THE Los Angeles Lakers led by seven with seconds left in Game 2 and yet, they lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Although the Lakers took Game 3 to cut the gap to 2-1, they lost Game 4 yesterday in a virtual photocopy of the Game 2 setback.
They were up 96-90 with minutes left to play in Game 4, when they practically dropped their defenses as the Thunder, down by 13 at one stage after trailing by 11 points most of the way, struck for an 8-0 blast to take the lead 98-96.
And after Laker star Kobe Bryant tied it at 98-98 with two free throws off James Harden at the 1:04 mark, NBA scoring leader Kevin Durant nailed a three at center in front of Metta World Peace for a 101-98 Thunder margin with 13.07 ticks remaining.
A swap of points between Harden and Bryant put Thunder?s final win at 103-100 after a Bryant trey went wild.
The 1-3 Lakers now face an uphill climb as the Thunder gun for the clincher in Game 5 tomorrow (Manila Time) in hostile Oklahoma.
Only a miracle now can save the Lakers from getting eliminated.
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A PITCH FOR ANDY. Here are excerpts of the heart-rending letter of appeal from Hermie and Tina Rivera. Hermie, the manager of former world boxing champions Luisito Espinosa and Morris East, used to write a boxing column in this great paper:
?Dear Al:
?We are writing to appeal for help concerning our son?s plight.
?Gerardo (Andy) Rivera was one of the 3,168 illegal aliens and immigrants arrested in a recent nationwide sweep by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officers.
?Andy is a doting father to his children, a loving husband, and a productive member of his community. He is a dependable and hardworking employee, who works full time to support his family (wife Stacie, 14 year-old son Nicolus, and 5 year-old daughter Leila).
?Andy participates actively in the care-giving of his two children, in his son?s scholastics (straight As) sports (football and baseball) and in other aspects of parenting.
?As a young adult, Andy experienced difficulties, a story of a young and impressionable immigrant aching so much to fit in his new environment.
?Andy was eight when he came to the US. In his desire to be accepted in his adopted country, he fell victim to peer pressure and succumbed to willful influence of his flawed friends.
?Andy is not violent. Neither is he mean-hearted. In fact, he struggled to break away from his crowd after serving time for non-violent crime (drug use).
?He successfully turned around his life and is now a respectable member of his community.
?He went back to school, finished a course, is gainfully employed, got married and never looked back to a once-sordid past.
?Andy has no family, no ties left, no home and no job in a country he left decades ago.
?Here, he has his children, parents, siblings, and friends who are all praying for his freedom, not to mention a job that is left open for him by his considerate bosses.
?My wife and I are elderly and currently not in the best of health. And, we still have not recovered from the sudden demise of our daughter, Christine, who died last year at the young age of 38.
?Right now, Niko and Leila, who both adore their father, are experiencing the darkest hours of their lives. Leila is so depressed, constantly crying and asking for his father.
?Andy is one caring soul who has erred in the past, paid for his mistakes and has since learned from it to lead a responsible life since his full rehabilitation.
?Ever grateful,
?Hermie and Cristina Rivera, 36752 Burdick Street,
Newark, California 94560.?
A hearing is set on June 28 for Andy?s case in Arizona. I pray and hope the Good Judge in the case will give Andy a second chance. I have faith, as always, in the American justice system. I also pray to our Dear God for the Good Judge?s continued good health.
