For First Time, NBA Players and Media will Join Fans in Selecting Starting Lineups for NBA All-Star 2017

Wazzup Pilipinas!

For the first time ever, NBA players and basketball media will join fans in selecting the starters for NBA All-Star 2017 in New Orleans. NBA All-Star Voting 2017 presented by Verizon will tip off at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, Dec. 25 before an exciting lineup of five Christmas Day matchups on ABC and ESPN.

Fans were first given the opportunity to vote for NBA All-Star starters during the 1974-75 season. This year, the league will extend the platform to include two other important constituents of the game – NBA players and NBA media. Fans will account for 50 percent of the vote, while all current players and a panel of basketball media will account for 25 percent each.

Players and media will be able to complete one full ballot, featuring three frontcourt players and two guards from both the Eastern and Western Conference. Players may vote for their teammates or themselves.

NBA fans may submit one full ballot each day through NBA.com, the NBA App (available on Android and iOS), Twitter, Facebook and Google Search, as well as via Sina Weibo and Tencent Microblogs in China. All current NBA players will be available for selection.

How to vote:

• NBA.com voting page at NBA.com/vote: Fill out one full ballot per day (per day is defined as once every 24 hours) on NBA.com/vote from a desktop or mobile browser.  Fans can select up to two guards and three frontcourt players from each conference when choosing starters.  

• NBA App: Access the ballot and vote through the app, which is available on Android and iOS.  Fans can fill out one full ballot per day, and select up to two guards and three frontcourt players from each conference when choosing starters.

• Twitter: Tweet, retweet or reply with an NBA player’s first and last name or Twitter handle, along with the hashtag #NBAVOTE.  Each Tweet may include only one player’s name or handle.  Fans may vote for 10 unique players each day throughout the NBA All-Star voting period. 

• Facebook: Post the player’s first and last name along with the hashtag #NBAVOTE on your personal Facebook account, or comment on another’s Facebook post.   Each post may include only one player’s name.  Fans may post votes for 10 unique players per day throughout the voting period.  

• Google Search: Search “NBA Vote All-Star” or “NBA Vote Team Name” (ex: NBA Vote Celtics), and use respective voting cards to select teams and then players.  Fans may submit votes for 10 unique players per day throughout the voting period.

Fan voting updates will be shared on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, and Thursday, Jan. 12. Voting will conclude on Monday, Jan. 16 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Starters will be announced live on TNT on Thursday, Jan. 19, during a special one-hour edition of TNT NBA Tip-Off presented by Autotrader.com at 7 p.m. ET, featuring Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith. The special will air prior to TNT’s exclusive doubleheader featuring the Washington Wizards at the New York Knicks (8 p.m. ET) and the Minnesota Timberwolves at the LA Clippers (10:30 p.m. ET). The Eastern Conference and Western Conference All-Star reserves, as selected by NBA head coaches, will be announced the following week on Thursday, Jan. 26.

Globe Helps Rebuild Schools in Isabela

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom has donated P1-million worth of construction materials to the Province of Isabela to help rebuild schools which were severely damaged by Super Typhoon Lawin last October.

The province identified specific materials such as marine plywood, galvanized iron roofing sheets, and umbrella roofing nails which are needed to replace school roofs ripped off by the strong winds.

“Although Isabela is already in the process of rebuilding, they still need support from the private sector due to the overwhelming extent of devastation. Realizing this, Globe decided to reach out to the provincial government as part of our commitment to nation-building,” said Robert Aquino, Globe Director for Sector Relations.

In the past, Globe also extended similar assistance to typhoon victims such as those affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan in Leyte, Cebu, and Aklan three years ago.

DOTr, RRCG Transport Open P2P Alabang - Ortigas Route in time for Holiday Rush

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade led the launching of the new RRCG Transport P2P Bus Service Alabang – Ortigas route in Starmall Alabang this morning.

This initiative, which adds to the existing five (5) P2P routes operating in Metro Manila, aims to provide commuters with safe, reliable, convenient, and high quality public transport services that will reduce congestion along major thoroughfares, especially those coming from the south.

According to Secretary Tugade, the P2P is one of the many solutions that can help decongest roads if patronized by the public.

“This P2P will help alleviate traffic congestion if only people will cooperate and use it. I believe that a smoother flow of traffic will help us uplift the lives of our citizens,” he said.

Currently, the DOTr is supportive of ride-sharing services that offers public access to a cost-effective and quality transportation option that will encourage private car owners to leave their vehicles at home.