ALAB PILIPINAS : FIRST HOME GAME WILL BE FREE TO THE PUBLIC

The Philippine team in the ASEAN Basketball League or ABL, the Tandiuay Alab Pilipinas  announced yesterday that their first home game on November 19 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena will be free to the public. This is a big treat to all of their fans.

It's a treat to our supporters. Free tickets. Just check @AlabPilipinas IG FB and Twitter accounts. Thanks @TheOfficialSMDC and @MOAArena pic.twitter.com/tFjlxSkp6s

— Charlie Dy (@SportsAgentCD) November 4, 2017

So to all basketball and Alab fans, this is a good chance to watch the newly revamped team, catch Dondon Hontiveros play again, watch Jimmy Alapag's coaching debut and get a glimpse of Christian Standhardinger live in actin as part of the Hong Kong Eastern Long Lions team.

So guys, mark your calendar and see you there on November 19 (which is coninceidentally my birthday as well)!

ALAB PILIPINAS : DONDON HONTIVEROS AND RICO MAIERHOFFER REINFORCES ALAB PILIPINAS

Alab Pilipinas just got stronger this coming season of the ASEAN Basketball League which will start next month.

In a press conference held this morning at the Shangri La Hotel at the Bonifacio Global City, the new roster which has been partially revealed over the past few weeks has been officially announced - though not yet complete. The new coach - Gilas legend Jimmy Alapag definitely has a good team at his hand.

Previously revealed in the line up are Alab Pilipinas hold overs Rayray Parks, Robby Celiz and Lawrence Domingo. They will be reinforced by former Talk N Text import Ivan Johnson.

Also joining the team are Chris Sumalinog, Josh Urbiztondo, Pamboy Raymundo and former NU Bulldog Pau Javelona. Just this morning, it was announced that PBA veterans Dondon Hontiveros and Rico Maierhofer are also joining the team.

With this, 10 players of the roster has been revealed and 2 more to named soon. I am so excited to know the complete line up of Alab Pilipinas and I think based on the initial names, they will be more competitive as compared to last year and will give the other teams a run for their money.

The team will also be known as Tanduay Alab Pilipinas, having Tanduay as the team's major sponsor.

Their first game was also announced to be on November 19 at the MOA Arena and will go up against the defending champions Hongkong Eastern Long Lions.

Good luck Tanduay Alab Pilipinas!

UPDATE : As of this afternoon, reports say that Reggie Okosa will be the other reinforcement of Alab Pilipinas this season. He has played against Ivan Johnson in the Korean Basketball League.

GILAS PILIPINAS : FINAL 12 FOR 2015 FIBA ASIA CHAMPIONSHIP NAMED

The final 12 members of Gilas Pilipinas that will try to get the ticket to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games has been named by Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas. The announcement came on the night of the deadline of the final team rosters for the event which will happen in 2 weeks time.

The Gilas pool has just came back from a silver medal finish from the 2015 Jones Cup in Taiwan and is now preparing for the inaugural 2015 MVP Cup which is their final preparation before the Asian Championship in China.

The final 12 players are Gilas 2.0 holdovers Ranidel de Ocampo, Marc Pingris, Gabe Norwood and Jayson Castro; veterans Asi Taulava and Dondon Hontiveros, Sonny Thoss, Matt Ganuelas, Gilas rookies JC Intal, Calvin Abueva and Terence Romeo and naturalized player Andray Blatche.

NBA sophomore Jordan Clarkson was initially in the list but has not yet been given the green light by FIBA to play as a natural born citizen is out of the final line up. There is also schedule conflicts due to the preparations for the upcoming NBA season. But kudos to Clarkson for expressing his interest to play for the flag and country.

Big thank you as well to the other players in the pool for not turning your backs to the flag's call - Gary David, Aldrech Ramos, Jimmy Alapag (who I think will be an assistant coach) and PBA rookies Troy Rosario and Moala Tautua.