On the Penn State scandal and being true

Penn State tight end Andrew Szczerba takes a knee after the 17-14 loss to Nebraska. Photo by Matt Rourke/Getty Images.

The scandal that has rocked Penn State University is a painful reminder of how people can let you down. Whether it’s a lack of action or false idolatry or a lack of ethics, it sure is something that leaves everyone diminished.

Having been weaned on Sports Illustrated, I first read about Joe Paterno and the Penn State Nittany Lions some two decades ago when they were featured and even feted with a cover story. I still have that issue and as a youngster, those “black shoed troops” made an impression on me. How many athletes wore black shoes then? It was only the Boston Celtics and the Nittany Lions.

But it wasn’t even the kicks. It was about the program that Joe Paterno ran that impressed me.

Around the same time of that story, I was able to purchase John Feinstein’s Season on the Brink, a book about Bobby Knight and the Indiana Hoosiers. This came out years after David Halberstam’s masterful Breaks of the Game, the first book about a sports team’s season.

At that time, Bobby Knight was such a huge name in the coaching profession and even the top Philippine amateur basketball coach Joe Lipa, was said to be a disciple (after attending a clinic by Knight).

The title of the book said it all and at times in the manuscript, Feinstein wondered when the fiery coach would lose control that would hasten his downfall. It did happen in 2000 after he reportedly tried to choke one of his players. After the school administration adopted a “zero tolerance” policy towards Knight, he fell prey to his quick temper when he grabbed a student and lectured him on the lack of respect (many feel that he was set up in this case and I do believe the same).

My room used to be a shrine to Michael Jordan and even with the damning and telling Sam Smith book The Jordan Rules, I remained a fan. That is until those years in the Washington Wizards. I don’t dislike Jordan despite what I feel are many lapses in judgment on his part. However, in the intervening years, I’ve simply decided to appreciate him as arguably the greatest basketball player of all time rather than blindly worship him when I was much younger.

I guess people will always disappoint you (but quite naturally because everyone makes mistakes). And Charles Barkley will forever be right -- just because some athlete can do wondrous things in his sport we should not idolize or blindly follow them. The other night, I got into an argument with a friend who said some things behind my back. I’d rather that he told me than tell others. More so now that things are even more clear. Well, we’re no longer friends and that’s fine. I have always been quick to detach  myself from things so it would be easier to move on. I don’t regret what happened. In fact, it’s fine. I learn about people all the time. 

While discussing the Penn State scandal with an old friend residing in the United States, he said that he drew the line on ethics and morals and damn the torpedoes. This friend of mine who works as a consultant for many firms in the west coast said that he felt no sympathy for the university as they covered up a crime. Any respect he had for JoePa went out of the window with what happened.

And I share the same feeling. Some months ago, I watched ABC Nightline’s continuing hunt for sexual predators and I came away feeling really sick and upset. A long time ago, a friend of mine woke up after hearing cries from a woman. He thought that he was dreaming and went back to sleep. When he woke up the following day, he learned that a woman was raped next door. And he felt so devastated by what happened and what he didn't do. My parents used to have an apartment that they would rent out and one time a long time ago, I was outside playing basketball in our backyard when I heard a child call out. It was the son of our new tennants. He asked me if I could spare some food as he was really starving. I went to the window of their apartment and asked if he was alone and why had his parents not left anything. He said that they didn't and they padlocked the refrigerator! Imagine that. I handed over some food to him through the window and immediately reported the incident to my parents. When they got home, they asked our neighbors what happened. Their excuse was the mother was late coming home and unable to prep any lunch. We listened but did not believe. Two days later, I saw the kid with welts and a black eye. I asked him about it and he said that he ran into the door knob. How does a kid have cracked teeth as well? Turned out that the father had slammed him into the refrigerator door. As we were talking, the father arrived and he said that he was taking his son to see a doctor after his "accident." I did not believe him and accused him of child abuse. He pushed me and I punched him back. My brother soon joined in as we hit him some. We called Bantay Bata but they slipped out through the back gate. We never heard from them again and to this day, I wonder what ever happened to that child. How I wish that more was done in connection to catching these sickos. 

