...Love: an Uncomplicated Feeling...

"Love is blind."
- 2nd most popular quote in a 90's kid's autograph book. The first being "judge me". (Only 90's kids will know)

Love and romance. I don't know what generation you grew up to, but as a 90's kid, I was introduced to those stuff pretty early. There were those Disney flicks where "true love" always beats the bad guys, the catchy love songs that had me singing "Please Forgive Me" by Bryan Adams at 6 years old in front of the titos and titas (yes, that was the "o sing for tita" moment of my childhood. Don't tell me you didn't have yours) despite not knowing what it meant, the funny romantic comedies, and the tastefully done love stories like City of Angels that have filled my young life with various images of "love". People say that kids feel "infatuated" and not really "love", and then it becomes a matter of defining what one or the other is. I personally think it knows no age, no gender, and cannot be quantified in words. It is a feeling, but not as complicated like what most people say.

Love is simple, and I illustrate my statement through the following points:

The Golden Rule

Don't listen to that guy. Talking about a different rule here

"Do onto others as you would want others do onto you" is a popular statement coined as "The Golden Rule" whose roots I'd rather not go into, as we'd stray away too far from the subject. In a relationship, you treat your partner the way you want to be treated, and inversely, you don't do things you don't want your partner to be doing behind your back. It's simple enough, really. If you don't want your partner flirting around with other people, make sure you're not doing the same, because if you have the capacity to do it, then so does your partner. On a more positive note, you can't expect anything special from a partner if your relationship is anchored on being stagnant. Take a positive action instead of waiting for it to happen, after all, we can only act on things within our power. 

Spontaneity

I think being spontaneous is not about doing crazy stuff without thinking of consequences. I think spontaneity springs from one's innate care for his/her partner. That sudden decision to just grab something at the grocery store or at some shop because you remember your partner mentioning that item or something like it, the surprise visits, the sweet nothings you blurt out after your partner's bad day; these are some spontaneous things you just do, and not really think much about. Loving someone means just doing things, not thinking about doing things. If you can't get yourself to just act on thoughts, then maybe you're too comfortable with what you have that you don't want to make the effort, or you're thinking too much. While thoughts count, I go back to my first point; wouldn't it be nicer if you actually got your favorite snack than be told that "I thought about buying you that, but I didn't"? 

Effort > Price

Didn't have money to buy gift wrapper? Any paper will do.

The problem with men courting women usually stems from the courting stage. Men shower their women with gifts like money grew on trees. Then the relationship deteriorates because the guy no longer gives his girl such lavish gifts some months into the relationship. There are two causes of why this happens; men do stuff they can't sustain, and women mistake value for effort. If men really wanted to be "loved" for "who they really are", they shouldn't really be paying x amount of money for such grand gestures. I think women don't really care much about that. I think women would much rather have a bouquet of shitty flowers you picked rather than a big, decorated bouquet that cost you a MyPhone. Some women think that the guy did really special things for her when the fact of the matter is, he bought his way to her heart. I think men should stop with the expensive gifts if they can't afford it, and for women to look at the gifts and see beyond the price tag and more on the effort put into it. Money is finite, but the effort to make your partner happy is boundless if it truly is love.

Finding ways

There's always a way.

Remember the saying that "Kung gusto, may paraan, kung ayaw, maraming dahilan"? If one person is worth the love that you have, there are infinite means to do things for him/her. It means gaining superhuman strength to walk miles if your wallet fails to cooperate with the travel that you need, suddenly becoming the world's greatest artist to produce a collage of memories, and having a sixth sense for what your partner may like; these are are just some things that show that you go beyond what you can do for the person you love. You always find ways to make your loved one happy, and it shouldn't matter if you're tired, sleepy, untalented, or whatnot. Going back to my previous point, the end result could probably not be the prettiest thing in the world, but the effort one puts into an act means the world to the one you love. Don't give excuses if you can't do something, because if he/she is worth it, you wouldn't even need to think of a valid excuse.

Changing Yourself

That face changes. It's called "growing old".

While "Just the Way You Are" by Bruno Mars became a worldwide hit and is a really sweet song, I call bullshit on anyone who would say this could be true. When we meet someone, and we say eventually that we fall in love with them, I think we fall in love with the illusion we have of them rather than who they really are. I mean, prior to being in a relationship, you have this idea of your future partner being this and that, and then when you get together, your partner has some traits you can't live with. The illusion that you have hides these traits; he/she may be the same person, but the illusion is only a fraction of who they really are. Now, do you give up and move on or decide to change yourself or your partner to make it work? I think naturally, people do change. Can you honestly tell me that 5 years ago, you'd make the same decisions that you did now, or even laugh at the same jokes you now can relate to your own life? We can "stay the same" all we want, but in reality, love is about adjustments, because one needs to cope up with the other as each one grows. You can't drag down your partner's hopes and dreams because you say that this is "not" him/her, nor can you whine and bitch that you don't have time for each other compared to when you were classmates in college or officemates next to each other. Our attitudes, the way we see life, our perspective of success, our priorities, and what path we want to take could change over the years. If one or the other can't change some things about oneself for the sake of the relationship, then both need to re-evaluate where they stand now. Does the other wait to be a part of his/her partner's life, or does the other end his/her misery when her/his life has become such a priority that a relationship can no longer be sustained? Love is simple. Life always has room for it, no matter how full it seems. If it doesn't, then maybe the love that you had was an illusion as well.

