Rant aftermath

Whew.. That was a long one..

I would like to make clear that I am not targeting any individuals as I have no beef with anyone from that religion individually. Its just the system as a whole that sickens me..

Enough of that.. I'm gonna draw a line on all this negativity caused by religion and go back to our regular non-religious programming..

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The UAAP season is now in full swing, and al eyes are on DLSU with their spotless 4-0 record. I think we have a pretty even field this year, and that games can go either way for the most part. A good example of this would be Adamson's 1-point victory over perennial powerhouse Ateneo off a last minute jumper near the top of the key.. I really missed the UAAP, and I'm glad it's finally back onj track. I'm thinking of following the NCAA as well. a 10-team field seems interesting, and the balance of power seems to have shifted a bit away from San Beda and San Sebastian which to my recollection have been really successful in recent years. Sana lang hindi na sila larong kalye unlike before..

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I'm in the library for research yet again. This time it will be in preparation for a speaking engagement on a much bigger stage.. It is a burden I had no wish or intention to carry,. but I guess my chief had no other choice but to put me on the chopping block since everyone else already had their turn..I just hope I could put this off without a hitch..

Watchful Waiting

It rained today.. First time in quite a while.. Kinda like this blog entry, hehe.

Seeing as I often tend to start my posts with a commentary on how long it has been in between blog entries, I shall put that aside and just jump into the thick of things.

The diplomate examination has come and gone, and I now find myself nervously waiting for the results of the test (which is slated to come out tomorrow according to the information pamphlet we were provided at the venue). However, I have decided to wait it out for tonight in the hopes of getting an early lead on the news, whatever the outcome may be..

 This "watchful waiting" reminds me of my two previous licensure examinations, for Medical Technologists and Physicians. The wait for the MD boards was obviously the more nerve-wracking of the two, considering the relative difficulty of the latter and what was at stake as compared to the former.

Taking the MT boards was never really a necessity for me since I was already in Medical School at the time, studying to become a doctor. However, I felt that I couldn't just let all those years go to waste. It is true that I chose Medical Technology as my pre-med course, but I guess I wanted it to be more than that.. I spent my years in college learning the finer points of diagnostic laboratory medicine at one of the finer institutions of higher learning to offer that course. The least I could do was to see everything through full-circle to do justice to all the effort my professors exerted in teaching me, as well as my own attempts to make sense of all the information I supposedly learned in school. :)

I've been keeping busy the past few days with the very un-academic task of clearing out (yet again) my old room which strangely becomes a storage area  whenever I turn my back for a few months without sleeping in it. :P I can't believe how much junk we've accumulated in a few short years.. :l Part of the fun of clearing a room is rediscovering old forgotten stuff and the satisfaction of tossing some of them out since they were old/useless/really dirty/broken/rotting away and just taking up space anyway.

I also had to clean out my closet and am now wondering what the hell do I do with all those blazers I had made through all those years in residency (not to mention my failed attempt at Neurology which involved an entirely different set.)

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A lot of hoopla has been generated by the forthcoming fight between two of the top draws of professional boxing, namely Pacquiao and Mayweather. I admit that I used to be a fan of MP when he was just a straight-up fighter winning bout after bout against notable boxers like Dela Hoya and Marquez (who I still consider a cowardly counterpuncher to this day). All that changed when he dicided to stick his nose where it didn't belong and inserted himself into the PBA as a PLAYING COACH! The nerve of the guy! I mean, fine, he may have the strength and stamina to keep up with the rest of the guys since he is an athlete after all, but his "forced" entry into the PBA (getting drafted in the FIRST ROUND pa kamo!) made a travesty of the league I had grown up watching and admiring. The thing that sickens me is that he was only able yo enter the PBA because 1) he's so goddamn popular and 2) he's so filthy rich that he can make the league do what he wants, even to accomodate hime just because he "knows" how to play basketball (Pacman knows?)

It's such a shame.. When I was a kid growing up, I saw the PBA as a league where the best of the best played. Being the unathletic bum that I was, I knew I had absolutely no chance of getting in, since it was all about strength, speed, stamina, talent etc.., Thus, I had a ton of respect for people who played in the league, because not everyone would be good enough to get in. Fast forward it to today, and Pacquiao has set a bad precedent by showing the masses who idolize him so much that if you have enough money, fame, or influnce like he does, a little problem like lack of actual basketball talent is not an impediment to playing in the PBA, nor is a lack of any real knowledge of professional coaching a detriment to being named as a coach for a professional team.Corollary to that, shame on KIA for pulling such a publicity stunt! You have tainted the sport forever. I hope you're happy.. :( Oh, and I'm never buying any of your vehicles when the time comes that I will have the money to buy my own..

