LINsane

This is just LINsanity.

My picks for this NBA season to watch for both eastern and western conferences was Knicks and Clippers.
Because I love Billups and Melo. But with injuries plaguing both but Clippers still have Chris Paul whereas Knicks was suffering from no leadership. They now have a new Hero and in just a week, he has made headline news everywhere. Jeremy Lin RAWKS!

Sometimes Luck is all we need

NBA Lockout due to greed

From one of the best rebounder to ever play the game and also the reason for my nick and blog name - the worm himself commenting on the league lockout.

"Most players don't give a damn about the game," he said. "They want the money and all of a sudden they want unity. I'm not taking the owners' side. I think the players should look at themselves."

Read more. 

In these economic times, every man for himself. So we consumers have no basketball to watch?
Anyway I still think at least NBA players are not as Superstar attitude compared to soccer players. Soccer players salaries are also obscene with "gamblers" paying top notch for EPL and thus the root cause of making consumers pay so much to watch sports..Thank God stupid Singtel took EPL off the hands of Starhub and now we have cheaper NBA TV but damn, barely just a season, now no more NBA because of greed.
But luckily we still have ABL. And this season we have 3 more teams on board (Additional Thai and Philippines teams - San Miguel Beermen and Bangkok Basketball holdings and new Asean country Vietnam entrant Saigon Sports Academy) though Brunei Barrucudas pulled out, making it a 8-team league. Singapore Slingers are still playing and going into the 3rd ABL season since 2009. Well, let's hope they/ESPN broadcast these games given a probable no show from NBA.

Google TV

With Starhub having no updates on NBA TV, one can only suck thumb. Well, I can't wait for Google TV to come soon.



NBA app on Android market!

Enough said

All close friends of mine know who I like in basketball, and who I particularly not like...so enough said about comparing them...there is no comparison especially in scoring titles and MVPs. Perhaps the only comparison can be on how many women they cheated on.

Source.

Kentucky March Madness

Not KFC as in Kentucky Fried Chicken but the Kentucky Wildcats - my guess for Men's NCAA Finals Champion this year. They rolled over 2 teams at about 30 pts difference coming into Sweet 16. You can watch the highlights or full game here. They are so good now that all bets have been raised and odds are now 2-1 to win. Watch out for #54 Patterson who looks to me like a young Dwight Howard!

If only Singapore Slingers can get a NCAA player later this season!

We will be back! Go Slingers!

The game played as I flew back from Taipei to Singapore. And as when I landed with anticipation; secretly turning on my mobile with silent mode enabled as the plane taxied into the airport, the sms from Jase came with a heavy heart. Slingers have lost finals decider game 3 76-86 at home. What's worst is that the Indo dynamic duo imports played a great game despite the online trash talking, smashing the Slingers' dreams of reaching the first ABL finals to bits and Jase's lens as well. Full match report from ABL here.

Singapore Slingers over Thailand Tigers

This is a late post, sorry to all Slingers fans as I was caught up with work lately and as you all know how tedious it is to edit photos and actually creating a good review about the fantastic game atmosphere at the Singapore Indoor Stadium when Slingers win it! I wanted to blog over at SingaporeAddicts blog site as it was first mooted to be a joint effort, but clearly of late I might end up handling both, so I decided to leave it and blog about Slinger games right here.

Losing it

Somehow I seem to be losing it, like there's no grip on the ball, losing the mindset to know what to do on the court. Getting frustrated with yourself and with your teammates is when you realise one thing. I need to step away from the game. It's time to cool it off... going to hang up my basketball shoes for awhile.

ABL Playoffs

The ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) playoff race is heating up with only two more weeks of the regular season left to play.  The Singapore Slingers have one remaining home game next Monday January 11th before going on the road for their last three games of the inaugural ABL season.  Singapore will need to win at least one more game to be assured of the final four. Only the top 4 teams will make the playoffs. The playoffs will be a best of three semi-finals with the 1st place team playing the 4th qualifier and 2nd VS 3rd.  The finals will be a best of five series with the team having the better record through the regular season to have home court advantage.

ABL Remaining Regular Season Schedule

Philippine Patriots(9 – 3) @ KL Dragons     @ Thailand Tigers     (H) Brunei

Singapore Slingers(7 - 4)  (H) KL Dragons  @ KL Dragons    @ Brunei   @ Thailand

Satria Muda(7 - 5)  (H) Brunei  @ Brunei   (H) KL Dragons

Brunei Barracudas(5 - 6)  @ Satria Muda    (H) Satria Muda  (H) Singapore   @ Philippines

KL Dragons(4 - 7)  (H) Philippine Patriots   @ Singapore  (H) Singapore  @ Satria Muda

Thailand Tigers(3 - 10) (H) Philippine Patriots      (H) Singapore Slingers

Interesting facts as of today.