New is Always Better

"Ted, remember my one rule?"

Barney Stinson famously stated in an episode of How I Met Your Mother that "New is always better". It probably is true. In relationships, nothing compares to the "honeymoon period" of a couple; that stage where they're so in love and so crazy for one another. You know, that stage when the illusion hasn't been destroyed yet. That's where cheating stems from; you're in a relationship, and then you meet someone new, who you think is better than who you currently have. You may not be wrong in thinking that. However, wouldn't you be falling again for the illusion of the new person? What made this new one different from the old one? The newness of the feeling always makes it better, but if this is always true, when do you stop looking for that "new" feeling? This is what I don't get about these so-called "cheaters". If your relationship started with one or the other in a current relationship, how the hell would you say for certain that your partner would not leave you for another if he/she found that "new" feeling again? I go back to my first point. You don't take away a person who belongs to another and expect that who you took would not be taken just the same way. These are the people who made "it's complicated" a relationship status in Facebook. It shouldn't be. If you love someone, you commit to him/her. If you find yourself looking for someone new, then you don't love the person you're with. Don't give bullshit reasons that you've been together for so long or you love them equally. A relationship involves two people, not three or more. You choose one or the other and commit, not choose both and hide in the shadows with one of them. Those looking for "new" should learn how to respect the trust given to them enough to not look, or respect the person who trusted him/her enough to leave when he/she decides. Those who stay with previously committed people should respect themselves enough to not be just a flavor of the month, or respect the one kept out of the dark in the same way that he/she would want to be respected if eventually he/she is in a committed relationship. Those kept out of the dark shouldn't blame themselves for trusting too much, but should love themselves enough to not look back if they found out that they are being cheated. 

Simple enough? Life, like love, is really simple. As my dad used to say, "simple lang ang buhay, tayo lang nagpapa-komplika nito". 

...Kamusta na si Uncle Jun?...

Lately I have been asked this question by those who are aware that I am the nephew of Engr. Jun Lozada, a key figure in exposing the controversial NBN-ZTE scandal during the Arroyo administration. He's been making the news again recently, as cases against him have been highlighted by various media outlets. Frankly, I just know that he is safe with the religious groups who have been with him since day one.

Some years back, I took to my blog space to express a perspective from this point of view, not sugarcoated or filtered by media or editors. Those were painfully long reads, and I am grateful for everyone who had the patience to read through those. Now, I'll try another one, just to have you know what's going on with him, and at least I can point to somewhere if the question again arises.

I'd first like to clarify that they (him and his brother, who was with him in the Philippine Forest Corporation) are not running away from anything. The legal case filed against them can easily be dismissed as it is baseless and empty. They opted to be in hiding not because of the case, but because of the threat from unknown people. And besides, they have not been presented with actual legal documents calling for their arrests; the arrest warrant that the most articles over the net are saying couldn't be presented by the proper authorities when they met with Uncle Jun. It was eventually served to them though, and they posted bail for their temporary freedom until their arraignment on March 6. After that, I am not sure what's going to happen.

Here are some of my thoughts on his current predicament.


The Blind Eye

During the height of the NBN-ZTE scandal, former President Cory Aquino stood side by side with Uncle Jun whenever she was able. Even when she got sick, she constantly asked for updates and always reminded our family that we (especially Uncle Jun) were in her prayers, as she was in ours while she fought her own battle. She succumbed to hers, but through her pains, she always believed in what Uncle Jun fought for. Some time after her passing, our family stood in front of the Aquino residence to urge then Senator Noynoy to run for Presidency to continue his parents' legacy. It was our pitch, our taya, for the country. My dad remembers Noynoy saying that we're in this together, and he can't achieve change for the country alone; we needed to do our own part not just during the campaign, but even after the battle is won.

That battle was won, and yet now he stands again alone. Unaided by political friends, but always guided by the religious who we have already considered family.

This is not me begging for help for the administration or seeking unjust favors for those granted to them. If there is truth to the cases, let's have the court decide. But he knows and we know that the case is a bogus attempt to destroy Uncle Jun's credibility as witness for the NBN-ZTE case. What I don't understand is why we are even in this new battle anyway, after we put our own battle aside to help him win his battle for the hope of a more normal life for us ultimately.

Tuwid na daan? "Due process"? Am I alone in seeing the President's influence in impeaching constitutionally appointed officials in the Ombudsman and the Chief Justice? And yet here is Uncle Jun, years removed from the public eye and slowly having just gotten back to his feet, standing alone because this government seems afraid of being branded as "favoring" allies. Yes, the same government which appointed friends and dismissed political rivals is afraid of being seen as partisan. 

The Curious Armed Men

While we respect the "due process" of law, we do hope that it goes through properly. We were initially alarmed when armed men in casual clothes who claimed to be from the police tried to "arrest" Uncle Jun by looking for him at his house during the height of the "arrest warrant" issue mid last month. Later that week, when Uncle Jun sought refuge from the religious, we were informed that armed men in casual clothes again visited his house, and threatened to sue the housekeepers if they were not let in to search for him.

