Photo courtesy: http://airworm23.blogspot.com

If you’re curious about what it is like to watch Singapore’s basketball pride in action, in a stadium full of enthusiastic fans, while enjoying cold beer courtesy of Brewerkz, here’s your chance to find out!

This week, I’m giving away TEN pairs of tickets to the upcoming game where the Singapore Slingers meet Barangay Ginebra Kings in what is set to be the most explosive game of the season!

We played against Ginebra last season, and boy, was it a physical match! And now, they’re back with a vengeance! It’s going to be interesting to see how our new Slingers team deals with their play, and hopefully, defeat Ginebra again!

But the Slingers need your support, your cheers, your applause! Tickets are already on sale now, but since we know nothing beats FREE tickets and FREE beer, the Slingers Management and Brewerkz Management have kindly agreed to sponsor this giveaway!

Date: Wednesday, 30 Sept 2009
Tip-off time: 2000 hrs
Venue: Singapore Indoor Stadium

To win one of the 10 pairs of tickets for the game and join me for the match, all you have to do is to post a comment on this blog entry, and complete the following sentence:

I want to watch the Slingers in action because: _____________. (You can write a sentence or an essay, I’ll read them all!)

Do leave your valid email address so I can contact you for ticketing details!

All 10 winners will be informed by Monday, 28 Sept 2009!

Wait! That’s not the end of it yet!

Anyone who blogs (you can even start up a new blog to participate in this), can stand to win a Dinner for 4 at Brewerkz!

All you have to do is to attend the game, either by winning tickets through this contest or buying them from SISTIC, and blog about the game! After you’re done with your blog entry, submit your link here. Best entry as selected by judging panel wins! All bloggers who participate will also be given 4 tickets (for yourself and to give away on your blog entry) for any chosen game on the Slingers’ game schedule after 7 October. So please blog about the tickets that you’re gonna give away too!

Terms and Conditions: You have to insert the logos of Singapore Slingers and Brewerkz in your entry, with hyperlinks to the Slingers and Brewerkz websites.

Closing date for submission of blog entries: 7 Oct 2009, 2359 hrs.

Judging panel will consist:

1. A representative from Singapore Slingers management
2. A representative from Brewerkz management
3. A representative from FLY Entertainment
4. A representative from Ping.sg management, the Community meta-blog for Singapore bloggers

Judges’ decisions are final. If you need any clarification, please use the comment form below, or email me at contact [at] daphnemaia [dot] sg!

First, hurry, comment below with the completed sentence and win one of the 10 pairs of free tickets!

Our starting lineup was a strong, with Al Vergara, Kyle Jeffers, Marcus Ng, Hong Wei Jian, and Pathman Matilakan. Still, the SMART team led for a good 10 minutes and 12 points, before we took the lead from them, at 13-12. It was a very fast game, yet defensively, both were in tip-top condition.

Many a times Kyle Jeffers or Al Vergara would shoot, only to be blocked right before the ball sank into the basket, by tall and agile SMART players, CJ Giles and Japeth Aguilar. (Argh, how I miss Sam Harris and Eric Sandrin from the last season!)

The Slingers led for most of the game, but barely, until the last quarter, when the SMART team took back the lead with a quick succession of shots. With 50 seconds left on the clock, Slingers fans looked on in dismay as the Slingers lagged behind SMART by 3 points.

The Filipino fans were loud, enthusiastic, and passionate. I really wonder if we can ever get people in Singapore to cheer for the Slingers the way the Filipino fans cheered last night. At one point, the coach of the visiting team was arguing with the referee (very unclassy, the way it was done, btw) and the Filipino fans were just cheering him on! It was as if they were all of one heart, one mind. I felt like my gang were lone voices drowned in the thunderous applause and shouts of the opposition teams’ fans!

Towards the end of the game, I really envied the SMART team for having such passionate fans. They were on their feet, pumping fists into the air, and cheering their team on loudly with shouts and applause! We were playing on home ground, but again, it did not feel so.

