By Allegra Dominguez, Year 12

As star striker and co-captain of the U18 Girls football team, Kristine shares with us her affinity for J. Cole, Pizza and experience as a Lion on and off the field.

What inspired you to play football?

“My dad encouraged me to start playing in Nomads at four years old. I didn’t like it much at first – I’d lie down and play with the flowers during training. But as I got older, I found that being on the football pitch was where I was the happiest and where I felt I belonged the most. Oh, and, Kyla Gibson forced me to play. [Laughs]”

What is it like having your dad as the coach?

“There’s definitely way more pressure. It’s very nerve wracking when your parents come and watch a game – having your dad as the coach just makes it so much worse. [Laughs] But at the end of the day, my dad’s my biggest fan and I think the fact that he pushes me so hard really helps me play my best.”

Do you have any pregame rituals?

“There are 3 songs I always listen to before games: Tookie Knows by Schoolboy Q, Simba by J. Cole and Remember The Name by Fort Minor. I feel like I’ll have a bad game if I don’t! I also touch the field right before every game, you know, feel the earth and stuff.”

What are the essentials in your football bag?

“I always bring around advil, coffee, tampons, laces, pro wrap, and my lucky sweater.”

FUN FACTS:

• She can name all 44 presidents of the United States (in order)
• Her favorite football team is US women’s national football team and favorite player is Tobin Heath
• Her grandfather played for the Liverpool first team
• She lives for Pizza
• Her favorite male football player is George Best
• 12 is her lucky number and her jersey number since Year 2
• She is an avid J. Cole fan
• Her dream job is playing for the Orland Pride alongside Alex Morgan
• She takes HL art
• She has been a starter on the ISAC team since year 9

Words by: Luis Recto, Year 13

Jordan Clarkson’s return to the Philippines is one that creates hope for the future of Philippine basketball. Clarkson is half Filipino and had a Philippine passport before the age of 16, which means that he qualifies under FIBA’s regulations to represent the Philippines on the national stage. Future NBA Hall of Famer Steve Nash claimed that “the sky's the limit”, for Clarkson who had a fantastic rookie season playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. But for a player who has no ceiling, what would appeal to him so that he chooses to represent the Philippines over the United States?

The United States men’s national basketball team is the most decorated national team in history and their future is brighter than ever. Clarkson can compete with the best players in the world for a spot on the US national team and fight for a position on a star-studded team.

The Philippines’ love for basketball has grown ever since the American colonisation after the second World War, and today the sport is by far the most popular one in the country. For a nation that is not suited with the right genetics in the sport of basketball, Clarkson would be the heart and soul of Smart Gilas. Playing for his mother’s country will increase interest of the sport around the country, and will build the team into an actual contender against some of the best teams around the world. The Philippines will finally have a star that will be lauded by millions in a country that is ready for a rise on the global level, a star that can lead his countrymen to develop their experience and skills.

Clarkson’s visit to his hometown city of Pampanga in central Luzon brings with it the hope that Clarkson will choose to play for Philippines. But still, the same question is raised:  why would he play for the Philippines over the United States?

 In a clinic that he hosted towards the end of August in Pampanga, hundreds of people came to watch the world famous NBA player. To learn from a professional NBA player is a dream for both adults and children who grew up playing the game of basketball, and is a rare chance to see and understand what it’s like to make it on the highest stage in the world—to play with the likes of Kobe Bryant.  The attendees all tried to understand what it takes to achieve all that Clarkson has and will accomplish. But what does a 23 year old really know about an industry that is filled with legends that have been part of a league for four or five decades? How can a 23 year old choose one country for the rest of his life without knowing how good he could possibly be? Jordan Clarkson in the eyes of the US national team is no sure thing and he may never contribute to the team, while in the Philippines he would be the most influential player to have ever played on the national team.

What does the future hold for Jordan Clarkson? No one knows.  Perhaps the career of a possible superstar is about to unravel, perhaps not, but the only thing that all Filipinos around the world can do is to cheer him on and hope that one day we will see him in a Smart Gilas jersey.

Written by: Bethanie Chong, Year 12

“One…two…three…BSM TOUCH!”

On Saturday, 18th January, BSM’s first ever Girls Touch Rugby team bade farewell to an amazing 4-month season. One Monday afternoon in early September, over 20 senior girls showed up on the field to attend what, for most of us, would be our very first touch rugby training.

“Who here knows how to play touch rugby?” asked Josh Whyte, one of our coaches. Very few hands went up.
 “Okay then. Who here has at least seen a touch rugby game?” he tried again. Still, only two or three hands went up.
 “I see,” he conceded, trying to feign enthusiasm. “Looks like we’ll have to start from the very beginning!”