Armed men in casual clothes. My ninong (Uncle Jun and my dad's brother), Tito Nandy, died because of the same kind of people. He was "mistaken" for a ransom collector because of lack of information by the ISAFP; they never knew the plate number of the car, they just stopped the first one that matched the description. Armed men in casual clothes asked Tito Nandy to get down from the car he was driving, which had his daughter and his daughter's best friend in it. Naturally, they fled the scene, but because Tito Nandy was shot prior to him bolting out, they crashed at a corner, where the men exhausted their ammunition to shoot down three defenseless people who were just trying to find their way to a friend's debut. My cousin survived the incident, with Tito Nandy falling in the scene, and my cousin's best friend expiring after being in a comatose for a week. Those men were from the government. They got suspended for six months, and a slap on the wrist.

Armed men in casual clothes. If some guy in street clothes walked up to your car, told you he was a police officer and you should get down from your vehicle, would you go down? In the same light, would you go with armed men in street clothes if they say they are the police and they have an arrest warrant they can't show? What's scary is that this is happening during the administration of Noynoy. With everything that Uncle Jun knew, and with the effect he had on Gloria's ratings, of course we were afraid she might try something. We were always a bit paranoid on such little things. When Noynoy won, it felt like we have won as well. We knew his administration is at least the complete opposite of what Gloria's has been. But even during those times, his house wasn't violated as it was when men forced themselves in it. Are those Gloria's men? How could she even mobilize them if she's facing her own charges? Are those the government's men? Why can't they just present themselves officially? It's not like Uncle Jun is surrounded by bodyguards wherever he goes. Heck, he didn't even kill anyone to make him so dangerous that arresting officers should be armed with rifles.

The Irony of Sacrifice

The legal case filed against Uncle Jun, I learned, was by Erwin Santos, Uncle Jun's subordinate while he headed Philippine Forest Corporation (PFC), and is now the president of the said department. Nobody remembers, but a day after Uncle Jun was ridiculed and sympathized with after his emotional breakdown in the NBN-ZTE hearing, Erwin actually had an emotional interview with PTV 4 claiming "his conscience" pushed him to come out of the open and say that Uncle Jun is not who he says he is. He was the government's answer to Uncle Jun's emergence. However, his tears fell on the deaf ears of the millions and millions of viewers of the government-operated PTV 4.

Now, with the current administration's habit of purging government posts of Gloria's people, we found it curious that Erwin is still the president of the PFC. For the uninformed, the Philippine Forest Corporation is responsible for allocating idle lands to make it productive. It is different from the Department of Agrarian Reform, which re-allocates productive lands to people, as in the case of Hacienda Luisita. The land area of productive lands pales in comparison to that of idle lands in the Philippines. Hence, the PFC, though not as prominent, actually carries with it a huge responsibility.

Funny how things turned out; whistle blower and one of the main campaign supporters, Jun Lozada, is fighting off a bogus graft charge years after living in obscurity, while Gloria man Erwin Santos, who cried himself to anonymity, is securely making a living under the Gloria-hating administration by Noynoy.

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It just sucks that after recovering from his idle, non-earning self during the height of the NBN-ZTE saga by doing tech stuff and "modernizing" some schools by going the tablet route, he's back to seeking refuge again. My other Uncle has it bad as well, after finding something he'd love to do (selling properties as a broker; he placed 6th in the licensing exam to be a broker), his name is again dragged to this mess.

Ok lang sana kung nagkapabayaan na lang; ni hindi na hiningan ng pabor si Noynoy pagkatapos nya manalo, hindi hinanapan ng pwesto sa gobyerno nya o kaya maibalik man lang yung dating pwesto. Ang pagkapanalo noon ay ang pwede nang mabuhay ng normal dahil wala na ang takot na kumilos ang mga tao ni Gloria laban kay Uncle Jun. Pero nanahimik na nga sila, pati si Gloria hindi na nga gumagawa ng kalokohan para mapag-usapan nanaman sa balita, tapos eto nanaman? Bakit ngayon pa? Bakit di to natapos noon pa? Kung meron talagang kailangang panagutan, bakit kinailangan pa ang tatlong taon para dinggin ang kaso?

I am not ignorant of what the media says about my uncle. I have read articles, I have seen how he was painted, I have seen positive and negative comments, and those are people's opinions I respect. I post this as an opinionated nephew who blogs as a hobby, and wishes only to voice out his own opinions. I am not paid to do this, nor was I forced to write by any of my family members. While it is natural for a family member to defend him, I am not trying to defend him without cause. Heck, if he is guilty of the charges against him, we'd all just be flying around the country to our vast hectares of land. I am but fueled by the desire to have another one of those family outings where we're free to do these:

Photo taken some years back from his daughter's album

We've had some nice days over the past couple of years that he was away from the public eye. Hopefully, this predicament ends soon. 

...My Sweetest Valentine...

As a guy, I only aim to please. Making surprises should be my thing. But every once in a while, it's nice to feel wanted by being on the other side of a surprise.

