. And we just took advantage of him. I truly believed that Manny was to knock him out early,” he added.

The fight, which ended with only one second left in the second round, and Hatton half-asleep lying at the center of the ring, was so big that pay-per-view sales are expected to go over the roof.

“That’s what Bob Arum told me, that the pay-per-view sales are over and over,” said Pacquiao who helped sell 1.25 million buys during his bout with Dela Hoya last December. This one should exceed those numbers, and the millions it generated.

“The only thing that took us a little longer was that when he rushed out it took Manny a minute to get the distance. And once he got the distance it was over. The first right hook that landed was the beginning of the end,” added Roach.
The soft-spoken trainer, who was practically dragged into a nasty word war with Hatton’s trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr., found a good way to get even.

“I just stood in the ring and stared at him (in the ring and after Hatton had been knocked out) and when he looked at me I raised my hands. I just waited for that moment. And that was the moment,” said Roach, laughing.
“They made it into a mega-fight and I’m not sure if Floyd’s trash-talking helped make that. But if you noticed when he got out of the ring he started taking pictures and signing autographs. He doesn’t give a shit about his fighters and I have no respect for him,” he added.

Roach said it’s back to business just two days after the shortest and yet the biggest fight of the year so far.

“As you see I’ve started training Amir (who fights Andriy Kotelnik in London on June 27) for his next fight. No vacation. No time for that,” he said. - By Abac Cordero (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

Phenomenal win cements Pacquiao's place atop recent 'Ring' rankings

2009-05-06T01:46:00.000+08:00

Philstar.com - Wednesday, May 6
MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao’s two-round demolition job of Ricky Hatton last Sunday has secured his place as the finest pound-for-pound fighter in the latest ratings of the so-called “Bible of Boxing.”

“The victory earned Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) The Ring’s world junior welterweight championship — his sixth title in as many weight classes — and justified his No. 1 position in The Ring’s Pound-for-Pound Top 10, where he has been rated longer than any other fighter currently on the elite list,” The Ring Magazine said in a statement published in its official website (http://www.ringtv.com/).

The magazine noted that Pacquiao has kept the position for 238 consecutive weeks or almost 5 ½ years.

“No other fighter currently rated on the pound-for-pound list comes close to matching Pacquiao’s amazing longevity. In fact, only two other fighters have more than 100 consecutive weeks in the ratings, No. 3 Bernard Hopkins (152) and No. 2 Juan Manuel Marquez (112), who just happens to be Pacquiao’s chief rival,” The Ring said.

The General Santos City-based spitfire decked Hatton thrice in their Las Vegas megafight over the weekend — in a virtuoso performance that prompted some boxing observers to brand Pacquiao as the “greatest fighter that ever lived.”
The win also netted Pacquiao The Ring’s junior welterweight title, which was held by Hatton prior to their bout.

Donaire breaks into top 10

An impressive win over a visiting Raul Martinez last April 19 prompted the reputable magazine to rank Nonito Donaire at the No. 8 spot.
“Nonito Donaire makes his pound-for-pound debut at No. 8. Inactivity had hampered The Ring’s No. 1 flyweight’s entry, but his recent KO of previously undefeated Raul Martinez confirmed that his 2007 knockout over Vic Darchinyan was no fluke,” wrote editor-in-chief Nigel Collins.

Donaire battered Martinez four four rounds to successfully defend his IBF and IBO lightweight crowns, knocking down his challenger four times throughout the fight to earn a TKO win.

The Ring’s latest top 10 pound-for-pound list has Pacquiao at No. 1., followed lightweight Marquez, light heavyweight Hopkins, welterweight Shane Mosley, super bantamweights Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez, welterweight Miguel Cotto, flyweight Donaire, and super flyweights Darchinyan and Celestino Caballero. - By Dino Maragay (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

LeBron James returns home to collect NBA MVP

2009-05-06T01:15:00.000+08:00

By TOM WITHERS,AP Sports Writer AP - Tuesday, May 5

AKRON, Ohio - On one of the biggest days of his life, LeBron James took the long way home. Once inside his hometown's city limits, James pulled his high-powered Ferrari off I-77 and drove the back roads to St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, his alma mater.

Turning on Maple Street, he went past his first house on Hickory. Then, it was past the one on Silver Street, where his mother, Gloria, began raising him by herself. James visited The Boondocks, where he and his friends first dribbled on the playgrounds.

James retraced the steps on Monday. His path to NBA superstardom.
An unstoppable offensive force who became an elite defender this season, James claimed the league MVP, receiving the award in the gym where he first became a star.

