Always imitated, never duplicated

The original IBM/IBS hoops team's streak is intact. We never missed the playoffs.

*Tips hat and claps*

Feels weird to be out of IBM Basketball

I played hoops with my former IBM teammates yesterday. Haven't shared the same court with them ever since the MCBL championship game last December. Moreover, I left the company soon after so I haven't seen most of them since then. They're now getting ready for the 2009 MPG Corporate Basketball League (MCBL) that starts next weekend.

Modesty aside, I built the IBM basketball program from scratch in mid-2007. Since then, we've joined three leagues and we've never finished lower than 3rd. We've gotten two runners-up trophies while placing third once. We've also produced one MVP, one Best Defensive Player, 5 First Teamers, a few more Second Team players and numerous league statistical leaders. Pretty good for a group that had no organized basketball team before.

This season, like our previous ones, I think they have a great chance of getting back to the finals for a third consecutive time. Hopefully, they'll end up winning this time around. I'm sure, like me, they're tired of playing bridesmaid again.

I may not be part of the team and of the program anymore but I'm confident they will be able to continue what I started. We've never missed the playoffs while I was at the helm so I hope they keep that streak going. I left the team in good hands so I'm sure they know what to do.

Good luck, have fun and don't embarass yourselves, boys.

I will miss playing with all of you.

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.

Blue meets Big Blue

The Ateneo de Manila University hosted the first-ever IBM-Ateneo fellowship night last Friday night at the Leong Hall roofdeck. It was a gathering of Ateneo alumni from various batches currently working in any of the IBM subsidiaries in the Philippines. It became a mini-reunion for the 70 or so of us Atenean IBMers who attended.

A short program ensued with Ateneo President Fr. Ben Nebres, SJ, and Alumni Director Jun Dalandan as special guests. Fr. Dacanay, SJ, presided over the invocation while IBMP's Aileen Rodriguez delivered the welcome remarks. An Ateneo trivia contest followed and gift certificates and UAAP tickets were given away as prizes.

Despite the uncooperative weather, the event was an overwhelming success. We all look forward to seeing this become a regular annual affair.

MCBL: Band of Brothers

Following our surprising loss last week, we knew we were all psyched for some payback in our next game against Henkel. Trouble is, we almost didn't have our next game.

We only had 4 players by tip-off so we were given the mandatory 10-minute extension. We were about 2 minutes from forfeiting the game when Herbert got in. We were then set to field our first (and perhaps only) five.

With only 5 players available, we knew we were in for a tough match. No subs, no rest, no breaks. I can just imagine us losing steam late in the game. Little did we know that this 5-man IBM team will unleash 40 minutes of punishment. All hell broke loose soon after. There was just no stopping the onslaught.

We led 20-7 after the first quarter and we never let up. Using a fine display of fluid offense and relentless defense, along with impeccable teamwork, we cruised the rest of the way without stepping off the gas. We finally ended their misery with an 88-45 blowout win. Not bad for a very undermanned lineup.

We wound up with 7 players, with JP coming in late in the first while JR showed up at the end of the third.

Herbert lit up the stat sheet with 36 points and 16 rebounds. Jon had a monstrous outing too with 21 points and 18 boards. Come to think of it, they would've defeated Henkel comfortably by themselves.

Record: 3-1
Next game: vs Epson - June 20, Friday, at Club 650

MCBL: Deja Vu

It's deja vu all over again.

Last year, we stumbled on our 3rd game after winning two straight comfortably. We fell to 2-1 after three games.

This season, we won our first 2 games convincingly by an average of 31 points. So we played our 3rd game earlier today and just like last year, we falter yet again. Emerson-GMDC pulled off a gigantic upset, beating us by the narrowest of margins, 60-59.

It's a difficult pill to swallow having led by as much as 11 points in the fourth quarter. We couldn't hang on to the lead as they slowly crept back in. We had numerous chances to win the game at the end but we just couldn't convert.

Record: 2-1
Next game: vs Henkel - June 14, Saturday, at The Zone

MCBL: IBS 72, Emerson 42

Okay, so we won by 30 again. Still, we were so out-of-sync today, we were lucky to come out with a blowout victory.

We hardly resembled the team that dropped 100 last weekend. Our shots weren't falling and our transition defense was sloppy. I swear we could do way better next time.

We're having two consecutive bye-weeks, so it'll be a while until we hit the court again.

With JP and JR having off-days, Herbert picked up the slack, scoring a game-high 17 points. Jon had a solid outing, finishing with 12 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocks.

Highlight of the game? While we had a subpar game today, we weren't short of hilarious moments. Right now, it's a toss up between Vinchi losing his shorts after a rebound, underwear exposed, and Bon spraining his ankle and injuring himself just as the final buzzer sounded.