Some years back, I was running for a position in the AB Student Council. As candidates, we were supposed to appear single even if we're in relationships, just so we can be more approachable to everyone. I've always thought of myself as a pretty approachable guy, but I had to give respect to the rules. But it was Valentine's Day and I had a girlfriend. It sucked that I had to be watching everyone else bring flowers and chocolates and be all mushy while I had to stand and smile and shake everyone's hands to urge them to vote for me. To cap off the frustration of not being able to do anything for my girlfriend, she texts me of some emergency that she had to go home immediately.

I had to endure the rest of the day without an escape from my normal routine. At around 5PM, there was a toy car making noise on the lobby where we stayed on. It was for me. I had a feeling that there was no emergency, but I went along with it. By 6PM the candidates were all asked to go back to home base to regroup. Sof asked me to pick something up from her car parked near the Dapitan exit of UST. It was weird because candidates weren't usually tasked to go on errands, but I did as asked, wishing I'd be getting more than just what she was asking for. With a fast-beating heart, I walked as fast as I can but tried to act not too excited about it. When I got to the car, it opened, with my girlfriend holding a football-designed pillow radio because she knew that I listened to the radio to get me to sleep, and my radio then was a pain to adjust the volume. 

It was 2005. 

It was the first Valentine's Day that Che and I celebrated.

Over the years, we've outdone each other with surprises to express our love for each other. No one's keeping score, but the priceless memories of special moments we shared are always fun to look back at. We didn't need an occasion, but Valentine's Day was a day we could be extra mushy and not get ridiculed about it. 

From then to now, we were never an overly cheesy couple, mainly because she's boyish and the relationship started out with us being friends. However, being the more mushy, and more vocal one, I do the cheesy stuff without her knowledge. Like this blog. 

After n-number of pounds, two break-ups, a sea of tears, friends that have come and gone, endless laughs, countless restaurants discovered, and first trips and experiences, our relationship has constantly evolved to keep us both in it. We've made sacrifices, we've had to adjust, but in the end, what matters is that we always find a way to make it work. 

Happy Valentine's, love <3

It sucks that Facebook wasn't as big then to remember that first Valentine's Day by. But here's the closest picture that I have to that day:

First Studio pic, taken at Robinson's Metro East, October 2004

...All-NBA Saturday Perfomers...

The NBA All-Star weekend boasts of the selection of the NBA's best of the best going at it to entertain the fans. Year in and year out, there are always snubs for the All-Star Game and probably for the Rookie-Sophomore showcase. For All-Star Saturday, there are times that there's a player that just plays above everyone else. Rarely do we ever see a rivalry like Craig Hodges and Larry Bird for the Three-Point Shootout, or Micheal Jordan against Dominique Wilkins for the dunk title. Most of the time, there's a Ray Allen dominating in-game shooters, or a Vince Carter just shutting everyone up, or some random white guy like Jason Kapono shooting lights out in the shootout, and Brent Barry winning a dunk title.

If there was a chance to draft a collection of stars to play in the showcase, here are my possible selections:

Skills Challenge:

Tony Parker
The San Antonio Spurs' floor general has the handles, speed and court vision to challenge for the best time in this event. He won the event last year, and it's difficult not to include him in an event like this.

John Wall
The third year guard may be given too much credit here, but really, he has the qualities of a guard who can really perform in this competition.

Isiah Thomas
In his prime years during the "Bad Boys" era, Thomas was one of the most spectacular guards to watch in Detroit. The skills challenge wasn't played during his time, but if it was, Thomas would surely rank one of the best.

Steve Nash
The former two-time MVP is also a two-time winner of the event. He's not much of a speed demon, but he's fast enough, and you know he can pass with his eyes closed.

Dwayne Wade
A natural shooting guard, Wade has the skills to play point when needed. He's the only other two-time winner, and the only back to back champion at this Skills Challenge since its inception in 2003.

Magic Johnson
Magic's size allows him to take long strides that may be a huge factor in cutting his time down. And the man can pass lasers and amazing bounce passes.

Jason Williams
"White Chocolate" has always dazzled on the floor, with some of his best years played in the pass-oriented Sacramento Kings. His speed and passing accuracy makes him a prime candidate to dominate this competition.

*Allen Iverson
Despite being one of the fastest players that ever played in the NBA, his passing is almost suspect, so he might lose time on those passing challenges. Steve Francis and Stephon Marbury can probably make the cut before considering AI.

Three Point Shootout

Larry Bird
It can't be a shootout without Larry Legend. The man practically declares his victory even before the competition starts. It ain't bragging unless you can back it up. If there was a season award for the best three point shooter in the league, it should be named the Larry Bird Award.

Craig Hodges

The only other three-time champion of the event, Hodges won the event after Larry Bird and Dale Ellis won the first four (Bird winning the first three).

Ray Allen
One of the best shooters in the NBA, Allen has won the competition in his prime. He's an in-game set shooter, which makes him a dangerous sniper in competition and actual games.

Dirk Nowitzki
In the early part of his career, Dirk mainly played outside. Despite criticism on his "soft" play, he actually revolutionized the PF position to stretch outside. Guys like Ryan Anderson, Channing Frye, and Andrea Bargnani among others, have Dirk to thank for getting the chance to play the way that they play.