"This is a place where all my dreams started and where I thought they could become real," James said. "There's really not a better place."

The Ohio kid anointed King James as a teenager has a new crown.

An MVP vote some expected to be close was another slam dunk by James. He received 109 of a possible 121 first-place votes to easily outdistance Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers. James totaled 1,172 points in balloting by media members in the U.S. and Canada.

Bryant, last year's winner, got two first-place votes and finished with 698 points. Miami guard Dwyane Wade was third with 680 points and was named first on seven ballots. Orlando center Dwight Howard (328) was fourth followed by New Orleans guard Chris Paul (192).

The race was never in doubt. It was James all along.

"I'm 24 years old and I'm receiving this award, I never thought it would happen this fast," he said, standing under three state title banners he helped win for the Fighting Irish. "I never dreamed about being MVP, but if I said I didn't enjoy this award I'd be lying. Hard work pays off and dreams do come true."
James is the first Cavaliers player to win the award. He averaged 28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.2 assists this season, his sixth as a pro. He also finished second in voting for defensive player of the year, making him perhaps the league's most dominant two-way player since Michael Jordan.

Along with a trophy, James was given a new car, which he donated to a local charity.

After learning he won, James knew he wanted to share it with family and friends. He knew there was only one place to do it: At his beloved St. V., the school where he was a high school phenom.

As James _ who got a police escort for the final miles _ drove up about an hour before the ceremony in his metallic gray $225,000 car with W1TNES vanity license plates, a crowd chanting "M-V-P" rushed into the street outside the school.

The scene was more civil later when James took the stage and was serenaded by hundreds of students sitting in the same bleachers he used to.

The setting was fitting for James, who earlier this year had the words "Loyalty" and "Family" tattooed vertically along his rib cage.

In the past, the MVP trophy has been presented at team practice facilities or arenas. But James wanted a special location.

League spokesman Brian McIntyre said the intimate ceremony was unlike any before.

"When he heard what LeBron wanted to do, we gave it about a second's thought, and said that's a great idea," he said. "This was wonderful."

James credited his Cavaliers teammates, who attended the ceremony along with coach Mike Brown, for raising their games in Cleveland's best season ever. The Cavs went 66-16, 39-2 at home and earned the top seed in the playoffs _ a franchise first.

"Individual accolades come when team success happens," James said. "You look at those 14 guys over there, I got the award because of them. They put in the work."

James invited his teammates to the podium and presented each with an expensive camera.

"This award is going to be like the both of ours, but I'm going to keep it at my house," he cracked.

At 24 years, 106 days on the final day of the regular season, James is the youngest player to win the award since Moses Malone (24 years, 16 days) in 1978-79. Wes Unseld was 23 when he won it in 1968-69.

James vied all season for MVP honors with Bryant and Wade, his teammates on the U.S. gold medalist Olympic team last summer.

"He deserved it," Wade said. "I said all year, I thought LeBron was the MVP of this league. He's a guy who every year is going to be in that conversation. ... He showed it all year, especially with his team's success."

Focused from the start, the 6-foot-8, 250-pound James sharpened his already formidable skills this season.

He started a career-high 81 games and set personal bests in field-goal (49) and free-throw (79) percentages as well as blocks (93). James became the second player to post five straight seasons of at least 27 points, six rebounds and six assists. The other is Robertson, whose versatile game is the one to which James' is most often compared.

James nearly averaged a triple-double _ 32 points, 11.3 rebounds and 7.5 assists _ as the top-seeded Cavaliers breezed through the first round of the playoffs, sweeping Detroit in four games. Cleveland hosts the Atlanta Hawks in Game 1 on Tuesday.

"My mission hasn't been completed," James said. "I still I have a lot of things I want to do this season. I want to have another celebration in June."

With his longtime girlfriend, Savannah, and their two sons sitting up front, James thanked his family, friends and former teammates during a touching speech. Promising not to cry, he spoke fondly of his mom, who struggled to raise her only son.

"I don't know how you did it," James said.

Better than anyone, Gloria James understood her son's trip through his old neighborhoods.

"It didn't surprise me," she said. "He has never forgotten where he came from."
Soon, it was time for James to head home, a place he never left.

Celeb buzz in Pacman fight

2009-05-06T01:08:00.000+08:00

Philstar.com - Tuesday, May 5

•Among the Pinoy celebrities who were in Las Vegas for the Pacquiao-Hatton bout were Dr. Vicki Belo and her one-and-only Dr. Hayden Kho who insist that they haven’t reconciled as lovers but only as, ehem, “friends.” Also there was Rufa Mae Quinto who bumped into Vicki and Hayden at the entrance of the MGM Grand where the bout was held. The three pretended not to see one another, as in dedma.

