VIDEO-Greece won gold medal in the Rio Olympics 2016 shooting competition

Greek athlete Anna Korakaki won the first medal for Greece in the Olympic Games in Rio. Anna Korakaki won Greece's first gold medal of the Rio Olympics on Tuesday, beating her German opponent Monika Karsch by 8 points to six in the women's 25 meter pistol final. This is the first Olympic Games for the athlete from Drama. Going to Rio prepared was difficult but thanks to her father and coach, Tasos, Korakaki’s patience and discipline was rewarded. She won the bronze medal with a score of 177.7 degrees, the gold medal was won by Mengkxoue Zhang (China) 199.4 (Olympic record) and the silver Vitalina Batsaraskina (Russia) with 197.1. Earlier on Tuesday, Katerina Nikolaidou and Sofia Asoumanaki qualified for the double sculls final. Greece also has high hopes for gymnast Lefteris Petrounias and fencer Vaso Vougiouka. watch the VIDEO

VIDEO-Philippines wins silver in Rio 2016 Olympics weight lifting

Hidilyn Diaz ended the country’s 20-year dry spell in the Olympics by snaring the silver medal in the 53-kilogram class of the weightlifting competition at the Riocentro Pavilion 2 here. Diaz and the handful of Filipinos in the gallery were already celebrating her third-best, bronze-clinching total of 200 kg when China’s erstwhile frontrunner Li Yajun failed in her third and final attempt to lift 126 kg in the clean and jerk and scratched out of the contest. Li, who actually tied the Olympic record in the snatch, failed in all three tries at 126. Realizing that Li had bungled it, the three-time Olympian Diaz jumped in joy and raised her arms in triumph. The country’s first medalist in weightlifting then sought out her coach and top delegation officials. It did not really matter that Diaz’s total lift was 12 kg lighter than that of the 212 of gold medalist Hsu Shu-ching of Chinese Taipei. The silver already glittered like gold. South Korea’s Yoon Jin-hee snared the bronze with a total lift of 199 kg. “Naramdaman ko ang presence ni God kanina nung bumubuhat ako,” said the 25-year-old Diaz, a native of Zamboanga City. “I expected to win the bronze going to this competition, na-shock ako nung sinabi sa akin na na-zero yung China.” The silver medal means a cash windfall for Diaz under the government’s incentive program for medalists in the Olympics. Delegation officials said she stood to pocket at least P5 milllion in bonuses. Nestor Colonia failed all his three attempts at 154 kg in the clean and jerk and, like the Chinese who yielded a sure gold in Diaz’s weight class, scratched out of the competition won by China’s Long Qingquan in a new Olympic record of 307 kg. Colonia placed 6th in snatch with a 120 kg lift. SFM Watch the VIDEO

Manny Pacquiao calls out Floyd Mayweather on Twitter again over fight the world (Video for Mayweather I will fight Pacquiao)

Manny Pacquiao made his feelings clear what his New Year's wish was on the eve of 2015, as he again called out rival Floyd Mayweather. The 36-year-old PacMan has made no secret of his desire to fight fellow welterweight champion Mayweather, with the bout now looking increasingly likely to happen.

As 2014 came to a close on Wednesday Pacquiao tweeted: 'The ball will drop at midnight to usher in 2015. @floydmayweather let's not drop the ball on fighting each other next year!

VIDEO Scroll down for Mayweather: I'll fight Pacquiao on May 2nd I'm going out with a bang  Just a fortnight before that he had tweeted at Mayweather: 'Don't be a boxing humbug. Let's give the fans the fight they want. They have waited long enough.' The fight between the pair was first discussed in 2009 but ultimately failed to materialise. However, Pacquiao has now made it perfectly clear he wants a bout with Mayweather, with both in the twilight of their careers. The target date for the bout is May, and if the Filipino was to win a potential first fight, there could be appetite for a re-match in September. Pacquiao was superb in his last fight in November comfortably beating American Chris Algieri in Macau, while Mayweather saw off Marcos Maidan by an unanimous decision in Las Vegas in September.

