UP vs NU 2010-08-07 14:00 2010-08-07 16:00 Filoil Arena
UST vs FEU 2010-08-07 16:00 2010-08-07 18:00 Filoil Arena

2nd Round- September 19 @ 1215AM and 3AM
Semifinals- September 20 @ 1230AM and 3AM3rd Place- September 21 @ 1230AM

Finals- September 21 @ 315AM

BTV

2nd Round- September 19 @ 1215AM and 3AM
Semifinals- September 20 @ 1230AM and 3AM
3rd Place- September 21 @ 1230AM
Finals- September 21 @ 315AM

BTV

2nd Round- September 19 @ 1215AM and 3AM
Semifinals- September 20 @ 1230AM and 3AM
3rd Place- September 21 @ 1230AM
Finals- September 21 @ 315AM

BTV

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Destiny 82

Former Talk N Text players Yancy de Ocampo and Leo Avenido both of Air21 are now back in the Phonepals' camp following a trade that sent rookies Abby Santos and Mark Andaya and two future first round picks (2009 and 2010) to the Express.

It could be recalled that both de Ocampo and Avenido were traded by Talk N Text to Air21 previously for Anthony Washington and in the three-team deal involving John Ferriols and Willie Miller, Renren Ritualo and Don Allado and TNT future draft picks in 2006 and 2007.

Talk N Text tried to pry away Yancy de Ocampo several times in the offseason but couldn't get a deal to go down. Now, they have Yancy back and their frontline corps look more formidable than before and rival that of SMC sister teams Brgy Ginebra and San Miguel Beer. Consider this: Yancy and Asi at the 4-5 slots with Harvey Carey and Don Allado providing the support inside. This move guarantees a tough match-up to whoever Talk N Text faces in the quarters.

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In the early years of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), there was a restriction that applied to big men Ramon Fernandez and Abet Guidaben. They could only be traded to each other and couldn't be on the same team. The idea was to balance the power or even the competition among the teams in the league. Fernandez and Guidaben were the dominant big men during the PBA's yesteryears and with them on one team would tremendously tilt the balance of the league. Manny Victorino and Yoyoy Villamin would later join that elite list. As parity was achieved that policy was slowly removed. We could see the same policy applying to the league with the recent approval of the Restricted Trading List (RTL) by the PBA Board.

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As expected, Allen Iverson is now officially a Denver Nugget. Sixers GM Billy King finally gave in to the Nuggets offer of Andre Miller, Joe Smith, and 2 future 1st round picks. The Nuggets get AI plus seldomly used Ivan Mcfarlin, who will most probably be waived in a couple of days. King was desperately trying to bring in a third team into the mix to sweeten the deal, but he finally realized that the longer he waits, Iversons value may drop even more. So instead of seeking a young stud the Sixers settled for 2 1st rounders, 1 of which will be coming from Dallas. In Miller they get a former assists leader who can stem the tide while the Sixers rebuild through the draft. The Nuggets on the other hand will have the deadliest offensive rotation of the season in AI, J.R. Smith, and Carmelo Anthony (once the latter 2 return from their suspensions). With a healthy Marcus Camby controlling the boards the Nuggets will run and gun its way into the playoffs. I can't wait to watch the Nuggets next game versus the Phoenix Suns!

Ok, maybe not for the love of God. How about, for the love of all that is great and sacred about the game of basketball. Or for the love of the hallowed halls of Madison Square Garden, the mecca of the game. Or for the love of the values and maturity you can learn from sports. Or maybe it's as simple as, for the love of all the fans of the New York Knicks.

Isiah Thomas has got to go. Never have I encountered a sports superstar so determined to make people forget how great he was. There was a time I like many others idolized him, a deserving Hall of Famer, perennial All Star and example of a great athlete and player of the sport.

But what he has done until recently is nothing less than unforgivable. He has transformed the mighty Knickerbockers, once an unyielding force and the source of great and memorable contests of the game to a mere laughing stock, a dumping ground for has - beens, inflated egos and their even more inflated salaries.

