The SMART-Gilas Pilipinas training schedule

Thanks to Richard Dy of SPIN,  we have an idea on how SMART-Gilas Pilipinas will be preparing for the 2014 FIBA World Cup, which starts on August 30.

Based from that report, it can be simplified into something like this:

1. FIBA Asia Cup. Wuhan, China. July 11-19. Already slotted to play against Chinese-Taipei (7/12 1230pm), Uzbekistan (7/13 245pm), Singapore (7/14 245pm) and Jordan (7/15 515pm). QFs on 7/17. SFs on 7/18. Finals on 7/19.

2. The Last HOME Stand. SMART-Araneta Coliseum. July 22/23. It started with this tweet:

Happy to announce that PLDT HOME will bring in the biggest basketball charity event ever! Blake, Damien, Truth, Demar in #GilasLastHOMEStand
— Manny V. Pangilinan (@iamMVP) June 25, 2014

These are the exhibition charity fund-raising games involving Blake Griffin, Damian Lillard, Paul Pierce and DeMar DeRozan. Details on that will be based from this site.

3. Miami training camp from July 25 - August 4.

4. Vittoria tuneups vs Angola (August 8) and an ACB (a.k.a Spanish League) Select team (August 10)

5. French invitational tournament. Antibes, France. August 15-17. Slotted to play against France (8/15), Australia (8/16) and Ukraine (8/17).

6. Vittoria tuneups vs Euskadi (August 20) and Angola (August 21).

7. Guadalajara tuneups vs Dominican Republic (August 24) and Egypt (August 25).

The schedule for the FIBA World Cup campaign of the Philippines can be read here.

Donald Sterling's Statement to Pursue NBA lawsuit

Donald Sterling issued a statement Tuesday, describing why he's committed to fight with the NBA.

Here is the statement in full:

WHY I AM FIGHTING THE NBA? THE NBA WANTS TO TAKE AWAY OUR PRIVACY RIGHTS AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH

I was brought up in America and educated to believe that every citizen has a right to privacy and right to freedom of speech. As a lawyer and citizen, I am shocked (but not surprised) that the NBA wants to take away those fundamental rights.

I feel that every American has to protect those rights and that the NBA should not be allowed to take away those rights. I have apologized for my mistakes. My apology is sincere. I want every American to know that I will not give up fighting for those rights.

I also feel that the leadership of the NBA is incompetent, inexperienced and angry. It is clear that they took this opportunity to settle the personal grievances they have harbored against me for years.

The NBA has a history of discriminatory practices which is supported by the numerous lawsuits filed by NBA employees claiming gender based discrimination. Adam Silver has worked for the NBA since 1992. He must know about the discriminatory practices of the NBA which are all matters of public record. The reason Adam Silver is focused on the sale, instead the larger social issue, is because doing so would require him to examine the NBA’s own discriminatory practices, including those that occurred under his many years in leadership. If the NBA is sincere about their approach, Adam Silver needs to publicly examine the NBA’s own conduct and the conduct of each and every Owner.

For now, it seems Adam Silver is content with focusing his energy on violating my rights, attempting to take my property, and signing autographs for TMZ. Maybe once the dust settles, he will have some time to focus on the NBA’s Own transgressions.

The NBA Continues to thrive and exact its reign of terror in large part from the money it receives from the Fans. The NBA is a band of hypocrites and bullies. They will not stop until someone stands up. They have taken the liberty to desecrate my privacy rights and my right to own property.

I have no doubt that they will continue to find new ways to violate my rights and the rights of any other person in order to draw attention away from their own discriminatory and repulsive conduct.

We have to fight for the rights of all Americans. We have to fight these despicable monsters. THIS IS THE REASON I WILL NOT SELL MY TEAM.

Donald T. Sterling

3rd CLEAR Dream Match to take place tonight

The University of Makati will once again play host to the sibling rivalry between Phil and James Younghusband, with the 3rd edition of the CLEAR Dream Match tipped to kick off later tonight.

The brothers each have a win over the other, with Phil securing his first, before James snagging his last year.

To settle the score, CLEAR snapped up a couple of Manchester United legends to participate in the fight.

Joining Team Phil is Paul Scholes. The English midfielder best known for his crunching tackles made over 700 appearances for the Red Devils, and is known to be among the best to play his position amongst his generation. He noted that he is excited to visit the Philippines and it is a "great experience" to visit a country where football is a growing sport.

Meanwhile, Andy Cole will be joining Team James. The striker with the second-most goals scored in the history of the English Premier League will be tasked to do just that for his squad. In fact, James believes that he is a huge asset to the squad.

The first ever Clear Dream Match saw Phil Younghusband win over his older brother with a dominant 5-1 victory. The following year, James Younghusband exacted his revenge, defeating Team Phil 4 - 1. With the brothers now tied at 1 - 1, the game is taken further with the addition of two Manchester United Legends, Paul Scholes and Andy Cole.

Fans of both Phil and James also joined in on the Legends decision making by scoring points for their respective teams online. The captain with the most active and digitally engaged fans would get the first Legend pick. It was Phil who won the final online points tally, and chose Scholes to be part of the Team Phil contingent.

Cole adds that he is looking forward to meeting the many Manchester United followers here in the Philippines.

2014 NBA Finals schedule

NBA Finals viewing party at the NBA Cafe

Excited for the NBA Finals? Make sure to make yourself available on those dates above to check out the action between the Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs.

We all know what happened last year. Where were you when this happened?



The Spurs bounced back from that to take the league's best record, netting Pop a Coach of the Year and RC Buford the Executive of the Year nods.

Meanwhile, the defending champions easily dispatched their rivals on their way to their fourth straight finals appearance. The feat was only done previously by the fabled franchises in Boston (who did it twice) and Los Angeles.





So, who you got in the finals.