2013 NBA All-Star Weekend Special!

With the busy personal schedule I have been having over the past few weeks, I was unable to write the NBA weekly blog for the past few weeks. Well, today here is a special edition of the NBA weekly blog, the 2013 NBA All-Star Weekend Special!

The West defeat the East 143-138 in 2013 All-Star Game.

Chris Paul crowned All-Star Game MVP

Photo ©NBA.com

For the third straight season, the Western Conference All-Stars defeat the Eastern Conference All-Stars at the 2013 NBA All-Star Game held at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas with the score of 143-138.  

Leading the way for the West was Clippers point guard Chris Paul who came up with a double-double 20 points and 15 assists, together with 4 steals. Paul was also crowned the All-Star Game MVP. Thunder forward Kevin Durant led all scorers with 30 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals. Paul's Clipper teammate Blake Griffin added 19 points while James Harden of the host team the Houston Rockets scored 15 points off the bench.

The East were led by the Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony who finished with a double-double 26 points and 12 rebounds. Heat guard Dwayne Wade added 21 points, 7 assists and 2 steals. While his teammate LeBron James added 19 points and 5 assists. Pacers guard Paul George came off the bench and scored 17 points.

Box Score:

WEST 143 - Durant 30, Paul 20, Griffin 19, Harden 15, Westbrook 14, Parker 13, Bryant 9, Howard 9, Randolph 6, Lee 6, Duncan 2, Aldridge 0

EAST 138 - Anthony 26, Wade 21, James 19, George 17, Irving 15, Deng 10, Noah 8, Chandler 7, Bosh 6, Holiday 6, Lopez 3, Garnett 0

Meanwhile, on a revamped All-Star Saturday Night festivities, the West led by captain Chris Paul also knocked off the East led by captain Dwayne Wade 140-125 and came home with US$350,000 for their chosen charities, the East came home with US$150,000 for their chosen charities.

In the Sears Shooting Stars, Team Bosh composed of Chris Bosh, Swin Cash and Dominique Wilkins defeated Team Westbrook composed of Russell Westbrook, Maya Moore and Robert Horry with the time of 1:29 in the Championship Round which gave the East 10 points. However, the West composed of Team Westbrook and Team Harden composed of James Harden, Tina Thompson and Sam Cassell won the Team Round which gave them 20 points over the East teams of Team Bosh and Team Lopez which was composed of Brook Lopez, Tamika Catchings and Muggsy Bogues.

SCORE AFTER THE Sears Shooting Stars: WEST 20, EAST 10

In the Taco Bell Skills Challenge, Trail Blazers rookie guard Damian Lillard defeated 76ers guard Jrue Holiday in the Championship Round with the time of 29.8 seconds to give the West 10 points. However the East team composed of Holiday, Pistons guard Brandon Knight and Hawks guard Jeff Teague defeated the West team of Lillard, defending champion Tony Parker and Rockets guard Jeremy Lin to give the East 30 points in the Team Round.

SCORE AFTER THE Taco Bell Skills Challenge: WEST 30, EAST 40

In the Foot Locker Three Point Shootout, Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving defeated Spurs forward Matt Bonner 23-20 in the Championship Round to give the East 10 points. However the West team composed of Bonner, Hornets forward Ryan Anderson and Warriors guard Stephen Curry defeated the East team of Irving, Knicks forward Steve Novak and Pacers guard Paul George to give the West 40 points in the Team Round.

SCORE AFTER THE Foot Locker Three Point Shootout: WEST 70, EAST 50   

In the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest, Raptors guard Terrence Ross got 58% of the vote as he defeated defending champion Jeremy Evans of the Utah Jazz which gave the East 55 points for the championship round. However The West dunkers of Evans, Clippers guard Eric Bledsoe and Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried however came up on top in the Team Round as they defeat the East dunkers of Ross, Pacers guard Gerald Green and Knicks guard James White to score 50 points in the Team Round.

FINAL SCORE: WEST 140-125 EAST

*Faried and Bledsoe who scored two 50 dunks for the West gave the West 20 bonus points

*Ross and Green who scored two 50 dunks for the East gave the East 20 bonus points.

Lastly, in the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge, Team Chuck defeats Team Shaq for the second straight season with the score 163-135.  

