ABL 2010: Team Millar books a semifinal seat

Our opponent for our last game didn't show up so we get the win by default, bumping us up to third seed with a 4-3 record at the end of the elimination round.

The semifinal knockout phase starts on March 7 and we play against the only team we haven't beaten this season, Team Alcantara. We're 0-2 against them.

Hopefully, the third time's a charm.

ABL 2010: Team Millar gets 3rd win

After a 2-game losing skid, we finally got our bearings back and notched our third win of the season earlier tonight against Team Garcia. Our record now stands at 3-2 with two games left.

One more win assures us of a playoff spot. I'm confident we'll make it.

ABL 2010: Another blowout loss

We got murdered on the court for the second straight week. LOL. We've dropped two straight, after winning our first two games. Our record stands at a middle-of-the-pack 2-2.

Anyway, we had our asses whooped so bad yesterday morning that I didn't bother checking the final score.

It kinda makes me want to reconsider watching the games since it can be a hassle going to the venue and see my team lose big.

No wonder they're starting to miss the services of their star guard. *hint hint*

LMAO.

ABL 2010: Team Millar gets routed

My team got bushwhacked yesterday at the Meralco Gym, losing to division-leading Team Alcantara, 59-30.

I didn't wake up in time so I arrived at the game just before the start of the 4th quarter and we were already down big.

Had I known it was pretty much over, I would've stayed in bed. SMH.

ABL 2010: Team Millar wins 2nd straight

Despite missing a number of key players, we managed to hold on to a 61-58 win over Team Hontiveros yesterday at the Meralco Gym.

With the victory, we improve our record to a division-best 2-0. We play Team Alcantara, perhaps the best team in our division, next week.

POP! Goes my knee again

I just did a Michael Redd. Good thing it wasn't a Shaun Livingston though.

I fuckin' blew out my left knee again, the second time in the last 4 months, during the last play of our game last night. Leading by 11 with about 2 seconds left, I went up for an irrelevant rebound and landed awkwardly on my left leg, causing my knee to buckle and give way. For the third time in my life, I heard another of them infamous pops.

I'm out for the rest of the young season and will get surgery done probably by February.

ABL 2010: Team Millar wins opener

We won our season opener earlier, 77-66, despite a dreadful start. We fell behind by double-digits early before settling for a 30-40 halftime deficit.

We got our bearings going in the third quarter with a series of runs and defensive stops. We managed to get a 51-50 lead going into the fourth with a 26-foot trey at the buzzer.

We pulled away towards the latter part of the fourth quarter for the 11-point win.

2010 ABL season opener

Who would've thought I would be able to play our season opener today after blowing out my left knee last September?

Maybe I'm just lucky.. or stupid. Either way, I'm happy.

Missing practice Vol. Allen Iverson

My annual alumni league opens this Saturday and my team scheduled it's one and only preseason practice last night at Club 650.

Well guess what? I missed it by two freaking hours. All the while I thought it was from 8-10pm, not aware that they moved it two hours earlier.

True enough, I was met with blank stares when I arrived a little before 8. LOL.

I was like, "Alright, I'll see you guys on Saturday then."

Love is being a complete player

I pride myself for having a steady all-around game. Here are my numbers while playing for Team Millar in the recently concluded ABL season:

10.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 7.8 apg*, 3.0 spg*

*Division leader

On losing due to technicality

I was informed that the protest against one of my teammates was upheld. As a result, they forfeited our second semifinals win last March 15. meaning the team we beat that day (Baterina) moved on to the finals last Saturday, March 21. They subsequently, and not surprisingly, lost to Team O'Brien for the championship.

Bullshit. But it is what it is (or it was what it was). I say put an asterisk on their trophy.

Stepladder-ing our way to the Finals

We won our second stepladder semifinals game last Sunday to reach the championship match next weekend. It was a tight affair throughout but we managed to pull ahead and win it in overtime.

