Hoops 2nd Year B-Day, Nike Unisex Wallet Freebie

You know what? Today is our birthday. Hoops Philippines (HooPh) is now 2 years old!

It’s been 2 years of basketball and boy that was quick. Who would ever thought that we’ll last this long? Time flies. This Nike wallet should fly as well.

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DUCKWORTH TRAIL BLAZING TO HEAVEN AT 44

DUCKWORTH TRAIL BLAZING TO HEAVEN AT 44

If you remember the two Portland teams that got in the Finals in the early 90’s, then you probably knew this guy.

Kevin… freaking… Duckworth.

He wore a big, fat double-zero across his back and his face reminded us a bit on that big ogre-like goon from Revenge of the Nerds. He was selected 33rd by the Spurs in the 1986 NBA Draft. He was later traded to the Blazers in exchange for Walter “The Truth” Berry. Yes, there is a guy nicknamed “The Truth” before Paul Pierce. The truth is, after three season and four NBA teams, Berry went overseas where he became a top scorer.

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Polls: 2008 PBA Super 5IVE

Was asked to get the “PBA Bests Polls” over with and so here it is…

Since the PBA 2007 - 2008 season is over and we all want to have fresh polls, today is the day that we’ll finally conclude the 2008 PBA Super Five polling project. The search for PBA’s best players, playing position wise.

To the fans of runner-ups (Kelly Williams & James Yap) and zero vote getters (Rob Wainwright, Brandon Cablay, Chris Calaguio, Paolo Mendoza, Paul Artadi, Alex Cabagnot, Topex Robinson, Froilan Baguion), don’t fret, we’ll run this again next year for the 2009 version.
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Sydman’s Side Defect: THE 2008 PBA MOCK DRAFT

THE 2008 PBA MOCK DRAFT

My batting average is below .250… but I am still doing it.

Welcome to my favorite time of year. The new faces that would finish the season as a somebody… and we could also see the players that were left out high and dry.

Last year, Joe Devance pulled a rug on everyone when we saw him trying to shoot threes rather than trying to dominate the paint. Sta. Lucia surprised everyone by picking Ryan Reyes. Yes, all of the HooPh team are kissing the feet of reigning Top Rookie. Ronjay Buenafe was the other guy who averaged in double figures… but we were hoping JC Intal, Ken Bono, JR Quinahan were amongst the notables who could also break out on that feat. Sam Eman did not disappoint us though. We knew Magnolia would bench him… and we were dead-on.

From big time amateurs, they have become struggling hoopsters.

This year, another batch will have their spirits tormented.

GAME STARTS NOW!

THE FIRST ROUND

1. RAIN OR SHINE – GABE NORWOOD
This is one move the Dragons shouldn’t give up. With Norwood, the team will get a superstar. It will also give them a better chance to cross the .500 route. Norwood plays five positions and he’ll create mismatches in the smaller positions. This will also enable the Dragons to revamp the point guard spot, a position that lacked presence in their first years with the league.

2. TALK N TEXT – JARED DILLINGER
His entry will solve the team’s lack of slashers. Since, it’s sure that Chot Reyes will never use Renren Ritualo and Mac Cardona at the same time, his entry will create a run and gun mode that was dimmed hard to do with all the big men in their squad. Dillinger is fast, agile, and could create mismatches in the SF spot.
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Hoops Philippines, Nominated at PBA

Hey, just like to make a shout-out that your blog Hoops Philippines (or as we try to call this, HooPh) is nominated over at PBA.

Not this PBA.

But this PBA.

The category is under the SPORTS division. [A blog that reports and discusses events and issues about Sports. It could be about boxing (both pro and non-pro) or it could be about marathon running. More often the distinction here is that this blog covers competitive sports.] Read more

Statistically Speaking 3: Who really should be the Finals MVP?

Great, another who should really be the Finals MVP entry. This is a follow up to Alecto’s Mark Caguioa conspiracy blog post and I think adding up some stats to his claim that Mark Caguioa should really be the finals MVP would be spiffy.

