basketball
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TNT Triple Giga, Uratex Dream to represent PH in the World Finals of Red Bull Half Court 2023

Wednesday, June 7

Red Bull Half Court 2023

Following a highly-competitive and intense National Finals last June 3rd, Red Bull Philippines finally crowned the country's representatives in the culmination of Red Bull Half Court 2023. The Wildcard teams dominated the tournament, with TNT Triple Giga of the Men’s Division coming up on top, while Uratex Dream toppled 7 other female teams to secure their spot as the country’s undisputed representative to compete in the Women’s Division of the tournament. Both teams are headed to Serbia in September for the World Finals with the pride of the country on their back.

TNT Triple Giga, consisting of Almond Vosotros, Ping Exciminiano, Gryann Mendoza, and Lervin Flores, showed grit and perseverance when they managed to outperform all the other teams. During the winner-takes-all round against the team of the CAVITEX Braves, Almond Vosotros overcame the odds and rallied his team to victory in an intense back and forth match that ended with a final score of 20 to 21.

TNT Triple Giga

“For me, yung experience palagi nandun. Malaking tulong sa akin para I learn and na-adapt din ni Ping and Gryann. And Matagal na kami magkakasama, I think yun din advantage namin for this game” (For me, the experience is always there, so that’s a big help for me. Ping and Gryann adapted as well. Plus, we’ve been together for a long time so I think that’s our advantage), said Vosotros.

Uratex Dream

On the other hand, Uratex Dream of the Women’s Division left no room for doubt as they dominated throughout the tournament and secured their spot with a win over Team FILA. Kaye Pingol, along with her teammates Mikka Cacho, Samantha Harada, and Blanche Bahuyan, made it clear from the get-go that their goal is to win, and the 4 women are motivated more than ever to carry on that momentum to the World Finals.

Following the success of the event, Tournament Commissioner Coach Eric Altamirano expressed his delight and believes that this season is only the beginning for Red Bull Half Court Philippines.

“I think it’s a good start for Red Bull Half Court and I think they’re going to do this every year, so this is a good jumping point for the program. Sure, next year madami na mag pe-prepare, marami sasali pa, (there’ll be a lot of people who will prepare and join) and everyone will be looking forward for the event ng Red Bull every year,” said Altamirano. 

The World Finals of Red Bull Half Court 2023 will go down in Serbia in September, and following both teams’ win at the National Finals, Triple TNT Giga and Uratex Dream are motivated more than ever to secure the championship in their respective division.

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The Ball’s In Your Court: Global 3-on-3 Streetball Competition Red Bull Half Court is Finally Coming to the Philippines

Monday, May 1

Global 3-on-3 Streetball Competition Red Bull


For the first time since Red Bull Reign, Filipino streetballers will compete once again on a global stage as the intense and competitive 3-on-3 basketball tournament, Red Bull Half Court, is finally making its way to the Philippines. The qualifying tournaments will take place in Cebu and Manila to determine who will compete at the National Finals and represent the country in Serbia on September 2023.

Red Bull Half Court: A Streetballer’s Stomping Ground

The first leg of Red Bull Half Court will begin with two individual qualifiers in Cebu and Manila. The games will be played under FIBA rules, with the first round in a pool play style and the following rounds in a knockout format.

To ensure a consistently high-octane offensive game, Red Bull Half Court’s unique Own the Court stipulation will award team groups additional points to those who score the most points cumulatively throughout the event giving them a higher chance of securing their spot in the Top 4 (Men's) and Top 2 (Women's) of their respective qualifier. Each match in the qualifying round will be a 10-minute game.

The winning team from each city will be rewarded with a homecourt refurbishment of their choosing, and the opportunity to compete against each other in a winner-takes-all match at the National Finals. 

