quote for the day

Love is like the air we breath. We don't have to see nor feel it to prove its existence. We know it's there because it keeps us alive.

hanep.

more regularly scheduled programming

Oh yes. In just a few days, the NBA will launch its 61st season and as always, we basketball fans eagerly anticipate what this basketball year has in store for us. Last season we saw perhaps the greatest upset in NBA history when the Golden State Warriors became just the third 8th-seeded team to outlast a number-one ranked club in the Dallas Mavericks, which bannered that season's best win-loss record, not to mention reigning MVP Dirk Nowitzki. We saw the emergence of a young Chicago Bulls roster which swept 2005-2006 champs the Miami Heat. We saw Lebron James rise up to the challenge and lead the unheralded Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA finals. And finally we saw Josh Smith's all-star potential (I know Francis wants me to type that. Hehe).

This year's offseason gave us our fair share of oohs and aahs, the most extravagant being the massive personnel change in Boston, with the Big Ticket himself Kevin Garnett and sweet-shooting Ray Allen joining perennial all-star Paul Pierce in the house that Bill Russel built. Let's not forget Kevin Durant, the most hyped rookie in the upcoming season. And of course, we have Kobe Bryant's growing disdain for his current (and I say so because we may see him get traded) team the Los Angeles Lakers well-documented.

So, what can we expect this year? Well, this frustrated analyst have some predictions on what our eyes could feast on. Check these out:

Phoenix' time is now..
Ever since Steve Nash came to the Desert, we have all been waiting for that big moment, when Nash, Stat and the Matrix will finally have their way and hold Larry O'Brien in their arms. Time and again, the dashing-and-slashing Suns continue to defy the odds thrown at them by a familiar basketball proverb: Offense wins games but defense wins championships. So far, that proverb best describes what Phoenix has become, especially after acquiring Nash. This season however, we may see the last three words of that proverb read alot like the first three. The Suns' (already lacking) defense took a turn for the worse when Kurt Thomas was traded to the Sonics. As a counter, they boosted their already formidable offensive force by signing able veteran and multi-time all-star Grant Hill. Truth be told, Phoenix did little to improve their most obvious weakness as far as personnel shuffling is concerned. Yet things (and by that, I mean their championship dreams) look even brighter for the Suns. One good reason is the fact that the biggest obstacle blocking the path to Phoenix' glory, the San Antonio Spurs, remained unchanged and, dare I say, unpolished. While the Spurs are still the same, old championship calibre team that took the championship the previous season, their lack of any major roster improvements did no justice to their same, old lineup. Hey, Tim Duncan's one of the best ever, but he's not getting any younger. Definitely not a good thing for someone who has made a living banging bodies in the low post. That said, we may see a younger, faster and stronger Amare Stoudamire dominate the Big Fundamental and anybody else foolish enough to go toe to toe with Stat. Yeah, Shawn Marion's voiced his unpleasantries for not havong his contract extended, but don't think of that as a disadvantage, especially now that he has an entire basketball year to prove he is worthy of that extension. And of course, there's Steve Nash.

..at the expense of the Boston Celtics
Yes you've read it correctly. I foresee Boston returning to the Finals. And I guess I don't have to expound on this prediction. However, for those who aren't convinced, let me share a brief
analysis on why I say so: No team in the East has the manpower good enough to contend with a team boasting of three future hall of famers who are all in their prime.

Yi's no Yao
Unfortunately, Jianlian may be another Wang ZhiZhi. To his credit, Yi's got the range for someone his size. The problem is, his height as it seems, is only useful to forge mismatches, since he is not that good in rebounding. His thin frame (just 238 lbs compared to his 7'0" stature) adds up to his discrepancies as a forward, limiting his low post efficacy. Of course, he has Andrew Bogut to cover him up inside. But if Yi wants to enjoy the same success Yao has had, I suggest that he beef up, add a few pounds of muscle, lest he gets eaten alive by the rugged, bruising style of frontline play.

Durant's all that
Speaking of thin frames, this year's Lebron James (in terms of preseason hype mind you that) may be too light to be a 3, and that being underweight may prove to be disadvantageous for the young stud but we can't just dismiss his apparent talent. Many basketball personalties have nothing but praises for Durant, and his numerous awards during his NCAA stint simply piled up his stock as a future NBA Superstar. Besides, being a 2-guard would only make Durant alll he more threatening. His length easily makes him one of the tallest SGs today (stands at 6'9" with a wingspan of 7'4"), an obvious mismatch which will definitely be exploited by the Seatle Supersonics, the team that drafted the rookie. Bottomline: Durant's the Rookie of the Year.