Yeah, I know, it turned into a rant again.. I'm just so pissed at what the PBA has become.. I used to enjoy the league so much.. Back when the only foreign-sounding names you would hear would be the surname of a commentator (that's you Quinito) or the coaches, and you would only get foreigners during the other Cups. The All-Filipino was my personal favorite, as I found it more exciting. Yeah sure, the imports turned stuff up a notch, but it cheapened the game since most of the offense became railroaded through them for obvious reasons..

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The UAAP Womens Volletball Finals is in full swing, with Ateneo taking the first win over an injuy-riddled Lasalle squad. This is unfortunate since the Lady Eagles, having swept the Eliminations automatically hold a one game advantage over LaSalle in what the analysts have defined as "something like a Best of Five series where Ateneo is automatically up 1-0".

In short, Ateneo only has to win two games to claim the title, while LaSalle has to win three.

I have began following UAAP Volleyball ever since "little sister" came into out lives as brother's significant other. ;) We were eventually hooked and continued watching even beyond her playing years. :P

LaSalle is now looking at a 0-1 deficit and are playing without their star spiker Ara Galang who was injured in the final set of a do-or-die match against NU for a chance to play in the finals against ADMU. The injury (ACL, MCL, Meniscal tear) sidelines Galang for the remainder of the season, making this series apparently lopsided due to the obvious loss of firepower on the side of the Lady Archers.

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Wow, this was a long one. Hehe. ;) Hopefully I'll be online again in a few hours with some (hopefully positive) news

Quick Hits

I rarely have time to myself these days, and today is no exception.

I still feel the need to write though, so here goes..

• Kudos to the NU Bulldogs for finally taking home the UAAP Men's Basketball crown after 60 years!

• Pacquiao is now playing in the PBA as a "playing coach" for his own team??? Is nothing sacred anymore?.. :(

• Is it just me, or are those UV Express drivers really just assholes? Especially those who drive vans along the North Avenue area..

• Too bad Gilas never made it past the Elims in the FIBA Worlds, and didn't take home the crown in the Asian Games. However, they were able to get people to start believing again, and that's the more important thing..

• I finally got that weight bench I've had my eye on for the past year or so. :) Thanks for the great discount!

• Saw a great piece of Audio by Bose. Expensive though, but the sound quality is just superb..

• Its almost November.. I can't believe that the three years are almost over...

• The RITE Exams have come and gone.. leaving me more anxious for the actual exams this coming March..

• My friends say that I should just let go, and move on.. Easier said than done...

There, a few quick hits for the night!

Tambakan

Uso na pala ang tambakan ngayon..

I just recently watched a replay of the World Cup semifinal match between hometown favorite Brazil going up against the ruthlessly efficient German team. According to the match report I read, it was a total rout, with Brazil bowing out of the tournament in the worst possible way, losing 1-7. This left the Brazilian home crowd anguished and in tears. Brazil is a football-crazy nation, and their projected chance of winning the cup this year was really good, so this was an epic letdown for them.

Anyway, since I knew what to expect, I just watched to see how Germany pulled it off, or  how Brazil let it slip away..

It was a massacre.. 5 goals in 26 minutes of play? Seriously? Man... :(

People who know me well know that I'm not really a big football man, but I felt really bad when I watched that.. It seemed so surreal.. In fact, I guess it was the most downright depressing thing I have ever witnessed in sports.. :(

UAAP Season 77 is finally underway, and the opening matches were, uh, somewhat disappointing.. 3 out of the four opening games were total blowouts.. I thought this was going to be a competitive year, with almost all the teams on equal footing? And UST lost badly as well.. Hay naku..

In other sports news unrelated to blowouts, the NBA player movement has begun. This year's crop of free agents appears very deep, which includes Miami's Big Three, and Carmelo Anthony. The biggest news I was able to get a hold of thus far is that LeBron James will now be coming home to the Cleveland Cavaliers. This has the shapings of a great team in the years to come, with James returning home to a team being built around last year's first pick Kyrie Irving.

A little bit of everything..

Let's start things off with a little UAAP..

We've been seeing an influx of athletic black guys boosting the frontlines of the different teams. You've got Emmanuel Mbe for NU and Hippo Nuondou for FEU to name a few. UST in particular boasts of a first year player that goes by the name of KAREEM ABDUL. Well, give him a couple of years and hopefully he'll begin dropping those skyhooks. :P

I know it may seem a little late, but who the hell names their kid RYAN ROOSE?

The Adamson Falcons seem to be looking pretty good this year. I have them pegged to take it all this season, or at least have an epic showdown with Ateneo during the finals.

On a side note, Jet Manuel (UP) has been playing really well this season, along with former King Stallion Jeric Teng (UST). Luceat Lux boys!

