Filipino Ballers in the US...News and Updates

[tomcat]

Chris Jones leads Golden Wildcats with 35 points

By Jason Smith
Posted March 20, 2010 at 9:06 p.m. , updated March 20, 2010 at 10:44 p.m.


MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — As the two rivals exited the press room at Middle Tennessee’s Murphy Center on Saturday night, Melrose junior point guard Chris Jones had a message for White Station senior guard Joe Jackson.

“I told him good work,” said Jones, named the Class AAA state-tournament MVP on Saturday following his game-high 35-point performance in Melrose’s 75-70 Class AAA state-title victory over White Station.

The feeling was mutual.

“He’s a good player and they play hard,” said Jackson, a 5-11 University of Memphis signee sure to see Jones, a Tennessee commitment, on a college basketball court in the near future.

On Saturday, though, it was the players’ Class AAA state-title hopes on the line. And while Jackson earned the state’s Class AAA Mr. Basketball award afterward, it was Jones and Co. that left with the state’s biggest prize, the Class AAA gold ball.

“It feels great. That monkey is off our back. I’ve been waiting on this for three years,” said Jones, who connected on 18 of 19 free throws and 8 of 14 field-goal attempts to help the Golden Wildcats earn their fourth state title in school history and first since 1983.

“I wanted it for (Melrose senior center Nate Rucker) bad. Three years for him and then he broke his ankle (Friday)? I couldn’t think about anything last night except, ’I’ve got to do it for big Nate.’”

Rucker, a Northern Illinois signee, had been hospitalized a day earlier with a broken ankle suffered in Melrose’s semifinal victory over Knoxville Bearden. He watched Saturday’s game in a cast from the end of the bench.

“They played great. I knew they were gonna pull through for me,” said Rucker.

Junior forward Adonis Thomas, named to the Class AAA all-tourney team along with Jones, scored 19 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for Melrose (37-4), which was making its first trip to state since 1997, when it finished Class AA state runner-up to Union City.

“I’m living in La La Land right now. It’s just a dream,” said Melrose coach Jermaine Johnson, whose Golden Wildcats led by as many as 12 points in the second half before holding off a late White Station rally by connecting on 32-of-46 free throws.

White Station (28-9), meanwhile, connected on just 11-of-20 free throws and 25-of-64 (39.1 percent) field-goal attempts. Though Jackson finished with a team-high 22 on 7-of-18 shooting, fellow Class AAA all-tournament selections Andre Hollins and Nino Johnson combined to go just 3-of-21 from the field for eight points for the Spartans.

Senior Julian Burton had 12 points and five rebounds and Harry Green added 11 points for White Station, which was seeking a state-record sixth boys basketball state title.

“(The free-throw differential) was a big difference in the game,” White Station coach Jesus Patino said. “To win this thing, you’ve got to get breaks, and we didn’t get the breaks.”

Memphis-Area Class AAA State Champs

(Since 2000)

2000 -- Memphis White Station

2001 -- Bartlett

2002 -- Memphis White Station

2003 -- Memphis White Station

2004 -- Memphis White Station

2005 -- Memphis Ridgeway

2006 -- Memphis Hamilton

2008 -- Memphis Ridgeway

2009 -- Memphis White Station

2010 -- Memphis Melrose

TSSAA CLASS AAA STATE TOURNAMENT

CHAMPIONSHIP

White Station (70) -- Michael Bowman 3, Julian Burton 12, Harry Green 11, Andre Hollins 4, Joe Jackson 22, Nino Johnson 4, Jordan Miles 2, Rodriguez Tucker 8, Marvin Williams 4.

Melrose (75) -- Devonte Hampton 4, Jermaine Hollimon 7, Chris Jones 35, Cedrick McAfee 4, Bobby Parks 1, Adonis Thomas 19, Telvin Wilkerson 5.

White Station / 16 / 17 / 17 / 20 / -- / 70 /

Melrose / 16 / 19 / 20 / 20 / -- / 75 /

Records -- White Station 28-8, Melrose 36-4.

