Predicting which team will win the NBA championship this season turned out to be tougher than expected. Of nine US pro basketball publications we surveyed, only Athlon Sports got it right – the Los Angeles Lakers over the Boston Celtics in the Finals. Lindy’s also chose the Lakers but conveniently, skipped naming the losing finalist. Hoop Magazine deferred from making a forecast and left the crystal-ball gazing to a slew of contributors, including Lois Elfman who said, “The Lakers will take it all unless some team’s fire is fuelled by insane jealousy of Kobe’s superhuman dominance.”
Before Game 6 with the Celtics up, 3-2, in the title playoffs, I wrote in The Star that Kobe Bryant deserved to be the Finals MVP whether or not the Lakers repeat. I also wrote that if the Celtics wouldn’t be able to clinch in Game 6, the Lakers would surely win in Game 7.
Last May 5, we launched a contest where readers had to correctly pick the NBA champion, the Finals MVP and the losing finalist by May 31 – or four days before Game 1. As usual, we received thousands of entries but only a few hundreds had the correct answers.
From the entries with correct answers, we chose 30 winners all of whom will receive a blue NBA All-Star Dallas 2010 spiralled on.file organizer/planner with the league logo embossed in front. Additionally, the top three winners will take home a long-sleeved grey NBA All-Star Dallas 2010 dri-fit shirt.
Winners may claim their prizes from Ms. Babes Angat on the third floor, ECJ Condominium, Arzobispo corner Real, Intramuros (near San Agustin Church) starting today during business hours. For directions, please call Tel. No. 527-6007.
Here are the winners:
1. Col. Jovencio Gongora, 69, retired PNP officer of 23 Comet St., Bel-Air Village, Makati.
2. Adrian Orozco, 24, registered social worker of Manalo Extension, Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
3. Marineth Ronquillo, 28, air controller of 210-A Domus Marine Bldg., San Andres Bukid, Manila.
4. Guillermo Llamas Sr, businessman of Pozorrubio Palengke, Pozorrubio, Pangasinan.
5. Marion Urgelles, 36, messenger/collector of De la Cruz St., St. Martin Village, Talipapa, Novaliches, Q. C.
6. Julius Palencia, 71, retiree of Burgos St., Guimbal, Iloilo.
7. Dan Herold Suganob, 23, registered nurse of Fairview Homes, Basak, Ibabao, Pardo, Cebu.
8. Rosslyn Trespalacioreal, 35, employee of Lourdes Subdivision, Phase 3 Iyam, Lucena City, Quezon.
9. Lope Acillo, Jr., 47, government employee of BSP, East Avenue, Diliman, Q. C.
10. Renee Almerol, 28, financial analyst of 20th Ave., Barangay Mangga, Cubao, Q. C.
11. Oliver Plana, 37, stockbroker of Luwalhati St., Damiana, Pasig.
12. Rogelio Flores, 29, service head (commercial bank) of Garcia St., Chrysanthemum Village, San Pedro, Laguna.
13. Karl Escobar, 27, communication coach for Sutherland Global Services of Teachers Village, Q. C.
14. Manuelito Monzon, 40, government employee of Greentown Villas 1, Mambog 3, Bacoor, Cavite.
15. Gregorio Competente, 47, businessman of Bunsuran, Pandi, Bulacan.
16. Yvonne Tiamzon, 13, second year high school student, Tarlac Montessori School, Tarlac City.
17. Gilbert Alegre, 50, school bus driver of Caliraya St., Holiday Homes 2, San Pedro, Laguna.
18. Richard Loresca, 35, credit and collection department supervisor of Bagumbayan, Taguig City.
19. John Winston Dianela, 35, Philhealth employee of Anst III Bldg., Alternate Road, Legazpi City, Albay.
20. Jason Kidd Carpena, 14, third year student, Aplaya National High School of Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
21. Eugenio Greg Cu, 26, trade finance staff of Bangkok Bank, 16th Floor, The Columns, Ayala Ave., Makati.
22. Aida Ramos, 37, teacher, of Marco Polo Subdivision, Lagapo, Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
23. Leonardo Aran, 59, government employee of Capitol Building, Ynares Center Compound, Barangay San Roque, Antipolo City.
24. Thomas Mercado, 35, employee of Scout Fuentebella St., Barangay Laging Handa, Diliman, Q. C.
25. Catalino Tonelada III, 39, government employee of Quedancor, San Fernando, Pampanga.
26. Jonathan Benedict Flores, 25, software engineer of Libis Orkana, Caloocan City.
27. Luis Paul Taruc, 22, program assistant of O’Donnell, Capas, Tarlac,
28. Rolefel Noe, 26, accounting/administrative clerk of 370 Gueguesangen, Mangaldan, Pangasinan.
29. Crisleo Ordona, 46, radio technician of Barangay Matalapitap, Paniqui, Tarlac.
30. Charmaine Sy, 19, fourth year student, tourism management, Far Eastern University of 235-A Riverside Extension St., Unit 4, Barangay Commonwealth, Q. C.
In tomorrow’s column, we will share excerpts of comments written by some of our 30 winners. For starters, our first prize winner Col. Gongora sent this piece on why the NBA is amazing:
“As usual, the NBA Finals will be amazing. Boston has won 17 titles and the Lakers, 15. The high-caliber players of both teams will provide excitement and entertain fans at the venue or in the comfort of their homes. The Lakers have Kobe Bryant leading the team despite injuries with the able support of Fisher, Odom, Gasol and Artest while the Celtics are led by Paul Pierce. The coaches will play a vital role in shuffling players to be active with their only goal to win the title.”