Logo

Rain or Shine outlasted Coca-Cola Tigers to survive the wildcard and face Purefoods TJ Giants in the quarter finals of the PBA All Filipino Cup. Behind the stellar performance of point guard Solomon Mercado, Rain or Shine is on a good rhythm entering the quarter finals. However, fatigue is the main concern of Rain or Shine because they'll be against the well-rested Purefoods team which is also on a streak this 2010.

Controversial James Yap and team captain Kerby Raymundo will lead the charge for the Giants. But Purefoods has evolved into a better team this season, showing significant improvements in their assists per game output. Their bench headed by KG Canaleta, PJ Simon, Don Allado, and Roger Yap is also performing very well. More than their offensive firepower, Purefoods is the number one defensive team in the PBA today.

On the other end, Talk n Text will battle the injury-plagued Gin Kings. Despite losing their key players to injuries, Ginebra managed to advance to the quarters behind the guns of Cyrus Baguio, Ronald Tubid and JC Intal. This series will surely be a showdown of guards. Jimmy Alapag and Mac Cardona will surely won't back down against Ginebra's backcourt. It will be interesting to see how Ginebra will play defense against Mac Cardona.

At 5pm Purefoods battles Rain or Shine while Brgy. Ginebra Gin Kings faces Talk n Text Tropang Texters in the main game.

NBA 2K10 is a basketball video game developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K Sports. It was released on October 6, 2009 on Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and PSP and on October 12, 2009 on PC.

The 2k10 version is not really that far from the NBA 2K9 release. They changed the control configuration a bit. I noticed very minimal improvements in terms of graphics. Gameplay though has really improved.

From 2k Sports:

NBA 2K10 is raising the bar again with another Championship season. NBA 2K9, the #1 selling & #1 rated NBA videogame, set the standard for all basketball videogames, and NBA 2K10 surpasses that by delivering an even better basketball experience this year with all-new gameplay components, out-of-this-world graphics, even more realistic Signature Style animations, all-new presentation elements and an unrivalled online system -- this season you won’t just play the NBA, you’ll TAKE OVER.

I was really impressed when I first played the 2K10 PC version. Note that I've been playing NBA live since birth! Since EA Sports no longer provided PC version of their NBA live series, I learned to enjoy 2k Sports' offerings.

Like NBA game console fanatic, I'm still dismayed that the 2K series does not support multiplayer mode via local area network (LAN).

If you don't have a copy of NBA 2K10, give this link a try.

Expect war in tonight's sudden death match between the Coca-Cola Tigers and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters as the PBA Wildcard phase continues. The winner of tonight's match will advance to the quarter finals and will face the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants.

Coca-Cola defeated Burger King while Rain or Shine busted Sta. Lucia Realtors to seal tonight's battle. Coca-Cola is unbeaten this year. The trade with Burger King proved to be worthy for the Tiger. The sent Wesley Gonzales and ace-guard Alex Cabagnot to the Whoppers in exchange for Gary David and Chico Lanete. The revival of Asi Taulava who missed most of the elimination games due to injury is the main reason why Coke is roaring. Asi is producing double-double numbers each game.

Rain or Shine meanwhile, has been on a slump all season long. Fortunately they managed to win when it mattered the most. They outlasted the more favored Sta. Lucia Realtors in their duel last Sunday. Leading Rain or Shine are Sol Mercado, Gabe Norwood and special mention to their team captain, veteran Eddie Laure.

PBA fans are in for an epic battle tonight!

The 2010 NBA All Star weekend is coming this February. Fans can surely expect a stellar performance from NBA superstars who'll participate in various events.

Leading the cast of superstars are Lebron James and Kobe Bryant. It's also amazing to see how people voted for Tracy McGrady and Allen Iverson for the all-star game. Despite their lousy season, this only proves that the two have made their mark in the league.

The Sprite Slamdunk contest should also be more exciting this season. Although, I'm quite dismayed that Lebron James decided not to participate in this year's slamdunk competition. I guess he realized that he's no match for the other participants. Two weeks ago, Shaquille O'neal even encouraged Kobe Bryant and Vince Carter to join the show together with James for the cause of Haiti earthquake victims.

Many of my friends in the provinces are depending on live streaming channels in the internet to watch NBA games and other basketball leagues. I tried to help them out by searching for DIRECT TV offers that's available on their areas. Luckily, i bumped into one DIRECTTV site which offers affordable packages with great deals.

If you are looking for a DIRECTV provider, this one is really worth a look. All the information you need is stated in their website. With their flexible packages you'll surely be able to choose a deal that suits you best.

Now you can enjoy watching live NBA games and other sports in high-definition! Aside from watching live, there's no better way to watch the 2010 NBA All Star festivities in high-definition broadcast!

MIAMI -- LeBron James and Dwyane Wade walked off the court at halftime, smiling toward each other after an epic performance worthy of superstars. At game's end, only James left happy.

James hit two free throws after a scary tumble and blow to the head with 4.1 seconds left for the winning points, and Wade missed a jumper over the reigning MVP's outstretched arm at the buzzer as the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Miami Heat 92-91 on Monday night.

"It came down to one possession," said James, who matched Wade with a game-high 32 points. "Whoever got the last stop was going to win the game. Luckily it was us."

Wade had 30 at halftime, then only two the rest of the way -- and missed two big free throws with 41.2 seconds left, part of a 1 of 6 showing from the line by the Heat in the fourth quarter.

It cost Miami dearly.

"We put ourselves in the right position," Wade said. "Just mistakes tonight that I made that I normally don't ... cost us."