Peja Stojakovic
Probably one of the best pure shooters to have played in the NBA, Peja is a two-time champion for the event. How else can he prove to be one of the best shooters than going against the others? 

Mark Price 
Knockdown shooter for the Cavs, it would be interesting to watch him compete against the best of the best in a competition. The former back to back champion held the record for most points in the final round at 24.

Jason Kapono
Random white guy won the twice, bringing him in the same conversation as Peja, Mark Price, and Jeff Hornacek. He tied Mark Price's record in his first year of winning the title, and broke it by scoring 25 points in the final round in his second year winning the title. But unlike the other three multi-titled champions, Kapono never really made much of an impact with his team during actual games. Maybe he's a player made for these types of contests?

Jeff Hornacek
Utah's designated shooter during the Jordan era, Hornacek is probably more known for his unique palm-to-the-face ritual before taking his free throws than he is for knocking down three pointers. But he actually won the competiton in the 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 seasons against the likes of Ray Allen, Reggie Miller, Dirk Nowitzki and Charlie Ward.

*Reggie MillerAwesome game shooter, but he might not perform as well in a competition. He makes ridiculous shots to go in especially in crunchtime, and he's probably one of the best shooters in the NBA durin his time. However, a full minute of shooting 20 balls in five different spots on the floor may be too much for a jump shooter like him. Ditto Steve Kerr (who actually won the event in '96).

Slam Dunk

Julius Erving
The innovator has to be in this. He is the player we may have to thank for all the dunks we see today. He's the first to make the free throw line dunk made famous by Jordan.

Micheal Jordan
"His Airness" has to be in the conversation when it comes to dunk offs. His iconic "Jumpman" logo was taken from his graceful version of the free throw line dunk. 

Dominique Wilkins
"The Human Highligt Reel" didn't get his monicker for nothing. He's an amazing in-game dunker, and probably a power dunker in the competition, but he doesn't lack creativity.

Vince Carter
Vinsanity made jaws drop whenever he joined a dunk contest. The between-the-legs bounce dunk, the elbow-in-the-ring dunk, and the in-game dunk over the 7-foot center are dunks you must watch if you don't believe he's one of the best dunkers ever.

Jason Richardson
I think he's one of the more underrated dunkers to have won the competition. I've looked up "best dunkers" and his name never comes up. He's got serious air, and he displayed it when he won the competition in 2000.

Lebron James
LeBron is putting up ridiculous numbers and he's been in the G.O.A.T. debate since the day he was drafted. However, unlike contemporaries who are in that conversation (MJ, Kobe), he hasn't won or even joined the dunk contest. He teased about it a couple of years back, but he never really put his name out there. Some of his in-game dunks are almost competition-worthy, but we can only wonder helplessly as to why he never really joined the competiton.

Nate Robinson
The only three-time winner of the event, Krypto-Nate should warrant consideration in a dunk contest featuring the best. While it can be argued that he battled with so-so opponents, isn't it amazing to watch such a small guy fly up in the air like that?

*JR Smith
This guy has the swag we've been missing in the dunk contest. He's an in-game dunker, but he's got serious air that may just be a key for him in a dunk competition.

*Blake Griffin
Blake is a freak of nature, but I still think he's more of a power dunker who knows how to use props well than a creative competition dunker. His dunks are exciting, no question, but it would probably be better if he won because of how creative his dunk is, and not because he jumped over a car or something. Then again, after all the dunks that we've already seen, just what else can anyone else do? Pre-Lockout 'Nique, Shawn Kemp and Dwight Howard could probably be put in the same competition as Blake in a "Rim-Rattler Challenge" for power dunkers. 

...NBA All-Star Picks...

The NBA All-Star weekend is in a couple of weeks time, and while the annual event's main feature is the All-Star game, I'd say one of the best days to watch would be the Saturday night showcase. While the Rookie-Sophomore game is a glimpse of the young ones, and the All-Star game is an exhibition of the best selection in the NBA, there are times that the games are played for entertainment and not as competitive, as they tend to focus more on dazzling fans than winning the game; which is great, really, but sometimes you just want to see a close game. The Saturday showcase, that's where fun and competition are always truly at play.  They will dazzle with skills, but they will be dazzling to win. Here are my picks for the Saturday showcase:


Seers Shooting Stars
Team Harden: James Harden (Houston Rockets), Tina Thompson (Seattle Storm), Sam Cassell (Legend)
Team Westbrook: Russel Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder), Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx), Robert Horry (Legend)
Team Bosh: Chris Bosh (Miami Heat), Swin Cash (Chicago Sky), Damien Wilkins (Legend)
Team Lopez: Brook Lopez (Brooklyn Nets), Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever), Mugsy Bogues (Legend)

This is probably one of the hardest ones to pick, but one of the most enjoyable to watch. I'm rooting for the West here, with Team Harden ultimately winning this competition. Team Lopez will be carried by Catchings and Bogues rather than Lopez, I think. I think Team Bosh will be finish last in this.

