Stay With Me

Cassandra and Julia

It's practically two years ago [to the day] - when I first met Cassandra Gequillana and Julia Morado - then, up 'n coming [untested] rookie recruits for the Ateneo Lady Eagle Volleyball team.

Had NO [whatsoever] assumptions, preconceptions, previous knowledge of any sort - of the young fresh high school grads. 

My "normal curiosity", or rather, my propensity {bordering on obsession ? Say What ??}------- 

to interpret photographically - {in the Most Interesting Manner Possible !! - 
as in take on-the-spot portraits of, first opp I get}  interesting people I meet 

 ------- NETTED me these images, that now {2015}, take on a "new meaning", become "even more priceless", so to speak ------- in the light of the Back-to-Back UAAP Championships these young collegiallas have earned, since that ordinary "May day" in San Juan.

 May, 2013

My FIRST EVER 
pictures of Cassandra and Julia

Just managed to come across an old, May, 2013 blog post of mine - and noticed a 2-some photo of Cassandra and Julia [together], and a [random, on-the-spot] group photo showing some Lady Eagles [vets and new recruits together] just casually "perched"  on a basketball contraption, on the side corridors of the San Juan Arena.

May, 2013
TEAM Players !

R - Mona, Dzi, Cassandra, Jia

F - Anna, Tasha

 

To think,
that I've got tons of unreleased B-t-Scenes photos from Sports Events I've been covering - since way back 2009 - AND already formerly released images, that I can post ANYTIME, in ANY context I choose - It is So Refreshing, and Very Sentimental, at the very least -
 [when I do - rarely, tho} ........

........   and even --> Constantly Challenges me to Raise the Level of my Imagery - to make it 

More Evocative, More Eloquent, More Revealing AND ALWAYS carry/maintain a Simplicity, Truthfulness AND Soulfulness -  that make the Images STAY, STAY -> STAY.

Again, NOT That It's Easy Accomplish   .......

It IS So, So {Refreshingly} Rewarding tho, when Achieved.

-----------

....... Stay with me - Cos, You're All I Need .......

PS

I asked Julia "Jia" Morado once, way back January of 2015, who some of her favorite Musical Artists might be - I do remember the first name she mentioned -> Sam Smith

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Tags

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tashafaustino ladyeaglesportarits ladyeaglespictures


PS  2
I have an upcoming feat on UST Tigress [veteran] Pam Lastimosa
Haven't gotten that "spin", or context - yet  coming outta my moody stream of thought
Don't wanna force it  
Hey, Pam - No worries - I'll feat you soon !

Yikes ! - I covered ALL the 7 Games of the recently concluded 2015 PBA Commissioner's Cup  Finals - and have hardly posted any of my favorite Action Images from that series [which was punctuated by a Double Overtime Game 7 {Winner take ALL !} Win 
by Talk N Text !

They ALL Go to the PBA Mailing List - First of, IMMED' after each game, then to the PBA 
Website. {I don't even bother to check which ones they use, actually}
Have to Find a Way to blend them in the chronological flow of this blog,
albeit being late - Soon !

Pahabol Portraits

Mane and Tails

- Two Abigails -

Why hide it ?  I like to have favorites wherever I go - favorite junk food, favorite restos, favorite nephew, favorite neice, favorite female friend to hang out with, to have breakfast with, to have dinner with, to shoot portraits of [iba-iba pang kategorya - hahaha !} - Bakit Hindi ? ......

..... favorite locations to shoot {they're just too many}, favorite photog buddies, favorite female boudior models who I've worked with, favorite friends in Singapore, favorite UAAP courtside rep, favorite PBA courtside rep -favorite UAAP Basketball Team, Volleyball team, Baseball team - PBA Team, Coach, Players - my lists go On, and On, and On  - Fact IS Though   - The names DO constantly change - It's just More Fun that way  .......

But so much for fancy talk - 

What my posts always boil down to IS - What Image [or images] will I share, for the moment.

