THE SPIRIT OF WINNING.....

"The spirit, the will to win, and the will to excel are the things that endure. These qualities are so much more important than the events that occur".......

          .........a famous quotation from Vince Lombardi...Personally I believe in what has been shared in this quote. First and foremost, yes it is so true that it's our  will that will guide us towards happiness and contentment in whatever sports undertaking we are involved in. If we engage in any competition, the will to win should always be our constant goal yet it should be devoid of whatsoever negative trick so as just to win the game. 

          Hence it should be consistently inculcated in our minds and hearts that winning is our primary goal. Apart from winning, being fair in all aspects of the game should also be our utmost consideration. In any game, there is always that two sides of the coin- being a winner and that of a loser. We all know that at times we could be winners and the next time around, we could also be losers. Let us also be fair and brave enough to graciously accept whatever outcome either victory or defeat.

by: SHURAKI ...http://pixabay.com/en/girl-boy-sitting-sit-kid-kids-105523/

          The will to excel is also another essential element in any game. It is coupled by such spirit to regularly and spiritually discipline ourselves in practicing all aspects of our chosen field. Winning the game is achieved when we are ready in all its various elements such as physical, emotional, spiritual and moral It's the spirit and will that will lead us towards excellence. 

          Moreover there should also be consistency in our desire for improvement thus we need to practice as hard as we can and never just do it according to any mood. With all these factors mentioned beforehand, being a winner is always within our reach.  

CONQUERING MT. APO...CONQUERING MY OWN FEAR.....

          Mount Apo, considered as the highest mountain in the Philippines standing tall at 2,954 meters or 9,692 feet, is incredibly a symbol of prominence...a symbol of freedom and a symbol of greatness. Luckily, I successfully summit this magnificent symbol twice. Though those twin trips were so challenging and risky yet I made it to the top with the rest of our group. There were several challenges on our way to the top. I believed that the unity among us all members of the group helped us greatly in those two successes. 

          First and foremost among those challenges is the goal of reaching the summit with our group intact. Hence it was a conscious part of our mindset that  every member of the team has to be at the top together with the rest of us. With this goal in mind, it was our conscious effort to tag along with the group. I and my mates could not afford to be left behind since this will adversely affect the team's pace. The trip upward was so treacherous since there were many slopes and several steep points along the way. We passed the rainforest of Kidapawan and I was mesmerized to witness the richness of the forest magnified through its creatures such as the various kinds of animals we met along the way. 

          Aside from these creatures, we also trekked at the shadow and shelter of all those huge and vibrant trees which brought coldness along the way. Personally I like it to be that cold rather than traversing the mountain as well as forest on a very hot atmosphere. Yet considering the abundant and huge trees on the way to the top, it is then very natural to have a very cold weather along the way. 

          We walked for almost 8 hours including those stop overs along the way. I was filled with ecstacy when we reached Lake Binado and it was there that we rested then spent the night since we decided to finally settling the summit early the next day. Freezing and intensely quiet, the night was relatively friendly to all of us and we were all jubilant on what we achieved during the day. Wearing our suits for cold weather, we settled  during the night and the following morning, we continued our trip to the crater and to the top. 

from:www.dreamstime.com

          Recalling those twin trips to the summit, I can always declare to myself that after all, I did not just conquer Mount Apo twice but I did conquer my own fears as well. Indeed, the fear of the unknown is what sometimes hinder us to make one more step forward. However, my twin trips to Mount apo summit will constantly remind me that I can make things possible. In fact, until now, I can recall when I reached the summit and exclaimed silently, " Thanks God, I triumphed over my inner fears!"

PINOY PRIDE 19: BAUTISTA FALLS, FUENTES AND BERNALDEZ DELIVER

DAVAO CITY- In a stunning upset, Jose ‘Negro’ Ramirez of Mexico rode the momentum of the knockdown he scored in the opening round and beat Rey ‘Boom Boom’ Bautista by split decision in their WBO International featherweight title fight held Saturday at the USEP gym. 

A short left hook followed by right sent Bautista down and a collective gasp was heard from the crowd. Ramirez failed to finish the job and in the subsequent rounds Bautista fired back and tried to land a power shot that would have changed the complexion of the fight. 

But Ramirez hung tough and Bautista was an easy target, his offense often predictable. Ramirez slowly but surely piled up the points even when he was hurt on a couple of occasions. Ramirez tough stand won over the crowd who started to cheer for him in the 9th round. 