Skills Challenge:
Jrue Holiday (Philadelphia 76ers)
Brandon Knight (Detroit Pistons)
Jeff Teague (Atlanta Hawks)
Damien Lillard (Portland Trailblazers)
Jeremy Lin (Houston Rockets)
Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs)

Tony Parker may have won this challenge before, but those are really fast guys right there. Jeremy Lin could challenge, but despite his pinpoint passing, he may not be fast enough as the other guys. I'm thinking this will be between Jeff Teague, Jrue Holiday (who's been amazing this year, and earned his first All-Star nod), and Damien Lillard (Rookie of the Year, hands down). I'm not counting everyone else out, especially Brandon Knight, who could actually challenge these guys. However, I think the three guys mentioned are having great years for their teams that it would be amazing to top off their year with a win. I'm looking at Jrue Holiday winning this one, with Lillard going in second.

Three Point Shootout:
Paul George (Indiana Pacers)
Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Steve Novak (New York Knicks)
Ryan Anderson (New Orleans Hornets)
Matt Bonner (San Antonio Spurs)
Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)

There are game shooters, and there are competition shooters. Game shooters don't usually perform that well in competitions because of either the way they shoot, or the circumstances that go with it. That said, I think I'd eliminate Paul George and Steph Curry early. Kyrie Irving is a game shooter who I think will make a good showing in this competition, and who doesn't want Uncle Drew to win this one? Steve Novak, Ryan Anderson, and Matt Bonner are set shooters who will do great here. My heart goes to Uncle Drew, but this looks like a battle between the three set shooters, with Novak winning and Bonner surprising everyone to go second. Watch out for the "Title Belt" gesture after Novak's performance.

Sprite Slam Dunk:
Gerald Green (Indiana Pacers)
Terrence Ross (Toronto Raptors)
Eric Bledsoe (Los Angeles Clippers)
James White (New York Knicks)
Kenneth Faried (Denver Nuggets)
Jeremy Evans (Utah Jazz)

Truth be told, the selection last year kinda sucked, considering the fact that the year prior, LeBron James hinted at joining the competition. Without James, it was won by Jeremy Evans, a relatively unknown rookie that was hardly in the Jazz rotation last year. Not much has changed for his career, and now he's back to defend his crown. He's got hops, but there's also awesome competition this year. James White may turn heads, as he's another relative unknown with major hops. Kenneth Faried is a power dunker, but I don't think he could be as creative as Blake Griffin using that power and vertical leap. Eric Bledsoe, as a small guy, would be as fun to watch as Nate Robinson. Terrence Ross is a versatile wing on the Raptors and could be a favorite. But my money's on the returning Gerald Green. After winning the competition while with the Boston Celtics, he was banished to relative obscurity because he turned out to be a one-dimensional player that couldn't make the final cuts of teams. After bouncing around the league and out of it (he had stints in China and Russia), he makes his return to the competition after being unseated by Dwight Howard's "Superman" Dunk in 2008. I think he's going to claim his rightful place among the best dunkers in the league by winning this one, with James White and Terrence Ross probably going with him to the later rounds.

...A Decision...

It is with a heavy heart that I am making a decision. It is a necessary one, and I have decided to stay on with my job, and give up a dream.

I got in this job because I said I wanted to help it grow. I wanted to help in any way I can. It is a frustrating industry, in the sense that sales take such a long time. I count months or even years before a project moves forward. I know I can sell stuff, but there's just something missing.

I applied for a sports writing job. I was offered one. It was a dream. I get to do something I like. I get to wake up in the morning to watch a basketball game because it was part of my job. I get to promote sports like it was a secret that I love it. I get to work with awesome people in a vibrant office that I know I will enjoy. I get to open doors to media like I've always wanted, considering the friends I have in that industry. 

My boss had set the following conditions: that I settle the balance for Bruno (my car), wait until he finds a replacement, and don't leave before February. The last one, new job advised will be no problem. The first two were major issues for me, but I know that if I do decide on taking the new job, I'll find ways to deal with it. 

Over the past week, I have been lost and broken. Do I give up on my current job, where my boss has given me trust that he doesn't usually give to people so that I can take a step towards a new beginning? Or do I turn down the dream, and stay on to do more and set out to fulfill the goal I set out to do in the first place?

On the things to consider, I ultimately came to a decision which I think is the best for me, considering "me". 

I can't give up on my job. Not now. Not yet. I took this job with a goal of helping this company grow, of earning and validating my boss' trust in me for the opportunity he has given. I wasn't built to not finish things that I started. I realize that I do eventually need to move on from this job, but I think now is not the right time. That trust, though earned, has not been validated. The company is growing, but I know I can do more for it. 

I did explore the opportunity because I really wanted out. I really wanted a fresh start this year. But in the end, I just couldn't do it. I can't just leave my boss, not after everything he has given me over the past couple of years. I am deeply wounded by the fact that I let a lot of my friends down. I let some new friends down, thinking I would really help them with what they're doing.

But I needed to decide for me. Emotions aside, I considered the financial aspect of this decision. I will earn from the new job in three years what I can get here in two or even one. I can freelance more often with my current job than if I am working steadily as a writer. I considered my passion. I tried to make a fantasy blog earlier in the season, a blog dedicated to games. I couldn't keep it up. I didn't write an article if I felt like I wasn't enjoying it. And because of time, I just couldn't keep it up. I love basketball. I love writing. If it becomes a chore, I'm afraid I wouldn't have a personal escape. I thought that I needed to keep my passion different from my job. Basically, those two aspects contributed greatly to the decision I made.

