Marlon Stockinger

Filipino driver Marlon Stockinger has put the Philippine flag back on the global motorsports map by finishing second in the opening race of the 2012 GP3 Series this weekend at the Circuit de Catalunya in Spain. The two 16-lap GP3 races on Saturday and Sunday served as support events to the Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Stockinger, driving Car No. 14 for Status Grand Prix, qualified fifth for the first race. He made the most of the opportunity by finishing just 2.6 seconds behind winner Mitch Evans (New Zealand) of MW Arden. Stockinger scored 18 points for the effort, seven points off Evans.

For the second race the following day, however, Stockinger failed to score a single point as he wound up in 19th place. The GP3 Series has a different format compared to Formula 1 in that the second race of every two-race round follows a reverse grid order for the top eight finishers of the first race. Which meant Stockinger had to start the second race in seventh. US driver Conor Daly, who finished sixth in the first race, won the second race after starting third on the grid. First-race winner Evans likewise failed to score a point in the second race.

"Coming from Asia, it's a lot more diffirent than coming from Europe to settle into everything," Stockinger said during the press conference. "I think I am with a better team now, and I think when all these cards come into play, the results improve. I think winter testing went well and we were very consistent."

Stockinger is now sixth in the overall championship standings, with the second round scheduled for May 25-26 in Monaco.

The 21-year-old Marlon Stockinger placed 28th overall in the GP3 Series last year. In 2010, he finished eighth overall in Formula Renault UK, improving upon his 25th-position showing in the same series the previous year. In 2008, he was also eighth overall in Formula BMW Pacific while also racing in Formula BMW Europe.

Do you think this signals the start of another wave of world-class Filipino racing drivers?

Early life

Stöckinger was born in Manila, Philippines. He is the son of a Swiss businessman and racing enthusiast, Tom Stöckinger, and a Filipina woman, Egin San Pedro; he grew up in the Philippines until he was 17, and then went to Europe to pursue a racing career.

Early career

Prior to joining the Formula Renault series, Stöckinger won titles and honors from international derbies such as the Formula BMW Pacific 2008 Championships, the Senior Rotax Max World Finals 2007, the Asian Karting Championship 2006, the Junior Rotax Max-World Finals 2005 and the Philippine Shell Super Karting Series 2002. He participated at the 2008 Formula BMW Europe season - the championship's maiden season after the merger of the British and German series - as a guest driver, racing at the Hungaroring (21st and 23rd place), Valencia Street Circuit (15th and 23rd place) and at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (20th and 21st).

The Aquino administration joins the Filipino people in congratulating Gilas Pilipinas

Statement of Secretary Edwin Lacierda on Gilas Pilipinas’ silver medal finish in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championships:

The Aquino administration joins the Filipino people in congratulating Gilas Pilipinas for winning the silver medal in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championships—and with it, a ticket to the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

This victory is the culmination of years of hard work, belief, and perseverance from our players and their families, from our coaching staff, from the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas led by Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, and, most of all, from the entire Filipino nation, who has always stood behind the national team through their struggles and triumphs.

In unison, the nation urged our team forward, and with consummate “puso,” they laid everything on the line for flag and country. Gilas Pilipinas has shown the world that no one can outsize the heart of the Filipino. May their performance inspire every Filipino to relentlessly pursue excellence, no matter what field they find themselves in, so that, together, we may fulfill our shared aspiration of a Philippine nation greater than ever before.

Mabuhay Gilas Pilipinas!

Yesterday it was a hard earned victory yesterday, when Marcus Douthit got an injury in the second quarter vs South Korea. Marcus is one of the main man in Gilas, the team draw strength from him. And it is surprising that they have won over South Korea. Now that they will advance to FIBA World cup 2014 to be held in Spain.

Today, they will have to battle the two-time world champion, Iran. Again, the odds are bigger, considering that Marcus can't play against Iran. And it is known that Iran has a great defense and dishes out more physicality to the game.

It was a heart stopping event for the19,989 attendees in the stadium as well as those who eagerly watch the game in their home. Little by little, Iran taking the lead. The huge gap of scores was shown in the third quarter, ending with a 9 points lead of Iran.

It’s a sad loss for the Philippines, defeated

by the Giants (Iran). But the battle ain’t over yet. May this be a fruitful experience for Gilas, as they compete with FIBA World Championship 2014, in Spain. "No Pain, No Spain! Mabuhay Gilas Pilipinas!"

Philippines Vs. Iran game scores:

1st Quarter 15 Ph 17 Iran

2nd Quarter 34 Ph 35 Iran

3rd Quarter 53 Ph 62 Iran

4th Quarter 71Ph 85 Iran

Congratulations Iran!

#Gilaspilipinas

#FIBAAsia2013

#Puso

#Basketball

#championship 

President Obama calls Erik Spoelstra

WASHINGTON -- The White House says President Barack Obama congratulated Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra on winning the NBA championship for a second consecutive season.

Obama called coach Spoelstra on Friday afternoon. The White House says Obama pointed out the team's relentless determination and noted it was a historic season for the team and for its MVP, LeBron James.

The White House says Obama told the coach that he'll have the team to the White House to congratulate them in person on their victory.

Miami won its third NBA championship Thursday night, beating the San Antonio Spurs 95-88 in Game 7 of the finals.

