Choke… JOKE!

I WAS running late Friday night for my drinking appointment with a bunch of young professionals getting five-figure paychecks for skype-ing and chatting 9.19 hours a day.

Mercifully late I should say.

I was spared from watching the horrific first quarter showing of the Barangay Ginebra Kings in Game 2 of their PBA Commissioner’s Cup title series against the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters.

The Kings were trailing 15-30 after 12 minutes as I availed the drink-all-you-can promo of Pharaoh KTV, a cozy watering hole in Amorsolo Street, Makati City.

They’ve trimmed the gap to single digit when my first beer arrived, grabbed the lead when I ordered another one, and headed into the locker room with a 47-46 lead when the nuts and nachos came to my attention.

Blame the nuts and nachos for the lack of second half details in this column. By the time I was finished with them, the Kings were comfortably ahead, 108-101, with under a minute to play.

The nuts, or most probably the nachos, nearly choked me up when the Tropang Texters scored the next five points and Willie Miller missed two free throws with 18 seconds left.

Quickly, I washed down whatever it was in my throat with the beer near me as the whole room waited for the final play to unfold.

Jimmy Alapag, the ever-reliable Talk ‘N Text skipper, decided to go for the win. He’s the hottest Tropang Texter at that point, pouring in 13 of his 17 points in the fourth period.

He failed to add to his total and the Kings survived. They didn’t choke.

Me neither.

Ginebra, TNT break tie in Puerto Princesa

THE PUERTO PRINCESA CITY – one of the most popular tourist destinations in the land – will host Game 3 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals on Sunday.

But don’t expect the Barangay Ginebra Kings and the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters to be on vacation mode when they take the floor at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum.

“It’s always important to have the edge,” said Ginebra superstar Mark Caguioa.

The Kings and the Tropang Texters split the first two games of the best-of-seven series.

After getting mauled in Game 1, the Kings showed their ability to keep pace with the vaunted running game of the Tropang Texters to pull off a 108-106 victory in Game 2.

Talk ‘N Text playmaker Jimmy Alapag is raring to atone for missing a potential winning triple in the closing seconds of their last encounter.

“We failed to make the big shots the last time. We’re ready to come out again. We’re ready to go,” he said.

Grizzlies oust Spurs

ZACH RANDOLPH powered the Memphis Grizzlies into their first playoff series victory as they beat the San Antonio Spurs, 99-91, in Game 6 on Friday.

The eighth seeded Grizzlies lost three series and were 0-12 overall heading into this year’s playoffs.

But after a stunning road win against the Spurs in Game 1, the Grizzlies gained all the confidence they need to become just the second No. 8 seed to eliminate the No. 1 seed in a best-of-seven series.

Randolph best personified that confidence. He scored 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds while repeatedly attacking San Antonio’s interior defense.

The Golden State Warriors shocked the Dallas Mavericks also in six games during the 2007 playoffs to become the first eighth seeded team to oust the top seed in a best-of-seven format.

Hawks soar past Magic

THE ATLANTA HAWKS completed the first big upset of this year’s NBA playoffs by eliminating the fancied Orlando Magic, 84-81, in Game 6 on Thursday.

Joe Johnson led the Hawks with 23 points and 10 rebounds, including a huge offensive rebound in the closing seconds.

Marvin Williams missed a three-point attempt with the Hawks clinging to a one-point lead. But Johnson tapped the ball to Jamal Crawford, who was fouled and canned two free throws for the final score, 8.2 seconds to go.

The Hawks will meet the top-seeded Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Tropang Texters eye 2-0 lead

THE TALK ‘N TEXT Tropang Texters will try to take a 2-0 lead against the Barangay Ginebra Kings in theCommissioner’s Cup title series tonight at the Cuneta Astrodome.

The Tropang Texters won Game 1 pulling away, 102-83, Wednesday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

For Tropang Texters coach Chot Reyes, it’s just a matter of knowing and capitalizing on their advantage.

“We know that we’ve got longer rest and fresher legs coming into the series,” he said.

Game 1 statistics backed him up.

After a tight first half, the Tropang Texters smoked the Kings the rest of the way. They collared more rebounds, 63-46, and scored more in transition, 21-9, and off turnovers, 21-12.

Kings coach Jong Uichico expects the Tropang Texters to continue to run. “That’s their game,” he said. “We need to take care of the boards to control the pace of the match.”

Spurs stay alive

THE VETERAN-LADEN San Antonio Spurs banked on an undrafted rookie to stave off elimination in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

Gary Neal received an inbounds pass with 1.7 seconds left in regulation and buried a game-tying triple as time expired to force overtime as the Spurs lived to fight another day with a roller-coaster 110-103 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night.

The Grizzlies will try to close out the series at home on Friday.

