HoopWatch

Reports, rumors and buzzes around the league have it the Kobe Bryant may leave the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers superstar guard had requested for a trade four-and-a-half months ago. And just a few weeks ago, Lakers owner Jerry Buss has expressed that he is now willing to ship Kobe. But where should Kobe really go?

If I were to choose a destination for Bryant, I’d say it’s gonna be the Phoenix Suns, in a trade that should include Shawn Marion, Marcus Banks and future draft picks. Marion has been asking to be shipped out for some time now, and Banks is of no use to the Suns. Their salary-cap may bloat a bit, but it would be best for the Suns to have Kobe in their line-up.

Bryant has shown that he can concentrate on defense and not hog the ball only if he has able teammates at his side. It was evident in his stint with the US Team in the recent FIBA Americas. In Phoenix, he will have a lot of scoring help from Amare Stoudemire, Boris Diaw, Leandro Barbosa and even from Steve Nash. Plus Nash knows where to give him the ball. It will be a renewed spirit for Kobe if he goes to Phoenix.

Here’s a lineup of some of the upcoming sporting events in Auckland.

Coastal Classic Yacht Race
19-21 October
See hundreds of yachts launch their colourful spinnakers as they begin one of New Zealand’s most famous coastal yacht races.

Waitakere World Junior Badminton Championships 2007
25 October – 4 November
Head along and support some of our up and coming athletes as they battle it out on the badminton court.

The adidas Auckland Marathon
28 October
Join thousands in crossing the Harbour Bridge on foot and get ready for a day of lively atmosphere and entertainment!

Check out these sites for Auckland Accommodation, Auckland Hotels and Hotels in Auckland

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The De La Salle Green Archers are the UAAP Champions for Season 70. They displayed dominance in the whole forty minutes, winning by nine, 73-64 over the UE Red Warriors, a team that swept the eliminations.

The Red Warriors had at least two weeks of rest, and that proved to have gone against them. They lose the swagger, and they were tentative in taking their shots. They were also forcing a lot of their shots from the three-point region.

The Archers, on the other hand, worked like a well-oiled machine, conquering the Warriors on both offense and defense. They fought tooth-and-nail against the Blue Eagles, and that worked for them, as they learned to work better as a team.

The title marks the sixth one for Franz Pumaren. He had four from 1998-2001, the fifth title in 2004, and his sixth this year, at the expense of his younger brother, Dindo Pumaren.

The Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles ended their season last Sunday, via a 57-62 defeat to their arch rival De La Salle Green Archers. But they fought hard till the last few seconds. If only the desperation three by Chris Tiu would have gone in, they could have won that ballgame and advanced to the UAAP Finals.

But the game went the other way. La Salle won yet again after relinquishing that chance in their first encounter. With the twice-to-beat advantage, the Archers manifested their resiliency and resolve to win the big games. Ateneo has La Salle’s numbers this season. They won three of five matches against the Archers, but they lost the huge games.

With the twice-to-beat advantage up for grabs, La Salle subdued the Eagles. Then last Sunday, with the finals berth on hand for the victor, the Archers won again.

Ateneo has nothing to be ashamed of. They played with a lot of heart. Nobody expected them to be in the thick of things for Season 70’s UAAP Finals appearance. They were ranked behind UE, La Salle, UST and FEU, right in line with NU. This order was determined with the exit of three Star Eagles in JC Intal, Doug Kramer and Macky Escalona. The trio were all drafter in the first round in the PBA Annual Draft.

But Ateneo fought back hard. They were in fifth place at the end of the first round, but won big games against FEU, UST and La Salle. They were not expected to win those games. They were at second place before they lost an all-important game to NU. A very big loss. They dug themselves a huge hole. They failed to seize and grab the opportunity. One lesson Ateneo must need to learn is how to play with a lot of the same intensity after a win against the Archers. Almost each time they defeated the Archers, they always lose their next game. They always appear to spend all their gasses against the Archers, that they appear tired in the next game.

