Last chance for NBA prizes

Today, the 60th National Basketball Association (NBA) season gets underway and the 1,230-game schedule is off to a furious start with Solar Sports airing 17 contests featuring 21 different teams up to next Wednesday or an average of two a day.

The Solar package will telecast nearly 50 games a month during the regular season and it’s probably the most comprehensive coverage in the world, outside the US. No wonder Solar marketing head Jude Turcuato is upbeat on the NBA this year.

"We had a very successful NBA trade launch last September for the agencies and the marketing groups of different brands and it seems that based on the response and the initial sales numbers, we are very much ahead of schedule compared to last year’s Premier Week," said Turcuato.

With so many games in the calendar, Turcuato said the challenge is to make sure fans know when their favorite teams and players are lined up.

"The staff is already doing the legwork to work with hotels, sports stores, restaurants and bars to include our schedule of games in tent cards and posters in the establishments to be updated regularly," added Turcuato. "Our message this year will be more to educate those who are not diehard NBA fans because we feel that we already have the attention of those who follow basketball closely. The more they know, the more they’re likely to watch."

Solar channel manager Martin David said live games will be shown daily with replays at 9 p.m on the Solar network.

Here’s the week’s schedule on the Solar channel. Nov. 2–Denver vs. San Antonio, 9 a.m. and Dallas vs. Phoenix, 11:30 a.m. Nov. 3–Miami vs. Memphis, 9 a.m. and the Lakers vs. Denver, 11:30 a.m. Nov. 4–Phoenix vs. the Lakers, 11:30 a.m. Nov. 5–Detroit vs. Boston, 8:30 a.m. and Utah vs. Golden State, 11:30 a.m. Nov. 6–Philadelphia vs. Indiana, 9 a.m., Minnesota vs. the Clippers, 11:30 a.m., New Orleans vs. Houston, 6 p.m. Nov. 7–Sacramento vs. Phoenix, 9 a.m. and Denver vs. the Lakers, 11:30 a.m. Nov. 8–New Jersey vs. Miami, 8:30 a.m. and San Antonio vs. Chicago, 11 a.m.

On RPN, Solar is beaming about 100 games all the way to the Finals. During the regular season, the schedule is on Sundays at 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. and Mondays at 7:30 p.m. Additionally, Solar is producing "NBA Jam" to be shown Sundays at 12:30 p.m. with hosts Vito Lazatin and Reema Chanco.

This Sunday, the RPN games are New Orleans vs. Houston at 10 a.m. and Philadelphia vs. Indiana at 9 p.m. On Monday, it"ll be Golden State vs. New York at 7:30 p.m.

Starting Nov. 9, Sports Plus will air two games every Wednesday. The first pairings are Detroit vs. Sacramento at 11 a.m. (replay at 7 p.m.) and Orlando vs. Houston at 9:30 p.m. In December, Sports Plus will let fans decide which game they want to watch by texting their preferences.

Beyond the TV schedule, Solar will also feature a game on Blazin" 105.9 FM radio every Monday and Thursday at 7:30 a.m. Today"s game is Milwaukee vs Philadelphia.

David said outside of the games, Solar will also be showing NBA programs like TV Daily, NBA Jam, Hardwood Classics, Greatest Games and other All-Access shows every day. That kind of dosage is definitely addicting.

And of course, Solar will be sending local commentators for the NBA All-Star Game in Houston and the Finals.

It’s your last chance to send in entries for our three-part NBA contest. We’re picking 15 Star readers to win an NBA "loot bag" each. A bag is either a San Antonio Spurs or a Houston Rockets backpack. The contents in a bag vary and may contain caps, baller IDs, wrist bands, pillows, towels, socks, rain jackets and drinking bottles–all brandishing NBA team logos.

We’ll pick five winners for last Sunday’s column, five for yesterday’s column and five more for today’s column.

The questions in Sunday’s column were: (1) Who is the Lakers coach this season" (2) Who were the two NBA veterans recruited by San Antonio last summer to join the Spurs"

The questions in yesterday’s column were: (1) Who was the Denver Nuggets leading scorer last season" (2) Who steered the Detroit Pistons to the 2003-04 NBA title and is now the New York Knicks coach"

The questions in today’s column are: (1) Who was the NBA Finals MVP last season" (2) Who is the PBA veteran hired by San Antonio as an assistant coach and shooting doctor this year"

Write your answers in a slip of paper. Don’t forget to write your name, age, address, telephone number and occupation (if student, your grade or year, course and school) and in 100 words or less, why you love the NBA. If you’re answering questions in Sunday’s column, mark "Sunday" outside your envelope. If you’re answering questions in Tuesday’s column, mark "Tuesday" and if you’re answering questions in today’s column, mark "Wednesday." You have up to Friday to mail your entries to "NBA Loot Bag" A Sporting Chance, Philippine Star Sports, 13th and Oca Streets, Port Area, Manila, or drop them directly at the Star office.

Send in as many entries as you wish but there will be no multiple winners, meaning a winner on one day is not eligible to win on the other days.