[FARIDOON]

Wilkerson Scores 19 To Lead The Herd

March 22, 2010



HUNTINGTON, W.Va.--Donald Sims scored 30 points to lead Appalachian State (24-12), the No. 6 seed past Marshall University (24-10), the No. 1 seed, in the quarterfinals of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament in the Henderson Center. Sims, who is 25th in Division I in scoring, was 9-of-23 from the field, 4-of-10, from three-point range. Marshall was led by Tyler Wilkerson who scored 19 points (7-of-14) from the field.

The Mountaineers led by four at halftime and took their largest lead of the game, 67-49, with 10:37 remaining. The Thundering Herd cut the lead to eight on a Wilkerson three-pointer with 4:20 to go, but Appalachian State would push the lead back into double figures the next time down. ASU led by 14 with 55 seconds remaining before Marshall scored the final six points of the game including Wilkerson's second three-pointer of the night with eight seconds to go.

Appalachian State outrebounded the Herd 47-28, 19-10 on the offensive glass. The Mountaineers made 9-of-19 three-point attempts including seven in the first half. Isaac Butts hauled in 16 rebounds for the Apps. MU point guard Damier Pitts scored 10 points and dished out a game high eight assists. Marshall charted 20 assists against eight turnovers.

"Appalachian State played exceptionally well," "(Donald) Sims did a perfect job running the show for them - he made everything happen. I am proud of seniors. To see the way Tyler Wilkerson has improved since the day the day we arrived has been as much as any as I have coached. I am really proud how he has led this basketball team this year. Chris Lutz battled through injuries the past couple of weeks; he was a big part of what we have done this year and getting our program back on the map. Darryl Merthie leaves here with the school record for games played. We fell a little short tonight, but I am not going to focus on tonight's game as much as I am on how much these guys have accomplished this year. We are going to build on this and look forward to next season."


The Mountaineers will await the results of the other three quarterfinal games before their semifinal game is assigned to them. Check http://www.collegeinsider.com/tournament for more details.
NOTES: Marshall reset the school record for most points scored in a season...The Herd recorded 2,717 points in 2009-10, breaking the old mark of 2,683 set during the 1987-88 season...Marshall's 24 victories this season are the seventh most in school history...Hassan Whiteside blocked three shots, raising his school and Conference USA record to 182...Whiteside's 182 blocks are the fourth most in a single season by a Division I player...Wilkerson ends his career with 1,035 points, the 39th most in Marshall school history.

[FARIDOON]

Melrose's state championship celebration stretches into past
By Jason Smith
Posted March 24, 2010 at midnight

They've had a few days for it to sink in, but the Melrose Golden Wildcats haven't finished celebrating the school's first boys basketball state title in nearly three decades.

On Friday at 1 p.m., the school will welcome back members of its 1974, '78 and '83 state-championship squads as part of a ceremony honoring this year's 37-4 squad, which knocked off rival and 2009 Class AAA state champion White Station, 75-70, on Saturday in Murfreesboro to earn the program's fourth state title.

Former Melrose and current Southwest Tennessee Community College head coach Verties Sails, who guided the Golden Wildcats to their first state title in 1974, is scheduled to attend Friday's celebration, which is open to the entire Orange Mound community.

"We're bringing back our former principal (LaVaughn Bridges), Verties Sails, alumni and all the state-championships teams. We've got a star-studded lineup," third-year Melrose coach Jermaine Johnson said.

Johnson said that although the team's accomplishments have begun to sink in, it still "seems surreal, knowing what we've been through."

"These kids worked so hard. I just couldn't believe that the vision that I had would come to pass so quick," he said. "You've got great coaches that haven't made the state (tournament), much less won it, and you're talking about three years?

"I'd told (junior guard) Telvin (Wilkerson's) uncle and (junior forward) Adonis (Thomas') daddy that in three years we were going to bring this community back. We're going to transform this community; transform the 'hood for good. That was our motto. That was our mission, and we've done it."

Former Tiger Duron Sutton takes football job at Ridgeway

After he introduced himself to the Ridgeway football team for the first time Tuesday, Duron Sutton was asked by a player how long he planned to remain at the school.