I followed two matches yesterday – the Carrier Classic between the University of North Carolina and Michigan State University, and the football match between Penn State and Nebraska. I thought that it was extremely classy of the Cornhuskers to be respectful of their hurting foe and to assist in the healing by distributing the blue ribbons that call out for help for the victims. The 17-14 loss is sure to be humbling and painful. I shake my head at what JoePa did not do but also shake my head for those who had nothing to do with it (the students, faculty members etc) who must bear this cross that came from nowhere.

I have always thought that the game of American football like baseball lends itself to so much drama. And the pictures that I chose from the Penn State-Nebraska game (through ESPN and Getty Images) say much of what is going on. It is painful indeed but it never should have come to this had the right thing been done a long time ago. I agree with my friend, there are certainly bigger things than winning and that is doing what is right and being true. If you love sports, you cannot come away not feeling affected by this. 

Now hopefully, everybody and everyone learns from this.

 In a photo by Getty Images' Patrick Smith, Penn State cheerleaders embrace after the botched final play of the Nittany Lions that cost any chance of a comeback win.

Philippines-Laos: The 11th Hour win (thanks to Joshua Beloya)

This appears in the Monday November 14, 2011 edition of the Business Mirror.

The 11^th hour win

by rick olivares

The date is either magical or even sinister depends on who interprets it. November 11, 2011. Or “11-11-11”.

For me it’s special because for one, it’s my birthday and when the three elevens align it happens only once a century. I haven’t really celebrated my birthday in years because it reminds me that I am getting old.

Now aside from the other things I had to do on 11-11-11, there was the crucial match between the Philippines and Laos. Two losses had left the U-23 Azkals at the bottom of the cellar and close to being booted out of the tournament. A win would keep the flicker of hope alive although the team was also dependent on the outcome of the other matches.

While there are some things that you cannot control, there are some that you can.

Unfortunately, the match against Laos was careening towards a massive nightmare after some early cheer.

In the seventh minute of the match, Laos was shaky and their short game non-existent. And the Philippines, with one true chance, saw midfielder Manny Ott outrace two defenders and get enough juice in his boot to send it past keeper Sourasay Keosouvandeng.

Laos immediately launched an attack where they stretched the Philippine defense first before they bore down the problematic right wing where a cross found forward Lamtao Singto whose blast fortunately was well wide.

The Philippines has been running a 4-4-1-1 (there’s that “11” again) formation albeit loosely as the wingbacks have oft gone up high to support the attack. Minus the suspended Carl Martinez de Murga and the fallen Matthew Hartmann who was shipped home following conflicts within the team, head coach Michael Weiss inserted David Basa to man the central defender position alongside Neckson Leonora. Jacque Van Bossche and Patrick Hinrichsen were on the extremes. With team captain Jason de Jong playing a holding midfield position, co-captain Manny Ott, left wing Jeffrey Christiaens, and right wing OJ Porteria were in the secondary. Ojay Clarino played behind Jinggoy Valmayor up front.

Hoping to increase the high pressure, at times De Jong was left in a central back at time sweeper position with Leonora moving to the left and Van Bossche staying to the right. Three defenders with everyone joining the attack.

Just like that, Laos picked up on what Vietnam and Timor Leste did to us with quick counters and well-played passes in the final third.

In the 35^th minute, midfielder Soukaphone Vongchiengkham sent another cross inside the box and this time it was a killer as Singto could only send it past Roland Muller who tried to close him down.

Then in only the second minute of the second half, Laos upped the ante when Singto scored his fourth goal of the football tournament of the 26^th Southeast Asian Games. Latching onto a forward pass, the Laotian forward put on a burst of speed to outrun three defenders (he was at least three strides ahead of the last Philippine defender) before he essayed it home. Two-one for Laos.

Things were looking bleak for the Philippines as Laos was outplaying the Azkals. Despite being reduced to 10 men after a clumsy challenge by Hinrichsen saw him getting carded twice in the match, the nationals drew some strength from the late second half entry of Mark Hartmann who himself had a couple of scoring chances.

