Chicago Bulls visit Obama
The Chicago Bulls visited US President Barack Obama today. The President Obama is an avid fan of basketball-the Chicago Bulls to be precise. He has attended several NBA games and had a lot to say about the game.
Read the full article here. Meanwhile, I'll be leaving you with this tube of President Obama (still a senator during this video) playing basketball with some high-school kids.
I wouldn't be surprised to see the President appearing in next year's NBA-All Star. He can play. *wink
New Look!
BasketballChat: Am I good looking now? ^_^
Wasted 2 hours of my day just to give this blog a bath. *wink Hope this will be the final layout unless.. unless I change my mind again. hahaha I'm not yet done with some tweaks. Some links are still missing but hopefully I can get everything done this weekend.
I'm also undecided if I should add a "Read more" option for my posts. hmmmm. I've done it in my other blog.
That's about it for now.
NBA Stars Stay Home
Just when everybody thought that this year's trade deadline would be world-rocking, things went the other way around. Big names like Amare Stoudemire, Vince Carter, Shaq, and other players stayed with their respective teams.
Global financial crisis is the said to be the main culprit for the inability of the teams to move these big names. All teams in the NBA are trying to avoid exceeding allowed team salary cap to avoid further financial damages (NBA luxury tax). It was very hard to shop for teams who are willing to snatch star players because these players are coupled with luxurious contracts.
The Chicago Bulls is on of the few teams that made some trades just before the deadline to beef-up their roster and clean-up their finances. The team acquired Brad Miller and John Salmons from the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Drew Gooden, Andres Nocioni, and Cedric Simmons. The Bulls also parted with injury-prone guard Larry Hughes who was sent to New York in exchange for Tim Thomas, Jerome James, and Anthony Robertson.
This trade gives the two teams some salary relief. Hughes makes $12.8 million this year; James and Thomas make $12.2 million combined.
Another interesting trade, or should I say a supposed trade was the between the Oklahoma Thunders and New Orleans Hornets. Hornets' center Tyson Chandler was headed to Oklahoma for Cris Wilcox and veteran Joe Smith. Still a financially-driven trade especially on the part of the Hornets. However, Oklahoma retracted from the trade after Tyson Chandler had his physical tests with the Thunders. The deal was then cancelled. Eventually, Oklahoma moved Cris Wilcox for Malik Rose of the New York Knicks. Chandler remains in New Orleans.
Days before the trade deadline, Jermaine O'neal and Jamarion Moon of the Toronto Raptors were traded to Miami for "The Matrix" Shawn Marion.
Trade round-up:
Rafer Alston to Orlando - Kyle Lowry, Bryan Cook to Houston
Cris Mihm to Memphis - Conditional draft pick to LA
Sam Cassell signed with Sacramento Kings
Sources: nba, espn
TNT outlasts Alaska to claim all-Filipino crown
Talk N Text owner Manny V. Pangilinan (third from right, standing) joins the Texters in their celebration after they won the PBA Philippine Cup crown last night. JUN MENDOZA
Mac-Mac Cardona scored 23 points for the second straight game and Jason Castro broke out of his rookie cell and nearly showcased a triple-double effort as Talk 'N Text turned back Alaska, 93-89, in Wednesday's Game Seven to capture the KFC Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup at the jampacked Araneta Coliseum.
Cardona was named as the Mighty Bond Finals most valuable player, snatching the award after losing the best player of the conference to close buddy Willie Miller, who was not essentially in a groove at a time when the Aces needed him most down the stretch.
Instead, it was Talk 'N Text, which clinched its only second title after winning the 2003 Philippine Cup, that played as if it was the more veteran ball club.
But there were others, too, who sparkled.
Jimmy Alapag sealed the title-clinching free throws with three seconds left for the final count, and Harvey Carey, before that, hit a crucial side jumper that broke the last deadlock at 89 with 1:29 remaining in the game.
TNT coach Chot Reyes, who nailed down his fifth championship as a coach and became only the first man to win three titles with three teams in a tournament without imports, couldn't be happier.
"Barely 16 or 18 months I was in the lowest of coaching depths," said Reyes, referring to the debacle he suffered in the Tokushima FIBA-Asia Championships.
"So for me this is really a validation that I made the right decision to continue coaching, it reinforces my love for the game, and erases somewhat the pain of that Tokushima debacle."
For Alaska, it was one of its most painful losses in a Finals.
They missed four free throws in the last 26.9 seconds, and Miller muffed a baseline drive that could have tied the game at 91. After that, Carey pulled down the rebound that led to a duty foul.
As a result, Alaska blew a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven series for the third time. The incident, too, was only the sixth time in PBA history that the unwanted outcome occurred.
Moreover, Cone was denied of surpassing Virgilio "Baby" Dalupan as the mentor with the most number of wins. He is currently tied with Dalupan with 601 victories, and he surely would achieve that next conference, the Fiesta Cup.
Miller only scored two points in the fourth period and had 22 overall, and Hugnatan, who single-handedly brought the Aces back into the game in the final period after trailing by as many as 13 points (76-63), pumped in 13 of his 17 points in the fourth period. - GMANews.TV
The scores:
TALK 'N TEXT 93 -- Cardona 23, Castro 19, De Ocampo R. 12, Alapag 10, Peek 10, Ritualo 9, Carey 7, De Ocampo Y. 2, Dillinger 1, Aljamal 0.
ALASKA 89 -- Miller 22, Hugnatan 17, De Vance 14, Tenorio 10, Fonacier 10, Ferriols 6, Thoss 4, Dela Cruz 4, Cariaso 2.
Quarters: 20-23, 47-41, 73-63, 93-89
PBA Import Watch
TalkNText defeated Alaska Aces to claim the KFC PBA All Filipino Cup Crown. And so, all teams are now looking forward for the upcoming import-plague conference, the Motolite PBA Fiesta Cup.
Most of the teams are recalling former imports. Teams settling for tried and tested imports are Burger King (formerly Air21) with Shawn Daniels, Coca-Cola Tigers with JJ Sullinger but is said to be replaced by James Penny by March, Rain or Shine with Charles Clark, and the Gin Kings with hotshot Rod Nealy. Parading new imports are Sta. Lucia Realtors with Arthur James Jackson, and the TJ Giants with high-flyer Reggie Larry.
San Miguel Beermen, Alaska, Bull Barakos and recently crowned TalkNText Tropang Texters have yet to name their imports.
This will definitely be a run and gun conference. Games will certainly be high-scoring with the imports providing offensive firepower for their respective ball clubs. Meanwhile, cancer survivor, Rommel Adducul is reported to be in very good shape. According to Purefoods governor Rene Pardo, Adducul undergoes heavy training to regain and even improve his strength. Mr. Pardo assured the Adducul's fans that "The General" will be seeing action this Fiesta Cup.