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Inaanak number 2

I'm a godfather again. Good buddy Reg asked me to be a godparent for his little girl Rachel. :D I have to say I'm quite honored to have been selected for the role. I intend to be a good godfather, not just in name, but with a share in the responsibility of the upbringing of the child to be a good person in the future. :)

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Despite bowing out of contention for the World Cup after losing to Kuwait with an aggregate score of 1-5, the Philippine Azkals have captured the imagination of the nation and swept the country in a football frenzy that I have never seen before. Heck, it made me a believer myself (despite my disdain for the low scoring of soccer). Through their apparently miraculous run, and the help of some clever marketing, more than a few Filipinos have been captivated by the ideas of Filipinas Futbol. Expect a surge in soccer team memberships and equipment sales. : On a more serious note, the Philippines has now taken a much needed step towards seriously aiming for excellence in another sport besides boxing and (no matter how futile) basketball. I hope this won't be just a fluke, and will spur further growth in Philippine sports.

Now THAT'S a ballgame!!

What a turnaround!

After that terrible experience of watching the UAAP, I was in for an unexpected treat yesterday in a doubleheader featuring UST vs UE and FEU vs AdU.

The first game wasn't really anything to write home about. It featured the UE Red Warriors getting a much-needed victory to start off the second round of their season against the 3-point shooting UST Growling Tigers.

Kudos to Paul Lee and company for bouncing back after that disappointing first round which saw them drop to the bottom of the standings, staving off last place with a win against perennial cellar-dweller UP.

The game was close for the most part, but UE bust the game wide open during the 4th quarter and never looked back. AS usual, UST's utter dependence on three point shooting never fails to astound me.. Sure, the hadworking Chris Camus had his minutes cut short due to early foul trouble, but UST still has a bunch of effective (albeit undersized) forwards who are more than willing to pick up the slack. One such player is Melo Afuang, who really did everything he could for UST's cause. I hate the fact that UST lives and dies with the three point shot, when it has a vast arsenal of scoring options if only one looks hard enough. C'mon Coach Pido, I know you were a shooter in your day, but shooters alone do not win basketball games! :(

When compared to other teams, UST seems scared to operate close to the basket. The basic UST play revolves around giving a whole lotta screens for the guards in order to free them up for a trifecta, which more often then not, results in a miss and a fastbreak by the opposing team. :P Once you shut down the shooters, the Tigers seem lost. As expected, they lost to the resurgent and very well-balanced UE team that may have finally got it's bearings, and UST drops down to 3-5. I know the UST lineup is composed of a bunch of greenhorns as the seniors of the team are only 3rd year, but COME ON!! I've seen rookies on other teams play with more heart and guts than this UST roster!

The most frustrating thing of all of this is that I'm from UST and root for the Tigers. Changes have to be made, and fast..

The first game made me so angry that I broke out a bag of microwave popcorn and settled down to watch the second game. I had not intended to watch but needed to wash down the stupid UST performance.. and I'm glad I did, as I was treated to one of the best ballgames I've watched thus far this season! :D

With FEU and AdU at number 1 and 2 respectively, this seemed to be a wothwhile game. FEU had swept the first round and was looking to continue this all the way to the finish. I have to admit that I had my doubts about Adamson, what with their team's reputation and all, but this year's bunch seemed.. different.

I wasn't disappointed, as I was treated to high-octane, disciplined, methodical, and high-performance basketball all throughout. You could see the players' confidence in the way they moved and switched the ball around.  There was good execution and the players were very patient in running their plays. The shooting was insane as well, with FEU putting up a staggering 81% field goal shooting at one point during the first half! Despite the high-percentage shooting, this was coupled by good defense coming from both teams.

FEU was up in double figures at the start of the 4th quarter, but AdU was able to claw their way back up and even took the lead during the last 3 minutes of the game. Of course it helped that FEU's shooting this quarter had turned really sour, but Adamson was not really that much better off. :P

Adamson eventually won the game by one point off an Alex Nuyles drive with 6 seconds remaining. With AdU trailing by one, the ball was inbounded from the sideline coming off a timeout. Nuyles got the ball and was momentarily open when Exceminiano gambled on a steal. The layup didn't go it but the putback by Eric Camson gave them the lead with 2.2 seconds to go. FEU had no timeouts left and was forced to inbound from the other end of the floor. A desperation heave from half court didn't go in and Adamson ran away with the victory.

Whew! What a game! :P

*a shoutout goes to my good buddy Jovi, who is the #1 prowler on my blog. :P Thanks for your continued patronage! Hehehe

Nakakawalang-gana

Bah..

