Prediction time – PBA 12-13 AFC Playoffs!

Hello? Mic check, 1-2. Is there someone here nice enough to welcome me back?

 

You know what they say, whatever happens, you’ll always find yourself back to where you started, in the words of Gary V. in the old worn out commercial in IBC 13 in the 90s everytime the PBA goes into commercial “Kay tagal mo nang nawala, babalik ka rin, babalik ka rin.”

 

All the cornballs aside, here I am. After about a year of hiatus, it’s sure nice to be back, isn’t it? Just in time for the PBA playoffs, I figured it would be the perfect time to return just to do what I do best, get in the ire of different fanbases with my “self-important” commentary and predictions, so let’s get the ball rolling shall we?

 

Fading in the background thanks to Pacquiao-Marquez 4 (My take on Philstar UB is right here) and the Azkals’ quest to reach the AFF Suzuki cup finals for the first time, I thought the PBA playoffs isn’t getting the attention that it deserves. After all, we’re treated to some of the best matchups we’ve seen in years and the action in the PBA this confence has been really underrated to say the least, anyway here are my thoughts on the matchups in the quarterfinals of the PBA.

 

1. Talk and Text vs 8. Air 21 

Why it’s interesting: It’s the only matchup here in the quarterfinals with a genuine “underdog” feel to it. Here, you have the mighty Talk and Text Tropang Texters, armed with a twice to beat advantage going up against the 8th seed Air 21 Express who have lost four of their last five games heading into this match.

 

This becomes interesting when you take into account that the Texters actually had a hard time putting away the Express in their last meeting, a game that was close from the get-go and was just decided by six points. Add to it the fact that Mike Cortez has been playing really well under Franz Pumaren and Niño Canaleta may have a boost in confidence after dropping 41 points against Global port. All in all, this becomes a series to watch for people who would root for underdogs, no matter what.

 

Matchup Alert!

Mike Cortez (13 PPG, 5 RPG, 5 APG, 2 SPG w/ Air 21) vs Jimmy Alapag (11 PPG, 5 APG, 39% 3PTS)

 

While they may not be as dominant when they faced each other in the Semifinals of the 2002 All Filipino Conference, this matchup would still turn heads as Alapag and Cortez are still the anchors of their respective teams. When Mike Cortez arrived in Air 21, they won three straight games with Cortez leading the attack. When Cortez struggled, so is the team as they dropped four straight. Jimmy Alapag on the other hand will always be Jimmy, as he can be relied on to take crucial baskets and orchestrate the fluid Talk and Text oftense.

 

Prediction: I’m an underdog guy but Talk and Text is a tough nut to crack. I think Air 21 will have their moments but eventually the Texters’ depth and talent would weigh in as I expect them to finish this off in a game.

 

2. San Mig Coffee vs Petron Blaze

 

Why it’s interesting: Could this be called the SMC Derby? Or is that reserved for a Ginebra-San Mig Coffee matchup in the semis? Anyway, I don’t think I should be really specific on why this matchup is interesting. It’s just a surprise for my part that this matchup came this early. Prior to the season, everyone was expecting Petron Blaze Boosters to be one of the top teams in the league given their depth, talent and right mix of veterans and youth. However, Petron did their best Los Angeles Lakers impersonation in the eliminations and started losing games that they could have and should have won. Hence, that’s why we have this match up early.

 

Anyway, the talent level in this matchup would be overflowing. You have James Yap, Pj Simon, Pingris and JDV for the Mixers and you have the entire team for Petron. That alone is something to watch out for. On paper, this is a quality dream match up. In reality though, comes the difference between the two. The basketball fan in me hopes that this match would be as good as it would have been on paper. And oh, imagine all the Petronovela tweets during the game! That alone makes it interesting!

 

Matchup Alert!

 

Chris Lutz (14 PPG 5 RPG 5 APG) vs James Yap (16 PPG, 5 RPG, 2 APG)

 

Two of the best players in the wings today, this is a match up to watch. Chris Lutz, the youngster, will be locking horns against 2-time MVP, James Yap in what could be the deciding factor in this series.

 

Lutz, aside from being a dynamic scorer is also one of the best defenders in the league today. If he can somehow stop James Yap and still produce offensively, this could be a huge boost for the Blazers.

 

Prediction: I think Petron can actually win the first game, they’ll realize that they’re too talented to be out this early and start playing like how they ought to play but then in the second game, they’ll be back to their old ways and find ways to lose the second game just because they’re Petron and that’s what they do. San Mig Coffee in two games,

 

3. Rain or Shine vs 6. Barangay Ginebra San Miguel

 

Why it’s interesting: Hell hath no fury like Yeng Guiao scorned and that’s what we should be expecting in this match.

