Australia to the ASEAN Football Federation...finally!


April 9 (Reuters) - Australia will continue to compete in future editions of the East Asian Cup despite their impending membership of Southeast Asia's ASEAN Football Federation (AFF), officials told Reuters on Tuesday.
 The Socceroos will have their AFF invite affiliation upgraded at the federation's Extraordinary Congress in August but have no plans to compete in its biennial Suzuki Cup against teams more than 100 places below them in the FIFA rankings.
 "Australia was invited to participate in this year's EAFF Cup. If invited again we will continue to accept and participate in this competition," a Football Federation of Australia spokesman said.
 "At this point we would not seek to enter senior national teams into the Suzuki Cup, however, Australia is committed to entering underage and Futsal teams into AFF competitions."
 Australia joined the Asian Football Confederation in 2006 after moving from the less competitive Oceania Federation where they routinely racked up double-digit victories over largely amateur sides in the Pacific Islands.
 The Socceroos, ranked 39th by world governing body FIFA, were then made invite members of the AFF and have routinely competed in youth competitions in the 11 nation federation.
Last week at an AFF meeting in Malaysia they had their entry 'unanimously supported' by members, the spokesman said.
Australia will make their debut in the EAFF Cup in July after coming through qualifiers against North Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Guam undefeated with a largely youthful side in December.
The four team finals also feature Japan, China and hosts South Korea. (Reporting by Patrick Johnston in Singapore)

ISML 2013: Top 16, Stella Division




1. Ruri Gokou
2013 ISML AMETHYST NECKLACE CHAMPION


2. Kanade Tachibana
DEFENDING ISML CHAMPION
2013 ISML AQUAMARINE NECKLACE CHAMPION


3. Mikoto Misaka


4. Eucliwood Hellscythe


5. Taiga Aisaka


6. Mio Akiyama


7. Azusa Nakano


8. Kirino Kousaka


9. Shana


10. Ayase Aragaki


11. Yuri Nakamura


12. Yuki Nagato


13. Yui-nyan


14. Saber


15. Yui Hirasawa


16. Haruhi Suzumiya

ISML 2013: Top 16, Nova Division




1. Mashiro Shiina


2. Kuroyukihime


3. Rikka Takanashi


4. Asuna Yuuki
2013 ISML RUBY NECKLACE CHAMPION


5. Kobato Hasegawa


6. Sena Kashiwazaki


7. Nanami Aoyama


8. Inori Yururiha


9. Shinka Nibutani


10. Eru Chitanda


11. Yui


12. Nyarlathotep


13. Yozora Mikazuki


14. Ririchiyo Shirakiin


15. Touka Takanashi


16. Kurisu Makise

ISML 2013: BoBA Tiara Odds, June 208, 2013

Bedlam on Baltic Avenue
2013 International Saimoe League Tiara Odds
As of 9:16 p.m. PT, June 28, 2013

Ruri Gokou EVEN
Mashiro Shiina 2-1
Kanade Tachibana 5-2
Kuroyukihime 3-1
Rikka Takanashi 7-2
Mikoto Misaka 4-1
Asuna Yuuki 9-2
Eucliwood Hellscythe 5-1
Kobato Hasegawa 6-1
Taiga Aisaka 7-1
Mio Akiyama 8-1
Sena Kashiwazaki 9-1
Nanami Aoyama 10-1
Inori Yuzuriha 11-1
Shinka Nibutani 12-1
Azusa Nakano 13-1
Kirino Kousaka 14-1
Shana 15-1
Eru Chitanda 16-1
Ayase Aragaki 17-1
Yuri Nakamura 18-1
Yuki Nagato 19-1
Yui-nyan 20-1
Yui 21-1
Saber 22-1
Yui Hirasawa 23-1
Nyarlathorep 24-1
Yozora Mikazuki 25-1
Ririchiyo Shirakiin 26-1
Haruhi Suzumiya 27-1
Touka Takanashi 28-1
Kurisu Makise 30-1
Last Order 32-1
Konjiki no Yami 35-1
Momo Beila Deviluke 36-1
Aria Holmes Kanzaki 40-1
Erio Touwa 42-1
Mikan Yuuki 43-1
Hinagiku Katsura 45-1
Hitagi Senjougahara 46-1
Louise Francoise Le Blanc De La Valliere 48-1
Suguha Kirigaya 50-1
Rin Natsume 55-1
Shinobu Oshino 60-1
Keiko Ayano 65-1
Rin Tosaka 70-1
Meiko Honma 75-1
Charlotte Dunois 80-1
Shouko Kirishima 85-1
Tomoyo Sakagami 90-1
Karuta Roromiya 95-1
Mato Kuroi 100-1
Nymph 125-1
Victorique de Blois 140-1
Rea Sanka 150-1
Nadeko Sengoku 175-1
Subaru Konoe 190-1
Noumi Kudryavka 200-1
Illyaviel von Einzben 225-1
Yui Kotegawa 250-1
Nagisa Furukawa 300-1
C.C. 400-1
Mei Misaki 500-1
Homura Akemi 750-1
Kyou Fujibayashi 1000-1
Holo 2000-1
Ui Hirasawa 5000-1
Karen Araragi 7500-1
Fuuko Kurasaki 10000-1
Konata Izuki 25000-1
Tsukihi Araragi 50000-1