I write this to explain one of the most difficult decisions I've had to make, to remind myself not to regret what I have done when I had this chance. I wanted that job so bad, but at 26, I'm no longer that idealist who must always choose a job that I love to do. I'm that practical person who looks at his bank account and sees the need to take that which makes it grow more.

To my unrealized co-workers, I can't thank you enough for the chance you have given me, and the confidence in what I could do with you. Words cannot describe how painful it is to decide against taking the opportunity to work with you. I look forward to work with you in another capacity, and enjoy drinks with you at times of leisure. I can't say when I'll be ready, but I will be certain when I am. If I truly am meant for that world, I am hopeful that circumstances will coincide with opportunities. 

But right now, I think this is the direction that I need to take. Despite all the signs given when I first had these realizations, against the advise of some trusted friends, I took this road again.

I may not have taken the leap to a new beginning, but I am, taking the dive deeper into the ocean I'm swimming in. All things considered, all things said, I still think that I am choosing "me". 

...A Hole Not So Deep: A Perspective on Rain Or Shine...

I can't remember the last time when I followed a team in the PBA as much as I have followed Rain Or Shine over the past few years. I've seen the team grow from the Jojo Tangkay, Jun-Jun Cabatu, and Jay-R Reyes-anchored  inaugural team of Welcoat Dragons to a revamped and renamed squad headlined by the athletic duo of Gabe Norwood and Sol Mercado, to the spunky squad that they are now under Coach Yeng. It pains me that they are down 0-2, and though Talk N' Text is playing amazing ball, I still believe that they are not invincible.

Let me claim now that I am not an expert, nor am I a professional baller to be legitimately considered as an authority on the matter. I express opinion as a basketball fan and a Rain or Shine fan to offer my two cents. Feel free to discuss, but personally, here are my thoughts on (fielded) players and adjustments:

Guards

Ryan Arana 

Jaworski-lite is playing his game, but still isn't translating to wins. He's always there on rebound plays, can get to the rim on sneaky moves, can defend, has an outside shot, and was actually playing PG for Coach Yeng. Maybe Coach needs to play him more?

Paul Lee 

Looks like the best player on the court for Rain or Shine at times, but takes ill-advised decisions in at the wrong time. A bad jumper here and there, and dazzling moves that end with a shot that's high off the board. Nerves? Sell out? The team needs him to channel his inner Cobra Commander and not some fat kid who took too much Appeton to bulk up.

Chris Tiu

Always been a winner, and looks like he's getting good shots up, just not converting them. I guess he needs to Tiu-torize himself more on picking his shots. He's shooting horribly from three, but he seems to be taking a lot of it. Worst play in so far is his awesome pass to Jimmy Alapag during the crucial moments of Game One.  Other than that, his shots just aren't falling. It'll probably get better, but he needs to be patient with it. 

Gabe Norwood

Plays the point at times for the team. He's been tentative in Game One, but looked to attack in Game Two. Still, he's throwing up threes like he was Ray Allen or something. He's Gabe freakin Norwood, the athletic beast who was jumping all over opponents during his National Club stint, playing like a skinny LeBron James without a jumper. He needs to be more aggressive in the sense that he wants to rip that rim off and not take those turnaround fadeaway jumpers. He has the tools to destroy just about any defender thrown at him, but he needs to make use of them.

Jeff Chan

In a team of no superstars, Jeff Chan is one of the guys on the team that's close to legit superstar status. He's trying to play like it, but he's just ice cold from the field. He's a shooter who's added some slashing to his repertoire, but he's still not that good of a ball handler. He needs to lessen his one on one's unless there's sure to be help, and he needs to stop focusing on selling calls because there's a big chance that those whistles aren't going to go his way. 

Jireh Ibanez 

The captain and arguably the best defender of the team hasn't been able to stop anyone. It is perfectly understandable because TNT is basically a mirror-image of their team, as they have multiple weapons on offense. While his scrappiness and desire are unquestionable, one of his weak points is finishing at the rim. He has the tendency to try and do a little too much by driving to the basket recklessly and forcing shots in. He needs to calm down, understand that he can't take everyone one on one even at the post. He's also the fastest guys on the break, but he tends to force it even if the defense already recovered. 

TY Tang

Quality minutes in his appearance in Game Two, but won't be able to keep in step with Castro or Jimmy on defense. He calms the offense down and knows how to pick his spots. I don't see him getting extended minutes, but he just needs to keep playing his game when called upon. 

Forwards

Ronnie Matias

Plays like he's on an And1 Streetball challenge at times. Most amazing play so far would have to be that drive in the second half of Game Two where he split 4 defenders on a coast to coast. His outside shot hasn't been effective (as is everyone else's), and though he can create his own shots, he tends to force it as well. He needs to play the Matias game we've been accustomed to: gritty defense and scoring through offensive boards. Three point shooting should be secondary, even if he has been confident about it. And don't be too obvious on push offs. 

