PCCL Final Four & UFL Semifinals

December 5, Monday

Arena, San Juan

Baste vs. Beda

Vengeance Is The Stags' 

At the PCCL Final Four Match on Monday, December 5, at the Arena in San Juan - college basketball die-hards, along with the guys in the media pool, were anticipating a "colorful", possibly fight-marred match between recent NCAA Finalists San Sebastian and San Beda.  The "incident" that had occurred a few days before, within the San Beda College Campus, brought about an uneasy tension among the ranks of the Golden Stags and the Red Lions.  Could both teams just forgive and forget all about it and just play ball ??  Nobody in their right mind expected that, yours truly included.

Knowing the temperament of both teams - Something had to give.  Now, how violent or messy it might become - Nobody really knew.   Until that afternoon.

Anatomy of an Altercation
[2nd Half]

What I can only state with a certainty -

[because I saw it happen right in front of me]

is that it's Kyle Pascual who plays the role of instigator perfectly with a
"pa simpleng nudge/push" w/ his right elbow towards Calvin Abueva's nape.  Pascual then moves away, hoping that it won't merit a call. 

The slight push, obviously intentional, shoves Abueva into Rome de la Rosa.

This escalates into an altercation which, fortunately,

is eventually controlled.  Nobody actually attempts to punch anyone -

puro hawi lang, trash talk, hamon, dagger looks, and fighting stances,
more awatan, hawi, and counter hawi.

After the tech commitee reviews the playbacks, Pascual,
and Abueva, plus a few other players, are ejected.

Play eventually resumes.  The San Sebastian Golden Stags win the match.
[Stags-87   Lions-72]

Here's the 25-frame sequence I capture w my Canon digital SLR:
Thing is, I actually fail to capture the exact moment 
Kyle Pascual nudges Abueva. 

Not In My House !
Photo above shows Ma'm Lynn Manansala of the Arena as if ready to
 signle-handedly take on the Stags and Lions. Go Girl ! - Show Them Who's Boss !



P.S.

Early in the 1st Half, I observe, along with other co-photographers on-court the extremely inflamatory/inciteful behavior of a group of San Beda alumni [probably in their 30s, 40, 50s, even 60s] on the lower box section of the Arena.  Siyempre malakas ang mga loob nila kasi isang malaking grupo sila. They constantly scream their lungs out  at Abueva & Coy, particularly when Baste is getting called on fouls.  Their mob-like [bastos talaga] [iba ang die-hard, iba  ang bastos] behavior [more so that an ugly incident had occured in their campus only a few days before - where a volleyball coach was beaten up balck-and-blue and where one of the Red Lions actually punched a female libero on the face, at that] is very shameful. They are simply adding fire to a potentially tense situation - What for ?? - They obviously want Calvin Abueva to loose his cool.  As it turns out - it is Kyle Pascual who becomes "pikon" and instigates an altercation which ALMOST leads to punches being thrown - Great job Kyle [Whatta Jerk].

I'm glad Baste wins - 

They deserve to win by executing better than the Bedans.

I admire Garvo Lanete + some of the San Beda coaching staff

for congratulating the Stags and asking Arnold Pascual about his injury.

Those guys show CLASS.

Those Screaming Beda alumni - No Class At All.

 brosi gonzales

Some Images From The Earlier Win by
  the Ateneo Over the University of Cebu

[Eagles-100     Webmasters-53]

- PCCL Trophies -

brosi gonzales

December 5, Monday [evening]

Rizal Memorial Football Stadium

Loyola Meralco Sparks FC Knock Kaya Cignal FC Out In A Dramatic

Come-From-Behind  [5-3]  Victory

Coming from the Ateneo-UC / San Sebastian-San Beda PCCL Final Four games at the Arena, I arrive at the Rizal Stadium in the early goings of the 2nd Half just as the Sparks tie the match at 3-all.  With a little luck on my side, I am able to catch the Sparks' next two goals. The match ends up being the most dramatic come-from-behind win I've seen in my few years of photographing football. Whatta Game !!

Sparks' Goal #4

Sparks take the lead 4-3, courtesy of James Younghusband.

Sparks' goal #5

 Phil Younghusband scores again [ Sparks-5  Kaya FC-3]

to seal the deal for the Loyola Meralco Sparks.

Another close call for Kaya Cignal.

This time Topher Camcam beats em to it.

After the final whistle it's Sparks-5 and Kaya-3.

