Palawan, it has been a crazy playoff week both in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and our very own PBA (Philippine Basketball Association)!
First, let’s look at how the Toronto Raptors edged the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals of “The League”.
Kawhi! That very much sums up the Raptors’ game 7 on Sunday. It was a superstar performance by Kawhi Leonard as he went on to finish the game (and the Sixers) with 41 spectacular points capped by a game-winner for the ages. In the last 4 seconds of the game, Kawhi had to outmaneuver and take an off-balanced/off angle corner jump shot against two Sixers defenders. With a good follow through, the ball bit the rim and bounced 4 times before going in. That shot could well be the best game winning shot in Raptors history.
It’s going to be a very interesting Eastern Conference finals this year with Toronto facing the league-leading Milwaukee Bucks.
Not to be outdone, our PBA finals had a great shining moment in game 7 of the PBA All Filipino finals too. Alex Cabagnot created enough space from Paul Lee for a left-handed fadeaway jumper to seal the deal for the San Miguel Beermen and bag a record 5th straight All Filipino crown over the Magnolia Hot Shots last Wednesday. Classic shot, cold-blooded. I still remember Cabagnot as a rookie in his Sta. Lucia Realty days and even back then, the guy already showed nerves of steel.
It doesn’t look like the Beermen dynasty would slow down at all. Remember they have a Christian Standhardinger to give relief minutes to Junemar Fajardo and Arwind Santos preserving them for the long haul. They also have Terrence Romeo to backstop Chris Ross and Cabagnot at the backcourt. The system coach Leo Austria and the Beermen built is rock solid and I see them competing for championships conference after conference.
UST vs Ateneo
It seems that even the local volleyball scene has contributed its share of finals matches needing a do or die match. The Ateneo Lady Eagles tied the series 1-1 vs the UST Tigresses on Wednesday to set a winner take all match this Saturday for the Women’s UAAP crown. The Lady Eagles were led by seniors Maddie Madayag and Bea De Leon.
It’s going to be quite a finish for the UAAP as we expect a jam-packed Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday. Odds would very much be even at this point. You can almost throw away previous performance as a winner take all game has all the pressure regular people will find hard to bare. Let’s see who has much courage and determination to win it all.
Local Elections
I am quite happy that the elections in Palawan went generally peaceful. My heartfelt congratulations to all winners and kudos to Hon. Mayor Lucilo Bayron, the father of the Subaraw Biodiversity Festival, for winning a fresh term of office. My congratulations as well to Vice Mayor Nancy Socrates and the winners of the new city council in Puerto Princesa.
We wish you all the best.
(The writer is a senior leader in the Business Process Outsourcing industry managing Philippine countryside operations)