"We are thrilled to work with Red Bull in bringing Red Bull Half Court to the Philippines. Basketball is an important part of the Filipino culture, and we believe that this tournament will provide a platform for young and aspiring ballers to showcase their skills and passion for 3X3 street basketball and ultimately earn the chance to represent our country on the global stage." expressed Coach Eric Altamirano, the Tournament Commissioner of Red Bull Half Court Philippines.

The tournament is open to both men and women above the age of 18 with an active Philippine passport. All participating teams must have 4 players, with the 4th player serving as a reserve or backup. The registration, qualifying rounds, and other events leading up to the World Finals will commence on the following dates:

● April 21 - Registration opens for Cebu and Manila Qualifiers
● May 20 - Cebu Qualifiers 
● May 27 - Manila Qualifiers 
● June 3 - National Finals 
● September 16 to September 17 - World Finals 

The culmination of the National Finals is set to go down at the renowned Tenement Basketball Court in Taguig with the winner getting an all-expense paid trip to represent the Philippines at the World Finals in Serbia.

Registration is completely free and Interested participants may sign up via this link: http://redbullhalfcourt.com/

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LG Sakers faces Barangay Ginebra at Asian Basketball Showdown 2

Monday, September 2


Basketball season is in full swing! Five years after their last meeting, worlds collide yet again as two of the most popular basketball teams in Asia face each other once more. The LG Sakers, one of the stalwarts of the Korean Basketball League (KBL), is set to face what is arguably the country’s most beloved PBA team – the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. 

Dubbed as Asian Basketball Showdown, the first exhibition game between the two teams happened 5 years ago and was received very well by the appreciative crowd. It was a landmark event that pitted perennial crowd favorites in their respective leagues. The LG Sakers is one of the most well-supported teams in the whole of South Korea while Barangay Ginebra is a pillar in Philippine sporting history. To have these two teams face against each other is a dream come true for every fan of basketball. 

While the LG Sakers bested Barangay Ginebra in their first foray five years ago, the Filipino squad is determined to pull out all the stops to ensure an enjoyable game for the crowd and hopefully, get a win in home court. 

A big fan of basketball himself, LG Electronics Philippines Managing Director Inkwun Heo says “In the spirit of celebration of the 70th anniversary of South Korean and Philippine diplomatic relations, we want to treat Filipinos to an experience they’ll never forget. ” 

Just like the first showdown, the exhibition game is still a free event courtesy of LG Philippines. To find out how to get a free ticket, click this Asian Basketball Showdown 2 for the full mechanics.

Asian Basketball Showdown II happens on September 17th, 6PM at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.


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SM National Basketball Training Center League National Finals Kicks Off March 18

Thursday, March 15


The 11th season of the SM-NBTC (National Basketball Training Center) League is set for another exciting weeklong ball game as 32 high school basketball  teams compete from March 18 to 23 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Basketball teams, including the champion teams from various leagues nationwide, as well as teams from the Filipino communities in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and USA, are all fighting for the title this season.


The League's Format

The tournament is patterned after the NCAA tournament in the US. The international and the wild card teams will battle those from Bataan, Bacolod, Ormoc, Dumaguete, Pagadian, Dagupan, and San Fernando in the seeding round on March 18. Results will determine the final seeding, after which, the teams will play against each other based on ranking. The day-to-day winning teams will advance to the next round while the losing teams will have another chance at the Division Two competition.

The Division One and Two championships, plus the all-star game, will take place on March 23.


Kai Sotto, the towering center of the Ateneo Blue Eaglet who topped the eight-week Chooks To Go NBTC 24 High School Player Rankings, will lead the line-up together with  top players from La Salle Greenhills Joel Cagulangan, Ateneo de Manila's SJ Belangel and Dave Ildefonso, and Mapua's Will Gozum.

