Today is the big day for all PBA hopefuls, the 48th Season PBA Draft is considered as one of the deepest draft pool with 124 applicants locally and internationally.
Terrafirma, Blackwater, Rain or Shine and Northport are the teams that will be choose the top 5 picks.
Below are the official list of applicants for the 48th Season PBA Draft;
Here’s the 48th Season #PBAGatoradeDraft OFFICIAL LIST of Applicants!
See you Sunday, 4pm at the Market Market – Taguig!
Aquaman 2, officially titled Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, is the sequel to the 2018 blockbuster that made Jason Momoa a household name. The trailer shows Aquaman returning to his underwater kingdom of Atlantis, where he faces a new threat from his old enemy Black Manta.
Black Manta has acquired a powerful weapon called the Black Trident, which can unleash a dark force that could destroy the world. Aquaman must team up with his estranged brother Orm, the former king of Atlantis, to stop Black Manta and save his family, his people and the world.
The trailer also features glimpses of Aquaman’s love interest Mera, played by Amber Heard, who briefly returns in the sequel despite the controversy surrounding her divorce from Johnny Depp. Other returning cast members include Nicole Kidman as Aquaman’s mother Atlanna, Patrick Wilson as Orm, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Manta, Willem Dafoe as Vulko, and Dolph Lundgren as King Nereus.
The trailer also introduces some new faces, such as Vincent Regan as Atlan, Indya Moore as Karshon, and Pilou Asbæk for an undisclosed role.
The film is directed by James Wan, who also helmed the first Aquaman movie and is known for his horror films such as The Conjuring and Saw. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is set to hit theaters on December 20, 2023.
It’s official the live action adaptation of One Piece will have a second season, this was announced by Netflix accompanied by a special message from Eiichiro Oda, the creator of the Japanese manga series of One Piece, where the adaptation is based.
We finally have the official band line up for the coming KCON Korean Festival in Saudi. Of all the 14 bands, I only recognize Super Junior. Looks like the rest of the bands are up and coming bands in the K-POP scene.
For October 6th;
Super Junior D&E
HighLight
Hyolyn
Kard
Everglow
8turn
Riize
For Octoher 7th;
Super Junior
Oh My Girl
Dreamcatcher
Tempest
The New Six
Eleltz U+P
Evnne
The KCON Korean Festival will (KCON Riyadh 2023) be on Friday, October 6, and Saturday, October 7, at the Mohammed Abdo Arena in Boulevard Riyadh City. In addition to the musical performances, there will be an exhibition dedicated to Korean culture. This will provide attendees with a deeper understanding of Korea’s rich history and traditions.
The new iPhones will have USB-C ports. This is a major change from previous iPhones, which have used the Lightning connector. The switch to USB-C is being made in order to comply with a new European Union regulation that requires all new smartphones to have USB-C ports.
The USB-C port, as mentioned by Android users, is a more versatile port than the Lightning connector. It can be used to charge devices, transfer data, and connect to external displays. It is also the standard port used by many other devices, such as laptops, tablets, and cameras. This means that you will be able to use the same charger and cable for your iPhone 15 and other devices. It is however not yet confirmed if the new iPhones will be able to support external displays.
The switch to USB-C is a welcome change for many iPhone users. It is a more modern and versatile port that will make it easier to connect the iPhone to other devices and accessories. It is also a step towards reducing e-waste, as there will be no need to have separate chargers for different devices.
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will have USB-C ports that support USB 2.0 speeds, though this is yet to be confirmed. This means that the new iPhones be capable to transfer data at a maximum speed of 480 Mbps. However, it is possible that Apple may release a later version of the iPhone 15 with a USB-C port that supports faster speeds.
Overall, the switch to USB-C is a positive change for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. It is a more versatile and modern port that will make it easier to connect the iPhone to other devices. It is also a step towards reducing e-waste.
Apple has once again pushed the boundaries of wearable technology with the introduction of the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Unveiled on September 12, 20231, this new iteration of Apple’s most rugged and capable watch brings a host of performance updates and new features, setting a significant environmental milestone.
Powerful New S9 SiP
At the heart of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the powerful new S9 SiP1. This custom Apple silicon delivers system-wide improvements and introduces brand-new features. It includes a new double tap gesture and on-device Siri with the ability to access and log health data privately and securely. The watch also features a new 4-core Neural Engine that can process machine learning tasks up to twice as fast as the original Apple Watch Ultra.
Double Tap Gesture
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 introduces a new double tap gesture, allowing users to easily control the watch using just one hand and without touching the display. Users can tap the index finger and thumb of their watch hand together twice to quickly perform many of the most common actions on the watch. This double tap will also open the Smart Stack from the watch face, and another double tap will scroll through widgets in the stack.
Brightest Display Ever
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 boasts Apple’s brightest display ever, with an upgraded brightness of 3,000 nits. This makes it perfect for anyone who wants our biggest, brightest display, longest battery life, and best GPS of any Apple Watch.
Expanded Altitude Range and Advanced Capabilities
The watch offers an expanded altitude range, on-device Siri, Precision Finding for iPhone, and advanced capabilities for water adventures1. It also runs watchOS 10, which delivers redesigned apps, new cycling experiences, features to help explore the outdoors, and a new watch face — Modular Ultra3.
Battery Life
Despite all these advancements, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 maintains an impressive battery life. It offers a 36-hour battery life with regular use and up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode.
