Blog Outsourcing - 2/28/11

Welcome to today's edition of the Morning After.

Fire Quinito and His Commissioner's Cup Query

Fire Quinito asked a series of true or false questions regarding the Commissioner's Cup that just commenced in Laoag, and whose next game will be later this week. This is my take on the questions:

Smart Gilas will win more than half their games in the tournament

Not really, but they'll definitely have a better record than Powerade or Air 21.

Rain or Shine’s Hassan Adams will win the best import award.

Somehow, my instinct tells me Gabe Freeman will be back in the PBA soon.

The Powerade Tigers will end the tournament in last place.

Hard to argue on this one.

Air 21’s Rabeh Al-Hussaini will lead all locals in scoring in the tournament.

Still think James Yap or MacMac finishes on top of local scoring charts. And with the news that he's moving on to another team, he's going to be sharing the load.

Willie Miller will start most of the games for Ginebra.

I think Coach Jong has set the rotation in place. Besides, I think Mark likes coming off the bench, as long as he gets crunch time minutes.

Either Hans Thiele or Paolo Bugia will become regular members of the Alaska rotation.

Maybe Thiele, probably not Bugia. Reynel was their garbage guy. Hans can easily replace him there.

Sol Mercado will struggle to fit in alongside Mac Cardona and Chris Ross in the Meralco backcourt.

I think he'll be fine. That's a good three-guard rotation.

Kerby Raymundo will regain his all-star form for the Derby Ace Llamados.

Nope. Not this year. Let the guy rest and recuperate.

Jay Washington will win his third straight best player of the conference award.

Provided he gets far in the playoffs. Then again, I expect someone from TNT to take the trophy.

Talk N Text will make it to the finals of the Commissioner’s Cup.

It could happen again. They have the local talent and a good import in Paul Harris.

TWTWTNBA - Breaking Down the Deals - At the Buzzer

The trade deadline has always been the talk after the All-Star Game. It makes good cooler talk and write-up material. I may not be as good as some people who have done their homework, but hey, I give some effort, too. This year has been a very juicy one, thanks to the Melodrama and post-Lebron era and the possibility of the lockout.

Here are all the deals that were consummated this week, added with my own take on the trade:

TWTWTNBA: The Melo Conundrum is Over

Finally, the Carmelo drama is over. Now, the NBA can proceed with dealing what they need to deal, because the trade deadline has been. As what someone wrote, the new era has arrived. The player power play. Something that Lebron brought to new heights, thanks or no thanks to his decision. Now we look at the two point guards in Chris Paul and Deron Williams and Dwight Howard for speculation.

So, let's fillet the deal...

Blog Outsourcing - 2/21 edition

Welcome to today's edition of The Victory Formation.

The previous weekend has been dubbed as the welcome to the Blake Griffin Experience. He played in the Rookie-Sophomore Game, with his team winning and John Wall being named as the MVP. We all know the Dunk Contest. And of course, he is the first rookie after Tim Duncan to be selected by the reserves. Naturally, being a first-timer, he got limited minutes.

So, let me use this to give my own personal viewpoint and assessment of the past few days:

Blog Outsourcing - 2/14 edition

Wassup people and welcome to today's edition of the Victory Formation!

I would like to wish everyone here a Happy Valentine's Day or for some like me, Happy Singles' Awareness Day. I mean, my own personal lovelife has been elusive and it can be a pain, so sometimes, one just has to continue and just wait for the right girl to come and sweep me off my feet and let me sweep her off hers.

You're probably wondering where I got my picture for today. Well, I spent 40 hours in a place called Bacolod to watch a football qualifying match for the first time. I was holed up there from February 8 to 10.

You see, the Philippines is now basking in football glow. We have been pretty much down in the doldrums, being the whipping boys over the years for this sport. Not only that, they have been pretty much ignored. But then, the 2010 Suzuki Cup happened. We made it all the way to the semifinals, losing to the eventual champions Indonesia, but made a good account of themselves.

With the newfound fame, the Azkals (the team's monicker, which is a colloquialism to askals when translated means street dogs) aimed to capitalize that with the next step, qualifying for the AFC Challenge Cup. (c/o Fire Quinito) Being on a home-and-away format, the only place that can currently handle a match like this is the Panaad Stadium (c/o Wikipedia) in Bacolod. Thus the reason why I flew down there. (spending slightly over US $50 for a plane ticket (inclusive of taxes) & spending a total of US $75 for my whole stay in Bacolod.)

Hey, it was worth it. It really was. See below. (c/o Philippine Star)

Blog Outsourcing - 2/7 non-Super Bowl edition

Hey, I was in the minority with regards to the Black Eyed Peas performance. Not necessarily because I like the group (feel free to lambaste me for such), but mainly due to the fact that the sound technicians botched this one, like pretty much how this year has been for Jerry Jones and Jerryworld. What we all can agree on is to how the hell Alex Rodriguez tried to steal the show again for a brief moment?

Blog Outsourcing - 2/7 edition

Welcome to today's edition of The Victory Formation. Congratulations to the Green Bay Packers

Lebron being Efficient and Consistent

Okay, I know some people grow sick and tired of talking about the Heat, because they really do make an interesting storyline for the whole year. However, after what most saw during the game (it was shown on BTV), and from reading the tweet streams and tweet conversations after the game(s), color the world impressed with the Stud-worthy statline.

TWTWTNBA: Finalizing the Western Conference All-Stars

Other than Tracy Morgan's moment (and TNT's subsequent apology), the highlight of last week's pregame was the naming of the All-Stars Starters (which are voted on by the fans) for both conferences.

The Coaches will dictate who will comprise the reserves. Each coach, however, cannot vote for his own players. Now each coach can be creative in designating positions, because there is a need to have at least one "Center" on the roster.

TWTWTNBA: Finalizing the Eastern Conference All-Stars

Other than Tracy Morgan's moment (and TNT's subsequent apology), the highlight of last week's pregame was the naming of the All-Stars Starters (which are voted on by the fans) for both conferences.


The Coaches will dictate who will comprise the reserves. Each coach, however, cannot vote for his own players. Now each coach can be creative in designating positions, because there is a need to have at least one "Center" on the roster.

Bacolod beckons

A week from now, I will be on my way to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, on a flight down south, to a place called Bacolod. It will be a very brief stay, less than 40 hours in the land of the Masskara. I will be there for one purpose really, and that is to watch a football game in person.