Winding down the sembreak. Back to the grind in a couple of hours.

Today is the final day of the semestral break which began three weeks ago. Well, it was an eventful one. From going home to the province to catch some cool air, to going out watching a basketball game live. From playing basketball with some of my friends to the ever feared release of the grades from the last semester. From the end of the college basketball season to the start of a new NBA season. From lazy days at home to active mornings playing hoops every morning, and a lot of other happenings this semestral break.  

Unfortunately, there was one thing that I was unable to do during the semestral break, and that was to try out NBA 2K13. I installed it successfully on my PC. Unfortunately, the game never played. It turned out the OS I'm using is not up to date and cannot carry the game. Well, I wanted to try it out on a computer shop. Then again, most of the time I was broke all vacation long due to the fact I don't get allowance (when I get some to go out, it's spent right away). Well I should learn saving money. One day, I'll finally get to try the game. I really wanted to use the Houston Rockets with James Harden aboard once I get the chance.

Well in a few hours, it's back to the grind of going back to school to continue my España journey. Well, on the first day. It happened that we only have one class since most of my classes in the morning will be cut to make way for a faculty meeting prior to the start of the year. This year, I'm aiming for a comeback. Easier said than done, but I'm all in and ready to bring everything I have. It will be a challenging semester for sure. Still, we need to stay positive and find fun in tough situations. I hope I can make the best of this coming semester, because right now, I need a good one this semester. I cannot wait to see all of my friends at school.

The journey continues, the return begins.
K-Smoove is all in

For the love of the game.

Yes as you may know and see on most of my blog posts. I always talk about basketball. Well, basketball is my favorite sport as stated in my previous blog entry from last April (Me and my basketball. We take it all the way.), when I have free time, I always take to the basketball court and work on my skills. I have come a long way from the time I started playing basketball when I was a little kid. The semestral break has given me the time to get out every morning to play basketball and do some jogging afterwards. Playing a sport is a good exercise. Especially I badly need to get activity going into my body system.

For three!

Today, I played basketball at the UP Gym with a few of my friends from my high school troupe, it's the first time we played basketball again after we graduated three years back. Unfortunately, not every one were able to come due to other commitments. We spent a good portion of more than 2 hours inside the gym. I'm impressed that my friends improved their basketball skills from the last time we played together. I played my best, even my friends saw a bit of change from me since the last time we played. Unfortunately, it wasn't a smooth ride for me. I "flamed" out and was not able to put my best effort in the ballgame. My shots weren't falling and I was playing bad defense. Well, fatigue is my worst enemy when playing the game. I always get exhausted quickly. So whenever we play a regular game I would like to come off the bench and not play as a starter. Still, I would like to thank my friends JL, Gelo, Baña, Josh, Hansel (Gelo's classmate) and JC (Josh's friend) for spending the afternoon playing hoops.

I hope the next time we play hoops, the whole troupe will be there. For now, it's back to the drawing board for me, and I'll be back on the court soon to practice and improve my skills once again.

Playing for the love of the game.

K-Smoove

The toughest one yet. Aiming for a comeback.

Yesterday, the "mad scramble" rolled along as thousands of Thomasian students took to their computer sets to check on their grades for the 1st semester of AY 2012-13 on the myUSTe Portal. Some students stayed up well into the night of Friday until the early hours of yesterday to check on the grades. For the next 12 or so hours, there were no updates of the grades. At around 1:00 pm, the first round of students were able to check on their grades. Unlike the previous semester, where access was relatively smooth. It was a mixed theme this semester, for some people were able to access quicker than others. Some had to wait for a long time before they get their chance on the site. Generally, my friends had positive outlooks on their grades. Some excelled, while others were happy they made it through. However, there were some who had a difficult time in dealing with their grades.

As for me, well it was a case of "Thank God! I survived!". Well because, I did not return to the Dean's List for a second consecutive semester and this was the lowest semestral average I got in my last five semesters in UST. Yet despite those setbacks, I never failed any subject thus I keep my status as a regular student . I have not tasted a grade of 3.0 (on-the-nose passed) so far in any of the subjects I have taken, and I'm still in the running to graduate with honors. 