It was a fair question considering Sutton, a former head coach at Kingsbury, will become the Roadrunners' fifth head coach since 2006 when he begins work full time at Ridgeway this fall.

"I hope it's important to them. I have their best interests at heart and I want to be here," said Sutton, 35, who replaces Rod Brown.

Brown, who, like Sutton, was a former standout player at the University of Memphis, left Ridgeway in February after two seasons to pursue a college coaching career.

Sutton, a member of the 1996 Memphis football team that upset sixth-ranked Tennessee, was 52-52 in nine seasons as Kingsbury's head coach from 2000-08. He led the Falcons to eight playoff appearances, including a state semifinals appearance in 2004.

"Sometimes you need to separate yourself from something, and that was one of those cases," Sutton said of his time at Kingsbury. "I feel like I'm wanted here and I hope I'm needed here."

Briefly

The Memphis University School and Houston High soccer teams will meet today at 5 p.m. at Mike Rose Soccer Complex as part of the University of Memphis' "Kicks for a Cause" event. Tickets are $2, with all proceeds going to earthquake victims in Haiti. Following the MUS-Houston match, the Memphis men's team will face Colaiste Ide Prep of Ireland at 7 p.m. in an exhibition match.

To reach Jason Smith, call him at 529-5804 or e-mail smithjas@commercialappeal.com.

[c_d]

The Star's annual high school basketball all-stars for 2010 from the Greater Toronto Area. From left to right Matthew Wright from Martingrove, Leon Alexander from Richardson, Stefan Nastic from Thornhill, Manvinder Sahota from St. Marguerite d'Youville, and Julian Clarke from Oakwood.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/28776645/2...ball-all-stars

[elisher]

Fil-Am prospects for PBA draft
SPORTING CHANCE By Joaquin Henson (The Philippine Star) Updated March 26, 2010 12:00 AM

At least three Fil-Ams are expected to hit town in the coming months, looking for playing credits to gain eligibility for the next PBA draft.

Sports agent Caloy Allado said the other day he’s awaiting the outcome of talks involving a possible merger between the PBL and Liga Pilipinas before waving the green flag for the Fil-Ams to fly in.

The three are 6-1 Shawn Weinstein of San Diego State, 6-3 John Smith of the University of Hawaii at Hilo and 6-4 Anthony Lao of Fraser Valley.

Allado was in the process of bringing in Lao but negotiations were derailed when other agents got into the picture. But he said Weinstein and Smith will be ready to come as soon as they finish their commitments in other leagues.

Weinstein played briefly for San Diego State, an NCAA Division I school, then moved to St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas, where he saw action in the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons. As a senior at Peninsula High School in Rolling Hills, California, Weinstein averaged 28.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 3.1 steals.

Weinstein, 24, is now playing in the Israel league. His father is Jewish and mother, a Filipina.

Smith played for the same Hawaii school that produced Alex Cabagnot. Last season, he averaged 16.3 points and 3.1 assists in claiming first team All-Pacific West honors. Smith, whose mother is Filipina, is now playing for Lokomotiv Bernau in the German league.

Lokomotiv coach Torsten Schierenbach said, “We looked at a lot of players and in the end, John offered the best overall package for us – he’s a good shooter, he can defend and he has a great personality.”

In February last year, Smith hit a buzzer-beating triple and finished with 24 points to lift Hawaii to an 80-78 squeaker over Chaminade University at the Hilo gym. With 20 seconds left and Chaminade up by one, Smith took the inbounds pass, drove to the top of the key and let loose a triple for the game winner.

[spayrow]

Fil-Am prospects for PBA draft
SPORTING CHANCE By Joaquin Henson (The Philippine Star) Updated March 26, 2010 12:00 AM

At least three Fil-Ams are expected to hit town in the coming months, looking for playing credits to gain eligibility for the next PBA draft.

Sports agent Caloy Allado said the other day he’s awaiting the outcome of talks involving a possible merger between the PBL and Liga Pilipinas before waving the green flag for the Fil-Ams to fly in.