Kobe Bryant: To trade or not to trade
Kobe's not happy. Phil Jackson's getting tired of his star player. The rest of the Lakers? Well, let's just say the Kobe issue redefined the idiom adding insult to injury. Such an unfortunate situation for a young lineup which has tons of potential. The Lakers roster actually constitutes of very talented youngsters, like Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum and Luke Walton. Plus the fact that the Zen Master has an uncanny ability to unlock the full potential of a player (just ask MJ, Scottie, Toni Kukoc, Steve Kerr, Chris Mihm, Kwame Brown and Bynum). I guess hardiness is the issue here. Or is it Kobe? Or both?

The Baby Bulls are all grown up
Their sweep of the Miami Heat was a statement. The Bulls have made their intentions clear. And Scot Skiles added Joakim Noah and veteran Joe Smith, among others, to the mix. Yes, Chicago has a lot of big boys. Big, young boys to be exact. And in my view, that speaks a lot of Chicago's future. Luol Deng has become the King Bull, es evidenced by his stellar performance last postseason. The backcourt tandem of Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon is without a doubt one of the best, if not the best, guard combinations in the league today. Andres Nocioni is as fiery as ever. Tyrus Thomas is on the rise to become the next Shawn kemp. And Ben Wallace is..simply being Ben Wallace. Damn, the Bulls are good. (Hey MJ, here's to you)

More to come, if I'll be able to think of more.

and when you least expect it, happiness comes strolling along

Gosh.

Fine.

Maybe life's not that unfair.

And those wasted seconds? Maybe they weren't for naught afterall.

Hahaha. Sensya writer's block.


***
Well, what do you know. Polaris is not the brightest star after all.
***

memoirs of a super adik

Well. Okay. I believe it's my fault it has come to this. Hehe.

Currently, I'm listening to (a choppy version of) Wasting my time by Default.

Shet soundtrack ng buhay kez.

Sigh.

My life is composed mainly of wasted seconds.

Hala sige magdrama ka pa Alex.

***
I never thought Polaris could get any brighter.
***

Conspiracy or Reintegration? You decide!!

"Rumors of conspiracy to doom chances of Filipino players started to circulate even before the tournament started. Six marquee players from the country were bunched on the same group namely Efren 'Bata' Reyes, Francisco 'Django' Bustamante, Jose 'Amang' Parica, Lee Van Corteza, Warren Kiamco and [Ronnie] Alcano."
Source, Tempo, Alcano's historic bid dashed, 22 October, 2007

It was a day of dread for Filipinos everywhere, especially for those in the billiards circuit.

Ronnie Alcano succumbed to consecutive bad breaks, leaving his opponent Shane Van Boening, who seemed to have Ronnie's number, to feed off the untouched leftovers and score a 13-10 victory, clinching the 32nd US Open 9-ball crown and derailing the Pinoy's hopes of achieving history in becoming the first person to win the World Pool Championships, World 8-ball Championships and the previously mentioned tourney at the same season.

While bad breaks are a fixture in a sport of skill and luck, Alcano's dry spells were all the more suspicious, as he was unable to pocket a single ball for six turns, certainly unexpected for someone who thoroughly decimated every player he faced prior to te finals (except for, coincindentally, Van Boening).

Talks of match-fixing connived by the hometown refs loomed among [Pinoy] pool advocates, as it is ultimately unlikely for someone of Alcano's calibre to miss consecutive shots, considering the fact that his victories in the tourney constituted of convincing routs.

Hmm. All the more reason to believe that the powers that be of international pool are doing their darn best to inhibit the Filipino's success in a sport that has been relagated to a social pastime, a tambay's game if you will, in our country.

Translation: 'Di yata't dinadaya na tayo ng buong mundo.

Or is it really, pandaraya?

The worldwide supremacy of our countrymen in pool is well-documented, thanks mainly to hall of famer 'Bata,' whose unwaivering dominance over the billiards table paved the way for more Filipino cuemasters to come out of their shells and strut their wares on the international stage. With more of our kababayans making their presence felt with the cue ball, it's safe to assume that pool has become Juan de la Cruz' sport, much like Uncle Sam's basketball.

While we continually brag about our country's vice grip on the sport, the powers that be of international pool are left to witness the Pinoy horde, relentlessly trampling their unwary foes. Perhaps the world is seeing too much red, white, blue and yellow. And that familiar toothless smile. Too much that the powers that be had to do something about it.

Bottomline: If I were to organize a pool tournament, I'd group as much Filipinos as I could in the same bracket and have them face each other as early as possible because there is too much talent among our Filipino cuemasters that the world can't handle. Case in point- despite the fact that six of our country's best players were pitted in the same bracket and consequently were forced to eliminate each other in the early parts of the US Open, a Filipino was still able to reach the finals and nearly walked away with 50 grand.

In the meantime, I'll give the referees who racked up the balls during the US Open finals the benefit of the doubt. Right now, let's give it to the Rest of the World for beating the proud Pinoys this time. We are going to win the war anyway.

tattered notes

Ethan strutted along the ivory lining, his propriety exceedingly evident across the bloodshut room. Perhaps the bright lights dimmed too much what the naked sight could see, yet the young sentinel couldn't care less. The gallant whispers made their way through the otherwise stoic demeanor emanated by his presence. 'What a watse,' mumbled Ethan, as he shrugged off the anointing remarks. He knew too much.


