NBA Asia Challenge 2009 coming to Manila on September

That's right! The biggest hoops event is set to drop here in the Philippines next month: The NBA Asia Challenge 2009. This major basketball event will hit Manila on September 11 (that day happens to be my birthday), 7 pm @ the Araneta Coliseum.

The Manila tour will feature NBA Legends and NBA D-League players going up against the PBA All-Star team in a friendly exhibition game. NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will helm the NBA-NBDL team along with former NBA players Tim Hardaway, Slam Dunk Champ Dominique Wilkins, Robert Horry and Vlade Divac.

Filipino NBA fans will also be entertained by New Jersey Nets Dance Team and their mascot Sly. Check out the NBA's official website for details. For ticket inquiries, call 911-5555/374-9999 or visit Ticketnet's website.

I'm so gonna go to that event. Ain't missing it for the world.

Pinoy Power 2 thoughts

Gosh, I haven't posted anything since last month. Well, there is one just to fill up my blog before putting up a good one (see the MJ video below). Anyways, on to the subject.

Another huge boxing event catered Filipino fight fans alike last August 16. Three of our top Filipino fighters slugged it out in a boxing PPV dubbed as "Pinoy Power 2". The first one was held here in the Philippines, if I'm not mistaken. While it's not a Manny Pacquiao fight, it was still a fight worth watching. I was able to watch the replay of the fight but not in it's entirety. I only caught the mid card and main event matches. Wish I had watched the other fights especially the other Filipino fighter Mark Jason Melligen who won the non-title undercard match. Congratulations!

I know should've posted my stuff about this the day after the fight but it's better late than never nonetheless.

Midcard Mishap

I believe this was the fight everybody's been talking about. The Bernabe-Luevano match ended in controversial fashion. The Philippine's own, Bernabe Concepcion got DQ'd for hitting Luevano when the bell sounded at the end of the 7th round. While Concepcion was clearly disappointed about the referee's call in the Super Featherweight bout, Coach Freddie Roach blew his top upon hearing Referee Jay Nady's decision.

Truth be told whether you like the decision Jay Nady made in disqualifying Bernabe Concepcion for hitting Steven Luevano after the bell sounded the end of the seventh round or not, it was a decision that had to be made. What was bothersome however was Nady accusing Concepcion of blatantly and deliberately hitting Luevano after the bell and said to officials and Concepcion’s corner,

“He heard me and he heard the bell because I was right there.”

Concepcion’s corner man Freddie Roach justifiably shot back and questioned Nady

“How do you know he heard you?!”

Nady then insisted,

“It was wrong! It was simply wrong!”

and when Roach tried to dispute Nady’s accusation that Concepcion maliciously hit Luevano after the bell, Nady yelled at Roach and said,

“Don’t argue with me! Don’t argue with me!!!”

Mad props to Freddie Roach for putting up with Referee Jay Nady.

You be the judge on this one. But I would have to agree with Filipino fight fans and Sports Analysts that it was a clear acting job on the part of Luevano. It's as if he set up Bernabe for him to keep his title. I mean seriously, when the round is over, fighters immediately go back to their corners. Luevano didn't turn around and headed back to his corner. Instead, he lowered his guard looked at Concepcion somewhat in a teasing manner to hit him.

Unfortunately, the Filipino fighter fell victim to his bait and decked Luevano with a two-punch combo -- which obviously was unintentional. He didn't have time to pull his punches (I don't anybody can pull those 2 punches that quick). The ref may have made the right call but the message is loud and clear: Bernabe Concepcion was robbed! He deserves a rematch for the Super Featherweight championship. Word has it, that the possible rematch will happen on December -- Please make it happen Bob Arum!

I have to give props to defending Super Featherweight champ Steven Luevano for his Oscar winning performance in Las Vegas. He should start an acting career as soon as he's done with boxing. When the rematch does happen in a few months, expect him (Leuvanoto) to pull off yet another one of his "special performances". He (Bernabe Concepcion) ain't gonna fooled again. We Filipinos hope he knock the Mexican's teeth out and take away his precious Super Featherweight title. We be celebrating for sure.

