B-MEG vs. Talk N Text Game 7 results – Championship for the Llamados!!

First championship under Coach Tim Cone! This feels great especially since the Llamados were actually down by eight just four minutes left in the game.

A report from Interaksyon.com Paul Ryan Tan:

Bowles carries B-MEG over Talk ‘N Text to win Commissioner’s Cup title

In the ultimate showdown before two great squads, it came down to the team with the Best Import.

Denzel Bowles made two pressure-packed free throws to force overtime with 1.2 seconds to go, before taking over in the extra period to lift the B-MEG Llamados to the Commissioner’s Cup crown over the defending champions Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters, 90-84.

B-MEG was down by two points in regulation, 76-74, with 13 seconds left after Ali Peek split his free throws. In the ensuing possession, James Yap missed on a drive to the basket, grabbed the offensive rebound, and passed to an open Bowles, who was fouled by Kelly Williams with 1.2 seconds left.

In the biggest test of his young career, the 23-year-old Bowles hit the game-tying free throws to the delight of the mammoth Sunday crowd of 21,046 at the SMART-Araneta.

“I was so scared. It was a real breakthrough for my career,” said about his free throws.

Bowles then took over in overtime, scoring 11 of B-MEG’s 14 points to put the game away.

“I’m so proud of my team,” said Bowles after the game.

I’m so glad I came to B-MEG planet. I’m so glad I won my first championship with this team.”

The Llamados’ victory spoiled an epic performance by Jimmy Alapag, the leader of the Tropang Texters, who finished with 29 points before being carried out with cramps. The Llamados took advantage of multiple losses on the Talk ‘N Text side, with import Donnell Harvey and Ali Peek fouling out, Ranidel De Ocampo succumbing to cramps, and Ryan Reyes suffering a knee injury late in the game.

Bowles finished with 39 points, 21 rebounds, and three blocks. Peter June Simon broke out of his slump to chip in 14 points, while Yap, who scored 12 points, won finals Most Valuable Player honors. Josh Urbiztondo added 11 points.

The scores:

B-MEG 90 – Bowles 39, Simon 14, Yap 12, Urbiztondo 11, Villanueva 5, De Ocampo 4, Devance 2, Pingris 2, Barroca 1, Intal 0, Reavis 0

Talk ‘N Text – Alapag 29, Harvey 16, Fonacier 11, Peek 10, Dillinger 8, Castro 5, De Ocampo 3, Reyes 2, Gamalinda 0, Williams 0, Carey 0

PHL Azkals win vs. Palestine, takes 3rd place in AFC Challenge Cup

ABS-CBNNews.com’s Camille Naredo filed this report:

MANILA, Philippines – (1st UPDATE) The Philippine Azkals made history once again after defeating Palestine, 4-3, in a thrilling game to wind up in third place in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup Monday afternoon in Nepal.

It was the Philippines’ best ever finish in the biennial tournament for developing football nations.

Phil Younghusband scored two goals to raise his tournament total to six, while Angel and Juani Guirado both added to the goal-fest for the Azkals.

Younghusband broke the ice in the third minute, taking a beautiful pass from team captain Chieffy Caligdong before weaving his way through three Palestinian defenders to score his fifth goal of the tournament.

But after two straight shots on goal, Palestine finally broke through in the 21st minute when Abudalhamid Abuhabib struck the equalizer, which sailed past Azkals keeper Eduard Sacapaño.

The Azkals were able to restore their lead just four minutes later when Caligdong was brought down inside the penalty box. Younghusband coolly delivered the penalty kick to put the Philippines ahead 2-1.

Just before half time, Angel Guirado made it 3-1 for the Philippines after he evaded Palestinian keeper Ramzi Saleh and slotted the ball through.

Palestine was able to close the gap when Abuhabib scored his second goal of the game in the 66th minute, but Juani Guirado restored the Azkals’ advantage with a superb strike two minutes later.

Guirado received the through ball from James Younghusband and evaded the offside trap to put the Philippines ahead 4-2.

