Friday, May 16, 2008

All the way in L.A.


Los Angeles… finally we’ve made it here! I’ve been looking forward to this trip for some time now. Not because we’re going to have a vacation, but because it’s my chance to really concentrate on training, away from all the distractions back home. We’re scheduled to have a two-week session under the Abunassar Impact Basketball camp (AIB), the same camp where some of the NBA’s greats have trained like Chauncey Billups, Tayshaun Prince, Kevin Garnett, Al Harrington, Sebastian Telfair, Vince Carter, Monta Ellis, as well as other college and European professionals.

I say ‘away from all the distractions’ because this training session gives me a chance to do nothing but play basketball. This camp provides a complete training program for our individual skills, conditioning and team play. I think this trip is also a great opportunity for the team to gel and become closer to one another, which i believe will be another key ingredient to our success.

Guess what, the closest food establishment is about a 15-minute walk from the hotel. All I see are industrial warehouses that all look alike along the vicinity of the hotel. That’s how isolated we are! I hope the players don't pull-off a hunger strike!

Actually, I don’t mind just hanging out in the room with my roommate Kirk, since we’re both home bodies anyway! The only problem is that it’s so difficult to find a
cheaper alternative meal than having to eat in the hotel all the time, which costs us about $12 a meal.

Anyway, all the NBA games are being aired here (as I just watched my Hornets get creamed by the very classic Spurs team!). That Chris Paul is one amazing player!
I wish the trainers at this camp have some magic up their sleeves to give me Chris Paul-like skills! =) Another thing, I love the fact that we have free wireless internet service in our rooms! Now, I'm just really staying at my room!


I think this basketball camp is the perfect chance for me to hone my individual skills, with all the repetitive drills we’re gonna be doing here. We didn’t really have much practice time in Manila because of all the games from the Fil-Oil and Nike Summer League one after the other. With all the hype that the team and the new rookies have been receiving, I have to say that we haven’t been playing up to expectations and I believe that we can still do better. We’ve lost two games in the Fil-Oil against San Beda (who happens to be here as well) and FEU. These losses were the source of a lot of frustration and anxiety on our team. But I believe that all is well and we just need to adjust to one another a little bit. We are still trying to find the right mix between rookies and veterans. As the team captain, there’s a lot of pressure on my part to make this a ‘great’ team. My individual performance will be crucial but more than that, it's my desire to make my team mates better players through guidance and leadership. But I believe the guys will step up and come together when the time comes because these guys are winners!

Last year, we attended the same camp except in their Las Vegas branch. We were lucky enough to have seen Telfair, Gomes, “Birdman” Anderson as well as other Florida Gators like Green and Horford, in action! It’s only our first day here in LA so we’re still resting and settling down in our hotel. I can’t wait to see who we’ll be training with this time around! Will keep you all posted.

32 comments:

Joe said...

Wow.. great expectations for the Blue and White then...

thryn09 said...

Wow.
Just do your best in the trainings and give your best shots in the games.
Goodluck in the upcoming games in UAAP, do your best Chris:)
I'll support you all the way!
FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT!

Anonymous said...

never forget to take care of yourself, chris! :)

Anonymous said...

happy to read another entry from you...and wow, all the way from LA...we were kinda worried that we might not hear from you for two weeks because of your training. i hope you accomplish what you've gone there for, and im excited to see what the Blue Eagles can bring come UAAP.

great job with Pinoy Records, btw...just watched it, and you're doing great with the ratings all by yourself ey? hehe..

Anonymous said...

wow!
another nice entry chris!.baka nga mag-hunger strike yung mga team mates mo dyan sa mahal ng pagkain .harangin mo na lang!

well, goodluck for your team.i'm expecting more crucial shots from you in the games!

k-ann said...

another nice post! gosh... you guys are training hard indeed! as a self confessed blue eagles fan (though i'm not an atenista, hehe) i'd really like to see the eagles win the championship or be in the finals for the upcoming season... i'm hoping for the best! i can feel that the team has more than enough talent and drive to win it... so keep it up guys! we will definitely support you all the way. :)

Anonymous said...

