MCBL: Another bridesmaid finish for IBM

This is long overdue. The championship game was played last December 6 at the Northeast Greenhills gym.

I don't feel like making my own article so I'm just posting the championship recap from Gameface, MCBL's official website.

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DIVISION B: Chevron- 87, IBM Business Services I- 74

Prior to the finals, both Chevron and IBM Business Services 1 shared similar MCBL histories.

Both made it to the finals in their first MCBL tournament. Both teams lost to their opponents in those finals. Both were now playing in their 2nd MCBL tournament. Both had won one game against each other this season. Obviously, their histories were going to be different after this match.

In the end, the favorable path went to Chevron primarily on the strength of the single most dominant performance in a MCBL final.

Division MVP Rain Sison tallied 44 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block as he almost singlehandedly kept IBM at bay. While Chevron led most of the way, IBM would rally behind the outside sniping of Paul Ansay who nailed 7 three pointers including a 30 footer heading into the fourth and the inside games of Albert Sanchez and Herbert Vergara.

However, each time they would come close, Chevron had an answer. Most of the times it would be Rain, but Chevron also drew strong games from Joel Ilao, Mark Bersales, and Don Pangcog who tallied 11, 10, and 9 points respectively.
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This marks the second straight runner-up finish for the team this year as we lost out to Cebuana Lhuillier in the First Conference.

Despite coming up short both times, it's been a pretty good year for IBM Basketball. No one can take away what we've accomplished especially since we never needed any ex-PBA or college player to be successful.

This also marks the last time I'm suiting up for IBM. I hope they continue to join the MPG leagues even when I'm gone. Who knows though, I just might be back when the 2009 season opens in May. Hmmm.

Random nightout

I haven't been out for the longest time so I decided to check out the scene last night. Heck, I don't even remember the last time I was out. Anyway, all I know is that Taguig didn't have a curfew and there were no cops roving around the Fort Strip back then.

Can't say I missed it.

White flag

I'm relieved. Time to let nature take its course and allow the universe to make it happen.

Fiat Voluntas Dei

Half-pound patties

McDonald's launched the Double Quarter Pounder locally recently and I've always wanted to try it out. I was fairly certain it was OD but I had to check it out for myself.

I finally got one a few days ago and it was way too heavy for me. My large fries went untouched. Word to virgin. It was good but I doubt I'll do it again.

Next up is the ultra-secret, mythical McGangbang. It'd be interesting to see how I'll be able to pull that off of a local McD's.

Equilibrium

The universe has its own way of balancing things out eventually. Sometimes it tips and tilts to one end before leaning on to the other. But after all's been said and done, it never fails to go back to its center.

Count on it.

Yankees go on a shopping frenzy

You know the New York Yankees got it good when they spent USD 423.5M on three free agent signings. (CC Sabathia 161M/7 years; AJ Burnett 82.5M/5 years; Mark Teixeira 180/8 years). That's almost half a billion dollars invested on three top-tier players over and above the mammoth 275M contract ARod signed last year.

Who said America is under recession?

Dirty laundry

Another scary questions get scary answers moment. I just have this innate talent to dig up dirt. Word to dumpster diving.

Cleaning out

I started cleaning out my desk last night in hopes of getting everything out by tomorrow. Ugh. Good luck cause it ain't happening. I just have too much junk at work. Seems like I need to come in at least one more time during the holidays to get this over and done with.

Botched birthday

One totally messed up birthday. Not even close to what I had in mind. Fuck it. Word to Eamon.

Pre-birthday blow

I was wishing for a happy birthday. It's a shame I'm off to a shockingly dreadful start.

Lotto hits

The office cats were making fun of how some broads at work had LGs as SOs. It made for some hilarious ribbing. Impossible is nothing. Word to Adidas.

UNC still #1

For the fifth straight week (sixth including the preseason), North Carolina remains unanimously on top of both AP and ESPN US College Basketball rankings. The way the Tar Heels (9-0) are blowing out all their opponents, they deserve all the hype they've been getting.

So far, it's really been Carolina and then everyone else.

Preppy fantasy

I badly want my tipsy Catholic schoolgirl. Word to Cruel Intention's Manchester Prep.

Sunday night buzz

It's been a while since I got buzzed. I actually missed the floating feeling.

A little bit unsettled

What's in your head? In your head?
Zombie, zombie, zombie

Can't get some shit out of my head. Word to The Cranberries.

Scary questions get scary answers

Don't bother if you've got a faint heart. It just might rip you into pieces.

Never-Never-Land

I swear I have the most childish and immature former(s). Someone needs to grow up. Word to Peter Pan.

Total recall

I just had some lessons in history recently. I think it's one of those deja vu things. Word to PM Dawn.

Early December downer

Save for a few good things, my weekend was a major letdown. I'm wishing for a pleasant turnaround.

Pac-Man gave the Golden Boy a brutal beatdown

Couldn't find words to describe Manny Pacquiao's total domination of Oscar De La Hoya. I'll just let some photos do the talking.

Next in line? Bring on either The Hitman or Money next.

Myth-bustin'

Debunk the myth. That's what's up. Word to Sports Science.

MCBL: One is greater than Two

I don't think anybody else gave us the chance. Being the 4th seed with a less-than-mediocre 3-4 record, I don't blame them.

One thing I know about this team is that we don't quit. There's just no surrender in us.

In what was arguably the best game an IBM team has ever played in the history of the MCBL, we pulled off a massive surprise attack against top-seeded Accenture that surely left them wondering what hit them. It was shock-and-awe at its finest. Word to the US Military.

It was a superbly played game from start to finish. We bombarded them on offense, shooting 52% overall (31-60) and 50% from beyond-the-arc (12-24), while playing impeccable team defense. We never let up, leading the whole way, en route to a masterful 96-81 destruction of the highly-favored Accenture Knights.

This is the same Accenture team that blew us out us in two previous meetings: one by 11, the other by 20. This made the victory all the more special. Borrowing a widely used sports quote, "We win when it matters." Fuck math but this time one is greater than two. Third time's a charm.

Paul led the charge with 33 points, 18 coming from downtown. Herbert had 29 points anchored on 5 treys while Alfie had a solid outing with 15 points, 9 rebounds and 5 blocked shots.

We'll meet Chevron in the Finals this weekend, while Accenture (6-2) takes 3rd place. Metrobank is 4th.

We split two games with Chevron during the eliminations. We won the first game, 85-78, while dropping the second, 48-51.

Overall record: 4-4
Next game: Finals, vs. Chevron - December 6, Saturday, at the Northeast Greenhills gym