to live, to love, to learn, to leave a legacy… and to laugh along the way
The growth of women’s professional volleyball in the Philippines has been a pleasant surprise. And its increasing popularity among Filipino sports fans was seen in the recent AWV Challenge Cup. Basketball used to be clearly head-and-shoulders above all other spectator sports in the country. But a variety of reasons have somehow affected the popularity of men’s professional basketball. This has given other sports the opportunity to stake their claim on the Philippine sports map.
With the much-maligned homecourt advantage with them, will the powerhouse Boston Celtics finish it off to finally win the 2024 NBA title? And secure their 18th title? Or will the Mavs, drawing special inspiration from their huge win today, be able to steal another game? And stage an epic comeback? What you got?
Game 2 is on Sunday at Boston’s TD Garden. Expect the Mavs to come better prepared, with defensive and offensive options with Porzingis in mind. Expect the Celtics to try to erase the stigma of their Game 2 meltdowns. Expect the Boston crowd to be noisy. This should be a game to behold. I still got the Mavs giving the Celts a good fight. Who you got? Be there or be square.
The Celtics are the prohibitive favorites in this series and have homecourt advantage. But the Mavericks have won seven of their nine road games during these playoffs, and their confidence has soared sky-high. The Celtics obtained the regular season honors, but the Mavs racked up the more difficult playoff-war medals. This should be a close one here. Who you got?
If there is one big lesson to be learned from the glorious journey taken by our Alas Pilipinas girls, it is the need for unity of purpose, dedication and teamwork to enhance the individual talents of our players. Individual talent is important, but these individual talents, when stitched together, will form a formidable centerpiece that will bring in that elusive crown. As you strive for the team’s glory, always strive first for unity and teamwork.
It’s Luka Doncic versus Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum against Tyrese Haliburton as the NBA season nears its climax. Two of these new breed of stars will step forward to the centerstage. And whosoever wins it all next month will have the distinction of having won the crown at a younger age than such basketball greats as Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Steph Curry or Kevin Durant.
Color My World 