Participating Schools

Ateneo de Manila University - Quezon City
La Salle Greenhills - Mandaluyong
University of the Visayas - Cebu
Chiang Kai Shek College - Manila
National University - Manila
Malayan University - Manila
Sacred Heart School Ateneo de Cebu - Cebu
San Beda University - Manila
Durham Crossover - Canada
AusPinoy - Australia
FilAm Sports - USA
New Zealand - Camp David
San Sebastian College Recoletos - Manila
Colegio de San Juan de Letran - Balanga, Bataan
St. Benilde International School - Calamba
Lyceum of the Philippines - Cavite
De La Salle Lipa - Batangas
Jesus the Loving Shepherd Christian College - Naga
Hercor College - Roxas
Bacolod Tay Tung High School - Bacolod
St. Louis School Don Bosco - Dumaguete
New Ormoc City High School - Ormoc
Assumption Montessori School - Cagayan de Oro
Saint Columban College - Pagadian
Notre Dame of Midsayap - Cotabato
Assumption College - Davao


During the media conference, SM-NBTC Founder Eric Altamirano said, "Every year that we have been organizing the tournament, we have refined it to what it is now - a premier showcase for high school basketball. We have seen it grow from an initial few cities to over 70 cities all over the country. It has also become a springboard for Fil-foreign teams to showcase their players who might want to study in the Philippines or play for the various national teams."

The SM-NBTC League National Finals is presented by Exped Charcoal Socks. This season's co-presenters are Darlington, Freego, and Chooks To Go, together with Cherifer, Petron, and Vivo as major sponsors. Also in support are Hino, Akari, Oishi, Gerry's Grill, and Molten.

Tickets are on sale at Mall of Asia Arena for P20. 

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Gatorade Fuels Jr. NBA Philippines 2017 National Training Camp

Tuesday, May 16


The world’s number one sports drink reinforced its staunch support for grassroots basketball as it teamed up with the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the 2017 run of the Jr. NBA Philippines National Training Camp.

The exclusive training camp aims to develop raw basketball talent and educate young athletes on the importance of proper conditioning and proper hydration for optimum sports performance.

The participants were selected from Jr. NBA Regional Selection Camps in Cagayan De Oro, Cebu, Manila, and Quezon, and from the Alaska Power Camp in Manila. This year’s participation rate notably increased by 50 percent from last year, reaching over 30,000 players and coaches from all over the country.

Coaches from Focus Athletics provided the kids with an intensive training which included functional training exercises and hydration education. Elfrid Payton of Orlando Magic was present to assist in the training sessions and talk about the crucial role of hydration for anyone who wants to pursue a professional basketball career.


Payton, who was drafted 10th overall in the 2014 NBA Draft, was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2015. He averaged 12.8 points, 6.5 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game with the Magic this season.

“It’s always an honor for us to work with Jr. NBA Philippines and help shape the future of Philippine basketball,” Pepsico Philippines Marketing Manager for Hydration Tony Atayde said. “As the global leader in sports hydration, we want to instill in them the value of proper hydration so they can maximize their potential and go on to become the next generation of top athletes.”

At the end of the National Training Camp, eight boys and eight girls were selected as Jr. NBA All-Stars. They will embark on an overseas NBA experience trip with fellow Jr. NBA All-Stars from Southeast Asia later this year.


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Gatorade Teams Up With Slam Rising Stars Classic 2017

Monday, March 13



Gatorade, the world’s number one sports drink once again paves the way for young basketball stars to make it to the big leagues. This time, Gatorade is teaming up with Slam Rising Stars Classic—the Philippines’ premium high school all-star basketball game which showcases the country’s top 24 high school basketball players.

Established in 2014, the Slam Rising Stars Classic aims to cultivate and elevate the level of play in the Philippines by providing promising athletes exclusive access to elite training sessions and giving them valuable exposure to sports industry professionals. The partnership with Gatorade will strengthen these foundations by reinforcing the basics and crucial role of proper hydration in dominating the competitive world of collegiate and professional basketball.