Carbon Neutral Options
In a significant step towards environmental sustainability, customers can now choose a carbon neutral option for any Apple Watch model. This represents a significant milestone toward Apple’s plan to be carbon neutral across its entire business, manufacturing supply chain, and product life cycle by 20301.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is available for order today, with availability beginning Friday, September 22. It is priced at $799, making it both an impressive piece of technology and a statement of style.
Together with the new iPhone 15s, Apple also announced the new Apple Watch Series 9. The new watch features a number of improvements over its predecessor, including a brighter display, a faster processor, and a new double-tap gesture.
Faster Processor
The Apple Watch Series 9 is powered by the new S9 SiP, the new dual-core CPU has 5.6 billion transistors — 60% more than the S8 chip. Apple Watch Series 9 also has a new 4-core Neural Engine that can process machine learning tasks up to twice as fast, when compared with Apple Watch Series 8. The power efficiency of the S9 SiP allows Apple Watch Series 9 to maintain all-day 18-hour battery life.
Double-tap gesture
The Apple Watch Series 9 has a new double-tap gesture that allows you to control the watch without touching the display. Users can tap the index finger and thumb of their watch hand together twice to quickly and conveniently perform many of the most common actions on Apple Watch Series 9.
Brighter display
The Apple Watch Series 9 has a brighter display, it display up to 2000 nits — double that of Series 8. This will make it easier to see the watch in bright sunlight. With the new S9 SiP, the display is also more energy-efficient, so it will last longer on a single charge.
Notable features;
Always-on altimeter that measures elevation changes throughout the day
New fall detection feature that can automatically call emergency services if you fall
New ECG app that can detect atrial fibrillation
New blood oxygen app that can measure your blood oxygen levels
Apple Watch Series 9 is available in 41mm and 45mm sizes in starlight, midnight, silver, (PRODUCT)RED, and a new pink aluminum case, as well as stainless steel in gold, silver, and graphite cases. The Apple Watch Series 9 is priced at $399. The watch will be available for pre-order on September 15 and will start shipping on September 22.
Apple has officially announced the new iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, the company’s latest flagship smartphones. The new phones feature a number of improvements over their predecessors, including a new design, a more powerful A17 Bionic chip, a better camera system and USB-C!
“This is the most pro lineup we have ever created, with a state-of-the-art titanium design, the best iPhone camera system yet that enables game-changing new workflows, and the A17 Pro chip, which ushers in a new chapter of performance and games never before seen on iPhone,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max represent the best of Apple design and industry-first innovations to help enrich the everyday experiences of our users, while enabling them to unleash their creativity.”
Design
The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max still using the same design language that Apple used since the iPhone 12, but with a few key changes. The front will be using Ceramic Shield and back glass is now made of titanium, which is stronger and lighter than aluminum. The phones are also slightly thicker and heavier, which helps to improve their durability.
The front of the phones is still dominated by the large display, which is now a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display on the iPhone 15 Pro and a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The displays have a resolution of 2556‑by‑1179-pixel resolution at 460 ppi and support HDR10 and Dolby Vision.
USB-C
Just like with the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, the new iPhone 15 Pros will feature a new USB-C connector. The switch to USB-C is being made in order to comply with a new European Union regulation that requires all new smartphones to have USB-C ports. The USB-C will be for charging and data transfer. iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max support USB 3 for data transfer speeds up to 10 gigabits per second, up to 20x faster than before.
Action button
Another new feature of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max is the new Action button which replaces the replaces the “mute” switch. The new Action button is customizable that give you quick access to the camera or flashlight; activating Voice Memos, Focus modes, Translate and accessibility features like Magnifier; or using Shortcuts for more options.
Camera
The camera system on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max is one of the biggest improvements over the previous models. The main camera now has a 48-megapixel sensor, which allows it to take sharper and more detailed photos. The ultrawide camera has also been upgraded to a 12-megapixel sensor with a wider field of view. Both cameras now support Night mode, which allows you to take great photos in low-light conditions.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max also has a new telephoto camera with a 5x optical zoom in and a 2x optical zoom out, that gives it a 10x optical zoom range with the digital zoom up to 25x. This is the first time that the iPhone has had a telephoto lens with this much zoom capabilities, and it will be a major boon for photographers who want to take close-up shots of faraway subjects.
A17 Bionic chip
The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are powered by the A17 Bionic chip, the most powerful chip ever used in an iPhone and the industry’s first 3-nanometer chip in a smartphone. The A17 Bionic chip offers up to 10% faster CPU performance and up to 20% faster GPU performance than the previous chip. The new iPhone 15 Pros will also features hardware-accelerated ray tracing — which is 4x faster than software-based ray tracing — iPhone 15 Pros offers smoother graphics, as well as more immersive AR applications and gaming experiences.
This makes the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max ideal for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing.
Battery Life
The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will have a longer battery life that the previous generation; up to 29 hours video playback and up to 95 hours in audio with support for magSafe wireless charging up to 15 Watts and Qi wireless charging up to 7.5 Watts. When using a 20W adapter (or higher) battery will fast-charge up to 50% charge in just 30 minutes. Just like with the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, Apple uses 100% recycled cobalt in the battery. You can checkout the full specs of the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max here.