Donaire's biggest fight

This was the match I've been anticipating. I know the Donaire-Concepcion bout wouldn't disappoint boxing fans. Filipino boxing pundits believe it's going to be "The Filipino Flash" Nonito Donaire Jr.'s toughest match to date. Despite his height and reach advantage, Panama's Rafael "El Torito" Concepcion is one tough cookie. The odd thing about it was -- he's too bulky to be a Super Flyweight. Seemed like he wasn't planning on making things easy for his Filipino opponent -- and so he did.

Donaire had to drop his Flyweight titles (IBF and IBO Flyweight championships) to move up a weight division to challenge Rafael Concepcion for the WBA Interim Super Flyweight title. The jump would prove to be a fruitful one after all.

Wear yellow for Cory

He mentioned this a couple of weeks before his fight that he would wear yellow in a tribute to the late former President Corazon Aquino, who succumbed to colon cancer last August 1. His title match was also dedicated to her as well. That was another thing I was waiting to see. True to his word, he did wear not just yellow trunks but also a yellow robe for his fight. At the back of his robe read: I.M.O. (In Memory of) Former President Corazon Aquino and his trunks had Cory's last name printed on it.

The Filipino Flash looked dope in his yellow trunks, by the way. A great tribute indeed for the President Cory.

Donaire on a roll

After fighting a hard fought 12 round match, The Filipino Flash won his 3rd title and his first Super Flyweight title via unanimous decision. The bulkier Rafael "El Torito" Concepcion clearly showed his resiliency as he held his ground for the entire bout. El Torito suffered a cut under his left eyebrow in round number 3, if I'm not mistaken. Surprisingly, the injury wasn't much of a hindrance to him. Dude's real tough I tell you.

Donaire had a good strategy going as he he's always moving around the ring. The reason is that, he was avoiding the slugger from Panama's dirty tactics. Concepcion was giving Donaire a headbutt every time they get tangled up. I'd say that's smart boxing by The Filipino Flash.
When Concepcion was interviewed after the match he was asked about his thoughts of his encounter with the Filipino. Through an interpreter, this is what he said:

“I was expecting a fight from a real Filipino fighter, not a runner. He didn’t want to fight. He wanted to run. … I knew he was a great fighter, a great technician. If he would have had a warriors’ heart, we would have exchanged more.”

Word to El Torito: Props to you for lasting 12 rounds and giving Donaire a helluva fight. HOWEVA, telling the whole world that he was running away from you was just plain stupid. If you weren't headbutting our boy perhaps he wouldn't be avoiding your dirty tricks (and further head injury). He got more boxing IQ than you. Oh and by the way, The Filipino Flash is a great fighter and he can beat you toe-to-toe -- even though you're heavier than he is.

The only thing I noticed in Donaire fight is that he loses his footwork sometimes (he tripped twice especially in round 12). I'm no boxing expert but clearly he's over swinging his punches which leads to, well, losing his footwork. Another thing, his defense has greatly improved but often times his guard is down whenever he lowers either his left arm or both. That's just my observation. I may be wrong on that. As I've said before, I'm no expert when it comes to boxing.

I have to say it was one of the best yet controversial boxing events I've seen. Pinoy Power 3 is reportedly in the works. I can't wait for that. Kudos to the Philippine Announce team of Mr. Chino Trinidad and Mr. Quinito Henson for a great coverage of the fight. I'm not sure if Brian Viloria was also part of the announce team but congrats to you guys nonetheless.

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

Michael Jordan can still ball....

At 46, Money still has it. Slamball player Chris "The Ghetto Bird" tried to lock up on him. His jumper -- sweet as always.

Mosley still wants Pacquiao.

