On the Ateneo Blue Eaglets

The Ateneo Blue Eaglets salvaged some Katipunan pride when they beat the DLSZ Junior Archers 73-64 in the Fil Oil Juniors Tournament. Quite honestly, that win showed a bad side to the Ateneo Juniors squad. They have a propensity to rack up huge leads -- thanks to their full court pressing defense -- then eventually falter down the stretch. Even when Joshua Webb was with DLSZ, Ateneo had the same problem.

The AHS team still has Kiefer Ravena who scored 31 points and Von Pessumal who added 18. Keifer nearly slammed home the ball on the break but was fouled (the ball rimmed out). Joining them in the starting unit are U18 teamer Paolo Romero, Lambert Tenorio (LA's younger bro), and Jay Javelosa. If you've watching games by our grade school teams you'll know that Javelosa is a very good basketball player. Although he did seem a little lost or awkward in his first Juniors game. He used to run the point in grade school but because of his height (is he 6'3" or 6'4"?), he had to play center.

Also making it to the team is the third of the Gamboa brothers (the kids of former Blue Eagle Jojo Gamboa), Mark. I'm sure you remember Mike who used to play for UP and Kevin who is in Ateneo Team B. Also in the Juniors line up is Jedd Austria, Bacon's younger brother. And there's Mio Puno, the son of former Blue Eaglet captain Nolet Puno. And Chuckie Dumrique is still around as well.

The DLSZ Junior Archers have some pretty tall but still awkward players. Glenn Capacio's other son Mykee is on this team. Keepers on their team are Jonathan Caluglug who is in the mold of a Joshua Webb and Alex Torres, an inside player.

Since we're on the topic of Juniors players, check out the Letran Squires Mark Cruz. He is an awesome player just like his older brother Marvin who once played for the UP Maroons.

What an amazing goal!

This video is from the Argentine Clausura football league featuring a match between Gimnasia La Plata and Boca Juniors. The vid features a two-man bicycle kick by Gimnasia's Marco Perez and Sebastian Romero. Looks like it was Perez' boot that got the ball in past a stunned Boca keeper Javier Garcia.

Wayne Gretzky & Mats Sundin McDonald's commercial

The stick up. Ateneo loses its first pre-season match to La Salle.

Ateneo 74 vs. La Salle 77

Thank God, it is only the pre-season. But you have to hand it to the La Salle Green Archers for sticking it to us. They showed an energy that wasn't there for their previous Fil Oil matches while Ateneo, underhanded and with a smaller line-up, crumbled in the endgame, a traditional source of strength, with a series of mistakes that gave their rivals a 77-74 victory in the Fil Oil Pre-season Invitational.

Yet still groping for form and combinations that will work, Ateneo nearly pulled off another win.

Again, it's still too early to pronounce the team's chances as we've historically not done that well in the pre-season. But you can already notice some glaring deficiencies. And everyone else has as well.

As I've previously stated, Ateneo's perimeter and interior defense in pot-holed. From the beginning of the game, the Green Archers went inside to test that theory. Backdoor picks to free up Luigi de la Paz for a jumper then if challenged then drop the ball inside to either Ferdinand or Yutien Andrada for a layup off the window. Before they would have to think twice before trying that. With no shotblocking threat, you can bet every peso in your wallet that every team will try than again and again until someone steps out of the shadows of Nonoy Baclao.

Ateneo adjusted well enough with some switching and the entry of a still out of shape Ryan Buenafe and Vince Burke changed the fortunes of the blue and white early on. Ryan, pot bellied and heavier by what --- 20 pounds -- was magnificent early on while Burke shut down Ferdinand. Burke scored 4 points (I know he scored six but whatever) and played good defense. Sort of makes you wonder why he or even Justin Chua were not on the floor in the final minute when you needed some ceiling. Jason Escueta has been a revelation but he cannot and will not be able to do it alone.

Without having to worry about Rabeh Al-Hussaini or Baclao making mincemeat of him, Ferdinand played well included a stuff on a late challenging Nico Salva and pulling down a huge offensive board that proved to be the backbreaker.