Incredibly, despite falling behind in all three matches thus far, the Azkals had shown some fight in them by playing better in the late stages of the game. I thought to myself that we simply love to flagellate ourselves before trying to pull the mother of all comebacks.

In the first minute of stoppage time, Hartmann got a through ball and raced inside, He drew a defender before he expertly laid a pass to a wide open Joshua Beloya for the equalizer. Even before the Fil-Swede scored, he had begun to make an impact on the offense end feeding Ott for a volley that unfortunately went wide. He also had an opportunity for a header but it had gone wide.

However, with seconds left in the game, Beloya, wearing the number “11”, his Under-23 number with Bacolod and with the University of St. La Salle, latched onto a forward pass. His first touch was superb and the control, so lacking in early on, was beautiful. Beloya found the right balance yet even with defenders crowding him, the Fil-Swede was volleyed it past Vongchiengkham for an improbable game winner.

And just like that, the Philippines, snatched a 3-2 victory from the jaws of defeat following a superb performance from #11 on 11-11-11. And for once, down to 10 men, we pulled out an incredible win.

The three points collected from the win allowed the Philippines to leapfrog into fourth place in the six-country Group B behind leaders Myanmar and Vietnam (both with seven points) and Timor Leste that drew a bye and has six points from two wins. Hard-luck Laos and Brunei drew up the rear with one point from three matches thus far.

The steak dinner at home on my birthday never tasted better.

#11 (Joshua Beloya) makes my day

Last summer, I got the opportunity to cover the Under-23 National Championships around the country. That was one of the coolest experiences ever. Wrote a bunch of stories about the teams and matches and in that time, I struck up a friendship with Joshua Beloya who was going great guns for the Bacolod team. He was named tournament MVP after he led his team to the title while scoring 15 goals. After the group stage, I (along with Red Avelino and Eilleen Esteban) made it my mission to promote Josh as I thought that he alongside other great U-23 players were deserving of a chance to play in the national team (there were no other media peeps until the semis and certainly no coaches watching). After the finals, I was once more fortunate enough to catch him at the recently concluded University Games. Although his La Salle Stingers were eliminated 1-0 by De La Salle University, he was awesome in the tournament. After that semis loss, we both chatted on the pitch. He had two excellent chances to win the match or even equalize but the shots were either parried or wide. Against Laos, as he latched onto that forward pass -- I had seen this before in the U-23 national cup -- I thought he'd control it before volleying. And true enough he did and it gave the Philippines a spark of life. 

What a day -- it's my birthday today and it has been plenty good so far -- and thanks to #11 (Josh wears that number for Bacolod, USLS and now the U-23 team so you can say that he has his own version of 11-11-11). It's fate I suppose.

Here are links to that summer of the U-23. Kindly use the navigation below the page that says "newer posts" and "older posts".


http://bleachersbrew.blogspot.com/2011/11/philippines-laos-11th-hour-win.html

http://bleachersbrew.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2011-05-24T16%3A03%3A00%2B08%3A00&max-results=20

http://bleachersbrew.blogspot.com/2011/05/how-bacolod-became-u-23-national.html

Life’s a ball for the Younghusband brothers

Life’s a ball for the Younghusband brothers

by rick olivares with photo by jp manahan

When you look at James and Phil Younghusband in the midst of their activities for The Younghusband Football Academy, they are totally engrossed in what they are doing. No task is small for them. They arrange the football paraphernalia needed in instructing their wards. They meticulously go over their checklists leaving nothing to chance. And they discuss the program with the other instructors making sure that everything runs smoothly.

They are perfectionists or at least they try to be not jusytin everything that they do but also in their pursuit of teaching football to people. They have not only taught kids, but also physical education instructors, military men, and adults looking to learn the beautiful game.

Once they begin to teach, their game faces give way to broad smiles never mind if they are basking under the hot afternoon sun.

The brothers’ business partner, Cathy Nazareno-Rivilla explains: “In the student training phase, Phil and James make sure that the first part is the fun stage. They have to make it as fun as possible to raise the interest of the students. Once they get into football then the module graduates to the the intermediate and the advanced courses.”

