Last chance to join contest

You’ve got until 4 p.m. tomorrow to send in your entries for our quiz contest and with luck, you might win the first prize package consisting of a Nike dri-fit runner’s cap with a genuine Manny Pacquiao autograph (I witnessed the signing so I guarantee it’s authentic), a pair of Thorlo Made in USA basketball socks (retailing at Rustan’s for P599.75), a Beverly Hills Polo Club collared shirt (retailing at SM for P999.75), an NBA sign pen (with NBA logo and NBA steel case), an NBA 3-on-3 jersey, a No Fear cap, a Molten basketball, an Everlast bag, a yellow Michelin collared shirt, an NBA Fit T-shirt, a La Salle centennial celebration umbrella and a green Sprite messenger bag.

That’s not all. We’ve got prize packages for nine other winners so in all, we’ll be picking 10 winning entries. The other prizes will consist of Thorlo Made in USA socks, Beverly Hills Polo Club collared shirts, Sprite messenger bags, Michelin collared shirts, NBA Fit shirts, NBA 3-on-3 jerseys and La Salle centennial celebration umbrellas.

You can’t miss this opportunity to win prizes you won’t be able to collect for free anywhere else. It’s easy to join the contest. Just send in your entries with the correct answers to five questions to “A Sporting Chance,” Sports Section, The Philippine Star, R. Oca Jr. and Railroad Streets, Port Area, Manila.

The questions are: 1. What US school did Billy Ray Bates and Jay-Jay Helterbrand play varsity basketball for? 2. Whom did Nonito Donaire, Jr. dethrone for the WBC/WBO bantamweight titles last February? 3. Who were the top two picks in the 2006 PBA draft, in order please – they played in the just-concluded Governors Cup finals? 4. Who were the male and female champions in the professional category of the recent Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 in Camarines Sur? (Hint: They’re both Australians.) 5. What is the first name of recent Manila visitor and NBA veteran Horace Grant’s twin brother? (Hint: He’s a 6-9 forward nicknamed the General who played at the University of Oklahoma and suited up for Washington, Portland and Philadelphia in 11 NBA seasons).

Write your answers on a slip of paper with your name, address, age, occupation (if student, your grade or year or course and school), telephone number (this is necessary for contact purposes) and in a sentence, why you read The Philippine Star. The deadline for submission of entries is 4 p.m. tomorrow. Winners will be announced in this column on Friday, Aug. 26, and prizes may be claimed starting Aug. 31, Wednesday, in Intramuros at Tel. No. 527-6607 (care of Babes Angat).

* * *

In an interview the other day, Petron import Anthony Grundy said playing for North Carolina State, he gained valuable experience going up against the likes of NBA cagers Carlos Boozer, Juan Dixon, Mike Dunleavy, Josh Howard, Steve Blake, Shane Battier, Darius Songalia and Jason Williams in the Atlantic Coast Conference. He had tryouts with Golden State, Phoenix and Denver before finally making it to the Atlanta Hawks lineup in 2005-06. Grundy averaged 4.3 points in 12 games for the NBA squad.

 “I’m listed 6-3 but I’m really just 6-1 1/2,” said Grundy. “I grew up playing point guard until I moved to the two-guard spot at North Carolina State. But at my height, I was too small to play shooting guard in the NBA. I went to several tryouts. It wasn’t the right fit. They threw me in to play with other guys trying out and I couldn’t really show my stuff unless it was in a game setting. I got to sign with Atlanta but after a while, I was back playing overseas.”

Grundy said his basketball heroes were Penny Hardaway, Allen Iverson and Steve Nash but now, he thinks LeBron James is the best in the business. “It’s not fair to compare him with guys like Michael Jordan because he’s got his own style,” said Grundy. “He was thrust into the spotlight early out of high school. I don’t know if he’ll win a lot of championships but I’m sure he’ll win a few before he’s through.”

Grundy, a Louisville native, would’ve preferred to play for the University of Kentucky under coach Rick Pitino whom he idolizes. But when Pitino moved to Boston, Grundy said the road to North Carolina State opened up.

* * *

Although the PBA played three conferences this season, there was no significant increase in number of games from the previous two-conference format. That was because the league tweaked the format of the Fiesta Conference and shortened the schedule for the Governors Cup. The objective of the exercise was to increase gate receipts and attendance without excessively taxing the players by exposing them to more wear and tear.

The numbers show that commissioner Chito Salud’s formula worked like a charm. Gate receipts and attendance rose as the league staged three best-of-seven finals where fan interest is highest. For the season, Talk ‘N’ Text appeared in 65 games in a three-conference format with three finals outings. In contrast, B-Meg had the most games played the previous campaign with 64 in a two-conference format. Petron/San Miguel Beer saw action in 56 games this season, coincidentally the same number of contests the franchise played in last campaign.