Slam’s roster of notable alumni includes Ateneo’s Thirdy Ravena, San Beda’s Jayvee Mocon, FEU’s Wendell Comboy, and DLSU’s Andrei Caracut and Aljun Melecio. Slam’s ambassadors for this year are siblings Matt and Mike Nieto of Ateneo and the Rivero brothers of DLSU, Ricci and Prince. 

“Putting the world’s number 1 sports drink together with the country’s premier showcase of basketball’s stars of tomorrow is always a perfect match,” Pepsico Philippines Marketing Manager for Hydration Tony Atayde said. “Exposing these young players to high level coaching and, more importantly, the crucial role that proper hydration will play in their basketball careers, will pave the way for them to reach new heights. We look forward to fueling their basketball journeys through the Slam Rising Stars Classic and beyond.”

This year’s batch of Slam Rising Stars will again be divided into two teams and face off in the hard court on March 26, 2017 at the Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong City, following a series of tests, training and pre-game preparations.

Slam Rising Stars Coach Tony de la Cruz added, “We’re honored to have Gatorade on our team. When you’ve got the best sports drink in the world backing you up, you know these rising stars are definitely in good hands.”

For updates on Slam Rising Stars Classic 2017, check out Gatorade’s official Facebook (facebook.com/GatoradePH) and Instagram (@gatoradeph) accounts.

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UST Growling Tigers Head Coach Official Statement

Tuesday, February 2




The UST Growling Tigers had a heartbreaking loss against FEU at the 78th season of UAAP.  Two months after the championship games, the Growling Tigers is facing a controversy. There are issues about hazing, bullying and game-selling. 

As a Thomasian, it is very difficult for me to accept that these things are happening. I don't want to judge any members of the Growling Tigers. I have watched the basketball games and I have witnessed how they've given all that they've got. I know that there were games the star players were not as productive as we expect them to be. But those things happen.

The coach, Bong dela Cruz, is a UST high school star. I know he loves UST as much as we alumni do. I pray that the issues being thrown at him are not true. I would like to share the official statement of Coach Bong dela Cruz.





*images courtesy of The Varsitarian
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UST Growling Tigers Victorious Against NU Bulldogs

Monday, October 19



NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE HEART OF A TIGER!


The lone loss of the UST Growling Tigers happened during my birthday celebration last month. It was against NU Bulldogs. It was heartbreaking because most of us were not convinced with their win. 




I made sure I'll be able to watch the UAAP game live last October 17. The last time I watched the UAAP basketball game live was 1997 in Araneta Coliseum. I have witnessed the 14-0 sweep of my beloved UST Growling Tigers in UAAP Season 56 and the FourPeat Championship record from 1993-1997. 




The MOA Arena was dominated by Thomasians. We filled the arena with our chants. The GoUSTe cheer gave me chills. It felt like college years all over again. The section I was seated was occupied mostly by Thomasian alumni. It was heartwarming to be in the same room with my fellow Thomasians. 




The UST Growling Tigers has a convincing win, 65-57. We were ahead every quarter: 20-14, 35-23, 51-40, 65-57. No CHAMBA. Pure sweet victory.

Fellow alumni, if you wish to watch the UAAP games of UST you might want to follow the UST Office of the Alumni Relations on Facebook.


The UST Office of the Alumni Relations sell UAAP Men's Basketball Lower Box tickets to UST Alumni Cardholders. 

If you don't have a UST Alumni Card, here's my article on HOW TO APPLY FOR UST ALUMNI CARD 



Here's the schedule of the UST Growling Tigers remaining games




And to make sure you are ready to cheer your hearts out...

BLACK GOLD BLACK WHITE
L – Black Gold, Black White
A – Black Gold, Black White
L – Black Gold, Black White
A – Black Gold, Black White
Black Gold (clap 2x)
Black White (clap 2x)
Black Gold (clap), Black White (clap)
Go Fight, Fight, Fight
Go Fight (clap 2x) and win (clap 2x)
For U (clap) S (clap) T (clap 3x) Fight!