And that’s exactly what we did. From then on, every Monday afternoon we turned up, cleat-laden and ready to learn what most of us agreed to be an intense, yet exciting sport. We started with basic running and passing drills, and gradually moved on to practising different tactical formations. I must admit it was extremely frustrating at times, trying to keep up with all the rules and strategies bombarded at us.  But after a few weeks of training, Josh, as well as our other coaches--Mr Barrett, Kai Stroem, Andrew Melrose, Jamie Young and Sophia Perret--affirmed that overall, we were making good progress.

Soon after, we began going to ISM weekly to play against their girls’ touch rugby teams. Some of us were disheartened upon seeing how good ISM was compared to us, but this feeling of disappointment soon disappeared as we were told that the ISM girls trained at least 4 times a week, in comparison to our sole Monday sessions.

As the weeks passed and both our skill and confidence grew, our streak of losses slowly turned into wins. By the time we had our first proper inter-school tournament at Faith Academy in mid-November, we knew that, despite being newbies, we had a strong team. As with any tournament, we experienced a mixture of wins and losses, but more importantly, we developed our skills, sportsmanship and team spirit.

The next two tournaments were held at ISM in December, and Brent Manila in early January. We faced some tough competition, such as the Philippine National Women’s team. But no matter what the outcome was, we were proud to have played our best.

The final tournament of the season took place on Saturday, 17th January 2015, on our very own Parcel 2 field. It was by far the most successful tournament of the entire season, with BSM winning all three of our games. As the whistle signalling the end of our final game against Faith Academy blew, the whole team screamed with delight, not only because of the win, but also because we were so proud of how far we’d come as a team.

“Remember the first day of training, when some of us didn’t even know how to pass the ball?” someone whispered as we huddled in for a team photo. We all laughed right as the camera clicked, forever capturing that moment of pure happiness.

I’d like to thank our coaches: Mr Barrett, Josh, Kai, Andrew, Jamie and Sophia. Without their constant guidance, support and, let’s face it, occasional bouts of anger, we never would have achieved the level of success we did. I’d also like to give a special mention to the Year 13s in our team, who will unfortunately not be with us next year: Murelle Garrigos (our captain), Jamie Harvey and Nina Ti. Being part of the girls touch rugby team this year has been an amazing experience - I can’t wait for next season!

Written by: Kevin Kuo, Year 12

Immortalised in Drake’s latest hit “0 to 100”, Chef Curry has lit up the courts of the NBA with yet another All Star season. But we aren’t here to talk about Curry’s remarkable box stats; we are here to look at the SC1, Curry’s first shoe with Under Armour.

The latest shoe Under Armour is releasing is nothing short of amazing. It features the latest UA technology, including the charged midsole, the new mesh upper, and of course, Curry’s fresh new logo. A lot of people are comparing it to the UA Clutch Fit Drive, but the two shoes have a few noticeable differences. For one thing, this new model is much more breathable and flexible thanks to the mesh material, which is further topped with padding to maintain the support of the shoe. The Charge Foam midsole is also said to be softer than the original Micro-G Foam, and also longer lasting than previous midsoles have been. However, the traction of the Clutch Fit Drive is pretty much identical to the SC1, which is already extremely effective on multiple surfaces. But still, priced at $120 (around Php 5400), the SC1 is very affordable and is significantly cheaper than the UA Clutch Fit Drive.

The shoe is set to drop a week before the All Star Weekend with plenty of colour ways still being released.  Stephen Curry’s other lines of personal apparel, including shirts, shorts and socks, are on its way to stores as well.

Written by Liam Madamba, Year 13

The final whistle goes at the majestic Westfalenstadion and Dortmund, true to their recent tribulations, have lost at home to relative minnows of Hamburg. And yet, none of the players disappear down the tunnel. None of the fans leave the ground.  A force of 25,000 fans, who ardently flock to the mythical south stand named "Gelbe Wand" or the “Yellow Wall”, continue to serenade their team with deluges of passion. Manager Jurgen Klopp joins his players on the edge of the penalty area, where they stand for five minutes in awe, their appreciative applause for the fans drowned out in the deafening roars, gazing up at one of European football's great sights; a sea of luminous yellow shirts, scarves and flags. Columns of smoke climb from pockets of fans and waves of noise cascades down onto the players. Defiant, undaunted, Borussia Dortmund's motto is tellingly "echte liebe,” or "true love" and the fans embody this sentiment. The city of Dortmund’s population stands at 580,956 and when the club reached the Champions League final two years ago, the club received 502,567 applications for the 24,042 available tickets.  True love, indeed.

