Published on November 16, 2011

With a few minor revisions to the earlier trade proposal, PBA Commissioner Chito Salud has approved the deal that sends high flying forwards Allein Maliksi and Rico Maierhofer to Barangay Ginebra in exchange for center Yancy De Ocampo, guard Jimbo Aquino, and future draft picks. 

With his trade to the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings, Rico Maierhofer is expected to get the exposure to become one of the league’s best big men.

On Wednesday, the PBA approved a trade that sent B-MEG’s Maierhofer and Barako Bull’s Allein Maliksi to Ginebra. In return, Barako received Jimbo Aquino, a 2013 first round pick, and a 2012 second round pick from Ginebra, while B-MEG received Yancy de Ocampo and a 2012 second round pick from Barako.

If everything falls together, fans of Barangay Ginebra may finally see the frontcourt upgrade that they’ve been praying for.

The Gin Kings are in talks to acquire B-MEG’s Rico Maierhofer and Barako Bull’s Allein Maliksi, a pair of forwards who could inject a dose of athleticism to the frontcourt of the league’s crowd darlings.

According to a source close to the Ginebra camp, the team is planning to send Yancy de Ocampo to B-MEG and Jimbo Aquino to Barako Bull in the deal, even as other details are still up in the air.In an interview with InterAKTV last week, Ginebra coach Siot Tanquingcen hinted at possible trades for his team.

Republished with permission from KellyWilliams21.com

So I’m sitting in the semi-music studio of my Quezon City condo (which actually doubles as a game den) with fellow Fil-Am, Chris Newsome, working on a track. At 7:47 p.m. my phone rings. It’s our team captain, “Jimmy Alapag,” as it appears on my iPhone. I step out into the hallway and swipe the screen to answer:

Me: “Jim, what’s up, man?”

Jimmy: “What’s up, Kels? I don’t know if you heard already, but Ali got shot in the neck from behind after a workout, not too long ago. I’m heading over to Medical City right now.”

Me: “WHAT?! I’m on my way!”

Published on November 14, 2011

About a month a half ago, new B-Meg head coach Tim Cone was quoted to have said that James Yap will flourish in the triangle offense that he has long been preaching. It may have taken a while but that certainly is what is already happening right now at the Llamados’ camp. 

The two-time MVP lived up to his “Big Game James” monicker, coming up with huge games for B-Meg this past week as the Llamados stretched their winning streak to three in the 2011-12 PBA Philippine Cup. As a result, the PBA Press Corps has named him its Accel Player of the Week for the period November 7 to 13.

“Hey, take care of our numero uno okay?" Asi Taulava hollered as I interviewed Jvee Casio after their Gilas practice. Asi could’ve referred to Jvee’s playing position, but it’s most probably his recent draft pick. Jvee just grinned, ever so shyly, and continued answering.

One look at Jvee and you would think that he’s a bit small both vertically and horizontally to be highly touted by teams in the pros. Compared to current PBA star Asi who’s older, much bigger and much louder, Jvee is the quiet sapling of Gilas. You wouldn't hear him complain on or off the court, to the point that he doesn't mind it if you misspell his nickname as "JV." (It's spelled "Jvee," he clarifies.) He's a basketball superstar who shies away from star treatment, put simply.

Despite his limited height, Jvee Casio still makes it to the top of the PBA rookie pack.

MANILA, Philippines — Talk ‘N Talk center Ali Peek, in the hospital recuperating after being shot by a lone gunman last Monday, is in high spirits but is not yet out of the woods and faces a decision that may affect whether he will play again.

Doctors have given him and his family two options, one of them will be to leave the bullet lodged in his nape to sit where it is and guaranteed him that his life will be fairly normal. But he is unlikely to play again.

The second option is to operate on him, remove the bullet and wait just a few months and he will be good as new. But the operation is fraught with danger.

Even the best doctors could not guarantee that an operation of this kind is trouble free since the bullet is too close to the spinal cord, one or two millimeters away, said a PBA official who was told by a doctor.

“I’m just happy to be alive.”

This was what Talk ‘N Text center Ali Peek said in the exclusive interview with News5 on Thursday, three days after he was shot by a still-unidentified gunman in the parking lot of the RFM Sports Center in Mandaluyong City.

The 36-year old Peek spoke to the media for the first time about the incident. He talked about the bullet that still remains lodged in his neck, saying that he and his family has not yet decided whether to go through the risky surgery to remove the slug.

By MICO HALILI, GMA News

An unidentified man sneaks up behind the hulk. The suspect pulls the trigger. The behemoth, in turn, thinks he hears firecrackers. The giant suddenly feels a sting. Like some pinched nerve. The mortal flees. Man Mountain, on the other hand, wonders what just happened. He's still on his feet. A bullet, however, now resides in his neck. This god of put-backs and box-outs sees a gush of crimson. The blood is his. And he needs help. 

"Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!" 

Howard Cosell's famous line from the 1973 World Heavyweight Championship fight between Joe Frazier and George Foreman lingers. Smokin' Joe is gone. Sports fans know his name. Even if they don't know his face. They know Frazier' link to Muhammad Ali. Joe Frazier is the brute. Muhammad Ali is the beautiful. These gods of hooks, straights, and upper cuts roamed our streets for the Thrilla in Manila. One god succumbs to liver cancer. The other god, the one sports fans will always call "The Greatest", continues to battle Parkinson's Disease. 

Hindi pa rin makapaniwala ang trainer ng basketbolistang si Ali Peek na si Coach Jon Aquino sa pagbaril sa star player.

Maituturing na bayani sa insidente si Coach Jon na siyang nagdala sa ospital sa duguang basketbolista.

Kuwento ni Coach Jon, magkasama pa sila ni Ali at ilang kaibigan sa RFM gym ilang sandali bago siya binaril. Naghiwalay lang sila nang papunta na sila sa kani-kanilang kotse sa parking lot.

Aniya, “I just heard a gunshot, so I went out. I saw Ali, he was holding on his neck.”