 

In the first two games, Ginebra scored two wins over Rain or Shine in two games that could go down as classics. In the first game, Ginebra stole that one with a late, questionable foul on Gabe Norwood and in the second, Ginebra stormed back from an 18 point deficit to steal the game away from the Painters. Somehow, I feel that Yeng Guiao is up for vengeance.

 

A furious Guiao vs the most popular team in the country? This will be nuts.

 

It’s also interesting to point out that this would be rematch of last year’s quarterfinals in the same conference. Rain or Shine ousted Ginebra 2-0 in that series.

 

Matchup Alert!

 

Paul Lee (16 Pts, 4 rebs, 6 assts in his sole game) vs Mark Caguioa (18 PPG, 4 RPG, 2 APG)

 

Ginebra’s heart and soul vs “Ang Angas ng Tondo”. These two players play almost the same it’s scary. Scoring ability – Check. Killer crossovers – Check. Angst while playing – double check.

 

The reigning league MVP vs the reigning ROY. Paul Lee made a successful return in their game against Barako Bull, wherein he posted the usual Paul Lee numbers. Caguioa may have had bad games in their past few games, but he’s shown that he’s still in great form and is still bent on getting Ginebra to a championship, following an MVP stint.

 

Prediction: This is tough to predict mainly because this is the best series among all the matchups. I think Rain or Shine is deeper but Ginebra has one thing that Rain or Shine doesn’t. A legit point guard which could dominate in LA Tenorio. I think Ginebra takes this series in three tough and exciting games.

 

4. Meralco Bolts vs 5. Alaska Aces

 

Why it’s interesting: Like the Ginebra-RoS matchup, I believe this matchup is so evenly matched it could go either way. With Meralco you have some of the best wing players in the league today with scorching hot Sol Mercado leading the pack. Alaska on the other hand has the upper hand on the frontline with Sonny Thoss and Calvin Abueva up front and a slight advantage on the backcourt mainly because of JV Casio. Two teams are trying to break the final four drought. Need I say more?

 

Matchup Alert!

 

Calvin Abueva (14 PPG, 10 RPG, 2 APG) vs Cliff Hodge (10PPG 7 RPG 1 BPG)

 

Two of the top rookies in the league and they play the same position. This will be one matchup to look forward to.

Defending Manny Pacquiao: A deeper look at the 3rd Pac-JMM fight

My initial reaction after watching the fight and while anxiously waiting for the decision was, “Oh shit, Marquez finally wins one”. Pacquiao’s tentativeness and Marquez’ perfect counter-punching were the key factors in making me decide to give 7 rounds to Marquez over Pac’s 5.

In comes the decision.

Still the WBO Welterweight Champion, Manny Pacman Pacquiao.

I will have to admit, I was one of the  many people who were screaming robbery after watching the fight live through streaming. I scored it 115-113 Marquez and most of the people who were watching with me thought Pacquiao was a goner too. After a few twitter and facebook posts here, I knew that I had to re-watch the fight and see what really happened from a much clearer perspective.  Thanks to GMA-7′s delayed, ad bombarded telecast, I was able to watch the fight again.

And upon watching the fight again, it’s not really as bad as I initially called it to be. There were close rounds which could’ve gone either way, the fight lacked a knockdown which would’ve made a round more decisive and the decisive rounds came far and few in between, the only decisive rounds in the 12 round fight were rounds 2 and 8 for Marquez and rounds 3 and 12 for Pacquiao. Other than that, it’s anybody’s ball game. With that being said, the judges decision were not really that much of a stretch as I initially thought it was.

From an initial 115-113 Marquez score, I now had it a 114-114 draw after the replay. Now, Dave Moretti’s 115-113 scorecard wasn’t that bad, though I have to admit Towbridge’s decision to give Pacquiao 8 rounds is a little questionable, it isn’t hard to see how Manny may have won the fight in other people’s eyes.

Going through the fight, the question at hand is, why does people think Pacquiao should’ve lost the fight in the first place?  And how will I justify Manny Pacquiao winning the fight or at the very least, pulling a draw?

1) Juan Manuel Marquez fought a perfect fight

Dinamita fought the fight of his life. Juan Manuel Marquez made Pacquiao fight his fight. He kept distance and made Pacquiao very tentative in throwing flurries. Most of Pacquiao’s combinations were responded very well. His digging punches to the body also helped add up to his cause. Regardless of the decision, Juan Manuel Marquez fought a perfect fight, and that might very well be one of the major reasons why many thought Marquez should’ve won the fight.

But a question that I have to throw to you is that is Manny Pacquiao good enough that even in Juan Manuel Marquez’ best days, Pacquiao is still capable of winning a close decision? Sounds like it.

Despite Marquez fighting a near flawless game, Pacquiao was able to sneak in punches in his own. He was able to adapt to the style of Marquez which definitely gives him problems and fight a fight wherein he’s not putting himself open for timely power counter-punches while still landing in a rate higher than his opponent. Compubox had Pacquiao landing more than Marquez in total punches, power punches and jabs. This may not explain that Pacquiao had to win the fight, but it’s a nice justification that Pacquiao was landing at a higher rate.

