PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN – More than 500 kids turned up for a recent basketball clinic conducted no less than by US Junior NBA Coach Marty Conlon.

The activity is part of the 2012 Jr. NBA Philippines Program, presented by Alaska and upon invitation by  Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn.

Some 550 kids and 150 local coaches joined the clinic on January 15 and 6 at the City Coliseum and the Seminario de San Jose.

Conlon also taught the program’s STAR values, representing Sportsmanship, Teamwork,  Positive Attitude and Respect.

The Jr. NBA will also be conducting clinics in  Pampanga and Cagayan de Oro. More activities are also lined up for Metro Manila this February.

Now on its fifth year, the Jr. NBA excitement builds up in April as Regional Selection Camps will be held in Palawan, Pampanga, Cagayan de Oro and Manila for boys aged 10-14.

The high point of the program happens in May with the National Training Camp in Manila where the ten members of the 2012 Jr. NBA All Star Team in the Philippines will be selected.

Miami’s Fil-American coach Erik Spoelstra has visited the country twice to conduct basketball clinics under the Junior NBA program.

(Photo courtesy of Jr. NBA Philippines)

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MAKATI CITY, METRO MANILA – Online game publisher IP E-Game Ventures announced that it has entered into an agreement to manage the official National Basketball Association website in the Philippines.

Details of the partnership remain under wraps as of press time, with the official statement advising that further details will be “disclosed during an official launch at a later date.”

Incidentally, the official NBA website has a Philippine section, highlighted by the Philippine flag. In addition, the NBA also has its Jr. NBA website for the Philippines containing all of the local NBA-sanctioned clinics and trainings.

IP E-Games is one of the major game publishers in the country. In 2008, the company, through its X-Play joint subsidiary, announced that it will introduce NBA Street Online, an online video game developed by Electronic Arts Games under the NBA banner.

However, the game did not go commercial in the Philippines.

The partnership with NBA underscores the American basketball league’s success in the Philippines, a country where basketball is among the most popular sports, along with boxing.

In recent months, a number of NBA-related activities were conducted in the country, including an exhibition game between several NBA veterans and players from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) in 2011.

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MANILA CITY, METRO MANILA – When Floyd Mayweather, Jr. called on Manny Pacquiao on his official Twitter account last January 10, and again on January 11 for a showdown, Pacquiao, also in his official website, dropped Mayweather’s May 5 date.

Pacquiao stated that the fight could still happen “at the end of May,” else they won’t make their fans happy.

Quickly, Pacquiao’s camp has given statements regarding the reasons why Mayweather’s preferred date won’t happen. Given that the Filipino pugilist’s “Team Pacquiao” entourage includes several spokespersons, it’s already expected that there would be several stories.

ESPN, quoting an interview by GMA-7, reported that Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said that the fight could “very, very easily” happen at the end of May, underscoring Pacquiao’s original statement. This is because they are awaiting for the completion a 45,000-seat boxing arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

On the other hand, Pacquiao’s business manager Eric Pinedo was quoted by CNN as saying that the fight could happen in November largely due to the supposed jail term that Mayweather would be serving after being sentenced for domestic violence.

Surprisingly, the 90-day jail term that should have started in January was postponed, with Nevada Judge Melissa Saragosa reasoning out that Mayweather already had a scheduled a May fight, not taking note that Mayweather still has to sign up anyone to fight against.

Already, the supposed mega-fight between the two unopposed “pound-for-pound” kings is generating a lot of buzz online.

Some state that that flip-flopping of the dates and locations highlights the financial aspect of the fight. The purse for either fighter could reach around $50 million, which would make it one of the biggest fights in recent history.

Both Pacquiao and Mayweather were considered pound-for-pound kings based on their successes in the ring.

Pacquiao holds an impressive 54 wins of which 38 are knockouts with three losses and a draw. Mayweather has remained undisputed with 42 fights, 26 of which are by knockout.

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SAN JUAN, METRO MANILA— Sports and showbiz teamed up for a good cause in the recent  Fastbreak charity game to raise funds for Typhoon Sendong victims in Mindanao.

Headlining the event was a three-point shootout joined by PBA legend Allan Caidic, two-time MVP James Yap, Sinag Pilipinas standout Chris Ellis, alongside former UAAP standouts Jai Reyes and Raf Melocoton.

Considered the best shooter the country has ever seen, Allan, who earned the moniker “The Triggerman” during his heyday,  won over the younger Ellis in the finals.