 ---------

After Game 6 of the PBA Finals - Sure, I had my favorite action shots [as always], a select number of which I sent to the PBA Mailing List AND to the PBA {Hey, that IS my job} - 

Yesterday night, after the Super Liga Tripleheader 

Semifinal Game #1      Petron  vs  Philips Gold      [missed this one]

Semifinal Game #2      Shopinas vs Foton           

Battle for 5th Place     Cignal  vs  Mane and Tail  

The Blaze Boosters and the Lady Clickers - had forged a Finals Showdon - set to commence next month [while the HD Spkers bagged the 5th Spot]

..... Had my share of favorite action photos ..... and of course my ever arbitrary, unpredictable, "Hey-where-will-I-get-Who-will-shoot-for-this-one ?" "Either I Get it or I Don't" - Behind the Scenes images - which at times can turn out to be an interesting mosaic of light-hearted images, and on occasion - turn to be less than five, or even just a solitary photo  ....
Whatever   ....

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"Pahabol" Portraits

The Lady Clickers took their sweet time unwinding, freshening up, after their semis 5-Set W over Foton.  Fortunatly for me, when I [on a whim] decided to look for Cha Cruz - It had been a long 20+ ?? minutes plus or so since then so I didn' t have to wait long for Cha.  

As she exited the Shopinas dugout, I politely asked for a "photo opp" [pagod na raw siya] [yet she was gracious enuff to accommodate my request] .....

Asked her to take a seat somewhere, and within a span of less than 10 seconds [literally !] I had to make sure to direct her somewhat, check the lighting nuance in a jiffy
 [Yes, I was using Available light !} angle my DSLR - and click 3 times - and that was IT ! 

Had to let the exhausted athlete go .... actually - a writer came along, just as she stood up, and asked a few pertinent questions, and as she calmly walked along the corridor [still answering that writer's querries] , I tried to steal a few candids still [w/ my 400mm lens]  - then simply gave her thanks   .....

So much "trouble" for an image like the two below ??  ... No, Not Really

"I'm so fat !"

Ha ! - That's what Cha quipped right after I showed her this image on my DSLR LCD.

No Matter - each to his [or her] own opinion. 

Fact IS, am alright with this Portrait of Charlene Abigail - I don't know F_____ g  How Else I could have done better - On-the-Spot / On the Cuneta Astrodome corridors / Using Available Light  !
{actually - on second glance -there are quite a number of "artistic errors" in Cha's portraits -   I'll just have to avoid them, next time}

Hey - I snapped 3X Right ?

Here's the last snap - FYI [In the first of the three shots, Cha's eyes were closed]

 More like it, Cha ?

[just a matter of changing my angles 

 or is it the cropping]

The other Abigail  ....

Just as Abigail Praca was exiting the court for the last time [at least] for this year's All-Filipino PSL [after that last match w Cignal], a couple of her fans requested for some snapshots midcourt, so the muy simpatica Cebuana cheerfully trotted over, leaned over to the ringside section, flashing a cheerful smile - and in those fleeting "pahabol" moments I was lucky enough to have quickly angled my 400mm tele to capture these [unexpected, unsolicited] moments.

And in keeping with the title/theme/peg of this post - Here are some On-Court Candids of the two Abigails ....  with their manes and tails  .....

Unfortunately, for Mane n Tail - that match yesterday, was their last, for the 2015 PSL All-Filipino Conference [Come late this year, they'll return to the Super Liga 2nd {Open} Conference [w/ imports].

Cha Cruz and the Shopinas Lady Clickers commence their Best-of-Three Finals series vs the Petron Blaze Boosters  on May 11,Monday, at Imus, Cavite. Games 2 and 3 [if necessary], will be held at the Cuneta Astrodome.

brosi gonzales

Tags

2015pslallfilipinoconference petronblazeboosters shopinasladyclickers manentailladystallions fotontornados abigailpraca chacruz charleneabihailcruz

For the Love of the Game

 April 25 - Rizal Stadium

Saturday Friendly

Yesterday I saw {2 of 3} football friendlies played at the Rizal.

The Western Visayas Classic [which I missed], the "100  vs 11", 

and "Team Philippines" vs "The Rest of the World"

But I'll cut it short, for now - and just leave you with these randomly sequenced snaps 
[which I can augment with one or two more JPEGs caption later, 
cos I really have to scoot to the Araneta, now {Game #6 of the PBA Finals}.