Hey Chris! There have been rumors going around that you're getting married already. Is this true?

Anonymous said...

hey! i'm a really big fan of ADMU and of course, you! (and also the phoenix suns). i really hope that you'll sail all the way through the finals this season! i'm hoping for the best of the blue eagles! (and i also hope that hornets will win against the spurs!, hehe) God Bless you and your team! -jaiz17

Unknown said...

I am happy to hear about your trip to L.A. I hope the whole team will learn new strategies and skills. I hope I can watch one of your games in the upcoming UAAP season(i am from davao). From your fellow Atenean(i'm from ADDU), GOOD LUCK and God Bless. I will continue to support the BLUE EAGLES. Do your best and God will do the rest.

Anonymous said...

goodluck next season then! I'm sure you guys are going to do great again.. just like you do every season! :)

Drew said...

we're excited to see you play after the training...

we just hope you don't sprained your ankle or break your bones...

knock on wood...

good luck

Anonymous said...

i still go for the SPURS and HOPEFULLY, hornets will lose!!hahahah:p
you can always ask for butter and bread so as to save money and just have em toasted.LOL!
anyways, take care of yourself there chris!:)

Anonymous said...

hi..i am a biG fAn of BluE eAgleS nD yoU as welL..sNa mAkuhA nyo aNg sEasOn 71..iM so excitEd tO wAtch thE bLue eAgles agAin..hAy..i'M sUre pUno nA nAman aNg arAneta bEcause oF yOu gUys..nExt yR. hiNdi nA gReEn aNg kUlay nG sUot ko hEheh..bLue nA..i thinK mAsarap mgiNg atEnean kAysa magiNg lAsallites..tAluniN nyO lAsalle gUys..gUdluck..oNe biG fiGht...

Anonymous said...

nice chris!
i know your attitude will meet your belivers' expectation.
(count me in)
looking forward to a great FIGHT!
God bless!..^o~

Anonymous said...

chris.ü

you really work hard for the team, huh? that's great! i know you make a really, really great leader for the team.ü though i may not be there, watching you guys score baskets live, i will still support your team through constant prayers.ü they say that prayers can move mountains, right? and i believe that the uaap is a lot lighter that a mountain.=P so keep the faith alive and He will do the rest. goodluck chris.goodluck to the Ateneo Blue Eagles!

Anonymous said...

oh weLL.. with that passion, i know you'll get that far..

goodLuck to your team CHRIS!

go Blue EagLes!

chris said...

I really appreciate all your encouraging and supportive words! Surely, we are working really hard as early as now. Oh, and i'm also amazed that you guys follow Pinoy Records too! You'll be seeing Manny and I in the studio together soon :) About marriage, I haven't even been pondering about that, not in the next 6 or 7 years maybe! haha. I want to focus on my career at the moment.

ainan said...

wow, so i think your having a good time then. Nice that your continuosly extending your skills thru training & practice. Goodluck for the blue & white team.take care MR. TiU. :0

Anonymous said...

Can you please tell something about your lovelife?
It's also nice knowing the other side of you..

Anonymous said...

just wanna ask sumthing... i read your interview by ricky lo he asked u about your luv lyf and you said NO COMMENT... just wanna ask why u answered no comment? im just curious but f u dnt wanna answer my question i respect ur privacy...

Anonymous said...

im loving Pinoy Records because of you...it's great that you're having more time in hosting it...sometimes, i even forget who made records on that show 'cause im just so amazed that you're hosting it. haha! hopefully, you wouldn't drop out from hosting once UAAP starts...

Anonymous said...

to the person who never wasted any minute of his life,
goodluck in your training (that was an intense preparation for your next duel with the archers, hope that you would win that game on JUne 7)... so i won't forget to watch the game on June 7 because it that game i would see the fruit of the training and the archers would be the first to taste the game of the new ateneo...

good luck.. and hope you do good in that training.. well you're just running second in your group behindthe undefeated UE who defeated the Archers last game..

chris said...

