"The Black Mamba"

A Kobe movie that reminisces the Grindhouse series?

Can't wait for this one.

N.B.: Bruce Willis is freakin' there.

Thanks to Rick Olivarez.

Happy 5th Anniversary, 81 Points!

Forum Blue and Gold has put up a blog post which highlights the different comments of sports writers about the historic event that happened 5 years ago: the day when Kobe Bryant came out to play, scoring 81 points to grab the second highest scoring effort in NBA history, behind Wilt Chamberlain's 100.

And it is amazing to see how much have changed over 5 years. During those times, we saw Kobe Bryant in his peak, in his freshest and healthiest state a season after the "break-up" with Shaq. But then, we have seen a struggling Laker team that relied on Kobe and Phil's coaching NOT to win the finals, but to just make it into the playoffs. Five years after that, things have changed. While Kobe now has knees wrapped in ice and fingers with special splints, his team has carried the load for him, and as of now, they stand still at second place in the Western Conference rankings, still fighting for a third straight championship.

Just to let us remember and relish the moment, F Yeah Lakers came up with a wonderful blog post comparing Kobe's 81 point performance to Phil's 100, which says:


And quoting them:

Basketball is more than scoring, so I hasten to call either of these the greatest, true basketball performance ever, but they’re certainly the most impressive displays, and without question, the greatest offensive displays of basketball ever. So which is better?

There’s no easy vote, here.

A few things catch my eye.

1. 19 more points is a serious number. Advantage Chamberlain
2. Kobe shooting 61%, as a guard, including 19 jumpers, is astounding. Wilt was shooting layups the entire game, guarded by 6’6” Center, Dave Budd (27 mins), and 6’11’ Center, Darall Imhoff (20 mins). Serious advantage Kobe.
3. Wilt had no chance at shooting a 3-point shot, as they were not in existence, but he probably wouldn’t have taken one anyways. Advantage Kobe.
4. Wilt understandably took more free throw attempts, as a big man down-low playing predominantly amongst defenders, but making 88% of them? That might be the most impressive stat in his box score. Chamberlain was a career .511 FT shooter. Advantage Wilt.
5. Chamberlain played 6 more minutes, in a game that he admitted got wild at the end. The Knicks also gave up a ton of points that season to every team. Advantage Mamba.
6. Wilt, as a center, has the same amount of assists as Kobe the guard, and even though blocks weren’t recorded, I feel safe in assuming Wilt had more than Kobe’s singular rejection. Advantage Wilt.
7. 25 rebounds? Despite being the tallest player on the court, and sometimes by a good healthy margin, rebounding takes a toll on the body. Advantage Wilt.
8. With natural evolution, both of the game and the human body, scoring today is more challenging, with deeper benches and more young, talented, athletic defenders. Serious advantage, Kobe.

No matter how you vote, what’s important is that Kobe’s given us the chance to compare.

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This might not be a good comparison, because the rules of the game and the situation was altogether different. Perhaps the closest comparison we can make is Jordan's 69 points in an overtime game against Cleveland (but then, a lot of people do not want to make that because Jordan is doctrinally incomparable). But then, FYL's last line is important and noteworthy: it gave us the chance to compare.

The post-Jordan era has been on a run in the last years, and their finish line is to at least resemble Jordan's monster performance and henceforth bring back the glory days of the NBA, and nobody has done it and reached it closer than Kobe Bryant. Numerous records, multiple titles, and a continuously evolving game despite being hampered down by injuries, and that is what we call passion.

And once again, to remember this single event, here's the NBA video of the "Kobe counter," highlighting all the baskets that led to the performance of the decade:

Update: Kiefer Ravena Stays In Katipunan

Welcome home.

It's already final.

GMANews.tv reported that the UAAP juniors star decided to forego all existing offers from other NCAA and UAAP schools and instead continue his studies in the Ateneo, suiting up to play for the Blue Eagles for the next five years.

The news team received a text message from his father, Talk & Text Tropang Texters Assistant Manager Bong Ravena, telling them that Kiefer "is definitely staying with Ateneo." Likewise, Rick Olivarez interviewed Kiefer, who, in person, said something about his decision.



Surely, he will be part of Coach Norman Black's rotation of guards, holding the one and two, who can either play as a starter or a sub to Emman Monfort or Kirk Long. He is also set to play alongside fellow S74 rookies Mark Tallo, Jr., Gwynne Capacio, and Greg Slaughter.