Win - Win !!  - Why Not ?
Keepers
Patrick Deyto [Team Philippines] and Roland Sadia [Rest of the World]

"The Rest of the World" Team whoops it up after

 a close [5-4] Win over "Team Philippines"

The "11"

  

  

First Blood

Misagh Bahadoran drills this one in at the7th minute

Scoring

7th      Misagh Bahadoran                    TP

45th        Icardo, David Hernandez             ROTW

57th        Lopez Mendy. Robert Waly           ROTW

6oth     Rota, Simone                          TP

78th        Clark, Lous Max                        ROTW

              Lopez mendy, Robert Waly         ROTW
              Lopez Mendy, Robert Waly          ROTW
           Burkey, Nate                          TP
           del Rosario, Anton                   TP

FINAL 

  Rest of the World - 5    Team Philippines - 4

 

Parting Shots .....

Ryan, Cedelf, Hans, Rely, and Anthony

Roland Sadia [#1]  and Juan Luis Guirado

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Tags

juanluisguirado rolandsadia patrickdeyto misaghbahadoran robertlopezmendy louisclark davidhernandezicardo nateburkey antondelrosario simonerota cedelftupas anthonysuntay hanssmit relysanagustin ryanfenix

No Looks

(Eye on)  Ai 'n Cy
and Sel, Carla, Apple, Rizza

Cy

Honestly can't find some sensible/blogworthy comments or captions to complement
Sel, Apple, Carla, and Rizza's - on-the-spots, for now - so - No Matter -
 Ain't No Crime in That  ..... 

Will just let these images BE .....

 Carla

 Apple

  Sel

Rizza

  Cy

Last June of 2013 - I released my first on-the-spot portraits of Cy {taken during a football match} - along with a "hand portrait" or two  [of her left hand] - 

{The first "hand portraits" I released came out in a June, 2013 post, too - of the fine, oh so fine and slender hands of a former UAAP Courtside reporter / 89.9 Magic / 99.5 RT Play FM    DJ} -  Just Sharin' bro ...

------------

 

Thing is - with Cy, after all the nine matches I've covered for the Stallions - I'd hoped to have at least, by her last stint with the Football Club [last April 18] - have crafted some "definitive" 
[by my standards] on-the-spot portraits of 

[as Stallions FC Hard Coach Ernie Nierras would oft brag about - "the [prettiest PT in the League"}

the looker of a lady - But No - Never had ! - So, yesterday evening - just after the "11 vs 100" football friendly - I barely managed a "pahabol" conversation w/ Cy, punctuated with some "pahabol portraits".  Now, these three images are some of what I have to show, from that last conv w Cy {I believe, as the Stallions FC official PT}  

Cy "seems" to be "shy" - or so, she oft says, too, - I'm Not Photogenic" - But, Hey - I respect that - No Problemo -
 As long as you trust me enough to manage these - I'm fine ..

I don' t expect to see Cy for some time. Maybe - Our "planned portrait shoot" with her Akita -> "Hogan" will eventually push through -- Who knows When - I'm fine with that too  ...

 We're ALL super busy naman anyway ....  The opp will come - WHEN it'll come.

With regards to petite Ai {below} - who, luckily [for my selfish artistic "sensibilities and tastes"}, as per my request,  managed to snap 3 selfies of herself, using my Tab 3, during what eventually turned out to be her last gig for the PBA - All I can say IS - "Nakakamis na rin si Ai" {di lang si Cy - hahaha} - As I casually said to a Sports 5 colleague of mine, the past few days ..

Well, She's just so busy being a MYX VJ - And am just Happy for the Girl. - and I hear that ABS-CBN wants her to commit to them exclusively -ergo- Ai would have to officially severe her professional ties with Sports 5 [if she wants to further her VJ career with MYX.
 
At the least, one of these Friday nights, I might just get a chance to shoot some Unplugged [available light "LIVE"] images of Ai - doing Acoustic  {That's just one of her many talents}  {She does sing for some church thingy too }   FYI . 

So, I Guess  ...... I'll  C Ya when I C Ya - CY  'n  AI !     Whenever, Wherever !

Ai
Iba Talaga ang Appeal ni Ai
( Taken w my Tab 3 ! -  and Not w/a  DSLR ! )
[ one of three selfies }

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What's in a Name ?