The three are 6-1 Shawn Weinstein of San Diego State, 6-3 John Smith of the University of Hawaii at Hilo and 6-4 Anthony Lao of Fraser Valley.

Allado was in the process of bringing in Lao but negotiations were derailed when other agents got into the picture. But he said Weinstein and Smith will be ready to come as soon as they finish their commitments in other leagues.

Weinstein played briefly for San Diego State, an NCAA Division I school, then moved to St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas, where he saw action in the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons. As a senior at Peninsula High School in Rolling Hills, California, Weinstein averaged 28.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 3.1 steals.

Weinstein, 24, is now playing in the Israel league. His father is Jewish and mother, a Filipina.

Smith played for the same Hawaii school that produced Alex Cabagnot. Last season, he averaged 16.3 points and 3.1 assists in claiming first team All-Pacific West honors. Smith, whose mother is Filipina, is now playing for Lokomotiv Bernau in the German league.

Lokomotiv coach Torsten Schierenbach said, “We looked at a lot of players and in the end, John offered the best overall package for us – he’s a good shooter, he can defend and he has a great personality.”

In February last year, Smith hit a buzzer-beating triple and finished with 24 points to lift Hawaii to an 80-78 squeaker over Chaminade University at the Hilo gym. With 20 seconds left and Chaminade up by one, Smith took the inbounds pass, drove to the top of the key and let loose a triple for the game winner.

Does Caloy Allado visits IBN Philippine Forum?

[weward]

+ to the question of spayrow..

is interbasket connected to asia-basket,eurobasket??

if they are connected, i do believe that scouts and other basketball personalities visists this forum...

[b3lowzro]

+ to the question of spayrow..

is interbasket connected to asia-basket,eurobasket??

if they are connected, i do believe that scouts and other basketball personalities visists this forum...

nope they are not connected, i believe there are some scouts who looks into our forum once in a while. I recall coach Chot got angry to some posters here back in 2007 when majority of the fans are disgruntled with their dismissal games (especially with Hontivero's) in the Jones Cup. While BAP emperor Graham Lim did posted a lot of threats against SBP and the whole interbasket community.

[weward]

nope they are not connected, i believe there are some scouts who looks into our forum once in a while. I recall coach Chot got angry to some posters here back in 2007 when majority of the fans are disgruntled with their dismissal games (especially with Hontivero's) in the Jones Cup. While BAP emperor Graham Lim did posted a lot of threats against SBP and the whole interbasket community.

ahh.. so chot is pointing to this forum pla..ahahaha
the ones he called geniuses..
hi coach chot!!

and i heard mr eala do visit forums..

hello there mr eala.
can we,IBN,Philippine basketball and National team loyalists, have an exclusive chance to be invited to the training of the gilas boys? or better since many of us here play the sport, can we play against them like when the national team plays the filipino community outside the philippines.. sort of like a fans day with them..
we promise not to injure them.

[reamily]

ahh.. so chot is pointing to this forum pla..ahahaha
the ones he called geniuses..
hi coach chot!!

and i heard mr eala do visit forums..

hello there mr eala.
can we,IBN,Philippine basketball and National team loyalists, have an exclusive chance to be invited to the training of the gilas boys? or better since many of us here play the sport, can we play against them like when the national team plays the filipino community outside the philippines.. sort of like a fans day with them..
we promise not to injure them.

hehe right it is ime now that a national team has its own fan club for anyone sake its the national team

[mattyg253]

is there any pba players from Washington???

it seems like there is a big Filipino community in washington specially the seattle area.. I'm a filipino american in tacoma, wa playing college bball and i was looking for someone to workout with this offseason

[logre23]

is there any pba players from Washington???

it seems like there is a big Filipino community in washington specially the seattle area.. I'm a filipino american in tacoma, wa playing college bball and i was looking for someone to workout with this offseason

I guess this is you? welcome to interbasket.



http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/athletics/mbasketball/roster

[mattyg253]

haha thanks for tha warm welcome so any pbaers from WA?? one future pbaer pm'd me theres gotta be more

[b3lowzro]

ahh.. so chot is pointing to this forum pla..ahahaha
the ones he called geniuses..
hi coach chot!!

and i heard mr eala do visit forums..

hello there mr eala.
can we,IBN,Philippine basketball and National team loyalists, have an exclusive chance to be invited to the training of the gilas boys? or better since many of us here play the sport, can we play against them like when the national team plays the filipino community outside the philippines.. sort of like a fans day with them..
we promise not to injure them.