Notable features;
New design with titanium back
A17 Bionic chip
Improved camera system with 48-megapixel main camera, 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, and 6x optical zoom telephoto camera
Night mode for all three cameras
Customizable Action button
Cinematic mode for videos
LiDAR scanner for augmented reality
Larger battery
Support for 5G connectivity
The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will be available in black titanium, white titanium, blue titanium, and natural titanium finishes, and will be available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage capacities. The iPhone 15 Pro will start at $999 and the iPhone 15 Pro Max will start at $1,199. The phones will be available for pre-order on September 15 and will start shipping on September 22.
Apple today unveiled the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, the company’s latest flagship smartphones. The new phones feature a number of improvements over their predecessors, including a new design, a more powerful A16 Bionic chip, and a better camera system.
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus have a similar design to the iPhone 14, but with a few key changes. The back glass is now color-infused with a stunning, textured matte finish, and a new contoured edge on the aluminum enclosure. The phones are also slightly thicker and heavier, which helps to improve their durability.
The iPhone 15 will be the smaller 6.1-inch, while the iPhone 15 Plus will feature a larger 6.7-inch display sizes. Both iPhone 15s will also feature the Dynamic Island, an innovative way to interact with important alerts and Live Activities. The Super Retina XDR display is great for watching content, streaming Apple Fitness+ workouts, and playing games.
Another big change that Apple made with the new iPhone 15 is the new USB-C connector. The switch to USB-C is being made in order to comply with a new European Union regulation that requires all new smartphones to have USB-C ports.
The new iPhone 15s uses the A16 Bionic chip, the most powerful chip ever used in an iPhone. With two high-performance cores that use 20 percent less power and four high-efficiency cores, the 6-core CPU is faster than the previous generation and the 5-core GPU now has 50% more memory bandwidth for smooth graphics for streaming videos and games.
The camera system on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus has also been improved. Both models feature a powerful 48MP Main camera that enables super-high-resolution photos and a new 2x Telephoto option. This gives users a total of three optical zoom levels — 0.5x, 1x, 2x — for the first time on any iPhone dual-camera system, like having a third camera1. The ultrawide camera has also been upgraded to a 12-megapixel sensor. Both cameras now support Night mode, which allows you to take great photos in low-light conditions for a sharper and more detailed photos.
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus also introduce the next generation of portraits, making it easier to capture portraits with great detail and low-light performance. For the first time, users can take portraits without having to switch to Portrait mode. When there’s a person, dog, or cat in the frame, or when a user taps to focus, iPhone automatically captures depth information, so users can turn photos into stunning portraits later in the Photos app on iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
On the battery side, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus now use even more recycled content, with 100 percent recycled cobalt in the battery. Up to 26 hours video playback and up to 100 hours in audio with magSafe wireless charging up to 15 Watts, Qi wireless charging up to 7.5 Watts. The battery also support fast-charge up to 50% charge in just 30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher.
You can find the full specs of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus here.
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will be available in black, blue, green, yellow, and pink. Price start at $699 for the 128 GB, $799 for 256 GB and $899 for the 512 GB variant. The phones will be available for pre-order on September 15 and will start shipping on September 22.
Gilas Pilipinas holds first practice for Asian Games. Present are Thompson, Brownlee, JMF, Japeth, Kouame, Oftana, Tautuaa, Abueva, Romeo, Newsome, Perkins & Pringle pic.twitter.com/mX294YNLh0
The 5×5 basketball of the 19th Asian Games will be held in Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium, Zhejiang University Zijingang Gymnasium and Shaoxing Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium from September 26 to October 6, and the final in Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium, where the athletes will compete for 2 gold medals.
Here’s something for OFW who are a big fan of K-pop, K-drama and/or Korean culture in general.
The KCON Korean Festival will return to Saudi Arabia to celebrate Korean culture in all its vibrant forms. This year, KCON Riyadh 2023 is officially happening this fall. The festival will take place on Friday, October 6, and Saturday, October 7, at the Mohammed Abdo Arena in Boulevard Riyadh City.
KCON Riyadh 2023 promises to be an exciting event, featuring performances by 14 South Korean bands. Fans can look forward to a variety of concerts and meet-and-greets, providing a unique opportunity to interact with their favorite artists.
But KCON is not just about music. It’s a celebration of all things Korean. In addition to the musical performances, there will be an exhibition dedicated to Korean culture. This will provide attendees with a deeper understanding of Korea’s rich history and traditions.
Moreover, a market will be set up where attendees can pick up all sorts of Korean goodies. Whether you’re looking for K-pop merchandise, traditional Korean crafts, or popular Korean snacks.
KCON is back! Hosted in Riyadh by the #SaudiMusicCommission,the festival sees an all-star line-up of 14 Korean bands take to the stage in one global concert.From 6-7 October 2023,it’s one of the largest celebrations of Korean music and culture in the world.#KCONSAUDIARABIA2023pic.twitter.com/ZTOrOwJahj
First launched in LA in 2012, KCON has since grown into one of the largest Korean cultural festivals worldwide. It now attracts over a million visitors yearly across four continents.
No line up have been announce and we can assume that this will come in the coming days.
With democratization of Basketball, it appears that United States is no longer the basketball powerhouse it used to be, the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 tournament proved that and Noah Lyles’s statement regarding being the “World Champion” may have been justified.
The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 was a thrilling tournament, with many memorable moments. Germany’s victory was a major upset, but they played a near-perfect game and deserved to win. Congratulations to Germany on their first-ever FIBA Basketball World Cup title!
