Cousins Presence

Our first cousins are here in Manila, after many many years and making their presence felt to our own families and around Makati.

Celtics Presence

I must raise a bottle of San Mig Light beer for the recent victory of the Boston Celtics over the Los Angeles Lakers the other day for their 17th NBA Championship. Kudos to Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and the rest of the team directed by Doc Rivers. Plus Posey and PJ Brown. And Danny Ainge too! After a long time, a new championship banner will wave proudly among Celtic fans. Photo of Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce celebrating by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

Now along with the Boston Red Sox and the Boston Marathon and our favorite legal series, Boston Legal... and Boston Public, the Boston Celtics is again a proud name and a buzz word in blogosphere after their last trophy 22 years ago!

Chief and I have never been to Boston. Maybe, one day, we will watch an NBA game at the Boston Garden and see feel how Larry Bird and company dominated the courts many years ago.

Sorry, am admittedly a Lakers fan, just like Melvin Calimag and many other Filipinos. But the Lakers are a young team and hopefully, with Andrew Bynum and Chris Mihn in the line-up next year, the Lakers won't be just two games away from a championship.

Last December 2007, Chief and I, together with Patrick Velez, were able to watch our real live NBA game in New Jersey. Atleast, at that game, Jason Kidd was still with the Nets. But their team was washed out by the Detroit Pistons.

It is really a different feeling to watch a live NBA game.

Celtics vs Lakers

In a few days, the Lakers and the Celtics will meet in the NBA Finals. This has not happened since the 80s, back when I was still working in the Manila Bulletin.

It is also a battle between Phil Jackson and Red Auerbach, who used to coach the Celtics. According to a story in Yahoo Sports Auerbach by Adrian Wojnarowski, Red “shaped and reshaped the Celtics for three different title eras. There were the Russell-Cousy Celtics and the Havlicek-Cowens Celtics and the Bird-McHale-Parish Celtics.”

In interviews, Red has these words about Jackson. “He’s never tried building a team and teaching the fundamentals,”


Photo of Phil Jackson with the Lakers from Getty Images.
Jackson will make his coaching presence in pursuit of his 10th title and pass Red for the most championships in coaching history. If 2008 is the year for Jackson, the battle between Red and Phil comes to an end.

Alongside, people are also comparing Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, who is this year’s MVP. I think the comparisons can be made as both played under different teams and environment. Plus, I do think MJ is still the best basketball player of all time, although not necessarily the brightest due to his move to come out of retirement and play for the Wizards. He should have really quit while he was ahead and on top.

Can’t wait to watch this championship series!