Kicks: Nike Zoom Lebron VI

Time to get live! Time to represent!

With the NBA & PBA seasons in full swing and with college & high school ball in the States about to get going, it's time to get live! It's time to represent! I came up with a quick list of 5 songs that i used to listen to before games to get my mind ready. Here are my warm up songs:


Time 4 Some Aksion - Redman


Shook Ones - Mobb Deep


I Go To Work - Kool Moe Dee


Wu Tang Clan Ain't Nothin To Fuck Wit - Wu Tang Clan


Mystery of Chessboxin' - Wu Tang Clan

It's NBA Gametime!

The 2008-2009 NBA season kicked off today. The beefed up Lake Show smacked the young Blazers (*Greg Oden is hurt already), D-Rose was solid in the Bulls W over the Bucks, & P2 dropped 27 to help the C's down Lebron's Cavs.

LO playing blazed!

ROY candidate: D Rose

Celtics Ring Ceremony

Hoops Group

The Hoops Group has organized structured runs since 2004. The no nonsense pick up games started at the Brent courts in Pasig then made it's way to various locations such as La Salle Greenhills, RFM, & Reyes Gym. JJ Helterbrand, Norman Black, Asi Taulava, & Samboy Lim are just some of the notable names that have brought their pro game to the runs.

The Hoops Group core, primarily made up of yours truly alongside Matt Maklintal & Ravi Chulani, put up the STEAK Summer Pro-Am in April 2004. That Pro-Am batch produced Ginebra's versatile combo guard, Chris "Mouse" Pacana & Rain or Shine's shifty PG, Don Dulay. The Red Squad composed of veterans Matt Maklintal, Ravi Chulani, Dominic Uy, & Norman Black bagged the first championship crown (*Please note - Ravi & Matt - My 1st place Black team lost when I left for NY before the play-offs). Plans for this year's Pro-Am are currently underway. This year's talent pool will be just as strong if not stronger with a handful of rising Fil-Am prospects & a number of PBA veterans slated to participate.

For now, the Hoops Group will continue to focus on Monday Night Hoops (MNH). MNH is a competitive open run held weekly at the Xavier School gym. From up & coming talents to PBA All-Stars & Legends, the games are organized & have been known to get intense. You never know who's going to show up but you definitely need to bring your A game!

Peep some pics here - STEAK Athletics

For more info, stay tuned to Monday Night Hoops (MNH) recaps or email me questions/concerns at banjo@risehoops.com .

Bobbito on Hoops for Hope

For info on how you can help, contact Mark Crandall at hoops4hope@mac.com or go to www.hoopsafrica.org.

Big ups to Bobitto Garcia & www.bouncemag.com for the love!

Classics: Like Mike Gatorade commercial

When I was younger, I hated watching Michael Jordan (kill my Knicks) but I loved this commercial. I think it made every basketball fan in America want to drink Gatorade so they could "Be Like Mike." Big shout out to all the OG Jordan lovers out there. You know who you are... I hated you guys too!

Here's some more "Like Mike" love:

I hope this inspires you young ballers out there to work hard like MJ did. It may have looked easy but Jordan worked harder than anyone else on the planet & it paid off during games especially during crunch time. To all my older ballers, lets not hurt ourselves thinking we can still re-enact some of these classic MJ highlights. We had our fair share 20 years ago :)

Player Profile: Gabe Norwood

Name: Gabe Norwood

Age: 23

Hometown: State College, Pennsylvania USA

Height: 6'5"

Weight: 195

Shoe size: 12

Position: G/F

My Home Court: Anywhere I show up lol

Playing Experience (HS/College/Pro): State College Area High School/ George Mason University/ Happee Tooth Paste PBL

Current Team: Rain or Shine

Favorite Player: Jalen Rose (Fab 5)

Favorite Sneakers: Jordan 11's...to hoop in Zoom BB I's

Go-to-Move: Left-hand in out crossover

I play: To have fun and enjoy the talents God blessed me with.

Coming up I admired: Michael Jordan, Jason Kidd, Jalen Rose (Fab 5)

My basketball moment: Winning the Pennsylvania high school championship my senior year (with my brother on the team) and making it to the NCAA Final Four at George Mason.


Favorite movie: The Sandlot

Favorite TV show: My Wife and Kids, America's Best Dance Crew, Sportscenter

Favorite book: The Bible

Favorite food: Momma's Pork chops

Role model: My father

Best advice given: Anything that my dad has said to me about life.