Larry Rodriguez

With the emergence of Jervy Cruz, Larry Rodriguez seems to have lost his confidence. He's been asking for the ball at the post, but he doesn't really do anything about it when he gets it. He's been tentative shooting the ball over the past two games, and when he does, he almost expects it to miss. If he can't shoot those mid range jumpers, he needs to just play his usual game of positioning for the rebound and getting his points via putbacks. He did that successfully over a stretch in the second quarter of Game Two that built his confidence up a bit.

Jervy Cruz
King Tiger truly is back. Still can't get over that spin move on Harvey Carey in Game One that brought me back to my UST days when we had that magical run for the championship. He's been aggressive on offense and has been relentless on the glass, but he's blowing some defensive assignments. He's tasked to guard either Ranidel De Ocampo, Harvey Carey, or Ali Peek, but usually is being switched to play against Jared Dillinger. Except for Ali, those are players who can shoot the ball from the perimeter on a consistent basis. While I love the fact that Jervy is playing below the rim on defense to be ready for those boards, he needs to keep an eye on RDO because he's killing RoS with his versatility. He needs to deny him the ball and must not allow him to get open looks for three, as that has been money for Ranidel. 

Centers

Beau Belga
Air Jollibee (as my favorite PBA Blog coined him) has been playing a bit inconsistently in this series. He hasn't gotten his shots from the outside, and he did make a couple of amazing drives in Game One, but those were absent in the second game. He can't be frustrated because of all those missed shots, they will eventually fall. He just needs to keep his head in the game, shoot when open, and if he gets his groove on, defense will collapse on his every pump fake that will open opportunities for him to drive to the hole. 

JR Quinahan
As good as he played in Game Two on the offensive end, he still is way too slow on defense to match up against the agile big men of TNT. I think it would be best to keep him on the bench unless TNT fields a player he can guard, say Ali Peek or John Ferriols. He got his range in Game Two, so that should be a morale booster for himself. He can't lose a hundred pounds before the end of the series, so might as well make good on what he has and just put in a little more effort in recovering on defense. Ranidel is eating him alive.

Team Offense

The three pointer has been a major weapon for Rain or Shine, but they can't bury their outside shots during this Finals series. They have found success on their halfcourt sets with crisp passing when they are playing calm, but lose control as soon as they get the game close. Thay've had point blank shots that just don't go in, and almost and-one plays that rolls off the rim. They space themselves out too much, allowing TNT to close down the middle for the boards, eliminating their second chance points opportunities, which was the defining stat that got them past San Mig Coffee. Communication will be important for them, as they can't all be at the three point line waiting for the slasher to kick it out to them. While the bigs can stay out to stretch the help defense, maybe a the wings can slice through the D to get ready for those boards.

Team Defense

As much as three pointers have won them games, it is also killing them now as TNT has been deadly outside. Larry Fonacier stopped the late RoS rally in Game One with a three. Ranidel De Ocampo and Kelly Williams hit shots to end the third quarter of Game Two to quickly destroy RoS' momentum after they briefly grabbed a 4-point lead. Rotation would be key, and they need to work on switching off pick and rolls. They either leave the roller or the ball handler open when the ball handler steps back after using the pick. This results in either an open three or an open lane in the middle. Although Ranidel and Jason Castro can't seem to be defended, they just need to close down the lane by switching on picks, and committing to a double team on the trap instead of just teasing the ball handler then scrambling back on defense for the screener left open.

Defensive Player Matchup

Ryan Arana/Jireh Ibanez on Jason Castro
Castro can't be stopped, but he might be limited or frustrated. Arana and Ibanez can do that to him if they are granted the assignment of going exclusive on him. They need to always go over screens to be able to stick to him.

Paul Lee/Chris Tiu/TY Tang on Jimmy Alapag/Ryan Reyes
These players don't have the legs to keep up with Castro. In the case of Lee, he has the bulk to match up against the similarly physical Ryan Reyes and enough speed to keep in step with Jimmy Alapag. Tiu and Tang may not be the fastest or strongest players on the court, but they do have the smarts to know how to play either Alapag or Reyes.

Gabe Norwood/Jeff Chan on Jared Dillinger/Larry Fonacier
Norwood's athleticism can match up to Dillinger's and his length can disrupt Fonacier's shots. Chan has been pretty sneaky with his defensive skills, and can stay in front of Dillinger and Fonacier with his length.

Jervy Cruz/Ronnie Matias/Beau Belga on Ranidel De Ocampo/Harvey Carey/Aaron Aban/Kelly Williams
The agile big men of Rain or Shine against the versatile forwards of Talk N' Text. Jervy, Ronnie, and Beau need to remember that they are guarding big men that can shoot outside, so they can't just leave them wide open. If they do, they at least have the mobility to scramble back on defense.

JR Quinahan/Larry Rodriguez on Ali Peek
Quinahan is slow, while Larry isn't the most agile big man in the RoS rotation. They can't be assigned to guard the earlier batch of players because they're just too slow for them. Peek won't stretch their defense too much, and though they can't underestimate his range, he won't ask for the ball too far away from the basket to prevent them from getting position for rebounds.

Climbing out of a 0-2 hole is not impossible, but they won't win any games if they can't believe that they can actually pull this off.