That happened last Sunday. They got tired, and La Salle has done a masterful job clamping down on Tiu, who killed them with big triples in all their three losses. Ateneo failed to secure two all-important defensive rebounds at the end game. That spelled the difference. They were outhustled for those two boards. Those were big let-downs. The Archers were just quicker to the ball. The Eagles tried to come back, but they were sluggish and exhausted. They have spent all their energy in their previous win. And Tiu was nowhere to be found this time.

But then again, they have overachieved. They fought with a lot of heart. All their games against the Archers, the second round win against UST, the game where they exorcised the past year’s demons against UST (they sent them home this time) – these were all classic games.

Only Ford Arao and Zio Laterre will bid goodbye to the blue-and-white gallery this season. There is a lot of hope for this young team. I must say, Season 71 should be the season that the Eagles will win another title. Tiu, Yuri Escueta, Ken Baracosso and Jobe Nkemakolam may come back for their final UAAP year. Rookies Nonoy Baclao and Kirk Long will play bigger roles. I guess anything short of a title will be an underachievement. After the exit last Sunday, I salute the boys for a job well done, and let me say this loud and clear – I still believe! A title is in the offing next year.

Chris Tiu was struggling throughout the ball game. He just had a single point at half time. Then unloaded just six in the third quarter, mostly from the free-throw line. He was hounded all game long. No fouls were called, not unless he was sent to the floor. He had six turnovers, one on a bogus traveling call and another on a questionable offensive foul. Ateneo was down six, 58-64, with two minutes remaining in the ball game. Yet he never gave up. La Salle had all the momentum going there way. And then came Tiu.

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He was all business in the deciding canto. He has fire in his eyes. He even exchanged words with TY Tang, when the latter was taking free-throws. He refused to end the Blue Eagles season today! He fired seven points in the fourth quarter. Five big points in the last two minutes of the game.

With Ateneo struggling from the three-point line, Tiu made the lone trifecta, off a pass from Nonoy Baclao, another hero in his own right. The Blue Eagles were 0-of-8 before that shot. Ford Arao then made a hook from the left flank at the 24-second shot clock buzzer. Then Tiu once again drove to the hole, and made a gritty lay-up over the outstretched arms of Rico Maierhoffer to take the lead for good, 65-64.

Tiu has claimed leadership of this team, and man, did he deliver! He is the King Eagle this season, and has lived up to expectations. Thank you Chris! Kindly deliver Ateneo back to the Finals once again this Sunday, and prove to everyone that indeed we have La Salle’s numbers this time around!

*** I had fun reading this text message sent my way right after the win: “Win or lose, it’s the school we TIUs! Hay SALAMAT! Napakagandang ARAO! See you LATERRE. Go Ateneo! (pic courtesy of flckr.com)

Throw away the statistics. Burn the numbers. And forget all the win-loss records. Tomorrow will be another exciting day for the greatest rivalry in Philippine basketball. The Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles will meet the De La Salle University Green Archers for the fourth time this season, in a lone match set at 3pm, at the Araneta Coliseum.

Ateneo holds the edge this season, winning two of their three matches against La Salle. But the Blue Eagles lost the very important game that should have gained them the twice-to-beat advantage, after a bitter loss to already-eliminated National University Bulldogs.

Now Ateneo has no other choice but to win tomorrow to live another game. They are hoping that another player will step up aside from Chris Tiu and Ford Arao. In their win against the UST Growling Tigers, seldom-used Mike Baldos and rookie Nonoy Baclao played big, and helped the Blue Eagles advanced in the step-ladder format.

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The University of Sto Tomas Growling Tigers stole the championship away from the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles last season. The Eagles were the number one team all throughout the eliminations, beat Adamson in the Final Four and won the initial game against UST in the Finals. But as fate would have it, Superstar forward JC Intal missed most of his mid-range shots (the ones he easily made before that game), and the Tigers made their all-imporant free-throws and shot easy putbacks en route to the title.

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This season, it has been a different story. It appeared to be another masterful dominance by UST at the first canto, but Ateneo clawed their way back after being down 10-18. Chris Tiu and Ford Arao teamed-up for the well-oiled comeback in the second quarter, and the Blue Eagles were up 32-30 at the end of the first half.