La Salle made Ateneo pay for all their mistakes including a lineup on the floor in the second quarter that had no offensive firepower. That was mistake number one because Almond Vosotros lead the rally that saw them overhaul the deficit.

The second was well... the line-up in the final minute. La Salle made sure they had taller players on the floor. And there was the ill-advised trey by Emman Monfort with no rebounder underneath. Still... had Kirk Long made that free throw, had Eric Salamat not lost the ball on his drive, had they not given up that offensive rebound to Ferdinand...

I thought that the game was also a perfect opportunity to get JP Erram and Art de la Cruz into the game and feel what an Ateneo-La Salle game is all about. As rookies several years ago, Salva and Buenafe got into the game and that provided some experience. Incidentally, we got outrebounded 44-39 (the Green Archers had 19 offensive rebounds to Ateneo's 11).

But again we still nearly won in spite of all of that. I'm sure Norman had his reasons. We do not hang championship banners for pre-season tournaments, friends. Keep that in mind. It's okay to lose a battle here and there for now. The bigger battle is three months away.

After the game, I pulled Jason Escueta on the side as the team made their way to the dugout. I told him to remember this game. What it takes to win and what made us lose. And that he knows what it is all about now.

Congratulations again to La Salle sticking it to us. That gives everyone something to chew on and to work out.

See you in July.

La Salle 77- Vosotros 13, Webb 12, Ferdinand 11, de la Paz 11, Marata 7, Andrada 6, Tampus 5, Banal 4, Atkins 4, Mendoza 2, Villanueva 2, Elorde 0, Paredes 0

Ateneo 74 - Buenafe 14, Escueta 11, Salva 10, Monfort 9, Salamat 9, Long 9, Tiongson 7, Burke 4, Golla 1, Austria 0, De Chavez 0, Gonzaga 0, Chua 0

UE trumps FEU once more

The Far Eastern University Tamaraws have on paper the best team. The addition of Mark Bringas (Arvie's bro who is also from San Sebastian) and Terence Romeo will greatly add a lot to this team. They go 10-men deep -- there's Al Ramos, JR Cawaling, RR Garcia, Reil Cervantes, Paul Sanga, Jens Knuttel, Chris Exciminiano, Pipo Noundou, and Bringas and Romeo.

In a move that will recall the past season, the Tamaraw coaching staff slid RR Garcia to the 2-spot (they did that with Mark Barroca) while Romeo moved to the point.

You have to put their loss to UE in perspective. They are rivals. That's the U-Belt's version of Ateneo-La Salle. They are pretty even when it comes to games on the court. Yet as I've said before, the problem with the Tams is their mental framework.

Are they tough enough to win the big games? They rack up huge leads them give them up. As for their bench moves, I wonder why Sanga was kept in the freezer too long. He was shooting well early on. Looks like they forgot him. By the time he returned, UE had the momentum. And for all the questions about the team's mental toughness and smart play, they do run a variation of the triangle offense (not all the time though). That isn't an easy offensive pattern to run since it's predicated on smart play and reading defenses. Nevertheless, I thought it was fun to watch them execute it. On some plays it worked on others it did not. Bringas looks well suited for it though and yet it would be interesting to see them run it when Cawaling and Ramos return. Who anchors that post play and who cuts? Cawaling?

Now you have to wonder if the UE Red Warriors are in their heads. They have beaten FEU four straight games now dating back to the second round of the last UAAP season. As UAAP history has shown us, the road to the championship goes to Recto. Since the Tams are around the corner at Morayta, can they drive right through?

I have a great shot of UE's Adrian Santos blocking RR Garcia's drive off Paul Lee (who had a great match up with Garcia). Will send it to my editor at Business Mirror for printing in tomorrow's paper.

How about UE's uniform? Those guys are a walking billboard for the Lucio Tan Group of Companies. Guess they need it after all their recent financial troubles.

