By: Magoo Marjon
It’s not Pilipinas Basketball if it’s not come-from-behind.
With 36 seconds remaining in what was a gold-medal-or-bust game for the Philippines in the Jones Cup in Taiwan, Gilas was inbounding from the left side down by one point against Team USA. Sixteen seconds after, the ball found the bottom of the net after it left the tip of Alaska Ace LA Tenorio’s finger. The improbable was upon us, Gilas Pilipinas was sitting on a 76-75 lead with just exactly 19.9 seconds remaining.
With no timeouts left, the Americans marched the ball down the length of the floor, a shot goes up, all board, and out of the scrum of all 10 players in the box, the smallest Filipino emerges with the ball. Yes, it was Lewis Alfred Tenorio once again.
Talk about desire. Gilas Pilipinas trailed by as much as 14 points in the third quarter. They were still down by ten before the five-foot-eight-inch Tenorio somehow got a reverse lay-up to go against the 6’9 Scott VanderMeer of the USA before the third quarter whistle blew. And from then on, he was a man on a mission.
Down by eight to open the final frame, Tenorio went at it again. LA pulled up for an 18-footer, got a hand on the ball on the other end and knocked in a three-pointer to bring the Philippines to within three points.
The next time down the floor, Gabe Norwood tied it all up with his own version of a three while the Americans were scrambling on D. LA Tenorio ended up scoring 11 of his 20 points in that fateful fourth quarter, including the go-ahead basket, but we all still had to hold our collective breath as the USA had 0.9 secs to try and win it.
The inbound from the baseline found its way into the US frontcourt. The pass was perfect, going 90 feet, just over the outstretched arms of our 6’10 naturalized center Marcus Douthit. It was caught, The shot goes in the air. Time seemed to have stood still… until the ball hit the rim. It was sharp, the US missed it. After years and years of seeing shots like that go in for our opponents in international tournaments, it was hard to believe. I almost shed a tear.
History was teasing us
All week long in Taiwan, fate was testing us, history was teasing the basketball loving Filipino. On Tuesday, South Korea, of all teams, was down by three when they failed to send the game into overtime at the buzzer. Pilipinas won, 82-79. The following day, Japan missed a handful of three-point attempts as Gilas hung on to a four-point victory, 88-84.
Then on Friday, Iran was down by two. Their ace point guard, Kamrhani, dribbled the length of the floor off a missed Pilipinas free thow, stopped at the top of the key and let one fly. As time froze once again, what would’ve been the game winner bounced out. Gilas Pilipinas beat the mighty Mahram of Iran, 77-75.
Come Saturday, Gilas took on the best Chinese Taipei had to offer. After a ridiculously intense third quarter, Gilas was down by two entering the final frame. Then the Filipinos looked to break the backs of the hosts by unleashing a 15-4 run led by the man they call the Lieutenant, to take a 69-60 lead with just under six minutes remaining. We needed to win this one as the USA and Iran already lost earlier in the day.
Those two nations, together with South Korea, were at 5-2 (win-loss), while we were just half a game ahead at 5-1. Our opponents, Taiwan A, were right in the thick of the race at 4-2. So you know everybody was praying for Gilas to lose.
And the Taiwanese were more than ready to oblige, creeping within two points after a 7-0 blast. It was a dogfight the rest of the way until Gary David knocked one down from deep to see the Philippines take a 76-70 lead with just 40 seconds left on the clock. The rest was history as Gilas took their sixth victory.
Filipino perseverance saw us through
In every single one of those last five victories, our opponents had a sizable advantage at some point of those contests. But the Filipinos perseverance saw us through. The never-say-die spirit that has endeared Philippine basketball’s most popular team, Barangay Ginebra, to their legions of faithful as well as the PBA 37th season’s Powerade Tigers was definitely prevalent.
A team with no PBA MVPs saw the rise of Rain or Shine Elasto Painter Gabe Norwood, with his steady, all-around impact play throughout the tournament. His teammate, 2012 Governors' Cup Finals MVP Jeff Chan was also a huge revelation, with Larry Fonacier, Ranidel De Ocampo, Sol Mercado and Gary David also making their marks.