Holidays Wishes from the Greek National Team

2014 was a year full of ambivalent emotions for the Greek national team. From its remarkable 2014 World Cup journey to sitting at the bottom of Group F for the Euro 2016 qualifiers. It’s been more than a decade that the Greek team has performed so poorly and as a result not only a spot in the next big soccer tournament is at risk but most importantly, the fans’ admiration has fallen at a record low. Taking advantage of the festive season and the people’s sympathetic nature during these days, the Greek internationals decided to upload a video in an attempt to reconcile. After all, the tragic recent events have left fans wondering if the golden era of Greek football has ended and a new one of misery and depression has began, similar to the status of the country as a whole. Twenty-one Greek footballers recorded the wish “OLOI MAZI” (ALLTOOGETHER) which translates as “together as one” and then Giorgios Karagounis concludes with his moral principle that “Being together as one makes us stronger”.

Pacman Must Think Twice on Senate Bid

Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao’s colleagues in the House of Representatives are urging him to think twice before running for senator in the 2016 elections, warning that his possible election to the Senate is “tantamount to exiling him to perdition.”

AKO Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe and MAGDALO party-list Rep. Francisco Ashley Acedillo cautioned Pacquiao against running for senator, after Vice President Jejomar Binay declared that the eight-division world boxing champion is ripe to join the Upper Chamber.

“Pacquiao can run and might even win as senator, but the job is not suited for him. Pacquiao’s talents and achievements  are more relevant to positions that will inspire and unify our people to action  just like  Katniss’ role in the Hunger Games-Mockingjay movie. We will be doing a great disservice to Pacquiao and the country if we put him in  the Senate where the gift of gab and not jab is the main qualification,” Batocabe said in an interview.

“Besides, electing Pacquiao to the Senate is   tantamount to exiling him to perdition. As I am sure, for an action man like Pacquiao who prefers to talk less, his six-year term will be the saddest chapter of his life,” he warned.

Recognizing that being a senator is a Herculean task, Acedillo asked Pacquiao to first discern if whether or not he should spend less time on boxing and other activities and concentrate on lawmaking.

“My question is this: Are we ready to let go of him as our boxing and national icon and come to terms with him as a full-time politician? Because as far as I understand, he cannot excel in one without spending less time on the other,” he pointed out in a separate interview.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. also agreed with his colleagues that before Pacquiao decides to run for senator, he should first show his seriousness on lawmaking by consistently attending the plenary sessions.

“For us ordinary mortals, that would be true,” he said in a text message.

But, Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello and Deputy Minority Leader and Isabela Rep. Rodito Albano said the ball is in the hands of the electorate and that Pacquiao should not be hampered to seek higher post.

        

Pacman for Senator?

 After he has proven himself in Congress, Saranggani Rep. Manny Pacquiao is now ripe to become a senator of the land, Vice President Jejomar C. Binay said on Thursday. Binay said Pacquiao whom he called a hero, has proven that he is no “laughing stock” in the House of Representatives.
“Alam mo, nu’ng naging congressman ‘yan, pinagtatawanan. Napakita nu’ng tao ‘yung kanyang kakayahan (He was a laughing stock when he ran for Congress. But he has proven his worth,” Binay said in a radio interview.
The Vice President, however, clarified that the eight division world boxing champion and playing coach of the Kia Sorento in the Philippine Basketball Association has yet to agree on his offer for him to run for senator under the banner of the United Nationalist Alliance.
Pacquiao fresh from his win against inexperienced Chris Algieri last Sunday in Macau, paid a courtesy call on the Vice President and his son Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. at the Makati City Hall on Thursday.
The Vice President claimed that there is a “strong clamor” from Filipinos especially in Mindanao for Pacquiao to run for senator.
Binay  also dismissed talks that he is eyeing Pacquiao as his running mate, noting that the boxing icon is “underage” for the position.”
Having born on December 17, 1978, Pacquiao will only be 37 by May 2016, three years short the age requirement for presidential or vice presidential candidates of at least 40 years of age on the day of election.

        

Interview with a Filipina Woman professional boxer - Watch it in youtube

Take away the fact that Bay Area resident Ana 'The Hurricane' Julaton is "the first Filipino-Female boxer to win the Women's WBO Super Bantamweight and IBA Super Bantamweight titles", as well as trained by Freddie Roach (Boxing Trainer to fighters such as Manny Paquiao, and Oscar De La Hoya) and Angelo Reyes (of West wind Martial Arts Schools), and you see a young woman who is simply working with the certain gift she's been given. As a Boxer, Ana is determined, rough, and refuses to let anything get in her way. Outside of this life however, she is humble, polite, and generous despite any stereotype one may have in their head of a female boxer's attitude. When speaking with Ana about her profession, one can't help but sense a hint of longing for something different. Though she has never shied away from showing her gratitude towards her abilities, training, health and triumphs, the fact is, pursuing a career in boxing was not her first choice. This, however, does not take anything away from her love and determination for the sport. If anything, these elements add to it. In this generally male dominated sport, Ana Julaton stands her ground as a fitting and outstanding representative of not only Filipina women around the world, but female fighters or athletes of any culture anywhere.