IronKids Run Race @ Ateneo High

I've been sick since yesterday afternoon. I think I got it from this jerk who kept coughing like he was going to wheeze his guts out the day before at the Fil Oil Pre-season Invitational at the San Juan Arena. But I had committed to go and since I live nearby... it was a little easier to force myself to get up from sickbay. I think there were a little over a hundred participants for the second leg of the Alaska IronKids. This is the second Run Race with the first held at the Manila Polo Club last February. The next one is an aquathlon at the Manila Polo Club this May. The E-Cow, Alaska's PBA mascot was fooling around and I challenged him to a 3K race and chugging down a bottle of Gatorade in the fastest time. He accepted! He, it, after all, is the IronCow! Hahaha!

Fuel injection, Gatorade style.

This kid, Alex Ballester, ran the 3K in 10:43. He flat out killed everyone. Never slacked off in his pace that was costant. He even caught up with the tailend completing one lap before they even did. Incredible!

This kid won the 2K race.

Got skills to watch the World Cup?

Philippine Patriots championship shirt

Thanks to Coach Louie Alas for this (only got this now since it's the first time we spoke in a while). Haven't been able to really follow the Philippine Patriots since there's another writer following them for my paper. The Patriots will be undergoing an overhaul. There are four left from the original roster. I can name three now (I forgot the other hehe): Khasim Mirza, Warren Ibañez, and Val Acuña.

Stan Van Gundy nails the NBA with a dagger

Yep, I agree with Stan Van Gundy. It really is all about the money. The first round should be a best-of-five series. The old format where there was only one day between travel was good enough. Even better, it was done in a little over a week.

But if those NBA skeds are obviously all about the money he should have seen Ateneo's UAAP Season 72 sked. That was about sticking it to them. Too bad it failed.

Now will the league fine the Orlando Magic head coach? I wouldn't be surprised. Gotta keep up that mom and pop PG-rated show for corporate sponsors and the folks watching at home now.

Congrats, Scott Brooks. But I'd temper that celebration just yet (and that goes for you too Mike Brown).

We hate to rain on your parade so we’ll offer first congratulations on your Coach of the Year Award, Scott Brooks. But please keep in mind that it officially means that you’re on the chopping block. That is if the trends continue.

From 1998-99 to the 2007-08 NBA season,10 different coaches were conferred the Red Auerbach Award. Save for the San Antonio Spurs’ Greg Popovich, everyone else lasted at least 2 years before they were fired. Only two left on their own terms – Larry Brown who fled Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers and Hubie Brown who after sensing something was amiss with the Memphis Grizzlies after a great 03-04 season, quit citing health reasons.

Incidentally aside from Larry and Hubie, there’s a third Brown to win the award – Cleveland’s Mike Brown. But maybe he doesn’t count since we’re only counting from 1999-2008. It just makes for interesting trivia.

Mike Dunleavy – 1999 Portland Trailblazers 35-15

Glenn Rivers – 2000 Orlando Magic 41-41

Larry Brown – 2001 Philadelphia 76ers 56-26

Rick Carlisle – 2002 Detroit Pistons 50-32

Greg Popovich – 2003 San Antonio Spurs 60-22

Hubie Brown – 2004 Memphis Grizzlies 50-32

Mike D’Antoni – 2005 Phoenix Suns 62-20

Avery Johnson – 2006 Dallas Mavericks 60-22

Sam Mitchell – 2007 Toronto Raptors 47-35

Byron Scott – 2008 New Orleans Hornets 56-26

Mike Brown - 2009 Cleveland Cavaliers 66-16

Scott Brooks - 2010 Oklahoma City Thunder 50-32

Of the 10 coaches, only two hiked their win total the following year, Dunleavy and Rivers. For Dunleavy, it was a significant gain. But that is somewhat misleading because the year he won was the strike-shortened season. Every other coach, including Popovich saw their wins drop the following year.

And speaking of Popovich, he is the only one left with his team.

Of the list of 10, five are out of the NBA – Dunleavy, Hubie Brown, Johnson, Mitchell, and Scott.

Scott. Not Byron but Brooks. I liked him as a player. He stood 5’11” and was a feisty one especially when he was with the Sixers alongside Charles Barkley and Hersey Hawkins. He made some pretty good moves this year by placing Kevin Durant at the 3-spot and handing the PG role to Russell Westbrook. They may be down 0-2 to the Lakers but this season is already an unqualified success.

