Ready for the Clear Dream Match?

Brother vs. Brother: Phil and James Younghusband form their own teams to find out who's better.
(Photo by Roy Afable)

To those who haven't heard about it, brothers Phil and James Younghusband of the Philippine Azkals put up a charity football event this Saturday, August 25 at the University of Makati football field. The said event was announced last month and interestingly, it' actually a brother versus brother kind of match.

A day well spent with Coach Spo

(Photo by Roy Afable)

In the first week of August, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was in the country to do some basketball clinics and brought along his newly won NBA hardware. In his recent visits here, he wasn't all that huge to say the least. This time around however, Coach Spo came home a champion and was given rock star treatment like any NBA talent that visited Manila.

Meet and Greet Coach Spo event this Saturday

(Image courtesy of Gatorade Philippines)

Gatorade Philippines held a promo a few days ago to basketball fans for a chance to be at the exclusive Meet and Greet event of Coach Erik Spoelstra on Saturday, August 4 at the Marriott Hotel in Pasay city.

Never Say Die, Big J

The Big J's big day.
(Image via InterAKTV/Paolo Papa)

(Rey Moralde of TheNoLookPass.com will take over for this post as he pays tribute to the PBA's legendary player, "The Big J" Robert Jaworski.)

Hello. My name is Rey Moralde and I am an NBA blogger that lives in Southern California. I founded TheNoLookPass.Com and am a contributor to ForumBlueAndGold.Com, the Laker blog that's part of ESPN's TrueHoop Network.

Roy had asked me to do this piece about someone that was important to my love for the game of basketball. That someone? Robert Jaworski. Jaworski's jersey was retired a couple of days ago and I don't know why it took the Philippine Basketball Association this long to retire his number.

While I talk about the NBA and confess to not keeping up with the PBA, the PBA was actually one of the reasons why I love and write about the game of basketball. Yes, I am a Filipino-American and I spent six years of my childhood in the Philippines. I can't remember how or what exactly gravitated me to the Philippine Basketball Association but it became an instant addiction once I started watching the games on TV (at the old Channel 4). It would be rare for me to miss the Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday doubleheaders. The team I ended up liking? Ginebra San Miguel (which became Anejo at one point and now, I believe, they are Barangay Ginebra).

Azkals x Puma

(Photo by Roy Afable)

The sport of football is rapidly getting popular these days since the Philippine Azkals' successful run at the Suzuki Cup in 2010. Fans show their support by wearing replica jerseys of the Azkals in each of their games. A couple of weeks ago, the Azkals took a bigger step by signing with German sports brand Puma as their new provider of official team kits and equipment.

It's even Crazy Lighter

It's lighter done right! The AdiZero Crazy Light 2.0's
(Photo by Roy Afable)

Y'all remember the first AdiZero Crazy Lights that dropped last year? It pretty much made some noise because of how extremely light those kicks were. Sneakerheads and Ballers alike were pleased with the Crazy Lights. If you thought that's all that was, y'all got another think comin'. The folks from the three stripes are at it again and this time around it get's even, well.... crazy lighter.

Seaoil NBTC High School All-Stars Showcase press con. 03.01.12

(Photo by Roy Afable)

A few days ago, tryouts for the elite high school league were held from February 18-19 and its last the was on the 26th. Out of many hopefuls that joined from all over the Philippines, only 30 were chosen for the Seaoil NBTC High School All Star Showcase on March 4, 2012.

DLSU Lady Spikers clinch back-to-back Volleyball titles

Two for the champs.
(Photo by Roy Afable)

It was a rough ride for the defending champs during the Finals. After their successful 14-0 sweep in the elimination rounds, they've earned the 1-0 advantage in the Finals and thus crossed paths with their rivals Ateneo to challenge for their championship hardware. Sure, Ateneo has won countless titles in basketball but in volleyball however, it has eluded them for many years.