Disappointing result for Greece in domestic championship-Olympiacos Coach Resigns after Embarassing Defeat from Panathinaikos

After a disappointing result to their ultimate rival, Olympiacos had to take action in some shape or form to calm the spirits that were crawling around the team. So Georgios Bartzokas, the first Greek coach to ever win a Euroleague title (in 2013), was released of his duties after an earlier meeting today with his bosses, owners of Olympiacos, Aggelopoulos brothers.
Stepping in to replace beloved Duskan Ivkovic after the latter had lifted the Euroleague title in 2012 was not an easy task. Hence the first mass reactions who refused to accept that an almost unknown and anti-social coach could lead their favorite club. However, they slowly calmed down as Olympiacos came forward better than before, winning another Euroleague title but losing the domestic championship to Panathinaikos.
Oopsy… that was the solemn coach’s only flaw. In four showdowns for equal trophies (two Greek cups and two championship titles), Bartzokas managed to win none and even worse, lost them all to Panathinaikos.
All previous cases were somewhat understandable, after all the six-starred giants were one of the best teams in Europe, actually the last two decades’ best one! But this time, the Greens had to show up for the contest with their youngest squad in history, with players such as Bohoridis, Diamantakos and Koniaris, who up until today were unknown even to the die-hard fans.
The game was unfolding according to the norm, with Dimitris Diamantidis trying his best around a group of teenagers but unable to block Vasilios Spanoulis and his band. All until 1.30″ before the end of the game when this happened:
In a reminder of Olympiacos unforgettable Euroleague final win in 2012, when they came back from -19 to beat CSSKA Moscow and win the title, Panathinaikos’ precocious babies stepped on their opponents’ pride and with a dunk from Esteban Batista 0.4 seconds before the buzzer went off, went ahead of the score 77-76 and qualified to the Greek cup’s semis.
A worried Bartzokas had nothing much to say at the post-game’s interview besides “I have no clue what happened!” In truth, that’s what we all thought. But as a head coach of a notorious team, he had to have a clue. And as a result, in another public statement, he humbly addressed that his resigning marks the change that Olympiacos needs in order to improve.
Milan Tomic, the Reds’ formerly assistant coach, has been assigned as the temporary head coach.

Filipino boxer Manny Pacquaio for Vice President in 2016?

The eight-division world champion Manny Pacquaio is a picked of Jojomar Binay to run as his Vice President  in 2016. He announced this after he visited GenSan, the territory of Pacquaio. He is very confident to the ability and morality of Pacquio. For Binay, he likes Pacquio to be his partner in 2016 because he is so generous and very helpful to his countrymen.
                But Pacquaio has no answer to Binay’s offer because it’s too early to decide what’s position he would run in 2014. But he is very sure to run again in politics. In previous months, there was a rumor that he might run in the Senate. There is also a possibility that he will also continue to serve his constituent in Sarangarani as a Congressman. Right now, he wants to focus to his nearly fight against Chris Algieri that will be held in November.
                Binay has three options, who he would be his candidate for VP in 2016. There is a news that he might choose Sen. Jinggoy Estrada who is inside a jail because of his plunder case. Then, he might also choose the business tycoon Manny Pangilinan, but he didn't already accept the idea. For MVP, running a business and running a country has big difference that’s why he don’t want to enter in politics.
                When Binay stayed at Gensan, Pacquiao defended him from the accusation that the current Vice President of our country is a corrupt politician. For him, this is just an accusation and they don’t have a concrete evidence to prove their claims. Pacquaio said that the good politicians doesn’t know to destroy other people referring to the enemies of Binay in politics. Binay confronting controversy due to alleged anomaly during his term as a Mayor of Makati City. Because of this, his rating in the survey dropped dramatically. But he is still the number one favorite of the Filipino voters among the presidential candidates according to the survey.