ISML 2013: Asuna Yuuki takes the Ruby



ISML 2013: Asuna Yuuki takes the Ruby
Yuuki wins necklace, Momo beila Deviluke wins Medallion

By JR Salazar
The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue
June 28, 2013

Despite losing the Necklace Match to Mikoto Misaka 2059-1874, Asuna Yuuki's superior strength of schedule was enough to give her the Ruby Necklace. At a press conference at RECTO Progress HQ in Tokyo, there were hugs, cheers, and plenty of libations around. Asuna elected not to drink, as did her fiancee, Kazuto Kirigaya. They were addressing the public at a special press conference in the morning.

"Finally," Asuna said, "I have arrived. For me, if you're going to win a necklace like this, you need to have put on a strong performance against a former winner, and Mikoto is that type of person. I don't know if I can pull off a similar result if we face each other again, but she deserved to win the Necklace Match itself.

"However, it's the entire campaign that holds more weight and over the course of my run, I strung together solid performances against worthy opponents from my division. So this was a comprehensive campaign and a comprehensive performance. I have a lot of people to thank, including my soon-to-be-husband Kazuto, his sister and my future sister-in-law Suguha, and my good friends Rika [Shinozaki, a.k.a. Lisbeth] and Keiko [Ayano, a.k.a. Silica]. We're all in this together, and we want to salute you, the voters, for your belief in us. Thank you all so very much!"

"I think Asuna deserves this necklace," said Misaka, who earned a calculation of 48.954. Yuuki's calculation was 57.881. "I already won it before, and to win it again would not be in the best interests of this competition. I've won it all before, so I can be introspective from this point forward. I congratulate Asuna on her victory and look forward to more matches against the best from the Nova."

Mio Akiyama, who the Bedlam on Baltic Avenue tabbed as the favorite by way of her SDO heading into the Necklace Match, was a bust. She only earned 1020 votes and never stood much of a chance, earning just a 43.830 Necklace Score Calculation.

"I don't think this is going to be our year; we've flown the flag for this competition for a pretty long time," Akiyama said at a press conference at Japan Women's University. "I think the voters have decided that the new blood should get the ascendancy this time around."

One of those new-blood characters that could contend for the Emerald Necklace is Rikka Takanashi, who earned a Necklace Score Calculation of 39.569 while gaining 1077 votes.

"Only the strongest deserve a necklace, and I don't think it's going to be my time yet," Takanashi said in a interview in Tokyo, surrounded by Yuto Togashi and Shinka Nibutani. "However, I'm keeping the faith and I am confident I will get Mashiro's number in the next period."

Indeed, Mashiro Shiina might actually be the next character to win a necklace. Despite a 37.987 score and just 1106 votes, Shiina placed third in the Necklace Match and has an opportunity to deliver in the Emerald.

"I understand that Eucliwood is going to defend tooth and nail for her necklace but she has to realize that a lot of us think she's old news," Shiina said, throwing the first chip at the defending Emerald holder. "I'm going to finally get it right and win it for Suimei. This is far from over."

Taiga Aisaka's window to a necklace may be dwindling before her eyes. She earned a score of 29.927 after earning just 997 votes. "I don't care winning anything at this point because everything now is just a bonus," Aisaka said at her press conference in Tokyo. "But I will continue to give my competition a stern challenge."

Kuroyukihime rounds out the pack with a score of 29.348 after earning just 718 votes. "I won't sneak up on anyone this time around," Hime said at Umesato Middle School in Tokyo. "I hope to be in the next two necklace matches because I feel that I have the gift."

