The PBA All Star Week 2009 turned out to be one of the more entertaining renditions of the Philippine Basketball Associations annual all-star festivities in recent memory.

Paul Artadi of Baranggay Ginebra Gin Kings captured the Obstacle Challenge in style over fellow speedsters L.A Tenorio and Egay Billones. Artadi, dunking to start his turn, was a good treat for the fans. Defending champ Willie Miller failed to win the event for the fourth consecutive time.

James Yap, followed his former UE teammate Artadi by capturing the Three Point Shootout. Saving his best for last, Yap delivered a memorable performance in the finals. He shot all the balls in the first rack helping him run away with the title over hotshots Dondon Hontiveros and Gary David.

Defending champ Ren-ren Ritualo could have been in the finals but one of his 2-point shot was nullified because he shot it before completing all the 1-point balls.

Larry Fonacier started the event but unfortunately was made to repeat his turn because a ball in the fourth rack fell to the floor. If I was part of the committee, I wouldn't make Fonacier repeat his turn. Fonacier's score on his second turn was way low than the first, obviously he had already lost the rythm and some legs.

Also, I think it's a wrong decision to have a voice-over commentator while participants are completing their turn in the three point competition.

The slam dunk contest seemed destined to be a bore with the not-so-good dunks and missed dunks from the imports. David Noel, Baranggay Ginebra's import prevailed over San Miguel Beermen's G. Freeman and Sta. Lucia's Anthony Johnson.

KG Canaleta failed to follow his former UE Teammates (Artadi & Yap)as he lost in the local slam dunk division to Gabe Norwood of Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. Jarred Dilinger pumped up the crowd with his Pacman boxing attire but failed to complete his dunk.

Only the dunk off saved the event. David Noel delivered two perfect dunks over Gabe Norwood. The last one was doing a cart wheel and back flip before dunking the ball. He actually used that in winning the 2006 NCAA slam dunk competition.

Perhaps it would have been more exciting if Norwood was made to dunk first in the second round of the dunk off. Well, that's just me.

Noel capped the event with a just a step after the free-throw line dunk to the delight of the crowd.

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Badminton in the Philippines gains a much needed exposure as the UAAP Season 71 Badminton competitions was shown on Studio 23.

I'm glad I caught some badminton action on free TV last Wednesday afternoon. It is the only sport I play nowadays. More telecasts like it would revive interest in the sport that peaked some 3 years ago.

Normally, I catch badminton games only on cable TV. Where I see Europeans, Chinese, South Koreans, Malaysians and Indonesians play quality badminton.

I still remember the first few times my friends invited me to their smashing gigs. Almost all badminton centers we went to were full. In one instance, we lost a reservation because we arrived late. Our supposed to be "reserved" court was given to another group.

But nowadays, I can not say the same. Although there are times the venue we play at still get fully occupied.

The young players featured in the competition is a ray of hope for Philippine badminton. More importantly, if more kids would take the sport, the country would have lots of talented players from the grassroots level and future Filipino international players would surely come.

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Come Sunday, sportsfans like me will be treated to an action-filled April 19.

The first ever double world title fight in the Philippines dubbed "The Flash and The Furious" will be held at the historic Araneta Coliseum.

The 2009 NBA Playoffs will start on the same day.

As well as UFC 97 Redemption.

Hopefully, I could watch and enjoy them all and blog about all of them as well.

I.

In this historic bout, Nonito "the Filipino Flash" Donaire Jr. will stake his IBF Flyweight crown against Raul "the Cobra" Martinez while Bryan "the Hawaiian Punch" Viloria will challenge Ulises Solis for the IBF Light Flyweight belt.

The boxing event will also feature two up and coming Filipino Boxers in Denver "the excitement" Cuello and Sonny Boy Jaro. GMA - 7 will show the bout at 1 pm.


II.

Even without my Phoenix Suns, the fan in me eagerly awaits the 2009 NBA Playoffs to see who will emerge as champions.

With the MVP award almost assured, is this the year of Lebron's first championship ? Will Kobe and the Lakers complete the job this time around? Are the Boston Celtics capable of defending their crown without leader Kevin Garnett? Or will another team come from nowhere to lay claim on the championship? These are questions among others that will be answered soon.

CS/9 coverage will start at 10:30 am


III.

UFC 97 will feature Middleweight King Anderson "the Spider" Silva as he will try to defend his belt for the fifth consecutive time against Thales Leites. MMA Legend Chuck "the Iceman" Liddel will battle Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. Channel 23 will show this at 10 pm in the evening.

Now that slate of sporting events is really something to look forward to.

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Monday after the 2009 Masters Golf Championships at Augusta,  Georgia, the golf world congratulates another first time Green jacket wearer, Angel Cabrera of Argentina.

Cabrera, also known as El Pato, won his second major championship title after making a par on the second playoff hole against a fading Kenny Perry. Becoming the first South American Masters champ and the lowest-ranked player to win the Masters.

The tournament started with pundits and golf expert expecting a showdown between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson for the coveted green jacket. Well, they did have a showdown to the delight of the gallery that followed them when they are paired for the final round. Only that their last ditch effort both fell short.

Looking back, they did were not able to capitalize on the first and second round where the famed Augusta Golf course relented low scores.

Coming off a dramatic win at the Arnold Palmer invitational, Woods was expected, as usual, to stomp his class over the field, me definitely included. But for some reasons, he seemed to had a difficult time with the course compared with the other players in the opening rounds.

How I wish, there was a player who called out to Tiger and pissed him off. Probably, that would drive Tiger nuts to win in Augusta.

I think he, himself, would be pissed off with his performance on the first major of the year, and release his frustrations when he defends his US Open title. This time with two good knees.

*** Image taken from Wikipedia.

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