Los Angeles Lakers Superstar Kobe Bryant Gets Offer To Play in Italy

While the NBA lockout is still not over, plenty of NBA players are being offered to play for different countries. Even a superstar like Kobe Bryant has also been given an offer from Italy to play. Kobe Bryant has been offered a $6.7 million, one season contract to play for the Italian team Virtus Bologna, appealing to his childhood memories of growing up in the country.

The Los Angeles Lakers superstar spent part of his youth in Italy while his father played there. He speaks Italian, prompting Bologna to hope he might return if there's an NBA lockout.

Virtus Bologna general manager Massimo Faraoni tells that he's been on conference calls between Bryant's agent, Rob Pelinka, Bologna president Claudio Sabatini and main sponsor Canadian Solar, which would provide the cash for such a deal.

"I Think the fact that he's lived in Italy makes this appealing to him," Faraoni said.

Virtus has given Bryant four different contract options, stretching from the 1 year deal to two month and one month options, and a per game deal that would come out to $739,640 per home game.

All of the offers are pretax and would allow Bryant to return to the Lakers immediately if the lockout ends.

Korea Defeated Smart Gilas Pilipinas 70-68 To Claim Bronze in the 26th FIBA Asia Championship

It was a heart breaker and it came from a very familiar foe, Team Korea. I thought the game was on the bag last Sunday afternoon, with the Philippines leading most of the way leading to the final quarter. Then just seconds away a 3 pointer from a Korean player who has been struggling the whole game, poor free throw shooting, a block, the finale? a come from behind win from Korea 70-68 to claim the bronze medal in the 26th FIBA Asia Championship.

Moon Taejong who has been struggling since the China game, buried his only three pointer for the game with 47 seconds left on the game to give Korea the lead 67-65, Gilas has a chance to tie the game in Douthit free throw but he missed the second one but was able to grab the rebound only to be blocked by Moon. Still with the Korea leading by just a point 67-66, Kelly Williams was given 2 free throws on a foul by Oh, but misses both charities.

Smart Gilas still has a chance to tie the game with 9 second on a free throw by Lassiter, he sank the first one making it 69-68 but missed the second one, Douthit was able to grab the offensive rebound but turned the ball over. With Philippines down by one Casio fouled Cho, and sent him to the free throw line, Cho misses the first but sank the second one, giving Korea a 70-68 and the game.

Smart Gilas Pilipinas Won Over Syria 75-52 in the 2nd Round of the 26th FIBA Asia Championship

It was a shacky start for Smart Gilas Philippines in the first half, having trailed Syria by 9 points 23-32 at halftime. Mainly due to the foul trouble of Douthit. Things were different in the second half, as the Philippines put on the pressure as it won 75-52 to end its 2nd round in the 26th FIBA Asia Championship.

With its win the Smart Gilas Pilipinas is 2nd in its bracket, the Philippines will now face Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals.

In a way, it was good that Smart Gilas Pilipinas were not able to show their usual form and true strength against Syria, with the Taiwanese - in full fource in the scouting gallery.

"I deliberately not put in that much Jimmy Alapag and Kelly Williams in the first half as I calculated some things. We missed lot of shots and it was good we're able to turn things around in the second half," said Smart Gilas coach Rajko Toroman.

"And it's now the deciding games. We're looking forward to play Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals. We know it's not going to be easy but we're optimistic," Toroman also said.

The knockout quarterfinals are set on Friday.

Smart Gilas Pilipinas Won Over Jordan 72-64 in the 2nd Round of the 26th FIBA Asia Championship

The Philippines started the 2nd round on a good note, as it beat Jordan 72-64. It was nice to see Lassiter and Lutz finally having to play, there were still some controversy it was said that on Coach Chot Reyes Twitter

coachot Chot Reyes

RT @NoliEala Great news! Fiba has cleared Lassiter and Lutz to play. Letter already being transmitted to Fiba Asia and SBP. God bless Gilas.

The message was dated Sept 18. Then came a tweet just before the game that

coachot Chot Reyes

UNBELIEVABLE! This is why I'm so disillusioned about FIBA basketball. Ayaw na naman palaruin yung 2!

So I thought Lutz and Lassiter wont be playing the game, but to my surprise they did. As the first half of the game we saw the Jordan team leading the Philippines. It was a different story on the second half as Lassiter provided the spark with his timely three point bomb and Douthit flexing his muscle inside. Although there was moment on the game where Douthit went down it, I was concerned since Douthit is our only big presence down the middle.But came back a few minutes to help the team.

Philippines was led by Marcus Douthit with 19 points and Marcio Lassiter with 14 points. Jordan was led by Osama Daghles with 18 points and Rasheim Wright with 16 points.

Philippines Smart Gilas will face Team Japan tomorrow August 20, 2011.

Smart Gilas Pilipinas Won Over UAE 95-52 in the 26th FIBA Asia Championship

It was a great start for the Philippine team in the 26th FIBA Asia Championship at Wuhan Sports Centre, winning 95-52 over United Arab Emirates. Mac Barracael lead the team in scoring with 15 points. Although it was a big win for the team, what worried me is not having Lutz and Lassiter in the lineup.

Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz were ruled ineligible to play barely an hour before the tip-off of their game against the United Arab Emirates.

Talk and Text coach Chot Reyes broke the news on his Twitter account (@coachot)

"FIBA Commisioner just told me now that Lutz and Lassiter are ineligible. Only an advise from FIBA in Switzerland can make them play now," Reyes said.

Former Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP) Executive Director Noli Eala said in his twitter account (@NoliEala) that "FIBA is invoking the wrong rule, Marcio (Lassiter) and Chris (Lutz) did not acquire citizenship by naturalization. They are natural born Filipinos by virtue of a Filipino parent."

Eala, who is also part of FIBA legal committee , has already advised the SBP on what to do next to salvage Lutz and Lassiter stint in FIBA-Asia.

Their eligibility was questioned by FIBA-Asia Deputy Secretary Hagop Khajirian, who is a Lebanese.

This is sad a bad news for our team, and if i not mistaken this guy Hagop has been in our country during a certain basketball event. Are they that threatened with our team? Lassiter anf Lutz have been playing for the team on several FIBA sanctioned games already and now they filed a petition for the two? this is plain BS. I just hope the two can get cleared and play the game against China.

Time Cone Is Now The New B-MEG Llamados Head Coach

It's been a while since I updated this blog, and my last post was about Tim Cone retiring. Although there were rumors circulating in the net that Cone will end up coaching a SMC team preferably B-MEG the rumors fizzled out when Del Rosario was named acting head coach. Days passed and a new rumor came out again. This time Tim Cone will be back but not as a coach but as a consultant for B-MEG then after 1 conference he will assume the Head coach position from Del Rosario.

Then came the big surprise, I think B-MEG can't wait to have Tim Cone handle the Llamados as Tim Cone is now officially the new Head coach of the Llamados. Along with Tim Cone is his former players Johnny Abbarientos and Jeff Cariaso. Now its clear that the Llamados would use the triangle offense with Tim and his former players around not to mention Devance is also in the Llamados lineup.

Things look brighter now in the B-MEG's camp, with the Llamados almost having all of their injured players back, except for Jonas Villanueva and maybe Barroca if he will still be in the Gilas lineup.