Abigail Marano: All out, all heart and all for God

Abby Marano of DLSU Lady Spikers is UAAP Women's Volleyball
Most Valuable Player for Season 74.
(Photo by Roy Afable)

The UAAP women’s volleyball season 74 has been one of the so far. Fans were treated to yet another epic battle between rivals Ateneo De Manila University Lady Eagles and De La Salle University Lady Spikers in the Finals. It’s not often that you see these two teams play in a championship match.

For the defending champs though, the level of competition was even tougher than their season 73 title win. Even with their streak broken in game 1 of the finals was broken, that didn’t stop them from getting a W in game 2.

Seaoil NBTC Elite League

I mentioned about this upcoming elite high school hoops event last month. The Seaoil NBTC Elite League officially began their search for the best young ballers from different high schools all over the country last February 18-19 at the San Beda College gym.

As the list of aspiring young prospects vie for a spot at the Seaoil High School All-Star game, the elite league tryouts are currently holding their last set of tryouts today, February 26.

Green'd out for two-peat – 5 ways to beat Ateneo

(Photo by Roy Afable)

Oftentimes at a mention of the UAAP, the storied rivalry of Ateneo and La Salle come to mind. While we missed that level of championship match in basketball, that type of competition is never far behind in Volleyball. What a treat for fans of both Ateneo and La Salle as they clash in Finals for Volleyball supremacy.

The defending champs have completed the 14-0 sweep in the elimination round and advanced to the Finals. After the stepladder matches were all said and done, the Ateneo Lady Spikers came out the victors and earned the right to face them for the title.

One big fight for the championship – 5 ways to beat La Salle

(Photo by Roy Afable)

It’s been a great year for the Ateneo Volleyball this year. All roads lead to the UAAP Women’s Volleyball Finals as they face the arch rivals the La Salle for the coveted championship. Playing in the Finals almost happened last year; they came close to booking a spot for the title match but it wasn’t meant to be. Ironically though, it was the Jacq Alarca lead DLSU Lady Spikers that gave them the boot out of the championship hunt in the Final Four. Instead, the UST Tigresses – then defending champions – went on to the Finals but succumbed to the formidable La Salle tossers. Thus ended their title defense and new champs were crowned.

Wrestling action comes to Manila on February

If there's another thing besides basketball, boxing and football the Filipinos are a fan of, wrestling would be it. Suffice to say that the Philippines is also "wrestling country" and if the names Hulk Hogan, Bret "The Hitman" Hart, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Edge, just to name a few ring a bell then y'all know what I'm talking about.

Adidas running sneaks get even lighter

Wanna get lighter? The AdiZero F50 Runner 2 is your best bet.
(Image courtesy of Adidas Philippines)

The three stripes have once again yet another created a much lighter sneakers for running enthusiasts out there. If you thought the kicks you got are lighter, think again. The AdiZero F50 Runner 2 is perhaps the lightest pair shoes in the market today.

First Seaoil All-Star High School game to be held on March 2012

Finally, an All-Star game for high school ballers in the Philippines. While we're all crazy about college hoops (UAAP and NCAA) and the PBA, it's about time young guns from high schools all over the country to get some love.

Another charity friendly match for the Azkals

With the success of the charity match between the Azkals Alyansa and CF Internacional de Madrid a week ago, another match for a cause dubbed as KIA Rio Cup booked for this Saturday, January 21. This time around, the Azkals will be going up against the young guns of Icheon Citizen FC from South Korea.

Dili Kamo Nag-Iisa Football Charity Match 1.7.12

CF Interncional de Madrid defenders try to keep up with the speed of Chieffy Caligdong.
(Photo by Roy Afable)

Just fresh off their stint against Becks and the LA Galaxy last December 2011, they faced yet another international football squad to test the Azkals' mettle. This time around it was a Spanish Football Club that flew in the country recently for an exhibition game. Nope, it wasn't Real Madrid that came to play. On the contrary though, it's CF Internacional de Madrid -- a Division III team in the Spanish league that are just as good as their Division I counterpart.