About my love life? I don't exactly feel comfortable talking about it in public especially during interviews because I want to keep the relationship private and away from any intrigues. To make it simple, I have a non-showbiz girlfriend who I've been seeing for a while now. :)

Anonymous said...

Hello Chris, my fellow Atenista! haha.

Well, I'm really a UAAP fanatic. As a matter of fact, I'm making my t-th schedule end very early so that I can watch your games by then. Last year, I was so frustrated because our Hi16 LTs would always coincide with some of your crucial games, most especially against La Salle! How's that!? How lucky can I get then? Haha.

Anyway, I wish you all the best there. I hope this year, the Eagles would really find the perfect concoction to triumph! Well, it really doesn't matter whether our team would be hailed as champs or otherwise, but as long as there are improvements [say, minimized turn-overs,etc.] and the heart is there, for me and maybe the same goes for all Eagle fanatics, the Ateneo Blue Eagles would still be the champs in my heart! Hahaha.;)

To put it bluntly, WIN OR LOSE, IT'S THE SCHOOL WE CHOOSE. :)

Anonymous said...

iM so excited to watch you again...playing and doing your best inside the court..goodluck chris..more power to you..this season 71 is for the blue eagles..good job in pinoy record..
ONE BIG FIGHT!

Anonymous said...

hello chris tiu!:) although i;m not an Atenean, i do admire your skills on the court. i'm sure your team will benefit greatly from this training. you're blog's interesting, by the way. keep up the good work and God bless!:)

Anonymous said...

chris.. finally u hav ur own page.. haha.. anyway.. i just wanna say na gud luck sa uaap season.. i'll root 4 u guys (as always).. i hope i can see at least 1 game live.. it's so hard being in cebu and all.. but i think this year it's possible na coz la na aqng classes.. anyway i just wanna ask if u rmmbr d tym u came here in cebu last 2006.. rmmbr d girl u called "bata" na ngpapic wd u after ur last game..? i was that bata.. haha.. and i shud tell u i'm not 12 yrs old (which was how u made me feel when u said that.. haha)! i just turned 18 that tym.. haha.. anyway gud luck again.. ciao.. -kat

Anonymous said...

"As the team captain, there’s a lot of pressure on my part to make this a ‘great’ team. My individual performance will be crucial but more than that, it's my desire to make my team mates better players through guidance and leadership. But I believe the guys will step up and come together when the time comes because these guys are winners!"

gosh, exactly the same sentiments as mine. at first i really felt apprehensive of having to assume the position of captain for my team this year but then again i believe that, like you, I can be a good model as well as a guide for the younger ones. our rookies this year are really good and i hope that in my term, Ateneo volleyball would once again be recognized for its glory :)

fellow cap, good luck to the both of us!

kreena said...

sayang wla na ang kaklase kong siCARLO LASTIMOSA sa team nyo!

anyway, i hope you guys can come in our XAVIER DAYS CELEBRATION this DECEMBER!!

will always be A.M.D.G !! =)

Anonymous said...

Chris, my 12 y.o. little princess (she's turning 13 before the year ends) started reading all the comments on your older posts.

Guess what!!! you just broke her heart (with your admission of a non-showbiz girlfriend). She's been telling her friends that you will marry her when she turns 23 (that's 10 years from now ha ha ha).

Anyway, I just want you to know that you're such a big inspiration in her studies and her other interests. You're like the big brother that she never had.

Have a great game on Sunday!!!

OBF!

Anonymous said...

congratulations for winning the UAAP. I had no doubts about the blue eagles. anyway, honestly...and i mean this in the best way possible, please don't go into the show business. sayang e. from what i've heard, you're SUPER smart. put up your own business or something. i dunno. just, not showbiz. please.

Anonymous said...

i was surprised when i heard that you had a blog...well im so happy that the blue eagles were really serious in their training...i hope you will always be a good example to all the players of the UAAP...although im from maroon but still i love watching you guys...especially chris...he he he
i hope your team will win another or should i say many UAAP championships...godbless