After two months, this blog returns with a new name.

It has been two months since I last wrote something in this blog. When I was reeling from the heartbreak one guy from Portland, Oregon named Damian Lillard ended the playoff run of my beloved team the Houston Rockets. But yeah, I moved on from all of that. Plenty of things happened since. Now, I'm back with a new name and a new look for this blog.

Starting today, this thought ladder I built for the last two years will now be called Manila Red Nation. It's a simple name but speaks well of who I really am. A Filipino fan of the Houston Rockets. Of course, my blog will not always talk about basketball. It will always be about my thoughts on different things happening in my life and the world around us. As with this entry, it's a catch-up of what happened since I last wrote here.

As for Lillard and his Portland Trail Blazers, they met their Waterloo in a five game defeat to the eventual NBA Champions, the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs dethroned the two-time NBA champions Miami Heat, also in five games to claim their fifth NBA title in franchise history. Though my team failed to win it all this season. At least, the team I picked in the Finals won.

Then the 2014 NBA Draft happened. The Cleveland Cavaliers would pick Kansas forward Andrew Wiggins #1 overall in the third time they picked #1 in the last four years. Then LeBron James decided to come home and once again play for his beloved Northeast Ohio when he made his decision to return to the Cavaliers after four years in South Beach where he led them to two NBA titles. That move set off a domino effect on the other free agents across the league. Players moved teams, while some stayed. Notable moves so far were Pau Gasol to the Bulls, Paul Pierce to the Wizards, Jason Kidd to coach the Bucks, Lionel Hollins to coach the Nets. While notable hold-overs were Miami's Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh and New York's Carmelo Anthony.

As for the Rockets so far, Chandler Parsons left for the Mavericks, Jeremy Lin was traded to the Lakers, Omer Asik was traded to the Pelicans. While some former Rockets returned to the fold with Trevor Ariza (from the Wizards) and Joey Dorsey (last played for FC Barcelona in Spain) returning to the fold. They will also bring Dorsey's FC Barcelona teammate in Greek player Kostas Papanikolau which the Rockets also hold the rights for. Still, it was painful when Chris Bosh who was deemed to join the Rockets after LeBron's move decided to stay with the Heat. So far, it's a strikeout, the team has yet to get a possible third piece to truly contend for the title. But the off-season is far from over. Who knows what may happen.

With LeBron James coming home, it's an opportunity for me to rekindle the time I supported "The King" during his first stint with the Cavaliers. I admit I was one of those guys who did not like see him leave Cleveland for Miami. For four years, I rooted against him and the Heat. But now that he's back, apart from the fact that the Rockets will always be my #1 team to root for. I would love for him to lead Cleveland to an NBA championship that has been long overdue.

With NBA off-season in full swing. We also witnessed the first PBA Grand Slam in 16 years with the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers win all three conferences this season. UAAP basketball is back, in my first year to root for the UST Growling Tigers as an alumnus. I do hope the long overdue UAAP basketball title will come to España this year. And our national team Gilas Pilipinas are making their preparations for the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain and the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea. A must-watch will be "The Last Homestand" as Gilas Pilipinas will battle the Fibr All-Stars composed of NBA stars like Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, Blake Griffin, James Harden, Paul George, Damian Lillard, Kyle Lowry, and many more and will be spearheaded by former NBA coach John Lucas coming up tomorrow at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Well, that's enough of the basketball talk, over the last month, I watched the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil to get a taste of what the world's #1 sport is really like. We've seen it all. The defending champions Spain getting knocked out early, Countries from the Americas having a field day in the group stage. The US team winning American hearts. Luis Suarez's bite costing Uruguay. Colombia's new ace in James (pronounced Ha-mes) Rodriguez. Brazilian star Neymar getting hurt. The host nation giving up 10 goals in their last two games to settle a disappointing 4th place behind the Netherlands. Argentina's Lionel Messi winning the Golden Boot. But the tournament belonged to Die Mannschaft as Germany knocked off Argentina for their fourth World Cup title at the world famous Maracaña Stadium in Rio de Janeiro as Mario Götze becomes the 2014 version of Andres Iniesta with an extra time goal that propelled the Germans to the title and denying Argentina the pleasure of winning a World Cup on the soil of their eternal rivals in Brazil.

As for my personal life. Well, I'll be looking for a job very soon. I just need some inspiration on what I will do in my life in the future. I need a few more stops to get a feel for what I need to do in life. I'd be looking forward to register for the 2016 national elections after failing 2 years ago since I made my move very late. To cap everything off, I'm looking forward to actively blog here once again especially with the new look and new inspiration I'm getting with the name change.

So with all that I have written today. I welcome you to the new face of my thought ladder that is Manila Red Nation.

This blog entry is dedicated to my late grandmother Juliana "Inay Laki" Deriquito-Reyes who passed away last June 13 at the age of 89.

Coming off the shelf!
K-Smoove