2) Lack of aggressiveness from Manny’s side

Cotto, Clottey, Margarito, Mosley. Pacquiao’s last four victims all  got a taste of Pacquiao’s fury. Pacquiao’s movement, his aggressiveness and the way he throws punches in bunches from the opening bell up to the last round made Pacquiao a man that is very feared in the boxing world. That Pacquiao wasn’t present in this fight. In most rounds, Pacquiao fought with caution, dissecting JMM’s defense and counter-punching through calculated punches. This wasn’t the Pacquiao that everyone knew and therefore this could also add up to them thinking that Pacquiao may have lost this fight.

Then again, why fight someone who knows how to beat you and may have already done that  in your previous meaning without caution? Pacquiao definitely did not look like himself  but it’s not like Marquez was dominating him all through out the fight. Point is, Pacquiao fought cautiously but still landed at a higher rate than Marquez in some rounds.

3) No one was expecting Marquez to stay standing after 12

This, I believe, is the biggest reason why people thought Marquez won the fight. Marquez was really a huge underdog and everyone thought (Including me) that Pacquiao was just going to run through Juan Manuel Marquez and finish the trilogy in devastating fashion. Obviously, that didn’t happen.

Unlike their first two fights, Juan Manuel Marquez didn’t even hit the canvass in this fight. He stood toe to toe with Pacquiao for 12 rounds, keeping distance while counter-punching beautifully. Marquez wasn’t annihilated as expected by many, Marquez didn’t hit the canvass and he was even able to hang with Pacquiao, that is why many people reacted violently against the Pacquiao victory.

But I tell you what, if it was Floyd Mayweather Jr. in that ring and Pacquiao dropped  a decision from Mayweather Jr with the fight going the same as this one,everyone will be screaming robbery for Manny Pacquiao. The reason? The simple fact that Floyd didn’t come in as an underdog and people are expecting him to stand toe to toe  with Manny Pacquiao in this fight, not like Marquez who many people were predicting to be knocked out cold within 6-8 rounds.

The point is, the fight was so close, it could have been called either way. Marquez has his case of winning, Pacquiao has his. And after watching a re-run of the fight, I really would be fine with the decision regardless of the winner.

The main reason why I believe two judges had it for Manny Pacquiao is that because despite being tentative and not being his usual self, he’s still the aggressor in most rounds and in rounds where in it was too even to come up with an undisputed decision, more times than not judges will give the aggressor the round and in that case, Manny may have a legitimate case here.

As for myself, I didn’t buy that aggressor always beats the calm argument knowing that Marquez isn’t really the type of boxer who will throw punches in bunches. Marquez stayed with enough distance to catch Pacquiao with some beautiful counters but even in that case I had the fight a draw upon watching the fight again.

Bottomline, Marquez and Pacquiao are so equal to each other, it’s  always hard to pick a decisive winner whenever they face each other in the ring. Pacquiao may be the best fighter in the world right now, and with the way he destroyed his previous quality opponents he still may be, but Marquez knows how to fight him and knows how to win against him. It’s pretty much like knowing how to beat a megaboss in a video game and having the tools to beat it, but coming up short because of a slip or a bad case of misjudgment prior to the finish.

Did Pacquiao deserve the win in this fight?  Based on what I’ve said above, Yes. But is he a better fighter than Juan Manuel Marquez? That is something that still needs to be cleared up.

Pacquiao-Marquez 4? Sounds intriguing. It may be the only solution to beat this deadlock and give boxing fans another war that they deserve to see.

 

 

Gusto ko happy ka!

Before I begin I have to say that I absolutely love this new section of this site. This site has evolved from being a mere basketball blog to one of the most dynamic sports blogs you’ll see in the web. From Smart Gilas, to Floyd Mayweather Jr to Lito Lapid’s stunts  and now to my post here.

Last night, a plethora of Facebook and Twitter posts have been responding violently towards a certain  statement that Senator Juan Ponce Enrile made during the plenary debate about the longstanding issue of RH Bill in the Senate.

According to Senator Enrile, masturbation is equal to abortion.

*Insert one million facepalm gifs here*

Oh logic, where have you gone? Biology 101, are you still there? Because Senator Enrile badly needs you right now. Enrile pulled out the “faith card” saying that according to his beliefs, being a devout catholic that he is, masturbation interferes with the “production of life” and therefore can be considered as abortion.

Well, setting morality aside, this only goes to show us that, we shouldn’t be voting for Senators who are a tad older than dinosaurs. I mean, their braincells might be damaged over the course of changes in the environment that they went through and based on the statement that Senator Enrile has been spewing as of late, he might be really affected.

