September 2015 ~ Highkot Travel

2015 FIBA Asia: Gilas Pilipinas rebounds, mauls Hong Kong for first win by 51

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Jayson Castro (William) led the Philippines with 21 points, five rebounds, and two assists. - Photo from FIBA File

A frustrated Gilas Pilipinas bares its teeth and bites down hard on Hong Kong for a strong recovery from a tough loss in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship

Gilas dusts off loss, mauls Hong Kong by 51

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – A different Gilas Pilipinas showed up on Thursday morning, September 24 than had been on display the day before. And they sent quite a strong message to the rest of the competition.

The 2013 FIBA Asia silver medalists vented out their frustrations from an embarrassing opening day defeat to Palestine as the 69th ranked Hong Kong was the unfortunate victim of a 101-50 decimation in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship at the Changsha Social Work College Gymnasium in Changsha, China.

Jayson Castro, or Jayson William in international play, showed why he is considered Asia's top point guard, exploding for 21 points, 5 rebounds, two assists. He also was 5-of-6 from three-point land. The speedy Castro was firing on all cylinders as he provided not only offensive ammunition but also stability and leadership in orchestrating Gilas' sets.

Andray Blatche followed up his 21-point outing vs Palestine with a 17-point, 8-rebound performance, while Dondon Hontiveros, after going one-of-6 from downtown in the previous game, found his shooting touch and went 4-of-6 from long range against Hong Kong for 14 points to go with 8 rebounds.

Terrence Romeo added 11 points on 3-of-11 triples to go with 5 rebounds, two assists and a steal. Ranidel De Ocampo chipped 10 points and 7 rebounds.

The Philippine national men's basketball team, ranked 31 in the world by FIBA, bared its teeth and bit down hard on Hong Kong from the get-go as they raced to a 20-2 lead out of the gates thanks to Castro's taking over early on.

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TAKEOVER. Jayson Castro, known internationally as Jayson William, stabilizes, leads, and orchestrates Gilas Pilipinas on both ends of the floor from start to finish as the Philippines makes mince meat of Hong Kong. Photo from FIBA

And although Hong Kong, which easily dispatched Kuwait on opening day, found their stride late in the first period, and were backed by the small crowd at the venue, the Philippines refused to be slayed once again and outscored their foes 23-7 in the second period to take a 51-22 halftime lead they would never relent.

The statement game continued in the third even as cheers echoed through the arena for every made Hong Kong shot as Gilas entered the fourth period armed with an 83-38 advantage.

The Philippines' defense was sticky. They clogged the paint and made sure they had active hands and feet all throughout. Unlike the first game, Gilas found the mark from the outside with a 41.2% 3-point shooting clip as opposed to 23% versus Palestine.

After the horrible loss to Palestine, head coach Tab Baldwin dared his players to do more.

"I got nothing for rebounds. That's on you," he said after explaining some adjustments for the Hong Kong game, as shown on a TV5 report.

"If we have to discuss that issue again then I won't be interested in putting my hand in the circle again with you guys. And you guys shouldn't be interested in that too. Fair enough?"

Watch the Video of 2015 FIBA Asia Championship: Gilas Pilipinas vs Hong Kong

"Let's have integrity. Let's do what Filipino basketball players have been doing for years – let's play with puso (heart)," he added.

The team, clearly disappointed during that huddle in practice, responded nicely as they out-rebounded Hong Kong, 62-38. The Palestinians had the edge a day before, 53-58.

Gilas also remembered to move the ball around again and look for the open man as they registered 16 assists, compared to just 8 against Palestine.

They were much more aggressive, too, being smarter with their shot selection. Instead of mostly chucking three-pointers barely 24 hours earlier, Gilas took it strong to the hoop and went 17-of-28 from the line. While that free throw shooting still needs work, they limited Hong Kong to just 5-of-8 from the stripe.

Turnovers were also decreased from 15 to 10.

Siu Win Chang and Duncan Reid led Hongkong with 13 and 11 points, respectively.

Gilas will round up Group B play with Kuwait on Friday, September 25. The team has no room for a loss through to the second round after dropping the Palestine game. – Rappler.com

Posted By: Makisig Bayani

Controversial ₱700-million Iloilo Convention Center opens for APEC Summit

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PNoy opens Iloilo Convention Center

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III led on Monday the inauguration of the controversial ₱700-million Iloilo Convention Center (ICC).

Aquino opened the state-of-the-art convention facility located on a 1.7-hectare lot in Iloilo Business Park, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

The ICC became controversial last year after former provincial administrator Manuel Mejorada Jr. alleged that the structure was overpriced and implicated Senate President Franklin Drilon, an Ilonggo.

Mejorada accused Drilon of conspiring with a supposedly favored contractor to rig the bidding of the project.

Mejorada alleged that W.V. Coscoluella and Associates, which designed the building, was awarded a contract without a public bidding and that construction was overpriced by ₱488 million.

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President Aquino at the inauguration of the Iloilo Convention Center in Iloilo City. Official Gazette PH

Drilon was charged with graft before the Office of the Ombudsman in October 2014, but the charge was dismissed for lack of merit.

Two stories high with a floor area of 11,832 square meters, the ICC can accommodate over 3,000 guests. It will be used as one of the venues for some high-level ministerial meetings of this year's Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit.

The construction of the ICC began in 2013 and was based on a design inspired by Iloilo's Dinagyang and Paraw festivals.