•As usual, there was much ado about the way an artist, Martin Nievera in this case, sang Lupang Hinirang. Some may not agree with me but I liked the way Martin sang it, jazzed-up a bit and not the marching style the National Anthem should be sung. I think Martin showed fervor and feeling in his “stylized” rendition.

•Manny Pacquiao is now dubbed as The Greatest Boxer Of All Time — a Legend no less — but I agree with many people that he should remain in the ring (or train aspiring boxers if and he decides to retire...not soon, let’s hope) and not again venture into politics. One knockout in the political arena is enough, isn’t it? - FUNFARE By Ricardo F. Lo (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

Grand welcome awaits Pacquiao

2009-05-06T00:59:00.000+08:00

Philstar.com - Tuesday, May 5
MANILA, Philippines – A ticker tape parade in the city of Manila, a grand welcome in Mindanao and a possible unprecedented military promotion await newly crowned International Boxing Organization (IBO) junior welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao upon his return to the country on Friday.

Pacquiao’s hometown of General Santos City is also busy preparing a reception upon his arrival there despite his having switched his place of origin to Sarangani province.

The city of Manila, scene of countless ticker tape parades in Pacquiao’s previous winning campaigns, is again expected to play a major role in the Filipino boxing icon’s welcome celebration.

President Arroyo, speaking before members of the Filipino community in Damascus, Syria, had announced that she would declare a national day of celebration for Pacquiao’s victory.

“I join the entire nation in jubilation and in giving thanks to God for the spectacular second-round knockout victory of Manny over Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton in Las Vegas, Nevada,” the President said.

Mrs. Arroyo said Pacquiao’s victory “should inspire all of us Filipinos to have resiliency and dedication to triumph against all odds.”

Deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said the details of the day of celebration were still being finalized and would most likely be announced tomorrow along with the presidential proclamation for this purpose.

She said the appointments office of Malacañang is working out the details.

From Gensan to Sarangani

Fans all over the Soccsksargen region exploded into cheers after Pacquiao devastated Ricky Hatton with a jarring left hook to the jaw that sent the latter flat on his back on the canvas during their Sunday match.

But ring announcer Michael Buffer’s introduction of the Filipino boxing hero as “the man from Sarangani, Philippines” and no longer General Santos City, the way he was always addressed in his previous fights, had raised some eyebrows.
“We will still prepare a grand welcome when Manny comes home,” said General Santos City Mayor Pedro Acharon, who admitted he was taken aback by the introduction.

“We were really hurt at first when we heard Sarangani province. But at the end of the day, we were really happy with his winning the bout. And Manny is still Filipino no matter where he lives,” he said.

But Pacquiao’s homecoming celebration would be bigger this time, since it would be a joint effort with those in Sarangani province.

“I already talked with Sarangani officials and we planned on coming up with a joint celebration,” the mayor said, adding that he respected Pacquiao’s decision to change residence to Sarangani because of his political plans.

Unprecedented promotion

Armed Forces of the Philippine (AFP) spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner said deliberations are being held to determine if Pacquiao would qualify for the rank of a Senior Master Sergeant – first of the three highest ranks for enlisted personnel.

Brawner said that aside from the promotion, the AFP would also give Pacquiao a military medal upon his return.

The rank of Senior Master Sergeant is one of the highest ranks an enlisted military personnel, active or reserve, can get.

The two others are Chief Master Sergeant and First Master Sergeant.
Ordinarily, enlisted personnel can best reach the rank of a Master Sergeant before reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.

Brawner said that in the case of M/Sgt Pacquiao, his successful campaign against Hatton is an exceptional one, making not only the entire AFP proud, but most importantly the country and the Filipino people worldwide.

Pacquiao in his younger days dreamed of becoming a soldier, and was enlisted in the military reserve force as an Army Private by Gen. Alexander Yano, who retired recently.

Yano was then brigade commander based in Sarangani province when the two became friends.

Euphoria

The whole nation was in a state of euphoria after the sensational victory, with a lot of people glued to their television sets long after the battle had been settled, savoring the sight of the devastating left hook to the chin that dethroned the unsuspecting champion.
Roadside eateries, barber shops, coffee shops and recreation and entertainment centers were filled with adoring fans, all rooting for their homegrown hero.
Others who could afford preferred to watch the fight live in theaters and restaurants, and still others savored the blow-by-blow account on the radio as it was happening in Las Vegas.

Streets in Metro Manila were practically clear of traffic as drivers of public utility vehicles and motorists stopped to watch the most awaited fight of the year.

