Stephen Curry leaves Daniel Padilla speechless, basketball fans roaring at MOA arena in 1-day Manila visit

By: Paolo Manuel C. Fule

Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry left the Philippines wanting for more of him, and indeed, he said this will not be his last trip to the country as he finished his one-day only trip to Manila for his Under Armour promotional tour on September 5, Saturday.

He capped the day with a media question and answer at Raffles hotel in Makati followed by an exhibition game with selected high school cagers at the Mall of Asia Arena in the afternoon. Philippine actor and teen heartthrob Daniel Padilla had a meet-and-greet with him in a VIP lounge at Raffles Makati. “That might have been the first time, I’m guessing, he was speechless”, said Curry in the media press conference. It was reported recently that Stephen Curry surprisingly  followed Daniel Padilla on Twitter because the actor posted his collection of the champion layers’ signature shoes and merchandise.

Asked by this reporter if there is pressure going into the regular season being the efending champion and reigning MVP, the baby-faced Curry said “We feel like we’re still the team to beat. It’s going to be a different challenge for us. We’ve never defended an NBA championship before so it will be a new experience for us. All eyes are on our team and every other team is trying to knock us off our throne, so we have to be even better than we were last year to get back to the top.”

Wardell Stephen “Steph” Curry II or popularly known as Stephen Curry was born on March 14, 1988. He is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6’ 3” tall, Curry plays the point guard position and is considered by some to be the one of the greatest shooters in NBA history.  The 2015 NBA Most Valuable Player and a two-time NBA All-Star, is the son of former NBA player Dell Curry. In this year’s NBA finals, Curry carried his team into the championship, something that the Golden State Warriors franchise hasn’t repeated since 1975.

John Kenneth ‘Mr. Big Shots’ Zamora: One of the best to ever wear AU Braves jersey

By: Paolo Manuel C. Fule

From AU Braves and being the number one 3-point shooter in last year’s NCAA juniors, John Kenneth Zamora, who now takes his talents to AU Chiefs has a lot to offer for season 91.

When he side steps from way beyond the arc and hit that lethal dagger three, the AU crowd goes wild. The pandemonium doesn’t end there, because the throng of gals who wanted to take a photo op with him piles up in the athlete’s entrance. Indeed, he is more than just his boy-next-door image in campus; he is also an ace player, playmaker, and shooter of the Arellano University Braves.

Born John Kenneth Miranda Zamora to Mike  Zamora and Thet Zamora on December 6, 1997, the 5’7 cager from Arellano University  Legarda is the title holder for last year’s search for Mr.    Arellano University 2014 High School Division.  He bested other high school students of his age in the inter-campus pageant.

With his boy-next-door looks and perseverance in the hard court and at school, John Kenneth Miranda Zamora is on the verge of achieving his goals in the near future.

At 17 years old, he currently plays as a point guard for the Arellano University Chiefs in the Men’s Division of the NCAA basketball. In their last four games of NCAA season 90, he averages 10.5 points per game including four triples in their game against San Beda Red Cubs. After the NCAA 90^th season, he is the no. 1 junior athlete with the most number of three points made in the league with 68. After his first six games in last year’s NCAA, he averages 13.16 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2 assists per game.

The shot that he likes the most is set shot. He is more comfortable with this shot because he knows if his shot will go thru or not. In the UAAP, he likes RR Garcia when he was still with the FEU Tamaraws. In the PBA, he idolizes Peter Jun ‘The Scoring Apostle’ Simon because he has high basketball IQ.

In the NBA, he likes the Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors. He looks up to 4-time league MVP Lebron James because he is an all-around player and he can defend players who are taller and bigger than him. Asked about his goal for this year and the preparations he is doing at the moment, Kenneth said, “For our team to go to the Final four and everything will be a step by step procedure once we get there. I think I need more practice so that I can improve my game and hopefully contend in the championship”.

Being in the roster of the National Collegiate Athletic Association or NCAA Seniors’ team to play for your respective school is a privilege in itself, but helping them to make your team at the  top of their game is also another achievement. And it is never an easy task for any high school student just like John Kenneth Zamora. “I will do my best for me to win in every competition I’m in. Thank you for those who supported me in my endeavors”, quipped the chinito cager from Legarda.

* photo credits to: Lean Christian Rea

email the author at: paolomanuelfule@yahoo.com or text 09184059751

Red Lions, Heavy Bombers quash foes in NCAA cage opener

By: Paolo Manuel C. Fule

Six-peat seeking San Beda Red Lions and last year’s Final Four finalist Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers routed their respective rivals in the opening game of the 91^st National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Mall of Asia Arena, June 27 Saturday.

Sans San Beda big man Ola Adeogun and sharp-shooting guard Baser Amer due to injuries, the San Beda squad still managed to pound the host school Mapua Cardinals with a 102-89 victory. Art dela Cruz led all scorers with 27 points, 17 rebounds and 6 assists while Mapua’s Josan Nimes had 23 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists. Mapua’s Allwell Oraeme also had a good game on the defensive end with 13 points and 16 rebounds, but was haunted with foul troubles in the later part of the second half.        

In the second game of the opener, JRU Heavy Bombers thumped last year’s NCAA finalist Arellano University Chiefs with a 78-61 victory.

Both teams struggled offensively with a 40-28   at the end of the first half, and Arellano with a measly 12-of-39 field goal shooting clip.  JRU finished with 30-of-77 or 39% field goal shooting, while AU had 32 % from 24-of-76 or 32% field goal shooting.

JRU’s Abdoul Poutouochi led all scorers with 23 points, 11 rebounds and 1 block while AU’s Michael Salado scored a team best 15 points. Two-time NCAA MVP and Mapua Alumnus Alvin Patrimonio graced the event and took the stage for his message to the athletes before the start of the opening games.

The Scores:

SBC (102) Dela Cruz 27, Tankou 18, Tongco 18, Koga 16, Solera 11, Sara 6, Mocon 2, Presbitero 2, Sedillo 2, Cabanag 0, Soberano 0, Reyes 0, Bonsubre 0.

MIT (89) Nimes 23, Stevens 13, Oraeme 13, Menina 12, Serrano 10, Villasenor 8, Que 3, Raflores 3, Brana 2, Dela Rosa 2, Biteng 0, Nieles 0, Aguirre 0, Layug 0.

JRU (78) Poutouochi 23, Teodoro 11, AbdulWahab 9, Lasquety 8, Sanchez 7, Dela Paz 6, Grospe 6, Pontejos 4, Cruz 2, Aurin 2, Astilla 0, Balagtas 0, Dela Virgen 0.

AU (61)   Salado 15, Jolts 11, Enriquez 10, Cadavis 8, Bangga 5, Gumaru 5, Jalalon 4, Nicholls 3, Meca 0, Ongolo 0, Ortega 0, De Guzman 0, Zamora 0, Tano 0.

Email the author at paolomanuelfule@yahoo.com or text 09184059751.