One of the last great romantic clubs In Europe, moments such as this harken back to the nostalgia-induced era where fans, not finance, came first. The tickets and, perhaps more importantly, the beer are affordable to all, the atmosphere is raw and seductive.  It goes with saying that football in this city is all encompassing here, it reaches ever facet of life. This vivacious love affair, and the unique experience it entails, attracts more than 1,000 fans from England to every home match. This English incursion has not gone unnoticed by the Dortmund hierarchy:

“It's amazing," says marketing director Carsten Cramer. "It's always nice when English fans tell me that including the cost of a flight, two beers and a ticket, they do not pay more than a match in England. Why are tickets cheap? Football is part of people's lives and we want to open the doors for all of society. We need the people, they spend their hearts, their emotions with us. They are the club's most important asset."

The phrase is one that many clubs carelessly use, but Dortmund and its operations demonstrate that it is far more than mere words; yes, modern football clubs are undeniably businesses, but at their core, they are so much more to fans than just a business venture. And as Cramer puts it:

"We are a football club. If the football doesn't run properly, the rest of the business would not work. The business is part of a train, but not the engine."

It is strikingly different in England’s top flight; in contrast to Germany, where supporter liaison officers tend to assume powerful positions. England confers little power to their own supporter liaison officers and this is symptomatic of the greater financial problem; the common feeling among supporters that the sport they love is gradually leaving them behind. Despite football carrying an appeal and a relevance in England that goes far beyond sport, the current mismanagement of football’s boom may risk its future viability. The wealth at the top of the game is not trickling down to alleviate the rising ticket prices, to the extent that large swathes of the population are left priced out.

This summer, financial analysts at Deloitte said Premier League clubs now spend 71p on wages for every £1 generated, despite the match day revenue increasing by 6% in the Premier League last season to £585m. Yet as well as the cheapest match-day ticket rise, the average price of the cheapest Premier League season ticket has increased 8.7% since 2012, from £467.95 to £508.55.

The continued rampant inflation in players' wages is the driving force behind these rising ticket prices for fans and this reinforces the sense of an impending divorce between the clubs at the very top and the game's audience. The fortunes that clubs have made through unprecedented TV deals have not been used to alleviate the pressure on fans' pockets, especially in a time of markedly squeezed living standards; instead, they merely serve to inflate their own enormous revenues. Football fans are forced to incur above-inflation rises, 4.4%, more than treble the 1.2% inflation rates, in admission prices and points at the pernicious commercial structure of the English game. But note that in the Premier League, match-day money is less than a quarter of club turnover, with more than half of the torrent of funds that gush into top-flight clubs coming from TV rights. Yet the vast majority of clubs operate at a loss as, even with revenues surging higher and higher, they cannot match the suction power of stars' pay: the average of whom are paid in seven figure sums annually. This combination of near monopoly pricing power and irresistible cost pressures from players' wages is bad for everyone, fans and club owners, with the exception of a small number of athletes who were born with and nurtured a precious talent; perhaps a portion of the blame falls upon football culture’s fascination with the superstar and the need to indulge them, which for some reason takes precedence over the fans.

However, depicting club owners as predatory capitalist is unrealistic; many of them are consummate fans of the sport. Furthermore, match day revenue is used to improve stadia and attract the very best talents in competitive market. Many clubs have compromised, adopting discounts for the younger demographic, the disabled and away fans. And the Premier League has pointed to the sustained demand and the subsequent packed-out grounds as an indication that the prices are right.

"The attendances so far this season are very encouraging, with more than 95% of seats sold and average crowds tracking with last season's, which were the highest in English top-flight football since 1949-50," said Cathy Long, the Premier League's head of supporter services.

English clubs exist on the whims of those who just happen to be the current custodians of institutions while fans have sustained their clubs for generations and will continue to do so, making it essential for them to be involved in their administration. Again, Dortmund integrates the fans into decision making; The Bundesliga’s "50% plus one" rule requires clubs to be owned by their members. A club run by the fans, for the fans. Westfalenstadion’s almost fanatical atmosphere, the envy of Europe, is unique to them; unlike England football’s transformation into a middle-class pursuit, the club persists in cheap prices precisely to ensure all areas of society are represented in the crowd. When you lose your fans to squabbles over the rising ticket prices, the atmospheres change to lifeless and dull. When you price people out, it isn't the people's game anymore.

Modern English football fawns over the sporting superstar, the household name, but Dortmund remembers that the fan is king. The home of football’s soul needs to reclaim its birthright.

Written by Raine Yang, Year 13

After last year’s revolutionary release introducing true ‘next-gen’ graphics and gameplay to the sports genre, NBA 2K15 has lived up to most expectations, albeit with a few glaring issues.

Graphics
2K gets somewhat of a pass this year in the graphics department because there isn’t much to build on from last year’s work. However, most players that the company glaringly messed up in previous renditions have been more accurately re-scanned into the game.

Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers NBA 2K14 vs. NBA 2K15

As a whole, players closely resemble their real-life counterparts, which compared to last year’s players, have more scaled-back minute details such as facial hair, sweat and overly shiny surfaces. Aside from some minor issues like the nets still looking stiff and the basketball remaining bland, 2K15 still has some of the greatest graphics on the market.

Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder:

Audio/Presentation
The developers of 2K15 have also made attempts at improving presentation. Veteran players diving into the action will quickly notice two recognizable individuals making an appearance. Ernie Johnson and Shaquille O’Neal, part of TNT’s broadcast team, provide gamers with pre-game breakdowns and, while watching these two can sometimes be an awkward affair, this is clearly a step in the right direction. Hopefully, 2K takes their partnership with TNT even further in following iterations.

Ernie Johnson and Shaquille O’Neal

Meanwhile the arenas remain true-to-life and the crowd is more noticeable than ever. Pre-game introductions have been expanded even further and new cutscenes have been added, including starting lineup intros and a portion of the national anthem being played. In-game commentary is still as solid as ever despite the blatant error of keeping Steve Kerr, now the head coach of the Golden State Warriors, in the commentary team. Overall, 2K performs very well in the presentation with some noticeable areas for improvement.

Oklahoma City Thunder Court

Gameplay
From a gameplay perspective, bar none 2K15 is the best portrayal of the sport there has ever been. New additions such as the shot meter and implementation of signature team-specific offenses, including the New York Knicks’ Triangle Offense and the Miami Heat’s Pace and Space, have made playing on-the-ball more realistic. Slight changes in passing and the addition of new animations make offense more fluid and exciting. However, this is not to say the less glamorous side of basketball has been neglected. Defense in-game has been tweaked to make sticking by your man easier and more rewarding while setting player-specific defensive adjustments returns, creating a more in-depth experience on that end. Gameplay-wise, 2K is the gold standard in providing definitive simulation basketball to its audience.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Cleveland Cavaliers:

 Game modes
While 2K14 gave fans a taste of what ‘next-gen’ had to offer, the 2K developers have reached that potential, impressing us with the range and depth of its game modes. MyCareer, 2K’s create-a-player mode, is better than ever with a whole new storyline and easier access to the teams you want to play for. The voice acting from NBA players showcases the developers’ desire for authenticity, although the players’ poor performance in this department certainly brings it a notch down. The ability to scan your own face into the game makes this mode more enticing, or repulsing if you’ve seen how flawed the scans were. However, 2K says there is a patch coming out soon to address this.

NBA 2K15 MyCareer

MyTeam, 2K’s equivalent of EA Sports’ Ultimate Team mode, now offers new legends, new offline modes and the Auction House. Along with cheaper pack prices, getting the players you want is now easier than ever. MyLeague and MyGM allows you to take the reins of an NBA franchise and make moves to create a championship contender with unique offerings from each mode, providing realistic and in-depth salary caps, player progression and team customization. 2K will definitely keep fans occupied throughout the year with its plethora of game modes.

MyTeam

MyLeague/MyGM

Online
However, online gameplay, perhaps the most important inclusion in any game in recent years, is definitely a letdown, especially after 2K promised that they would address the server issues last year. Unstable servers and severe lags hinder MyPark, a mode in which you bring your player online to play with others around the world. These issues extend past this mode as well, affecting regular online and MyTeam matches, hindering shot release timings and on-ball defense and making the game almost unplayable online. For such a great release offline, you can only wonder how groundbreaking this game would be with proper servers, which we’ll hopefully get next year.

Conclusion
Despite a massive contrast between offline and online gameplay, along with a few minor hiccups, NBA 2K15 is still the gold standard when it comes to basketball simulation. With beautiful and lifelike gameplay incorporated in a number of deep game modes, 2K has set the bar high for sports gaming.

Rating: 9/10

Storylines to watch for in the 2014-2015 NBA Season

The wait is almost over. Once again, the time has come for hoop junkies to lock hands in counting down the days to the beginning of the new NBA season. In a little over a month, the association will be nearing the end of its hiatus. Fans from all over will once more be treated to the scintillating brand of basketball found exclusively in the world’s premier basketball league.

Hot on the heels of an exciting offseason, the landscape of the NBA has changed dramatically over the past few months. With all the movement and activity over the summer break, the new season is shaping up to be one of the more anticipated ones in recent memory. With burning questions yet to be answered, players and fans alike eagerly await opening day with hopes and dreams hanging in the balance.

Without further ado, here are several storylines to watch for in the coming season.

