The Philippine Online Chronicles

The Orlando Magic survived the pesky Golden State Warriors, 117-109, in a bizarre game that featured Dwight Howard break Wilt Chamberlain’s 50-year record in free throws attempted in one game. The 6’11 Howard finished with 45 points, 23 rebounds, and shot 21-for-39 from the free throw line. Howard broke Chamberlain’s record of 34 free throw attempts that was set on February 22, 1962. It was the Magic’s third straight victory, putting them in second place in the Eastern conference.

In the PBA, the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters will live for another day after squeaking past the Petron Blaze Boosters, 93-91, in game five of the Philippine Cup semifinals. Point guard Jason Castro led the Texters’ charge with 22 points, five rebounds, and five assists. The Tropang Texters will try to force a Game 7 if they take another win on Sunday at 4 PM.

Meanwhile, Manny Pacquiao’s camp slammed Floyd Mayweather’s challenge when the undefeated American fighter called out Pacquiao for a possible fight on May 5. According to Pacquiao’s financial adviser Michael Koncz, Mayweather’s suggestion doesn’t make any sense from a financial perspective because there isn’t an arena in Las Vegas that can accommodate the huge number of people that would watch the bout. Pacquiao’s camp believes that letting the fight happen in a smaller arena won’t maximize its full revenue potential.

NBA: Magic 117, Warriors 109

After almost 50 years, Wilt Chamberlain’s record for most free throws attempted in a game was broken by the Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard. The 6’11 center shot 39 free throw attempts, making 21 of them.

Howard scored 45 points and grabbed 23 rebounds to help the Magic subdue a Golden State Warriors team that applied the “Hack-a-Dwight” strategy from start to finish. Aside from setting the most free throws in one game, Howard also became the first player in nine years to record 40 points and 20 rebounds since Shaquille O’Neal did in 2003.

Aside from Howard, forward Hedo Turkoglu added 20 points in the win for the Magic.

For the Warriors, Monta Ellis erupted for 30 points 11 assists while power forward David Lee chipped in 26 points and 12 rebounds. In spite of their impressive numbers, they didn’t have anyone to contain Howard, so the Warriors resorted to intentionally foul him.

The Warriors were missing several key players in Stephen Curry, Dorell Wright, and center Kwame Brown.

Coach Mark Jackson’s tactic of intentionally fouling Howard worked by slowing down the pace and taking away the Magic’s vaunted three-point shooting.

With just three minutes remaining, Klay Thompson hit a tough three-pointer to put the Warriors on top, 107-106. However, Howard answered back with a right hook in the middle plus another free throw. Ellis made a jumper to tie the game, but Howard made another clutch putback and another free throw to finally seal the win.

With the win, the Magic will move to the second spot in the Eastern conference while the Warriors remain as cellar dwellers in the West.

PBA Philippine Cup Semis: Talk ‘N Text 93, Petron 91 (Petron leads series 3-2)

With their season on the line, the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters responded with big shots in the closing minutes to take a hard-earned, 93-91, win over the Petron Blaze Boosters in Game five of the best-of-seven semifinals in the PBA Philippine Cup.

As usual, game five was just as exciting as the first four games with both teams exchanging blows from the start. The Blaze Boosters started well in the first half, but the Tropang Texters slowly came back and regained the lead it in the fourth quarter.

The Tropang Texters erected an eight-point lead, but the Blaze Boosters unleashed a 9-4 run to cut the lead down to three, 86-83. Fil-Am rookie Chris Lutz made two free throws to make it 86-85, but center Ranidel De Ocampo nailed a long two and Ali Peek split his free throws to extend the Tropang Texters’ lead to four, 89-85.

The Blaze Boosters came within one point after Arwind Santos drained a three-pointer. Peek split his free throws again in the next play, but former two-time PBA MVP Danny Ildefonso made a tough three-pointer with less than two minutes left in the game to put the Blaze Boosters on top by one.

The Blaze Boosters looked like they were already out of the woods, but reigning MVP Jimmy Alapag hit a corner three to finally close out the game for the Tropang Texters.

The Tropang Texters will try to push the series to the limit if they win game six this Sunday.

Boxing: Pacquiao’s Camp Says No to May 5 Fight Against Mayweather

Undefeated boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr. already called out Filipino ring sensation Manny Pacquiao for a fight that’s scheduled on May 5. Before anyone gets excited though, Pacquiao’s camp is already slamming the proposal because of “economic reasons”.

According to Pacquiao’s chief financial adviser Michael Koncz, a May 5 bout between Mayweather and Pacquiao simply isn’t possible because there’s no place that can accommodate the thousands who will attend the said boxing superfight.

Koncz argues that the 45,000-seat boxing arena in Las Vegas won’t be finished until the end of May and staging it in a “makeshift” boxing arena won’t cut it as well.

Koncz believes that the MGM Grand will be able to handle around 17,000 people, but the bigger arena that will be finished in May will be able to give both camps an additional 30 million dollars in ticket sales alone.

Pacquiao’s camp thinks that the revenue for the proposed fight should be maximized by finding the biggest boxing arena possible.

Mayweather is anxious for a fight because his jail sentence for domestic violence was moved to June this year. Last year, Mayweather was charged for allegedly attacking his girlfriend.

“Dwight Howard” by Keith Allison c/o Flickr. Some rights reserved.