1) The Wednesday win was the second time the Slingers have beaten the League Leaders Patriots and earned the split on the Philippines.
2) In fact the Slingers already have the split of winning at least two out of three games on the second and fourth place teams as well – Indonesia and Brunei.


If Singapore can defeat Malaysia next Monday, January 11th, at the Indoor Stadium we will cement a playoff position. We last met KL Dragons back on November 22nd, whom defeated the Slingers 86-74 in our home court. So come show your support at the Singapore Indoor Stadium as Singapore battles to make the playoffs in the first year of the only professional sports League competition for ASEAN. So see you all on Monday!!

League Standings As At 6 January (Round 12)

Position	Team	Played	Won	Loss	For	Against	Points
1	Philippine Patriots	12	9	3	869	794	21
2	Satria Muda BritAma	12	7	5	873	836	19
3	Singapore Slingers	11	7	4	783	760	18
4	Brunei Barracudas	11	5	6	860	873	16
5	Thailand Tigers	13	3	10	944	995	16
6	KL Dragons	11	4	7	794	865	15

Singapore Slingers vs KL Dragons

So to avoid wasting Slinger fans' time from reading my personal life and sometimes social news, links for my friends, I will blog over at Singapore Addict's blog with regards to Slingers. This is also for friends who don't really enjoy reading basketball stuff. So my first blog entry of my review of the game against KL Dragons is here.

Pictures found here..

Weekend of Losses

So the Singapore Slingers have lost their 2nd ABL game and 1st home loss to KL Dragon yesterday - 74-86. It was something of a forthcoming bode which was made the day before by yours truly, though I seriously thought we can easily handle the Dragons, and Slingers can break the trend.

In the same sequence,

Jase's Celtics lost to Orlando  78-83

My Nuggets lost to Clippers  99-106

Our Spartans lost to Winning XI  51-68

The last occurrence which happen was just earlier this month in my blog entry Day of Losses - Deja Vu or a mere coincidence? I remembered watching this show Celtic Pride about 2 basketball fanatics, which have their usual antics of wearing this and that, and if the game is first half, they need to sit this way or that. Basically having trends to ensure their fav team Celtics won.

So we cannot have all 3 teams lose again, in order for Slingers to win!

But anyway the KL Dragons really played well from an uptempo intensity observed on the court, where Slingers defense was unable to stop them from a high percentage shooting. More photos and game review will follow next.

Slingers Number 1

So it seems like Alex Hartman did not keep his promise of 40 points..be it him scoring 40 points or trashing us 40 points. Well the results for now are as follows:

1. Slingers at top of the ABL table: 5-1 with 11 points; recently beating Satria Muda 61-59.

2. Leading 59-58 with 39 seconds left, Hartman missed two FT.

3. Hartman with 13 points, 6 of 15 FGs. 1 of 4 treys and 0 for 4 FTs.

So remind me to "remind" Hartman when he comes back to Singapore Indoor Stadium, think he plays better under pressure and with me,the turbanizer.com and Botak Jones corporate box guys taunting him. Haha

Do read more here:
http://redhoops.com/2009/11/14/satria-muda-slingers/
Red Hoop rawks! They have excellent overseas coverage of the Slinger games!

More of my previous post against Indo's Satria Muda here:
Local defence - D-Glove.
Hartman's promise.
My pictures.

So who's coming to the grudge match between Singapore vs Malaysia?
KL Dragons are visiting us at the Indoor Stadium at 4pm this Sunday 22 Nov!!!!
Bring the Singapore Flag if you have!! Will snap pictures of fans with flags and post them here!

Till then see you guys as I'll be sitting at courtside taking pictures and selecting players to taunt..haha

Oh and btw...Michael LeBlanc blogs as well!! Can see pics from Jase and mine in there..so he reads our blogs? Haha...but no credit for the pics used though...tsk tsk
Like reading players posts to see the game from their perspective...like how Darren "Doc" Ng used to blog about his games. But do hope Michael can share more about training programmes and the recovery therapies conducted. This will help avid basketball fans.

Basketballers still ostracised

Many a times, I find it so hard to explain to expat friends on why we have so little NBA telecasts here, and why Singaporeans love to slap themselves.