So let’s cut Senator Enrile some slack here, let the old man do his thing. It’s most likely the ill effects of all those centuries that he had to endure. What’s laughable here is that well, all the people within the age gap of normal humans who will believe him. :)

Questions

After the statement was released, there was one major question which floated in the internet.

“Well Sen. Enrile, does that mean, you didn’t or you haven’t, well.. uhm, you know, touched yourself even just for once?”

First up, I really have a major problem with this question mainly because it is really really disturbing to ask an old man if he touches himself every now and then. But since humans are innately and fundamentally sick in their own ways, let’s look at the possibilities of Manong Johnny playing with his own joystick.

I’d have to say, he never really have done it. Not even once.

Come to think of it, maybe he never really experienced touching himself down there. I mean, we have to understand that during the time of his youth, which is around the stone age, there really isn’t much to masturbate upon. So there’s your answer!

Gusto ko happy ka! 

Remember catchphrase that Mr.Enrile used during the 2010 Senatorial Elections? Aside from that pesky jingle, one thing which stuck to the minds of the people is the catchphrase that he used to said after every commercial.

Gusto ko happy ka!! Quite ironic isn’t it?

In the 2016 Senatorial Elections, Manong Johnny, despite his age will still run for the elections. But because of well as I’ve said, age issues, his catchphrase should be changed from gusto ko happy ka to..

.. Gusto ko lapida! Much fitting, right?

RH Bill

As much as I don’t want to induce my political inclinations here in this blog, allow me to say that yes I do support the RH Bill. But with the stupidity that both sides are presenting, I have to admit that I’m getting a little bit tired of it. After this debate, where ever this one leads to, I am calling out our most honorable senators to contemplate on making this new bill, something that would be fitting to every Filipino in need.

I guess it’s time for us to debate on the need and the necessity for the Senate to pass the RH BEER! Free access to RH for all those people who are in need! Can I get an hear hear? RH BEER! RH BEER! RH BEER!

Have a good week ahead people. :)

The Hypothetical Smart Gilas 2013 Machine

Kudos Smart Gilas Pilipinas! Despite the so-called “National Heartache” that you’ve given us according to one overzealous writer, it would never account to the sense of pride and happiness that you’ve delivered to Filipino basketball fans when they saw you competing and beating some of the best basketball teams in Asia.

But if there’s one thing that I would agree with Mr. Trinidad’s column, it’s that we really came up short. In the semi-finals, we were beaten in the end game by a clearly superior and hungrier Jordan team. In the last medal game, we lost a won game by again breaking down in the end game against Korea. While I look at our recent setback in a positive manner, it really wouldn’t take an ultimate nay-sayer to say that there are still a lot of things to improve on in order for us to reach the most elusive Olympic dream.

But unlike Mr. Recah Trinidad who keeps on blabbering about the failure of the system without actually giving better alternatives, the proper response to this setback is to stick with the program, retain coach Toroman and prepare for the 2013 championships because I truly believe that not every loss should result into a total revamp of the system.

What would happen to Manny Pacquiao if he sacked Freddie Roach after losing to Morales and settling for draw against Juan Manuel Marquez? Would a four-peat be even possible if Ateneo parted ways with Norman Black after their  heartbreaking loss to UST in Season 69?

The thing is, what the nation needs to understand is that losses do happen and success stories doesn’t happen overnight. What Rajko Toroman did was to turn a slumping system, which finished 8th and 9th respectively in the last two qualifiers, into a winning system. Yes, they did break on two of the biggest games of the tournament, but that doesn’t mean that it warrants an automatic curbing of the whole program.

The most logical solution here would be to carry on with what Toroman started, retain him as coach, and well, retain most of the players which played in Wuhan this year. With the addition of some of the best collegiate players today and some pro-cagers, we could have a formidable lineup by 2013.

So with that being said, here’s my proposed 12 man team for FIBA ASIA 2013.

Frontliners

Marcus Douthit – Unless we can actually find a younger, more athletic player with Marcus’ size, I say stick with him. Marcus’ performance in the recent qualifiers is MVP caliber. He led the league in points and rebounding and played a major role in intimidating opponents underneath. He might not be a Filipino by blood, but he damn sure played like one.

Japeth Aguilar – Much like in 09, he saw limited minutes in the court for whatever reasons.  But I’m not ready to give up on this kid yet. He’s explosive, he can shoot, he can defend and he has ceiling. If only he could add a few pounds to his frame.

Greg Slaughter – This 6’11 prospect was already training with the team before his stint in Ateneo. Still a raw and undeveloped talent now, the whole nation is hoping that he would somehow develop into a reliable bigman under the tutelage of Coach Norman Black and he will be further polished under Toroman by 2013. With Asi’s age, he could be the perfect replacement as Douthit’s backup.