Germany made history on Sunday, September 10, 2023, by defeating Serbia 83-77 to win the FIBA World Cup 2023 in Manila, Philippines. It was Germany’s first-ever title in the tournament, and it came after a thrilling and hard-fought game against an undermanned but tough Serbian team.
The game was close throughout, with neither team able to pull away until mid-3rd qtr. Germany led by as many as five points early in the third quarter, but Serbia tied the game at 51 with 6:52 to play in the quarter. The two teams traded baskets down the stretch but the Germans started pull away and eventually built a 12-pts lead with a 13-2 run in the third quarter in front of 12,022 fans at the Mall of Asia Arena.
That’s when Dennis Schroder and Franz Wagner took over for Germany. The duo scored 47 of Germany’s 83 points, including the final two free-throw of Schroder that basically sealed the game for the team. Schroder finished with 28 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal, while Franz Wagner scored 19 points, 7 rebs, 2 assist and 4 steals.
Germany’s victory was a major upset, as Serbia was the defending champion and had been the top-ranked team in the world for most of the year. However, Germany played a near-perfect game, shooting 49.1% from the field and 31.8% from three-point range. The Germans also outrebounded Serbia 35-29 and outscored Serbia’s bench 46-15.
The victory is a major step forward for German basketball. The team has been steadily improving in recent years, and this victory is a sign that they are a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.
The victory also caps a remarkable year for Germany. After placing 3rd place in the 2022 EuroBasket, and they are now the reigning world champions. Germany is quickly becoming one of the top basketball teams in the world, and they will be a force to be reckoned with in future tournaments.
Canada made history at the FIBA World Cup 2023 by winning its first-ever medal at the tournament, defeating USA 127-118 in overtime in the third-place game on Sunday in Manila, Philippines.
As expected between two NBA laden team, it was a roller coaster game that had 14 lead changes, 12-0 scoring run by the Americans and 8-0 by the Canadians, and it was punctuated by Mikal Bridges at the end of the 4th qtr; he missed 2nd free-throw on purpose, got the rebound, then hits corner 3 with 0.6 seconds left to extend the game to over time. In the OT, the Canadians had other plans, since they outscored Team USA, 16 to 7 to secure the bronze medal.
The Canadians, who had never finished higher than sixth in the World Cup, protected a 2-point lead at the start of OT and outscored the Americans 7-16.
Dillon Brooks was the hero for Canada, scoring a game-high 39 points on 12-of-18 shooting, including 7-of-8 from the 3-point line. He also added four rebounds, five assists, a steals and a couple of blocks in a stellar performance.
TCL Player of the Game Dillon Brooks set a new points record in a medal game to tow third-place Canada to their first-ever medal 👏
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was equally impressive, adding 31 points, twelve assists and six rebounds. He scored nine of Canada’s 16 points in overtime, including an assist to RJ Barrett for a a clutch 3-pointer that gave them a 115 – 124 lead with 0:23 secs left.
Canada also got contributions from Kelly Olynyk (11 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists), Luguentz Dort (11 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists) and Dwight Powell (4 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists).
Team Highlights
USA, meanwhile, will go home without a medal for the FIBA World Cup 2023. Team USA has not won a medal in the World Cup since 2014, that featured a roster lead by Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Derrick Rose, Kyrie Irving, James Harden and Anthony Davis.
Six players of Team USA had double digits points; Mikal Bridges with 19 pts, 9 rebs, 2 steals and 4 assists, Anthony Edwards led the team with 24 pts and 5 rebs, then there’s Austin Reaves who contributed 23 pts, 5 rebs, an assists and a steal, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Bobby Portis Jr. also made big contributions scoring 13 pts, 10 pts and 14 pts respectively.
Despite the loss, Team USA, already qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics in France and we can expect that the team will have totally different roster.
With Germany’s win, this is the Finals Bracket for the FIBA World Cup 2023;
Finals will be between Germany and Serbia, while the battle for 3rd will be between USA and Canada. Serbia defeated Canada (95 – 86), Bogdan Bogdanavic is the best player in the game with 23 pts, 4 rebs, 3 assists and 3 steals. For Canada, it was RJ Barrett with 23 pts and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 15 pts and 9 assists.
As for the USA – Germany team (113 – 111), Anthony is the U.S. top scorer with 23 points and 8 rebounds, followed by Austin Reaves with 21 pts. For the Germans, Franz Wagner added 22 points for Germany, and Andreas Obst led all scorers with 24 points.
Both USA and Canada are the favorites to face in the finals but it looks like their European counterpart have other plans.
FIBA World Cup 2023 Finals will on Sunday, Sept. 10th at the MOA Arena.
Finals
Serbia vs Germany – 16:30 local time
Which European team will rule the world? 🇩🇪 🆚 🇷🇸#FIBAWC x #WinForAll
The United States men’s basketball team was stunned by Germany in the semifinals of the FIBA World Cup on Friday night, losing 113-111. The loss is a major upset, as the US was the overwhelming favorite to win the tournament.
The US got off to a slow start, trailing by as many as 10 points in the first half. However, they rallied to take a 60-59 lead into halftime. Germany came out strong in the third quarter, outscoring the US 35-24 to take a 94-84 lead. The US made a late comeback attempt, but they could not get any closer than 106 -108.
