PAYA: National University (NU) vs Xavier School - FINALS
Venue: Jacinto Tiu Competition Court
Time: 4:00 / 4:30 PM
Date: November 17, 2011
After defeating the De La Salle Zobel squad last Wednesday, the Stallions go up against the tough National University squad for the PAYA championship in a winner take-all game tomorrow, November 17. Paraded by RP Youth U-16 standouts Kyles Lao and Isaac Go, the Stallions look to reclaim their lost championship against a Bullpups team, led by fellow RP Youth U-16 standout Hubert Cani. Tomorrow should feature an exciting up-and-down game with both teams equally matched.
Come and Support The Golden Stallions in their drive for 55!
This past sembreak indeed was a quick one. First, I want to thank God for giving me the opportunity to rest my body and spend time with the ones I love most dearly. I spent my sembreak quite differently this time. On the first several days, I spent it with my Father going out and learning the family business. There I was able to see first hand what my family does to get me in the position am I right now and for that I am truly grateful. Afterwards, I picked my brother from the airport after the Energen RP Youth U-16 National Team's stint in Vietnam. I was able to hear the great experience my brother had abroad and hopefully learn from it. (I hope I get to make a blog about it.) I was also able to go to Tagaytay with my family on two different day trips! Affected by a virus, I had LBM. It didn't feel all too good but as I reflect, God gave me the opportunity to rest my weary body.
Instead of telling you guys about my so-called "unique" sembreak, I would want to reflect on everything before all hell breaks lose tomorrow.
Our destiny is something already etched in stone; an inevitable event precedented beforehand. Our effort could possibly change the outcome but that is highly improbable. Destiny is something that takes it course. You just really have to embrace it or forever live in despair. Tomorrow, I receive arguably the biggest test in my life, the Science Quarterly Exam on Chemisry.
I accept the fact that I am really not exceptionally good in Science nor adequate. I judge myself as someone horrible in the subject. Someone to this very day that has difficulty understanding the basic principles and concepts behind the Periodic Table. My grades in Science are dismal; flaunting a borderline passing grade. That isn't me.
Thinking aside, the main debate is whether or not we should use a positive or negative outlook on things. Do we have an optimistic attitude, always hoping for the best or should we have a pessimistic attitude and always prepare for the worse? To me, the latter is better. To me, it is much better to accept your shortcomings and limitations and do what is best to improve. (Honestly, I am not the best person to ask in topics such as these. I really do have a negative outlook on things.)
My faith is sealed. It cannot be changed or altered. The only think I can do is ask the Lord for acceptance. I ask him that His will be done and I humbly accept whatever score I "worked" for. The only think I can do now is to brace for the worse. The anticipation is always the worse feeling but I do hope that justice can be done.
Nike always seems to come up with beautiful and exciting commercials. In their latest collaboration with Nike endorsers LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Dirk Nowitzki, Amare Stoudemire, Sue Bird, and Coach K and the Duke Blue Devils, Nike depicts that basketball is a game that never stops. It is a game that can be played anywhere and anytime you want to. It goes along with the fact that the NBA Lockout has still not yet been resolved and that these talented players join different leagues and showcase their love for the game.
Its been quite a while since I decided to post on my blog. I have had a rough hell week and quarterly test week so that pretty much explains it. Don't worry, I'll update the blog once I get to "interview" my brother regarding his FIBA Asia experience.
Temporarily, I would like to share my desktop wallpaper for the past several months until I decided to change it today. It gives a lot of meaning and hope.
Hope you enjoy it!
"Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful."
- Joshua J. Marine
Today, as the Energen RP Youth U-16 National Team departed for Nha Trang, Vietnam, I remember telling my brother something, "Remember, your playing against 7-footers possibly headed to the NBA". Yes, potential NBA prospects are very much present in this competition but I will be highlighting two centers who could and can potentially post problems for us presently and for the years to come (since we are most definitely rooting for the Philippines).