Alright, I got the statistics from PBA-Online.net, a site which is 10 times more informative than the official PBA website. To all the people from PBA-Online.net, thanks a lot for the updated statistics. This really helps. Although they missed Game 6 which would affect the outcome of the rebounding and assists averages (But not that much on scoring because the scores are up on the recap page so..) anyway, here we go.. Read more

Poll: Most Valuable Player Per “SE”

Who gives more value to his OWN team? (Ginebra - AIR21 finals series run simultaneously with the Men’s Basketball 2008 Olympics)

* Kobe Bryant of USA (26%)
* Homer Se of Air21 (24%)
* Lebron James of USA (16%)
* Yao Ming of China (9%)
* Pau Gasol of Spain (9%)
* Manu Ginobili of Argentina (7%)
* Dirk Nowitzki of Germany (6%)
* Andrei Kirilenko of Russia (1%)
* Sarunas Jasikavicious of Lithuania (1%)
* Andrew Bogut of Australia (0%)

Total Votes: 221

Sigh… Homer Se needed only 5 more votes to be named MVP per se.

Sydman’s Side Defect: 2008 PBA DRAFT - WHAT SHOULD TEAMS LOOK!

This happens when you suck in a PBA season.

You get to pick the best man that has yet to play in the league.

The benefits? Hmmm… recently-hailed MVP Kelly Williams has produced a ring for the erstwhile tailgaters, Sta. Lucia Realtors. MVP runner up Arwind Santos almost gave the Air21 Express a championship had not for the deserving Brgy. Ginebra Kings.

After two years in the league, they became superstars.

While Joe Devance would probably suffer another poor season playing for the league’s resident weeping boys, a boost from the amateurs could prove enough to make this underachieving team become a championship powerhouse.

GAME STARTS NOW!

WELCOAT: NUMBER ONE

Hmmm… what does this team need? I for one think that they need leadership. However, the Dragons tend to sack their reliable players so they can get worthless underachievers. That’s why they need to settle on an outstanding rookie that could lead them to the heavens.

Jared Dillinger looks like a good player but I hope Gabe Norwood can play in the league. The Dragons need an effective point guard and with an oversized quarterback like Norwood, the team could manhandle the small, paperweights of the other teams. Another good thing about Norwood is he can play multiple positions. I think this is the first time we will encounter a Magic Johnson-like player in the PBA.

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TMCC, The Mark Caguioa Conspiracy

Minutes before the Gin Kings bagged the championship against the so young and AIR21, I’m not worried that the people’s team would lose but rather whether or not Mark Caguioa would be awarded the FINALS MVP.

The first time Menk won the said plum over Mark was understandable since the former had the best games of his career grabbing every rebound and even swooshing three-pointers. But the second one was unacceptable as the numbers of Mark was way ahead of Menk’s.

For the third time, Mark failed to bring home the bacon as it was given to his bandana brother Jayjay. No, I’m not biased neither against the co-awardees Menk and the ever lovable-best-actor-acrobat Ronald Tubid. They deserved the attention. However, I’m definitely against the system of the PBA for allowing the Press Corps to choose the recipient of the said recognition (I believe with sole discretion huh!). Read more

One for the Champs… One for a nationwide celebration

I’ll post my Araneta Chronicles for game 7 as soon as I recover from the post Championship fever. Right now lemme just congratulate the 2008 Fiesta Conference Champions, the Barangay Ginebra Kings.

The Main Crew

Of course, lemme start off by mentioning the orchestrators of the championship. Head coach Jong Uichico who amidst the criticisms that he took or he is taking continued to show the experience of a championship caliber coach. Of course, the banged up Fast and the Furious tandem of Mark Caguioa and Jayjay Helterbrand who were two of the main reasons why they ended up in the Finals. Add to it the addition of veteran Junthy Valenzuela who took the stabilizer role and was the glue that kept the whole team together after Helterbrand went down. Read more

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