An estimated 3,000 people trooped to the atrium of the CSI The City Mall in Dagupan City to watch the fight.

Engr. Rodolfo Dion, district engineer of the 2nd Pangasinan Engineering District, predicted that Pacquiao would finish Hatton early.

“Very spectacular,” said Daniel de la Cruz, executive assistant of Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino Jr., who also watched the bout.

But most Pangasinenses just stayed home and watched the fight on their television sets.

In Davao, the provincial government of Compostela Valley spent P660,000 to host a free live viewing for more than 40,000 of its residents.

“It was really short. But what is more important is a win for Pacquiao and everyone was happy and proud of him,” Compostela Valley Gov. Arthur Uy said.
He said the provincial government initiated the effort to raise the P660,000 to cover the total charges of Solar Sports Inc., so that the bout could be viewed via satellite in 11 towns in Compostela Valley.

Uy explained that the P660,000 paid to Solar Sports was actually shared by several sponsors, including Compostela Valley’s two congressmen, as well as private companies such as Phoenix Philippines Inc.

A true inspiration for Filipinos

Pacquiao’s feat drew diverse reactions.

Former President Joseph Estrada joined the nation and Filipinos all over the world in celebrating the victory, saying the Pinoy ring sensation is a “true living legend.”

“He is truly an inspiration to Filipinos everywhere, showing that through discipline and faith great things are possible. He is a living legend who has brought the nation together in this moment of glory of the Filipino people,” he said.

“He is the best Filipino reason not to use illegal drugs,” Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) chairman Vicente Sotto III said.

He said the Filipino youth should not just see Pacquiao as a boxer but also a person who keeps himself physically healthy through sports.

US Ambassador Kristie Kenney, on the other hand, said that Americans share the same sentiments and glory of the Philippines in Pacquiao’s victory.
“He fights in America, he trains in the US so we share a little bit of his glory. We are both entitled to be proud,” Kenney said in an interview.

The ambassador said Pacquiao is a good example for everybody for his determination and strong will to do everything for his country and countrymen.
“He was amazing. He is not only a world champion and simply the best, but he is a great show of what dedication, excellence will do for someone. I think he is just a wonderful shining example for all of us,” she said.

Meanwhile, Catarman, Northern Samar Bishop Trance said he was dismayed that politicians chose to watch the Pacquiao-Hatton fight in Las Vegas rather than stay in the country to work on pressing bills.

In an interview over Church-run Radio Veritas, Bishop Trance said that the recent actuation of some 50 lawmakers is something for the Filipino people to ponder upon.

“Because of what they did, I think the Filipino people should now start thinking of what grade to give their congressmen and the country’s leaders. In a democratic process, I think the performance of one leader is important. It would be helpful if we would observe what they are doing,” he said.

The prelate said he is dismayed with the decision of some 50 congressmen to fly to Las Vegas just to watch the fight live.

“We are just concerned because we think that when they watched the Pacquiao fight it ‘destroyed’ the House of Representatives because for sure, there was no quorum since many of them were in the United States.”

Caritas Manila executive director Fr. Anton Pascual, on the other hand, said that while he could not endorse any form of organized violence such as boxing and that the players do it for money, he admitted that he was amazed that “Pacquiao attributes everything to God and this shows his humility.”
Pascual said another positive trait of the Filipino fighter, who is regarded as the best pound-for-pound boxer, was that he loves and respects his parents. He said that it is written that, “when you respect your parents, God will bless you.” –

With Jaime Laude, Edith Regalado, Cesar Ramirez, Ramil Bajo, Evelyn Macairan, Michael Punongbayan, Jose Rodel Clapano, Pia Lee-Brago - By Marvin Sy (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

Obstruction raps against Failon dismissed

2009-05-06T00:56:00.000+08:00

MANILA, Philippines – The Quezon City Prosecutors' Office has junked the obstruction of justice charges against broadcast journalist Ted Failon and five members of his household.

City Chief Prosecutor Claro Arellano approved the recommendation by Assistant City Prosecutor Mary Jean Pamittan to dismiss the charges due to insufficiency of evidence. The raps were filed by the Quezon City Police.
"Happy kami sa decision. At least Ted can now move on," lawyer Kristine Tiangco, Failon's legal counsel, told reporters.
She said they are expecting to be summoned by the Commission on Human Rights and National Police Commission regarding the case any time soon.
"Sana ganun na din ang maging decision ng NBI [We hope the NBI comes up with the same decision]," she said, referring to the ongoing probe on the death of Failon's wife, Trinidad Etong.

- By Dennis Carcamo (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)