While Norwood would’ve been a solid choice, first-time National LA Tenorio was adjudged Jones Cup MVP after his spectacular play in the last two games. You couldn’t go wrong either way anyway.
The underdogs found a way to conquer the Jones Cup for the first time since the Centennial Team back in 1998 (and the fourth time in the tournament’s 34 editions). And they did it in a very Filipino way. Bucking the odds and just leaving everything they had on the floor.
In the end, they definitely deserve our sincerest gratitude. Thank you Smart Gilas Pilipinas 2.0. Maraming salamat for making our basketball-crazy people believe again.
And the best part is, this is just the beginning, the dawn of our rise back to prominence in the sport closest and dearest to our hearts and minds. - AMD, GMA News
Soucre: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/271379/sports/opinion/a-jones-cup-not-for-the-faint-of-heart
Monday, August 27, 2012
RIP Sec. Jesse Robredo
The late Secretary Jesse Robredo lies in state at the Basilica Minore Nuestra Seniora de Penafrancia in Naga City on Monday. Robredo, a Peñafrancia devotee, will be cremated on Tuesday after a state eulogy to be led by President Aquino and his Cabinet.
Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/image/images/08/27/12/robredos-remains-penafrancias-home
Guiao: SMART-Gilas Jones Cup win boosts PBA, local basketball
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Former national coach Yeng Guiao said the SMART-Gilas Pilipinas victory in the 34th William Jones Cup will give the PBA and all of local basketball a big boost.
“It’s good for the PBA and good for Philippine basketball,” said Guiao in a telephone interview with InterAKTV. “Everytime na mananalo tayo ng championship, such as Jones Cup, mas na-bu-boost yung awareness nila sa PBA and they treat the players like heroes.”
SMART-Gilas won the Jones Cup for the first time since 1998, when the Philippine Centennial Team swept the competition. SMART-Gilas coach Chot Reyes was Tim Cone’s chief assistant in the Centennial Team, which is the last Philippine squad to win a medal in a high-level Asian competition, winning the bronze in the Asian Games that year.
The SMART-Gilas victory is seen as the latest win for Philippine basketball, which has been enjoying a resurgence this past year. Last season, the PBA posted record television viewership and gate receipts.
The Jones Cup tournament marked the return of a team composed mainly of PBA players competing for the flag. The league earlier committed lending 16 players to the national pool, which would form the core of the program’s elite team.
Earlier, PBA commissioner Chito Salud hailed SMART-Gilas for the championship.
“Our country has just taken a giant step toward reestablishing our rightful place among the top powers in Asia,” he said. “I am extremely happy for the boys and the fans and proud of Philippine basketball.”
Guiao said the Philippine program should concentrate on regaining supremacy in Asia.
“Huwag na muna nating isipin yung world championship,” said Guiao. “Isipin muna natin yung FIBA Asia and how we can assert ourselves back as contender. Once we start beating China, then that’s the only time we can think about the world championship.”
SMART-Gilas is preparing to compete in next year’s FIBA Asia Championship, where three seats are up for grabs for the 2014 FIBA World Cup.
Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/guiao-smart-gilas-jones-cup-win-boosts-pba-local-basketball
SMART-Gilas won the Jones Cup for the first time since 1998, when the Philippine Centennial Team swept the competition. SMART-Gilas coach Chot Reyes was Tim Cone’s chief assistant in the Centennial Team, which is the last Philippine squad to win a medal in a high-level Asian competition, winning the bronze in the Asian Games that year.
The SMART-Gilas victory is seen as the latest win for Philippine basketball, which has been enjoying a resurgence this past year. Last season, the PBA posted record television viewership and gate receipts.
The Jones Cup tournament marked the return of a team composed mainly of PBA players competing for the flag. The league earlier committed lending 16 players to the national pool, which would form the core of the program’s elite team.
Earlier, PBA commissioner Chito Salud hailed SMART-Gilas for the championship.
“Our country has just taken a giant step toward reestablishing our rightful place among the top powers in Asia,” he said. “I am extremely happy for the boys and the fans and proud of Philippine basketball.”