Young filipino boy from Ambelokipous scored 27 pts and had 10 blocks in basketball game somewhere in Athens

Filipino  parents of a local team  was invited me last sunday to watch the under 13 basketball game somewhere in Athens. The Filipino team won 78-74. What caught my attention is the boy from Ambelokipous area #53 who scored 27 pts and had 10 blocks. After the game I congratulate him only to found out that he was  former player in primary school. When I asked him how did you do that 10 blocks? He smile & say "by patience & timing". When I'm driving home I realize that it was me thatwhen you want to block taller than you, you need "Patience & Timing". 

Very brutally beaten in basketball ... in the Philippines (video)

The game between two Basketball college teams in the Philippines never finished it because the players of both teams were boxers in the ring! It all flowed gently in the match between Emilio Aguinaldo College and Mapua, at least 28 seconds before the finale. Some players of both teams were caught in the hands and the game was never finished, and instead of playing basket exchanged punches! The result was to eliminate all the players, except for two ...

Pacman Tax Woes Not Yet Over

 The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) continues to oppose the petition of boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and his wife Jinkee to reduce the multi-billion peso cash or surety bond set by the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) in connection with the tax collection case filed against them. The BIR, through the Office of the Solicitor General, is set to defend before the Supreme Court on Monday the tax deficiency assessment and cash or surety bond set by the CTA.
The SC earlier issued a temporary restraining order against CTA and the BIR in connection with the multi-billion-peso cash bond and tax collection case against the Pacquiaos.
Revenue officials who declined to be named said the TRO covers only the bail issue and not the merit of the collection case pending before the CTA First Division.
The high tribunal gave the BIR until today to submit its pleadings but this was moved to Monday as the deadline falls on a Saturday.
BIR officials said lawyers from the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) will handle the oral argument before the SC but they were tasked with the preparation of the pleadings. 

The high tribunal issued the TRO last month after Pacquiao complained to the SC that the P3.2-billion cash bond, or P4.9-billion surety bond imposed by the CTA in April was unreasonable and beyond his net worth of P1.2 billion.

A revenue lawyer said that under CTA rules “the bond should not be lower than the assessment, nor more than double the amount.”

The congressman from Sarangani was assessed to owe the BIR more than P2.4 billion for the years 2008 and 2009 out of his estimated $28-million prize winnings for successfully defending his various titles in five bouts in the United States.

BIR insiders said Pacquiao could have avoided the huge tax deficiency assessments had he promptly answered tax notices sent to him.

They said the tax debts have become “demandable” and can no longer be appealed because the final assessment notice (FAN) had already been issued as provided for under Section 228 of the Tax Code.

      

Philippines vs Senegal:Victorious the Filipino. Went crazy the Filipinos in Greece(Great photos & Video)

Great presence in the platforms had the fans of the Philippines. Like won the World Cup Filipinos celebrated the victory over Senegal. As soon as the horn sounded the end, all the players and coaching staff went to the podium.
There, all the players talked to the world, who enjoyed these moments.
In the Philippines anyway basketball is the national sport and the slightest success brings craziness
Gilas Pilipinas won their first game at the FIBA World Cup in 36 years on Thursday, taking down Senegal in overtime. 
Although Gilas cannot advance to the next round since it lost four games, fans and players will surely be happy with the 81-79 win.
Gilas had come close in each contest but hadn’t been able to pull off the win before now.
Malacañang Palace congratulated the team after the victory. We should all be honored with Gilas Pilipinas’ victory! Our players showed heart and unwavering determination to win. That’s the same spirit that will carry our country toward development and progress,” Palace Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said in a statement.

See final stats below and live score updates and video highlights below that.

FINAL STATS: Jimmy Alapag and Andray Blatche lead Gilas with 18 points each while June Mar Fajardo chipped in 15 and Gabe Norwood had 7. Blatche had 14 rebounds and Fajardo had 9. Alapag had four assists

FINAL STATS: Mouhammad Faye led Senegal with 20 points while Maleye Ndoye and Maurice Ndour added 13 each. Gourgui Dieng had 14 rebounds and Xane Dalmeida had 14 assists.

Check out the live score updates and video highlights below.

Overtime

–Dalmeida opens the extra period with a 3-pointer for Senegal. Blatche answers on the other end. 67-66 Senegal with four minutes left.

–Alapag gets a steal on defense to give Gilas the ball again. Ndour gets called for an unsportsmanlike foul after a hard foul on Alapag on the fast break. Alapag makes one of the two free throws to tie the game. 3:38 left.