Ever humble, Allan, who is now assistant coach for Ginebra in the PBA, said foremost in their minds was helping Sendong victims first and entertaining the fans who went to the Fil-Oil Arena in San Juan last Friday.

“Secondary nalang yung shootout kaya tayo nandito. We are here for the fans and to show support for the victims of (typhoon) Sendong,” he said in an interview. He added he hasn’t gotten much practice since Ginebra took an early exit from the current conference last month.

He recalls immediately agreeing to an invitation by Ateneo Blue Eagles star player Kiefer Ravena to join the charity game. Kiefer is the son of former PBA player Bong Ravena.

“The Ravenas are close family friends so I immediately agreed to Kiefer’s invite. I’m happy to be part of a worthy cause,” he says.

Showbiz personalities also teamed up with college basketball players in a charity game. The team of Kiefer, Smart Gilas team captain Chris Tiu, actors Xian Lim and Jhong Hilario won over the opposing team that included Ateneo’s Nico Salva, La Salle’s Sam Marata along with TV host Tado Jimenez and actor Gerald Anderson.

Gab Valenciano, who also played for Tado’s team, is hoping the event would also promote sports among young people who are prone to a sedentary lifestyle.

The younger Ravena, who organized the charity game along with Ignite Media, said basketball stars and showbiz personalities eagerly joined the event to help the cause.

“The sports community is united in helping our brothers in Mindanao. It may be almost a month now after the disaster but a lot still needs to be done so we hope that Filipinos would continue to send in much needed donations and help rebuild communities in Mindanao,” says Kiefer.

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SAN JUAN,  METRO MANILA – Basketball has evolved from pure sport to entertainment but former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) superstar Allan Caidic believes one thing remains consistent: the value of hard work and constant practice.

The basketball legend, who earned the nickname “The Triggerman” for his deadly shooting, urges today’s young basketball stars to stay focused and work hard consistently in getting better at the sport.

Seeing the rise and fall of the PBA over his 16-year stellar career and now as he serves as assistant coach-reserve player to Ginebra Kings since late 2000, Allan says a lot has changed in the country’s professional league.

During his time when he played with or against the likes of four-time MVP Alvin Patrimonio and Samboy”The Skywalker” Lim, he says players then compete based on skills.

Today, he points out that the spotlight focuses more on Fil-American and other mixed-nationality cagers who have the natural advantage in height compared to homegrown players.

“Before, basketball is basketball but now basketball is entertainment,” he says in an interview at the sidelines of the recent Fastbreak charity game for Typhoon Sendong victims, joined by PBA and college stars along with showbiz personalities.

“Basketball now is more of physical thing – power, strength – for players to compete. Noong araw, pagalingan kayo pero ngayon mas scientific ang basketball ,” he says.

Asked what makes him nostalgic about the PBA, he points to the solid fan base enjoyed by every team back then.

“Ngayon, kung nasaan yung player, yun ang team na susuportahan nila,” he adds.“These has its own pros and cons but the important thing is that basketball and the PBA remains alive until today,” added Caidic.

He counts among his biggest accomplishments being able to keep the fans happy and later on, to represent the country four times in Asian games. He was also part of the RP squad that won the gold in the 1985 South East Asian Games.

Caidic also urges today’s players to dedicate 100 percent of their time, passion and skills to be better in the game, recognizing the hazards of injury.

“Just keep on working hard and don’t be contented with what you have achieved. Even if you got championship titles, do not be complacentbecause competition is tough. Getting to the  top is easy but staying there is the hardest part,” he says.

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SAN JUAN CITY, METRO MANILA – Life in the city can be daunting, especially for women. Danger lurks at every corner so there’s no harm in learning basic self-defense.

Basic was indeed all I wanted to learn from a crash course offered by the instructors of Krav Maga Philippines. But I didn’t realize I was in for some serious hard-hitting action.

Headed by Dindo de Jesus, Krav Maga Philippines is the first organization to bring and introduce the combat system in the country. Krav Maga originated in Israel and is widely used by Special Forces of France (GIGN), Poland, US and Austria.

Dindo himself trained with the best in this self-defense technique so I knew I was going to learn a lot, but not as fast as I thought. Krav basically translates to combat, while maga means “to contact” (or touch).

The idea of close proximity to the enemy might seem daunting at first but it can be learned as long as you put your heart into it. It also helps to have proper motivation.

Participants were spared of minor moves and were taught directly the positions that would submit an assailant due to extreme pain. We were asked to do some basic stretching first but everything else that followed was purely action-packed.

Dindo taught us self-defense tactics that are very applicable to the kind of attacks most women are subjected to, like getting grabbed by the hair or attacked from behind.