* photo by NBAE's Andrew Bernstein

It's not in honor of Dave Bing I assure you. You can bing it.

Does this mean that if I want to look up Sue Bird, I gotta bing her?

The Seattle Bing, er, Storm is now the third team in the WNBA to put a corporate sponsor's logo in front of their jersey. The first was the Phoenix Mercury with Lifelock that was followed by the Los Angeles Sparks with the Farmers Insurance Group.

Guess the United States is finally following the footsteps of Major League Soccer. Of course, all over the world it has been that way.

Too late though, "Google" has entered the world's lexicon much the way "Xerox" did. Only "Google" is bigger.

If the Storm win the WNBA title, then can we say, "Bing-O"?

Bad joke to start the day.

"They're still the defending champs until someone takes it away from them."

Happy Birthday, Jace.

Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles 77 vs. Arellano University 76

The Ateneo-Arellano University game reminded me of an NBA game dated March 21, 1999.

On that date, the defending champions Chicago Bulls played the Boston Celtics at the Fleet Center. The Bulls had Toni Kukoc, Brent Barry, Dickey Simpkins, Ron Harper, and Randy Brown on the floor in the final seconds of play while the Celtics had Antoine Walker, Paul Pierce, Ron Mercer, Tony Battie, and Kenny Anderson. The game had gone into overtime. With time running out and the score tied at 92-all, Toni Kukoc was unable to wiggle free for a shot and he passed the ball to Randy Brown who hit a trey at the buzzer to win the game 95-92. As the Bulls celebrated their 8th win in 25 games, Boston forward-center Andrew DeClerq exclaimed, "They're still the defending champs until someone takes it away from them."

It has been only two games thus far -- both wins and the latest one won with the help coming from an unlikely source -- and that isn't enough to make any long term prediction on the Ateneo Blue Eagles. However, two things are clear -- the team is not in shape and the middle is an express lane for foes. And opponents know that. They kept driving in beating the porous perimeter defense and taking it inside. Time was even if you had Nonoy Baclao chasing his man outside there was still Rabeh Al-Hussaini inside to contend with. If the spirit moved the big man, he would make you eat the leather.

The Blue Eagles double-teamed on the outside to prevent the dribble penetrations -- something they have not done in years as they played straight up man to man. What happened was Jason Escueta rushing out thrice to challenge an open outside shot.

And rebounding. Time was the Blue Eagles were an extra possession team with Zion Laterre and Nonoy Baclao picking up those offensive boards. Instead we have Escueta doing his impression of Ford Arao's face up jumper, bump and post you up and tippy-toe rebounding. Now if he can run the break like Arao did. But make no mistake, I am not saying that is such a bad thing. On the contrary...

If Escueta is a throwback then you'd be glad to know that Emman Monfort is in the house. In a team increasingly suspect with its outside shooting, Monfort, the collegiate version of a bantamweight Mighty Mouse (the Chiefs' Leonard Anquilo is the Atom), hit five treys with three coming in the first quarter as it seemed that it was Monfort vs Arellano. And to think he was cut in Season 71!

And Monfort this time around was huge in the end with a trey although the Chiefs' Andrian Celada replied with a cold-blooded trey of his own.

Speaking of Mr. Extra Possession, Bacon Austria channeled Laterre/Baclao with a huge offensive rebound for a putback. He scored six points -- two free throws, a stretch lay-up, and his put back.

Nico Salva was consistent on both ends. And Eric Salamat still battling a nagging injury disrupted Arellano's offense with his quick hands.

But the night belonged to Escueta. What a way to cap his birthday than by making two huge free throws to win the game. For years, the Blue Eagles were once more the Hail Mary Squad as they made a habit out of winning close ones with tons of game winners. Last season, perhaps even better than the year before, they steamrolled over foes. Now's there's a doughnut hole in the middle. And they had to come back to win this as a tough Arellano squad recovered from three straight Monfort long toms in the first canto to nearly pull the rug from the heavily-favored Loyola Heights team time down to four minutes left.

More than ever, they played as a team. And if they harbor any aspirations for a third straight title, then it's going to take all hands on deck. But they will not win if the bigs do not step up.