Guiao said the Philippine program should concentrate on regaining supremacy in Asia.
“Huwag na muna nating isipin yung world championship,” said Guiao. “Isipin muna natin yung FIBA Asia and how we can assert ourselves back as contender. Once we start beating China, then that’s the only time we can think about the world championship.”
SMART-Gilas is preparing to compete in next year’s FIBA Asia Championship, where three seats are up for grabs for the 2014 FIBA World Cup.
Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/guiao-smart-gilas-jones-cup-win-boosts-pba-local-basketball
Rondo Nagpa-SemiKal sa Pinas...
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Rajon Rondo is in Manila for a short visit, and he found time to get a trim at the Titan 22 barber shop at The Fort. “Pretty good, very relaxing,” said the Boston Celtics all-star guard.
Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/caption-this-rajon-rondo-gets-a-shave-at-the-fort
Jones Cup hero Tenorio showered with affection on SMART-Gilas return
LA Tenorio returned home a conquering hero on Monday, getting showered with cheers along with the rest of the SMART-Gilas Pilipinas national team.
The 5-foot-8 Alaska guard won Most Valuable Player honors in the 34th William Jones Cup after starring in SMART-Gilas’ conquest of the US in its last game, which assured the Philippines of the title.
Tenorio expressed how much the game meant to him in a telephone interview with InterAKTV.
“That’s the most memorable game of my career,” said Tenorio. “Hindi na Alaska dala-dala ko rito, hindi rin pangalan ko. Pilipinas dala-dala ko rito.”
Aces team manager Joaqui Trillo expressed the company’s pride over Tenorio’s accomplishments for flag and country.
“The Alaska organization is proud of his contributions and that’s a big thing for us,” said Trillo.
The SMART-Gilas lineup to the Jones Cup featured three Alaska players: Tenorio, Sonny Thoss, and Mac Baracael, the most from any team in the league. Alaska coach Luigi Trillo said the three players made a lot of sacrifices for the national cause, making them deserving of the title. Curiously, the last Philippine squad to win the Jones Cup, the 1998 Centennial Team, also featured three Alaska players: Jojo Lastimosa, Kenneth Duremdes, and Johnny Abarrientos. Former Aces coach Tim Cone called the shots for the team, with SMART-Gilas coach Chot Reyes serving as his assistant.
enorio, mean
while, is looking forward to donning national colors again.
“Ang sarap pala ng feeling nung makapagsilbi sa bayan,” he said.
Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/jones-cup-hero-tenorio-showered-with-affection-on-smart-gilas-return
The 5-foot-8 Alaska guard won Most Valuable Player honors in the 34th William Jones Cup after starring in SMART-Gilas’ conquest of the US in its last game, which assured the Philippines of the title.
Tenorio expressed how much the game meant to him in a telephone interview with InterAKTV.
“That’s the most memorable game of my career,” said Tenorio. “Hindi na Alaska dala-dala ko rito, hindi rin pangalan ko. Pilipinas dala-dala ko rito.”
Aces team manager Joaqui Trillo expressed the company’s pride over Tenorio’s accomplishments for flag and country.
“The Alaska organization is proud of his contributions and that’s a big thing for us,” said Trillo.
The SMART-Gilas lineup to the Jones Cup featured three Alaska players: Tenorio, Sonny Thoss, and Mac Baracael, the most from any team in the league. Alaska coach Luigi Trillo said the three players made a lot of sacrifices for the national cause, making them deserving of the title. Curiously, the last Philippine squad to win the Jones Cup, the 1998 Centennial Team, also featured three Alaska players: Jojo Lastimosa, Kenneth Duremdes, and Johnny Abarrientos. Former Aces coach Tim Cone called the shots for the team, with SMART-Gilas coach Chot Reyes serving as his assistant.
enorio, mean
Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/jones-cup-hero-tenorio-showered-with-affection-on-smart-gilas-return
Fil-Am gymnast Kyla Ross on Olympic gold medal: 'It was all worth it' By: KARLA MAQUILING August 27, 2012 3:30pm
Fil-Am gymnast Kyla Ross describes her winning of a gold medal in the 2012 Olympics as “thrilling,” “unbelievable,” and “exciting.”