What's on your ipod: My Life, Your Entertainment-T.I. feat. Usher

If i had a super power, I'd be a Jumper...not exactly sure what the word is for that power but anything that would get me home and back to the P.I. in seconds.

Philippine Basketball Fantasy

Peep out Philippine Basketball Fantasy & put together your PBA dream team today.

Success Coach Robin Sharma

My friend Tina introduced me to Robin Sharma about a year ago. I've been following his work ever since. He says a lot of great things & I just wanted to share his wisdom with you guys. Let me know what you think. You can leave comments here or email me at banjo@risehoops.com . He's not a basketball coach but i do consider him as my success coach. Enjoy!

It's never too late to ball!

It's never to ball. Ken Mink makes Roane State basketball team at 73!

Click here to read more on Ken Mink's story.

Pistol Pete vs. White Chocolate

Pistol Pete Maravich


Jason "White Chocolate" Williams

Jam Session: Team Flight Brothers in Romania

Add Ballers Network on FACEBOOK!

Click here to add Ballers Network on FACEBOOK!

Find the best ballers, runs, leagues, courts, tournaments, & all that good stuff on Ballers Network.

www.ballersnetwork.com

Player Profile: NiCo DeChavez

Name: NiCo DeChavez

Age: 20

Hometown: West Orange, New Jersey

Height: 6'2''

Weight: 205 lbs.

Shoe size: 12

Position: G/F

Playing Experience: HS: St. Benedict's Prep/NJ

Current Team: Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles

Favorite Player: Dwayne Wade/ Rajon Rondo

Favorite Sneakers: Jordan/ Nike

Favorite Team: Boston Celtics

Go-to-Move: Cross-over, side-step

I play: with the NJ swag

My basketball moment: My first run at Knights of Columbus League (Jersey City, NJ:
Filipino League). I was 16 years old and my brother was 15. We were the youngest players in the league, but we made a big impact. Our first game, my brother dropped 23 and i had 22pts of my own. We were down one, in the last 8 secs, and i knocked down a fadeaway jumper in the corner for a win. I can't forget that.

Favorite TV show: Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Favorite book: The Miracle of St. Anthony

Favorite food: in general, Filipino dishes & RICE

Role model: my dad

Best advice given: What ever obstacles you go through in life, no matter how
impossible things seem to get.. DON'T GIVE UP!

What's on your ipod: HipHop, R&B, slow jam music, Francis M, Luther Vandross

If i had a super power, it would be: the ability to fly... because round trip from the P.I. to Jersey is too much for me!

Life & Basketball: Coach John Wooden

The legendary coach, philosopher, & teacher, John Wooden's Two Sets of Threes:

1. Never lie.
2. Never cheat.
3. Never steal.

1. Don’t whine.
2. Don’t complain.
3. Don’t make excuses.


For more on Coach Wooden, check out his site - COACH WOODEN.

Threads: The Human Flight

The Human Flight tee - STAPLE Fall/Winter 2008

Big ups to our boy, jeffstaple & crew. Peep more here - STAPLE DESIGN & jeffstaple's blog

Ballers Network Philippines

Ballers Network Philippines


Monday Night Hoops @ Xavier School

Come with your A game to the Xavier School gym tonight Monday October 20, 2008. The Ballers Network Philippines is hosting an open run from 9-11pm. Comp is very competitive so ballers with varsity/pro experience or at least 4 years of competitive league play are welcomed to join. If you just want to come watch, you’re more than welcomed to peep out some good games. You never know who will show up. Court fee is 200 php.

If you don’t know, you better ask somebody!


Click here to peep the link - Ballers Network Philippines

Welcome to Hoopsology!

Welcome to HOOPSOLOGY!

NBA. PBA. UAAP. NCAA. Europe. Asia. Sneakers. Music. Fashion. Movies. TV. The past. The present. The future. International ballers. Fil-Am ballers. Local ballers. Wanna-be ballers. Speed & Agility. Strength & Conditioning. Fundamentals. X's & O's. Fantasy. Trash talk. Game talk. Streetball. Dunkers. Handles. Jumpers. NYC playgrounds. Global basketball academies. Village tournaments. Larry. Magic. Jordan. Hoops & all that good stuff!

See you around!

Yours in HOOPS,
BANJ