POWER
P P-O P-O-W-E-R the Power! Whooh!
Tiger Power (clap 3x) (repeat 2x)

GO USTE
Go USTe! Go USTe! Go USTe!
Go! Go! Go! Go! (4x)
(2x clap) U
(2x clap) S
(2x clap) T
UST TIgers! 1, 2, 3, 4
(5x clap) U
(5x clap) S
(5x clap) T
UST Tigers!

SANTO TOMAS SPELLING
L – Santo Tomas Spelling
A – Santo Tomas Spelling
L – Santo Tomas Spelling
A – Santo Tomas Spelling
Ready 1, 2, 3 (clap)
S-A-N-T-O T-O-M-A-S
Santo Tomas Fight!

TIGERS READYL – Tigers ready
A – Tigers ready
L – Tigers ready
A – Tigers ready (clap)
T-I-G-E-R-S rah
T-I-G-E-R-S rah
T-I-G-E-R-S rah
Tigers, Tigers, Fight, Fight, Fight
Tigers, Tigers, rah, rah, rah
Tigers, Tigers, Fight, Fight, Fight (repeat)

TOMASINO!
L – Tomasino set ready 1,2,3
L – Tomasino
A – Tomasino
L – hah!
clap 1-2 3-4 (same with black gold black white)
Viva eL Tomasino (clap 1-2-3)
Liga eL Tomasino (clap 1-2-3)
Viva La Liga eL Tomasino (clap 1-2)
Viva La Liga eL Tomasino (clap 1-2)
eL Tomasino, eL Tomasino (clap 1-2-3)
(repeat until last line)
Viva eL Tomasino!

OFFENSE 
(when ust has possession of the ball)
Let’s Go, UST Let’s go fight
UST Let’s go fight
UST Let’s go fight
then transition to

DEFENSE
(when opponent has the ball)
Oh! Defensa!!!
Oh! Defensa!!!

YOSI 
(after every free throw attempt)
or (when name of the player is called in the introduction)
drumbeat then
ONE FOR UST!

LET’S GO TIGERS
Let’s Go Tigers (clap 1-2 3-4 5)
repeat until fade

BENGBENG 
L – Go fight UST
A – Go Fight UST
L – Go Fight UST
A – Go Fight UST
Go fight UST 1-2 3-4
drumbeats
after every drumbeat, chant Go fight UST!

OCHO 
eight snare intro
Oh! Eyo,Eyo Eyo,Eyo Eyo, Eyo UST! (repeat 6x)

VIVA SANTO TOMAS
We are the Tigers the mighty, mighty Tigers
We came to cheer
And to win it with no fear (3x)
We are the Tigers the mighty, mighty Tigers
We came to cheer 1, 2, 3
And to win it with no fear

GST 
Drumbeats then
GO S-A-N-T-O T-O-M-A-S Go Ust
GO S-A-N-T-O T-O-M-A-S Fight Ust
drumbeats again then,
GO S-A-N-T-O T-O-M-A-S Go Ust
GO S-A-N-T-O T-O-M-A-S Fight Ust
drumbeats again until fade

courtesy of http://www.ust.edu.ph/campus-life/ust-cheer/


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Stephen Curry Under Armour Roadshow Manila 2015

Sunday, September 6




Are you one of the almost 10,000 fans who were lucky to get a ticket to Stephen Curry's Under Armour Roadshow Manila 2015? It took me 2.5 hours to reach MOA Arena coming from Antipolo.  Traffic was so bad in EDSA (what else is new?!) but it was all worth the crawl.


Kevin A. Plank, CEO and Founder of Under Armour

2015 MVP and Golden State Warrior Point Guard Stephen Curry arrived in Manila on September 5 around 10am together with the CEO and Founder of Under Armour Mr. Kevin A. Plank. They came from Japan aboard a private jet.