In the 10th, Bautista was bloodied by an elbow and Referee Bruce McTavish deducted a point from Ramirez. But the Mexican was the fresher and more accurate fighter in the endgame. 

The scores read – Judge Edward Ligas – 114 -111 for Bautista while Judges Salven Lagumbay – 114-111 and Atty. Danrex Tapdasan – 114-111 both scored for Ramirez. 

Ramirez was well applauded by the crowd for his effort. More than the WBO International belt, he may have sent Bautista into retirement. 

Both Promoter Michael Aldeguer and his father ALA Gym patriarch Antonio Aldeguer were in agreement after being interviewed by philboxing after the fight that Bautista should hang up his gloves. 

In an entertaining brawl, Rocky Fuentes beat Juan Kantun of Mexico by unanimous decision. Kantun walked into a stiff jab and suffered a flash knockdown in round one. But the Mexican continued to press and both fighters traded hard hooks. 

Kantun went down in the 3rd but scored a flash knockdown of his own in the 4th. The fast paced action continued and Fuentes knocked Kantun with an overhand right in the 7th. Fuentes was more accurate with his delivery in the later stages of the fight and won handily 98-88 in all three judges cards.

Mark Vincent Bernaldez fired blistering combinations and knocked out Indonesian Arief ‘Ice’ Blader in the second round. A left uppercut to the liver followed by a hard left to the jaw sent Blader to the canvas. Referee Tony Pesons reached the ten count at 1:20. 

Bernaldez remained unbeaten at 10W-0L, 6 KO’s. Blader drops to his tenth loss, 17W-10L-1, 6 KO’s. 

Engelbert Moralde battered Abel Gayhun and won a lopsided unanimous decision verdict. Scores 60-54 on all three judges. Gayhun finished the bout with hematomas on his left eyelid and left forehead. 

John Vincent Moralde knocked down Juvel Gayhun with a right straight in the first round. Gayhun hung tough but Moralde handily won on all three judges’ cards by scores of 59-54, 58-55 and 59-54. 

Kim Galon knocked out Joselito Tabago in the second round with hard body shots. Time-2:47. 

In the opening bout of the evening, Jessie Suacasa beat Glendon Ramos by unanimous decision. The scores were 39-37 for all three judges.

News Article courtesy of: 
Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 21 Apr 2013

FACTS ABOUT BASKETBALL

Did you Know? List of Interesting Facts about Basketball
Facts are statements which are held to be true and often contrasted with opinions and beliefs. Our unusual and interesting facts about Basketball, trivia and information, including some useful statistics will fascinate everyone from kids and children to adults. Interesting Facts about Basketball are as follows:

• Fact 1 - Definition: Basketball is a popular a game played on a court by two opposing teams of 5 players; points are scored by throwing the basketball through an elevated horizontal hoop
• Fact 2 - James Naismith is the man credited with inventing basketball in 1891
• Fact 3 - James Naismith was a teacher at a YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts
• Fact 4 - Peach baskets were used as the first “hoops” and the first backboards were made of wire

TAKE TIME TO PLAY......

• Fact 5 - The National Basketball Association (NBA) is one of the major sports leagues, of which USA and Canada are members
• Fact 6 - The positions of players in basketball are as follows:
  • Point guard
  • Shooting guard
  • Small forward
  • Power forward
  • Center
• Fact 7 - The first basketball game was held on 20th January, 1892
• Fact 8 - Michael Jordan is a world famous basketball player with a record score of 5,987 in the playoffs
• Fact 9 - Basketball became an official Olympic event in Berlin, Germany in 1936
• Fact 10 - On March 2, 1962, center Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in onegame against the New York
• Fact 11 - The first basketball was actually a soccer ball. The modern basketball was introduced in 1929
• Fact 12 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holds the record for most points scored in his 20 year career at 38,387 points
• Fact 13 - March Madness began in 1939, when the first NCAA tournament was held at the University of Illinois
• Fact 14 - Until 1937, the referee tossed a jump ball after each basket
• Fact 15 - The Harlem Globetrotters are an exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theater and comedy

SOurce: http://www.facts-about.org.uk/facts-about-basketball.htm

WHAT ARE MY FAVORITE SPORT ACTIVITIES?