More than that, there are bigger and better things to look forward to, which comes perhaps as a part of Kiefer's decision to stay. UST Tiger Cubs swingman Kevin Ferrer also decided to take his talents to Katipunan, albeit staying to play for Team Glory Be, as decided by his former team. A fellow RP Youth player, fellow Blue Eaglet Von Pessumal would most likely forego all offers made by UP and San Beda to also suit up for the Blue and White (whether he is going to demand for a slot in Team A or in Team B is still to be determined). Another rumor that circulates around is that former SSC-R Staglet Ginno Jumao-as is also willing to go to the Ateneo, as he was being constantly mentioned in the forums that he was suposedly the guy who took the ACET along with Ravena and Pessumal.

With those people who will be part of the Hail Mary Team in a year or two, it seems that it will be another year for Ateneo to vie for another trophy. However, this time, it seems that it might be easier and less stressful for the team, considering that the veterans will get tons of help from the upcoming newbies. With this team roster, will it be possible for Ateneo to finally get its first four-time championship in the UAAP? If everything gets together well, then consider it as a season done.

One Big Fight.

Thanks to CHF for the leak and bleachersbrew for the video

The 2010 Collegiate Basketball Awards

As if they weren't obvious enough.

Credits to Rick Olivarez

THE Viral Mark Tallo Video

Here's a video that showcases the sick dribbling skills of Cebu Eastern College cager Mark Tallo, Jr...

... who in turn will don the Blue and White come Season 74.

Thanks to the blue fans of the Gameface Forums

Ray Parks, Jr. for National U

According to the Philippine Star, Ray Parks, Jr. declined to play for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and instead decided to continue playing basketball in the Philippines. An incoming sophomore student, he will suit up next schoolyear to play for the National University Bulldogs in the coming 74th season of the UAAP.

It was reported that according to him, he wants to try it out for 2 years before finally making a decision to either stay in the Philippines and play locally, or take his talents abroad.

Now, we still have one more major decision to make.

But before that, here's something as a Rayray Parks preview:

Thanks to Philstar.com for the image and chinoyhoopsfan for the firsthand info.

Profiling Jeron Teng Part 1: A Bit Of The Good Side

Everyone who looks forward to the future years of the UAAP is focused on whether the Ateneo Blue Eaglets' Kiefer Ravena will go, and this is not the first time that everyone has heard of him. Ever since last year, UAAP fans predict that when he goes to college hoops, he's going to be one of the best in a few months or so.

But Kiefer Ravena's buzz will last until the end of this year, and when he ends and enters college, there will be another one that will take over sports magazines that tackle high school ball.

However, this young gunner does not belong to any of the big universities, or any school who belongs to the UAAP or the NCAA. He does not capture everyone's attention simply because the leagues where he plays for does not enjoy media exposure… and yet he plays for a school who can match the energy of the UAAP and NCAA schools.

Xavier School might not be on the big leagues, being a stand-alone primary and secondary school run by the Jesuits (who, on the other hand, run Ateneo), and as a Filipino-Chinese Catholic School, they are part of the Metro Manila Tiong Lian Basketball League (MMTLB), alongside Chiang Kai Shek College, St. Jude Catholic School, and Hope Christian High School among many others. And for this year, this school, who boasts of UAAP greats who came out successful in the big leagues like Chris Tiu, Tyrone Tang, and Joseph Yeo, is gunning for its fourth straight championship, and the one who forefronts their basketball team as a junior player is the not-so-center of attraction, Stallions forward Jeron Teng.

The son of basketball legend Alvin and the shoti (as the Chinese call their younger brothers) of UST Growling Tigers swingman Jeric, Jeron Teng has been a dominant player not only in MMTLB and other minor leagues that Xavier School has joined, but also in the Youth Olympic Games held in Singapore, where he played in the 3-on-3 challenge alongside Ray Parks (who has just agreed to play for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets), Michael Pate (from DLS-Green hills), and Cris Tolomia (who is an FEU Tamaraw who will be eligible next year to play in the UAAP).

And with all the things he learned playing against foreigners, he was able to bring in the Tiong Lian. Just in his first game, he logged a game-high 34 points against Chiang Kai Shek College, which goes with 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals. And recently, he broke the scoring record for a Filipino high school player in a major league by scoring 104 points ina 164-76 win against Grace Christian High School. This just shows that he can be one dominant player in the MMTLB, and most probably, he's going to rack in various player awards in the league, especially the Most Valuable Player of the junior division.