Joe de Vance – Now hear me out here. A lot of people aren’t really high on JDV but I truly believe that this guy flourishes under the right system. He posted career highs in points, rebounds and assists under Tim Cone and that goes to show you how  he responds with the proper system and with proper coaching. He’s the type of guy who could stretch the defense all the way to the three point line, can put the ball in the floor and finish on the break. Ideal 4 guy for Smart Gilas right here.

 

Swingers

Marcio Lassiter – In most games in the last qualifier, Marcio Lassiter was the second best player of the team. He’s by far their best on ball defender for Team Philippines and he’s probably also the best finisher of the team. On half court sets, he can create off the dribble and take threes. Perfect fit.

Kelly Williams –  While Kelly played the role of a scapegoat after missing two crucial foulshots against Korea, we should never forget what kind of impact Kelly made in the concluded qualifiers. Kelly should not be too old by 2013, and he’s just the type of swinger Gilas needs, a 6’7 guy which can play both forward spots.

Arwind Santos – Arwind is someone who truly deserves a spot in the national team roster. His versatility on both offense and defense could be utilized well under Toroman’s system. He’s quick enough to guard the likes of Rasheem Wright and Cho Seong Min and long enough to guard agile power forwards.

Ronald Pascual – This shouldn’t come off  as a surprise if you’ve been following NCAA basketball. Ronald Pascual deserves a spot in the 2013 Gilas team. Probably the best shooter in college ball today, Pascual is having an MVP season with the yet to be defeated San Sebastian Stags, averaging 20 points a game, 5 boards and 3 assists. But let’s forget about his actual stats right now and look at his potential. This guy is 6’4, can jump out of the gym effortlessly and can nail down long bombs. Just exactly what this team needs.

Backcourt

Chris Tiu – He’s no flashy scorer but I think his decision not to join the PBA speaks a lot about his dedication to this team. As cliche as this may sound, Chris is the heart of this team. He’s the leader of the previous delegation to Wuhan and should be the leader of the team in 2013. With his defense, timely shots and leadership, Chris Tiu should be a vital cog come 2013.

JV Casio – With injuries slowing down JV Casio in the recent qualifiers, I say this guy deserves one more shot at the team. JV of course is a deadshot from beyond the arc which could improve more after his stint in the pro league.

Keifer Ravena – Now, it’s time to give some young blood the exposure that they need. Keifer should be the youngest member of the team in 2013 but with the rate that he’s going now, he should be ready by that time. A smart player with a knack of taking over during big games, Keifer could definitely be the future of Philippine Basketball.

Bobby Ray Parks – The reigning UAAP MVP will play for our national team, one way or another. So why not put him in by 2013? Bobby Ray Parks is just what the national team needs. A scorer who could put the ball on the floor, pull up in the perimeter, take set threes, attack the basket and penetrate and kick-0ut. He’s the type of player who could take over when the offense is going nowhere. He’s the type of player that the previous team was missing.

Now that’s my 12 man team. I know a lot of  previous players who played well in the previous qualifiers got booted out but that’s the way it goes. Injuries and basketball-politics aside, I see this team making it big in 2013 with the proper system and the proper support hat it deserves from Philippine Basketball Tycoons and Philippine Basketball fans alike.

Let’s go Team Pilipinas! Never stop dreaming, we’re almost there.

Defending Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Disclaimer: This is in response to those so called sports experts who feel like there is a need for them to hate on Mayweather because their superior knowledge on the sport that is heralded as sweet science is offended by Mayweather’s actions to prior to the finish of his fight against Victor Ortiz.

“Protect yourselves at all time”

It’s not exactly rocket science. You don’t need to be a degree holder in order for you to understand that simple one-liner that these referees say before letting the two fighters try to take each other’s head off for 12 rounds. It’s a simple, basic reminder for fighters to keep their hands up when the clock is ticking, try to keep themselves out of harms way as much as possible and for them to be attentive especially when the fight is underway.

Unfortunately that wasn’t the case for Victor Ortiz.

Ortiz made himself vulnerable by not following that basic, simple reminder given to him by the referee before the fight started. Unfortunately for him, Mayweather Jr. was smart enough not to let him off the hook. Now, all eyes are once again on Boxing ultimate antagonist.

People are now all over Floyd Mayweather’s ass after his 4th round KO victory over Victor Ortiz because of the so-called “dirty, unsportsmanlike, illegal and illegitimate” blow that he gave out to Ortiz that led to his victory. But was it really the case?

Let’s recall what exactly happened here.

- Ortiz hits Mayweather with a beautiful right-left combination then goes on a flurry with Mayweather on the ropes.

- For some weird reason, Ortiz throws a BLATANT headbutt in the middle of his flurry which caused the referee to halt the match and deduct a point to Victor Ortiz, Ortiz QUICKLY apologizes to Mayweather after the action, even kissing Mayweather on the cheek.