–Blatche dunks the ball to take the lead 69-67. Senegal misses a couple of shots but gets several offensive rebounds and Ndour eventually gets a tip-in. Blatche misses a 3-pointer on the other end. Ndour misses a 3 on the other end and Blatche gets the rebound.

–Gabe Norwood misses a 3-pointer with 2 minutes left in overtime. Dalmeida draws a foul from Blatche on the other end, and Blatche has fouled out. Dalmeida makes both free throws to take the lead 71-69.

–De Ocampo hits Fajardo for a layup to tie the game. Faye misses a shot for Senegal and de Ocampo draws a foul on the other end. He hits both free throws. Gilas up 73-71 with 1:14 left.

–Ndour misses a jumper and Dieng fouls Fajardo on the rebound. Fajardo sinks both free throws to give Gilas a four point lead with less than a minute left. Dieng misses a 3-pointer, Gilas gets a rebound and Senegal fouls. Dieng is fouled out.

–Alapag sinks both free throws to give Gilas a six point lead but Senegal hits a quick 3-pointer. Alapag draws the foul and gets back to the free throw line. 

–Alapag misses the first free throw and makes the second. Gilas is up 78-74 with 22.4 left in the game. Senegal calls timeout.

–Ndour misses and Gabe Norwood gets the rebound, gets fouled, and makes two free throws. Ndiaye dunks on the other end but Jim Alapag gets fouled and hits both free throws.

–Gilas has won the game 82-79. It’s the first win for the Philippines at the championship level in 36 years.

Fourth Quarter

–Dieng makes a jump shot following four other points by Senegal while Alapag had two free throws and a 3-pointer on the other end. Fajardo soon chipped in two points. 58-50 Gilas with 7:07 left in the game.

Respect to the nation that loves basketball

As my friend Sophia wrote in a status on Facebook, yesterday afternoon, upon the appearance of the filipino living in Greece, in her own words «San Pablo», «such support  to the team we never saw again" Well, after the match started, every time a Filipino shoots, the atmosphere reminds concert platform in which Sakis Rouvas (greek singer) sings
From Marcos and Aquino, in Loizagka and Moumar
The brightest medal of Filipinos is the bronze medal who won at the 1954 World Championships is the biggest success of European and non-American country in the history of the institution! Cast in that triumph were legendary figures, led by Carlos Loizagka and Lauro Moumar. 
At the edge of the Filipinos took part in seven Olympic Games (1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1968, 1972) and four World Championships (1954, 1959, 1974, 1978), even were the hosts of the World Championship 1978 in Quezon City (in stadium capacity 30,000 spectators!) at Manila.
The most clear proof of Filipino mania for basketball is recommended that the first purely professional league in the world, after that of the NBA! The PBA was founded in 1975 and therefore they suffered the consequences of the ban on the participation of professional players in the FIBA championships until 1989, when it concluded the «Open Basketball».
The "black book" of Filipinos
Filipinos are found three times in the vortex of the storm and were punished by exclusion from FIBA competitions, due to violations of regulations and unsportsmanlike behavior. The culmination of this "black book" was the refusal of President Ntiosdado Makampagkal to admit groups of Eastern bloc for the World Championship which had undertaken to organize (but was deprived and commissioned in Chile) the country in 1963. 
Also in 1986, the Filipinos withdrew from participation in the World Championship of Spain where even been drawn in the group of Zaragoza, together with Greece (and eventually replaced by France), due to the political unrest of that period. After the rigged elections of July there was a coup that toppled the Marcos fled to Hawaii and went on to rule the Corazon Aquino. 
Basketball was introduced in the Philippines in 1913, while the federation was founded in 1936 and was one of the first members of FIBA. That same year, the Filipinos took part in the inaugural Olympic basketball tournament in Berlin where he ranked fifth in presenting a group called «Islanders» (islanders). Nicknamed the current national team, controlled by way of sponsorship from the company «Smart Communications» is «Gilas Pilipinas," which in Tagalog dialect means Philippine Philippine elegance and gallantry.
Jean Marc Pingkris The 32 year old (height 1.92) is the most popular and the most ... famous native Filipino player, well, apart from the fact he is half filipino, also has great life style !  Born of a French father, who left very early the family, and abandon Pingkris with theFilipina mother and grew up in poverty .  "We are a short people, which is crazy with basketball and wherever you gaze you will see baskets and children to play," says Pingkris, rejected by the first team which was tested! But then he took his revenge and now sees half a million dollars a year, while the whole country is engaged on a daily basis with him.