Momo Beila Deviluke has done something that neither Konjiki no Yami or Mikan Yuuki has done: win a prize in the ISML. Deviluke, a younger sister of Lala Satalin, won the Ruby Medallion after securing 1667 votes. Nyarlathotep earned 1433 votes, Nagisa Furukawa was second with 1312 votes, C.C. had 1250 votes, Meiko Honama had 1125 votes, Karuta Roromiya had 997 votes and Illyasviel von Einzbern was last with 936 votes.

"I consider Yui Hirasawa to be one of my soulmates because I like her music and her personality," Deviluke said in an interview in Osaka. "She gave me some good advice on how to be relevant and successful in this competition, and I have to say, it has paid off. So, thank you Yui-chan, and thank you to my voters for giving me this wonderful medalltion."

A few other exhibitions were taking place. In another of the group exhibitions, Yuno Gasai, a former contestant in the ISML, was first with 2094 votes. Tenri Ayukawa was second with 1746 votes, Kyouko Sakura has 1405 votes, Ayu Tsukimiya won 879 votes, Ayumu Nishizawa earned 801 votes, Anya Alstreim earned 780 votes and Hayate Yagami was last with 716 votes.

Tsumiki Miniwa is one of the more underrated characters in all of moe and is likely to surprise a lot of faces at this year's 2channel AST. She was first in her group exhibition with 1815 votes. Riko Mine was second with 1378 votes, Madoka Kaname was third with 1308 votes, Komari Kamikita was fourth with 1191 votes, Sakura of Tsubasa Chronicle was fifth with 1008 votes, Shinku was sixth with 971 votes and Rena Ryuuguu held up the rear with 758 votes.

Wrapping up Ruby action, Cthugha torced Chiho Sasaki 4252-3401 and Himari Nohara slashed past Noir Vinocacao 4408-2264.

Match Day 1 of the 2013 International Saimoe League Emerald Necklace Period is scheduled for Sunday, July 7, 2013. Vote for your favorite candidates at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate. And keep it right here on the Bedlam on Baltic Avenue for continuing coverage of the world's premier anime character competition...the International Saimoe League!



TOP 16, Nova Division
1. Mashiro Shiina
2. Kuroyukihime
3. Rikka Takanashi
4. Asuna Yuuki (RUB)
5. Kobato Hasegawa
6. Sena Kashiwazaki
7. Nanami Aoyama
8. Inori Yururiha
9. Shinka Nibutani
10. Eru Chitanda
11. Yui
12. Nyarlathotep
13. Yozora Mikazuki
14. Ririchiyo Shirakiin
15. Touka Takanashi
16. Kurisu Makise

TOP 16, Stella Division
1. Ruri Gokou (AM)
2. Kanade Tachibana (C) (AQ)
3. Mikoto Misaka
4. Eucliwood Hellscythe
5. Taiga Aisaka
6. Mio Akiyama
7. Azusa Nakano
8. Kirino Kousaka
9. Shana
10. Ayase Aragaki
11. Yuri Nakamura
12. Yuki Nagato
13. Yui-nyan
14. Saber
15. Yui Hirasawa
16. Haruhi Suzumiya

BoBA 2013 ISML Predictions: Ruby Match Day 8

ARENA 01: Yūki Asuna [Akiyama Mio] Takanashi Rikka Misaka Mikoto Shiina Mashiro Aisaka Taiga Kuroyukihime by >=500
Over/Under: 8500
Over

ARENA 02: Tsukimiya Ayu Yagami Hayate Anya Alstreim Gasai Yuno [Ayukawa Tenri] Nishizawa Ayumu Sakura Kyōko by >=500
Over/Under: 8500
Over

ARENA 03: Sakura Ryūgū Rena Miniwa Tsumiki Mine Riko [Kaname Madoka] Kamikita Komari Shinku by <=500
Over/Under: 8500
Over

ARENA 04: [Nyarlathotep] Illyasviel von Einzbern C.C. Momo Belia Deviluke Roromiya Karuta Honma Meiko Furukawa Nagisa by >=500
Over/Under: 8500
Over

ARENA 05: Sasaki Chiho [Cthugha] by >=500
Over/Under: 8500
Over

ARENA 06: [Noihara Himari] Noir Vinocacao by >=500
Over/Under: 8500
Over

Chicago Blackhawks: 2013 Stanley Cup Champions


BOSTON — Down 2-1 with Game 7 staring them in the face, the Blackhawks pulled Corey Crawford — the only reason they were even in the game to that point — and hoped for a miracle.