The brothers have come a long way from kicking the ball on the street in front of their home in England or in their backyard. They had a brush with the big, no, premier league when they were signed to the Youth Academy of Chelsea Football Club. And now their journey has brought them to the land of their late mother’s birth. At first, they would come over occasionally for international duty. Today the brothers have made the Philippines their home.

When you ask each brother about how they’ve adjusted to life in the Philippines and without their mother (both parents have passed away), they will tell you that they aside from being best friends have carried each other aside from the help of a few close confidants. They understand the responsibility that has been thrust upon them. And it is something they take very seriously.

Last Thursday, November 10, it was formally announced that the brothers are now being named “Football Ambassadors” for AKTV. “What most people do not realize is how me and James are serious about spreading and teaching the game of football,” passionately said Phil. “Being Football Ambasadors for AKTV will give us an opportunity to reach a wider audience with football as we’re going to be doing a series of segments about learning the game as well as living a healthy lifestyle.”

“I think they are good role models,” said AKTV’s Head of Sports, Vitto Lazatin. “They are stars with the national team, they are leading Loyola in the UFL Cup, and they have their academy. They do good in teaching children and that is what this is about.”

The Younghusband Football Academy has been teaching children the game of football since November 2009. To date, the brothers and their core of coaches and trainers have taught more than 250 teachers all over the country.

“We say that children, the youth, are our future,” enuncited Phil. “That’s true. Not everyone we teach will become a football player. But the values the game teaches will go far in life.”

When the two talk in front of the cameras about their endeavors, they pick up from one another’s sentences just the way they play on the pitch. Seamless and in total understanding.

And they also want people to understand that what they are not telling people they should switch from basketball to football. “Whatever sports people choose is fine,” clarified Phil.

Cut in James, “Phil loves tennis. And he wishes he was Roger Federer. But as long as kids get into something – it can be something creative like drawing or such. They become productive people for the country.”

“Amazing what one can do with a ball, right,” summed James with a wink.

You can follow James and Phil here http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/with-aktv-younghusbands-hope-to-spread-gospel-of-the-beautiful-game

With AKTV, Younghusbands hope to spread the gospel of the beautiful game

For James and Phil Younghusband, life has turned 180° for them. The two started out on their journey with the Chelsea Football Club’s Youth Academy. Incredibly, nearly 10 years later, as they finished Year One of the Younghusband Football Academy, the national football team mainstays signed on as Football Ambassadors for AKTV and have reconnected with the club of their youth in the Philippines of all places.

In a simple press luncheon held at Masas in Greenbelt 2, AKTV head of sports Vitto Lazatin said that the country’s newest sports superstation’s mission “is to bring sports to every television set in every country and to make sports bigger than it currently is. We have an excellent opportunity to elevate sports now that what we’re showing is available on free television.”

Read more

A short interview with the UFL’s Chairman, Santi Araneta & President, Randy Roxas.

A short interview with the UFL’s Chairman, Santi Araneta & President, Randy Roxas.

by rick olivares

Rick: Is it a good idea for the UFL to move its knockout stages to make way for the SEA Games? In say, Europe or North America, they lose players for the African Cup but they continue with their domestic leagues. 

Santi Araneta: Yes and no. For now, yes, because the Philippines lacks football talent. Once we has developed enough football talent that it will not cause a club team too much quality in the game then we won't have to postpone matches for Sea Games. Exceptions should be made for Sea Game semis and finals, but not for the players, for the audience. 

Randy Roxas: Given our current state where we are trying to make the UFL, Philippine football, and the national team – not in that order, of course -- the best it can possibly be and that means also assisting the PFF and the national team, then I’d say yes. Having said that, we are also looking at improving our schedule to accommodate the international schedules and competitions. In the long run, it should stabilize.

Rick: The group stages of the UFL Cup featured matches that were blowouts. Is that good for the UFL to be seen on national TV? Will any of these clubs be participating in the UFL Division 2 play?

Santi: Not good at all. But since it's our first year to go televised and it was also a expansion year, there was really no telling how some of these clubs were gonna perform. The UFL board will decide which teams will participate in the League. This will be based not only on the quality of their game but also their commitment and the clubs conduct and track record. 

