galera trip
February 27, 2008
Spent last weekend at Puerto Galera with SVI peeps. Cool bunch! Sand, water, fish, food, banana boats, drinks…what else can I ask for?
daphne, karlson, marlon, boker, japs, jimbo, grace, allan, payo
japs, jimbo, marlon, karlson valen, boker (feeling model hahaha), grace, daphne
inches
February 25, 2008
I don’t know what to say, really. Three minutes to the biggest battle of our professional lives. All comes down to today, and either, we heal as a team, or we’re gonna crumble. Inch by inch, play by play. Until we’re finished. We’re in hell right now, gentlemen. Believe me. And, we can stay here, get the shit kicked out of us, or we can fight our way back into the light. We can climb outta hell… one inch at a time. Now I can’t do it for ya, I’m too old. I look around, I see these young faces and I think, I mean, I’ve made every wrong choice a middle-aged man can make. I, uh, I’ve pissed away all my money, believe it or not. I chased off anyone who’s ever loved me. And lately, I can’t even stand the face I see in the mirror. You know, when you get old, in life, things get taken from you. I mean, that’s… that’s… that’s a part of life. But, you only learn that when you start losin’ stuff. You find out life’s this game of inches, so is football. Because in either game - life or football - the margin for error is so small. I mean, one half a step too late or too early and you don’t quite make it. One half second too slow, too fast and you don’t quite catch it. The inches we need are everywhere around us. They’re in every break of the game, every minute, every second. On this team we fight for that inch. On this team we tear ourselves and everyone else around us to pieces for that inch. We claw with our fingernails for that inch. Because we know when add up all those inches, that’s gonna make the fucking difference between winning and losing! Between living and dying! I’ll tell you this, in any fight it’s the guy whose willing to die whose gonna win that inch. And I know, if I’m gonna have any life anymore it’s because I’m still willing to fight and die for that inch, because that’s what living is, the six inches in front of your face. Now I can’t make you do it. You’ve got to look at the guy next to you, look into his eyes. Now I think ya going to see a guy who will go that inch with you. Your gonna see a guy who will sacrifice himself for this team, because he knows when it comes down to it your gonna do the same for him. That’s a team, gentlemen, and either, we heal, now, as a team, or we will die as individuals. That’s football guys, that’s all it is. Now, what are you gonna do?
- Tony D’Amato
(played by Al Pacino in Any Given Sunday, 1999)
love for the game
February 21, 2008
Love the game first, and it’ll be good to you.
Last Sunday, before the food poisoning incident, we had an ABL game. What was special about this game was that we were up against the current junior’s finals MVP. I didn’t know the guy was that good last time we played pickup at Ayala heights.
Anyway, this guy (still don’t know his name) just outright dismantled us. Drives, three pointers, rebounds, everything. No one from our side could stop him. (Mind you, our team is made up of former varsity stars. We even have Yong on our side. Yong has won at least 5 MVP awards from in ABL alone..i think). They also had this lightning quick pointguard. I’ve never guarded anyone as fast as that guy. I mean, he just sort of disappears from where he stands, AND he has the ball.
We still almost won the game. We lost by 2 points. Our last shot circled the rim and fell out. It was that close. Oh well.
Yong said it’s been the best game we’ve played in the entire tournament. I kinda thought the basketball gods gave me a birthday gift too. It’s the first time in 2 seasons that I’ve scored in ABL. 2 SEASONS!!!
Exactly a year ago, we won and overtime game with only 7 players, and with both big men out. (Oman got injured, JR fouled out).
I guess the saying is true:
"Love the game first, and it’ll be good to you."
birthday surprise
I had one hell of a birthday!
I spent the weekend partly celebrating my birthday by treating Ely at Banana Leaf. We had fish, clams, pad-thai, plus drinks. We were almost 3/4ths through the meal when we noticed that one clam wasn’t open. (Fresh clams open when cooked). Since the meal was almost done anyway, we just had the clams scratched off the bill and continued eating. Bad idea.
My tummy was bloating by the time we came home. Mostly due to overstuffing myself. I slept a little to make it go away. 30 minutes later, my tummy still didn’t feel right. I forced myself to vomit. I thought I vomited enough, but about another 30 minutes after, the vomiting didn’t stop. It wasn’t forced anymore. It just kept on coming.
A little later, JR dropped by with Mae. I was still vomiting, this time though, it was all liquid. Ely and JR decided to take me to Makati Med. We took a cab and got there in no time. (yes, I was still puking.)
When we got to the ER, if felt relieved. I kept telling myself, "I can’t be in a better place than in a hospital right now". So that calmed me up a bit. The stomach ache was still going full blast, but there was less fear now. They gave me meds and it was all better eventually.
The good folks at Makati Med really treated me well. Family came and stayed with me. Friends came by to visit. Text messages greeted me with birthday wishes and concerned thoughts.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!! =D =D =D
I haven’t had a birthday as exciting as that one. =)
sports injury
February 14, 2008
My nape area (backside between the neck and the shoulder) has been real stiff since Monday morning. It hasn’t subsided all week, and this bothered me. Following Joyce’s advice, I went to see the doctor. No, it isn’t something serious, but since my body has taken a lot of abuse lately, it made sense to give the clinic a visit.
Diagnosis:
Muscle Strain
Ok.. So I’m not really sad that I’ve got an injury. I mean…this is the kind of stuff athletes go through! In fact, I’m smiling right now. At least sa injury para akong Pro. Hahahaha =P
So the doc told me to give sports a 5-day rest, especially when it comes to weights. Guess it makes sense to follow his advice, especially when friday is the only non-sports day in my regular weekly schedule.
Well.. there are a few big ballgames this Sunday and a new pair of asics waiting to get broken in… hmmm… we’ll see…
hesitation on my J
February 11, 2008
After the RFM games yesterday, Ely and I stayed for shooting practice before the ABL game. I woked on my wrist and we got talking about jumpshots.
He taught me about jumpers and how a little doubt and hesitation is enough to make you miss the shot. A split second of doubt at the back of your mind can really throw off your shot. You’re in a position to shoot, but you think of passing.
Missing three shots in a row would really make you question the next shot you take, thus making you miss the following shots all the more.
One way to get around this is to go for the easy shot. Try making a layup to boost your confidence. Or you could wait until you no longer feel the fear of missing. These things could reduce your hesitation and open up the basket a lot more. The less you think about your jumper, the more likely it’s going in.
In basketball, it is sometimes good not to have a conscience.
when to stop?
February 1, 2008
How do you know when it’s time to stop?
This morning, I saw a video clip on espn.com that opened my mind a bit.
Alonzo Mourning on an interview he did with Bill Russel:
When he played the game, he was responsible for like 10 to 12 different things on the court. He said:
"When i got to the point when I was cutting corners when it came to fulfilling my responsibilities out there on the court, it was time for me to stop."
niiice.