***

An Open Letter

Hey.

I just want to let you know that I'm doing fine, supposing that you are interested at all about my well-being. The past weeks have been strange, and while things may have stayed normal as they are, something inside me dictates otherwise. Perhaps there really is nothing to be upset at, yet I find myself disturbed in awkward sadness. I tried to look as far as the naked eye can see, but I am not contented with the superficial. Simply put, I just want to know thw truth. If, inside that heart of yours, there exist some appreciation and concern for me.

Shinigami Sadfair

Stephie gulped the contents of the one-and-a-half inch tall glass, much to the delight of the crowd seated beside her. What seemed to be an eternity of careful consideration was relegated to a nano-second of hesitation, as she downed the last of the alcoholic beverage. A loud cheer then erupted before her, nearly flooring her already drowsy body right smack onto the tiled floor.

"Wooh Steph! Isa pa!! Isa pa!!"

Stephie knew she only had one shot yet the beverage has manifested its effects on her rookie constitutions, something she expected and regretted. She knew she couldn't afford to down one more but the situation wouldn't take no for an answer.

"Wooh!! Idol!"

The second round caused swirls and twisters around the poor, peer-pressured lady's line of sight. An uneasy, disgusting feeling began to creep from her stomach towards her throat. A sudden redness made its presence felt on her snow-white complexion.

"Ano Steph kaya pa?"

Stephie felt the need to stand up. The swirls and twisters have made their way inside her gastrointestinal system, inciting that unesay, disgusting feeling even more. No good. Standing still only provided minimal comfort. She had to move. She had to dance. The music, the lights, the constant cheering paved the way.

"Wooh! Ang sexy mo Steph!" Stephie glided through the tiled floor like the northern winds blowing subtly over the old blue. She took off her jacket, revealing a pink, skimpy tube concealing the last line of her femininity's defense. The hip-hop melody played well with her hips laced with a flavorful pair of denim. Her long, jet black hair swayed over the club's horizon, as stares of unimaginable admiration and lust inserted themselves through the clueless virgin's inviting movements.

"Stephie tama na yan."

A familiar face entered the dance floor, impaling the intoxicated Stephie back to her senses. The swirls and twisters abruptly ended, her eyes wide in shock. Replacing the carnal stares were eyes of intrigue.

"Tama na yan umuwi na tayo."

The formally-attired, well-combed male spoke, his remarks greeted by unconsolidated jeers by the drunken patrons.

"Hoy kj! Umalis ka nga't di ka kailangan ni Stephie dito!"

The screams inaudibly disnintegrated in the booming music, yet they were loud enough for Stephie to hear. She wanted to dance some more, but the figure in front of her had this strange, invoking grip on her appendages. All of a sudden, shame enveloped Stephie's perception.

"Jeff, I..I.."

The swirls and twisters again reared their ugly heads. And Jeff was at the receiving end of it all.

"Ewww kadiri!!!"


**************
end of prologue
**************

Halftime muna

1.What do you think abt ur 2nd featured
friend?
- Magkamukha na sila ng primary pic niya sa Friendster. Haha.

2.Do u like ur 1st featured friend?
- I do not like him. I lurrvveee him. Yak.

3.How is ur relationship wif ur
5th featured friend?
- Hindi ko pa xa nakikita ule. Busy siya eh. Haha. Sana pumunta siya sa burdei ko.

4.Are u chatting wid any of ur featured
frens rite now?
- no.

5.Is ur 3rd featured friend close to u?
- Ok naman. Nagaway kami niyan nung huli naming pagkikita eh. Ganyan kami ka close.

6.How many of ur featured frens are in
the same school as u?
- Nung hayskul lahat. Ngayon, si Nel lang.

7.If u were to choose 1 of ur featured
frens to be ur gf/bf..Who?
- Si Francis. Halavshuu

8.When was the last time u went out wid
any of them?
- Last last week?

9.Among them..Who did u last talked to?
- Yung second.

10.Who are ur featured frens?
- Benzon, Francis, Jos, Nel, Louie, Lovely(only thorn among the roses. Haha)

11.If u were to talk bad abt sum1 on
your featured friend list. Who will it
be?
- Si Benzon. Hahahahahahha.

12.Who knows you best among them?
- At the moment, si Lovely ata. Haha.

13.Have you ever met any of
the featured friends parents before?
- Except yung kay Louie.

14.Who is the last featured friend to
you?
- Labli!

15.Who is the most special among them?
- Sige na nga si Labli na lang kasi a.) siya lang ang babae at b.) nasa UK naman siya. Hahaha.

16. How old are you when you 1st
met them?
- Can't remember.

17. Do you hang-out with all of them?
- Except with Lovely. Asa naman unless ilibre nia ako ticket papuntang Staford. Hahaha.