We were also taught punch defenses with counterattacks, kick defenses, and defenses against various chokes, headlocks, and bear hugs.

Unlike in martial arts, which apply a completely different discipline and movement, Krav Maga focuses more on the immediate function than form or symmetry often applied in other forms of self defense.

After an action-packed two hours, here are short yet important pointers I learned.

Trust your instincts. “Your enemy will hurt you if you hesitate to strike,” Dindo said. The level of Krav Maga he teaches to women is not meant to cause the death of the enemy but that the person being attacked must always strike based on his instinct and never hesitate to inflict pain on the enemy.

Strike and run. Krav Maga is meant to give any one who applies it enough window period to run from the assault. The idea is to hit the enemy hard to stall him and get the opportunity to run to safety.

Think strong.  A weak response to a life-threatening scenario will encourage the the assailant to intimidate the victim. The underlying principle behind Krav Maga is to condition yourself to think that you are more powerful than your enemy and then strike fast.

Use it accordingly. Krav Maga should not be used to cause harm to others especially in scenarios that don’t require self defense.

Consider its other purposes. I have never sweated in my entire life quite like the way I did during my two-hour Krav Maga crash course. Dindo said it is is also ideal in combating certain kinds of ailments and stress.

As a final piece of advice, Dindo told us to practice the basic techniques every day. My safety now depends on my mastery of the combinations and my ability to think which of the combinations I should use in a real-life scenario.

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PASIG CITY, METRO MANILA— The crowd that filled the Ynares Sports Center was one of intense fervor as the main event of the Pacific X-treme Combat (PXC) 28 fast approached.

The headliner was Jon Tuck from Guam versus Filipino-American Tristan Arenal.

The bout took off with Arenal throwing one hit after the other as he tried to take command of the cage. But Tuck fought back as he struck his opponent with a takedown that quickly ended the match with 1:13 minutes still remaining in the first round.

Tuck is now set to face Harris “The Hitman” Sarmiento, who is also of Filipino descent and currently the PXC lightweight champion. Sarmiento won the title by submission against Ronnie Borja during the PXC 26 card held at the Resorts World last August.

Prior the main event at PXC 28, Denver Labrador and Crisanto Pitpitunge of Team Lakay showed impressive moves in their respective bouts.

Davao native Ale Cali also managed to gain advantage with a decision win after three rounds, made even more of a performance when he twirled his right hand in the air before hurling a punch against opponent Jon Pablo from Guam.

While Arenal might have failed to inch his way to a win, the impressive performance of his fellow Pinoy fighters should attract local fight fans to future PXC bouts. The next PXC event in the country is slated on January next year.

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QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA – The third fight between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez produced yet another controversial judges’ decision and, for the first time, mixed reactions from Filipino fight fans.

Most Filipino fans expected a knock out by the Filipino ring hero but his Mexican archnemesis proved to be a strong opponent, lasting the  entire 12 rounds. After the judges ruled in favor of Pacquiao, a disappointed Marquez left the arena, according to this CNN report.

On the Internet, there is another fight of opinions among Filipinos as to whether Pacquiao deserved to win his welterweight title defense.

There are those who thought Pacquiao deserved to win and Filipinos should be thankful for his bravery.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas employee Jeff Belardo was among many Filipinos who were jubilant with the judges’ decision:  On Facebook, he posted: “A challenger must dominate the fight if he wants to beat the champ in the scorecards. Marquez might have arguably had a slight edge against Manny, but it’s not enough for the judges to consider him the victor. Great job, Pacquiao, for holding your ground!”

Journalist Ping Bauzon also posted on Facebook: “’CompuBox numbers all favor Pacquiao.’ So unfair for Manny to hear all these things being said about the fight. He made us proud many times. Give the guy a break. It’s not his fault he won.”

Comelec employee Mac Ramirez cited the list of good news following Pacquiaos fight such as less traffic in the Metro and low crime rates. He also denounced public officials who watched the live fight in Las Vegas with the use of taxpayers’ money.

“Panalo na naman si Pacquiao. Maghanda na sa mga balita, gaya ng: kung gaano kaluwag ang mga kalsada; sigawan sa mga covered court habang nanunod ng laban; walang krimen; nagdadasal na Mommy Dionesia; patayan sa pustahan inuman; may aatakihin sa puso; paghahanda sa pagsalubong sa GenSan at Maynila; ano pa ba?… At siyempre ang mga Tongresman na bumyahe sa Las Vegas para manuod… Kung paano nila sasabihing sarili nilang pera ang ginamit nila!”

