Tag: Fun

Team USA has ‘fun’ interaction with ‘friendly’ Alas Pilipinas

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Members of Alas Pilipinas and Team USA.–Photo from Alas Pilipinas volley Instagram

MANILA, Philippines — The stars of Team USA were thrilled to interact with the members of the Alas Pilipinas men’s and women’s squads on Friday evening at the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati.

Alas players Bryan Bagunas and his teammates had a chance to meet USA’s TJ Defalco and Matt Anderson and even libero Erik Shoji, who watched Bagunas’ heroics in the Philippines’ historic silver medal run in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. 

Shoji posted a series of YouTube vlogs in 2020, reacting to the Philippine men’s volleyball team’s matches in the SEA Games including its five-set thriller against Thailand in the semifinal.

READ: VNL 2024: USA star Taylor Averill wants to come back, explore PH

“It was really fun. I’ve watched Bryan Bagunas before on YouTube and the team in the SEA Games 2019. It was fun to watch those players. I know they’re so popular here and it was nice to meet him [Bryan]. I’ve seen him play, so, I know how good he is for sure,” said the USA libero of Bagunas, who is now playing in Chinese Taipei.

Besides Bagunas, Shoji was pleased to meet the other members of the squad, taking photos and sharing volleyball tips.

“We met them for maybe five minutes before, then we had the interview and then we talked for five to 10 minutes after. They were fun, you know, I love the Filipino people, the energy they have, it’s so—I’m from Hawaii, and we have similar kind of energies so, it’s been so fun and we just love interacting any time we can,” he said.

Alas setters Jia De Guzman and Owa Retamar also got the opportunity to talk and take a selfie with USA star setter and captain Micah Christenson.

“We talked to the two guy players, there was the setter and we talked about setting a little bit and then the three women’s team players, we shared food together like we’re friends. It was really informal, felt really friendly and that’s the best thing,” Christenson said. 

READ: VNL 2024: USA posts second straight win ahead of Japan clash

Christenson shared he also encouraged Alas to cheer for them when they wrap up their VNL campaign against fellow fan-favorite Japan on Sunday evening.

“It was awesome just to get to talk to them, listen to their experience and talk about how who they’re gonna cheer for if it’s gonna be Japan or us tomorrow. So we put a little pressure on them to cheer for us. But that was great they’re all really good people and it’s cool that we’re able to meet them,” said the setter.

Alas players shared their pictures with the USA stars, relishing their time to meet the VNL runner-up and Olympic-bound Americans. 

Defalco said their short but precious dinner with Alas Pilipinas made their first Manila stint more special aside from the warm support from Filipino fans.



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“It was awesome to see the Manila team, especially in a country like this is amazing. To see some of the culture and get exposed to it is awesome. I had a really great time,” Defalco said. “We kind of conversed with all of them. Little pieces here and there. It was just kind of a quick turnaround to get to know each other, and answer some questions and that was it. It was a great time.”

‘Fun’ key to Mavs’ bid for unprecedented NBA Finals comeback

On: By: admin


Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks reacts after fouling out in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics in Game Three of the 2024 NBA Finals at American Airlines Center on June 12, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.   (Getty Images via AFP)

LOS ANGELES – Dallas superstar Luka Doncic says the Mavericks must set aside the enormity of the task facing them in the NBA Finals and get back to having fun if they are to mount an unprecedented comeback against Boston.
The Slovenian fouled out with just over four minutes remaining in game three on Wednesday and could only watch from the bench as the Celtics thwarted the Mavs’ late rally for a 106-99 victory and a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven championship series.
Dallas head into game four on Friday knowing no team has come back from 0-3 down to win an NBA playoff series.
If they are to become the first, Doncic said, they must forget their frustrations with the officiating, forget history and play the freewheeling game that saw them cut a 21-point deficit to one in the fourth quarter in game three.
“Go back to playing fun,” Doncic said of the message after Dallas studied the game three film on Thursday.
“We talk about how we come back from (21) points in the fourth quarter in the Finals. We were having fun. We were defending. We were running. Our pace was great. Just taking good shots.”
Doncic fouled out for just the third time in his career and for the first time in the post-season, but he’s made a habit of appealing to and arguing with game officials throughout his NBA career.
He’s said before it’s a habit he should break, and he admitted again on Thursday that complaining to game officials — sometimes to the detriment of his attention on the game in progress — was counter-productive since officials will always “have the last word”.
“I just really want to win,” Doncic said. “Sometimes I don’t show it the right way, but at the end of the day, I really want to win. I’ve got to do a better job showing it a different way.”
Doncic has been outstanding offensively in the Finals, averaging 29.7 points, nine rebounds and six assists over three games despite playing with a longstanding right knee sprain and sore left ankle and a painful chest injury sustained in game one that reportedly required pain-killing injections to allow him to play.
In the fourth quarter, however, he’s averaging 2.7 points and shooting just 20 percent from the field.
But Doncic has been ineffective on the defensive end, his weaknesses showcased in his sixth, disqualifying foul on Wednesday when he was whistled for a blocking foul as he tried to defend Jaylen Brown.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said Doncic needs to play smarter defensively and “understand that we’re there to protect him and help him if he does get beat.”
Star teammate Kyrie Irving — who won a title with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 — had the same message for first-time finalist Doncic.
“He’s not alone in this,” said Irving, whose shooting struggles in games one and two in Boston increased the load on Doncic. “He’s played as best as he can despite the circumstances, just injuries and stuff.
“He’s been giving it his all. It’s not all on him.”



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