Other teams are looking mighty impressive -- the Adamson Falcons are hanging with the Far Eastern University Tamaraws while the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons look to be a contender. But perhaps save for Season 71 where Ateneo was a heavy favorite to win the title, many look to them to be a middle of the pack team that by virtue of making the Final Four will be a huge accomplishment. Unfortunately, that's not true. They are the two-time defending champs and they've got a lot of pride. To paraphrase DeClerq who put summed it up right more than a decade ago, the Blue Eagles may not strike as much fear in the hearts of foes who are eager to knock Ateneo off its lofty perch, but they are still the champs until someone takes it away from them.

Ateneo 77 - Monfort 17, Salva 16, Escueta 13, Salamat 12, Austria 6, Tiongson 4, Gonzaga 3, Buenafe 2, Long 2, Burke 2, Chua 0, Erram 0, Golla 0, de la Cruz 0

Arellano 76 - Celada 17, Ciriacruz 17, Palma 8, Acidre 7, Zulueta 7, Virtuadazo 7, del Rosario 3, Anquilo 3, Lapus 3, Avellana 3, Tayontong 1

Where to Smart Gilas?

For all of Smart Gilas' woes about its yet to be naturalized import, this team, in my opinion, will make a trade for a PBA player (via Talk 'N Text) soon. This team is better on the break than in a half court set but to be able to do that, they need to collar those rebounds. That's something that hasn't been done on a consistent basis since CJ Giles was on board. It's no secret who else is on Rajko Toroman's list of PBA players but he will have to part with some players. And should that happen, one of them is on the injury list while the other is on the rotation. The time is coming because team officials will have to pull the trigger fast. But the changes should happen soon.

And if the team makes way for a few more Fil-Ams, it has to be now. But that will come at the expense of some of the current mainstays. A team official isn't exactly down with that but will only acquiesce if he is an impact player.

Some quarters are alarmed at the shellacking the team got in Serbia. Honestly, that was expected. The Serbs are the fifth-ranked country in the world. The highest West Asian team is Iran at #21. Okay that might sound apples and oranges since Gilas faced a variety of Serb teams and not the nationals. Ditto with Mahram Iran that incidentally boasts of a number of nationals like Samad, Afagh, Sohrabnejab, and Kamrani to name a few. I'd rather that we make all the mistakes now and peak too early before the Champions Cup and Asian Games.

The three-year plan is a difficult one. The goal isn't now but some time away. Maintaining focus for that is extremely difficult. As I previously wrote, when an import signs with a PBA club it's for three months or so. For Gilas, it's for the long haul. Most players will have trouble with that for many things: where they compete because you can't be practicing for weeks on end; the expenses because it's a vastly different undertaking today as opposed to when Northern Consolidated Cement was tasked to uphold the national cause; and all the personalities around. It isn't just about basketball anymore. The kids are bright and they know what goes on around them. They know the gossip and background. And they have their own opinions about it. Of course, they'd rather play basketball than worry about those things that are better left as in- jokes than become real time distractions. Yet it does seems comical at times while on occasion, it can leave you shaking your head.

So where is Part 5? The one that deals with their import problems. It's done. Pretty much the whole series is. Am just waiting for something. having said that, the best story of Gilas should come out when all this is said and done.

This is why dinosaurs are cool

A justice official who is an election lawyer of the piece-of-work TGMA (note i said T" not "P" that you should go figure) lets two mass murderers go.

An editor uses Pacquiao's name in a headline in a story involving a fighter who never fought the champ and who committed suicide.

A government that instead of being confident about clean and honest election constantly harps about "failure" while in the past several weeks we've seen brownouts that accentuate their nefarious plans.

A suspended NBA player whose act of supposedly being intense is wearing thin with on court scuffles and off court verbal jabs.

An NFL Quarterback whose nickname of "Big Ben" now means something else.

A host of people ready to write off the Bosox who have a 4-9 record and have played only 13 games of a 162-game sked!

An inept UEFA that did not postpone the Barca-Intermilan match because of the ban on air travel that forced the Spanish team to take a long train ride from their side of the country all the way to Italy. English team Fulham and Liverpool also face the same long trip for their Europa matches.