I was absolutely disgusted by the officiating that I witnessed during the dying seconds of the ADMU -UE game a while ago..

The refs called a dubious foul on a UE player during an inbound play with less than a minute remaining. I really have my doubts with this call, because there wasn'tany werious contact going on, and on the flipside, I saw then allowing ADMU's guards to get  physical with UE's backcourt while the latter were bringing down the ball.. Parang di kasi tugma yung call sa huli dun sa takbo ng officiating for the rest of the game..

Another thing I found appalling was that they even slapped a technical on UE coach Lawrence Tiongson when he was pleading his case to the refs. As far as I saw, he just went down on his knees, and that was it. He wasn't raving like a madman or cursing the refs to hell. As a result, ADMU got 4 free throws with ball possession to add to their lead. Obviously, they won. What a heartbreaker for UE, who came so close to winning but any hopes of it happening were crushed by the strange officiating those final seconds. I know ADMU had a sizeable lead prior to what transpired, but it was still within striking distance. Who knows what could have occurred? Staranger things have happened in the UAAP. Now we will never know..

I love watching the UAAP games regardless of what school is playing, but  just lost my appetite for what seemed to be an exciting season.. :(

Blurbs (dahil wala akong maisip na mahabang maisusulat)

- It's UAAP Thursday today! Games later: 2pm DLSU vs FEU, 4pm UST vs NU

- Hmm.. it'd be interesting to see how La Salle fares today against FEU, the latter of which I consider the team to beat this season.

- I don't expect the UST game to be a slouch either, as the recently rejuvenated NU recruitment program is beggining to bear fruit.

- Boiling potatoes along with the meat for extended periods not only makes the meat tender, but makes the soup base deliciously thick as well. :D

- Normally I'm not the type that, as they say in the vernacular

, "magbubuhat ng sariling bangko", but here goes.. The Menudo I had for lunch (which I personally cooked) was EXCELLENT!! Urp! :D

- Kaya siguro ako tumataba these past few months.. although I guess I'm also doing this in part to regain all the weight I had lost during my stint as an MROD..

- Stumbled upon an interesting locallly-made Pinoy comic during one of my forays online. Will post an independent entry for it later on.

- Starcraft 2 came out already.. not that I'll be able to afford and play it anyways. :P

- .. it looks pretty cool though, but I don't need yet another computer game to occupy my time that's slowly running out.

- I'll be going back tomorrow to CSMC to pick up my recommendation letters. Thank you to my consultants who have graciously agreed to give me favorable reviews. I promise to do my best to make you proud. :D

- Yun na lang muna. ;)

UAAP Season 73 1st round ADMU - DLSU

Wow, the first Ateneo-La Salle game of the year! I'm gonna try things a little differently and give a running commentary of things that catch my attention in-game. Let's see what comes out of this.. :P

1st quarter thoughts...

- La Salle is definitely much better this year compared to the crap-ass team they fielded last year.

- Justin Chua has really come into his own. It's frightening to think how he'd play when he reaches his fifth year.

2nd quarter thoughts...

- La Salle's courtside reporter looks like she seriously needs a swig of the Sting energy drink

- .. and that becomes all the more obvious when you pair her up opposite the bubbly Jessica Mendoza.

- This La Salle big man Paredes is a beast! Excellent shotblocking and relentless rebounding! With a little more work, he could evolve into someone like the next Jervy Cruz, but with more blocking power!!

- The guy they picked for the "AXE Man of the Game" does look like he could use a spray or two of AXE

- Bodies flying all over the place! What the hell is happening??

- I like the way Salva attacks the basket. He moves so fluidly and finishes strong.

- Whadaya know? Ugly-ass Monfort gets a 4-point play opportunity!

- Halftime! DLSU 26 - ADMU 30 Low scoring...

3rd quarter thoughts... 

- Simon Atkins with 3 fouls already with barely a minute gone from the 3rd quarter. Not that it'd really make much of a difference anyway.

- Ryan Buenafe is able to give all these great assists. Probably due to the way he furiously attacks the basket, which causes the defenders pay more attention to him since he seems committed to going strong already.

- SAPAL KA!!! What a great block by Justin Chua on Ferdinand!

- What a play!!! (around 7:20 in the 3rd)

- Nice to see Eric Salamat hasn't lost his outside touch. Though his acting stinks! Tossing the ball to the outside as though you were hit hard AFTER you saw there was a no-call? Oh please..

4th quarter thoughts...

- Ano ba yan, nakatulog ang depensa!! (9:40-ish)

- HUUWWWHAATASHOT by Kirk Long!!!!!! (7:50)

- Ok, so the La Salle girl talks a little faster, but still in a totally boring monotone...

- I LOVE the new Penshoppe commercial!