They got two. And they got the Stanley Cup.

Bryan Bickell and Dave Bolland scored 17 seconds apart in the final 1:16 of the third period to give the Blackhawks an epic conclusion to an epic series, and their second championship in four seasons.

Milan Lucic had scored with 7:49 left to break a 1-1 tie. But Bickell — a surprise playoff hero — smacked home a Jonathan Toews pass in the slot to tie it with 1:16 left. And with the Bruins still stunned by that goal, Dave Bolland jammed home a rebound of a Johnny Oduya shot off the post, triggering a wild celebration in the corner that paled in comparison to the wild celebrating that ensued 58.3 seconds later.

It was seven short years to the day that Toews was drafted by the Hawks, a moribund franchise with second-class status in a city that’s seen too much losing in its time, with a smattering of fans and yellowing banners in the rafters. Six years and two days to the drafting of Patrick Kane, who earned this season’s Conn Smythe Trophy.

They were champions in 2010. They’re Chicago icons now, for all time, sure to be bronzed and busted and forever remembered, living history. Along with Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook and Patrick Sharp and Niklas Hjalmarsson and Dave Bolland, the core and the heart of a franchise reborn, they’re two-time champions — with so many years still ahead of them. Toews is merely 25. Kane is 24.

And there were new heroes, too. Crawford, who had the unenviable task of replacing a Cup-winning goalie in Antti Niemi — Hawks general manager Stan Bowman let Niemi leave because he believed in the longtime minor-league goalie — was a playoff question mark answered with an exclamation point.

Andrew Shaw’s cheek was the 2013 version of Duncan Keith’s teeth — the energetic third-line center getting knocked out cold by a Shawn Thornton shot to the face, leaving blood on the ice, only to come back in the next period and almost immediately pick a fight in the corner.

And Michael Frolik and Marcus Kruger, reinvented as penalty-killing machines, staved off four straight Boston power plays to open the game, keeping the game within reach when it so easily could have spiraled out of control.

And it was quite a storm the Hawks had to weather first. The Bruins came out with energy and desperation, dominating the Hawks and dictating play. Boston took 1-0 lead when Chris Kelly won a faceoff against Dave Bolland, then took a nice backhanded cross-crease feed from Tyler Seguin for a goal. That line of Kelly, Seguin and Daniel Paille had a tremendous stretch with several good scoring chances on the previous shift, and with the benefit of a TV timeout, Bruins coach Claude Julien left them out there to finish the job.
Then came the carnage. Boston’s Jaromir Jagr left bloodied and only returned for one second-period shift. Crawford took a Torey Krug shot off the mask and was slow to get up. Shaw was knocked limp by Thornton’s shot, eventually trudging off the ice to a chorus of boos. And Niklas Hjalmarsson skated off to the dressing room in the final minute.

By the end of the first period, the Bruins had a 32-8 edge in shots attempted and had controlled every aspect of the game — except the scoreboard. In a role reversal from Game 2, the Hawks were fortunate to be down 1-0 after being so thoroughly dominated. And just like Boston in Game 2, they made the most of their good fortune.

Stunningly, Shaw came out to start the second period. Hjalmarsson did, too. And finally, the rest of the Hawks showed up, as well.

Toews — who sat out the third period of Game 5 after taking a crushing hit by Johnny Boychuk — tied the game at 1-1 at 4:24 of the second period, just as Shaw was coming out of the penalty box. Toews took the puck off Zdeno Chara’s stick along the boards after a face-off and raced down the ice on a two-on-one with Kane. Toews kept it and beat Tuukka Rask five-hole for the equalizer, setting the stage for an unforgettable third period, and another Hawks championship.

ISML 2013: Ruby Necklace Match all set!

ISML 2013: Ruby Necklace Match all set!

By JR Salazar
June 24, 2013

Mio Akiyama, Asuna Yuuki, Mikoto Misaka, Rikka Takanashi, Taiga Aisaka, Mashiro Shiina and Eucliwood Hellscythe punched their tickets to the 2013 International Saimoe League Ruby Necklace Match with massive victory on Ruby Match Day 7. Here is a roundup of Sunday's action.

NOVA DIVISION

In the Nova Division, Aria Holmes Kanzaki blasted Fuuko Kurasaki 4019-3173, Yui Kotegawa defeated Karuta Roromiya 3661-3391, Nyarlathotep cruised past Erio Touwa 3994-3224, Sena Kashiwazaki defeated Shinka Nibutani 4033-3636, Meiko Honma routed Homura Akemi 4207-2989 and Mikan Yuuki prevailed over Mei Misaki 3956-3415.