Nuggets sophomore Kenneth Faried led Team Chuck with a double-double 40 points and 10 rebounds and was crowned the game MVP. Spurs sophomore Kawhi Leonard and Cavaliers sophomore Tristan Thompson each scored 20 points for Team Chuck while Kings sophomore Isaiah Thomas added 18 points and 10 assists.

Cavaliers sophomore and last year's game MVP Kyrie Irving led Team Shaq with 32 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Irving's rookie teammate Dion Waiters added 23 points. Trail Blazers rookie Damian Lillard added 18 points while Rockets sophomore Chandler Parsons added 13 points.

Box Score:

TEAM CHUCK 163 - Faried 40, Leonard 20, T. Thompson 20, Thomas 18, Vucevic 15, Beal 12, Shved 12, Davis 11, Knight 10, Rubio 5

TEAM SHAQ 135 - Irving 32, Waiters 23, Lillard 18, Parsons 13, Barnes 12, K. Thompson 11, Walker 8, Kidd-Gilchrist 8, Nicholson 6, Zeller 4

Before the season resumes tomorrow, here are the standings from across the association after the All-Star break:

Western Conference:

1. Spurs (42-12), 2. Thunder (39-14), 3. Clippers (39-17), 4. Grizzlies (34-18), 5. Nuggets (33-21), 6. Warriors (30-22), 7. Jazz (30-24), 8. Rockets (29-26), 9. Trail Blazers (25-28), 10. Lakers (25-29), 11. Mavericks (23-29), 12. Timberwolves (19-31), 13. Hornets (19-34), 14. Kings (19-35), 15. Suns (17-36)

Eastern Conference:

1. Heat (36-14), 2. Knicks (32-18), 3. Pacers (32-21), 4. Nets (31-22), 5. Bulls (30-22), 6. Hawks (29-22), 7. Celtics (28-24), 8. Bucks (26-25), 9. 76ers (22-29), 10. Rapotrs (21-32), 11. Pistons (21-33), 12. Cavaliers (16-37), 13. Wizards (15-36), 14. Magic (15-37), 15. Bobcats (12-40)

K-Smoove

For the last time as one team, we came out as CHAMPIONS! Well they're in the Land of the Morning Calm, while I'm one of those staying behind.

Last Saturday February 16, for the very last time as one team, we competed on our final competition on a hot morning at the DENR Social Hall in Quezon City as we competed in the Domestikwhiz 2013 organized by the UP Club for Environment and Tourism.

We competed against eight schools from all over the Metro in this quiz bee. Like in the other contests, we came out swinging and got off to a great start as we got a good lead early, however in the final round the questions grew tougher and we failed to answer some questions, at the same time there were questions where no one got the right answer. At the end of the competition, we thought we haven't done good enough. The emotion of defeat and the feeling of Baguio all over again was in us. However, faith had other plans for our team, as we came out as the CHAMPIONS in the Domestikwhiz 2013! It was indeed a heavy feeling being lifted away from us after the winners were announced.

Photo ©Kriskyn Cabrera

So we took home medals for each of us, a trophy, Moonleaf planners, and a cash prize which we got to share later on. It was a great feeling that we got to end our journey together on a high note. After the contest, we returned to UST where in CTHM it was interview season all over again as prospective high school students took their chance to get into UST-CTHM where we showed up with the admin. Also we got to enjoy one final lunch as one team at Yellow Cab.

So yes, our journey has come to an end as both of my senior teammates will now focus on the final months of their España journeys. So, I will take this moment to once again thank my teammates Ate Kriskyn Cabrera and Ate Marian Buenaventura. I would have not made it this far without you fellas and I'm going to miss you both as teammates. I couldn't ask more of you as being great teammates. It was indeed a great honor and privilege to meet you both. Don't worry I'll be fine from here on out. as I prep up for my last competition which will be the UFTE at the end of the month.

Also, we would like to once again thank our mentors, Ma'am Tin and Ma'am Jane. As well as our families, our classmates, our friends, our batchmates and the entire CTHM and Thomasian community for all the support and prayers. This would have never been possible without all the love and support you have given us.

As always, we Thank God for the opportunity and all the blessings you have given us throughout this process, and for the last time as one team we came out as CHAMPIONS!

Meanwhile, well most of my blockmates as well as some of my batchmates are right now in the Land of the Morning Calm South Korea as part of the international tour. However, I'm still right here in the Philippines since I wasn't able to afford the tour because of the high cost to get there as well as the winter clothing needed to survive the very cold weather there.