1.     The 2014 Rookie Class – boom or bust?

Before playing even a single minute on court, the 2014 draft class has already put the league on notice. As the most heralded group of incoming players in years, all eyes will be on them to instantly make a splash. With big names such as Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, and Joel Embiid all poised to live up to the lofty expectations set for them since their high school playing days, it is no secret that they will be relied on heavily to lead a resurgence in their respective squads. Will they live up to the billing, or fold under the limelight? Only time will tell.

2.     #theReturn

When then-MVP Derrick Rose tore his ACL in the 2012 playoffs, the entire basketball world collectively held its breath. No one enjoyed seeing a player get injured, and the fact that he’d captured the hearts of the masses with his down-to-earth personality and exhilarating style of play made it all the more devastating. This feeling of anguish was furthered when, after a year of intense rehabilitation (under the heading #theReturn), he fell victim to the injury bug once again after playing all but a few games.

This season, he seeks to make his presence known once again. With a remarkable showing for the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) over the summer, all signs point to his return to pre-injury form. Be sure to watch Rose (and other stars returning from injury, such as Kobe Bryant) closely as the season goes on, to see if #theReturn truly is upon us.

3.     The Three Cavaliers

When Lebron James chose to take his talents back to his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, he single-handedly changed the outlook of the NBA. It was more than the return of a prodigal son; in joining forces with all stars Kyrie Irving (and subsequently, Kevin Love), he brought legitimacy to the young team and instantly transformed the Cavs into title contenders. However, questions loom in regards to the team’s ability to come together. Can the three stars coexist? Can both Irving and Love do more than put up good numbers on bad teams? We have yet to find out.

4.     Who wins the championship?

In addition to the Cavs, other championship-caliber teams are waiting in the wings the chance to claim their stake atop the NBA’s pecking order. Though another year older, the reigning champion San Antonio Spurs have taught us time and time again that the biggest mistake one can make is to count them out. The Oklahoma City Thunder, home to the inhuman scoring duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, remain as dangerous as ever. Challengers from both the old guard (the Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat) and the new (the Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers) all vie for the chance to hoist up the Larry O’Brien trophy. With parity in the league being at an all-time high, things are bound to be exciting on the path towards the championship.

Written by:

Lorenzo Siy, Year 13

Written by:

Alexandra Tan, Year 12

With exams always looming and workloads escalating, many of us set aside out healthy lifestyles in exchange for late nights and stress snacking. However, there are many studies that reveal the benefits of balanced diets, sufficient sleep and regular exercise to enhance concentration and memory. So instead of aimlessly procrastinating, go for a quick run or workout! These teachers offer great tips on how they manage live healthily despite a jam-packed schedule. For extra motivation, keep in mind that vacation is always just around the corner, and we have little time to prep our beach bodies!

Mr. Barker

Newbie Mr. Barker is not your ordinary English teacher. Running is one of his biggest passions, and can be spotted jogging around the Fort almost everyday. Mr. Barker can beat just about anyone in BSM at the bleep test (with the exception of Mr. Wooldridge), and his running achievements and experiences around the world are nothing short of impressive.

Mr. Barker: I have been running from the age of 5. I started running cross country races in my village of Linton in South Cambridgeshire. There was a lovely, strong running community in the village and there were many organised runs. Every summer, the running club would travel to London for the Hyde Park Fun Run which broke people into age groups and then they would compete over courses around the park. It was fab! My best finish was 13^th out of about 1500 entrants in the boys under 13 race.

My family loves running and in our village we were the best family in the March Hare Fun Run about 5 years in a row. Having a local running community helped me become interested and competitive in running. However, when I moved away from Linton at the age of 12, I stopped running competitively, until I entered the Moscow 10km run about 5 years ago. I managed 38 minutes for 10km which is good for me but way off the winners who were about 31 minutes. Since then I just try to improve my own times, especially on Wednesday mornings at Running Club. I run barefoot which is a lovely feeling, dew on feet, and changes my running style completely. Oh, and I do compete against Mr Wooldridge whenever there is a bleep test, but he is fitter than me.

Q: How has moving to the Philippines affected your fitness?

                                   

A: My fitness has improved here. I do not go out partying anymore. I am almost 40, so that kind of lifestyle just does not work for me. I suffer what I contend are the world’s worst hangovers if I imbibe. My diet has improved and although I possibly run a little less than in Moscow or Bogota, I feel healthier overall.

Q: What’s your fitness routine?                     

                                                           

A: I train 6 days a week. 2 of those are resistance workouts with weights and things. The other four are a mixture of swimming, running and cycling. I try to keep it mixed as it maintains interest to an extent (I don’t think anyone would identify running, cycling or swimming as particularly entertaining sports) and varies the way my body works. I am swimming more now than I ever have. It is a great way to improve cardiovascular fitness even if you are a good runner already.

