The Annual #BallerAwards: The Best of Asian Basketball in 2014

In lieu of a year-ender, I felt it would be better to go position-by-position and look at the best ballers of 2014. 

In this post, I will talk about the guys who did really well in the 2014 Asian basketball scene. Perhaps they led their countries/teams to titles and milestones. Perhaps they led their respective leagues in a certain statistical category. Perhaps they made history. Perhaps they did all of those things.

The Top Ten Basketball Stories of 2014

As always, basketball was top of mind in 2014 for most Pinoy sports fans. Milestones were set, records were broken, stars shone, while, on the other end of things, some expectations were not met and hearts were broken. It was a year of golden moments and moments that are better left in the dustbin of memory.

So now we look back at some of the most compelling basketball-related stories that came our way in the past 12 months. Please take note that I started writing this piece a few hours before 2014 ended, and I posted it after 2015 began. It’s a pretty interesting first, at least for me.

Some of the top basketball stories of this past year!

Without further ado, however, here are the top ten basketball stories of 2014. 

PR: Master Game Face winners recall once-in-a-lifetime experience watching Gilas in Spain

Hailed as the most valuable fans in the 2014 FIBA World Cup, millions of Filipinos from around the globe stormed social networking sites to show their support for Gilas Pilipinas. They also came in throngs to Seville, Spain to watch the national squad live as they competed in the world’s biggest basketball event.

Master, the #1 Men’s Face Care brand that gives an oil and pimple-free look to all Filipino men with its Facial Wash and Face Cleanser ranges, recently concluded the “Master Goes to Spain” Promo.  It was a special, one of a kind promotion where 5 lucky Master Face Care users won a trip of a lifetime to watch Gilas Pilipinas compete in the FIBA World Cup last September 2014.

Among those who personally cheered and closely followed the FIBA journey of Gilas Pilipinas were “Master Game Face Goes to Spain” promo winners Jose Clipper Besin, Michael Cleofe, Jeiel Guarino, Jerome Christopher Hernandez, and Andrew Paul Peñaranda. Fhey enjoyed an 8-day all-expense stay in Seville and watched the national men’s basketball team put their game faces on against Croatia, Greece, Argentina, Puerto Rico, and Senegal.

Five lucky Pinoys were treated to the trip of a lifetime in #Spain2014.

#Spain2014 Championship Roundup & Reflections

Not surprisingly, Team USA dominated anew in the recently-concluded 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain. The Americans were just too good, sweeping the competition in the quarterfinals, semifinals, and in the championship game. Serbia and France, meanwhile, turned a lot of heads by playing beyond expectations and knocking off some strong rivals.

Team USA, Serbia, and France finished atop the heap in #Spain2014.

Game recaps (adapted from FIBA.com):

Quarterfinals:

LITHUANIA over TURKEY, 73-61

Box Scores

Darjus Lavrinovic pumped energy into the Lithuanian engine powering the Baltic nation to a big win over Turkey at Palau Sant Jordi. The win marked Lithuania's second consecutive trip to the semifinals of FIBA's flagship event. Lithuania, who now await the winners of the Slovenia-USA Quarter-Final, made 10 of its 19 three-pointer attempts. Turkey raced out to an 18-10 lead after the opening period before Lithuania found their bearings in the second, thanks to the sharp-shooting brilliance of Lavrinovic. The 7’0 big man made all three of his three-pointers in the first five minutes of the second quarter, the last of which put Lithuania up 24-23 for their first lead of the game since Jonas Valanciunas had scored the opening basket.

#Spain2014 Round of 16 Roundup

Some favorites fell and some underdogs rose in the Round of 16 of the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain. Team USA joined powerhouses Lithuania, Brazil, and Spain in the quarterfinals along with France and Slovenia. Upstarts Serbia and Turkey also crashed the party.

Are these the consensus top four teams remaining in #Spain2014?

Game recaps (adapted from FIBA.com):

Day 7:
USA over MEXICO, 86-63
Box Scores 
There wasn’t much of a surprise here as the Americans started strong and clinically dismantled the Mexicans. Steph Curry had his best shooting game of the tournament, making six of nine three-balls en route to 20 points. The USA's perimeter defense did not allow Mexico's vaunted long-range  shooting attack to become a factor, with Sergio Valdeolmillos' squad just four of 16. Gustavo Ayon of Mexico, the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship MVP, did leave a good impression with a 25-point, eight-rebound effort.

#Spain2014: Round of 16 Micro Previews Part 2

Hola! Yes, it sucks that Gilas Pilipinas has been eliminated, but aren’t you even a little bit happy about how well they represented the Philippines? Our boys exceeded expectations and will come home heroes. ‘Nuff said.

Right now, however, the hoop wars in Spain aren’t over yet. Sixteen countries have survived the grueling group stages and have advanced to the dangerous knockout rounds, where one loss sends any team packing.

In this second of two parts, we will give micro previews of the next four Round of 16 matches.

Who moves on and who gets the boot in the Round of 16?

Rambulan na!