- I'll say it again. Justin Chua has really taken his game to a whole new level!

- With his present hairdo, Ferdinand looks like someone out of an 80s music video

- Wow, ADMU with 100% field goal shooting this quarter! La Salle better do something quick, or Ateneo will definitely run away with this one

- Nice ID lace on Norman Black! :P

- ADMU up 7 (4:23)

- Tsk! Just when Ateneo had its first miss of the quarter, DLSU throws away the possession while still at the backcourt!

- Timeout Ateneo (2:38) while protecting a 5 point lead

- Whoa! Kirk Long fouls out!

- What a STOOOOPID foul by the La Salle roiokie

- MARATA THREEEEEEEEE!! (Last TWO minutes!!!!!!!) Ateneo 63-62 

- MARATA THREEEEEEEEE!! (1:28) Lasalle up 2!

- Lasalle ball! (0:48)

- Stupid Atkins! Misses free throw with 0:17 remaining. DLSU up 3. Ateneo Timeout

- Woooo! Nice Ateneo playboard! Norman Black got cool stuff! :P

- As the timeout ends, I wouldn't be surprised if they make a three..

- And the game ends with.. Justin Chua putting up a pair of missed threes?...

FINAL SCORE La Salle 66-63

Well, that was fun! Looking back at this, I guess I started out pretty cold, with only two lines during the first quarter. The idea of taking note of the time only struck me during the 3rd quarter. Let's see if we can do better the next time around.

A good game overall, as the score was kept tight almost all throughout. The defense was just CRAZY! And the fact that this was a last-minute come-from-behind win. :D

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a season.. :)

Wow, that was cool.

Yesterday, the struggling UP Fighting Maroons chalked up their first win in UAAP season 72 against no less than the league-leading Ateneo Blue Eagles 75-65.

*for all the number-crunchers out there, sorry if you find any inaccurracies in the points I report. I wasn't able to watch the whole game and relied of the commentary to get my numbers right.

In an epic David-versus-Goliath struggle, the Eagles were able to grab an early lead,  leading by 16 points at the end of the first half. UP came back firing on all cylinders, grabbing a slim 5 point lead as they went into the final quarter. The Maroons were able to keep their composure and stood their ground, playing solid defensive basketball against a strong run by the Eagles led by season 71 MVP Rabeh Al-Hussaini. The shots weren't falling for the Eagles as the normally steady three-point shooting of Emman Monfort, Jai Reyes, and Eric Salamat failed to connect at crucial points of the ballgame. Adding to Ateneo's woes were the highly spirited play of such UP stalwarts like the fearles Mark Lopez (who went for a breakaway layup despit the looming presence of last season's defensive player of the year Nonoy Baclao) and the hot hands of former Xavier skipper Woody Co who put up 3 cold-blooded three-pointers in the second half that sustained the winning effort of the Maroons. In a game where they were thought to be overmatched in rebounding, UP was able to get the critical boards down the stretch, denying Ateneo second-chance points and triggering fast break oppotunities.

The season has just busted wide open, with the lowest-ranked team beating what was percieved to be the best in the league. Its anyone's season now, and the games just got a bit more exciting.

Earlier, the DLSU Green Archers were able to pull off a sqeaker against the Adamson University Falcons, 64-63 (Didn't watch, but I heard they won by free throws by Maui Villanueva with 2 seconds remaining in overtime)

Here are my power rankings as of July 27, 2009 (which are not reflective of current team standings. Personal opinion lang ha? :P)

1. ADMU Blue Eagles - despite the loss against UP, Ateneo's towering lineup and depth on the bench is still a force to be reckoned with. There's just no real answer for Al-Hussaini's dominance in the paint. They also have so many options from the perimeter such as Eric Salamat, Emman Monfort, and even Jai Reyes. Nico Salva has been showing that effective mid-range jumper of his that gives ADMU a bit more versatility. Look for them to come back really strong after the loss as they take on Adamson on thursday (7/30)

Rookie watch: Typical of coach Norman Black not to use much of his rookies (unless you're as good as Ryan Buenafe, who has not been showing his usual game as of late)

2. FEU Tamaraws - Though they may not be too flashy, the Morayta-based dribblers have been playing steadily, anchored by veterans Andy Barocca, JR Cawaling, and Reil Cerventes. Aldrech Ramos is expected to take his game to a whole new level, as he's gotten bigger and stronger this season, but has yet to deliver on this promise. With four guards in the rotation, FEU will always have fresh legs for their highly effective pressing and trapping defense.