Q: Any nutrition tips?                              

                                                                       

A: Eat what you want as long as you exercise. Fast food is evil. Not so much because it is bad for you, just the way it has impacted food production and the environment. Don’t drink beer.

Q: Any advice to people wanting to get fit?

Just do it! Not terribly constructive, I know, but if you don’t make the decision to do something then you never will.

Madame Barrett

“Madame Barrett has more gains than I do” –Anonymous senior school boy

Aside from her bubbly personality and impeccable fashion sense, Madame Barrett is known for her physique and active lifestyle. She’s involved in just about every action ASA in the school, and credits her health and fitness to her youth and roots in France.

Madame Barrett: I started dance and basketball at the age of 6. In France, ASAs are not organised in school and are done in sport centres on Wednesday afternoons. As I lived in a little village, it was a great way to be active and meet people. I guess, it gave my mum some free time too! Et voila! I never stopped training since. Training became part of my daily routine, just like brushing my teeth. It still is. I never ask myself the question “Do I want to go training?”, “Do I feel like it?” Otherwise, I would never go! It is just part of my timetable. I squeeze it in!

Although it was just in a village, the club had really high standards and the coaches were all professionals. We were involved in regional and national competitions for basketball and we had training 3-5 times a week.  When I moved to senior school, I enrolled a Sport School programme for 2 years. Instead of having music, DT and art, I had training in 1 or 2 sports at higher level. It is called “Sport Etudes.” This is when I started taking swimming more seriously. Training was part of your school timetable and was not negotiable as it was assessed. It was part of the curriculum in a way.

Attendance, discipline and results were assessed alongside attitude and motivation. Strong ethos were enhanced and there was no room for complaints or tiredness. This I guess modelled the way I am today: motivated and energetic. Discipline, commitment and organisation were the key words as academic results had to match your sports results, or you were out!

Q: What’s your current fitness routine?

A: It is very disciplined: 1 day yoga, 1 day cardio (running and biking) 1 day swimming and repeat same routine again. My day off is now filled in with an extra yoga lesson. Having a family is motivating. Sport is not an “instead of” but an “as well as.” It has helped me to be more organised. The less time you have, the less time you waste. Because I want to be with my family as much as possible, I squeeze training in when it does not affect family time. Not always easy but with good organisation and energy I can manage.

Q: Any nutrition tips?

A: Eat well, balanced and not in huge quantities. Plenty of fruit, yoghurt, a very small amount of red meat, lots of green tea and hot lemons, chocolate and allow yourself the odd craving (not to be frustrated and because you can!) All in moderation.

Q: Favorite workout song/playlist/artist?

A: All! I like techno, house, strong beats, good DJs mix, anything that makes me move.

Q: What’s your best advice for people wanting to start a healthy lifestyle?

A: Start now! “It is not what you do, it is how you do it.” (10 good push ups are better than 50 bad ones!) and above all, as one of my coaches used to say: “You may not like your body but it is yours forever, so respect it. Learn to live with it happily and enjoy!” Listen to your body! Rest when you need and learn your limits (I should learn that one!). Find the sports or the activity that is good for you! It has not got to be at competition level, walking your dog is an exercise! Keep it going, be committed to it and never give up!

Written by:

Alexandra Tan, Year 12

Written by:

Miguel Vera, Year 12

ISAC.

For the BSM athlete, this acronym is more than just a few letters; it represents a year’s worth of training and a year’s worth of sacrifice. For many, ISAC is about the glory that one can gain. For others, ISAC leads to heartbreak and feelings of inadequacy. For the BSM Boys Basketball Squad, ISAC was the formation of a true team.

Our basketball team entered the tournament with our heads held high. An aura of confidence and conviction pervaded the bus as we ventured to the unfriendly environment known as Brent Subic. Unfazed, the team ventured forth into battle as the bus filled with the manic chanting of the famed Frozen song, “Do you want to build a snowman?” Despite our playful exterior, inside, we were prepared for the potential challenges that the next three days would bring. Ultimately, our aim was to go hard or go home.

The first day could not have gone any better for the Boys Basketball Team. We started with an emphatic victory over CIS, only allowing the opposing squad to score a total of 4 points. Already, BSM boys were catching attention, and not just because of their good looks. However, our day did not end there. We later faced Southville, a team we knew would not go down without a fight. Initially, their dynamic duo of big men dominated the paint and relentlessly crashed our boards but their size was no match for Eirik and Hamish’s speed as BSM quickly regained the lead after a sequence of easy, fast-break layups. After all, “speed kills”. Although we managed to win the game by a narrow margin of 4 points, we knew that Southville was a team to lookout for.