Nanami Aoyama pulled off the Upset of the Round over Inori Yuzuriha 4056-3442, Momo Belia Deviluke defeated Kurisu Makise 3905-3396, Asuna Yuuki slashed past Yui 5065-2200, Rea Sanka prevailed over Tsukihi Araragi 3692-3438, Eru Chitanda trounced Keiko Ayano 4635-3028 and Rin Natsuma grounded Karen Araragi 3852-3228.

Wrapping up Nova action...Rikka Takanashi won a 4035-3939 thriller over Kuroyukihime, Mashiro Shiina defeated Kobato Hasegawa 4142-3653, Subaru Konoe defeated Shouko Kirishima 3658-3474, Yozora Mikazuki crushed Noumi Kudryavka 4109-3258, Touka Takanashi defeated Suguha Kirigaya 3991-3560 and Ririchiyo Shirakiin took down Shinobu Oshino 3659-3462.

STELLA DIVISION

In the Stella Division, C.C. defeated Holo 3768-3176, Ayase Aragaki routed Nagisa Furukawa 4961-2606, Tomoyo Sakagami clobbered Masami Iwasawa 4098-3155, Mio Akiyama boomed past Saber 4432-3441, Last Order annihilated Konata Izumi 4402-3057 and Hinagiku Katsura defeated Rin Tosaka 3692-3446.

Kirino Kousaka leveled Haruhi Suzumiya 4248-3461, Louise Francoise Le Blanc De La Valliere the closest match of the night: a 3718-3681 nailbiter over Hitagi Senjougahara, defending champion Kanade Tachibana sliced and diced Yui-nyan 5728-1949, Nymph defeated Kyou Fujibayashi 3789-3395, Mikoto Misaka electrocuted Yui Hirasawa 4969 and Yuki Nagato dominated Victorique de Blois 4305-3112.

Wrapping up Stella play, Ruri Gokou ran past Eucliwood Hellscythe 4421-3582, Taiga Aisaka roared past Azusa Nakano 3996-3862, Illyasviel von Einzbern romped past Ui Hirasawa 4160-3205, Yuri Nakamura shot down Nadeko Sengoku 4382-3184, Shana torched Konjiki no Yami 3972-3588 and Charlotte Dunois prevailed over Mato Kuroi 3654-3544.

Bedlam on Baltic Avenue
2013 ISML Ruby Necklace Odds
As of 8:37 p.m. PT
June 24, 2013

Mio Akiyama EVEN
Asuna Yuuki 3-1
Mikoto Misaka 4-1
Rikka Takanashi 7-1
Taiga Aisaka 10-1
Mashiro Shiina 15-1
Eucliwood Hellscythe 30-1

Ichogo Morino and Rika Akiba teamed up to defeat Megu Kakizaki and Maria Kurenai in the special exhibition, 2926-2633.

Match Day 8 of the 2013 International Saimoe League Ruby Necklace Period, the Necklace Match, is scheduled for June 27, 2013. Vote for your favorite candidates at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate.

BoBA 2013 ISML Predictions: Ruby Match Day 7

Odds will be flat all around.