The 15-year-old gymnast helped the US Women’s Gymnastics Team bag the gold for the first time in 16 years at the 2012 Olympics in London.
In an e-mail interview with GMA News Online, Ross said, “I wanted to laugh, cry, and scream all at the same time. It makes you feel everything you’ve ever done—gymnastics wise and personal decisions made—was all worth it.
” Her mother Kiana was born in Hawaii and has German, Filipino, Puerto Rican, and Chinese blood.
Ross' maternal great-grandfather Tano was 16 when he left Pangasinan to work in a sugar plantation in Hawaii. Her great-grandmother came from Cebu. Ross’s father Jason is thus African-American and Japanese.
From her Filipino side of the family, Ross learned hard work and responsibility. She hopes to come and visit the Philippines one day and see her maternal relatives and her Pinoy fans who have been rooting for her since day one.
“I want to sincerely thank my Filipino fans for their love and support. I hope I can continue to make them feel proud of me,” said Ross, who loves pinakbet and halo-halo. Preparing for Olympics Ross, who claims to "love competing," said preparing for the Olympics was no easy task. “I had to stay focused. I trained 35 hours a week. My coaches, Jenny Zhang and Howie Liang, were very good at pacing me. I’m pretty good at eating healthy and staying away from junk food. My mother cooks nutritious meals so my diet didn’t change,” Ross shared. Ross' parents have always been very supportive of their children’s athletic interests. Kyla's brother plays baseball while her sister is a volleyball player. Their parents shuttle them to school and practice. “Both of my parents work very hard, and I know they have sacrificed a lot of time and money, but they never complain. I know it’s not easy for them but they always seem to get everything done,” she said. Her parents and brother, along with her grandparents and aunts from Hawaii, were at the stands cheering for her during the London Olympics. Back to normal Coming back home from the Olympics, she has settled back into her normal routine: gym training and getting ready for school opening in September. In the last four years that she has been with the USA National Gymnastics Team, Ross managed to attend regular high school while making time for training camps in Houston, Texas, and international assignments. During her down time, she squeezes in a few hours at night and early in the morning to do her homework. “My teachers give me assignments ahead of time when I need to travel. I have to stay organized, otherwise things can get crazy real fast,” she said. When not in school or training, Ross spends a lot of time baking and cooking with family. “I have a big extended family on both my mom’s and dad’s side. I love hanging out with them,” she shared. Growing up in a multicultural background, Ross said her family observes many different customs and traditions. - VVP, GMA News Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/271373/pinoyabroad/pinoyachievers/fil-am-gymnast-kyla-ross-on-olympic-gold-medal-it-was-all-worth-it
The 15-year-old gymnast helped the US Women’s Gymnastics Team bag the gold for the first time in 16 years at the 2012 Olympics in London.
In an e-mail interview with GMA News Online, Ross said, “I wanted to laugh, cry, and scream all at the same time. It makes you feel everything you’ve ever done—gymnastics wise and personal decisions made—was all worth it.
” Her mother Kiana was born in Hawaii and has German, Filipino, Puerto Rican, and Chinese blood.
Ross' maternal great-grandfather Tano was 16 when he left Pangasinan to work in a sugar plantation in Hawaii. Her great-grandmother came from Cebu. Ross’s father Jason is thus African-American and Japanese.
From her Filipino side of the family, Ross learned hard work and responsibility. She hopes to come and visit the Philippines one day and see her maternal relatives and her Pinoy fans who have been rooting for her since day one.