Gilas Loses to Argentina 85-81

 

Games Today (Manila time: plus 6 hrs.) 7:30 p.m. – Philippines vs Puerto Rico 11:30 p.m. – Senegal vs Argentina

Don’t cry for Gilas Pilipinas, Argentina. The Nationals never had any illusions the world No. 3 would be easy pickings.

Still what mind-boggling feat it would have been had Andray Blatche knocked down that late corner 3-point shot. Or Jayson Castro not chooses the most inappropriate time to pull up from 3-point territory rather than drive.

But Blatche didn’t and Castro did and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rock the international basketball order in the 2014 FIBA World Cup was forever lost Monday as Argentina dodged the upset bullet, 85-81, before thousands of screaming, bobbing, chanting, pumping, war-painted fans almost equally divided at the Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo here.

While football is the sport worshipped at the altar in the South American country, basketball isn’t lagging too far behind.

And against the FIBA Asia silver medal winner, the Argentineans kept the faith and tenaciously hung on in the midst of a buffeting storm.

But the 2004 Olympic gold medalist, with six Summer Games appearances, 13 FIBA World Cups, 16 FIBA Americas Championships and 14 Pan American Games to its resume as a cage power, did behold Philippine basketball at its mighty best: taking a 10-point lead in the first quarter with Blatche on the bench with two fouls, Rain or Shine’s Gabe Norwood posterizing the Indiana Pacers’ Luis Scola with a rim-bending dunk, June Mar Fajardo nimbly circling around the defense inside the paint, Ranidel de Ocampo bedeviling with clutch 3-pointers.

And Jimmy Alapag!

The 5-foot-9 point guard of the Talk ’N Text Tropang Texters, who announced earlier that this would be his last international tournament, was on fire and delivered perhaps the game of his life, keeping an entire nation on the edge as he carried the torch for Gilas Pilipinas by burying five 3-point shots in the second half, three coming in the fourth quarter with the fifth, so far off with 2:08 remaining, cutting down Argentina’s lead to 82-81.

Until that point, the Philippines had its hands wrapped around the ultimate prize – a victory over an Olympic champion. But then slowly it slipped through the fingers.

Amazingly, Alapag never got to launch another 3.

An Argentine miss gave the Nationals possession. But Blatche, who got whistled for two fouls barely there minutes into the game, clanged an open but unnecessary 3-point attempt on the near left corner.

Andres Nocioni, seasoned by NBA stints with the Chicago Bulls, Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings, left the door open by splitting his free throws with 42 seconds remaining.

The Gilas Pilipinas shot clock was down to 6 when the ball hit an Argentinean foot and time was reset to 14, bringing them extra precious seconds.

National coach Chot Reyes called time and drew a play for Alapag to come off a screen and get the ball with the fate of the Philippines rightfully placed in his hands.

But Norwood had some trouble inbounding, barely managing to get it to Jayson Castro after Alapag, in what Reyes said was a brilliant move by Argentina coach Julio Lamas to bring back the speedy Facundo Campazzo, failed to shake off the defense.

With time running out and Alapag now barred from the equation, Castro, who had hit three 3-pointers earlier, two of them back-to-back to ignite a roaring Gilas Pilipinas comeback from 15 points in the third quarter, took it upon himself to go head-to-head with the New York Knicks’ Pablo Prigioni.

Castro rose with Prigioni on him. But in a fleeting moment of indecision Castro didn’t launch, putting the ball on the floor instead and then picking it up – a clear traveling violation.

The whistle blew and Nocioni went to the foul line for the second time inside the final 42 seconds; this time he made both, ending an experience for Gilas Pilipinas that was even more exhilarating than the opening game against Croatia which went into overtime.

      

SUNDAY 31/08/2014-Basketball: Greece - Philippines 82-70-Score updates & video

The national team of Greece won the Philippines 82-70 in the second game of the World Championships, doubling its victories against in a particularly militant Filipino group. Leading to the amazing defense and offense (25 points) George Printezis.