The first game of the next day was against the home team, Brent Subic. A large crowd of home supporters gathered in hopes for seeing their team pull out a victory. Unfortunately, their cheers were quickly silenced by BSM’s lock-down defense and BSM, once again, came out victorious. The following two games followed a similar trend, with BSM defeating both Faith Mindanao and Brent Baguio. Amongst the competitors, a collective belief that the winners had already been decided began to brew.

On the final day, the team knew what was at stake. With a newfound focused mindset, we overpowered our first opponent, Brent Manila, and defeated them in a convincing fashion, with a 50-point deficit separating the two teams. With just an hour between the first game and the semi-finals, our athletes had to balance a mixture of relaxation and adrenaline from the previous game. Eventually, our opponents turned out to be the home team, Brent Subic, who we knew we could defeat if we worked collaboratively. Again, our team employed similar tactics as our first encounter – utilizing our lock-down defense to prevent Brent Subic from dictating the pace of the game. With a combination of well thought out half-court sets and fast-break outlets, the BSM basketball team marched their way to the ISAC finals. Now, not only did we have the support of the BSM community, but also other teams encouraged us to defeat our future opponents, Southville.

The moment we had all been waiting for arrived – the Championship game. We knew Southville would start the game with a vengeance, as memories of our Girls ISAC Basketball victory over their school haunted them. Their star, Number 8, came out with guns blazing by using his array of post moves and jump shots to weave his way through our defense. In spite of this, we kept the game close, led by the offense of our seasoned veterans, Alfonso Garcia and Eirik Stroem. By the time the 4^th quarter had approached, BSM had produced a 9-point lead over the opposing school. Gold was already in our grasps. Then, everything crumbled. A series of careless possessions and quality moves by Southville led to the score being all tied up. On a possession where our defense stood strong, an unlucky bounce landed in the hands of their star player, Number 8, which led to a subsequent putback and their team being up by 1. Now, the spectators and both benches of each team were on the edge of their seats. After Southville missed one of their free throws, an unsuccessful last moment ‘hail mary’ heave from Eirik to Hamish concluded our season.

As the other team’s supporters stormed the court, our BSM team collapsed on the floor, our heads in our hands. The team was stunned as the final buzzer sounded. Moments passed, as we remained planted on the bench, refusing to fathom the events that had just occurred. Compensatory comments seemed to have no effect on our feelings of despair at that moment. But Coach Luis reminded us that this was not the end. He reminded us that we produced one of the best, if not the best, basketball performances in the history of BSM. He reminded us that we should accept defeat with maturity and respect. He reminded us that, despite this defeat, we were still a team and that we should exit with our heads raised high.

Indeed, despite our shortcomings in the tournament, our team had bonded like none other before. The 10 male players that set out from Manila to Subic had now become a team. After all the team dinners, all the games played, all the moments spent together, our basketball team had achieved a different, perhaps more important, goal: becoming a brotherhood. The time I spent in Subic with this team will truly be cherished and I’m sure my teammates would agree.

I’d like to say a special thanks to firstly, our two coaches, Coach Luis and Coach Archie as well as our seniors, Shoko Choga, Mondi Yang, Alfonso Garcia (Our All-ISAC All-Star) and our captain, Eirik Stroem (The Longest Standing and Most Decorated ISAC Athlete in history).  

Hopefully, next year our team will go for gold.

Team Roster

Coach Luis Gonzales

Coach Archie

Eirik Stroem

Alfonso Garcia

Shoko Choga

Mondi Yang

Miguel Ayala

Miguel Vera

Raine Yang

Hamish McWilliam

Kai Stroem

Mark Kim

Written by:

Miguel Vera, Year 12

Written by:

Alexandra Tan, Year 12

With so many positive responses from teachers and students about last week’s ‘Health and Fitness’ article, this is the second installation featuring more of your favourite teachers, and their advice on achieving healthy and active lifestyles.

Mr. Keens

PE teacher by day, athlete by night- Mr. Keens epitomizes a healthy and active lifestyle. Being physically fit is a prerequisite for a PE teacher, but to Mr. Keens, this position means more than just teaching sport and this is clearly reflected through his passion for health and fitness.

Mr. Keens: Being a PE teacher allows me to encourage and inspire youngsters to lead a healthy lifestyle incorporating exercise and a healthy diet. While I understand not everyone enjoys exercising, I think more should be done to highlight the psychological benefits of short exercise sessions per day. Exercise not only increases the release of endorphins (feel good chemical in the brain), but it is also widely regarded as a great tool to prevent depression and decrease levels of stress.