Topher Camcam hugs Sparks keeper Gabriel Vorbeck.

Gabby Borja, a team mate, and Raffy Evangelista

share a light moment after their team's impressive win.

- Alex Camcam, Topher's younger sister -

You, What kind of guardian angel would you like ?
The one who appears dressed in immacualtely white robes with feathery wings and is but a transluscent entity - or the who comes dressed casually in denim shorts and a comfy polo and cheers you up after a game [win or lose]
-  in the flesh and can "hang" with you 24-7 ?
Me, I prefer the latter.

My friend,Cathy Rivilla, gestures to me, from way up on the upper box,

 to take a snap of her with hubby Dicky and actress Angel Locsin.

Anytime Cathy !

Air Force Sets A Finals Showdown vs Loyola Meralco Sparks FC

by Blanking Global FC [2-0]

A few game photos here:

- Pukpukan -

Ian Araneta of Air Force Pheonix

tries to beat the Global FC keeper, Paolo Pascual, towards the goal.

- Izzu is tripped -

Goal #1 - by Yanti Barsales [#11]

[Air Force -1     Global FC - 0]

Goal #2 - by Jalo Soriano [#27]

[Air Force -2     Global FC - 0]

The final whistle is blown - - -

Air Force Pheonix Whoops It Up !

Meanwhile - - -

- The Unsaid -

[a few more pics 2 b added soon]

 brosi gonzales

PBA Sunday - December 4



December 4, Sunday

Araneta Coliseum



Rain or Shine - 88    Shopinas - 81

Ty Tang vs Jojo Duncil

Former team mates Jervy Cruz and Jojo Duncil go at it.

 After accumulating only a point after three quarters

Elasto-Painter Ryan Arana [#18] explodes for eleven in the 4th Qtr.
to lead Rain or Shine to victory.



Ginebra - 81     Meralco -71

Crowd favorite Mark "The Spark" Caguioa contorts for two.

Caguioa contributes 13 points for Ginebra.

Like Caguioa, Ronald Tubid puts in 13 markers. 

Tubid, though, hauls down 7 boards to Caguioa's 6.

But it's Cool Cat Mike Cortez who leads the Gin Kings in scoring - putting in 14.

Here, he takes a trey.  Out of three attempts from beyond the arc.

Mike converts on only one. He leads the Gin King in rebounds, with 9.

 

Cortez goes for the high percentage and drives against Mark Isip.

Nino Canaleta shoots 50% from the 2-point and 3-point areas,

to chip in 9  for Ginebra.

In this bit of 1st half action, Canaleta slams it.

Asi Taulava can only watch and grimace, from a few steps behind.

brosi gonzales

Focus

Keeping One's Eyes On The Ball



[Quality Control & The Challenge To Do Better]

As the year draws draws to an end - I hoped I've learned from my mistakes [photographic and otherwise] [even blunders] and am using these lessons learned to continiously improve my craft.  Given the right frame of mind, something positive can always come out of something negative - right?  Now, as far as positive results are concerned - It's nice to celebrate and share them  [am referring to a few select great photos] But once I realize I have created a most wonderful  [a real standout winner of a picture] image - I immediately IMAGINE a BETTER one that can surpass it.

Before I proceed, I must confess that I have a backlog as far as my game postings are concerned. At this point I still have to post my December 5 photos [and text] of the PCCL Ateneo-UC and San Sebastian-San Beda { with images of the altercation} and the UFL Loyola Sparks vs Kaya and the Air Force vs Global matches AND the following December 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 , 15 and so on UFL football, PBA basketball, and UAAP Volley games + arbitrary portrait postings and so on ->until the present date.  It literally takes me hours and hours and hours AND more hours  just sifting through, choosing, slightly enhancing [NEVER ALTERING], cropping, and compressing images for this blog from sometimes a few thousand images in a week . But that's the price I'm willing to pay to try to maintain Quality Control.  And if gets me into a temporary backlog , It's my bad but I suppose it's forgivable and hopefully my blog visitors be rest assured that the anticipated sports photos will be eventually posted, albeit, a little late. [along w/ a few servings of portraiture]

[I don't want my site to be like those generic sites where the photog just  puts and puts images, sometimes recklessly, to impress his site visitors] - Sharing select images and making a little kuwento along the way is more me, though it is extremely time consuming, as I've stated, trying to maintain quality control.

Nyways, before I bounce momentarily - Here are two recent favorites of mine

- which will eventually appear in my upcoming game postings.