It was a twinge of joy when I hear that Singtel won the EPL bid from Starhub. Some years back, myself and several friends cancelled ESPN subscriptions to show some fortitude in disapprovals to Sports channel price increase due to crazy price war between Singtel and Starhub to score exclusive rights to showcase EPL soccer, whom we being avid basketball fans somehow were penalised with no increased coverage of live games from NBA. Believe me that we tried to raise hell calling up or emailing ESPN prior to cancelling the channel, especially when my family are throwing arms about not being able to watch tennis/F1, so occasionally we turn it on for a month during US or French Open.

But my joy was shortlived when Singtel announced the price packages. $23 for soccer and $2 for ESPN...woohoo so cheap..but wait - You cannot get ESPN without soccer. Damn it, price is similar to Starhub's price plan but of course no need to pay $4 for setup box and no need basic package lar. But already used to watching Nat Geo, Discovery, CNN and AXN leh.. What if I don't enjoy watching soccer? Why do I still have to pay $23 to turn on something I do not watch? So looks like I have to contemplate paying $99 for NBA Broadband access for all the games; or wait for Starhub to pull a rabbit out of the top hat with maybe NBA TV?

Now even in digital phone services, there seems to be an issue over at Singtel - seriously when will our seemingly oligopoly competitive GLCs learn that primarily, consumers' interests have to be taken care of? What's the point of creating competition for the WTO's criticisms of government's monopoly stranglehold on telecommunication services, if in the end, consumers still lose? Now instead of a win-win situation, to the outside world, we look like idiots slapping/out-bidding each other from the deep pockets of GLCs whose paymaster is eventually the government.

Starhub is 56.9% owned by Temasek Holdings. Source
Singtel is 54.1% owned by Temasek Holdings. Source

Remember

There are 2 things worth remembering today...

The game started with a moment of silence to remember Lawrance Chow, as we stood by the courtside awaiting the game to start, we wondered who is Lawrance. Well, only now I know that he is the son of Slingers Deputy Chairman Chow Yen Lu but more importantly Lawrance is someone who love sports and with it...life, here is a great write up about Slingers by Lawrance; and that is how I briefly know him - through his words.

As we start the game, it was clearly shown that the Singapore Slingers were playing well tonight. And Indonesia Satria Muda Britama team were not themselves, being #2 in the league standings. Slingers rolled over them, winning 96-72 with the local boys doing everyone proud, which I will blog in details later with pictures but for now just look at the scores - even Prasad scored his first 2 points!

turbanizer.com corporate box with their MISS sign - quite effective I must say!

Almost at the end of the game, emotions got the better of me as I sat in front of the Turbanizer.com corporate box. Those guys are great fans screaming and often with their dangling MISS sign during free throw shoots and this time round, they even shared it with the Botak Jones' corporate box who took over that responsibility of pissing the opponents off in the 2nd half. Well, how exactly did I got too emotional? I joined in and started screaming with them at the Indonesian import - Alex Hartman you suck!

Botak Jones himself taking over the MISS sign in the 2nd half, as the team switch sides. 

So this Hartman guy actually replies to our taunts, and says this to us, well wait till you guys come to our court. I'll make sure we trash you by 40 points. I shouted back at him "Yeah right!" and he replied 40 points. I shouted back, "You do that, I'd hold you to that!!" Arrogance in another degree. Early in the game, he shot an air ball, and I overheard him saying to the referees that they did not call a foul, "No way can a professional player like me would shoot an air ball on a hook shot."

Let me tell you this. I watched Michael Jordan live in action, he missed a dunk and he shot air balls, and he is the undisputed greatest basketball player in the world. He displays more professionalism that you. Just to put you in place , the following pictures are for you and I will remember your promise to me. 40 points.

Hartman getting a LeBlanc block, who was waiting for quite some time

 

Here is Hartman trying to dunk - trying because this is actually a throw in as his fingers only touch the rim after the ball bounced off the rim with an off arm pushing Desmond Oh.

Hartman - you suck!

Local Basketball Amateur league

Having just completed our first season at Jammers League, I am so looking forward to the next season with my amateur league team - Spartans, which will begin in Nov after a month of rest. We did well to achieve our personal winning goal of 50%, in fact 55% of 11 wins and 9 losses and to finish 5th place out of 11 teams. The ride was enjoyable and so far we are limiting the team to only our friends and work colleagues as we tend to shout and scream, support and encourage each other. The need to have harmony in the team is crucial to a having a fun time since we are only here to try our best while enjoying our games.