Anthony Edwards led the way for the US with 23 points and 8 rebounds, followed by Austin Reaves with 21 pts. For the Germans, Franz Wagner added 22 points for Germany, and Andreas Obst led all scorers with 24 points. Dennis Schroder, who have been best player in the roster, chipped-in 17 pts and 9 assists.
The loss is a major disappointment for the US, who have won the World Cup four times in the past five tournaments. It is also a setback for the development of the US men’s basketball program, which has been struggling in recent years.
The US will now play Canada in the bronze medal game on Sunday. Germany will play Serbia in the championship game.
Andreas Obst torched USA to help Germany advance to the Final and earn TCL Player of the Game honors! 🔥
After teasing the teaser, Studio Ghibli finally release the teaser trailer of The Boy and The Heron, the latest (could be the final) film by famed director Hayao Miyazaki.
As mentioned in the description of the video,
THE BOY AND THE HERON
From Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli
In theatres nationwide and IMAX December 8
http://tinyurl.com/ynkjaz6b
An official selection of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and New York Film Festival (NYFF)
Follow @GKIDSFilms for more updates!
A young boy named Mahito
yearning for his mother
ventures into a world shared by the living and the dead.
There, death comes to an end,
and life finds a new beginning.
A semi-autobiographical fantasy
about life, death, and creation,
in tribute to friendship,
from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki.
Here’s the 71 seconds teaser trailer of The Boy and The Heron;
Before the teaser (embedded below), not much is known about the film except from a few stills, a few nuggets about in the production and a teaser to the teaser that they dropped early this month.
Before “The Boy and The Heron,” Hayao Miyazaki’s last film with Studio Ghibli is “The Wind Rises,” where he is both the director and screen writer. The film grossed US$113 million on a US$30 million budget, it is the highest-grossing film in Japan in 2013.
Now that Quarter-Finals (QF) is done and we have now have a clear picture on who will compete for the semifinals of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 and which is worth watching.
Team USA versus the Germans
The game will be this Friday, 8th of Sept at the MOA arena. Team USA advanced to the Semis after defeating ITALY in the most convincing manner (100 – 63). The Americans needed a strong win against the Italians after being handed by their only loss in the tournament by Lithuania. On the other side, Germany barely escape Latvia in the QF but remain to the one of the few undefeated team in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.
Dennis Schroder and Franz Wagner, who are both NBA veterans, are the top performers of the team on points, rebounds and assists.
For Team USA, their top performers are Anthony Edwards, Mikal Bridges and Tyrese Haliburton and we cannot disregard the fact anyone in the team can explode and carry team to the finals, just like what Mikal Bridges did against Italy in the QF, where in scored a team high of 24 points and 6 rebounds.
Serbia versus Canada
The game will this Friday, 8th of Sept 16:45 local time at the MOA Arena. Serbia took care of the business by eliminating Lithuania and bringing them back down from cloud 9, after defeating USA in the last game of the second round.
Bogdan Bogdanovic and Nikola Milutinov are the top performer of Serbia. Bogdanovic is the top scorer in their game against Lithuania, chipping-in 21 pts with 4 rebs, while Nikola Milutinov is the towering presence in the middle and top rounder of the team.
For team Canada, we may very well call this Team B of NBA in FIBA, since 7 of the 12 players in the roster are playing in the NBA. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the best player, leading in all stats; 25 pts/game, 7.2 rebs/game and 5 assists per game.
The winners for each game will face in the finals, while the two losing team will play for the 3rd place. Finals of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 is scheduled on Saturday, Sept 10th at the MOA Arena.
Just like that, ABS-CBN release their official statement regarding the 12-day suspension of “It’s Showtime.” that Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) following complaints against the indecent acts done in one of its segments, “Isip Bata”.
We have received the ruling from the MTRCB, indicating that “It’s Showtime” will be suspended for a duration of 12 days from finality of the decision.
We will submit a Motion for Reconsideration as we humbly maintain that there was no violation of pertinent law.
We are also committed to working with the MTRCB to ensure that “It’s Showtime” can continue to bring joy and entertainment to our noontime viewers.
We are truly grateful to the Madlang People for their unwavering love and support for “It’s Showtime.”
READ: ABS-CBN's official statement regarding MTRCB’s 12-day suspension on the airing of “It’s Showtime.” pic.twitter.com/3kRrgJjGuf
The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has suspended the popular noontime show “It’s Showtime” for 12 airing days following complaints against the show. The suspension was issued on Monday, September 4, 2023, and is effective immediately.
The suspension came after viewers lodged multiple complaints against the show’s July 25, 2023 episode, which allegedly featured indecent acts of romantic partners and hosts Vice Ganda and Ion Perez during one of its segments, “Isip Bata”. Perez smeared cake icing on his finger and licked it off. He then shared it with his partner, Ganda, who scooped some of the icing off Perez’s finger and ate it. The act was a violation of Presidential Decree (P.D.) No. 1986 (MTRCB Charter).
“In accordance with the Presidential Decree (P.D.) No. 1986 (MTRCB Charter), the respondents may file one Motion for Reconsideration (MR) within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the decision. Should the Board’s Decision be adverse to the respondent’s MR, they may appeal to the Office of the President within fifteen (15) days from the receipt of the decision on the MR,” the MTRCB’s latest statement said.