Rookie Watch: Hippo Nuondou has been a revelation for coach Glenn Capacio. He has a nice midrange jumper and passes well out of tight spots. His heft also allows him to snatch those rebounds despite being undersized compared to the other big men of the league. Ryan Roose Garcia is another rookie staring for FEU. Steady at the point, he gives Barocca a lot more fredom to move without the ball and get into scoring position. Oh, and he's got a decent shot as well. ;)

3. UST Growling Tigers - After losing Jervy Cruz and Japs Cuan to graduation, many naysayers have written off UST to fade into obscurity. But the lack of a legitimate big man dosen't seem to bother the Tigers as Dylan Ababou and Kasim Mirza have stepped up to the challenge to lead UST back to the Final Four. The UST players have really bulked up compared to last season, where they had a whole bunch of lanky long-armed wingmen who struggled at the post or while getting into position for the rebound. If UST is able to overcome to the adjustments that will inevitably be made against them in the second round, I look to them to take the number 2 or 3 spot in the Final Four.

Rookie Watch: Former Stallion captain Jeric Teng has been seeing considerable minutes for coach Pido Jarencio, putting up an average of about 10-12 PPG and giving UST yet another offensive threat from beyond the arc. "Robo-kid" just needs to work on his free-throw shooting though. :P

4. UE Red Warriors - I would have to say that UE is a bit more of the same when compared to last season. Despite the loss of James Martinez due to illnes, their nucleus of veterans is still intact with Elmer Espiritu, Paul Zamar, Paul Lee, and Parri Llagas (who seems more dominating in the paint this season). Neophyte head coach Lawrence Tiongson has made some tweaks in the game of the Warriors, but they are still the same high-octane team (only a little stronger, wiser, and better as compared to last year). I'll skip the rookie watch for this team because I don't know their rookies. :P

5. AdU Falcons - Still sporting a seemingly unremarkable lineup (except for maybe former Green Archer Michael Galinato), coach Leo Austria seems to have made headway with his team, as they seem to be playing more organized basketball this time around. With plays centered around Galinato, the Falcons have beeen able to get a lot of different good looks at the basket and made their opponents pay with their good ball movement. If Adamson stays true to form, and follows their coach's system, they may just have a shot of breaking into the #4 spot. No rookie watch here either. Sorry. :P

6. UP Fighting Maroons - Long since removed from the glory days of Ronnie Magsanoc and Benjie Paras. the state university has been through season after season of heartache and disappontment. The talent pool is just too limited for UP, however this year's lineup shows great promise, as evidenced by their shocking 10-pont victory over the highly touted Ateneo Blue Eagles. I believe that the game was no fluke, and is a foreshadowing of what this UP team can achieve. Magi Sison is showing a lot more bulk this season, while retaining the quickness at the low block which made him one of UP's scoring options last season. the undersized Mark Lopez has made his presence felt all over the court, from excellent transition defense, to fastbreak points, both against bigger opponents. Martin Reyes is always a marked man, and thus his numbers seem to have dipped considerably. He has to find a lot of other ways to create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates to be more effective. Playing on his fourth year, Woody Co is slowly showing the form he once had when he led Xavier to the 2006 Tiong Lian title. Seemingly able to score from anty point on the floor, his versatility is a headache to any team's defense. Ditto on the rookie watch, as coach Aboy seemingly uses a short rotation list during games.

7. DLSU Archers - Although they are not at the bottom of the standings, the Archers seem to have been performing way under par this season. Compared to LaSalle teams of the previous years, this year's crop of veternans seems pretty weak. Led by Hyram Bagatsing, PJ Barua, Bader Malabes, and the under-performing James Mangahas (whom I expected to take over the void left by Rico Maierhoffer), I don't think DLSU will make it very far this season unless the veterans really shape up. Through the years, DLSU always seemed to be an underdog team, and that made them pretty exciting to watch. Despite the underdog label, they always had someone they could really count on to make the "miracle shots" that would bring them home. Not so with this team, which seemingly has an entire bunch of role players without anyone really taking the lead.

Rookie Watch: DLSU was able to bring blue-chip rookie Arvie Bringas into their fold, probably half-expecting him to bring a ready-made A-class game to the seniors division (like his SSC Staglets teammate Buenafe who took the UAAP by storm last season). However, things don't always turn out as planned. I think that all the hype must be getting to him. Instead of the killer look that Buenafe sported last year, Bringas looks like a deer caught in the headlights, groping for form and seriously struggling with his game. The sooner he can shake this off, the better the prognosis for LaSalle. Sure, they can very easily pull off a miraculous turn-around this season, but until that happens, at the bottom they will stay. :P

8. NU Bulldogs - Now under new management by the SM group, the Bulldogs are expected to make waves in the UAAP as the team's resources expand a great deal However, don't expect them to do anything fantastic just yet. :P Despite coach Manny Dandan's best efforts, NU still plays very disorganized basketball (Larong Kalye kung tawagin). They still have a lot of growing up to do in terms of basketball IQ. The best example I can think of is they way their point guard often looks over his shoulder back to their bench for instructions after he's just crossed the half-court line, providing a dangerous situation for a quick steal and a transition basket. Ponferada has been the cornerstone of this NU team, and can hold his own against the big men of the league.

