Equalizer

Sports Tidbits as of 21 June 2006

BASKETBALL: PBA Playoffs (Philippines)
18 June 2006

After trouncing crowd-favorite Barangay Ginebra via 118-97 and 120-98 victories in Game 4 (14 June) and Game 5 (16 June), respectively, Red Bull Barakos won their their third straight over the San Miguel Beermen, 89-78. In the first game of the double-header semifinal series of the 2006 Gran Matador PBA Philippine Cup last Sunday, Alaska nipped topseed Purefoods Chunky Giants, 94-92 after surviving a 23-point fourth quarter rampage by James Yap. Game 2 of the semifinalists' best-of-seven match-up will be contested tonight at the Araneta Coliseum.

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FOOTBALL: FIFA World Cup^TM (Germany)
21 June 2006
The host country secured top spot in Group A after blanking Ecuador, 3-0 Tuesday in the capital city of Berlin; Ecuador was relegated to second place. Both teams are now assured of second round berths as Poland managed to collect only 3 points and Costa Rica none at all . Germany (9 points) will face the runner-up of Group B (probably Sweden) on the 24th while Ecuador (6 points) will tackle the Group B leader (perhaps England) on the 25th. Still playing as of press time are Sweden vs England and Paraguay vs Trinidad and Tobago.

20 June 2006
Group A - Germany defeated Ecuador (3-0)
Group A - Poland defeated Costa Rica (2-1)

19 June 2006
Group G - Switzerland defeated Togo (2-0)
Group H - Spain defeated Tunisia (3-1)
Group H - Ukraine defeated Saudi Arabia (4-0)

18 June 2006
Group F - Brazil defeated Australia (2-0)
Group F - Croatia drew with Japan (0-0)
Group G - France drew with Korea (1-1)

17 June 2006
Group D - Portugal defeated Iran (2-0)
Group E - Italy drew with USA (1-1)
Group E - Ghana defeated Czech Republic (2-0)

16 June 2006
Group C - Argentina defeated Serbia and Montenegro (6-0)
Group C - The Netherlands defeated Cote d'Ivoire (2-1)
Group D - Angola drew with Mexico (0-0)

15 June 2006
Group A - Ecuador defeated Costa Rica (3-0)
Group B - England defeated Trinidad and Tobago (2-0)
Group B - Sweden defeated Paraguay (1-0)

14 June 2006
Group A - Germany defeated Poland (1-0)
Group H - Spain defeated Ukraine (4-0)
Group H - Saudi Arabia drew with Tunisia (2-2)

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HOCKEY: Stanley Cup (United States and Canada)

19 June 2006
The Carolina Hurricanes ended Game 7 of the NHL Championships with a 3-1 triumph over the Edmonton Oilers in Raleigh, North Carolina Monday night to capture the 2006 Stanley Cup. After trailing the series 1-3, the Oilers bounced back in Games 5 (4-3 OT) and 6 (4-0) to force a rubber match. But the Hurricanes were too much for the Edmonton squad as the homeboys scored a 3-1 victory over the visitors.

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Mavs Go for the Equalizer

BASKETBALL: NBA Playoffs (United States)

It could have been 3-0, or at least 3-2, in favor of the Dallas Mavericks; now, the Western Champs are down 2-3 against the Miami Heat in the Finals of the 2006 NBA Playoffs. The Mavs experienced a 98-74 trashing by the Heat in Game 4 Friday morning (Manila time) and then suffered another painful loss via a 100-101 overtime defeat Monday morning (Manila time) in Game 5. The Miami Heat became only the second team to sweep all the three middle games of the 2-3-2 Finals format (the Detroit Pistons was the first in 2004, eventually winning the crown, against the Los Angeles Lakers).

Game 6 (today at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas) will be both an easy task and a tough challenge for the Mavericks because they will play on their own court in front of their fellow Texans donning a 2-3 deficit - a single defeat will cause them to lose the trophy.

It takes four to win the championship ring. A win in Game 6 will be an equalizer. A win in Game 6 means JUST ONE LAST FOR DALLAS!!!