The MTRCB has also noted “additional warnings” on the use of “inappropriate language” in previous episodes of the show 4. The decision has been met with mixed reactions from fans of the show, with some calling it unfair and others supporting the MTRCB’s decision 52.
The suspension of “It’s Showtime” has been met with mixed reactions from viewers. Some viewers have expressed support for the MTRCB’s decision, while others have criticized it as being too harsh.
Microsoft will soon remove WordPad in the coming release of Windows, this announcement was made by the software giant early this month after it published a “What’s New” article with a title – Deprecated features for Windows client.
In the article, Microsoft said that “Each version of Windows client adds new features and functionality. Occasionally, new versions also remove features and functionality, often because they’ve added a newer option. This article provides details about the features and functionalities that are no longer being developed in Windows client.”
The article further list at least 50 features and services available on Windows that will soon be removed in future update of the OS and one of them is the WordPad.
WordPad is no longer being updated and will be removed in a future release of Windows. We recommend Microsoft Word for rich text documents like .doc and .rtf and Windows Notepad for plain text documents like .txt.
WordPad was introduced 28 years ago, as a small windows application that can edit, read, format and print document files with Rich Text Format (RTF), it is basically the stripped down version of MS Word, which is why it is not surprising the Microsoft recommended Microsoft Word, its paid word processor.
Mariah Carey, the American singer, songwriter, and actress, recently took to X (formerly Twitter) to acknowledge her Filipino fans, whom she affectionately refers to as her “lambs”. The singer reposted an art card from one of her fan pages that highlighted how her song “All I Want For Christmas Is You” had been streamed over 316,000 times on Spotify by her Filipino fans as of September 1st.
In a tweet on September 3, 2023, Carey acknowledged her Filipino fans, affectionately known as “lambs,” and gave them a pass to start playing her song early.
“Not yet!!!! I’ll allow it for my Filipino lambs though! (I don’t make the rules!)” Carey tweeted.
🗣️🗣️🗣️ Not yet!!!!
I’ll allow it for my Filipino lambs though! 🐑❤️ (I don’t make the rules! 🤷♀️) https://t.co/qgyHI6lq37
WE STAN YOU QUEEN! Love this for my fellow Filipino to celebrate this early! 😀
— Dana 🩵 🕯️ISO ERAS NOLA 🕯️ “You’re so awesome!” (@DanaBrigoli) September 3, 2023
The tradition of playing “All I Want for Christmas Is You” in September in the Philippines dates back to the early 2000s. The song became popular in the country after it was featured in a local TV commercial.
Since then, the song has become a part of the Filipino Christmas tradition, and it is often played in malls, restaurants, and other public places.
Mariah Carey’s gesture is a sign of her appreciation for her Filipino fans. It also shows that she understands the importance of the song to them.
Here’s the official music video of Mariah Carey – All I Want For Christmas Is You;
Now that the 1st and second round is done, here the remaining games for the of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. Qualified teams who played in Japan and Indonesia will be travelling to the Philippines, since all QF, SF and Finals games will be played at the MOA Arena.
September 5 – 2 Games
MOA Arena (Philippines)
Lithuania vs Serbia – 16:45 local time (Game #82)
Italy vs USA – 20:40 local time (Game #81)
September 6 – 2 Games
MOA Arena (Philippines)
Germany vs Latvia – 16:45 local time (Game #83)
Canada vs Slovenia – 20:30 local time (Game #84)
September 7 – 2 Games
MOA Arena (Philippines)
Loser QF 81 (ITA v USA) vs Loser QF 83 (GER v LAT) – Time TBC (Game #85)
Loser QF 82 (LTU v SRB) vs Loser QF 84 (CAN v SLO) – Time TBC (Game #86)
September 8 – 2 Games
MOA Arena (Philippines)
Winner QF 81 (ITA v USA) vs Winner QF 83 (GER v LAT) – Time TBC (Game #87)
Winner QF 82 (LTU v SRB) vs Winner QF 84 (CAN v SLO) – Time TBC (Game #88)
September 9 – 2 Games
MOA Arena (Philippines)
Loser CL 5-8 85: L QF 81 v L QF 83 vs Loser CL 5-8 86: L QF 82 v L QF 84 – Time TBC (Game #89 – Class. Games 7-8)
Winner CL 5-8 85: L QF 81 v L QF 83 vs Winner CL 5-8 86: L QF 82 v L QF 84 – Time TBC (Game #90 – Class. Games 5-6)
September 10 – 2 Games
MOA Arena (Philippines) Loser SF 87: W QF 81 v W QF 83 vs Loser SF 88: W QF 82 v W QF 84 – (Game #91 – 3rd Place Game) Winner SF 87: W QF 81 v W QF 83 vs Winner SF 88: W QF 82 v W QF 84 – (Game #92 – Championship)
Team USA’s unbeaten run at the FIBA World Cup 2023, winning their first five games of the tournament, came to an end on Sunday 3rd of September, when they lost to Lithuania in a thrilling encounter. The final score was 110-104 in favor of Lithuania and in front of 11,349 fans.
The game was played at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines, and saw Lithuania, who played a physical and aggressive game, take control early on. The Lithuanias built a 19 pts lead (12 – 31) in the first qtr and ended the first half with a comfortable 17 pts lead (37 – 54). The Americans led by Anthony Edwards tried to staged a come back but could not get closer than 4 pts (85 -89) with 4:45 mins remaining in the game. Anthony Edwards scored 34 pts and 2 assists, Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges both scored 14 pts but where in effective in the closing period of the game. The trio are the only American player to score in double figures.