- After deducting a point, Joe Cortez shouted “Let’s Go,” clapped his hands and restarted the match.

- Ortiz once again approaches Floyd to “apologize” while the clock is ticking, Floyd rejects his apology, steps back, pops with a left and then knocks him out with a right.

Going over that sequence, I’ll be trying to shy away from the popular opinion and I’ll be trying to defend  Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a legal boxing stand point and in an ethical  sportsman-like stand point.

Legalities of Floyd’s actions

This seems to be a non-issue for knowledgeable boxing fans.  However, since many people are running on pure hate and ignorance towards Floyd and Boxing as a whole; allow me to defend the legality of the restart, the legality of Floyd’s shots and the legality of the KO stoppage.

First up, the fight was halted mainly because Ortiz actually did something illegal, that is by intentionally headbutting Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a middle of a flurry. The fight will then be officially restarted after the ref presents the fighter of fault to all three judges around the ring for deduction purposes,  lead both fighters to the middle of the ring, and call everyone’s attention that you are officially restarting the fight. Joe Cortez did that exactly by clapping his hands and shouting let’s go.

Now that the fight has officially been restarted, it means that anyone could do whatever the hell they want to the other for as long as it is within the parameters of the boxing rule book.

Floyd nailed Ortiz with two clean shots to the chin, Ortiz did not defend himself, the referee counted 10 after Ortiz got floored, the fight was over.

It’s as simple as A-B-C.

There’s no rule that tells boxers to accommodate their opponents’ apologies. There’s no rule that tells boxers to well, pull back punches when your opponent isn’t ready to defend himself.

Fact is, Floyd played through the rules and won the fight fair and square. Now that I’ve already ran through that, allow me to go on to a more controversial issue in this fight, and that is..

The issue of ethics and sportsmanship in Floyd’s actions

Was Floyd really unsportsmanlike? After the fight, many people, including some of my friends who hates Floyd to death bitched about how Floyd was being “unsportsmanlike” how Floyd was being a “Lowlife” and how he was “a little bitch” for the supposedly “Sucker punches” that he threw at Victor Ortiz which eventually led to the finish.

However, is that really the case here? Let’s re-evaluate things here in a non-biased level.

In the first place, many people are forgetting that Floyd was on the wrong end of an illegal move from Victor Ortiz. He got his lip busted by the headbutt from Ortiz, eventually leading to Ortiz being deducted by a point. After loads of apologies and a kiss, Ortiz once again approaches Mayweather but Mayweather had none of it.

In this gif, which shows all angles of Mayweather’s KO, it is apparent that Mayweather had his hands up, way before approaching Ortiz, meaning he’s already had the intention of hitting Ortiz.

Floyd never “hugged” Ortiz, Floyd never acknowledged Ortiz’ apology as it was clear that Mayweather was already in punching mode after the restart, which was valid because, well not every boxer is obliged to accept his opponent’s apologies especially after being on the receiving end of an illegal headbutt. That is why I believe that there is nothing wrong with what Floyd did, he came in there out of the restart to fight, unfortunately the same can’t be said about Victor.

Assuming but not conceding that Floyd did acknowledged Ortiz’ apology and gave him a hug in return, it is still inexcusable for Victor Ortiz to be unprepared for Floyd’s attack after the show of sportsmanship. Because after all, you’re in there to fight. If you’ve seen the video or the gif that I’ve shown above, it was clear that Floyd took a step back before tagging Ortiz with those combos. So it’s not necessarily a cheap shop, whichever angle you’d want to look at it.

The last issue that I would like to address is the  issue of how Floyd was exactly disrespectful and how he showed no class in the fight by knocking out Victor right after Ortiz just showed a sign of sportsmanship to him.

However, when you’re fighting in the ring for 12 rounds with the main objective of trying to take each other’s heads off with power blows, then respect is the last thing that you’d have to worry about. Mayweather did not even show disrespect to Ortiz by not accepting his apology because, as I’ve said, not everyone is obliged to respond to respectful and sportsmanlike gestures. At the end of the day, your main objective is to still win and to do your best in trying to knock each other out senseless. Not give out hugs after you’ve just kissed and apologized to your opponent for like five times in span of a minute.

The bottomline here is, the hate Floyd Mayweather Jr is getting is ridiculous. The basis are pointless and the logic of people trying to condemn PBF’s actions after the Ortiz doesn’t really float. I am not a Floyd Mayweather fan, I hate the guy’s guts for other reasons (IE continuously ducking Manny Pacquiao) but I really don’t see anything wrong with what he did to Victor Ortiz.

He did what he had to do, and that is to win the fight in a vicious (Pardon the pun) manner. Ortiz fought stupidly and Floyd capitalized on Ortiz’ mishaps. And do I need to remind you that the sequence was kicked off by an illegal move by Victor Ortiz himself, so why is he getting off the hook in this one?