Palestine was able to cut in the lead three minutes later, when a defensive lapse by the Azkals allowed Fahed Attal to score.

Though Palestine attempted numerous times to go for the equalizer, the Azkals defense held.

It was a historic victory for the Philippines, who missed the chance to make the Challenge Cup finals after a heartbreaking 1-2 setback against Turkmenistan in the semi-finals.

They also booked impressive victories against former champions India (2-0) and Tajikistan (2-1) during the group stage.

Penn State’s Nittany Lions football team’s Wikipedia page was vandalized

It is pretty easy to determine if a Wikipedia article has been vandalized. If a sentence (or paragraph) appears out-of-context, then it is a sure sign that the article was vandalized. Here is a screenshot of the article about Pennsylvania State University Nittany Lions football team (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penn_State_Nittany_Lions_football). This was taken today, November 9, 2011, 1:30 PM (China Standard Time).

Screen grab from a vandalized Wikipedia page of Penn State Nittany Lions

Now, compare it to this newer screen grab, taken just 30 minutes later:

Notice that the sentence “Assistant Head Coach Sandusky enjoys ass raping little boys in the shower” is already gone

The sentence “Assistant Head Coach Sandusky enjoys ass raping little boys in the shower” was obviously added. Four days ago, Jerry Sandusky was indicted for allegedly molesting at least 15 boys, some of whom were merely 10 years old when the incident happened. Sandusky served as the university’s defensive coach for three decades.

According to Pennsylvania Patriot News

(http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/11/readers_digest_indictment.html), the inappropriate acts happened in the unviersity’s locker and shower rooms. It added that the incidents continued even after Sandusky’s 1999 retirement since he had a key to the sports building (and thus, can use it anytime).The sex scandal has rocked the 156-year-old education institution, whose football program is one of the most highly regarded in the entire United States.

Meanwhile, New York Times has reported that Joe Paterno, Penn State’s coach for 45 years, will be stepping down from his post “within days or weeks” as a result of the scandal. Read the full report here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/sports/ncaafootball/penn-state-said-to-be-planning-paternos-exit.html?hp.

Philippines makes it to FIBA semis for the first time in 24 yrs!

I need to finish a major paper due tomorrow morning, but I can’t help but share to all of you this very proud moment in our country’s basketball history. The Philippines has made it to the semifinals of the FIBA Asian championships for the first time in 24 years (I’m only 21!).

I have always been a proud supporter of the Philippine national basketball team since the 2002 Busan Asian Games, and I personally felt very bad seeing our team’s heartbreaking losses in the past to teams like South Korea, Kazakhstan, and others. Now, the country is just two wins away from making it to the 2012 London Olympics. Maybe decades of frustration will finally be over. Maybe, the time for vindication has come. Smart Gilas all the way! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

 

Philippines advances to FIBA semis

Smart Gilas Pilipinas makes it to the FIBA semis for the first time in 24 years!

MANILA, Philippines – Smart-Gilas Pilipinas defeated Chinese-Taipei in the quarterfinals of the ongoing FIBA Asia Championship, 95-78.

Naturalized Filipino Marcus Douthit led Gilas with 37 points.

Ranidel de Ocampo and Marcio Lassiter chipped in with 18 and 13 points, respectively.

Gilas led by 3 points at halftime before breaking away in the third quarter, leading as much as 15 points.

In the final quarter, Gilas had the biggest lead of the game at 19 points before Taipei made a final push in the last few minutes of the game.

Taipei came as close as 7 points before Gilas put them away for good in the final 2 minutes.

The win sent Gilas to a semi-finals match against Jordan.

The Philippine team defeated Jordan, 72-64, earlier in the tournament.

Jordan made it to the semi-finals by ousting defending champion Iran with an 88-84 victory.

The last time a Philippine team made it to the semis in the FIBA Asia Championship was in 1987.

News source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/09/23/11/philippines-advances-fiba-semis