Julia

" Half of what I say is Meaningless 

But I say it just to Reach You 

Julia ..... "

John Lennon / Paul McCartney

{ Beatles' White Album}

All-Time Favorite Phrases from a Beatles love song ..... Looking for a real-life Julia ? .....

Why Not ?

Immortal Beatles lyrics {and tunes} are not that difficult to come by, since there's thousands o' them

{ carved out in peoples' psyche's [even] - if I may say so  - remembered for all-time } 

Now, Having having an image to complement random lyrics (for whatever reason)  - In the context of one's personal life - Well,  Each to his [or her] own then .....

There is a "new Julia" (a favorite subject, at the very least !) in my life now - hmmm - Whatever .....

My other "other Julia" passed away last year, January of 2014 .....

Her name was [IS] Julianna Lydia Beltran - my mom.

brosi gonzales

Midweeek Madness - { REvised }

Coloreds &

Monochromes
on a

Must-Win Wednesday

The Tropang Texters entered Game 4 of the {Best-of-Seven} Championship Series-

[yesterday, Wednesday} behind the Painters [2-1].

They will enter Game 6 {Tomorrow}  Tied ! with the Elasto Painters - having just sent a strong message to Rain or Shine - that TnT can beat Rain or Shine any day of the week - 

{Talk N' Text beat Rain or Shine in Game #4 [99-92], to TIE the Series at 2-all.}

What with - Wayne Chism just having won the Best Import Award, and Jayson Castro also, just having won an award, and to add to that - Tempers going out of control, in what has become an Extremely Physical, Mental, and Emotional series  .......

The Painters and Texters were just a point apart come halftime - but with Wayne Chism, having had - only a solitary point [in the 1st half] - Everyone was reminded how Unpredictable [and Volatile] this series was - and that a Whole Lotta SHIT Might Just Still Happen !! - before this Championship Series would be eventually decided  .......

 and Yup !   A whole lotta shit did happen in Game 4  !

de Ocampo Gets the Job Done !

Ranidel de Ocampo's 13 and Ivan Johnson's 10, all in the 3rd,
gave the Texters a much needed 8-pt. cushion [74-66], coming into the 4th.

Ivan The Terrible !

Painters Fanatics [Coach Guiao included] 
Love to Hate this Texter
Bottom Line bro - He Gets the Job Done Too !

It's the REFS who can't seem to get the job done {EVER !!}  right ?!  That is, As far as the ALL the Texter and Painter fans are concerned, [Coaching Staffs included] !  Hahaha !

Me, I Try to Get My Job Done Too - {every single game} Not That Easy either [Honestly - have to be Always Very Sharp - if I expect to get Decent Action Shots]

Still FUN Though !

-------------

Wrong Side .....

Missed the altercation between Ibanes and Ganuelas-Rosser -

Was actually changing CF Cards when it happened [and was on the opp side]

The few steals below - were obviously taken, after things settled down.

 

 

Paul

Matt
{curiously watches the replay of his altercation with Ibanes - 
whilst waiting for the refs' decision on the said incident}

Jireh

 [says a few words to the ref, just before he exits the playing court

- Ibanes was ejected, along with Ganuelas-Rosser, and Quinahan}

Kevin

 The altercation - which came with 9:47 left in the 4th, {I believe Talk N Text had the lead,

and momentum, at that point, caused a 10-15 minute delay in the game} gave me a few opps to craft some on-the-spot
portraits of some of the athletes. This one of [IDOL !} Kevin Alas, is def one of my favorites, among several.

before the match
Lee and Uyloan have a few words

 

 during the lull - after the altercation

Norwood, Lee, and Tiu huddle up

 

Rizza

[photo taken after the match]

Apple
[photo taken minutes before the match]
Can You ?
Me, I Can't wait for Game #5 !!!

Signed , Sealed, Delivered


 Jayson Castro puts the finishing touch
 on the Talk N' Text 7-pt. Game 4 Win
No Wonder, he's the Best Player of the Conference.

BTW, Congrats, too - to Wayne Chism 
for winning the Best import Award !


brosi gonzales

Tags 

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