Compared to the Team USA, Lithuania played a more balanced game with 7 players in double figures. The team is lead by Vaidas Kariniauskas with 15 pts, followed by Mindaugas Kuzminskas and Jonas Valanciunas, who scored 14 pts and 12 pts, respectively. Valanciunas also grabbed 7 rebs with his 2 blocks.
Lithuania killed the Americans in the second chance points category, making 17 pts against 2 pts from Team USA, 61 – 38 point off the bench. They also shot 52.8% from the field and 56% from three-point range, compare to 37.9% in the 3-pts by the Americans.
The loss is a wake-up call for Team USA, which is still considered the favorite to win the tournament. However, they will need to play better if they want to avoid further upsets.
Despite the loss, Team USA still advanced to the quarterfinals of the FIBA World Cup and are qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics. They will face Italy on Tuesday, while the Lithuania will face Serbia, who are 4 – 1 in the tournament.
The Philippine national basketball team, Gilas Pilipinas, secured a rousing and convincing win against China in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. The game was held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on September 2, 2023. The Philippines capped off its World Cup campaign with a 1-4 win-loss slate.
The game was close in teh first half of the game, with neither team able to pull away. But in the 3rd quarter, led by Jordan Clarkson, Rhenz Abando and Dwight Ramos, Gilas was able to build a 23 point cushion by the end of 3rd qtr and led by as many as 25 points at 5:19 mark of the 4th quarter, China tried to catch up but the game was already decided at that point. The trio scored a total 59 points.
Jordan Clarkson had 34 points, two boards, and three dimes while Rhenz Abando contributed 14 markers and 5 rebs. Dwight Ramos chipped in 11 pts, 5 rebs and 4 assists. On the otherhand, Kyle Anderson (Kaier Li) led the Chinese team with 17 points, 9 reds and 5 assists while Zhenlin Zhang added 13 pts, 3 rebs.
The victory against China has lifted the Philippines to 24th place in the 2023 FIBA World Cup rankings and secure a slot for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT). which is the “16 following next best-ranked teams” category or the next best 16 placers in the World Cup that have not secured a place in the Olympics.
The FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament, abbreviated as FIBA World OQT, and formerly known as the FIBA Pre-Olympic Basketball Tournament, is the last qualifying tournament for the Olympic Basketball Tournament. The best non-champions from the different FIBA World zones qualify for the tournament and compete for the last remaining berths in the Summer Olympic Games.
Compared to the World Cup Tournament, the Olympic Qualifying Tournament will be a more difficult competition, since Philippines will face other teams from different continents including Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
Veteran broadcast journalist Mike Enriquez, real name Miguel Castro Enriquez, died on Wednesday, August 29, 2023, at the age of 71. He was rushed to the hospital on Tuesday night after complaining of chest pains.
Enriquez was a household name in the Philippines for his work as a radio and television personality. He hosted numerous radio and TV shows, as well as news program on Manila Broadcasting Company, Freedom Broadcasting Radio Network, Radio Mindanao Network or RMN, GMA Network and even at ABS-CBN. The known for his punchlines, such as “excuse me po,” and “hindi ko kayo tatantanan.”
In 2018, Enriquez took a medical leave to undergo a heart bypass and get treated for kidney disease, then in December 2021 to undergo a kidney transplant, he returned to work in time for the 2022 election coverage.
He was also a recipient of numerous awards, including the Catholic Mass Media Award for Best News Commentary in 2001 and the BizNews Asia for Broadcast Excellence Award in 2014. The most recent award that he received is the Most Trusted Radio Presenter by the Annual Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands Awards 2023.
Enriquez’s death is a huge loss for the Philippine broadcast industry. He was a respected journalist and a beloved figure to many. Enriquez is regarded as one of the most influential journalists in the Philippines and a “pillar” of the Philippine broadcasting industry.
In a statement, GMA Network said that “it is with profound sadness that GMA Network announces the passing of our beloved Kapuso, Mr. Miguel “Mike” C. Enriquez, who peacefully joined our Creator on August 29, 2023.”
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Enriquez is survived by his wife Lizabeth “Baby” Yumping. The couple did not have any children.
His funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
The Philippines men’s national basketball team, Gilas Pilipinas, lost to Angola, 80-70, in their FIBA World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers game on Sunday, August 27th at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. This defeat left Gilas Pilipinas winless in Group A of the tournament.
Gilas Pilipinas had a strong start to the game, taking a 19-12 lead after the first quarter. However, Angola responded with a strong second quarter, outscoring Gilas Pilipinas 24-14 to take a 36-33 lead at halftime.
Angola continued to control the game with their defense in the second half, and they extended their lead to as many as 16 points in the fourth quarter with 3:39 remaining in the game. Gilas Pilipinas made a late comeback attempt, but they could not get closer than 5 points but there was only 1:12 remaining in the game.
Gilas Pilipinas had a chance to clinch their first FIBA World Cup win in nearly a decade, but they were unable to overcome Angola’s strong defense. The game was expected to be a dream celebration for Gilas Pilipinas in front of a wild, sold-out crowd, but it turned into a nightmare.