Well its sounds impossible, I know you can watch them train in their training venue sometime.

[tomcat]

Son of former PBA star in national hoops spotlight
By Nicholas von Wettberg

For twelve seasons, from 1987 to 1998, PBA legendary import player Bobby Ray Parks Jr. thrilled basketball fans of all ages in the Philippines with his flying act and winning ways.

In 1989, his third full season in the league, Parks averaged 52.6 points per game for the Formula Shell team, and last September a player who some nicknamed “the Michael Jordan of the Philippines,” was recognized for his career, becoming one of only two American-born players inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame.

At the moment, however, there is a new chapter to the Parks basketball legacy, and this time it is not taking place in the Philippines, but in Bobby Ray’s home state of Tennessee.

Ray Parks, the son of Bobby Ray, is the starting shooting guard for the Melrose Academy Golden Wildcats, ranked No. 12 in the country – and second in the state – according to the maxpreps.com website.

Melrose recently captured the Tennessee State AAA District 16 title, then went on to win their Region 8 AAA playoff game, which set up this weekend’s Reg. 8 semi-final game against Memphis Southwind.

The younger Parks was born and raised in the Philippines until 2006, when he moved to the United States in order to live with his father and step mother (his Nanay, Marifer Celine Barbosa, is divorced from Bobby and now resides in Los Angeles).

One thing that’s stood out for Parks so far in America, whether good or bad, is that he has bounced around to a number of different schools, starting in eighth grade, before settling in for his junior year at the Memphis-based Melrose during the fall of 2009.

Last season, Parks played at St. George’s Independent School in Collierville, Tenn., but transferred in order to play against better competition than what he faced while starring at the small private school.

Parks, a 6-foot-4 left-handed finesse player at 195 pounds, is showing a notable all-around game this season, as the 17-year-old Filipino-American has averaged 10.4 points per game, to go along with 2.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.7 steals for a team looking to capture a state title.

While so much attention is focused on developing basketball talent in the Philippines, one of the keys to the future success for the R.P. national team lies with Parks, who speaks fluent Tagalog and has expressed his desire to perhaps attend college there.

When Bobby Ray was enshrined into the Hall of Fame almost six months ago, his son took advantage of the trip, accompanying his father back home, where he was able to train with the Philippine national junior team, much to the chagrin of national team executive director Noli Eala.

“Ray-Ray (his nickname) has the perfect basketball body – long-limbed, slim, just like his father…The kid is special,” said Eala in an article written by Luke Winn for the Sports Illustrated Magazine website. “Bobby is open for Ray-Ray to play college in Manila and his godfather Norman [Black, now a head coach there], I’m sure, is talking to Ray-Ray about the possibility.”

Wearing the same #22 jersey that his father wore at Memphis State University (now Memphis University) from 1980 to 1984, Ray has benefited from his experiences in the U.S., improving his game to the point where he now receives player evaluations from men’s basketball recruiting sites.

“He [Parks] has size, strength, and a terrific stroke from deep to go along with very good basketball blood lines,” one scout said on espn.com. “This lefty has range out to 24’ with a good release.”

Chosen by the Atlanta Hawks in the third round of the historic 1984 NBA Draft, Bobby Ray Parks Jr. was cut by the team in pre-season and eventually forced to find work playing overseas.

A five-time PBA champion who played for three teams, (San Miguel Beer, Formula Shell & Anejo Rhum), Parks gained the reputation during his career as a slasher and leaping scorer, not to mention lockdown defender. He finished his time in the Philippines with nearly 9,000 points, over 3,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists

Ray-Ray, meanwhile, is blessed with not only a bigger body than his pops, but also perhaps a wider range of skills, boasting a field goal percentage of 54% from inside the 3-point line and 39% past the line.