Aquino also joined the ceremonial launch of the Iloilo Business Park and Richmonde Hotel Iloilo. - Louis Bacani @philSTAR

Posted By: Makisig Bayani

VIDEO: Pinay X Factor favorites 4th Power grew up in poverty before shooting to stardom got standing Ovation

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The group impressed the judges. image: mirror.co.uk

X Factor favorites 4th Power grew up in poverty before shooting to stardom, their mum reveals

The girl group sparked outrage last week as it was revealed they were professionals, but they have come a long way from their childhood

X Factor favorites 4th Power grew up in poverty before reaching stardom, their mum has revealed.

Filipino sisters Almira, 27, Celena, 19, Mylene, 23, and Irene, 25, wept with joy on the opening show after getting a standing ovation from the new judging panel of Simon Cowell, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw.

Some viewers were livid when the Sunday People last week revealed they were seasoned professionals.

But life has not always been so good. The girls grew up in a poor neighborhood in the city of Santiago with two more siblings, their junk dealer dad Dominador and mum Erlindo.

Revealing the family's struggle, Erlindo said: "We moved from place to place to find a better life. Poverty forced my husband to buy and sell bottles and newspapers in a pushcart.

"I sold Tupperware, beauty products and fashionwear. With our hard work, we sent our five daughters and our son to school."

She revealed how they got their first break by finishing second in a family singing contest while wearing homemade kit.

The group appeared on This Morning

The sisters raised travel money by singing at an arena between cock fights and went on to perform at birthdays, weddings and concerts to help pay for school tuition.

A string of international competitions followed.

The band had told X Factor producers about their extensive experience before being invited to perform for the judges.- Read more at Mirror.co.uk

Posted By: Makisig Bayani

Piolo Pascual back on the cover of Esquire

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Piolo Pascual @ Esquire. image: Coconuts Manila

This time, Piolo Pascual gets his solo Esquire cover.

Unlike his usual glossy appearances in other magazines, Kapamilya idol Piolo Pascual sported a gritty, understated look on the September issue cover of Esquire. The cap Piolo was wearing is actually owned dby photographer Geric Cruz, who shot the cover.

In a Facebook post, Esquire said Papa P will be sharing his thoughts on fatherhood, fame, and his role in Lav Diaz's movie Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis.

Of all his experiences on cam, Piolo told Esquire that playing Simoun, who is based in Jose Rizal’s El Filibusterismo, is one of his most challenging roles to date.

Esquire last had Piolo on the cover in 2013, when he was promoting the film, On The Job. At that time, he shared the cover with co-stars Gerald Anderson and Joel Torre.

"I think I’ve come to the point in my life where I can say, 'I think I’ve done enough.' I’ve done more than enough. But if God is going to take me some place else, I won’t mind. But for now, damn, man... never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I’d get this far," Piolo said.

The September 2013 issue will also be giving readers an inside look at the set of the film, as well as Lav's directing style.

With the theme "Say You Want A Revolution" (a line from Revolution of The Beatles, yes?), Esquire also touches on poems from writer and poet Pete Lacaba and a love story from the Martial Law era.

More of Papa P coming through:

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Piolo Pascual @ Esquire. image: Coconuts Manila

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Piolo Pascual @ Esquire. image: Coconuts Manila

Alex Castro's Penis groped at Cospomolitan Bash 2015 Showdown

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Alex Castro's dick groped by an anonymous fans during his Cosmopolitan Bash 2015 stage ramp - image: grabbed from PEP Youtube channel

Alex Castro's "jun-jun" groped at #CosmoCarnival 2015

As posted at Philippine Entertainment Portal or PEP, Isang mahiwagang "nilalang" ang tila sinuwerte dahil nahawakan nito ang "jun-jun" ng Kapamilya actor/performer na si Alex Castro sa Cosmo Carnival 2015 na ginanap noong September 5, sa SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds sa Pasay City, Philippines.

Na-spot-an ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) ang pangyayari na makikita sa video na ito simula sa 0:35:

Or, tingnan nyo na lang yung pangatlong photo sa gallery sa sa baba.

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Alex Castro - image source: pep.ph

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Alex Castro - image source: pep.ph

Alex Castro's penis groped by a mysterious fans - image source: pep.ph

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Alex Castro - image source: pep.ph

Sa huli, tila na-enjoy pa rin naman ni Alex ang Cosmo Bash ngunit nag-iwan siya ng mensahe sa mahiwagang "nilalang" sa kanyang Instagram account.

Sabi ni Alex: "Salamat sa #cosmopolitan at sa lahat na nanood. Dun sa nanghawak bonus na sayo yan! Wag ka na maghuhugas ng kamay. #cosmopolitancarnival2015"

Read more at Philippine Entertainment Portal

Posted By: Makisig Bayani

Hot Pinoy hunks flaunt sexy bods at Cosmo Bachelor bash 2015

Photo by Alecs Ongcal/Rappler

IN PHOTOS: Cosmo Bachelor Bash 2015

MANILA, Philippines – The men of Cosmo's annual Bachelor Bash took the stage once again at the Mall of Asia Concert Grounds on Saturday, September 5. This year's bash, themed "Cosmo Carnival," featured celebrities like Daniel Matsunaga, JC de Vera, Elmo Magalona, GMA 7 actor Derrick Monasterio and model and host LA Aguinaldo, walking the stage to the sound of screaming fans.

Most of the guys will be in the CosmoMen supplement in Cosmo's September issue with Erich Gonzales on the cover.

Check out the photos form the Carnival below:

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