ARENA 01: [Kanzaki H. Aria] Kurasaki Fūko (Sky Raker) by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 02: Roromiya Karuta [Kotegawa Yui] by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 03: [Nyarlathotep] Tōwa Erio by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 04: Nibutani Shinka [Kashiwazaki Sena] by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 05: [Honma Meiko] Akemi Homura by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 06: Misaki Mei [Yūki Mikan] by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 07: [Yuzuriha Inori] Aoyama Nanami by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 08: [Momo Belia Deviluke] Makise Kurisu by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 09: [Yūki Asuna] Yui by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 10: [Sanka Rea] Araragi Tsukihi by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 11: Ayano Keiko (Silica) [Chitanda Eru] by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 12: Araragi Karen [Natsume Rin] by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 13: Takanashi Rikka [Kuroyukihime] by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 14: [Shiina Mashiro] Hasegawa Kobato by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 15: Konoe Subaru [Kirishima Shōko] by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 16: Nōmi Kudryavka [Mikazuki Yozora] by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 17: Takanashi Tōka [Kirigaya Suguha] by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 18: Oshino Shinobu [Shirakiin Ririchiyo] by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 19: [Morino Ichigo, Akiba Rika] Kakizaki Megu, Kurenai Maria by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 20: [C.C.] Holo by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 21: Furukawa Nagisa [Aragaki Ayase] by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 22: Iwasawa Masami [Sakagami Tomoyo] by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 23: Saber [Akiyama Mio] by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 24: [Last Order] Izumi Konata by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 25: [Tōsaka Rin] Katsura Hinagiku by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 26: [Kōsaka Kirino] Suzumiya Haruhi by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 27: Louise Vallière [Senjōgahara Hitagi] by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 28: [Tachibana Kanade] Yui-nyan by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 29: [Nymph] Fujibayashi Kyō by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 30: Hirasawa Yui [Misaka Mikoto] by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 31: Victorique de Blois [Nagato Yuki] by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 32: [Eucliwood Hellscythe] Gokō Ruri (Kuroneko) by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 33: [Aisaka Taiga] Nakano Azusa by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 34: Hirasawa Ui [Illyasviel von Einzbern] by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 35: Sengoku Nadeko [Nakamura Yuri] by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 36: Konjiki no Yami [Shana] by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ARENA 37: Kuroi Mato [Charlotte Dunois] by >=500
Over/Under: 7000
Over

ISML 2013: Asuna and Mio at the head of the Ruby

ISML 2013: Asuna and Mio at the head of the Ruby

By JR Salazar
June 21, 2013

Asuna Yuuki and Mio Akiyama head the Nova and Stella Divisions of the 2013 International Saimoe League Ruby Necklace Period following Match Day 6. Sunday will see everything to play for as only seven contestants can contend for the period's top prize. Here is a roundup of the night's action.

NOVA DIVISION

In the Nova Division, Erio Touwa defeated Karuta Roromiya 3422-2853, Asuna Yuuki routed Subaru Konoe 4577-2307, Rikka Takanashi clobbered Rea Sanka 4846-2089, Noumi Kudryavka defeated Mei Misaka 3435-3092, Mashiro Shiina annihilated Fuuko Kurasaki 4823-1950 and Shinka Nibutani prevailed over Nyarlathotep 3565-3263.

Kuroyukihime flew past Yui Kotegawa 4623-2097, Ririchiyo Shirakiin defeated Keiko Ayano 3557-3152, Kobato Hasegawa ran past Homura Akemi 4594-2281, Nanami Aoyama prevailed over Momo Beila Deviluke 3488-3114, Sena Kashiwazaki trampled over Yozora Mikazuki 3746-2641 and Eru Chitanda waxed Suguha Kirigaya 4229-2683.

Wrapping up Nova play...Rin Natsume punished Tsukihi Araragi 3590-2802, Inori Yuzuriha rolled past Yui 3712-3077, Touka Takanashi drubbed Karen Araragi 3797-2840, Mikan Yuuki prevailed over Aria Holmes Kanzaki 3414-3199, Meiko Honma scored the Upset of the Round: 3412-3245 over Kurisu Makise and Shouko Kirishima defeated Shinobu Oshino 3358-3183.

STELLA DIVISION

In the Stella Division, Tomoyo Sakagami defeated Nagisa Furukawa 3088-2780, defending champion Kanade Tachibana sliced and diced Ui Hirasawa 5423-1768, Eucliwood Hellscythe silenced Nymph 4641-1953, Rin Tosaka defeated Nadeko Sengoku 3404-3153, Saber slashed past Masami Iwasawa 4420-2335 and Taiga Aisaka roared past Holo 4809-2103.

Ruri Gokou ran past Ayase Aragaki 4692-2151, Yui Hirasawa rocked Charlotte Dunois 3569-3180, Azusa Nakano romped past Konata Izumi 4492-2262, Haruhi Suzumiya dominated Louise Francoise Le Blanc De La Valliere 3973-2855, Mio Akiyama won the closest match of the night: a 3497-3492 thriller over Yuri Nakamura and Mikoto Misaka electrocuted Shana 4029-3061.

Wrapping up Stella play...Hinagiku Katsura defeated C.C. 3546-2977, Yuki Nagato crushed Kyou Fujibayashi 4063-2602, Kirino Kousaka defeated Yui-nyan 3694-3314, Konjiki no Yami routed Victorique de Blois 3806-2662, Last Order stunned Hitagi Senjougahara 3462-3418 and Mato Kuroi won another close match, this time over Illyasviel von Einzbern, 3299-3290.