Randy: It’s both good and bad. The other night, I had dinner with the team manager of one of the teams that was blown out and he was very passionate in his belief that in spite of getting beaten by a huge score, they are committed to play maybe in Division II and get better. They understand the quality in Division I and it was a huge eye opener for them. It’s an expansion year and we are in the process of improving much of our league. We just have to manage things very well. But it’s a learning experience too. By the same token, even in the foreign leagues, say for example, the La Liga, it’s really a two-team race and we see blowouts there. And that’s supposed to be top-flight football (see Real Madrid versus Osasuna).

Rick: Will the UFL look into arranging its competition calendar to accommodate the international competitions?

Santi: Yes we will. But invitational matches, friendlies are not in a regular calendar and really make it difficult to work with. Based on my knowledge, international clubs only release their players one month before the World Cup and two weeks before the Olympics. Other than that it's very difficult adjust the schedules, as you can see with how difficult it is to get (Neil) Etheridge and (Stephan) Schrock here. They arrive sometimes a day before the game and leave the day after.

The Azkals have really helped boost football in the country and we all need to take advantage of that. It's very difficult to improve club football if club players are being asked to go on 2-3 week training camps out of the country just to prepare for friendlies. But I guess for now we just all have to share in our efforts until we have enough talent not to worry. 

Randy: Yes, it is something we are discussing. For example, there’s the AFC President’s Cup but since the League competition isn’t done we might have to send last year’s winner Air Force to represent the country. We really have to sit down with the PFF and the national team to map out the competitions and proper release procedures so we don’t hurt the clubs and the national team. 

Revised UFL Cup sked

Nov. 19 (Saturday) Rizal – Round of 16

2PM:  M-44:  Stallions FC vs Diliman Victory Liner FC

4PM:  M-50:  Global FC vs Phil. Army Fritz & Macziol FC

Nov. 20 (Sunday) Nomads – Round of 16

6PM:  M-45:  Team Socceroo FC vs Kaya Cignal FC

8PM:  M-48:  Green Archers United FC vs Lions Meltique Beef FC

Nov. 22 (Tuesday) Rizal – Round of 16

7PM:  M-49:  Pachanga FC vs Phil. Navy Redjuice FC

9PM:  M-43:  Loyola Meralco Sparks FC vs Sunken Garden United FC

Nov. 26 (Saturday) Rizal or UMak - Quarterfinals

2PM:  M-51:  Winner of M-43 vs Winner of M-44

4PM:  M-52:  Winner of M-45 vs Nomads Auction Manila FC

Nov 27 (Sunday) UMak or Nomads – Quarterfinals

4PM:  M-53:  Phil. Air Force Phoenix FC vs Winner of M-48

6PM:  M-54:  Winner of M-49 vs Winner of M-50

Dec. 1 (Thursday) UMak OR Dec. 6 (Tuesday) Rizal – Semifinals

6PM:  M-55:  Winner of M-51 vs Winner of M-52

8PM:  M-56:  Winner of M-53 vs Winner of M-54

Dec. 10 (Saturday) Rizal – Finals

2PM:  M-57:  (3rd/4th Place)  Loser of M-55 vs Loser of M-56

4PM:  M-58:  (Championship)  Winner of M-55 vs Winner of M-56

On all this talk about the U23 team and critics

On all this talk about the U23 team and critics

by rick olivares

The poor performances of the U-23 national football team has drawn sharp criticism from different quarters that has in turn sparked some debate about “arm chair critics”.

You know it’s like this – just because you criticize that doesn’t mean you are against something or in this case the national team. Blind allegiance is even worse because you are party to the problem of cover ups, excuses, incompetence, and failures.

Now not every bit of criticism may be just, correct, or constructive as some may be totally wrong, off, unwarranted, overboard, or even misinformed. But a person, celebrity, a team should learn how to take the good and the bad. He cannot have it one-way and totally disregard the other. Whenever you put something out there for public consumption then it is subject to conjecture both good and bad.