The Spurs, vying for their fifth title in the Tim Duncan-era, scored five points in the last 2.2 seconds of regulation.

Manu Ginobili canned a long jumper from the corner to keep the Spurs in the game. It was originally ruled a triple, which would have tied the score at 95-all.

But the officials reviewed the play on the video and ruled Ginobili’s toe was on the line. It just made things more interesting.

After Zach Randolph’s free throws gave the Grizzlies a 97-94 lead, Neal made sure he wouldn’t toe the line on his three-point try.

Photo credit: http://sports.yahoo.com/

Heat torch 76ers

THE MUCH-MALIGNED Miami Heat bench delivered the goods in their series-clinching 97-91 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday.

Mario Chalmers hit six three-pointers en route to a 20-point night, James Jones added three more for nine points and Joel Anthony went perfect from the line in four tries, including a pair of critical free throws in the closing seconds.

Miami’s Big Three were productive as usual. Dwyane Wade scored 25 points despite going just 10-25 from the field, Chris Bosh had 22 points and 11 rebounds and LeBron James added 16 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.

The Heat will host the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series on Sunday.

Wounded Tiger

TIGER WOODS will miss next week’s Wells Fargo Championship because of minor injury to his left knee and Achilles’ tendon.

Woods hurt his knee while hitting a shot during the third round of the Masters. There is no timetable for his return, but he hopes to be back in a few weeks.

He has been wearing a protective boot when moving around and has not hit a shot since the Masters.

The injury is described as minor — a mild sprain of his medial collateral ligament in the left knee along with a mild strain to his left Achilles. The injury occurred when he had to squat to play a shot from under the Eisenhower tree left of the 17^th fairway.

His left foot got caught in the pine straw as the momentum of the swing carried him backward. Woods


Photo credit: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/golf/2008005474_golf19.html

Bulls advance

DERRICK ROSE must have figured out that his sprained left ankle needs rest.

The leading MVP contender attacked early and often to lead the Chicago Bulls past the Indiana Pacers, 116-89, and into the Eastern Conference semifinals on Tuesday.

Rose showed no sign of a hurting ankle as he scattered 25 points and issued six assists in less than 30 minutes of action.

He didn’t need to play much as the Bulls put the Pacers away early. The Bulls led 36-25 after one quarter and 84-65 entering the payoff period.


Photo credit: http://ambasketball.com/2010/07/derrick-rose-says-he-will-never-leave-chicago/

Got to believe in Magic

REST SERVED Jason Richardson well.

The Orlando Magic swingman scored 17 points after serving a one-game suspension to lead his team in a lopsided 101-76 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday.

Richardson and Hawks center Zaza Pachulia sat out Game 4 after getting suspended by the NBA following their altercation in Game 3.

The Hawks will try to end the series at home in Game 6.


Photo credit: http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_magic/2010/12/magic-to-start-nelson-j-rich-turk-bass-and-howard-tonight.html

Heat meltdown

THE ENDGAME misadventure of the Miami Heat in the regular season didn’t stop there. It carried over to the playoffs.

With less than two minutes to play in Game 4, the Heat looked poised to sweep the upset-conscious Philadelphia 76ers.

Instead, the Heat lost their poise and the game.

Lou Williams hit the go-ahead trey over the lunging Dwyane Wade with 8.1 seconds to play en route to an 86-82 victory for the 76ers.

It was just another endgame debacle for the Heat on the surface. Wade was cold on the idea.

“That shot right there didn’t beat us,” he said referring to Williams’s three-point basket.

Wade was right and wrong.

The Heat had another dismal start, trailing 16-28 after the first quarter. They were slow off the gates in every game of the series except for Game 2.

It is a 48-minute contest. Even with three superstars in the line-up, the Heat can’t afford to let their guards down especially in the playoffs.

A check-mark for Wade.

The Heat, banking on their superstar triumvirate of LeBron James, Wade and Chris Bosh, got back in the game and took control heading into the final minute.

A jumper by James and a tip-in by Wade gave the Heat an 82-76 lead, 1:35 to play.

But the 76ers scored the last 10 points as the Heat melted down the stretch.

Wade missed a shot after Jrue Holiday hit a triple over him to pull the 76ers within 81-82. James had his potential game-tying drive blocked by Elton Brand with 3.8 ticks left. The endgame malady continues for the Heat.

An x-mark for Wade.

While the Heat have other issues to address, their inability to win close games concerns their fans the most.

Numbers don’t lie.

According to endgame stats, James is only 1-for-6 in shots inside the last five seconds with a chance to tie or win the game throughout the season. Wade is 0-for-5 on those occasions.