As great as the back-and-forth between Wade and James was at times, the last half-minute might be all anyone remembers from this one.

Guarding his good friend for the first time all night, Wade blocked James' shot with about 28 seconds left, giving Miami the ball and a one-point lead. But on the ensuing possession, James -- defending Wade this time -- came up with a steal when the league's defending scoring champion tried a wraparound pass, drove in from halfcourt and created what became a frightening scene for both teams.

James and Wade went toward the hoop together, with Quentin Richardson defending as well. Both James and Wade landed awkwardly, and James writhed in pain for about 2 minutes as the entire Cavs' bench came out to check on their fallen leader. He got up, walked Richardson's foul off and made two free throws with 4.1 seconds left for a 92-91 lead.

"For him to get up after that collision and knock down two free throws the way that he did, he's got ice water in his veins, baby," Cleveland coach Mike Brown said. "Ice water."

And in the ensuing huddle, Brown wanted to call a double-team on Wade. The coach was overruled.

"I got D-Wade," James said.

Wade's shot bounced off the iron, and it was over.

"The good, the bad, you're up, you're down," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "I'll take it all with this team."

Shaquille O'Neal scored 19, Daniel Gibson had 15 and Anderson Varejao finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds for Cleveland.

Wade had 10 rebounds and five assists for Miami. Jermaine O'Neal finished with 18 points, Michael Beasley had 16 and Rafer Alston and Udonis Haslem each scored 10 for the Heat.

Jermaine O'Neal had 14 in the first quarter, Wade had 13 in the period, and Miami was off and running with a 34-24 lead after the first 12 minutes.

That was only the warmup act.

The second quarter was pure theater, Wade vs. LeBron.

So good was the show that hardly anyone noticed that Wade's teammates missed 15 straight shots over a 15 1/2-minute stretch, including 0 for 12 in the second quarter alone. Miami missed 12 straight before Wade made a step-back jumper with 3:37 left in the half put Miami up 40-39, and he followed that up with a 3-pointer while getting fouled by Jamario Moon to ignite the crowd.

James answered, a 3-pointer of his own making it a one-point game again.

It was on.

"The competition," Spoelstra said, "was fantastic."

Wade made a jumper and couldn't contain his grin as the building roared, knowing it was seeing a glorified game of 1-on-1 between two of the game's elite. James cleared everyone else out against Richardson, rebutting with a fallaway jumper of his own.

They were just getting started.

"Two really, really good friends, one of my best friends that I have, just two great competitors not wanting to lose to each other," James said. "But at the same time, knowing that we're putting on a show not only for each other, but for the fans and whoever was watching the game."

Wade missed a free throw with 29 seconds left until intermission, ran down the rebound and gave Miami another possession -- which he capped with a 3-pointer with 6.6 seconds left, flashing dueling "3" signs behind his back after sealing the fourth 30-point half of his career. Undeterred, with 1.2 ticks remaining, James hit -- what else? -- a 3-pointer, cutting Miami's lead to 54-50.

The teams scored 46 points total in the second quarter. James (20) and Wade (17) combined for 37 of them.

And when it was over, the scene in the Miami locker room told the story.

"Tough one, right?" Beasley asked Richardson, who only nodded in silence.

Game notes
All four instances of Wade scoring 30 in a half have come at home, two of them against Cleveland. ... The teams combined to miss their first 10 shots of the second quarter. ... Creative sign of the night: With a nod to this summer's expected free agent bonanza, a fan held up a placard during a second-quarter time-out with the Facebook logo, saying James had changed his status from "in a relationship with the Cavs" to "in a relationship with the Heat."

source: The Associated Press

The Cleveland Cavaliers despite a sluggish start this season is now showing its supremacy in the NBA. Behind the huge numbers from superstar Lebron James, Cleveland managed to stay unbeaten against defending champ Los Angeles Lakers.

Mo Williams is also a steady player for the Cavs this year. The Cavs usually wins when he scores more than 15 in a game. He'll be out for at least a month though with an injury. Bad boy Delonte West is also nursing an injury. High-flying Jamario Moon has become a contributor off the bench with his solid defense and gutsy moves to the basket. Former Raptor Anthony Parker is the regular starter for the Cavs at the shooting guard position and he has delivered well. He should be more consistent though on his outside sniping.

"Big Diesel," Shaquille O'neal is doing just fine with Cleveland. I think coach Mike Brown and the rest of Cleveland management is getting what they expect from Shaq at least at this stage of the season. I believe Shaq's worth will be displayed come playoffs time. It's very fortunate that Shaq has managed to stay away from major injuries this season.

When you talk about Cleveland, you can't miss out on their main gunner, Lebron James. Lebron has been doing it all for Cleveland. Aside from his offensive game, King James provides solid interior defense for the Cavaliers highlighted by chased down blocks on fastbreaks. Remember how he erased Kevin Durant's game-winning attempt to beat Durant and the Thunders. Lebron is a tenacious defender. I'm really very impressed with how he defends because being the best offensive weapon of his team, he doesn't have the mentality of being lousy on the defensive end. He has also professionally managed the issues about him being a free agent next year. Lebron is such a unique, elite basketball player.

I guess it's about time to revive this blog. It's actually amazing how this blog managed to stay at Google PR 2 despite the long time silence.

Anyway, I've decided to get back into this blog. Why? Basically because there's so many things to blog about in the basketball scene here in the Philippines and overseas. It's playoffs time in the PBA while the NBA-All Star week is all set this February in Dallas. The Smart Gilas RP Team is also making some noise in the middle east.

So that's it.. I'm back to this game!