In a previous column, I wrote that Celtic Pride would prevail over championship experience. That was a wrong statement, you just cannot neglect a team that have been playing together for a decade. Reminds me of our Tri-Media Olympics years back where I was the oldest entry in the 400m run. The event was not even my specialty as I’m a long distance runner. At the starting line, I heard the other entries whispering that I’m too old at over 50 for the sprint. But they forgot I had been running for over 30 years at the time of the competition. Well, the unexperienced mediamen started like a house on fire, only to lose steam in the last 100 meters. I won the gold medal, beating my competitors, half my age. That’s experience. Back to the NBA, the Celtics went to the championship with not a single player having Finals experience. On the other hand, the Warriors have players who suited in 123 Finals appearance, with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala and Kevin Looney, leading the charge. Then there’s that fatigue factor. Jason Tatum just lost steam in the last three games of the Finals. Imagine, leading the Celtics against the likes of powerhouse teams Brooklyn, Milwaukee and Miami, before taking on Golden State. The Splash Brothers and Green have 20 wins together in the Finals, a second best for any NBA trio since 1970. Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Magic Johnson, and Michael Cooper won 22 Finals game with the Los Angeles Lakers. Not only that, Steve Kerr has been around for the Warriors’ six NBA Finals stint including five straight from 2015 to 2019. The addition of Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole did wonders for Golden State. In Game 6, Wiggins scored 18 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 blocked shots while Poole added 15 points. Klay Thompson and Green each scored 12 points. Jalen Brown was Boston’s top scorer with 34 with Al Horford chipping in, 19. Tatum and Marcus Smart were a disappointment with 13 and 9 points respectively. Adding to the Celtics scoring woes were Derrick White who was outstanding in the first two Finals games could only score 2 points and Grant Williams with 3. Anyway, coach Ime Udoka, who made wonders with the Celtics this season, promised to bounce back next year, that’s Celtic Pride!
Iloilo leads Wesley 80 Cup
After failing to win the championship the last time around in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) Online Tournament, the Iloilo Kisela Knights are back on the warpath. NM Cesar Mariano said after Saturday’s twin kill in the Wesley So Cup, the Knights are undefeated in 17 games. In their last game, Iloilo blasted Rizal 16-5, then mangled Quezon 14-6.5. The Knights are stronger this tournament with the addition of GM Hovhannes Gabuzyan, 27, of Yerevan, Armenia, who boasts of a 2586 Elo rating. Of course, Iloilo’s other GM is Joey Antonio. Over in the Northern Division, Caloocan is the surprise leader with defending champion Pasig and San Juan, occupying the next two places. The Toledo Trojans are in 5th place while Cebu City is in ninth, in the Southern Division. Iloilo is also bannered by WFM Cherry Ann Mejia, NM Cesar Mariano, NM Fritz Porras NM Rolly Parondo, Karl Victor Ochoa and Mark Mariano.
Pope Francis
was given a bullet-proof Lamborghini, made specially for him. He thanked the donor and a week later, he sold it for $3 million dollars and donated the money to orphanage and charities in Africa, saying he’s a simple man and the car is just too fancy.