#NBAFinals Game 7: Heat 95, Spurs 88 FINAL

Congratulations Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra. PINOY PRIDE :D

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

• It's over! The Heat have won back-to-back titles! Final score is 95-88!
• Spurs miss a 3. Wade with a split but Heat get rebound.
• James sinks both FTs. 94-88 Heat.
• Manu with a turnover! James on the line.
• James has 35 points.
• James sinks a jumper! 92-88 Heat with 27.9 seconds left!
• Battier misses a 3. Duncan misses a drive and tip. Heat ball with 39 sec left. Timeout Heat.
• Leonard misses a 3. Heat ball with 1:25 left.
• Chalmers misses 2FTs!
• Leonard hits a 3! 90-88 Heat, 2 min left.
• Duncan and James both miss.
• Wade scores. 90-85 Heat.
• Duncan sinks it! Foul on Bosh. Duncan completes and 1. 88-85 Heat. Timeout Heat 3:05 left.
• Battier with another 3! 88-82 Heat.
• Manu with a 3! 85-82 Heat.
• James again. 85-79 Heat.
• Duncan sinks 2FTs. 83-79 Heat 4:45 left.
• James buries a jumper. Heat lead 83-77 5:37 left. James has 31 points.
• Manu hits on a drive. 81-77 for the Heat.
• Wade sinks a jumper. 81-75 for Heat, 7 min left.
• No clear-path foul. Heat ball.
• Green with a bad pass. Clear-path foul initially called on Neal. Call under review.
• Chalmers with a drive off a timeout. 79-75 Heat.
• Battier finally misses a 3. Duncan scores on the other end. 77-75 for Heat, 8:34 left.
• James with a split. 77-73 for the Heat, 9:18 left.
• Birdman with a split. 76-73 Heat lead.
• Leonard with a follow-up. 75-73 Heat.
• Another 3 by Battier! Heat up 75-71.
• Here we go! Start of the fourth period. James and Battier are a combined 9-of-12 from three-point distance.
• Chalmers hits a triple that banks off the glass at the buzzer! Heat take 72-71 lead into the final period.
• Manu with a drive! Spurs lead 71-69, 5.2 seconds left.
• Battier buries another 3. Tied at 69.
• Neal with a drive. 69-66 Spurs. 40 seconds left.
• Manu sinks second. James scores on the other end. Spurs lead 67-66.
• Manu sinks first. Break in play as shot clock goes out.
• Spurs with a steal. Birdman fouls Manu, who goes to the line.
• Timeout Heat.
• Diaw with a 3! Duncan with a basket! Spurs regain lead, 65-64. 2:34 left in 3rd.
• James sinks 2FTs. James now has 26 pts on five triples. Heat lead 64-60.
• Leonard completes and 1. Heat up 62-60.
• James another 3! Heat lead 62-57.
• James answers with a 3. Heat up 59-57.
• Green finally buries a 3. Spurs regain lead, 57-56.
• Wade with a floater in the lane. Heat up 56-54, 5:45 left in 3rd.
• Duncan ties it up at 54.
• Wade with a dunk. Heat regain lead, 54-52, 8:02 left in 3rd. Timeout.
• Leonard again! Tied at 52.
• Chalmers with a split. 52-50 Heat, 9:25 left.
• Ginobili! 51-50 Heat.
• James with a corner 3, 51-48 Heat
• Leonard scores but misses bonus FT. Tied at 48.
• Chalmers scores. 48-46 for the Heat.
• Leonard ties it up at 46 with a jump hook.
• 3rd period underway

References:

http://ph.sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--nba-finals-game-7-092932480.html

http://ph.nba.com/?gr=www

Erik Spoelstra

"Erik Spoelstra and Joe DeRosa"  Photo(c) 

    

   He is the son of Dutch-Irish-American Jon Spoelstra, who was an NBA executive for the Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets, Buffalo Braves and New Jersey Nets, and the grandson of the late Watson Spoelstra, a sportswriter in the Detroit area. His mother, Elisa Celino, is from San Pablo City, Laguna in the Philippines.

    Raised in Portland, OR, Spoelstra, who was inducted into the Jesuit High School Athletic Hall of Fame in September 2009, is the first Asian/Filipino-American head coach in any of the major North American sports leagues.

     Spoelstra made history last June when he became the first Filipino-American coach to lead his team to an NBA championship. The Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games to win their second title in franchise history.

He has already visited the Philippines for the past three summers to conduct basketball clinics.


His last Manila visit was in August 2012 as part of the NBA Trophy Tour.

ERIK SPOELSTRA HEAD COACHING RECORD
SEASON	TEAM	RECORD	FINISH	PLAYOFFS
2008-09	Miami HEAT	43-39 (.524)	3rd/Southeast	3-4 (.429)
2009-10	Miami HEAT	47-35 (.573)	3rd/Southeast	1-4 (.200)
2010-11	Miami HEAT	58-24 (.707)	1st/Southeast	14-7 (.667)
2011-12	Miami HEAT	46-20 (.697)	1st/Southeast	16-7 (.696)
TOTALS (4 Seasons)	194-118 (.622)			34-22 (.607)

2012-13 - IN NBA FINALS NOW!

References:

nba.com

wikipedia.org

commons.wikimedia.org