While the statistics are indicative of his overall game, Ray is not the focal point of his team, as he is surrounded at Melrose with some top-tier basketball talent in the likes of junior point guard Chris Jones (18.9 PPG) and junior forward Adonis Thomas (16.3 PPG), a former teammate of Parks’ on a local 16-under AAU team, the Nashville Celtics.

Only time will tell when it comes to the future of Parks, who needs to continue improving his game at Melrose, and during the summer, and can wait until early next year to decide whether he is headed to Memphis (his father is a student there finishing up his degree on an invite from former Tigers head coach John Calipari), the University of Virginia, or back in Manila at Ateneo.

[spayrow]

Richard Smith

Position: C
Height: 6-7
Weight: 225
Year: So.
Hometown: Bremerton, Wash.
High School/Previous School: Olympic H.S.

2007-08: Appeared in 15 games as a true freshman in the program...Recorded 24 points, 16 rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block in 84 minutes of court time...Gave the Cavs a season-best eight points against Central Washington (12/29)...Posted six points and three rebounds in seven minutes in a home win against Cascade (2/15)...Hauled in a season-best four rebounds in the season opener against Multnomah (11/1).

Personal: Three-year letterwinner as a center on the Olympic High School basketball team...Earned all-conference honors as a senior...Born July 24, 1989...Son of Elizabeth Smith...Family includes two older sisters, Dyane and Lora...Undecided on college major...Wears a size 18 shoe...Plays chess and watches movies in his down time...Has lived in six different states including Hawaii, South Dakota and California...Also lived in Germany. Volunteered with Washington's ABC Youth/Teen Center and Sheridan Park and Recreation Center.



http://athletics.cu-portland.edu/mba...playerbios.cfm



----------------------------------


Q: Are you part Pinoy?
A: yea i am my mom is full


Another young big guy

[FARIDOON]

Richard Smith

Position: C
Height: 6-7
Weight: 225
Year: So.
Hometown: Bremerton, Wash.
High School/Previous School: Olympic H.S.

2007-08: Appeared in 15 games as a true freshman in the program...Recorded 24 points, 16 rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block in 84 minutes of court time...Gave the Cavs a season-best eight points against Central Washington (12/29)...Posted six points and three rebounds in seven minutes in a home win against Cascade (2/15)...Hauled in a season-best four rebounds in the season opener against Multnomah (11/1).

Personal: Three-year letterwinner as a center on the Olympic High School basketball team...Earned all-conference honors as a senior...Born July 24, 1989...Son of Elizabeth Smith...Family includes two older sisters, Dyane and Lora...Undecided on college major...Wears a size 18 shoe...Plays chess and watches movies in his down time...Has lived in six different states including Hawaii, South Dakota and California...Also lived in Germany. Volunteered with Washington's ABC Youth/Teen Center and Sheridan Park and Recreation Center.



http://athletics.cu-portland.edu/mba...playerbios.cfm



----------------------------------


Q: Are you part Pinoy?
A: yea i am my mom is full


Another young big guy

where u got that information??

[spayrow]

where u got that information??

I sent him an FB message.

[cool_ash_23]

hey guys, any update on Stanley Pringle? I wish he could at least be part of Smart Gilas pool. In case of injuries(hope none) or anything alike we can just call him up for his tour of duty. I think he's a good player....

hope he'll be included..... (Pinoy Rasheem Wright)

[nardy]

is there any pba players from Washington???

it seems like there is a big Filipino community in washington specially the seattle area.. I'm a filipino american in tacoma, wa playing college bball and i was looking for someone to workout with this offseason

PBA legend Abe King is now based at Seattle. NBA Superstar Nate Robinson's Part Pinay mother also lives in the Seattle area.

Seattle Pacific Falcons Chris Banchero is Filipino-Italian and with his mom still a Filipino Citizen when she gave birth to Chris thus make Chris eligible for Filipino citizenship.