Close games are the norms in the playoffs. The Heat need to solve the endgame puzzle if they want to advance

Move...emcifrom noliglacie honeybabe koNEW FOLDERRAFFY

Grizzlies take 3-1 lead vs Spurs

THE MEMPHIS Grizzlies moved within a game of clinching a spot in the Western Conference semifinals and completing one of the biggest upsets in NBA playoffs history on Monday.

A huge third quarter and superb bench production led to a 104-86 victory for the eighth seeded Grizzlies and gave them an unlikely 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven series.

Mike Conley led the Grizzlies with 15 points, two rebounds and seven assists while Darrel Arthur contributed 14 points in just 17 minutes off the bench.

The Spurs appeared tentative in the third quarter and were outscored, 15-30. The Grizzlies never looked back from there.

Tony Parker tried to carry the Spurs, finishing with 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting. But fellow all-stars Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili struggled from field for most of the game.

Duncan was held to six points while Ginobili went 5-of-13 for 14 points.

Yaptinchay strikes again in autocross

DANBY YAPTINCHAY proved his opening day dominance was no fluke following another superb showing in the Federal Tyres 2011 Philippine Autocross Championship Series last April 10 at the Meycauayan Commercial Complex in Meycauayan, Bulacan.

Yaptinchay topped the Overall and Open Overall categories for the second straight time in as many races to fortify his hold of the lead in the Luzon championship.

The 2010 Novice Modified Driver of the Year topped the Open Overall category with a clocking of 1:23.41. Novice Overall winner Rafael Lao came in a distant second at 1:31.71 followed by Lewy Manio at 1:32.38.

It was a lot tighter in the Overall category with Yaptinchay’s 1:24.71 barely holding off the 1:25.44 effort of veteran driver Mato Tan. Celebrity driver Dominique Ochoa finished a strong third at 1:26.61.

Lance Binamira, the reigning overall champion in the event supported by Auto HQ, Payless Car Care Center, Disk Brakes Australia, Filinvest Corporate Center, Premiere Condoms and Gladiator Sealant, had another lackluster showing.

He placed a lowly seventh in the Overall category at 1:29.63 and didn’t make a run in the Open Overall.

Binamira took solace with his victory in the GT Experienced where his 1:29.63 edged Patrick Bautista’s 1:30.24. Jimmy Sarsoza was far third at 1:38.38.

Lao took home the Novice Overall title at the expense of Ochoa. He checked in at 1:30.65 while Ochoa submitted a 1:31.98. Richard Gallardo finished third at 1:32.96.

Ochoa, easily the most recognizable driver on the track, bagged the title in the Experienced Modified C at 1:26.61. He was followed by Mikko Briones at 1:26.77 and Lao at 1:28.75.

Mars Delos Reyes also did well despite racing for just the second time in autocross. He ruled the Experienced Stock C with a clocking of 1:36.27. He also finished a strong second behind Alex Bautista in Experienced Stock A and Experienced Stock B.

Nadal wins Barcelona Open

RAFAEL NADAL continued his dominance on his favorite surface, beating compatriot David Ferrer, 6-2, 6-4, in the Barcelona Open final on Sunday.

The title was Nadal’s sixth straight in the tournament, 31^st on clay and 45^th overall in the ATP Tour.

Nadal also beat Ferrer in the Monte Carlo final in straight sets last April 17. It was his 10^th straight win over Ferrer on clay since losing to him in 2004.

The 24-year-old from Mallorca, Spain became the first player to win two tournaments six or more times in the Open era. He has won Monte Carlo seven straight times.

Photo credit: http://sportsamazing.blogspot.com/2010/07/rafael-nadal-world-tennis-player.html

Lumidao tops non-master chess tilt

MERVIN LUMIDAO emerged as champion in the International Baptist Church 1900-below non-master chess tournament on Saturday at the Barangay Hall in Maybunga Pasig.

He was followed by Jerome Villanueva and Christopher Megino.

Rounding up to the top 10 were Hernan Aravejo, Jerry Tolentino, Ervil Villa, Louie Salvador, Verth Alora, Rommel Juni and Allen Walt Talan.

Also getting awards were Jonathan Mahinay (Top Pasig Player), Rene Mijares (Top Senior), Gino Cabual (Top Kiddies) and Joyce Villanueva (Top Lady). Marlon Bernardino

Celtics sweep Knicks

KEVIN GARNETT scored 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lift the Boston Celtics past the New York Knicks, 101-89, and into the Eastern Conference semifinals on Sunday.

The Celtics needed last minute heroics from their stars to take a 2-0 lead at home. They looked a lot sharper in a hostile arena.

They raced to a 23-point lead in this one and held off the late charge of the Knicks to complete a sweep of their first round series.

The Celtics will face the winner between the Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers in the next round. The Heat earlier failed to close their series after bowing to the 
Photo credit: http://www.seedol.com/blog/2011/01/01/boston-celtics-to-sideline-injured-garnett-for-2-weeks/