While everybody knows the Pacquiao-Cotto fight is almost a done deal, Sugar Shane Mosley still wants to get a crack at Pacman. I'm pretty sure that would be another interesting fight. Somehow I'm a bit perplexed on why he still wants to put his name on the hat. I guess this perhaps answered my question:

"I'll fight him at 140 lbs and I am willing to give him the lion's share," said Mosley from Los Angeles.

Even with victories over Oscar De La Hoya and a bevy of marquee names, the mythical title of pound-for-pound king has eluded Mosley through the years and the cat-quick banger believes a win over Pacquiao would finally make him happy.

Now that he has practically given up everything, Mosley doesn't see any reason why Pacquiao will not take up the challenge.

"If he doesn't fight me, I guess you could say he's afraid of me or his people are afraid of me," said Mosley, the reigning World Boxing Association welterweight king.

His proposal of fighting Manny at 140 lbs. could be quite enticing. The Pacquiao camp might take that into consideration. HOWEVA, he has another reason why he wants to make the fight happen:

According to the 37-year-old Mosley, he made the tempting offer because he had never won the 140-lb crown and he wants to claim Pacquiao’s pound-for-pound tag.

Though he’d initially given up chasing Pacquiao, Mosley said the thought of his legacy prompted him to step up the plate again.

Mosley, who’d been beaten by Cotto, said his proposal should make both Bob Arum and Freddie Roach, the promoter and trainer of Pacquiao, respectively, happy.

Looks to be a valid reason. Good luck with that. If the Pacquiao-Mosley materialized, I doubt Shane Mosley could last a couple of rounds because of his age. From the looks of it, I'd rather see a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight which unfortunately, won't ever happen. I guess Pacman fighting Cotto on November would suffice, in my opinion.

Dwyane Wade wants to be Jordan'd out. Literally.

Jumpman: Dwyane Wade trades his Cons for J's.
(NBAE/Getty Images)

The shoe game is ever changing these days. As I was browsing the net for some sports news, I stumbled upon something interesting -- and perhaps newsworthy for sneakerheads out there -- including myself. D-Wade finally jumps ship -- to a shoe brand, that is. I must admit though, it's a good move for him to make the switch.

The Miami Heat guard shares his thoughts on the move:

"When I came into the NBA, I didn't have a lot of exposure and Converse gave me an opportunity to head a brand and be the face of a brand," Wade told The Associated Press. "I'm really thankful for six long, good years. I've gotten five shoes out of the deal and my dream came true at the Converse brand, because they put my name on a pair of sneakers."

Still, the lure of the Jordan brand -- a 12-year-old division of Nike, which also owns Converse -- was too much for Wade to ignore.

Wade told The AP he inquired about switching allegiances from Converse to Jordan's brand before the 2008 Beijing Olympics, doing so in part about concern over Converse's long-term viability in the basketball marketplace.

The 2008 request was declined, but earlier this month, Wade said he was "almost positive" a switch would happen sometime before the season. Less than two weeks later, the deal was done.

"It did come sort of fast. It wasn't anything we planned," Wade said. "But it's a good thing. Now we can plan for the season."

Well, there you have it ladies and germs -- it's official now. Wade will be rocking J's next season. Spread the word. I'm sure Money (Michael Jordan) is absolutely thrilled to have D-Wade in his stable of Jumpmen like Melo, CP3, Rip and Sugar Ray, just to name a few.

In retrospect, he only had 1 Converse sig worth noting. I'm talking about his Wade 1's which are totally sleek and clean. The simplicity of the design was dope. The rest of the kicks that followed were just wack. The last shoe that came out, the Wade 4, was downright ugly. No wonder he dropped the 4's so he could rock his 1's again in the middle of the 08-09 NBA season.

With Wade's addition, JB better give him a signature shoe (please make it happen). While waiting for his own sig to come out, it would be dope to see him rock J's in Heat colorways. The only drawback is, his shoes won't be sold at a cheap price tag.