It was an unfortunate and anti-climatic ending to what was supposed to be one good fight. But as much as we’d like to hate the result, there’s one fact that will float at end of the day and that is the man everyone loves to hate, Floyd Mayweather Jr, is still undefeated.

So hold your horses everyone, Mayweather Jr will have his day. Well, that’s if he decides not to retire after Pacquiao-Marquez III.

####

Writer's note: I'll be writing a more serious 
entry later for Philstar's unblogged. A post fight
analysis for both fighters maybe. So stay tuned. 

 

MOA Arena, Raising the Stakes

Last Thursday, June 23 2011, I had the privilege to attend a press conference in the IMAX arena of the SM Mall of Asia, it basically introduced the partnership of SM MOA and the NCAA. So what does the Sy-ran company have to do with the oldest collegiate league in the Philippines?

Well, for starters, a new arena is about to unfold before our very eyes.

The MOA Arena, which will be erected in the Mall of Asia complex in Pasay City will be the new home of the NCAA after this year’s season. Letran, which will be hosting the 88th season of the NCAA, will have the privilege to conduct games under the new state-of-the-art sports complex which if I listened to the speakers correctly, should be the best arena that we’ll be having in the Philippines.

Yes. You heard it right. It is indeed promising.

The proposed arena, which should be finished by April 2012, can hold more than 20,000 people, with 16,000 guaranteed seats. It will feature suites for VIPs who would want to watch the games at the comfort of their own privacy and it will be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities that are being used already in NBA arenas like The Philips Arena, the home-floor of the Atlanta Hawks.

So, what could be the implications of SM creating a new avenue for Philippine sports and the likes?

Big time implications. Big time.

UAAP season 75 will be hosted by NU, and since we all know that the NU Bulldogs are now being ran by the Sys, we can all expect the 75th season of the UAAP to be played in the new MOA Arena. This means, by next year, once the UAAP and the NCAA season goes full circle again for the 75th and 88th seasons respectively, we should all expect to see games at the Mall of Asia Complex.

Well, ugh, so what?

Well, duh, let us look at the big picture here, now that SM has raised the stakes for sports complexes and entertain venues here in the Philippines, we should expect more from their counterparts. Right now, I think it is just fair to expect the Araneta Colisuem, the arena that we are now considering as the best complex for major sports and entertainment events to try, and be competitive with SM’s new planned arena.

You know what that means? Better arenas are equal to better events.

Who knows, because of the recent developments, maybe watching an NBA game or a U2 concert here in the Philippines is not that far-fetched at all?

30 Finals Points

For basketball fans everywhere, it is almost imperative that you talk about the NBA finals. After those two awesome games, it’s tough not to. Whether it’s Miami being able to pull off a great defensive performance in the first game, Dallas mounting a great comeback in Game 2, or Miami’s early and premature celebration in the same game, one can never run out of things to talk about in this series.

But be careful people. Be really careful. There are things that you might say that could either build up your reputation as truly “basketball genius” or break it off altogether. And knowing how Filipino basketball fans really take pride on this basketball thing, it’s just necessary to pick the right words when talking about the NBA finals.

That’s why I’ve decided to write a guideline on what to say, do and what not to say or do when the said issue is on the discussion table.

Please continue reading at Philippine Star’s Unblogged.

Pacquiao – Marquez III

It’s official. Manny Pacquiao’s next fight after his steamy battle against the Reproductive Health Bill would be against his nemesis, Juan Manuel Marquez. Marquez, the only remaining asterisk on the Pacman’s lucrative career, is looking to vindicate himself and his claim that he actually has Manny Pacquiao’s number had it not been for the fishy decisions that went against him in their first two fights.

Full story here.

Chrisangelo’s Four Point Play: Eastern Conference Finals Edition

This series could be an epic. After watching the top two teams in the Western Conference underperform in the playoffs badly, this series could finally give us a matchup which presents two of the best teams in their respective conference.  On the red corner, the Chicago Bulls team which won a league high 62 games this season, led by the league MVP Derrick Rose  and Coach of the Year winner Tom Thibideau. On the blue corner, a Miami Heat team led by LeBron James and his superfriends, boosted by a renewed confidence in the playoffs and a whole lot of ego on the side for good measure.

Finally, a playoff series to tune into. I don’t know about you guys but this match up is better than anything that the finals will have to offer. This match up presents the most intrigue among all the available matchups left in the post-season. And it’s time to break this down, four point play style!

