Consistently inconsistent - SPORTING CHANCE by Joaquin M. Henson

OAKLAND – Is there hope for the Golden State Warriors in the National Basketball Association (NBA)? Bay Area fans think so as the Warriors are enjoying the second largest home attendance increase in the league from last season, averaging over 15,000 fans or a jump of about 2,700.

But alas, coach Dave Cowens’ squad, hampered by injuries, blows hot and cold. The Warriors are consistently inconsistent. After plunging to a seven-game losing streak, the Warriors won twice over the Indiana Pacers and shocked the Los Angeles Lakers, 125-122, in overtime. The win over the Lakers was highlighted by rising star Antawn Jamison’s 51-point burst.

Last Tuesday, my pal Kookie Soriano and I motored to this San Francisco suburb to watch the Warriors battle the visiting Portland Trail Blazers at The Arena. NBA Asia’s Cheong Sau Ching and Brenda Kwan arranged for $90 tickets to get us close to the action. I took in my third NBA game during this one-week trip. I’d also watched Toronto at Portland and Houston at Seattle.

Too bad Golden State couldn’t play at full force. Chris Mullin is sidelined with an inflamed left knee, Danny Fortson has missed the last 15 due to a stress fracture in the right foot, Chris Mills is hobbled by a swollen right ankle and Bob Sura has a strained left hamstring. Adonal Foyle showed up with a heavily-bandaged right hand to protect a broken finger and Vonteego Cummings wore a plastic face mask to shield a fractured cheekbone.

For Portland, center Arvydas Sabonis was back in uniform. He didn’t play when the Blazers beat the Raptors, 95-88, last week.

Examining the lineups, I anticipated a blowout.

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Portland’s frontline is awesome. Dale Davis and Shawn Kemp come off the bench — they’d start for any other NBA team. Sabonis is a powerful force at the post plus has a respectable outside shot. Rasheed Wallace is a legitimate All-Star who has developed into the Blazers’ go-to guy. Portland’s depth is mind-boggling. The Blazers are three or four deep at every spot and that’s not counting Detlef Schrempf, Gary Grant, and Antonio Harvey who’re waiting in the wings to be reactivated.

My focus was on Cowens, a legendary former Boston Celtic workhorse. He’s touted as the youthful Warriors’ motivator. Surely, Cowens could inspire the Warriors to give it their best shot despite daunting odds.

Against Portland, Cowens started a pair of rookies, 6-10 Marc Jackson and 6-7 Chris Porter.

As if on cue, Golden State got off to an early 7-4 lead and was on top, 23-21, at the end of the first period, thanks to Jamison’s 11 points. Guard Larry Hughes was a picture of frustration as Scottie Pippen ate him up on defense. Hughes missed his first eight shots and hit only 4-of-24 that night. So much for the 6-5 leaper nicknamed "Smooth."

Slowly, Portland took control of the tempo. Bonzi Wells tied it, 23-all, to start the second quarter and the Warriors never led again. The referees tried to make it interesting in the final period as Kemp was whistled for a flagrant foul then banished on two technicals with 9:27 left. Wallace was also called for a flagrant on Jackson and slapped a technical a few minutes later. Both flagrants were overreactions — as were the technicals.

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Still, Golden State couldn’t reverse the tide. Jackson buried a triple to trim the deficit to four, 90-86, time down to 3:59, but the Blazers countered with a 6-2 blast to ice the contest. As usual, Wallace took charge down the stretch and finished with 29 points, eight in the last quarter. Sabonis, making it look so easy to score under the basket, netted 15. Sabonis, Wallace, Davis, and Kemp combined for 28 rebounds. The final count was 101-93.

The Warriors lost it on poor shooting, hitting a lowly 40.4 percent to Portland’s 49.4. Golden State also gave up 27 points on 19 turnovers while the Blazers conceded only seven on 14 miscues. Portland’s bench mauled the Warrior relievers, 28-3 – underscoring the Blazers’ frightening depth.

Jamison, a North Carolina product like Michael Jordan and Vince Carter, tallied 30 points, 10 in the final period, but couldn’t lift the Warriors to victory. Before the game, he carried a lofty 24.1 clip. It didn’t help that two of Cowens’ double-figure scorers, Fortson and Mills, couldn’t suit up.

Conclusion? Golden State will continue floundering while Portland looks ready to challenge for the Western Conference ticket to the NBA finals.

Postscript. I took Philippine Airlines to and from the US. As usual, the service was excellent. Both flights going and coming were smooth. You can’t go wrong with PAL. Enroute to the US, I was on PR106 that left at 11:30 a.m.–a perfect flight because it arrives in San Francisco at 8 a.m. Capt. Florentino Concepcion was in charge of the aircraft assisted by First Officer Angelo Baquir and Second Officers Jose Mapua and Darren Acorda. Purser Jose Fournier was top-class. Also in the crew were Roberto Casuela, Olivia Romano, Elenita Gapas, Titus Pineda, Messalina Maglalang, Raymond Barredo, Marjorie Ubaldo, Rubenlyn Dones, Cecilia Agustin, and Cecilia Tong. On the way back aboard PR105 from San Francisco, the flight was as trouble-free. Capt. Pacifico Ramos and First Officer Romy Mabatid were super, supported by Second Officers Joey Javier and Chris Vitug. Purser Nelia Honrade was backed up by Antonio Reunilla, Marlon Valencia, Robert Jose, Alberto Armena, my buddy John Andrew Afzelius, Robert Antonio Rivera, Nerissa Rivera, Maria Vera Yu, Joceclyn Salazar, Maricar Herrera, Corazon Tereero, Josefina Topacio, Angeli Tantoco, Rasanne Fernandez, Aniliz Raval, Niba Bolos, Revelyn Espiritu, training director Michelle Yasay, and trainees Melissa Paulino and Rowena Elazegui. The nation’s flag carrier is flying high, indeed, and unlike the Warriors, is consistently consistent. Congratulations to PAL and its hard-working men and women.