I scored two General Admission tickets so I was seated way near the roof but who am I to complain?! I'm so grateful I had the chance to see the reigning NBA MVP in the flesh. When Stephen Curry stepped out on the court, the fans went wild! I was also screaming on top of my lungs. 

Here are some photos I snapped during the #UARoadshowManila








Stephen Curry also announced the launch of Curry Two.

photo grabbed from @stephencurry30 instagram


Curry Two is available in the Philippines on September 7. Visit the Under Armour store at BGC, SM Megamall and UP Town Center.


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Stephen Curry Under Armour Road Show Manila 2015 Ticket

Tuesday, September 1



My heart broke into pieces when I couldn't get through the website of Under Armour for the free tickets to the Stephen Curry Under Armour Roadshow 2015 here in Manila. I made sure I was online when the clock struck 11am because that's the time they'll post on the Under Armour Southeast Asia Facebook  the link. I've lost count as to how many tries and "gateway error" I had. I guess the link doesn't work on smartphone.

I almost gave up.

Then around 3pm, for the sake of trying again and somehow hoping I'll still get a ticket I tried on my laptop. And voila, I scored two free tickets!!!

See you, Stephen Curry!!!!

#‎UARoadShowManila‬


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UST Alumni: Watch UAAP Season 78 Opening Live At The Smart Araneta Coliseum




GoUSTe! GoUSTe!

Fellow Thomasian alumni, let us witness the opening of the 78th UAAP Season and support the UST Growling Tigers on September 5, Saturday as they battle with Adamson University Soaring Falcons at the Araneta Coliseum.

You can avail of the 78th UAAP Season ticket at the Office of Alumni Relations Office on September 2, 2015. Bring your Thomasian Alumni Card

Upper Box A - P200.00
Upper Box B - P150.00


Follow UST Office of the Alumni Affairs on facebook to receive updates.


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Lebron James: Rise Beyond Belief Manila Tour

Friday, August 21



I was lucky to be among the thousands who were able to see NBA star Lebron James at the Mall of Asia Arena last night.  Nike Philippines gave out free tickets and the capacity was reached 15 minutes after the event opened. I was assigned two first row upper box tickets.




The Cleveland Cavalier player is in Manila for a 4-day visit for the Nike Rise Beyond Belief Challenge as a guest mentor.  Nike Rise is a reality basketball program headed by Coach Chot Reyes. Twenty four streetballers were part of the program. They were then trimmed down to twelve members.



LeBron James in Manila, Philippines | Nike Rise Event 2015 Highlights
video courtesy of inaudiblemelodies





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Lebron James Rise Tour: FREE Tickets

Thursday, August 13



Nike is bringing Lebron James to the Philippines for the Lebron James Rise Tour happening on August 20, 2015 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay. You can score two tickets to the event by reserving a spot on August 14 starting at 9am.



See you!!!


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Nike Zoom Hyperfuse 2011

Monday, September 5


My husband wants this so bad. He wouldn't settle for any other shoes. We went mall hopping just to find a pair that fits. Nike stores in our country do not carry a complete line of new products and most have limited stocks and sizes. This is one disadvantage of living in the Philippines -- the availability of great merchandise. We often resort to buying online and have stuff delivered to us. Our Ferrari polo shirts were even shipped from Germany. The shipping cost is.. oh forget it.

I will not really understand how wonderful this pair is.  He said it is lightweight and thus create quickness. My husband is already good in playing basketball. I'm sure this shoes will make him even better. I believe in Nike shoes technology because I have a pair of Nike Air Max 90. And the shoes feel different compared to other brands. So they say, Rajon Rondo is comfortable with Nike Zoom Hyperfuse 2011 as he take on his defenders and Russell Westbrook is quicker than anybody else as he get from baseline to baseline... I say, I wanna watch my husband on his upcoming tournament and see how he play in his new pair of shoes.



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