The Initial Three Pointer

Have we finally seen Miami live up to their potential? Yes. This is the team which has finally learned to blend, especially within the two of the best players in the NBA right now in LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. This is a team which is running on a whole lot of confidence, especially after running through the Sixers and the Celtics. LeBron is actually looking a lot more aggressive in the post season compared to the regular season and Dwyane Wade seems to be more comfortable playing second fiddle, as he finally knows when to stay aggressive and when to lie-low and let LeBron do work.  Chris Bosh as their third man doesn’t do them bad either, as Chris has been prone to hitting those 15-18 foot jumpers and occasionally crash the boards when he’s either in the mood or when an old man with a bad back and bad knees is in front of him (See Elton Brand). Add that up and you finally have the expected triumvirate of force finally living up to their potential, a brand that has been given to them when LeBron decided to take his talents to South Beach.

However, with the obvious strengths that Miami possesses also comes the obvious weaknesses. With them blending and living up to what they could really be, this eliminates the “wait for them to blend” excuse that has been running rampant in the season. I truly believe that this is the Miami team that almost everyone has feared in the pre-season campaign, and yes, I truly believe that alongside that brand comes the fact that Miami fanboys should finally accept that this team, while they’re great, also has some flaws in them. Defensive liability at crunchtime is one weakness that stands out in this Miami team and with Derrick Rose hanging around on the other side of the bench, this could be a weakness that Chicago can actually exploit. The poor bench production and a thin frontline are also things that Miami should consider as flaws.

Are the Bulls really as good as advertised? After having some rough games in Indiana and losing the first game against Atlanta, people has been questioning whether the Bulls are really as good as what their regular season record suggests. And the answer is simple, yes. When they are clicking on all cylinders, the Bulls are almost impossible to beat.  They are very well coached, they have the best player of the season and they have a bench that is willing to work hard, keep up the energy that their starting line up has left and in most cases much like what we’ve seen in Games 5 and 6 of the Atlanta series, this bench can score. So asking whether the Bulls are really “good enough” to be here because of a few bad games that they had in the post season, is really a stupid question. Of course, once the Bulls face the Heat in the Eastern Conference finals, they cannot afford to have bad games. But when you have a coach that basically breathes basketball and an MVP that is hungry to actually prove something, then I guess we need not to remind them of how important the little things are in the conference finals.

Most of the analysts are favoring Miami in this match up, what say you? Well I can’t really blame most of the sports analysts which favors Miami in this match up, granted that Miami really had an impressive run in the post-season. What ticks me off are the people who are counting out the Bulls in this face-off.  I honestly believe they are on equal footing entering the Eastern Conference playoffs. They both disposed their first round opponents in 5 games and though the Bulls struggled in the first three games against Indiana, it’s not like the Heat were blowing out the Sixers in their series either.  Yes, Miami was impressive in eliminating the Celtics in the second round, but the Bulls was as impressive in beating a talented, hungry and at times underrated Hawks team in the second round, especially in their last two games.  Back on point, there’s absolutely no way I can blame analysts which favors Miami, but to say that the Bulls has absolutely no chance of winning against the Heat needs a serious reality check, which will be given once the series begins.

The And-1!

Predictions predictions predictions. As I’ve said, both teams are entering the conference finals on equal footing. They’ve had great runs and their superstars have lived up to what are being expected of them. I truly believe that the Bulls strengths play well to the weaknesses of Miami which I pointed out above. The Bulls easily has the best bench in the league and Miami’s bench is basically a James Jones explosion away from being labeled the worst that this league has to offer. Chicago has the size advantage over the Heat and the quickness and agility factor is basically a toss up. Defensive liabilities in crunch time would definitely be a factor, especially with Derrick Rose waiting to exploit your defensive mix ups once he has the ball in his hands. And last but not the least, forget the 3-0 record that the Bulls has over the Heat in the regular season, I’d like to put in something better.. Tom Thibideau knows how to play LeBron James. We’ve seen it in the past when he was with the Celtics and we’ve seen it in the regular season, Thibideau enjoys putting up defensive schemes against LeBron James.

While all of what I’ve said above can be equally negated by LeBron and Wade’s talents, I like the Bulls in this series. Chicago in 7 games.

Kobe vs Dirk, Finally

The second round of the NBA playoffs is under way. It probably has the most intriguing match-ups in playoffs history that we’ve seen in years. You have the defending Eastern Conference champions, the Boston Celtics, going up against the Miami Superfriends, err, Heat. The upstart Oklahoma City Thunder, viewed as the heir to Los Angeles’ throne in the Western Conference, going up against surprise entrants Memphis Grizzlies. The league-leading Bulls will test their mettles against the Hawks, who’ve surpassed expectations when they knocked off Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic in six games in the first round.

Such interesting matchups, but nothing as interesting as this one.

Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki have been two of the most dominant players who set foot in an NBA hardcourt in the past 10 years. Playing in the same conference, on two of the winningest teams in the NBA over the past decade, it’s such a shame that they haven’t faced each other in a playoff series. Not even for once. Well, at least, not until now.

Full read at Philippine Star’s Unblogged.

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