          Here are my favorite sporting activities:

1. Basketball
2. Baseball
3. Chess
4. Boxing
5. Volleyball
6. Kart racing
7. Car racing
8. Soccer/football
9. Wushu
10. Golf

FAbulous......

          These are just ten and I still have some of my favorite sports. How about you? Can you share your own list of favorite sports. Anyway I like these sports since first of all, what is common among them is the presence of discipline in all of them. Dedication as well is very much needed for anybody to excel in his/her own chosen field of sports or work. If we are involved in any of them, we would never be successful if we are devoid of focus and discipline both in our minds and hearts.

This photo is owned by: Jens Fersterra-website:www.spreephoto.de:

               One day, I will also share with you my own list of famous personalities in these fields. Remember that we have heroes in our life? These popular sports figures will also serve as models for us even if we are in other fields rather than the sporting world. Anyway hope I can hear from you guys your own sharing of your favorite past time.

THE IMPORTANCE OF FOCUS IN BASKETBALL

          Instilling discipline,  as mentioned in my prior post, in any sports activity is very essential. No matter how talented and gifted a player is yet if he is devoid of the sense of discipline in himself then everything will be in vain. To add to that, any player as well needs to practice focus aside from being disciplined. Being focus means one is able to concentrate solely on his present activity. In basketball and in any other game, one's ability to stay focus counts so much since it allows any player to see everything that is happening on the hardcourt either on actual or  practice game. 

          Focus as well is related to one's ability to develop and maintain mental toughness in oneself. Negative contributors such as vices and other extra curricular activities must be set aside so that one's goal of success will be attained. Basketball is a tough game and one will surely fail if he allows himself to be distracted by unnecessary activities aside from practicing and playing. We can mention prominent names in the game such as Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul Jabaar, Larry Bird, Shin Dong Pa, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Samboy Lim  and many more. Among them, positive qualities and traits are present such as passion, self confidence, perseverance and those I mentioned like discipline and focus. For a long time, they have excelled in the game for they were able to focus on the game. As human as we are, there were chapters in their lives that they also encountered challenges, problems and other forms of distractions however they continued to emerge as winners since they are disciplined and focused.

          Any aspiring player should consistently bear in mind that to reach the top, focus should be one of the top priorities among others. Be present on the now  moment in practice and in actual games. Learn to think of just one thing in any given moment. Finally discipline and focus mean SUCCESS in the game. 

BASKETBALL FUN FACTS

          Even when I was still a young kid, I was already a sports buff. Among so many sports, basketball has become my favorite even at  a  young age. When we were still young and during break time in school, I and my classmates used to play it even just for a limited time. Inspired by its wonderful world, I religiously followed its every professional game in our country on television and on sports magazines. It was so famous that everywhere one can witness both old and young alike playing it on various kinds of courts such as cemented, asphalted, etc.

          Hence with such as background, it is with enormous joy to share with you some of its interesting facts.

• James Naismith, a teacher at a YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts, is credited with inventing basketball in 1891.
• The first “hoops” were actually just peach baskets and the first backboards were made of wire.
• The game became an official Olympic event at the Summer Games in Berlin, Germany in 1936.
• Two leagues called the National Basketball League (NBL) and the Basketball Association of America (BAA) merged after the 1948-49 season to become today's National Basketball Association (NBA).
• The Boston Celtics have won the most NBA championships (17), including seven straight from 1960 to 1966.
• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who played 20 seasons in the NBA, holds the record for most points scored in a career with 38,387.
• On March 2, 1962, Philadelphia center Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in one game against New York. That is the most one player has ever scored in one game.
• Current Atlanta Hawks coach Lenny Wilkens has won more basketball games than any other coach.
• The American Basketball Association (ABA) was a 10-team rival league to the NBA that began play in the 1967-68 season and folded nine years later after the 1975-76 season. Four current NBA teams – Indiana, Denver, New York, and San Antonio – originated in the ABA.
• The NBA instituted the three-pointer before the 1979-80 season, an idea it borrowed from the ABA.
• The Chicago Bulls have won all six NBA Finals in which they've appeared.
  

  AP Photos

• Michael Jordan, who retired in January 1999 but returned to the league in 2001, has scored more points (5,987) in the playoffs than any other player.
• The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is located in Springfield, Mass.

                               (Source: www.factmonster.com)

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23 Mar. 2013 .