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As the days click by, Allen Iverson is still a Sixer and more and more of the suitors this past week were saying they were on the outside of the hunt. Here is what was known as of last night – Allen Iverson is expected to be a Denver Nugget as early as Wednesday (this was before the brawl in New York), the deal is expected to include as many as two other teams. With The Clippers and Bobcats the likely trade partners, depending on who you listen to. The Players involved may not be as sexy as Sixer fans had hoped for.

Word has it Iverson lands in Denver, who basically ships out the two draft picks they have for the 2007 draft, Joe Smith as a serviceable ending contract, Linas Kleiza and pieces from other teams. There are conflicting reports on whether Nene leaves Denver in this deal. Nuggets sources say the 76ers had little to no interest in Nene, while a league source said they heard the Sixers wanted Nene. Its also possible Nene could be the chip used by a third or fourth team to make this swing – Clippers sources deny any interest in Nene, although Elton Brand’s backup is Tim Thomas and the team has Chris Kaman battling injury. The puzzle is not an easy one to solve, and Sixers GM Billy King is being very tight lipped about the process, with most of the intelligence on the situation coming from people outside of the discussion.

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Ah yes, there's nothing like the 2nd worst NBA bench clearing brawl to mark the oncoming Yuletide season noted for brotherly love and affection.

In a game between the Knicks vs. Nuggets at Madison Square Garden, Dec. 16, 2006, Knick guard Nate Robinson, in the most intellectual decision I've seen yet on a basketball court, decided to 'protect' his angelic teammate Mardy Collins.

Obviously MENSA level thinkers, his teammates, namely Jared Jeffries, Channing Frye and David Lee, then decide to join in.

You can't deny the feeling of raw intelligence in the Garden when Denver players Carmelo Anthony, Marcus Camby, Andre Miller, Eduardo Najera and J.R. Smith join the festivities. For their trouble, all were ejected.

Video after the jump.

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Today, 4pm at the Philsports Arena, I am taking a break from the Iverson watch as my beloved DLSU Green Archers are going for the championship vs. the JRU Heavy Bombers in the Nike/Fil-Oil/Flying-V Homegrown Cup.

Yes, I used the world 'beloved' not only because I am an alumni and serious fan of the only team I've had a real affiliation with for many many years, it's also because this is the only time I've had a chance to cheer and even talk about them in a basketball tournament context, in light of their ban in the UAAP.

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According to NBA sources, the deal that would bring Sixer star Allen Iverson to the Denver Nuggets appears to be close and could happen as early as tomorrow.

A source familiar with the negotiations said that it would be a complicated trade involving at least three teams and at least five players. The identities of the teams and the other players involved have not been disclosed yet but the Nuggets would likely give up their two first round draft picks in next year's draft (it should be lottery-protected in anticipation of the Greg Oden sweepstakes) and a high-priced personnel or two (could be Nene or Kenyon Martin and JR Smith or Andre Miller) to balance the salaries out.

Link

This picture of Pau Gasol should get fellow Ballex writer John Knight's heart pumping, considering he's one of the players John is counting on in our Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball League. He has been holding on to the guy since Day One (I think), and fortunately for him, this article where he talks about his World Championship teammates, his cellar dwelling Grizzlies and his up and coming NBA teammates amongst other things, has nothing but good news, saying "All signs point toward him returning sooner than expected. In fact, he’s already participating in contact practices with his teammates and engaging in physical adaptation training sessions".

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The Phlippine Basketball Association (PBA) will be launching a new TV magazine show "iPBA" next year. The weekly show will be hosted by showbiz personality and sex icon Asia Agcaoili. The 30-minute TV program, dubbed "Bagong Laro", will feature the top players of the league, stories behind games, offcourt activities and other scintillating topics for hardcore PBA fanatics. The program is divided into the following segments: the PBA Insider, Eye PBA and Shocking Asia, and also exclusive footages of offcourt activities, hobbies, favorite hangouts, charity events and other interests of several PBA players. Check out the segments below:

1) PBA Insider - an exclusive peek into the hottest intrigues and controversies around the league. This is very similar the ESPN Insider. This is I think the most interesting portion of the show.

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