The national media tried to hit his racket with Bourousis and Brindisi to give important solutions. However, Blatt kept the Philippines in the game until 7-8 in the fifth minute. At that point the caring attitude Choiz sil Line of representative assembly ... press the accelerator, the zone defense tightened and sub-national 10-0 was found in 11 (7-18) to get into the second period to double digits (10 -20).  Up to half the Greek team was unable to control the pace of demonic opponents, while in contrast the relevance of yesterday turned his back ... (11/28 shots on field, 1/10! Pointers).  Katsikaris shuffle the deck, and even played with three guards (basket, Zissis, Sloukas), but again the offensive outburst came. At the same time the Philippines found the path to the Greek basket, even reduced to -8 (27-35 in 19 '), but the right reflexes and Brindisi Sloukas kept for the national 10 (27-37) to half.  The Printezis continued to be fed to the Greek attack in the third quarter and the national not take long to get away with 17 points. However, the weakness of the Greek defense to limit Blatt brought momentarily upset the Greek camp, when he began to gnaw the difference.  Again the choice of Katsikaris to play a classic guard (basket) and grown taller figure brought the desired results with the Greek international firing the difference in 16 (38-54 to 27) to enter the last quarter with the score at 45-58.  The Philippines tried to surprise the first few minutes of the last quarter, lowered again to -10 (50-60), but the dominance of Bourousis rebounding, the excellent collaboration with Brindisi and pointer-breath Vassiliadis gave the national a pad ... up 15 points (50-65), which was enough to give Greece the second victory.  Periods: 10-20, 27-37, 45-58, 70-82  PHILIPPINES (Vincent Reges) Alapagk 3 (1), Tenorio 3 (1) Chan 3 (1), William 5 (1), David 2, de Ocampo 4 Norwood 5 (1), Blatt 21 Fagiardo 10 Ntalistan 5 (1), Aguilar 2 Pingkris 7.  GREECE (Fotis Katsikaris): Mantzaris, Bourousis 12 Zissis 8 Vassiliadis 6 (2), Calathes 9 (1), pap 9 Sloukas 3 Kaimakoglou 5 (1), Antetokounmpo 3 Vougioukas 2 Printezis 25 (1).  The rating  (2 matches)  1 Greece 2-0  2 Croatia 2-0  3 Argentina 1-1  4. Senegal 1-1  5. Philippines 0-2  6 Puerto Rico 0-2 Great game for both teams !!!
Philipines has a very good team !!

Check out score updates and video highlights below.

First Quarter

–Greece starts out with a 4-0 lead as Gilas misses several shots.

–Philippines quickly gains momentum behind Andray Blatche and is down 8-7 at the halfway mark in the quarter.

–Greece scores seven straight to go up 14-7 with 2:30 left in the first quarter.

–Greece is up 20-10 at the end of the first quarter, with Gilas missing many shots.

Second Quarter

–The Philippines cut the lead to eight early in the quarter, with the score going to 22-14–but then Greece hit another 3 to extend the lead.

–Gilas then got another bucket to make it 25-16.

 –Blatche gets his second foul, but stays in the game. In FIBA play, players only get five fouls.

–Two free throws from Ioannis Bourousis of Greece makes the score 30-18 with 5:36 left in the quarter. Philippines is shooting only 24 percent (6-24).

–Gabe Norwood hits a nice three-pointer to cut the lead to eight with a couple minutes left in the quarter. Gilas is looking more comfortable as the game goes on. Greece calls a timeout.

 –Gilas cut the lead to seven but Kostas Sloukas scored a bucket, and a free throw to extend it back to 10. 35-25 with 1:50 left in the half.

–Jeff Chan missed the last shot of the quarter. The Philippines had called a timeout with about 18 seconds left in the half. The score is 37-27. Gilas can take heart in the fact that the second quarter was even with each team scoring 17 points.

–Stats: Gilas is shooting only 1-10 from 3-pointers and about 21 percent overall. “They just didn’t make shots you’d expect them to make,” noted the announcer. Norwood is shooting the best, 2 out of 3, and Pingris is 1-2. Blatche is 3-9, William is 1-5, and Chan is 0-5.

–Stats, continued: Most of the other statistics, including turnovers, are even, although Gilas has 12 fouls versus 7 for Greece. Blatche and June Mar Fajardo are leading Gilas with 6 points each. Printezis is leading Greece with 10 points

Third Quarter

–Greece starts off the half strong, going up 46-31 with 7:35 left in the quarter.

–Blatche hits two free throws to cut the lead to 46-33. He now has 11 points in the game.

–Blatche hits a bucket and draws a foul, and makes the free throw. 46-36.

 –Blatche misses a couple shots and Greece makes a few buckets. 52-38.

