I was doing commentary for the Appleton-Feijen Semifinal match. It was on ESPN Star Asia for a few countries and on ABS-CBN for the Philippines. Edwin, you could have watched it here on Studio 23. Channel 17 on local cable systems. Many of my friends over here did get to see this version of the telecasts. Why they are using guys, sitting in a room one thousand miles away watching TV monitors, to do commentary is beyond me. Must be easier for them and maybe more cost effective.
I have worked with Chuck Shreiner in the past and Anthony Suntay. Chuck and I worked on several shows together and he consistently called me "PAT" in the booth, even after I wrote my name on a piece of paper and placed it in front of him. A bit disrepsectful and very unprofessional. Otherwise he isn't a bad guy, and is actually a good "com" for sports like basketball which he knows best. Anthony is a pro, much like Mitch Laurence here in the USA. He is smooth and articulate. He knows when to talk and when to listen. He can do a great interview and opening and closing summaries. I have a lot of respect for his abilities.
The match was BORING, the slowest match I ever worked. A great example of why a shot clock should be used, particularly for televised matches. Three and a half hours to play a Race To Eleven is waaayyy too long. Neils looked like he forgot how to play, missing ball after ball. Easy shots no less. It must have been embarassing for him. I like Neils a lot and he is a tremendous player, but something was wrong with him in this match. I've never seen him play this poorly, even when he first came to America. I felt bad for him just watching, but I had to do my job and call it the way I saw it. Poor play by a good player, who was devastating in his previous matches to reach the Semis.
It all got to Darren too, who had troubles of his own. He failed time and time again to get out with open racks, getting out of line and being forced to play safe. It became a match of endless safety battles, with both players examining shots for long periods of time before shooting. This sloowww pace continued game after game. In the other semifinal, the standard of play was also only fair. The pro Pulpul crowd got to Wu and he didn't have his usual superior skills working. He did do enough to win and hopefully today we get a good final. If only you could have seen Wu in his matches with Shane and Mika. The guy is an awesome talent, definitely one of the best in the game.
nice job too Pulpul you have nothing to be ashamed of. From being a virtual unknown to becoming an instant celebrity. Congratulations on your semi final finish! I'm sure we will be seeing a lot of you in the future. 