And the only bit of cool news this morning is... the fossils of a velociraptor feeding on the corpse of another dinosaur were found in Mongolia.

Me behind the pen and the lens

Someone asked me why I chose to carry a camera to the race instead of just running.

As I explained earlier, it was to be able to better tell the story. And I really wanted to capture the run from someone who is in it.

Photography is something I’ve always been fascinated with even as a kid. I wanted to join the camera club in grade school but I didn’t own one. I would borrow my dad’s cam once in a while to take shots and experiment but it would only be many years later when I decided to take it up more seriously.

I try to learn as much as I can from my fellow Ateneo Sports Shooters who are really good and awesome at what they do. When I see their stuff, I wish I could shoot like that. I don’t have the equipment or the experience yet and hopefully, I’ll get there.

However, several years ago, I was given the opportunity by San Miguel Corporation to take part in a photo exhibit at the Tent in the Fort. Not bad for someone with hardly any experience. Client and our subjects (former Philippine Olympians) loved many of the shots that they asked for copies that had to be blown up several sizes larger than the original. I’ve never posted them online after one known photographer copied a pose that I asked Tony Leviste to do several years ago.

My trying to be a complete journalist was inspired by Kevin Sites among many others. So you can imagine how difficult it is to lug not only a laptop but a camera and videocam. I’ve hardly shared with my initial foray into journalism that entailed riding in cop cars late at night. It something that lasted for a couple of months that left me shaken and changed in my view and opinion of policemen. I wish I had a camera then for what I saw and experienced. I moved away from that kind of reporting to features and sports until I chose a supposedly more sedate job of copywriting for several ad agencies.

Like writing, I’m in photography for good. And obviously, it’s still a learning process as I try to get better at it.

When I began to take my own pictures and shoot my own videos several years ago, I think it changed something in the local reporting scene. At that point no one was doing it. I would place them on my blog and on ateneo.edu.

Now I know that some editors of major broadsheets require their writers to do the same.

I try to make what I shoot an extension of how I write -- in depth and personal and from an unobtrusive side. For a while, I tried to be like my fellow Ateneo Sports Shooters. But I’m not them so I choose to shoot them another way.

I’ve always ached to do more than sports. I’ve done lots of PR over the years including Senate reports. I’ve done several documentaries that have been shown on television. But the one thing I’ve always wanted to get into is conflict reporting.

Yes, that means going to a war zone. Some friends of mine would ask me if I get frightened by the thought of being in the midst of a shooting war. Of course, I am. Who wouldn’t be? But if you go you gotta go.

Where’s that coming from? From the late Robert Capa, Sydney Schanberg, Christiane Amanpour, and Kevin Sites. Aside from ESPN and HBO, my fave channels are CNN, AL Jazeera, the BBC, National Geographic, and the Discovery Channel. I read the New York Times every day, I buy Time and Fortune magazines. I used to buy Soldier of Fortune. I read lots of books on a wide variety of topics.

Last year, I applied for a job in Afghanistan. Hahaha. Hopefully, something happens there. I’m really trying to make that happen.

WillieCab passes away

With the late Willie Caballes (left of photo above) and other scribes Julius Manicad of the Tribune, June Navarro of the Inquirer, and the Star's Joey Villar and Jun Mendoza. Also included in the pic are PSC's Harry Angping and SBP President MVP. Kuya Willie was a sports writer and assistant sports editor of the Manila Bulletin.

Last year, I shared a room with Kuya Willie while covering Smart Gilas Pilipinas at the FIBA Champions Challenge Cup in Jakarta, Indonesia. The conventional didn't apply to him. "Wag kang matakot. Gawin mo yung kailangan mong gawin," he said as he puffed on a cigarette in a non-smoking room. "Sulat ka lang ng sulat at taninga nilang lahat. 'Yan ang magaling na sportswriter." Then he went down to play poker with the other guys as I got some shut eye. He passed away last Sunday in Naic, Cavite. Rest in peace, Kuya Will. But I hear they got a great bowling tournament up in the sky.

