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Arenaball Philippines Analysis (Juggernauts vs Barracudas) – April 23, 2010

03 Jun

I love the intensity that American Football brings and I am a sucker for it. This is why I feel down whenever it’s NFL offseason. Sure there’s the combine and the draft and the training camp but nothing beats the weekly games. It’s a good thing though that the Philippines has already tackled Tackle or American Football through Arenaball. While I haven’t watched a live game, I can feel the sudden adrenaline rush from the players when they line up for scrimmage.

And to think, I am seeing the game through the videos posted online at the Arenaball Philippines official website. Also, I am such a sucker for American Football that I love knowing more about its Science and Literature. Science in the sense of player movement and play recognition and literature in the form of playsheets. I’ve read about the West Coast offense, K-Gun offense, Tampa 2, 46 defense and the more I read, the more I yearn for more.

And because I love American Football very much, I will try to analyze Arenaball games here. As a disclaimer, I am no expert. I will do it just for the fun of it.

Arenaball Philippines kicked-off during the 23rd of April at the Marikina Sports Center. Since there are four inaugural teams, there were two games at hand. The second game was between the Bandits and the Wolves while the first game was a gridiron battle between the Juggernauts and Barracudas. While the second game was a blow-out by the Bandits (more about it on a feature blog post), the first game was contested until the end when the Barracudas scored a late-game touchdown and a two-point conversion to sneak by with a 15-14 victory.

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Robinson Carries Celtics NATE-tion to the NBA Finals

29 May

During the last 2010 Sprite Slam Dunk contest, Nate Robinson wore a New York Knicks uniform to show “Superman” Dwight Howard that he is the man-mountain’s worst nightmare. After that duel, Kryptonate suspended all five feet and nine inches of him to dunk over Howard to win the competition.

Months after, who would have thought that Robinson would be wearing a green-colored jersey for a long time. And who would have thought that Kryptonate would once again plague not only Superman Howard but the entire Orlando Magic team. Well, Doc Rivers does. He injected so much confidence into Robinson that he even said in a press conference that “when we are out flat, he is going to win a game for us.”

Even Magic Johnson predicted in the pre-game show that Nate Robinson would be the telling factor in this game if he can make the most out of his minutes. Seems like the Magic is still with Earvin Johnson and not with the Orlando squad.

The Magic were in high spirits coming into the sixth game of the NBA 2010 Eastern Conference Finals for they have won two straight game to narrow down what was once a 3-0 series advantage for the Celtics. Magic won Game 4 in overtime and it seemed that they got back their magic prior to Game 5 en route to a huge win.

At the start of Game 6, the match was pretty much a stalemate with both teams trading their wits. Boston would play an aggressive brand of ball and the Magic would find a way to fight back. What it seems to be smooth sailing for the green and white then took a stopover when Rajon Rondo drove hard to the basket, fished a foul but fell hard on the parquet. Upon falling, Rondo grabbed his lower back and a sudden rush of hush spread over the manic Celtic crowd.

In comes Robinson and out from the bat, he drained a three-ball. Then, he had a pocket pass to Kevin Garnett. He also put pressure on Jameer Nelson who couldn’t get his long range game going. Then, he converted a Steve Nash-like one foot fade-away. With the smallest player on the floor playing with the biggest of hearts, he scored 13 points off the bench to extend the Celtics’ lead for good.

This game seems to be a vindication for Nate the Great after spending those frustrating years with the New York Knicks. He has experienced being a star in Broadway, a supporting cast or an understudy. And with his latest performance, he dunked his way to Celtic lore and he dunked his team through the NBA Finals.

Perhaps the Celtics set-up is perfect for Robinson for he is not placed in a position wherein he has to score big. Unlike in New York where he practically was one of the main offensive weapons, he is part of an able support cast in Boston. And when the pressure is off, it is when he probably shines the brightest.

Robinson proved that the biggest surprises come in small packages. And though he looks like a kid in a man’s world when he steps into the court, you cannot kid about the fact that he is just another slam dunk champion.

And as the final buzzer sounded to give the Celtics the victory, Superman Dwight Howard will start his search for an antidote to Kryptonate during the off-season.

 
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