Exercise doesn’t mean you need to go to the gym and buy all the needless accessories and matching outfits. Keep it simple. Exercise can be anything that works up a sweat: walking, cycling, swimming. Try to incorporate this into your everyday life, be creative if time constraints are tight. Try walking or cycling to work, walking and talking to a colleague rather than email (we are all guilty of taking the 'easier' option) and try making the effort to go to that fitness class with your friend. In a world of ever increasing pressures taking the time out to invest in your health is a last priority for some and I feel that this issue needs addressing.

Q: What role has your love for football played in your lifestyle?

A: Football is a fantastic game and I have been involved in since I was about 7 years old. I have followed Sheffield United from a young age and hope to see them reach the FA Cup Final, fingers crossed we can beat Hull City in the semi-final!

I currently play in the UFL for Nomads FC, the oldest team in Manila. Nomads try to strike a balance between being a social and serious football club and currently compete in the 2nd tier of Philippine club football.

I currently train twice per week with the squad and we have a game each Sunday. I supplement this with my own training such as yoga and running, aiming for 2 rest days per week to allow for some rest and recovery. Football training sessions generally last 2 hours and includes possession work, fitness work, small sided games and lots of work on the 'shape' and tactics of the team's play.

I would recommend football to anyone looking for a sport to take up. It doesn’t get much better than 5 a side football match; it's fun, social, challenging and competitive all at the same time.

At Nomads alone we have over 10 different nationalities in the squad from different continents, all brought together by sport. Friendships made through sport are sometimes the best and longest lasting!




Q: Any nutrition tips?

A: It is vital for young people to exercise regularly and eat healthily. The physical health benefits are well published: reduced risk of Type II diabetes, decreased risk of heart attack, decreased risk of stroke etc. I worked on weight management camps in the UK for a number of years I have a strong knowledge of nutrition and here are some of my own nutrition tips:

1. Look at eating healthily as a lifestyle change and not a 'diet.' It needs to be sustainable so one step at a time, not at once - it won't and can't last!

2. Learn how to read and understand food labels so you know what you are eating- amazingly simple and sometime truly shocking, especially in drinks!

3. Don't eat when you're bored, you're probably not hungry so go out and do something instead.

4. Try to eat 'real' food and avoid replacement drinks/ bars that claim to have the same benefits.

5. Eat plenty of vegetables, you’re mum was right; they are good for you!

6. Drink plenty of water; this is an underrated but crucial part of a healthy diet.




Q: What’s your favourite workout music?

A: Anything with a beat when I'm running. Jay-Z is always a good shout, a bit of old school rock and David Guetta too.

Q: What’s the best advice you can offer to the BSM community about healthy living?

A: Find a sport or exercise you enjoy and do it regularly. Combine this with a healthier diet and you will suddenly find yourself following a healthier lifestyle. You will look, and, more importantly, feel great!

Ms. Taylor

Ms. Taylor is one of the most active teachers in BSM, having initiated the Running Club. Though this was initially aimed for IB students, the club has grown and attracted many students throughout the entire senior school.

Ms. Taylor: I started the before school ASA as a way to help IB students with their action section of CAS. By giving them something to do in the mornings, they can have after school to focus on creativity and service projects. I see running as the easiest and cheapest way to stay fit. My aim for the club was to have members participate in a 5 and 10km run.

Q: How has married life affected your fitness?

A: Getting married and the run up to the wedding did make me run more, but I don’t think being married changed my fitness. However, it is BSM and moving to the Philippines that has affected my fitness for the better. I live in a condo with a gym; the weather here never stops me from running or cycling outside, unlike England where I was known as a ‘fair weather cyclist’ who would only ride to work from March-October.

Q: What's your fitness routine?

A: I try to train with a trainer twice a week and we have a routine that involves resistance training. Then I run 3km at running club on Wednesday mornings. I try to do two more cardio sessions a week, either 10-12 km on a cross trainer or a 3-5km run outdoors. I enjoy being part of Mr. Hunt and Mr. Tibbits’ International Award. You get a workout by trekking for hours and get to see some more of the country.

Q: Any nutrition tips?

A: Don’t diet, eat everything in moderation and enjoy food. It is the energy your body needs to grow, repair and work.

Q: Favorite workout song/playlist/artist?

A: Roni Size, Mika, Mark Ronson, Phoenix, Blondie, Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Florence and the Machine, The Kills, Maximo Park- anything as long as the tempo is quick. I’ve got some of my songs on my Nike+GPS app and there is even an app called Pace DJ, which I want to try out.

Q: What’s your best advice for the BSM community wanting to get fit?

A: Start. Workout by yourself and with others, their motivation helps. Set yourself a manageable goal. Mine was to run a 10km, which I did with Mr. Moore, Mr. Kennedy and some Year 12 science students last year. Since then I haven’t done another 10km run, so perhaps I need to.

Written by:

Alexandra Tan, Year 12