So for the next game on 30 Sept 2009, Singapore Slingers vs. Barangay Ginebra Kings:

I’m giving away 10 pairs of tickets to anyone who comments on my next blog entry, courtesy of the Singapore Slingers themselves! You can also stand to win a dinner for 4, sponsored by Brewerkz! Watch out for it, people!

Updated: Click on this entry to win your tickets and dinner for 4!

P.S.: For better photos and more technical commentaries, please head over to my fave Slingers bloggers’ sites: Jason.sg and Airworm23! They are huge fans, and sit at the courtside (under the baskets, thereby risking their lives, haha) to take good shots!

I’m super excited right now because tomorrow is the day that the Singapore Slingers meet the Coca Cola Tigers (Philippines Basketball Association) in the first game of Season 2009/10 Singapore Challenge Series and the first ever Asian Basketball League season!

18 September 2009 – Singapore Indoor Stadium – Tip off 2000hrs

It’s gonna be such an awesome game! I’m pretty sure the Pinoy fans are going to be super loud, so I’m going to try to bring whistles for everyone who’s going with us! Haha! Oh yes, Tweeters, please use #singaporeslingers tomorrow if you’re doing any live-updates!

I wonder if Dr Darren Ng will be back to play with the Slingers tomorrow. My heart races at the thought of it. *blush* I really hope to see him back in action on the Slingers court tomorrow! Of course, I’m gonna be looking out for Al Vergara (one of my favourite players too), and the new Singaporean Players on the team! Psst. Girls! I heard that Michael Wong is back too! *winks*

Tomorrow’s gonna be the first game, but there’ll be a lot more coming up! See the schedule for this season here!

If you’re interested in going for the next game (Wednesday, 23 Sept 2009, 2000hrs), just drop me an email at: contact at daphnemaia.sg and you can get yourself a pair of tickets, absolutely free!

Can’t wait to go meet the Slingers bloggers and friends, and drink awesome Brewerkz beer with them tomorrow! Oh, btw, have you joined Brewerkz’s Facebook fan page? They have awesome discounts and fun beer facts and stories there!

Follow the #SingaporeSlingers live Tweets here:

We’ve been inviting bloggers and friends for games and to hang out with the players, and still, there’s more to come! Our favourite team’s fanbase has been growing steadily amongst bloggers and their friends, and we look to have more join the group next season!

Although we are at the last 3 games of the season (and it’s been a good season), we still would like to invite you to join us tonight, or for the next two games!

Tonight: Singapore Slingers vs Darwin All-Stars! 7:40pm at Singapore Indoor Stadium!

I know, I know, why did I post this up so late? Well, it’s not too late! If you can’t come this evening, you can watch the live streaming of the game from the comforts of your home!

If you wanna join us for the next game, I have free tickets to give away! See the last paragraph on how you can win a pair of tickets!

8,500 in the crowd at the last game!

Friends having a great time at the games!

Kris brought his 3 girlfriends along! *gasps in horror*

Colleagues and I

Put your hands up in the air, and wave them around like you just don't care!

Darren Ng (my fave player) and Sam Craig

And while we’re at it, why don’t I post all the pics from another previous game too? This set has more pictures of the players (and me)!

Hendri and I

Leshane, myself and Stephaine

Another pic of us!

Plus Hillary!

With Jenny and Hillary

Armein Kirkland

Sam Harris (2.21m) & Daphne Maia (1.55m) -

Al Vergara

My favourite player - Dr Darren Ng!

I’ve been asked this countless times – why is he your favourite player? Well, you’d like to know, wouldja? You’d have to come to the next game to find out! Daphne Maia will, erm, declare her, erm, *cough*…

Here’s how to get tickets:

Tell me what is the best way for me to get Darren Ng’s attention!

Hahaha! Yes, it’s THAT simple! Comment below please! The next game (Singapore Slingers vs Philippines’ Harbour Centre) is set to be another exciting game, so make sure you do not miss out!