Atheista -

I rarely post anything related to the NBA on this blog because my emotional connection to my team. It’s gotten to a level where in could literally present with psychosomatic symptoms once they get eliminated out of contention in the NBA Playoffs. I’ve been rooting for the Dallas Mavericks since John Stockton retired. While it’s great that the team has won 50 games or more for the past decade, they’ve also had the most painful playoffs collapses in recent memory. Two seasons ago, they blew a 2-0 lead against the Miami Heat to lose the NBA Championship while last year, they threw away a historic 67-win season to fall to the eighth seeded Golden State Warriors.

This season, things have truly been shaken up. Jason Kidd is at the helm. Jason Terry is now coming off the bench and Harris and Diop are no longer there. The Mavericks aren’t even in the top half of the playoff draw. They finished seventh in the Western Conference and they drew New Orleans as their first round assignment.

Being the optimistic and absolutely biased fan that I am, I’m still picking them to win it all. Haha

Viewed 6187 times by 1555 viewers

After finally getting added as one of Ethel’s friends at Multiply, I have mercifully gotten some of the pics that she took while we were at Puerto Galera. There were five of us who went to the popular summer destination – three of us, namely Yves and Cheng were also present during the Hundred Islands post-tournament escapade. Dammit, pictures of that trip has not been uploaded yet! Damn you Justin! Haha.

Believe it or not, three of us have not been to Galera yet. Ethel has been to places like Tuguegarao and Surigao, but she has yet to see how [un]fine the sand is across the Bay of Batangas. Cheng is also a first timer. Actually, this was supposed to be her first time in Punta Fuego. Yes, don’t ask. Move along.

The most notable Puerto Galera noob is of course, yours truly. I’m Batangueño and I lived roughly 10 minutes from the pier that has numerous trips to Puerto Galera daily. How did I find the place? This picture sums it up.

Continue Reading »

Viewed 6936 times by 1663 viewers

And just like that, the Dallas’ Mavericks quest to be the second team to win 70 wins in the regular season comes to a screeching halt. The Mavericks yielded an eight point lead in the final quarter to lose by four against the Denver Nuggets, 75-71.

Carmelo Anthony scored 23 while Allen Iverson chipped in 22 as the Denver Nuggets ended the Mavericks’ mission to be the first team to win 70 since the Michael Jordan-led Bulls won 72 in the early 90s. Dallas lost their second-leading scorer Josh Howard with four minutes remaining in the first quarter. He did not return.

Dirk Nowitzki shot the ball poorly and finished with 22 points. The second-best win-loss record was also achieved by the Bulls during the 1996-1997 season with 69 wins and 13 losses – a mark still within reach for the Dallas Mavericks.

Yes, it’s a disappointing loss, but its ridiculous how the spin doctors are painting the situation. The Mavericks failed to win 70 wins this season – big furry deal. All teams failed. Why single out Dallas and make it seem like not reaching 70 was a  monumental failure?

Note: I just found out about this Mavs Blog. It almost inspires me to make one myself. hehe

Viewed 7813 times by 1686 viewers

I personally feel that Dirk Nowitzki was the most deserving candidate in last year’s Most Valuable Player Race. He finished a distant third between third year-veteran LeBron James and eventual Most Valuable Player Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns.  He didn’t come close to winning, but it proved one thing – a lot of people were more than willing to vote for him.

Five years ago, this would’ve been unheard of. Back then, I was resigned to the possibility that Dirk would never even break the All-NBA First Team selection due to his co-tenureship with the likes of Kevin Garnett (2004 MVP)  and Tim Duncan (2002, 2003 MVP). Over the past two seasons though, after seeing KG’s meteoric rise to the NBA stratosphere, his stock suddenly plummeted following disappointing seasons. Tim Duncan has continued to remain as one of the league’s best players, but there’s no denying that he has opted to skate past the regular season to save himself for the playoffs. Continue Reading »

Viewed 6014 times by 1468 viewers