Lady Reads-A-Lot

You never know when opportunity comes knocking. Yesterday happened to be a huge day for local basketball: two crucial PBA Governors’ Cup games were slated for the Araneta Coliseum and an All-Star exhibition between Philippine and American legends was set for the Mall of Asia Arena. Well dance a jig and call me lucky! I was given a court side seat beside some of the 90s greats of the NBA (I was practically on their bench!), as coached by the The Big O, Oscar Robertson: Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Mitch Richmond, Horace Grant (who of course had his goggles on), Cliff Robinson, and Jason “White Chocolate” Williams, to name a few. They went up against some of our own 90s basketball stars: Jojo Lastimosa, Bal David, Noli Locsin, Marlou Aquino, Vince Hizon and a string of others, headed by playing coach Jerry Codinera. After an interminable introduction ceremony (where it seemed they told the life story of every single player before calling his name), play began and the considerable crowd at the Arena was treated to a slow-mo (remember, they are LEGENDS), all-in-good-fun kind of game where the players did their best to entertain the audience. There was good-humored laughter at the not-so-occasional air ball or off-the-foot dribble, but more oohs and ahhs at the Pip’s dunks, White Chocolate’s fancy ball handling, The Worm’s repeated attempts at long jumpers, and pretty much anyone who put up a trey. And though we lost 112-93, our guys put up a good show, too: Kenneth Duremdes matched Williams’ 28 points (though with a lot less ornamentation) and Nelson Asaytono drew grins even from the American players when he shot a free throw with his body facing the opposite basket. Before regulation ended, the US All-Stars threw out a few signed balls into the crowd, and there was this one lucky kid who got to be their water boy for the night. But the highlight of my evening was getting to interview Pippen, Rodman, and Robinson. They were stiff about photos and autographs (there were more than a few fans whose hopes of getting jerseys or memorabilia signed were shattered) but I managed to nab a couple shots before the game and while on-cam. All in all, a worthwhile experience from where I sat, and the packed Arena seemed to have enjoyed themselves as well. Though Bobby Ray Parks, Jr. probably had the best deal of all: court side seat AND he got to go into their locker room (iba pag bahay mo yung venue, e! LOL). Catch the official broadcast on Monday, 8PM on AKTV (IBC 13).

I suppose everyone has to move on sometime. I love my CGE TV family. They were my first TV job post-college and post-UAAP, and being with them for almost two years has taught me so much. They’re a great group of crazy, weird, amazing people, and they’ve managed to convince me to do (and WEAR) the most unexpected, off-the-wall things. I really have no words to express my gratitude at having been able to put on a hobbit cloak and pretend to climb up the slopes of Mordor via my imagination and a tilted camera. I think everyone needs to do something similarly perplexing once in their life, and I got to do it weekly for over a year and a half. I’d stay for more, but the Fates have willed our parting and I can hope only that our paths may someday meet again. To the people in the photos above (courtesy of the lovely Lady Bernice) and everyone else who’s been a part of this project with me, many thanks! I wish you all luck in your continued efforts. Gratitude as well to the talented Mr. Blanco for accommodating us at The Vault as we said our farewells. Check out the place, it’s awesome (it’s at City Golf along Julia Vargas). And finally, to anyone who might read this, please support CGE TV IN DA LOOP! Weekdays on ABSCBN Channel 2, before sign off. May the Seven bless you all.

Got my geek on full-force at ToyCon 2012 yesterday. I can’t count how many times I said, “This is AWESOME!” at any number of things: a carbon-fiber Dark Knight replica, a bust of Manny Pacquiao, a really energetic dude in a Spiderman costume jumping around a green screen, badass Star Wars tumblers. I ended up blowing my cash on a bunch of cool stuff that practical me says I don’t need, but which awesome geek me insisted I had to have: a Mario necklace, a Captain America shield backpack, an Avengers hat, and of course, the coup de grace, a Darth Vader lightsaber. >F*ck yeah!< My mom hasn’t seen it yet but I can already picture the eye rolling that’ll ensue. She just doesn’t get it. The experience renewed my desire to see COMIC-CON for myself someday. And it was so refreshing to see such passionate, uninhibited people! Props to Fat-Asian Superman in his blue contact lenses, who reminded me sorely of my old friend Fat-Black Green Lantern from Hollywood Blvd (photos above). Geekiness brings people together, I swear. I only wish I’d been able to get myself one of those Captain America beanies, but we couldn’t find the stall that sold ‘em. Also wanted to get my brother an Adventure Time hat, but they were sold out. Still, it was two hours well-spent. Fist bumps to my best friend Laine and my homie (LOL) Anj for bringing me along, and convincing me that a lightsaber model is worth every piso. Three to five years to the real thing, baby. #WeBelieve