Contrary to what have happened to the previous (disappointing) games, Ateneo used a mighty 18-3 run in the third and held an 11-point lead, 43-32, at one point (Ateneo lost the third period to their opponents in the previous two losses). Although UST came back and cut the deficit to two, at 44-46, the Eagles just had too much composure and held the Tigers at bay. Actually, Ateneo gave UST a dose of their own medicine as they crashed for the offensive boards. Rookie Nonoy Baclao was accountable for six offensive rebounds and nine points, all in the deciding period.

Ateneo then coasted to a 59-54 victory. It was redemption for the Blue Eagles as they exacted sweet revenge on their Season 69 tormentors. It was further a beautiful triumph for most of the fans and themselves as the Eagles made UST Coach Pido Jarencio swallow his own boastful words. Brimming with too much pride before the game, Jarencio bragged that they were tough and implied that Ateneo was not tough enough to face them. He further warned all other teams to be wary of them. Alas, the Eagles were wary and they stamped their class over their swagger-full counterparts. Poetic justice it is!

Kudos to Arao, Tiu, Eric Salamat (cross-over penetrations), Baclao (putbacks and blocks), Zion Laterre (hustle and defense), Yuri Escueta (orchestration and his quick feet) and the rarely-used Mike Baldos (quality minutes)! They played a helluva of a game. That’s how they should play till the end of the season, with the crown at the palm of their hands! I believe they will. (photo courtesy of www.fabiloh.com by alyson yap)

There was a foul on Ford Arao! With 12 seconds remaining, Arao grabbed the offensive rebound after a Jai Reyes miss. He went up for the stick-back but clearly got fouled by Rico Maierhoffer, but the “luto” referees let it go. The result, the Dela Salle Archers escaped with a narrow 70-69 victory, and gained the twice-to-beat advantage in the step-ladder format.

That non-call was big! If I may quote TJ Manotoc, “Maierhoffer had some arm[!]” With Ateneo just down by two, 67-69, that let-go decided the outcome of the game. There were a lot of questionable calls in this match favoring the Archers, which includes a flagrant on the mild-mannered Chris Tiu against Bader Malabes. Malabes was never hit on the head, it could have been all-ball as replays showed, but the cheating refs called it otherwise rewarding the Archers with two free-throws and a possession.

Jvee Casio redeemed himself after a 1-for-15 showing in their second encounter against the Eagles. He had 21 points and six rebounds.

Ateneo will now face the dangerous defending Champions UST Growling Tigers in a knock-out match, which will determine who will face the Archers, but needing to beat the Green-and-Mean twice. (photo courtesy of yyuseco.multiply.com)
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The Russians won against Pau Gasol and Spain in a dramatic fashion. They carved out a cardiac squeaker, 60-59, against the current World Basketball Champions. Andrei Kirilenko led Russia with 17 points and he added three blocks.

The Russians trailed by as much as ten midway in the third canto. A further blow was sent their way when Kirilenko was called for his fourth foul on a good acting job by Spain’s Jimenez. But the Russians fought back hard via the exploits of Victor Khryapa and his killer three as time expired in the third. Gasol had a chance to win the ballgame for Spain, but his jumper bounced in-and-out as time expired.

The University of Sto. Thomas Growling Tigers survived a comeback surge from the Far Eastern University Tamaraws late in the fourth, to hack out an emphatic 80-69 win at the Araneta Coliseum. The UST win boosted hopes that they may defend their title against automatic finalists, the UE Red Warriors, a team that swept the eliminations.

Japs Cuan had an all-around performance for the Tigers scoring eight points, dishing out nine assists and grabbing eight rebounds. They were up by as much as 23 points in the middle of the third. FEU had a 13-0 nothing run, cutting the lead down to ten, 66-76, with less than four minutes remaining. But a Jun Cortez jumper and botched attempts by the Tamaraws halted the FEU run.

The Tigers will now await the loser of the Ateneo Blue Eagles-La Salle Green Archers game set at 3 p.m. tomorrow.