Actress Ruffa Gutierrez tweeted that Mexicans booed Pacquiao and called Filipinos “losers.”

“Pinoys are being harassed by the Mexicans. Please pray for peace and NO VIOLENCE. Boxing is a sport meant for entertainment,” Ruffa tweeted after the live match. She also congratulated Marquez for a good fight. “Congratulations to Marquez for giving us a good fight! Worth every single penny for those who came all the way here and watched from PPV.”

On the other hand, there are those who think Pacquiao escaped with an unfair decision, some calling it “luto” or Filipino slang for a rigged victory.

Freelance writer Rem De Leon said: “Something is very not-clear! How did that happen? Cooking, man, cooking!”

Dona Pazzibugan-Porcalla, a journalist, said: “Should he retire now? another (lutong) fight like that and it could be bye-bye na to all the fame and glory he’s built up.”

Some Filipinos expressed disappointment over the decision and said the third fight would inevitably lead to a fourth bout to disprove doubts on who really won.

Government employee Anj Sto. Domingo posted: “Very disappointing fight. For me, Marquez did better than Pacquiao. The decision has been made and all respect it. But my heart cries for, ‘Rematch! Rematch! Rematch!’”

Others speculated Pacquiao’s win is predictable so that promoters could pursue the controversial and long-awaited fight with American Floyd Joy Mayweather Jr.

Veterinary medicine graduate Eldani Fernando posted on Facebook: “pacquiao should always be the winner kahit obvious kahit natalo kasi if he loses, the megafight between mayweather and pacquiao will be in jeopardy! top rank and everyone will be missing out on the big money! ”

Also on Facebook, Vanessa Cabuay Orendain posted: “A fight won by Vegas and the promoters. Both fighters lost. Boxing lost.”

IT specialist Bob Gantuangco posted on Facebook, minutes after the fight: “Pacquiao won the game. Marquez won the fight.”

(Photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank via pacquiaonews.com)

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MUNTINLUPA CITY, METRO MANILA – Of course it’s not limited to people belonging to this age group or gender, but for a twentysomething woman whose work entails a lot of physical effort and oftentimes stress, Bikram yoga might just be the best form of exercise I’ve ever tried.

I have experienced yoga once but Bikram completely set the bar higher for me. Founded by Indian yoga guru Bikram Choudhury, this kind of yoga requires students to perform and complete 26 varying postures or asanas inside a room heated up to 40 degrees Celsius for 90 minutes.

This may sound awfully easy but performing it under such conditions make it extremely difficult to complete all poses. There are two sets for each pose to give first-timers the chance to keep up should they fail to do it right during the first set.

At Bikram Yoga Alabang, where I had my first run-through of Bikram, classes were a mix of individuals, all having different fitness levels. It was their studio’s first anniversary, which was why when I learned that they were giving free classes, I signed up without thinking twice.

Bikram Yoga may be the most difficult kind, with demanding postures that simply looked impossible to achieve.  If you’re serious about getting through a full class, best wear comfortable gear. In Bikram, the more exposed your skin is the better since the temperature rises enough for you to actually faint.

I felt the heat at once when I stepped in the room and settled for the first set of instructions by the yoga teacher. The heat didn’t only make me feel uncomfortable but also challenged my ability to focus on the cues to the next poses.

First-timers like myself were given some slack and were allowed to sit as some of us felt dizzy and a suffered shortness of breaths throughout the class.

My motivation to keep pace stemmed from the knowledge that yoga students all had a tough start. Ginger Diaz, the studio director, yoga teacher and owner of Bikram Yoga Alabang was once a pre-school teacher who merely wanted to loose weight.

“My first few months were some of the most horrendous months of my life. I had a really bad breathing problem and that made it very difficult for me to last more than 10 minutes,” says Ginger.

“I knew that the next time I ever sat down, it would be because I chose to give up on myself,”

I knew how she felt. However, I realized quickly that to complete the poses, I had to maintain a clear mind and focus on what I want, which was to develop a healthy outlook in life.

About 90 minutes into the class, I later found myself committed to deeper poses. Stillness of the mind is relayed to the body, which helped me to balance and keep calm down to the last minute.

Just like any form of exercise, Bikram Yoga seeks to reward its followers. Deeper into this form of yoga, Ginger says students’ motivation will improve, from aiming to look good to actually feeling better with oneself.

It’s going to take me at least a few more months to achieve this goal. Good thing I can still remember the poses, which I can do right at the comfort of my home anytime I want to.

Get more information about Bikram Yoga Alabang

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