Shiro Tougi and Matsuri Saegusa teamed up to defeated Yuzuki Mikage and Momo 2890-2119 in the special exhibition.

Match Day 7 of the 2013 International Saimoe League Ruby Necklace Period is scheduled for June 23, 2013. Vote for your favorite candidates at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate.

Miami Heat: 2012-13 NBA Champions


That’s three titles for a town and two crowns for its king.
With a season, a playoffs, an NBA Finals and a Game 7 that will echo for years to come, the Miami Heat defeated the San Antonio Spurs 95-88 on Thursday night at AmericanAirlines Arena to win its second NBA championship in a row and cap the most exciting two weeks in South Florida sports history.
LeBron James played stunning, brilliant basketball to earn the NBA Finals MVP for the second straight year and Dwyane Wade, who played throughout the playoffs despite knee problems, saved his best for the final game of a grueling postseason. James finished with 37 points, 12 rebounds and four assists, going 12 of 23 from the field, 5 of 10 from three-point range and 8 of 8 from the free-throw line. Wade had 23 points, 10 rebounds and an assist and made 11 of his 21 attempts.
“This team is amazing, and the vision that I had when I decided to come here is all coming true,” James said. “Through adversity, through everything we’ve been through, we’ve been able to persevere and to win back-to-back championships. It’s an unbelievable feeling. I’m happy to be part of such a first-class organization.”
FINALLY, BACK TO BACK WINS
To repeat as champion, the Heat had to win back-to-back games for the first time since Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. Miami won Game 7s in back-to-back series, providing South Florida with one of the most exhilarating rides professional sports can offer.
It was the Heat’s first Finals Game 7 in the 25-year history of the franchise and it was a classic. The teams seemed to swap the lead on nearly every possession throughout the third quarter, and the final period provided nail-biting drama until the final minute. Game 7 was tied 11 times and the lead changed hands seven times.
“This was a tremendous game,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “It wouldn’t end any other way.”
James, who scored 22 points in the second half, nailed a 19-foot jumper with 27.9 seconds left to give the Heat a 92-88 lead and then, to seal the championship, stole a pass from Manu Ginobili after a timeout. He then made a pair of free throws to kick-start the celebration.
James scored 69 points in the final two games of the Finals and here’s a jaw-dropping statistic: Throughout his career, James has averaged 34.4 points in five career Game 7s.
“He made enough shots to make us change our defense over and over again,” Heat center Tim Duncan said. “We just couldn’t find a way to stop him.”
CHALMERS HITS KEY THREE
Mario Chalmers banked in a long three-pointer at the end of the third quarter to give the Heat a 72-71 lead. From there, the madness began. Consider this for a measure of how crazy Game 7 truly was: Only five players scored for the Heat, yet James, Wade, Chalmers and Shane Battier outscored the Spurs 92-88.
“Shane ain’t hit a shot since I don’t know when and tonight he was unconscious,” Wade said.
Battier, who redeemed himself 1,000 times over for his performance in the Eastern Conference finals, scored 18 points, going 6 of 8 from three-point range. Chalmers had 14 points, and Chris Andersen had three points to round out the uneven scoring. Ray Allen, Mike Miller and Chris Bosh shot 0 of 14 combined.
“It’s better to be timely than good,” Battier said. “I believe in basketball gods and I felt like they owed me big-time.”
For Duncan, the Spurs’ four-time NBA champion and future Hall of Famer, it was his first loss in a Finals. He finished with 24 points, going 8 of 18 from the field, but went 2 of 6 in the fourth quarter. As a team, the Spurs shot 30 percent (6 of 20) from the field in the final period.
San Antonio led by three with 46.4 seconds left in the third quarter before Battier tied the score with his fourth three-pointer of the game.
“Game 7 is always going to haunt me,” Duncan said.
A STORYBOOK SEASON
Alongside the 1972 undefeated Dolphins, the 2013 Heat will go down as one of the greatest professional sports teams in South Florida history. The unforgettable run began with a franchise-best 66-win regular season, which included a 27-game winning streak, and ended on a makeshift stage in the middle of AmericanAirlines Arena with Heat owner Micky Arison raising his franchise’s third Larry O’Brien Trophy.
“Go party,” someone screamed into the stage’s microphone to the 19,900 fans in attendance and an entire city watching from homes and parties and bars throughout South Florida.
Thursday night marked the seven-year anniversary of the Heat’s first championship. In that time, Miami has celebrated more NBA titles than any other city. But this party was different. It was ecstasy borne from endurance and wonderment crafted by willpower.
For Heat players, coaches and fans, the back-and-forth nature of the final month of the postseason was a gut-wrenching exercise. Beginning May 22 and not ending until the final game on the last possible day of the postseason, the Heat swapped wins for losses and kept an entire city wrapped in dueling emotional states of despair and joy.
Last year, when the Heat won its first title of the Big 3 Era and put to rest the pain of 2011, James said the struggle was the toughest thing he had ever accomplished. This run to the title was exponentially more difficult and the sweetness of victory resonated throughout the region deep into the night.
‘THE SWEETEST ONE’
“This is the sweetest one by far because of everything we’ve been through, everything I’ve been through individually,” Wade said, “and to get here to this moment, to have that kind of performance, that kind of game, help lead my team – it’s special.”
James’ stretch of greatness since the start of the 2011-12 regular season has been a masterstroke of legendary athletic excellence. He has won it all two years running – the championship, the MVP and the NBA Finals MVP – becoming the first player to win all three in back-to-back seasons since Michael Jordan in 1991 and 1992.
“Everything that we’ve been through throughout this postseason, especially in these Finals, to be down – we were down every odd game,” James said. “We were scratching for our lives.”




Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/06/21/v-fullstory/3462544/miami-heat-defeats-san-antonio.html#storylink=cpy

BoBA 2013 ISML Predictions: Ruby Match Day 6

ARENA 01: [Tōwa Erio] Roromiya Karuta by >=1000
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 02: Konoe Subaru [Yūki Asuna] by >=1500
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 03: Sanka Rea [Takanashi Rikka] by >=1700
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 04: [Nōmi Kudryavka] Misaki Mei by <=1000
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 05: [Nibutani Shinka] Nyarlathotep by <=1000
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 06: [Shiina Mashiro] Kurasaki Fūko (Sky Raker) by >=2000
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 07: Kotegawa Yui [Kuroyukihime] by >=1000
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 08: [Ayano Keiko (Silica)] Shirakiin Ririchiyo by >=1000
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 09: [Hasegawa Kobato] Akemi Homura by >=1200
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 10: Momo Belia Deviluke [Aoyama Nanami] by >=1000
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 11: Mikazuki Yozora [Kashiwazaki Sena] by >=1000
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 12: Kirigaya Suguha [Chitanda Eru] by >=1000
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 13: [Kanzaki H. Aria] Yūki Mikan by >=1000
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 14: [Natsume Rin] Araragi Tsukihi by >=1300
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 15: Yui [Yuzuriha Inori] by >=1100
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 16: [Takanashi Tōka] Araragi Karen by >=1050
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 17: [Makise Kurisu] Honma Meiko by <=1000
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 18: Kirishima Shōko [Oshino Shinobu] by <=1000
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 19: Mikage Yuzuki, Momo [Tōgi Shiro, Saegusa Matsuri] by >=1000
Over/Under: 8000
Under

ARENA 20: [Sakagami Tomoyo] Furukawa Nagisa by >=1000
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 21: Hirasawa Ui [Tachibana Kanade] by >=2000
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 22: Nymph [Eucliwood Hellscythe] by >=2000
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 23: Sengoku Nadeko [Tōsaka Rin] by <=1000
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 24: [Saber] Iwasawa Masami by >=1000
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 25: [Aisaka Taiga] Holo by >=1000
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 26: Aragaki Ayase [Gokō Ruri (Kuroneko)] by <=1000
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 27: [Hirasawa Yui] Charlotte Dunois by >=1000
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 28: [Nakano Azusa] Izumi Konata by >=1000
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 29: Louise Vallière [Suzumiya Haruhi] by >=1000
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 30: Nakamura Yuri [Akiyama Mio] by >=1000
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 31: Shana [Misaka Mikoto] by <=1000
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 32: C.C. [Katsura Hinagiku] by >=1000
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 33: [Nagato Yuki] Fujibayashi Kyō by <=1000
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 34: Yui-nyan [Kōsaka Kirino] by <=800
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 35: [Konjiki no Yami] Victorique de Blois by <=800
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 36: [Senjōgahara Hitagi] Last Order by <=700
Over/Under: 8000
Over

ARENA 37: Illyasviel von Einzbern [Kuroi Mato] by <=800
Over/Under: 8000
Over

At The Hub

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At The Hub, a set on Flickr.
Some stuff from Wednesday and last Saturday.