My team Spartans have been playing together for about 5 years for now and we have played in the BBAXN league as well for a good 4 years. Quite often it was upsetting with the referees being "short-sighted" and sometimes we get "blind" ones as well. Haha but the league over there is rather competitive and hardly warm in feeling - we saw many fights and injuries over the years. Anyway we finally shut down our 1st team in that league and concentrate in the Jammers league which we found new friends and a hell lot more fun!

The Jammers League is endorsed by the Singapore Sports Council and organised by Project Hoopz. They try to bring a fun and enjoyable environment to the many basketball fanatics in Singapore. Project Hoopz organises basketball all year round, be it tournaments, leagues or scrimmages and also provide services such as customised jersey design and production. So do check out their website, if you are interested in joining a team or starting one. Hope to meet you guys on the court someday.

For some video clips of the fun we are having, please go to the jammers youtube channel.

The Importance of Defense

Got this clip from a basketball friend on Facebook and got me all excited though I should be resting my infected eyes, instead of blogging and editing photos. Thought I should share it with basketball fans of my once revered team - Chicago Bulls. And always remember besides MJ, there is always Pip.



Defense is not an easy thing. You need speed and you need precision timing. The difference between a good block and a foul is just a matter of a touch.

Here are some pictures from the Slingers game vs Barracudas.



#11 Michael Wong giving no room to #33 Tan whom have to divert his shot to a pass


#14 Wai Sian all ball contact stopping the layup from #18 Avenido


#12 Camaso clearly smacking #35 LeBlanc in the head instead of blocking his shot

A state media coverage by CNA.

This Sunday 18 Oct 2009 home game against the formidable Philippine Patriots, whom also won their first game against Indonesia. It will be an exciting match because the Patriots are favoured to win the league; and our Slingers with a decent outing against the Filipino teams in the Challenge Series should give our boys good exposure and learnings from the passionate Filipinos. Go get your tickets from Sistic and support Asean Basketball!

Singapore Slingers vs San Miguel Beermen

Previously when San Miguel Beermen came to the indoor stadium, they had to pit against a fellow PBA team. This time round Slingers had a chance to meet them in the final 4th match of the Singapore Challenge Series before Asean Basketball league starts.


Having lost the previous 2 outings, this was a crucial game to the local fans especially the critics whom I invited for the last match and today's match. Well the comments were many especially on who can improve and many are still wondering where are Darren "Doc" Ng and Eric Sandrin. Well, the fan favorites have gone on to join Adelaide 36ers and Samsung Thunders respectively in Australian and Korean local leagues. And though we have weaknesses for this season's team, there is potential for growth and we appreciate all constructive criticisms.

Singapore Slingers vs Ginebra Kings

I actually wanted to fill this blog entry with just pictures of Slinger Cheerleaders and talk about the amount of fine cold Brewerkz beer I had gulped down in between breaks. It is just too painful after the last close game loss with Smart Pilipinas, that we have to lose this game again. In what seems like a mere 5-point close loss, many of us observed that the boys seem to have lost heart in this match. Especially in the final 7 minutes of the 4th quarter, which I will do a blow-by-blow account to illustrate how we lost a 7-point lead in a blink of an eye.


From the tip off, it was clearly seen that we lack focus tonight. #23 Villaneuva did not even need to jump to have #30 Jeffers tipping the ball over to the Kings' side which ended in star player #47 Caguioa's quick hands to draw first blood.

Singapore Slingers vs Smart Gilas Philipinas

High flying Aguilar stopping Jeffers from going to the hole. You can clearly see how high he jumps.

It was forewarned by one of my readers who left an indelible comment on my Cbox to watch out for this team. Smart Gilas plays like the Europeans as coached by former Eurobasket and Iranian coach, Rajko Toroman. They have a young squad average 22 years of age with a former LA Lakers player - #11 CJ Giles. Together with 2009 PBA Number 1 draft pick #16 Japeth Aguilar, the twin towers killed Slingers centre defense as clearly seen by the number of alley hoop dunks and offensive rebounds. By the 5th minute mark, the Gilas were up 12-8 with both Giles and Aguilar scoring 10 of the dozen.

Gilas Twin Towers against Brown and Jeffers

But as we saw in the first game against Coca-Cola Tigers, the tenacity of our boys especially #33 Brown and #30 Jeffers came out fast to showed the Gilas what is Slingers' defense and did well to stop their scoring; as we managed to climb back up 13-12 with the first lead. Henceforth, I know tonight will be an exciting matchup.