Tuesday, July 14, 2009
UP Fighting Maroons - Season 72, Game 1
Im no basketball expert but im free to give my opinion in my own blog. Here's my analysis:
- Center Magi Sison has no low post moves, hates to bang bodies in the paint and loves the outside shot, which he is not very good at. I mean after maybe taking 3 or 4 outside shots and nothings going in, maybe you can take it in a little closer since you are 6'6" and being guarded by a relatively smaller person who is not necessarily more massive. If you still like doing the 3, then polish up on your dribbling and passing skills so you can be converted to a 6'6" Point Guard.
- Alvin Padilla lost steam in the end. The guy was amazing at the start. Looking at his attempts, you know they will go in. Unfortunately, he couldnt sustain it and gradually disappeared by middle of the 2nd quearter. Add to that the foul trouble and the successive turnovers which resulted to diminished confidence and aggressiveness. Hope they can condition him better for the next 13 games.
- Point guards sucked. At least for this game, they did. Turn over after another. You can see the turnover happening before it even begins because passes are weak or too strong, the angle not so great, and you can already see that the dogs have anticipated it. In fairness, you can see that Mikee Reyes does have some moves and with a few more games or seasons, I think he will be good. Hopefully, he grows some more inches and pounds. But for now, they suck because UP had 37 turnovers.
- Veterans are still inconsistent. Martin Reyes and Woody Co, you guys are the King Parrots, what happened?
- No go to guy. We dont need a star (but one would be nice) but there should be someone creating shots and opportunities for others. Padilla, judging by his gam, should fit the bill since he can handle the ball, drive and pass. He did this and it resulted to an easy bucket. Wish they could do this more. Magi can just lurk around the paint and anticipate a drop pass for easy pickings.
- Crucial point - trailing by 7 or 5 points in the 3rd, the maroons had a steal and had a 4 on 2 break. Juruena the rookie, dribbled the ball upcourt. You can already feel trouble happening because he is big guy and a rookie dribbling the ball on the break. Somewhere in the shaded lane, he was torn between going all the way or passing to the wings. In the end, he hesitated and passed it to the left, dishing out a weak above the shoulder, behind the head pass---which was intercepted ofcourse leading to a fastbreak on the other end. 4-point swing, momentum swing, end of game.
Despite the loss, there's still hope looking forward. Afterall, this NU win and their hot 3-pt shooting MIGHT be a fluke (but then again, maybe not). I mean even the best basketball teams lose so what more for an average team. That's what you call school spirit (but spirits cant play:)
For now, lets hope UP will do better as they battle Adamson next.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Tales of the Last 35 Years – Transformers the Fallen
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Tales of the Last 35 Years – My Lost Tooth and My Near Death Experience Part 2
There are times when you gain something, you lose something in return. I gained another lease on life (and avoided wrecking my car) but in return, I lost something dear to me for the last 35 years.
I had tooth extraction yesterday, ending a little less than 35 years of partnership at the dining table. It was still a good tooth, no decays whatsoever, but it has somehow affected its mouth-mates prompting them to vote him off in the very first eviction episode. The judge, jury, and executioner (aka the dentist) said the tooth was guilty of causing great discomfort---the highest form of crime a tooth can commit. He pleaded for root canal but was denied. Sentencing was swift and the verdict was death by extraction.
The day before the execution, I was preparing my tooth for the longest (and last) day of his life. I cleansed his soul by gargling Listerine. Surely, he sobbed a bucket (I was salivating the entire night) with every thought of the end. But with every passing moment, he was desensitized by Sensodyne as he began to accept his fate. In the hours leading to his death, we gave him a decent meal of pandesal and coffee. We gave him a good bath and massage by brushing. To make sure he smells good when he meets his maker, we blessed him with a strong dose of Betadyne.
As I walked to the execution chamber, he was steadfast. This is his fate. He has lived a full life of servitude, munching at bones and meat, even if it meant tartar and odor. He was ready.
The dentist gave his final instructions. They were like prayers but no miracle was coming, no pardon. Death began by lethal injection of numbing meds. This way, he cant feel his life slipping away. Then came the heavy artillery and finally, the pliers which ended everything with a bloody mess.
With tooth as souvenir (would make a nice necklace pendant), I was reminded of how swift life can be taken away. Often, it doesnt even come with a court date or a sentence. It can happen in an instant and you cant even say goodbye. God is great. If you think that Im just lucky, Im pretty sure God made that luck happen. I havent been the best Christian for the longest time and I doubt I'll start being one now, but things like this affirms my belief in Him and that ultimately, He made me stay a bit more to fulfill my destiny.
I live to blog another day.
PS
A day after I wrote this entry, it occurred to me what the priest said in his sermon. “It's our belief in God that saves us”. Amen to that.
Tales of the Last 35 Years – My Lost Tooth and My Near Death Experience Part 1
I LOST MY BRAKES!!! was what was boldly written on my Facebook account one sunny Friday afternoon. It wasnt the 13th of June but my day kinda started with that hair raising feeling. My balls went up my throat when I realized Im pressing the brake pedal all the way to the floor but Im getting very minimal braking action.
Good thing I already exited the expressway where my minimum speed was around 80kph. Good thing I was already beyond the toll booth where a mandatory stop is required. Good thing I was already beyond the busy Bicutan intersection where the traffic flow is as chaotic as it gets. When I first noticed I lost my brakes, we were about to enter the DOST gate which requires us to cross the opposite lane. Good thing the lane was free. Good thing too that the DOST guards are now very familiar with my car and I get a free pass without going through the mandatory inspection. When I made a sharp right turn, I ate much of the left lane which meant trouble had there been a vehicle, or worst people---or cats (dont want to add to roadkill stats)
What worries me most is that I was driving with my wife whom I wasnt telling what was going on. Fortunately, i still had minimal braking power which was enough to make the vehicle stop (no more pressing the gas pedal since we entered). But stupid me, I still wanted to go to work so I made another go. As I left my wife's office, I realized what Im about to do is like Russian Roulette and that I'll be praying like a mad man anytime soon. My senses came back with every failed attempt to achieve acceptable braking power. No such luck. Mechanic needed now.
The brakes were eventually “fixed” but my shattered confidence wasnt. I was able to drive all the way from Bicutan to QC on jogging speed, a hand on the hand brake, keeping distance from everyone, and blowing a horn everytime someone wants to change lane. On the way home, I kept testing my brakes before hitting the road. I went by two more mechanics but they all said my brakes were fine. Obviously, the problem now is mental. I even called my wife to tell her I wont be picking her up because should anything happen, I dont want her to be a part of it. Let me suffer alone since I was hard-headed enough to drive on “bad brakes” and a shattered confidence.
Things are now back to normal. I have faith in my car again and I drive on speeds Im used to (this after just a day). Looking back, you can say I was very lucky my stars aligned. Or you can make a clear case for Divine Intervention, clearing my path the way only He can do. Clearly, it wasnt my time yet.
Or maybe, God wanted to have a “tales of the last 36 years” in 2010 (and succeeding sequels ofcourse). Im really glad Im sharing this story with you now in the flesh and not in spirit.
End of Part 1