Jordan Clarkson led Gilas Pilipinas with 21 points, 3 rebs and 7 assists, but he shot just 7-of-22 from the field and -14 in the plus/minus column. Kai Sotto added 8 points and 6 rebounds, and Dwight Ramos had 8 points.
On the Angola side, Gerson Goncalves led team with 17 points and 6 rebs, and Gerson Domingos added 15 points and 7 assists. Bruno Fernando, who had an emphatic dunk against Clarkson early in the game, added 14 points and 7 rebounds.
You can checkout the Statsheet of Gilas Pilipinas below;
Statsheet of Gilas Pilipinas' 80-70 loss to Angola Highlights: -Gilas shot just 4/22 (18%) from threes, compared to 9/31 for Angola -Angola had more offensive rebounds, 20-12 -Jordan Clarkson had 21 points but only shot 7/22 -Gerson Goncalves had 17pts 4/8 3s @spinphhttps://t.co/ZaBXiZyUrXpic.twitter.com/ZZul3CxrT3
This game was crucial for Gilas Pilipinas as they were looking to advance to the next round of the tournament. Unfortunately, they were unable to secure a win against Angola. Despite this setback, Gilas Pilipinas remained determined to bounce back in their next game against Italy.
As the the title goes, the web version of Threads.net is now available. The web/desktop version was already live last week, as reported by Yugatech but it was just today that it took effect here in Saudi Arabia.
This is the official announcement from Threads’ official account with addtional information on how to access or create your threads account and a features of the service in a post.
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From my first hour in using the web app, it feels exactly like the app but since you have it on a separate tab on your browser, I find myself using the web version more than the app. It remains to be seen if it can surpass the daily and even the monthly active users of X/Twitter, now that the desktop web version is live.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) with Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has launched an eVisa application system, which is expected to improve the visa processing experience for foreigners who wish to visit the Philippines.
The eVisa system was launched on August 24, 2023, at the DFA Office of the Consular Affairs in Pasay City. The launch was led by DICT Undersecretary for e-Government David L. Almirol Jr. and DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo.
“The eVisa is our clear message to the world that we recognize the benefits of digital technology for efficient and quality public service. With eVisa, we are adapting to the realities of modern travel, transforming the Philippines into a top-of-mind destination for business and leisure.” Undersecretary Almirol said in his speech.
The eVisa system allows foreign nationals to apply for a visa to the Philippines online. This eliminates the need to visit a Philippine embassy or consulate in person, and it can significantly reduce the time it takes to process a visa application.
The eVisa system will initially be available to Chinese citizens who can submit their Philippine visa requirements online as the eVisa system accommodates the Philippine Consular offices in Xiamen, Shanghai, Macau, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Guangzhou, Chongqing, as well as the Philippine Embassy in Beijing.
It is planned to be available for citizens of 15 countries, including Japan, South Korea, and the United States. The government plans to expand the list of eligible countries in the future.
By offering unparalleled convenience and improved public service delivery, eVisa is expected to facilitate ease of doing business and reinvigorate the country’s tourism sector. The salient features of the eVisa Application system include:
Improved Efficiency: Allowing applicants to submit their required eVisa documents online from the comfort of their homes eliminates the need for physical visits to government offices. This not only saves time for the applicants but also streamlines the processing for the authorities.
Fast Processing and Decision-Making: Embracing digital transactions and automation can significantly speed up the processing of visa applications.
Secure Online Payments: The eVisa Application system provides secure online payment options, enhancing transparency and minimizing security risks.
User-centric interface: The website’s user-friendly interface gives clear instructions, making sure applicants can go through the process easily and confidently.
Real-time updates: Applicants can monitor the status of their application in real-time, reducing uncertainties and concerns.
This project shows the Philippine government’s unwavering commitment to enhancing the efficiency and convenience of the visa application process for various international visitors. Further, eVisa is aligned with the global trend where various governments are adopting digital solutions to improve public services and operational efficiency.
The launching of the eVisa Application system is expected to pave the way for an optimized and seamless visa application experience that is poised to set new benchmarks in global best practices.
Other government agencies that took part in the development of the eVisa include the Department of Tourism, the Department of Justice, and the Bureau of Immigration.
Gilas Pilipinas fell to the Dominican Republic, 87-81, in their opening game of the FIBA World Cup 2023 at the Philippines Arena in Bulacan on Friday, August 25, 2023.
It was a close game in first three quarters of the game, the Philippines got off to a hot start, falling behind Dominican Republic by 4 pts at the end of first quarter. Gilas made a run in the 2nd qtr that ended in a deadlock at 42 – 42.
The Dominican Republic ended the 3rd qtr leading by 2 behind the dominant game of Jean Montero and Karl-Anthony Towns, who scored a team high 26 points and 10 rebs.
The Philippines tried to rally in the last qtr but a late run by the Dominican Republic and Jordan Clarkson fouling out in the final quarter denied the Philippines an upset in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Clarkson finished with 28 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists before fouling out. The final score was 87-81 in favor of the Dominican Republic.
Junmar Fajardo led the Pinoys with 16 pts and 7 rebs, followed by Dwight Ramos with 13 pts, 6 rebs and two assists.
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 🏆 (@FIBAWC) August 25, 2023
The loss was a tough one for Gilas Pilipinas, since Gilas was right there to take win, but they will have a chance to bounce back when they face Angola on Sunday, Aug 27, 2023 at the Arena Coliseum.