Well, it will be still an interesting week though, since only 12 of us in the class are left behind here in the Philippines. I can't wait to see how this week will play out as well as the short schedule as some of our mentors are with the group in Korea.

IN OUR LAST HURRAH, WE CAME OUT ON TOP! But the job is not done!

K-Smoove

The City of Pines experience, all in for the glory.

Last February 9, after all the preparation and the long training hours leading up to this, it all came down to one day. As we competed in the 2nd National League of Tourism Students of the Philippines Skills Olympics 2013 held at the University of Baguio campus in Baguio City.

We arrived in The City of Pines, the day prior to the competition in the afternoon after a 6 hour trip from Manila. We stayed at the Hotel Veniz at the center of the city, which gave me fond memories of my last trips to Baguio which I had not visited for the last 3 years. As expected, we got a feel of the cool weather the city experiences, it was indeed an escape from the sometimes hot weather in Manila. We spent dinner at Tokyo Tokyo in SM City Baguio and also spent the night doing our final reviews for the competitions we'll be competing on the next day.

Then the following day, after breakfast at the hotel, we checked-out of the hotel, but kept our luggage at the lobby at the hotel for safe keeping and then went to the campus of the University of Baguio for the competitions. We had the smallest contingent in Baguio as it was only nine of us (7 students, 2 mentors) representing UST. Once again, our quiz bee team composed of my two seniors Kriskyn Cabrera, Marian Buenaventura and yours truly competed in the Tourism Quiz Bee. In the elimination round, we came out on top answering all but four of the 20 questions to advance to the final round. Unfortunately in the final round, we settled for a third place finish as we only got 3 of the 10 questions. The contest was won by the contestants from Far Eastern University while the contestants from St. Louis University Baguio finished in second place.

It wasn't only us who competed in Baguio for the Skills Olympics, two of my classmates Jeanie Tan and Kimberly Tecson competed in the Tour Package Propsal competition, they finished in second place together with the participants from Far Eastern University. The biggest winner of the day was our batchmate Jr Sio who won first place in the Virtual Tour Guiding International Category. Let us not also forget the effort put up by our batchmate Lyka dela Cruz who competed in the Virtual Tour Guiding Domestic Category.

 Photo ©Karl Carandang

After the competition, we went to the Baguio City Market to buy some souvenirs to bring home to our families and friends. I was able to buy the famous Ube Jam and Peanut Brittle as well as some bonnets. Then we went on a celebratory dinner at Max's in SM City Baguio. Before we boarded our bus back to Manila, we went to the night market along Harrison Road to buy some souvenirs (as well look for winter clothing especially that the international tour to Korea my blockmates will be attending is closing in). Afterwards, we went to the terminal and boarded the bus for the 6 hour trip back to Manila.

This experience is something special for me, since this trip to the City of Pines is like a consolation for me due to the fact that I will not be joining my friends, classmates and batchmates in Seoul, South Korea next week for their international tour as I got to experience cool weather (not as cold as in Korea this time of the year) and the fact I get to experience this with great company. It is indeed a great honor to represent the college and the university in this competition as well as once again bringing glory for the university. Like last time, I have everything to gain and nothing to lose.

So it's one down and two more to go for me, though the job is not done yet and there are a couple of competitions to go, I'd like to thank once again our mentors Ma'am Jane Devanadera and Ma'am Christine Cabigao as well as members of the faculty and the CTHM administration for being a great inspiration to each and every one of us who competed in these competitions.

We would also like to thank our families, our classmates, our friends, our batchmates and the entire CTHM and Thomasian community for all the support and prayers. We would have not made it this far without all the love and support you have given us. Please continue supporting us in the upcoming competitions that we will be having next including the Domestikwhiz Quiz Bee this Saturday, it will be the last hurrah of our quiz bee team as for the last contest, it will be myself representing UST at the UFTE Quiz Bee at the end of the month.

As always, we Thank God for the opportunity and all the blessings you have given us throughout this process.

WE MAY HAVE NOT WON ALL CONTESTS, BUT AT LEAST WE DID NOT GO HOME EMPTY. THE CAMARADERIE LIVES ON! TEAM UST-CTHM!

K-Smoove