–Jimmy Alapag drills a three-pointer on a nice fast break. Blatche soon draws a foul but misses two free throws. With 1:37 left in the quarter, Blatche makes a jump shot to cut the lead to 54-43, but is quickly answered to make the game 56-43.

–Greece makes another bucket but Fajardo tips in a bucket just before the end of the quarter, and blocked a layup attempt at the other end. The third quarter ended with Greece up 58-45. Blatche has 15 points and 11 rebounds while Printezis has 16 points and Bourousis has 9 rebounds for Greece.

Fourth Quarter

–Gilas is still in the game. With eight minutes left, they’ve cut the lead to 10 again. The score is 60-50.

–Printezis makes a jumper to up the lead. After a Norwood miss, Vasileiadis makes a 3-pointer to up the lead to 65-50.

–Greece is maintaining a 15-point lead despite Gilas’ best efforts. Blatche in particular is toughing it out with an injured knee, but the Philippines doesn’t seem to have enough to overcome the Greeks. There’s still time left, though.

–Blatche makes two free throws to cut the lead to 75-63, but LA Tenorio on the other end gets called for an unsportsmanlike foul.

–Blatche makes several turnovers, one off a rebound and another following a steal. The score is still 76-63.

–Papanikolaou hits two free throws for Greece to up the lead but Tenorio hits a 3 to cut the lead to 10 with 1:11 to go.

–It’s over–Greece won 82-70. Gilas played hard but couldn’t defeat the Greeks.

Final Stats: Blatche led the Philippines with 21 points, but on 6-18 shooting. He missed all of his 3-point attempts. Fajardo chippin in 10, the only other Gilas player in double figures. Marc Pingris chipped in 7 points. Printezis led Greece with 25 points.

Overall, Gilas shot 35 percent and 27 percent from 3-point range. Greece shot 43 percent, and 23 percent from 3-point range.

PNoy Hails Gilas for Showing Amazing Grit Skills in Spain

Echoing the nation’s battlecry, President Aquino yesterday praised the Gilas Pilipinas basketball team for showing amazing grit and skills despite dropping its opening game against mighty Croatia in the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Seville, Spain, on Saturday night.Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the President joins the nation in its unwavering support and prayers for the Philippine national basketball team, which is making its reappearance on the global basketball stage after a 36-year hiatus.
“The President joins the nation in praising the skill and determination of our Gilas Pilipinas players in their fight against Croatia. Despite facing intense challenge, the Philippine team fought to the end and earned admiration from the world of basketball,” Coloma said in Filipino in an interview with state-run DZRB.
The Philippine basketball squad nearly pulled off an upset victory against Croatia in the opening FIBA game. Gilas Pilipinas performed strongly in the thrilling match against the European team but eventually suffered an 81-78 overtime defeat.
Coloma said the President acknowledged that the entry of the Philippine basketball team to the FIBA World Cup after 36 years is a good opportunity to display the talent and no-surrender attitude of Filipinos in the face of challenges.
“To the Gilas Pilipinas players and the coaching staff, the entire Filipino nation is behind you. We will continue to pray for you as you face the best basketball players in the world,” Coloma said.
“Let’s shout our battlecry: Laban Pilipinas! Puso!” the Palace official added. 

 

Meanwhile, Pampanga Rep. and Rain or Shine Coach Yeng Guiao credited the determination displayed by naturalized player Andray Blatche.
“The biggest factor really in the game against Croatia was Andray Blatche,” said Guiao, who was the national team coach in 2009 in the FIBA Asia Championship in Tianjin, China.
“He proved that the coaching staff, led by Coach Chot Reyes, was right in its decision to have him as our naturalized player. In short, the Philippines made the right choice to naturalize Blatche.”
But for Gilas to win a game in the preliminary round, Guiao said the 6-foot-11 Blatche and other members of Gilas should raise their level of game a notch higher.
“However, he needs to play that way every game to open up our shooters. If he continues to play that way, who knows? We’ll still play four teams, and it’s possible to win one or two games,” added Guiao.
Blatche, previously of the Brooklyn Nets, collected 28 points and 12 rebounds in a 78-81 overtime defeat to Croatia last Saturday at the Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo.
Blatche’s aggressiveness forced the Croatians to double team him at the post, thus opening up Gilas Pilipinas shooters like Jeff Chan, who fired 17 points in an impressive 4-of-6 shooting from three-point territory.