I made the pivotal, game-changing play in OT with an and-one opportunity off a fastbreak. However, with my emotions running high, I screamed at my hapless defender with full rage and I was T'd up for taunting. Unfortunately, it was also my fifth personal foul so I had to leave the game. I fouled out for the second straight game after getting disqualified on Saturday's semifinal game as well. I was just retaliating on the same old guy after he showed up my teammate after a great defensive play. He, too, was given a technical foul after he was trying to be macho tried to go after me. We led 40-38 after my layup and we never let up until the final buzzer.

There's some drama and suspense involved though as I was notified of a protest filed against one my teammates. Apparently, this teammate of mine also played for another Batch Division team whereas ABL rules provide that only one Batch Division team is allowed per player.

Should the protest be upheld, that will mean we will have to forfeit the championship game on Saturday.

From the airport to the hardcourt

I took an early flight to Manila this morning so I can get back in time for my ABL semis game. Good thing our game was in Ateneo so I didn't have to rush or anything. Best thing was that we won despite missing a few key players. That set us up for another win-or-go-home game tomorrow afternoon at the Blue Eagle Gym.

My body's exhausted for not having enough sleep but I'm still so amped up. Hopefully, the game turns out in our favor and we manage to pull off a victory over the second seed. The winner goes on to the championship round next weekend.

Five straight wins

We won our final elimination round game yesterday morning, 73-69, at the Reyes Gym in Mandaluyong. It was our fifth straight win after starting the season 0-2. We head into postseason play as the third seed with a 5-2 record.

I clinched the game by making 6 consecutive freethrows in the final minute. I had to buck off a poor start at the fifteen-foot line as I missed my first 7 freethrow attempts with most of them coming up short.

I finished the game with 13 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists and 6 steals.

ABL 2009: Semis-bound

Since I was out on consecutive weekends, I've missed out on my last 2 ABL games. I was hoping they'd win at least one so we can make a run for the postseason when I come back for the regular season-ender on March 7. I was delighted to find out they won both games by comfortable margins.

We're safely into the postseason with a 4-2 record. We're riding on a four-game winning streak after losing our first two. A win in our last game this Saturday means we clinch 3rd seed while a loss will drop us to 4th.

Steady playmaking

I've only played in 3 of our 4 games this season but yesterday's outing was arguably my best one so far. I posted a pretty solid line of 14 points, 4 rebounds, 12 assists and 1 steal leading our team to a 77-51 win.

We improve our record to 2-2 with two straight wins after starting the season with two consecutive losses.

I will miss our next game on February 21 because I'll be in Singapore by then. I hope they could come up with another victory as we set our sights for the playoffs.

2009 ABL comeback game

I marked my return to ABL action last Saturday. I had pretty solid numbers from an individual front, leading the team in most categories. Too bad we couldn't get the win as we got blitzed on the transition game.

Better believe we're coming back strong this Saturday. Hopefully, we all play better and come up with the W.

ABL comeback

After a 2-year hiatus, I'm heading back to the ABL again. I'll be suiting up as a reinforcement for a team consisting of Ateneans who graduated from high school in the late 80's. I've already played with about half of them back in 2005, so it should be fun.

Season opens this Saturday and we have an early 10am tipoff at the Meralco Gym.

ABL going down?

The 2008 ABL Season started last weekend and for the first time in like 6 years, I'm not playing by choice. I skipped last season due to injury. I was still recovering from my ACL reconstruction surgery.

Judging from this season's turnout, I think the ABL has lost its appeal especially to the veterans. Year in and year out, Ateneans would play the same faces again and again. At some point, you just get bummed out and lose interest. To add fuel to the fire, a lot of 'open' leagues have surfaced and these are a lot more interesting compared to the ABL, which is limited to current Ateneans and their alumni. My guess is those who want a little more challenge and competition would elect to try it out in the open leagues.

I noticed there's also a lot less sponsors now than in the past seasons. I'm thinking they're not getting much ROI with their investments so it's not beneficial anymore.

I dunno if the ABL will ever get its mojo back. It has become a victim of its own success. It's just not that exciting anymore.

ABL 2007

The season starts today. Can't believe I have to sit out this season due to injury.

Fuck.