Rookie Watch: Anjeet(?) Singh was reputed to be a sparkplug for the Bulldog offense. He isn't afraid to drive to the basket and works hard on perimeter defense. Admittedly, I am unable to give a fair assessment as I have only seen him play sparingly. 

Just when I thought I could sit around and rest...

... I just realized that today was a UAAP day!!! :P

Sigh.. there goes another entire afternoon... Hehehe

Games today:

2PM DLSU vs UP
4PM FEU vs AdU

The games aren' t as interesting as I'd like. However, the first game might pack a little more punch, as both these teams have yet to chalk up wins this season. I can't say I can favor either of the 2, with UP performing mediocre as usual (the only consistent bright spot being the spirited play of former UAAP Rookie of the Year Woody Co), while LaSalle's rookie-laden lineup suffers from the lack of steady production from the veterans who took over the vacuum left behind by Rico Maierhoffer and JV Casio

Weaning Off

I've had enough!

As the second half of the year gets going, I have resolved to put my foot down and wean myself from my addiction to Facebook. :P Looking back at the previous year, I find that quite a sizeable chunk of my time is spent online checking my mousetrap, ghost trap,  or fishing line, tending to my farm and resto, answering silly quizzes or surveys, or viewing my friends' pictures or random thoughts..

Seeing residency time draw nearer served as a wake-up call for me. It's time I removed myself from the computer where I was accomplishing absolutely NOTHING, so that I could make a good effort to hit the books and prepare myself for "the next big step". (although I won't be giving up blogging anytime soon. ;) Thanks to achi "goldengirl" for the encouraging words! Its nice to know people actuallly like reading my blog :D)

Its not impossible, but it can be done. However, the UAAP season just started... :P and that's a story for another day. Hehehe

By the way, here are the UAAP opening day scores

UST def AdU 76-75 (This was the first UAAP game of former King Stallion Jeric Teng, where he came off with 3 markers. Go USTe!)

UE def DLSU 65-41 (lowest scoring output ever by DLSU in the UAAP)

The waiting game plus UAAP roundup

Ok, I got that out of the way..

Just finished the examination for residency applicants. 100 item exam, 40 pts generalities, 60 pts specialty. It was a real hoot answering questions about the field I was interested in, but it also made me realize how little stock knowledge of Neurology and Psychiatry I had. Oh well, I guess that's why you go into training right? =D I just hope I didn't mess up that exam TOO much, or else I'd be out of a job even before I started.. =P

I'm really excited about residency. Although training at UST has it's famous downsides (hehe), I'm still looking foward to doing the stuff I really want to get into, and not be bothered by those other disciplines that I didn't really want to go into.

Now for the Sports Segment..

UST suffered a heartbreaking loss yesterday against the De La Salle Green Archers in what could have been an overtime game in the making. A lucky putback by rookie Maui Villanueva off an LA Revilla miss withe 0.2 seconds of game time remaining sealed the victory for the Archers who got away with a score of 81-79. Sadly, this loss meant that the 2006 Champion UST Growling Tigers have seen their hopes of making the Final Four dashed as they drop to a 5-7 win-loss card with only 2 games remaining for the season.

I've always wanted to do a UAAP team-by-team analysis, so here goes:

• Ateneo De Manila Blue Eagles

Riding on the stellar performance of Rabeh Al-Hussaini, arguably the most dominant big man in the UAAP today, the Eagles are sitting atop the standings with a commanding 11-1 record. With their only loss coming from a first round shocker against the FEU Tamaraws, the Katipunan-based squad is poised to take it all as we begin the later stages of the tournament. With Chris Tiu and Al-Hussaini, two of the league's leading scorers in their roster and a host of , the Ateneo juggernaut rumbles forward towards what seems to be an inevitable finals appearance.

• Far Eastern University Tamaraws

With the return of their injured leader, Mac Baracael, the Tamaraws are riding an emotional high closing out the elimination round of the tournament. Fresh from their victory over the vaunted DLSU Green Archers, the Tams are clicking on all cylinders towards their first Final Four appearance in the last 3(?) years. Under the watchful eye of coach Glen Capacio, the Tams are presently tied in second place with DLSU with two games remaining against the struggling UP Fighting Maroons and the UE Red Warriors. Armed with one of the deepest benches in the league, all eyes will be on FEU as they attempt to solidify their hold on second place and hopefully march into the Final Four with a twice to beat advantage.