Record: 2-0
Next game: vs Emerson-GMDC - June 7, Saturday, at The Zone

MCBL: Season opener

JR and I were late for our season opener last Saturday. We got lost despite having been to The Zone a number of times. We took a wrong turn and we couldn't manage our way back. Blame Makati for its stupid one-way roads and no-left-or-U-turn intersections. It made us miss the opening tip.

So it was the first time majority of the guys played together. Surprisingly, we did very well. We beat Sky Printing quite comfortably, 100-68. It was relatively over by halftime. We were just too deep, they couldn't catch up with our transition game. Think Phoenix Suns fastbreak. We never even expected to breach the century mark.

JR led four IBS players in double-digits with a team-high 21 points. JP followed with 18 points. Jon and Herbert had 17 and 11, respectively.

Play of the game? An Edward catch-and-shoot buzzer beater to end the first half via a steal-and-pass from JR. Simply DIRTY!

Record: 1-0
Next game: vs Emerson - May 17, Saturday, at The Zone

Leader Culture with Francis Kong

I had to get to the UP Ayala site at 8am today to catch the IBM/Inspire Leader Culture program launch with reknowned speaker Francis Kong.

Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't have made the extra effort to get up early. But I had every reason to make a little sacrifice and get my ass ready to leave for Commonwealth by 730.

Except for the nasty early morning heat, I couldn't have imagined a better morning.

IT goes to Calaca

I just came back from an exhausting but super fun, off-site, overnight strategic planning session with Center IT. For the second straight year, the IT folks had chosen Batangas as our destination. This time it was in mountainous Calaca town, which had a Tagaytay-like ambience (last year was at seaside Calatagan).

I would have to admit that Center IT probably holds the best planning sessions in MDC. They're absolutely off the chains.

Work email downtime

It's been five days already and they can't seem to get my Lotus Notes email fixed. Damn. Just when I'm expecting an important email.

I hope this gets ironed soon. Absolutely need to read that email.

8F to 7F 1800

I'm moving desks again! What's new?!

It's my 9th workstation in almost 2 years here in IBS. I'm hearing we're moving again this June.

TBDM week

It's been one exhausting week at work. 2008 is only a couple of weeks old yet I think I've logged in about ten 12-hour workdays already.

It's been an interesting and entertaining week though as I had to sit down through a lot of performance assessment calibration sessions.

They were downright tiring, but meaningful nonetheless.

One IBM at the national townhall

We were at the Silvercity Mall this morning to attend the national IBM Townhall. About 1000-plus of us selected representatives from the four IBM subsidiaries were invited. Gracing the event were top global executives led by IBM Corporation's second-in-command, EVP Nick Donofrio. He spoke about IBM's commitment to global innovation, and shared his compelling insights on how the IBM was able to transform businesses and governments around the world with the aid of technology.

Listening to Nick's impromptu speech made us IBMers proud of our immense contribution to society. Not a lot of companies can brag about that.

IBM leads Filipinnovation

IBM Corporation's numero dos, Nick Donofrio, is in town to launch the country's National Innovation Strategy, with no less than PGMA in attendance. They presented the strategy to the President during the National Innovation Forum held in Shangri-La Hotel Makati. IBM is spearheading this project.

The Philippine National Innovation Strategy covers three major aspects of innovation - human capital, industry and public policy.

IBM, time and time again, proves that it stands at the forefront of global innovation.

Farewell Boss!

The RD folks hosted a despedida for their beloved boss (also my former boss at WFM) last night. It should have been a surprise but I think he had an idea already. After the IBM dinner, some of us trooped to Jay-J's in Ortigas for Roy's farewell treat.

We all wish him the best in his new role with his new company. Break a leg, Boss! Make sure it's not yours though.

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Goodbye and Good luck

Did You Know?: Random IBS trivia

...that when I joined IBS in early 2006, we were only about 400 employees. Now, about 20 months later, we're more than 1800 already.

...that when I joined IBS in early 2006, we were occupying four floors (Cyberone) in Eastwood. Now, about 20 months later, we have a total of nine floors spanning three buildings (Cyberone, IBM Plaza, 1800).

Tricks no treats

The office turned out to be a daycare center because of the annual Trick-or-Treat festivities for the children of IBM employees. A lot folks, yours truly included, got seemingly annoyed at the insane number of noisy kids, some of which were crying their hearts out.

Ugh. Someone shove candies down their throats. Please.

Blast gone wrong

I had to wake up early to get my ass to work by 8am because of an emergency. We had to go into crisis management, firefighting mode so to speak.

Having to get up by 7am is a alredy a personal crisis by itself.

IBS Championship game on film!

We finally got hold of the videos from the IBS championship game last Saturday. They didn't film the whole game but the 'best and most interesting' parts were captured.

We even heard some folks who were watching from the stands say that the LeNoBo-Allstate match was way better than any Ateneo-DLSU game this year. It didn't even come close. That's IBM basketball for you.

We'll post them on YouTube for the whole public to see.

Soon.