“I want to sincerely thank my Filipino fans for their love and support. I hope I can continue to make them feel proud of me,” said Ross, who loves pinakbet and halo-halo. Preparing for Olympics Ross, who claims to "love competing," said preparing for the Olympics was no easy task. “I had to stay focused. I trained 35 hours a week. My coaches, Jenny Zhang and Howie Liang, were very good at pacing me. I’m pretty good at eating healthy and staying away from junk food. My mother cooks nutritious meals so my diet didn’t change,” Ross shared. Ross' parents have always been very supportive of their children’s athletic interests. Kyla's brother plays baseball while her sister is a volleyball player. Their parents shuttle them to school and practice. “Both of my parents work very hard, and I know they have sacrificed a lot of time and money, but they never complain. I know it’s not easy for them but they always seem to get everything done,” she said. Her parents and brother, along with her grandparents and aunts from Hawaii, were at the stands cheering for her during the London Olympics. Back to normal Coming back home from the Olympics, she has settled back into her normal routine: gym training and getting ready for school opening in September. In the last four years that she has been with the USA National Gymnastics Team, Ross managed to attend regular high school while making time for training camps in Houston, Texas, and international assignments. During her down time, she squeezes in a few hours at night and early in the morning to do her homework. “My teachers give me assignments ahead of time when I need to travel. I have to stay organized, otherwise things can get crazy real fast,” she said. When not in school or training, Ross spends a lot of time baking and cooking with family. “I have a big extended family on both my mom’s and dad’s side. I love hanging out with them,” she shared. Growing up in a multicultural background, Ross said her family observes many different customs and traditions. - VVP, GMA News Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/271373/pinoyabroad/pinoyachievers/fil-am-gymnast-kyla-ross-on-olympic-gold-medal-it-was-all-worth-it
San Miguel boys eager to be a part of Gilas program
PBA superstar Arwind Santos and Petron teammate Marcio Lassiter as well as Smart Gilas old hand Jimmy Alapag have expressed willingness to join the national team program should their services be needed for the Fiba-Asia Champions Cup campaign in Japan next month.
Speaking just hours after a Gilas team led by LA Tenorio and Marcus Douthit took the country’s first Jones Cup title in 14 years in Taipei, Santos said he was supposed to be a part of Chot Reyes’ team but had to beg off after failing to get the go-signal from management.
Given the chance, the 6-5 forward with the unbelievable wingspan said he’s excited to don the national colors.
“Di lang ako pinayagan sumama sa team, pero excited na ako maglaro sa national team. Siyempre, para yan sa bayan,” Santos told Spin.ph after playing in Asi Taulava’s charity basketball game on Sunday night at the Ynares Center in Pasig City.
“Gusto kasi ng team management na mag-concentrate muna ako sa pag-prepare namin sa All-Filipino. Pero, masaya ako kasi yung panalo ng Gilas II, panalo nating lahat iyan.”
From all the players of the three San Miguel-controlled teams, it was only Enrico Villanueva of Ginebra who was allowed to suit up for the Gilas II team that went 7-1 in Taipei en route to the most significant achievement by a national basketball team since the Centennial Team’s victory in the same tournament back in 1998.
The non-availability of San Miguel players had become a contentious issue in the lead-up to the Jones Cup, fanning the rivalry between SMC teams and those controlled by the PLDT group of Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas head Manny Pangilinan.
Caught in the crossfire was Marcio Lassiter, a Gilas original who ended up playing for Petron as a pro after a trade with the former Powerade team of Coca-Cola.
“I salute the Gilas II team for a job well done. If I’m given a chance to play again, I’d love to be part of the program,” said Lassiter. “Playing in that kind of a tournament is tough because you get to match up with strong teams, then still have to deal with playing almost every day.”
Alapag, back at full strength after an injury-plagued 2012 season, said he would like to sit down and discuss with Reyes how he could possibly help the Smart-Gilas II once the national squad flies back to Manila.
“When they get back to Manila, I would like to talk with coach Chot and see how some of us could help the team further because we also have the Stankovic Cup (Champions Cup) this September. I would like to make myself available if they would need me for that tournament,” said the longtime national player and 2011 PBA MVP.
Meantime, Talk ‘n Text team manager Aboy Castro, who served as one of Reyes’ assistant coaches in the national team from 2005-2007, is convinced the ongoing Smart-Gilas II program is the right formula that could help bring the Philippines back to respectability in the international stage.
“Winning the Jones Cup is definitely a step in the right direction. That’s exactly what we need as we build up our basketball program. I think the right formula for the national team is putting together players who are 28-30 years old and reinforce them with a naturalized player,” said Castro.
Source: Richard Dy, SPIN.ph
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