Quick – the Star Wars prequels also drew criticism from those who thought that it looked too polished, that Jar Jar Binks is one of the worst creations ever and ad infinitum. Dude, I love the prequels but not Jar Jar Binks. Now did George Lucas go out and say, “Screw you bastards. Let’s see you make your own movies.” He didn't, right?

In case you are not reading things right – again -- anything put out there in open to conjecture good and bad (include what I am saying here). And maybe the people involved should know those who criticize also care. After all, you sell tickets, merchandise and so on to us. So it's fair.

I can’t get this “blind allegiance” from the Johnny-come-latelys (how I wish they were like this with the national government instead of trying to topple who whoever is sitting in Malacañang every few years).

When we were in Kuwait, sometime during the 60^th-70^th minute of the match versus Al Azraq, I stood up from the stands behind at the Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium and yelled for I what I believe was a time to substitute Angel Guirado who was largely ineffective at that point.

After the match, we went to the media room for the post-match press con and one Philippine television journalist asked me why I was angry with Angel and what my beef was with him. I rolled my eyes. Please. If you are going to cover a sport please know the damn sport. It’s not being angry with a person (and why should I be)? The point is I felt that a change was needed to give the team some fresh legs and a spark. Not a sub in the 89^th minute. What the F was that all about – are we sending Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or Pippo Inzaghi for a late game winner? I can go on about these substitutions but that is not the point. 

Having said that, here is something from someone involved with our national team who pleads for understanding: There are a lot of young players in our team and because of that we pay the price for that inexperience on the field . Except for the second half against Vietnam where they lost it completely after the own-goal of Matthew Hartmann and the team panicked, they didn't play so bad at all. During the second half against Timor Leste they showed glimpses of what they can bring. Now this is a team that needs the chance to grow. They get well along with each other and the spirit is there. That people are disappointed is only normal after the earlier boosts that we had a chance for the semifinals etc. if this was really the target than we should have organized this in a different way. But I wish the PFF would defend this team.

Thank you for this so that we have all sides covered. As I wrote previously, I felt that the U-23 team should have been sent to the Long Teng Cup instead of the senior squad. That's fine but I cannot accept that the target for the team to mature and win is in the 2013 SEA Games. Any time you put on that jersey with "Philippines" or even your school, you play to win. You mean to say that these past few years we sent our national squad to international competitions to get our asses kicked? We must be suckers and masochists for 8-1 or 13-1 beatings. In case you've forgotten, the reason why no national squad was sent to the last SEA Games was because we were deemed not competitive and the money and government support was best given elsewhere for that tournament. So now we are worthy? Instead of head coaches criticizing people who call out the team for coming up short, they might want to take a long hard look and ask, "What program am I running here?" I think everyone deserves the right to know.

More to come….

Interview with Chris Greatwich

Interview with Chris Greatwich

Rick: What has kept you busy in the past year? Were you able to play competitive football/soccer in the US? How did you team do over there?

Chris: I have been so busy coaching here in the US- all of my teams have had hugely successful seasons- especially in the summer when my U-20 team won its conference and my U-16 won a few big tournaments. This unfortunately kept me out of World Cup Qualifiers but I hope to be back in the frame again.

Rick: Have you followed all the matches of the national side in your absence? What do you think of the changes and their performance?

Chris: It was strange not being part of the team as I have hardly missed a tournament in six years. Obviously, Simon was playing so that kept the family interest going and seeing some of the new guys come in looked encouraging. I think we have a nucleus of a strong squad now so the future looks bright. We obviously won a few games and lost a few but let's see how things transpire. I'm not too quick to judge especially with a team trying to evolve with new ideas and a new coach.

Rick: Did you ever think that the local football scene would get this big?

Chris: Honestly - no. We'd go to Thailand, Singapore and see their players heralded by their fans. Only really in Bacolod and IloIlo were we celebrated in the Philippines. Now it has all changed. I hope that it doesn't detract from the football field and it doesn't become a novelty. Similarly, I hope players who come in realize how far it is a come in short a short period of time and continue to push the game forward and not be overly concerned with the celebrity element of playing for the Azkals which I sometimes see and I think it is alarming. We don't want this to become a circus.