Truckin' along

The New York Yankees completed a two series homestand against the Los Angeles Angels (Anaheim, California, or LA -- please decide on what your name is) and the Texas Rangers with a 5-1 record. Four straight series wins against the best of the American League. Now they're off on a West Coast swing with the 9-5 Oakland A's who are on top of the AL West.

Andy Pettitte got the win to go 2-0; the same record of CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett. Phil Hughes is 1-0 while Javy Vasquez is at 0-2 with all sorts of mental problems about the game and pitching for the Yankees. The next game is crucial for Javy because he's on the mound at the Alameda County Coliseum in two days' time. Ramiro Peña subbed for DJ and got a hit. Mark Teixeira joined the Yanks' home run parade by blasting his first. Jorge Posada also homered. I remember two years ago when analysts said that Jorge was on the decline. Uh uh.

He and Mo were there for the final pitch as NY won 5-2.

Photo by Chris Trotman of Getty Images.

Down to the bone. Down to the wire.

Looks like the European football leagues will go down to the wire.

AS Roma is a point ahead of four-time consecutive champion Internazionale in the Serie A Chase 71-70. AC Milan's 2-1 loss to Sampdoria put a cramp on their challenge as they are left at 64 with four matches to play. I'm still not sure on Sam Eto'o's impact with Intermilan. He does have 16 goals in 38 appearances this season. Likewise, Zlatan Ibrahimovic's goal-scoring has tapered off with Bareclona in a swap of top strikers between the Italian champs and the Spanish kings. Barca has been paced this year by Lionel Messi (even Thierry Henry has been AWOL since his hand of God II).

And speaking of La Liga, Barca has a sliver's grasp on the lead after a disappointing scoreless draw with Espanyol. Meanwhile Real Madrid came charging back with a 2-nil win over slumping Valencia. They may have Spain's bets goalscorer in David Villa over the past few years but clearly they haven't done much since Rafa Benitez was a god in these parts. Barca's got 84 points to Madrid's 83 with five left to play.

In the French Ligue 1, it's goodbye title aspirations for Bordeaux and Montpellier as the former drew with Lyon 2-2 while the latter drew 1-1 with Toulouse. For now, Marseille (boo!) has a five point lead with five matches left as well.

In England, Chelsea also holds a 1-point lead over Manchester United even as news breaks out the Juventus' all-world goalkeeper Gigi Buffon is headed to either club after the World Cup. I find it strange to hear Arsenal's Arsene Wenger take a shot at his troops for a lack of discipline and focus following the Gunners' collapse in the second half of the football season. Isn't that his job alongside the team captain's? His side has not won since that magical undefeated year of 2003-04. As great as I believe the Frenchman is, I wonder if it is time to hear a different voice at the Emirates. Liverpool definitely needs a change in manager even if the club will be bought out. I can't believe that he put it on the new owners that he will need over £60 million to bring in at least three new players to compete. I guess he is admitting that the signing of Glen Johnson and Alberto Aquilani were busts. Ditch this guy! Please.

Bleachers' Brew #205 Nenikekamen

This appears in my column in the April 19, 2010 edition of the Business Mirror.

Nenikekamen

words and pictures by rick olivares

What’s in an event? The timing is not lost on me. The 2^nd Great Lapu Lapu Run in Lapu Lapu City in Cebu was held on April 19, nine days ahead of the 489^th anniversary of the Battle of Mactan that was fought on April 27, 1521.

And speaking of battles, what’s in the word “marathon”? The long distance race is actually based on the story of Pheidippides who ran all the way from the battlefield of Marathon to Athens to spread word that the unified Greek army defeated the Persians in 490 B.C.

So it is most fitting that a long distance run is being held in a city that is known for being the first in Asia to repel foreign aggression. That however, isn’t the only thing Cebu would like to be known for. The city would love to be known as a top sporting destination and a runner’s paradise much like the manner that Camarines Sur has become synonymous with water sports. And for Ironman winner Noy Jopson, the organizer of the race, it’s about giving back to his hometown. “Hopefully, the Great Lapu Lapu Run will become one of the most prestigious races in the Philippines,” he proudly exclaimed as close to 4,000 runners signed up.