I admit, this semester was the toughest one so far in my España journey . Because it came to a point where I almost failed a couple of subjects, and the fact that the semester tested me both on and off the classroom. A notable happening was when I played the role of a "Devil's Adovcate" in the conceptualization of our event for one of our subjects where I got into arguments with my blockmates and to points during the whole process that tested each and every one of us to the limit. Yet despite these things that happened, it ended successfully and we were all given high marks for it. A thing about this semester is that I excelled in some subjects more than others. These things happened because of my own decisions and work. I gave my heart and mind into everything that happened this semester. These were the best things that I can do and there is nothing I can do to turn it back again.

Five semesters down, three more to go. We're coming to the conclusion of our own España journey. All I need to do now is to get enrolled for the next semester and as soon as I get back to continue my journey at the university, I'm going to aim for a BIG COMEBACK! Next semester for sure will be a challenge for each and every one of us, I'll be coming in smarter to get back stronger. But that is easier said than done. It's on me to make it all happen. I'm hungry and more determined than ever to come back smarter and stronger.

In the meantime, I can now sleep at peace for the rest of our semestral break and enjoy life free from tons of school work and the hassles of waking up early to get to school.

Once again CONGRATULATIONS to those who excelled at the same time to those who are happy they made it through the struggles of school life.

A pat to the back to those who were not so fortunate with the results. Keep the faith and come back next time stronger!

#thecomeback
K-Smoove

We are well under way. Take out the boredom.

We are well within the semestral break which will last for the next 3 weeks. It's an opportunity for the students to take their well-deserved rest after a grueling yet fun first semester of classes. It's also gives students who live in the provinces to come home to their respective hometowns after living in dormitories or condominiums all-semester long.


For me, my semestral break did not start early. As I had to finish some schoolwork that has been left behind after the final examinations. Due to this, I was unable to go back to our province of Batangas to visit my relatives, celebrate the debut of my cousin and spend time in a resort by the Taal Lake and has a great view of Taal Volcano. After that, once I passed everything. My semestral break is now well under way.

Of course, the semestral break gave me an opportunity to do things that I was unable to do during the whole semester due to the busy schedule I have all semester long, and that was to play basketball early in the morning or take a jog if other people are playing at the basketball court. It gave me an opportunity to practice my shooting from inside and outside, at the same time it keeps my body active and in good shape. I really hope I can play basketball with my high school friends. It has been a very long time since I stepped on the court with my friends from high school.

Aside from that, I really hope in this semestral break, I can secure an original copy the PC version of NBA 2K13.

 ©2K Sports

I'm pursuing an original copy, because the last time I purchased which was NBA 2K12. There were a lot of glitches which stalled my progress as I played the game. Though it will be a pain on the pocket if I purchase an original copy. At least, it would be all worth the price. I cannot wait to try out Linsanity playing Rockets uniform. The many roster changes like Dwight Howard and Steve Nash going to the Lakers. Ray Allen in a Heat uniform. Brandon Roy's return to the NBA and many more. Other things I want to try are the NBA All-Star Game which will be played in Houston. "The Dream Team" and the 2012 USA Olympic Team. The new myTeam mode as well as a reloaded myPlayer mode. NBA 2K has already made a lot of huge steps, from the time they were behind EA's NBA Live series to being the best basketball game on the planet. I can't wait to try it out for myself.

In the meantime, I will go back to being a child again, because of the Lego Digital Designer we just downloaded to build virtual Lego designs. However, nothing beats building a Lego in real life with the bricks and pieces. Well, The Lego Story on YouTube, shows the history behind a classic.

Aside from these, I cannot wait for the the upcoming 2012-13 NBA season, which will begin on October 31. This season will be very interesting from the many roster changes that had changed the landscape of the NBA to the new rookies coming into the league. It will also be the debut season of the Brooklyn Nets who moved from New Jersey and are donning new uniforms and a new stadium for the season. Games to watch out are the returns of players to the homecourts of their old teams like Dwight Howard in Orlando. Steve Nash in Phoenix. Ray Allen in Boston. Joe Johnson in Atlanta. Jeremy Lin in New York. Andre Iguodala in Philadelphia. Andrew Bynum in Los Angeles. Brandon Roy in Portland and a host of other players who changed teams this season. Also to watch out are the many rivalry games that will happen all-season long. As well as the returns of injured players in the middle of the season like Derrick Rose, Dwight Howard and Ricky Rubio. As well as the upcoming 2013 NBA All-Star Game to be held in Houston. This upcoming season will be a sure hit.

It's been a couple of days since the semestral break began. I really hope I can make the best out of these days before we head back to school this November.

Let's make the best out of this.

K-Smoove