With that kind of performance, expect various scouts from different UAAP and NCAA schools to pounce on him as early as now and have him commit to go to a school where he can play a big role as an all-around player.

But where could he possibly go? Here are four UAAP schools which might need his skill and his services to the team:

1.Perhaps the most obvious choice of where Jeron Teng will go after Xavier is in the UST Growling Tigers. With his brother taking on the role of scoring from beyond the arc, Jeron might complement him by providing UST what it lacks: inside scoring. There's still no news about the fresh faces of the Tigers come Season 74, but if we include Teng in the current roster, then the Tigers could prove to be a dominant force that can find its way into the Final Four.

With someone who can constantly pound the ball inside, Coach Pido Jarencio won't hesitate having his swingers move around and place themselves beyond the arc. Jeron's inside presence could distract the defense and force the opponents to focus on the paint, and it is at this point where Tata Bautista, Jeric Teng, and Jeric Fortuna to play their game and hit those big threes. More than that, Jeron might be able to get precious minutes and eventually rise up the ranks in the UAAP, and perhaps we can already start the buzz about him being Season 75's Rookie of the Year.

2.With the RP Youth Squad coach Eric Altamirano taking the reins, the NU Bulldogs could be a possible choice for Teng. If he does, then this might be very good news for the team who is undergoing a constant process of rebuilding through the years. Why? First, Coach E knows how Jeron Teng plays, so it will be fairly easy to let him in the rotation, and second, he could take on the role that should have been played by Ray Parks, Jr., who, after attending National U for a year, left and committed to playing with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the US NCAA.

And a combination of strength and versatility from a team player might be the perfect piece that NU has been missing. Season 74 might become a promising year for the Bulldogs, as many of those who played big last year, notably Emmanuel Mbe, are going to return and step up. However, the problem with next year's lineup is that it is quite soft, with no one who can solidly box out and make post moves. Luckily, this is what Jeron Teng has so far, so if he gets in the team, then muscle might not be a problem anymore for the Bulldogs.

3.There has been no news yet about scouting and inviting Teng to play, but it is possible that the Ateneo Blue Eagles, already having the best players in high school, is also persuading him to don the blue and white and promise him a championship trophy with the rest of the powerhouse Ateneo Squad.

Playing for coach Norman Black would mean not getting a lot of minutes and action as a rookie, but for sure, he's going to be one of the best among the Ateneo reserves. The Blue Eagles of Season 75 will not have swingmen Kirk Long and Emman Monfort, plus Nico Salva and Ryan Buenafe in their last year; however, this could be the time when the youngsters of this year, namely Greg Slaughter, Kiefer Ravena, Von Pessumal, Gwynne Capacio, and Mark Tallo, Jr., will take over. Having those as his teammates (with two of them who already are his buddies in the court, having played alongside Ravena and Pessumal in the RP Youth Squad), Jeron Teng might just get the right boost of confidence, seeing that he will play with familiar faces. And if one were to look closely, he could become the second Ryan Buenafe for the Blue Eagles, only smaller.

4.And of course, the De La Salle Green Archers wouldn't allow themselves to be left behind. With star forward Joshua Webb in his last year as a Green Archer in Season 74, they're going to need extra firepower to support Almond Vosotros, Sam Marata, and Maui Villanueva, who are expected to lead the team for the next three years. With Teng who can possibly be on their side, it is possible that the Green Archers can make another trip to the UAAP Finals, something that they were not able to do so since the year 2008.

With all plans for every school set and reserved for this young basketball star, it seems that his future is already set. But then, all of these would be brought into fruition only if he makes his choice, and we have another year to wait for that.

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But then, would these schools would really that be desperate for Teng? Watch out for the next part of this feature for the answer...

Photo from the Olympic Games Flickr Site.

The New Record Goes To...

Jeron Teng of Xavier School for the highest scoring effort made by a high school player in a major league. He scored 104 big points, which comes with 24 rebounds (20 offensive ones) with 6 steals, 2 blocks and 1 turnover, making 37 out of 70 shots (1 out of 5 from the 3-point line), en route to a 164-76 win against Grace Christian High School in the Metro Manila Tiong Lian Basketball Tournament.

The younger brother of UST Growling Tiger Jeric Teng beat the previous record set by Joshua Saret of the JRU Light Bombers two years ago (who had 89 points) for the highest scoring effort by a high school player in a major league. He also beat the Tiong Lian record, previously held by Xavier Stallion Eric Yao in 1998.

Photo from the Youth Olympic Games Facebook page.