2008 NBA Madness Experience

Napadaan ako sa Glorietta nung nakaraang Biyernes para magpalipas ng oras at sa aking pakagulat meron pa lang NBA Madness Tour nung panahon iyon.

Dahil adik ako sa basketball at mahal ko ang NBA, tinanong ko yung isang crew kung paano ako makakasali sa mga pakulo ng event na ito, sinabi niya na hindi na daw puwede sa “2 Ball Contest” dahil patapos na yun, siyempre naman hindi din ako makakasali dahil mag-isa lang ako, pero pwede din siguro. Hehe.

Kaya tinanong ko na lang ulit siya kung saan games pa ako puwede sumali, at sumagot naman siya sa mini basketball shoot out na sponsored ng DHL, ang matinding kalaban ng FedEx. Medyo na excite ako dahil makakasali ako at naging interesado ako sa premyo na makukuha ko, isang ring maliit na mini-basket ball court. Ngunit biglang napawi ang saya ko dahil sabi ng isang crew doon hindi daw ako makakasali dahil kelangan daw dalawa ang registered, buti na lang mas biglang sumulpot na mama at sumigaw “Sige, pare sali ako para dalawa tayo”, at tuloy ang ligaya. Inaantay na lang naming ang aming time para masimulan na pero biglang sinabi ng crew na wag na daw kaming sumali, ang ginawa niya binigyan niya na lang kami agad ang isang piece sa kanilang mini puzzle para i-solved. Unang tanong ko agad sa kanya, “Brad, may prize ba kaming makukuha dito?” Sabi naman niya ay “Oo, sir pag nabuo niyo yan meron kayong premyo”.

Tuloy ang ligaya.

Pagkatapos nun ay kinilala ko na ung lalaki, siya daw si Al at sabi ko naman ako si Tan. Tanong pa niya, Instik daw ba ako? Haller?!? sabi ko sa sarili mukba ba akong Chekwa?hehe Sinagot ko na lang siya na pinaikling name ko lang yun sa Tristan.

Matapos yun ay hinanap naming ang mamang may sukbit na basketball sa likod para sa next step ng puzzle, madali naman naming nahanap si Boss Chief at binigay ang susunod na direction na sagutin ung isang tanong about sa NBA. Buti na lang at magaling din sa NBA si Al at siya ang nakasagot ng tama, kaya last step at na kami sabi ni Boss Chief ay punta daw kami sa True Value sa Park Square One, pasok sa loob nun at andun ung DHL para kunin ang aming premyo.

Habang papunta dun ay konting usap muna, chikahan muna kami ni Al, tanong ng mga trabaho at kung saan galing.

Sa wakas, nasa claiming area na kami ng DHL, pero may kaunting problema, ang inaasam-asam kong mini basketball court ay puwede lang pag isa ang kukuha, kung gusto namin tig-isa kami ng premyo, ang makukuha namin ay ang makulay na notepad ng DHL Express.

Siyempre, dumiskarte muna ako ng rason, sabi ko “Paano yan pare, pano gagawin natin? Parehas nating gusto to? Sagot naman niya ay sige jock en poy na lang daw kami, medyo natawa ako sa idea niyia pero sabi ko icip pa tayo ng iba. Alam kong parehas kaming interesado sa basketball court na yun kaya walang gusting magbigay, typical Pinoy na ugali pero siyempre kung notepad lang un ibibigay ko na un. Hehe Nakaicip pa siya ng isang paraan, toss coin na lang daw kami, pumayag agad ako at dali-daling sinabi na Heads ako.

Pag pitik ng piso, medyo kinabahan ako dahil ayokong masayang yung oras ko sa wala buti na lang ang lumabas ay Heads kaya akong ang nanalo, buti na lang at sport si Al at binigay sa akin ang mini-court. Hehe

2008 NBA Madness Tour

Pagpirma sa claiming area, sabay shake hands kay Al at sabay sabi ng “Thanks Pare”.

Tuloy labas ng True Value na nakangiti at sabi ko sa sarili ko at naka-isa na naman ako at sumakay ng bus papuntang Crossing.

Salamat sa 2008 NBA Madness at mga sponsors lalong-lalo na sa DHL, mayroon na akong mini- toy na magagamit dito sa office ko pang-alis ng stress.

2008 NBA Madness Coveted Prize

Sa susunod ulit na NBA Madness.

“Constructing the perfect NBA player”

I really like this article written by one my favorite NBA players during his time Kenny “The Jet” Smith, now a columnist for Yahoo! Sports.

I agree with the players he chose especially starting from the first part, which he picked Kobe Bryant, but I beg to disagree on the high-flying act of Josh Smith I’d rather select Vince Carter. Dubbed as “Half Man, Half Amazing”, Vince Carter of the New Jersey Nets can really defy gravity with his amazing dunks and jaw-dropping in-your-face slam dunks.

Enjoy reading for all basketball afficionados!

Here’s the article:

As the New Year arrives and I think of all the greats who have blessed the basketball courts in my era, Michael Jordan is often called the perfect player. If he wasn’t perfect, he was very close. That got me wondering on how to construct the perfect player Frankenstein-style. Which parts of which players would I use?

The first part, which allows the body to function is the heart. This has to come from the player who has no fear of failure and a killer instinct: Kobe Bryant.

The brain obviously is also vital. I need someone who understands his strengths and limitations and also understands his players and coaches to a great degree. That’s Jason Kidd.

Vision helps separate the truly great players from the very good ones. And no one sees the floor quite like Steve Nash.

If this is going to be the perfect player, he shouldn’t lack for athleticism. Not only should he be able to go by people, but also through or over them. Give me LeBron James’ combination of speed, quickness and muscle. There are faster players baseline to baseline than James, but they don’t have his size and leaping ability.

The hops go to Josh Smith. He’s the new-age Dominique Wilkins.

The strength of a basketball player is underrated. Skinny players like Reggie Miller and Rip Hamilton don’t need bulk to dart around screens. But give a player the strength of Dwight Howard and now you have a monster.

The longer the wingspan, the better the ability to grab rebounds, deflect passes and make other plays your opponents can’t make. So give me Kevin Garnett’s reach.

The best players shoot with a quick release. They can get off a shot while their defender is still flatfooted. Which is why I’ll need Ray Allen’s wrists.

Soft hands are essential. You want someone with a good touch who can catch all kinds of passes. That would be Tim Duncan.

The feet give you balance. They help you change direction, tightrope the baseline and stay in front of your man on defense. Give me the feet of Manu Ginobili.

The other parts that make up a great player aren’t as tangible. Like timing. The best shot blockers have great timing. Jump too soon and your opponent can duck into you and draw a foul. Jump too late and you’ll get dunked on. I want the timing of Marcus Camby.

Savvy comes from experience. The most battle-tested players know what to expect before it happens. And few players are more battle-tested than Chauncey Billups.

Patience is important. Great players know when to attack. They know how to set up their opponent with a fake. They don’t rush and they rarely force a bad shot. Is there anymore more patient than Duncan? He’s my first and only two-time part member.

Lastly, no one likes a sore loser or a bad winner. That’s why I value sportsmanship. To be a true winner, you have to be gracious. Like Michael Redd.

Now this is a player who’s truly the sum of his parts.

*This article was written by Kenny Smith of Yahoo! Sports*