Rick:  Are you playing in the Galaxy match? If so, how do you feel about putting on the national jersey now and against LA no less?

Chris: I hope to feature in the game but that is down to the coach’s selection. All I can do is train hard and show him what I can do.

Rick: You being a Tottenham fan, what do you think of David Beckham?

Chris: I was at the game when DB scored from the halfway line against Wimbledon. I was only about 13 at the time, and my whole family was just amazed that he did that. He has obviously gone on to be a huge footballing icon- it would be an honor to grace the same field as him should I get the chance- a real ambassador for football all over the world.

Injury depleted TNT outlasts Powerade

Photo by Brosi Gonzales: Jason Castro blocks Gary David's three-point attempt.

Injury depleted TNT outlasts Powerade

by rick olivares

November 9, 2011

Smart Araneta Coliseum

The Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters gutted out a huge win over a tough Powerade Tigers squad 95-86. “But at what price?” asked a glum head coach Chot Reyes after the match even with his team drawing level with Philippine Cup leader Rain or Shine at the top of the standings with a 6-1 record.

Two days after forward-center Ali Peek was shot by a still unknown gunman that simply sank the team’s heart, the defending Philippine Cup champions lost stud guard Ryan Reyes to a knee injury during a loose ball scramble where Powerade’s Doug Kramer unknowingly backed up on the TNT player.

It has been a dour week for Talk N’ Text beginning with the loss of forward Aaron Aban to a torn ACL last Monday followed by the shooting incident that has drawn widespread interest. Reyes is already without forward Rich Alvarez who has torn ligaments on his left hand and Jimmy Alapag who is expected back in December as he is still recuperating from a knee injury. Center Ranidel de Ocampo and forward Harvey Carey recently returned from the injury list and are far from optimum game form.

Prior to the match, Reyes was already wary of Powerade that absorbed a 117-78 beating at the hands of Barako Bull last Sunday. The multi-titled coach expected the Tigers to play their best basketball against them. Although TNT spotted Powerade a 22-13 first quarter lead, the Tigers came back as first round draft pick Marcio Lassiter scored 15 points in the second quarter to give the Bo Perasol-coached squad a 43-40 lead at the half.

TNT battled back in the third behind Ryan Reyes (9 points), Jason Castro (7 points), and Japeth Aguilar (4 points) who played terrific defense for a 71-66 lead entering the fateful fourth period.

Then at the 11:34 mark of the final period, Aguilar batted away an entry pass to Kramer that had the players scrambling for the loose ball. Talk ‘n Text was able to recover the ball but Reyes went down in pain clutching his knee.

Almost immediately, Powerade tied the match behind Josh Vanlandingham and Sean Anthony. The two teams traded baskets and were tied at 80-all following a Kelly Williams lay up off a loose ball with 5:34 left.

After Gary David drained a pull up jumper to bring his team a point down at 86-87 with 2:10 left, Aguilar responded with an 18-foot jumper. Powerade was unable to score on their end after which Jared Dillinger hit a triple with two seconds left on the shot clock (off a kick out by Castro) to give TNT a 92-86 lead with 1:12 left.

Castro blocked David for the second time in the quarter after he came off a pick for a three-point attempt. The quicksilver quick guard drove the lane causing the defense to sag. Castro them passed out to Dillinger who was all by his lonesome at the top of the arc. The former University of Hawaii Rainbow Warrior nailed his third trey of the quarter that knocked the wind out of the sails of Powerade; good for a 95-86 win.

Immediately after the match, the TNT team raced out to check on Ryan Reyes who was being wheeled onto an ambulance bound for the New Medical City in Pasig for a MRI.

Said Chot Reyes post-match: “We won this game but we lost another guy. Ryan Reyes was just rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. We were not in any condition to play this game after Monday night’s event. The guys stayed in the hospital ‘til one o’clock to stay with Ali. We went through the motions in practice and it showed in tonight’s game. Hindi ko makuha magalit sa kanila because I felt it was unfair to push them in the condition that we were in. But when we called a timeout in the middle of the third quarter – we were down by 10 or 12 points, I just told the players, “How are you going to visit Ali if we lose this game this way? Luckily they responded.”