• De La Salle Green Archers

Fresh from their nailbiting victory over the UST Growling Tigers, the Archers are neck-and neck with FEU in their pursuit of the elusive number 2 spot in the final four, with Ateneo already having a virtual lock on first place. Despite a rookie-laden lineup, coach Franz Pumaren's charges have shown time and again why they were the champions of the previous season. Getting stellar numbers from team captain Jayvee Casio, steady veterans Peajay Barua, Rico Maierhofer, and even bonus minutes from rookie surprises LA Revilla and Maui Villanueva, the Archers are ready to make a serious run to defend their championship.

• University of the East Red Warriors

Rounding up the top 4 on the present standings, coach Dindo Pumaren's Red Warriors are showing a lack of consistency, especially when compared to their sweep of the eliminations last season. In order to solidify their place in the semifinals, every game is a must-win for the hard-pressed squad from Recto, including a probable deciding match against the desperate UST Growling Tigers. Using a full court press similar to what La Salle executes so well, the Warriors' defense has proven time and again the dictum that "defense is the best offense". Boasting one of the most athletic frontlines in the league composed of Hans Thiele, Elmer Espiritu, and Pari Llagas, and supported by the steady backcourt leadership of James Martinez and prolific scorer Marcy Arellano, UE is still very much dangerously in the hunt for the title.

• University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers

With a heartbreaking buzzerbeater loss to DLSU, the Tigers are staring elimination in the face. Caught in a situation where their fate lies in the outcomes of games of other teams, coach Pido Jarecio's stalwarts must win their last 2 remaining games while at the same time hope that the UE Red Warriors drop their assignments in order for the Tigers to have a chance to break into the Final Four. Despite the heroics of reigning MVP Jervy Cruz day in and day out, the Tigers have found it dfficult to get the all important wins against the stronger teams, especially during tight endgame situations. UST is a fairly young team, with 7 rookies in the rotation. However, the forthcoming graduation of Tiger veterans Japs Cuan and Dylan Ababou would leave a large void which would prove difficult to fill indeed.

The Growling Tigers need to find their range from beyond the arc. If the established shooters like Francis Allera and Kasim Mirza would make those long threes just like their 2006 championship run, combined with Jervy Cruz's regular monster performance in the paint, UST would prove do be a really difficult team to defend. It's just unfortunate that Cuan never developed an outside shot which would have greatly helped in extending the opposing teams' defense. This could have freed up the middle for more high-percentage shots taken much closer to the basket.

It's unfortunate that UST started the season on a sour note. Key personnel were nursing injuries acquied before the start of the season, and floor leader Japs Cuan was out for about 4 games due to a knee injury which has affected his game ever since. The rookies have a lot of growing up to do if team Espana intends on making the final four in season 72.

I'm sorry about the obvious bias. But then again, TOMASINO AKO!! MAY PRIDE! MAY PUSO! AT PALABAN! Go USTe!!!

• University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons
  

After an energizing opening-day win which snapped a 14(?)-game losing streak, the Fighting Maroons seemed to have lost steam and can only sit and watch as teams charge past them in heartbreaking blowout losses. A talented but undersized lineup boasting high-caliber players like Magi Sison, Mike Gamboa, and former Xavier standout Woody Co has ptoven to be inadequate in the face of tougher opponents in this highly competitive league. With the lack of offense seen from UP, one can't help but wonder why former rookie hotshot scorer Migs De Asis is stuck on the bench and is hardly ever used. It is the opinion of this writer that better personnel shuffling by rookie coach Aboy Castro would have proven to be of great benefit to the struggling team of the State university.

• National University Bulldogs

The Bulldogs have had another bad season, with endgame problems haunting them every step of the way. A surprise victory over the highly-touted FEU Tamaraws during their last game of the first round gave coach Manny Dandan's boys something to look forward to. Floor leader Jonathan Jahnke with agile high-scoring big men Edwin Asoro and Raymond Aguilar found it difficult to close games down the stretch, and wound up getting blown out in the endgame on a number of occasions. As a team, NU is still apparently groping for form. It has a pretty solid lineup which has the capability to really win games, but for some reason, they just frustratingly come up short.

Whew! There! I know it isn't perfect, but I gave it my best shot. Hehe

I'm sorry to admit the fact that most of my data is sorely lacking. I guess I haven't watched enough games this season, due to the rigid(?) review for the boards I put myself through. Its really tough being an avid UAAP fan to purposely avoid watching the games, even though the sacrifice is to serve some higher purpose..

I'll try to give a more in-depth analysis of some teams in particular interest to me at another time.