JUSTIN CHUA : OUT OF THE SHADOWS

courtesy of pba-online.net

Justin Chua has always played second fiddle to his more popular and seasoned teammates in Ateneo. But after being instrumental in Blackwater's championship run in the PBA D-League, people have started to notice the great potential of the 6'5'' center-forward. Picked tenth over-all by San Mig Coffee, Chua was immediately traded and now plays for Globalport where he is simply developing into a complete player

The unassuming rookie is definitely not in the mold of Greg Slaughter or Ian Sangalang. But Chua is nonetheless effective. Coach Boyet Fernandez of NLEX Road Warriors describes him as a very good defender with a reliable perimeter shot. As seen in Globalport's games, Justin Chua can be relied upon to defend and score, making him a vital cog.

Chua, for me, stands out among the rest of the PBA rookies this year because he gets his task done without much fanfare. He is also humble enough to admit his mistakes. In Globalport's loss to San Mig Coffee, he took the time to apologize to Golbalport fans after committing a last-minute error.

With his determination to improve and humility, I am sure Justin Chua will go a long way. He will be one rookie who will have longevity in the PBA. Incidentally, Ateneo and Blackwater won championships with Justin Chua in their line-up. It is therefore not far-fetched for Globalport to bag a crown with Chua in its line-up as well.

HAS GINEBRA REALLY HIT THE JACKPOT WITH GREG SLAUGHTER ?

Ginebra San Miguel leads the team standings in the current PBA Philippine Cup. With a 9-1 record, Ginebra is a full game ahead of second running Petron Blaze. Thanks to its twin towers, Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar, Ginebra is on its way to a possible finals appearance.

Japeth Aguilar has been playing heads up basketball for Ginebra in the current conference. In fact, he is responsible for the two victories of his team with his dying-second three pointers. Greg Slaughter, on the other hand, continues to be a force in the post. He continues to post double digits in scoring and rebounding.

Without a doubt, Ginebra is blessed to have Aguilar in its fold. But can we say the same thing as far as Greg Slaughter is concerned ?

Slaughter has a history of abandoning his team when he does not get his way. With his previous team, Slaughter was a big headache to his coach and teammates. He would not report for practice whenever he felt like not going to practice. Reports have it that he would sulk whenever he does not get the playing time that he wants.

With Ginebra, Slaughter gets a considerable amount of playing time. In fact, he is not being used as a substitute for Aguilar. It is probably Ginebra's way of preventing Slaughter from sulking. But it could only be a matter of time when Slaughter shows his true color. I surely hope Coach Ato Agustin will be ready to handle Slaughter when the behemoth starts to act like he is the heart and soul of the team. I wonder what Mark Caguioa has to say when that happens.

THE TEN BEST FOR PHILIPPINE SPORTS 2013

The City Buzz recognizes the the achievements of Filipino athletes in 2013. In coming up with a list of the ten best Filipino athletes of 2013, The City Buzz takes into account the athlete's victory in international competitions. But more importantly, the list places great importance on the Filipino athlete's commitment to achieve the impossible.

1. Rubilen Amit - In 2013, Amit won her second World 10-ball Championship. She also won a gold medal in SEAG to cap her successful campaign for the year.

2. Claire Adorna - The UP swimmer won 4 gold medals in UAAP Season 76. But what makes her feat truly spectacular is her determination to fight for what she believes is right. She threatened to sue UAAP officials who threatened to prevent her from participating in the collegiate tournament. UAAP officials blinked and Adorna got her sweet revenge by winning 4 gold medals.

3. Gilas Pilipinas - Basketball-crazy Filipinos will see once again the country compete in the World Championships. Thanks to Gilas Pilipinas.

4. Philippine National Dragon Boat Team - While the team only won a silver and bronze medal in 2013 DBS Regatta Singapore, it created quite a stir when it exposed the anomalies and abuses of its leaders. The world champion team was dropped from the list of national teams all because it dared to go up against the powers-that-be. The team continues to fight for what it believes is right.

5. Manny Pacquiao - The victory of Manny Pacquiao really lifted the spirits of the Filipino people. The victory is the most uplifting moments in Philippine sports for 2013. Pacquiao however remains to fight a crucial battle. This time with BIR.

6. Wesley So - After winning a gold medal in the Universiade in Russia and topping the 17th Unive Chess tournament, So decided not to represent the country in Myanmar. The highest-ranked Filipino chess player decided to make a statement against politics in sports.

7. Athletics team to the 2013 SEAG - Definitely one of the bright spots in an otherwise disappointing Philippine campaign. The talented and relatively young team of Edgardo Alejan, Archand Bagsit, Isidro del Prado, Julius Nierras, Jesson Ramil Cid, Christopher Ulboc, Eric Shawn Cray and Henry Dagmil augurs well for Philippine athletics.

8. Princess Superal - The teen golf sensation won 2 gold medals in 2013 SEAG after winning the Singapore Amateur Ladies Open.

9. Lee Van Corteza and Dennis Orcullo - The two won the World Cup of Pool 2013 crown to prove once again that Filipinos are tops in billiards.

10. Ramon Antonino Franco - His gold medal in Myanmar is significant because it comes after his family experiences the full destruction of super typhoon Yolanda. Franco exemplifies the indomitable spirit of the Filipino athlete.

AN UGLY PICTURE SURFACES AFTER THE 2013 SOUTHEAST ASIAN GAMES

What do the NSA's of canoe-kayak, chess, swimming and table tennis have in common ? All did not produce a gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar.