Zhou Qi - China
Height: 215 cm (Approx: 7'1")
Age: 15
Birthday: 16/01/1996 (Day/Month/Year)
Already dubbed "The Next Yao Ming", a lot of weight lies on the shoulders of Zhou Qi to lead China to its "rightful" place in Asian basketball, the top. Zhou is most known for his dominating performances in the semi-final and championship game in an U-16 tournament where he became an overnight sensation. He posted a dominating triple-double performance of 41 points, 28 rebounds, and 15 blocks against Germany and followed it up with 30 points, 17 rebounds, and 8 blocks in the finals against Turkey where he led China to the Gold and earning the MVP in the process. In NBADraft.net, they already have Zhou as the #1 ranked prospect in the class of 2015 or 2016 and some scouts even consider him to be better than Yao Ming at his age. As you can see in the video above, Zhou is a fundamentally sound player who can finish with both hands. He has a very lanky frame which makes him a longer player but a much weaker player (he is only listed 190 pounds). He also has the ability to step-away from the basket and shoot mid-range jumpers. He still has to develop his athleticism and his strength but he has the quickness to make up for it as of the moment. Zhou also has the ability to block shots but he swats in-play and allows his teammates to get it and start a fastbreak. His listed birth year is 1996 and has not changed since. (But we all assume he is older than that)
Satnam Singh Bhamara - India
Height: 204 cm
Age: 15
Birthday: 12/10/1995 (Day/Month/Year)
If Zhou Qi is "The Next Yao Ming", then Satnam Singh Bhamara is "India's Yao Ming". Hailing from a small town in Northern India, Satnam Singh is a young kid trapped in a structured and chiseled body of a man. Satnam is a legitimate post player with a feathery outside touch. For the past year, he has been attending the IMF Basketball Academy in Florida, where he was given a 4-year scholarship. I remembered Satnam as a very slow player but played with a lot of intensity. He had weak legs but made up for it with his wide and broad body. Based on the video, we can see that Satnam has continued to develop his low post game. He can now finish comfortably with both his left and right hand. He also is now comfortable dunking the ball rather than shooting very awkward scoop shots. Satnam already now knows how to run down the floor and does it with a purpose. His outside shot is still silky smooth allowing the opposing bigs to step away from the shaded area. He is also a force to be reckoned with on defense and he swats away a ton of shots while altering a lot more in the process.
On a side note, China and India will play against each other on October 18, 2011 at 2100 in the 2nd FIBA Asia U-16 tournament held in Nha Trang, Vietnam. We'll see who has a better game when the giants clash.
In celebration of my 3,000 blog views, I will try to rank 3,000 of the best basketball players of all-time-just kidding. I don't even think that is feasible. Instead, let me tell you about my pick for the biggest steal in this year's NBA Draft. Rivals #1 ranked prospect 2 years ago (last year being #MainMan Austin Rivers), Josh Selby is one heck of a player. A 6'2 combo guard, he can blow by you for an emphatic dunk, finish strong with both hands, and he can shoot the lights out from downtown. One thing that probably hurt Selby's stock (He was projected a first round pick but slided all the way down to 49) is probably that he didn't play a lot of games for the Kansas Jayhawks. He missed a ton of games during the start of the season because of an NCAA probation. In Selby's first game, his was clearly out of shape, but that didn't stop him from dominating the game. Selby toyed with his opponents and even nailed the game-winning 3. That would only be Selby's high point in his stint with Kansas as he struggled with injuries after.
The Grizzlies took a chance with this player and I believe Selby will be a great asset to their team. He can add another dimension in their point guard rotation bringing in an athletic and score-first mentality. No offense to Mike Conley and Grievis Vasquez but its about time someone great runs the point for the Grizzlies.
A video on Selby's dominating summer. Biggest steal in the NBA Draft.
P.S. Thanks for all the support. I appreciate it! Please spread the word and view my blog site morning, noon, and night like clockwork!