But how do you write about a run? The simplest way would be to cite the names of the winners. Except that I feel there’s more to a tepid list that says less than Pheidippides’ terse ”Nenikekamen” to anxious Athenians who were awaiting world on their country’s fate. That one word meant: “We have achieved victory!”

Pheidippides, who expired out of exhaustion of his run over a distance of 42k (the standard of the long distance run) captivated the entire Greece that had spit in the eye once more the world’s superpower.

So I figured the best way to write about it was to participate while lugging a camera and a videocam in a backpack. Talk about multi-tasking lunacy! I used to walk/run regularly around the entire Ateneo campus circling it at an average of five times in one outing but those were better days and with stronger knees.

I got up at four in the morning, Sunday, washed up, and stretched those lazy old muscles that have not been pushed for some time. I’ve never had a problem stretching because of my long arms. But the paunch in my stomach was like a speed bump and the effort left me winded. So I said a short prayer for good measure. It wasn’t going to be an easy feat considering how badly out of shape I was.

I arrived at the Mactan Shrine at 5pm still unsure of how to cover the event. The night before, we drove through the entire route with one of the race sponsors and I felt a lump form in my throat. This is far, I thought to myself. I was in for a world of hurt. Nevertheless, I had to do this or I wouldn’t be able to live with myself. I figured it would be best to join the 21K that would get the jump on the succeeding races and put me in prime position to take photos.

I was at the tail end of the runners and instead of running, I did brisk walking. At the 1K mark, I began to flagellate myself for such a hair-brained idea. The cameras slowed me down and I began to feel uncomfortable. I thought about quitting and just hitch a ride with one the various media groups covering the run. Just then I caught up with the straggler from the 21K group who despite being younger and better built than me was all tuckered out. I theorized that maybe he wasn’t ready for the run and that he wasn’t properly hydrated. Most people think that taking in a sports energy drink during athletic activity will help them get through. The truth is, one has to ingest the drink even before the activity starts!

And the Gatorade station was still several klicks away. As the disoriented runner sat down by the side of the road apparently out of it, I decided to finish my 5K walkathon come hell or high water. So I continued and pushed myself… until the street sign, until the waiting shed, until the police station, until the panaderia, until where this pretty photographer with her hair tied into a ponytail stood, until the pacers from the 10K batch caught up with me, until I felt a wave of panic shooting up my spine, until I finally reached the 5K mark and I heaved a sigh of relief.

I didn’t wear a singlet and instead chose to wear a basketball jersey that was flaming red (I wore the jersey of former Chicago Bull Andres Nocioni). It turned out that I wasn’t the only one. There were four runners dressed incredibly like Lapu Lapu from the fake armor to a shield and a sword. One lady dressed in a semi-super hero garb. I later found out that every time she participates in a race, she always dressed up for the occasion. Flash fact: they always finish the race!

Drenched in sweat, I massaged my aching calf muscles while figuring how to catch up to the head of the pack. That’s when an ABS CBN mobile unit passed by and I gave them the hitch sign. Problem solved. I was able to cover the route and took a whole lot of pictures.

After the race, I spoke with many of the runners. Gerard Montejo has only been into running for under a year and he felt that the race was good overall despite some glitches. Simon Wosiaboi, a missionary from Kenya, won his 12^th consecutive race finishing at 1:12:47. His fellow Kenyan Brian Kipketer, who is studying Pharmacy at the University of San Carlos finished sixth. But by virtue of tournament rules, the top Filipino finisher, Eric Panique who finished second at 1:13:24, will be the one sent to compete in the Hong Kong Standard Chartered next year.

I asked Edward Salac, who won the best Lapu Lapu costume award how difficult it was to run the race. In the vernacular, he said, “It’s all about properly representing his hometown’s hero and finishing. Not everything is about winning. It’s about finishing what you started.”

Somewhere Pheidippides is proud.

Thanks: I would like to thank Noy Jopson, Gerard Montejo, ABS CBN Cebu, and the people of the Waterfront Hotel Mactan for their help and hospitality. Cheers!

Picture below: With Edward Salac and Cesar Dilmar who both ran while dressed as Lapu Lapu. Salac won an award for Best Costume for the race.