Upon closer scrutiny, there's more to the said NSA's than not winning a gold medal. The presidents of the NSA's are all close allies of POC President Peping Cojuangco.

The president of canoe-kayak is Jonne Go. Go denied the country of 15 gold medals in SEAG by terminating the entire national dragon boat team. She ran under the ticket of the POC president during the last POC elections and won. Chess has Prospero Pichay as its president. Like Go, Pichay ran under the ticket of Peping and won. Swimming has the controversial Mark Joseph for its president. Despite the numerous cases against Joseph, he continues to enjoy the trust of Cojuangco. Lastly, table tennis has Ting Ledesma. Ledesma is the one recognized by POC despite the victory of Sen. Trillanes in a legitimately-held election.

But what takes the cake is that the NSA for equestrian, headed by Peping Cojuangco himself, did not produce a gold medal too. The Equestrian Association of the Philippines, in fact, failed to produce any medal. If the POC president himself failed to make his own NSA win any medal, is it any wonder then that the country finished seventh out of eleven countries ?

ANG AKING MGA HILING SA PASKO PARA SA SPORTS

Tulad ng iba, gumawa rin ako ng Christmas wish list. Subalit ang aking ginawang listahan ay patungkol lamang sa palakasan. Narito ang aking listahan :

1. POC President Peping Cojuangco - Magkaroon ng delicadeza at magresign na. Ipaubaya na niya ang kanyang posisyon sa mas bata at  may kakayanang iangat ang kalagayan ng palakasan sa bansa.

2. PSC Chairman Richie Garcia - Magkaroon ng paninindigan at tapang.

3. Smart Gilas Pilipinas - Patuloy na umani ng tagumpay. Wag sanang yumabang ang pamunuan ng koponan.

4. PBA - Patuloy na kumita at gawin na akong miyembro ng PBA Press Corps para maiboto ko sina Terrence Romeo bilang Rookie of the Year at Sol Mercado bilang MVP.

5. PCKF President Jonne Go at head coach Len Escollante- Umalis na sa puwesto at umamin na sa kanilang mga kamalian.

6. Philippine Dragon Boat Team - Makabalik na bilang national athletes at makapagpatuloy sa pagbigay ng karangalan sa bansa.

7. Philippine Women's Volleyball Team - Mabuo na at makapagsimula nang lumaban nang tuluy-tuloy sa international competitions.

8. Alyssa Valdez - Sumali na sa Philippine team nang mapakinabangan ng bansa ang kanyang galing sa volleyball.

9. Philippine Athletics team - Patuloy na umani ng tagumpay sa pamamagitan ng mga bago at batang mga atleta.

10. Philippine Azkals - Magpakatino na para di na madawit sa mga kontrobersiya. Magsanay nang husto nang manalo na. Iwasan ang masyadong pagpapaporma at pagsho-showbiz.

11. Dan Palami - Disiplinahin ang kanyang mga Azkals at wag kunsintihin ang mga mali.

12. Coach Weiss - Pagalingin ang Azkals at di puro salita lamang sa harap ng media.

13. Sen. Pia Cayetano - Gumawa ng mga konkretong aksyon sa Philippine sports at di panay salita lamang. Wala siyang nagawa para sa Philipppine Dragon Boat team sa kabila ng ingay na ginawa niya sa senate hearings. Ni hindi niya napigilan sina Cojuangco at Garcia sa pagpapatupad ng mga maling patakaran hinggil sa pagpapadala ng mga atleta sa SEAG.

14. Sen Antoni Trillanes IV - Magpatuloy sana sa pakikipaglaban kay Peping Cojuangco.

15. Boyet Fernandez - Manalo pa ng isang trak na championships para sa San Beda Red Lions at NLEX Road warriors. Isa si Coach Boyet sa pinakamabait at pinakamagaling na coaches para sa basketball sa bansa.

16. Terrence Romeo - Patuloy na maging mapagkumbaba at manalo ng Rookie of the Year.

17. Sol Mercado - Manalo na sa wakas ng MVP.

18. Greg Slaughter - Maging mabait sa Ginebra at iwasang maging sakit ng ulo ng team.

19. Globalport - Patuloy na gumanda ang performance sa PBA. Patuloy sana maging mabait ang koponan sa lahat ng tao. At matalo na ng koponan ang Ginebra bilang crowd favorite.

20. President Noynoy Aquino - Pagtuunan sana niya ng pansin ang nakakadismayang kalagayan ng palakasan sa bansa. Tanggalin na sana niya sa POC at PSC ang dapat tanggalin.

Maligayang Pasko sa inyong lahat !

THE TRUTH REVEALED : A VOLLEYBALL INCIDENT

A group of female volleyball players went on a team building with their coaches and officials in a private resort. The team building went awry when the players got intoxicated. The officials of the team were able to convince the players to show flesh, all in the spirit of fun. The players gamely took their clothes off in exchange for a considerable amount of money. To cover up the shame, everyone decided to keep the whole incident a secret.

The incident, for me, is truly a sad event in Philippine sports. It is so wrong in so many levels. But what motivated me to finally bring the incident out in the open is the sight of one of the coaches in the team building coaching a school in the current UAAP tournament. The coach did not lift a finger to stop the incident to protect the players. And yet, he continues to handle a group of collegiate female volleyball players.

I am just disturbed that the coach continues to enjoy the trust of a school despite what he did. Or more aptly, what he did not do.

IS THIS HOW THE MALDITAS ARE BEING COACHED ?