- As usual - Low Res & Watermarked -

Alyssa and Alex
[Images taken last Dec.11, Sunday]

Alyssa Valdez

Alex Cabagnot

- Eye Like -

brosi gonzales

The Courtside Portrait

 

Diskarte

As far as PBA courtside correspondents Jessica Mendoza and Sel Guevara are concerned - I've a number of stolen shots of Jessica, from her 2-year UAAP courtside stint [I gave her a CD  of all those JPEGs burned in - as a souvinier of sorts], and a great portait of Sel [one of my best this year], from when I met her last July 1 at a press brief in Rizal Coliseum.  In the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup [which started last Oct.2]  I've occasionally tried to take a few snaps of both girls - all in all, in total, about LESS than 10 - hoping to get a photo that would really stand out - a real good, good photo - by MY standards - Technically AND Artistically Sound.  I always failed.  Yes, they were just generic, run of the mill shots any experienced photographer can create.  Still, I gave Sel and Jessica a print or two [I think it was a group shot with Erika Padilla] OK lang - 'Twas all good - no biggy.

Finally, on Sunday, December 11, during the Ginebra-Tnt hoops match, as I was squatted near the hardcourt baseline taking some action shots - I noticed Jessica and Sel seated together on the left corner near the North Goal .  As usual, they were both well-made up, hair all perfect, and just being the pretty young correspondents they are - laid back, and relaxed, yet ready for the next report.  Noticing their demeanor  - my phographic instincts told me that it is a perfect time to capture these two lookers in an altogether different well crafted image - hopefully a courtside photo that will be a cut above ALL courtside pics these girls have ever had taken.

I signalled to them from about 4 meters away - [I was squatted on the hardcourt and they were seated] to put their heads close together for a simple snap [smiling of course] - Clicked twice - looked at my LCD - OK, I thought - Lighting->good, exposure->on the dot, composition->OK, warm "hindi pilit" smiles, mood->perfect ! - Dapat ito -  take two - or three or even four -- I knew the moment was there - I just had to capture it ! 

So, a few moments after the final buzzer, and some cursory moments with some of their admirers - I approached both girls and showed them my "test shots" and requested a few secs for a photo opp.

They obliged - I positioned them properly - gave a few cues - waited for the background to clear - asked Jessica to tilt her head ever so slightly - then clicked four times. 

Below is my favorite image among the four [low res & understandably watermarked].  Sel asked for copies. No problemo. Jessica, you need not ask.
You'll get an [8 x 10] high res print each.

Jessica and Sel

Absolutely - LOVE IT !

brosi gonzales


comin up feats

Dec .4, 6, 8, & 11 PBA Games
Dec. 5, 9 & 12 PCCL Games
UFL Semis & Championship Matches
Dec.11 UAAP Women's Volley
+ more random portraits

LA Galaxy vs Phil. Azkals

December 3, Saturday

Rizal Memorial Football Stadium

Missing The Money Shot By  Milliseconds

- Beckham's Kick

As I see the ball go to David, I quickly point my lens at him but

 am late by a millisecond to catch the ball in frame.



that puts LA Galaxy ahead by 1 -

 - Am following the ball as it [in the wink of an eye] goes in,

but again - I'm a millisecond late.  This would have been a better shot if I caught the ball in frame even if I did get Beckham's kick [above]
with the ball in frame.

A few more shots from tha match:

- David vs James -

[above & below]

The Azkals have some decent chances in the 1st Half.

Here's a 3-frame sequence of  a Phil Younghusband miss.

Phil Younghusband finally gets one in for the Azkals.

- Lightning Strikes Twice -

LA Galaxy scores its 2nd Goal complements of Mike Magee [#18].

Once more - I click my shutter milliseconds late -

It's only del Rosario [#4] and Magee on the image - the ball is out of frame.

- Landon Donovan -

- Sean Franklin -

Anton del Rosario [#4]  - Mike Magee

- Frankie Hejduck -

I hardly take images in the 2nd half where the game is dominated by the LA Galaxy. Nobody really expects tha Azkals to win but the Filipino fans  hope for a respectable final tally.    It is [Galaxy-6  Azkals-1]

All the photos above were taken in the 1st Half.  Frankly, the few 2nd half photos I took are not blogworthy, as far as I'm concerned. 

Who knows, maybe in the next year or so more world class football teams will play here in Manila.  If and when - I Hope to get the money shots.

brosi gonzales