Reyes couldn’t help but note the irony of how the Tropang Texters were relatively injury for the most part of last season until the fateful third conference where they lost to Petron in a thrilling seven-game Governors’ Cup Finals. “Such is life. Darating din yung meron konting malas at paghihirap. We have to face it square in the eye. We will find a lot about ourselves with the way we battle and play these next few games.”

Talk ‘N Text 95 - Aguilar 21, Dillinger 18, Castro 12, Williams 12, Carey 10, Reyes 9, Fonacier 9, De Ocampo 4, Raymundo 0, Oreta 0, Membrere 0, Lao 0.

Powerade 86 – Lassiter 24, David 21, Kramer 10, Casio 8, Lingganay 7, Antonio 6, Vanlandingham 5, Anthony 5, Crisano 0.

Petron runs Shopinas into the ground

Petron runs Shopinas into the ground

by rick olivares

November 9, 2011

Smart Araneta Coliseum

Shopinas dug themselves into a hole, crawled out of it, and then dug themselves into a grave of no return in the third quarter against Petron Blaze that ran away with a 102-77 win.

After the Boosters posted a 30-15 lead following Danny Ildefonso’s lone bucket of the night, the Clickers methodically chopped down the lead behind Renren Ritualo’s two triples, James Sena’s nine points, and RJ Jazul’s two treys to make it 43-44 at the half.

But Petron promptly regained the lead as they dropped a 21-0 bomb, the third longest unanswered streak after Ginebra’s 32-0 run against Shell in Game 5 of the 1991 First Conference Finals and Alaska’s 26-0 blitz versus Talk ‘N Text in 2008, to blow the game wide open at 67-43. By the time Sena knocked down a baseline jumper to score Shopinas’ first bucket of the third period, close to seven minutes had elapsed.

Rob Reyes, the third year forward-center who seems to have found a home with Petron, his fourth PBA club, spurred the Boosters in the third period by tacking on seven points, three rebounds, and four blocks. Joseph Yeo and Arwind Santos also chipped in six points a piece to give Petron a comfortable 76-52 lead despite missing Chris Lutz who was out with a minor injury.

Shopinas drew big games from Jazul (16 points) and Sena (13 points and seven rebounds) but their team’s collective 22 turnovers including seven in that devastating third quarter run by Petron simply hurt the Bert Lina-owned club. The Blaze Boosters parlayed those errors into 35 huge points. And the 21 offensive boards by Ato Agustin’s team also translated into 21 points.

Shopinas with all it’s college stars fell to the bottom of the standings with a 0-8 record while Petron went up to 5-3, good for fourth place.

Petron Blaze 102 – Santos 18, Yeo 16, Cabagnot 16, Guevarra 12, Miranda 12, Reyes 7, Sharma 6, Doruelo 5, Agustin 4, Baclao 4, Ildefonso 2.

Shopinas 77 – Ritualo 17, Jazul 16, Sena 13, Mirza 7, Se 6, Menor 5, Aquino 5, Sison 4, Espiritu 4, Hermida 0, Duncil 0, Daa 0, Hubalde 0.

LA Galaxy in the MLS Cup Finals

Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Landon Donovan celebrates with Todd Dunivant after he scored the penalty against Real Salt Lake. The Galaxy won 3-1 to go to the MLS Cup Finals against the Houston Dynamo. Photo c/o Gino Ferazzi/LA Times. Guess the finals will be the last games that David Beckham plays for the Galaxy in the MLS. So the exhibition match in the Philippines will be one of his last?

Has the sun set on the Under-23 national team?

Has the sun set on the Under-23 national team?

by rick olivares

There is nothing you can say that will make me feel better.

I still have not recovered from that stinging 3-1 loss to Vietnam and then this new heartbreaker arrives in the form of a 2-1 loss to Timor Leste.

This was an opportunity to get on the board with a win and the three points available considering that heading into the match, the two favorites to top Group B Vietnam and Myanmar had four points each while Timor Leste had three. So now were at the bottom of the six-team group with a big fat egg next to us.

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