JAMIE LYNN SPEARS GAVE BIRTH TO A BABY GIRL

JACKSON, Miss. - Jamie Lynn Spears gave birth to a baby girl Thursday morning at a south Mississippi hospital, according to a friend of the Spears family. The friend, who asked not to be identified because the family had not yet announced the baby's birth, told The Associated Press that the baby was named Maddie Briann and weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces.

The 17-year-old Jamie Lynn was the star of Nickelodeon's "Zoey 101," a sitcom about prep school friends, and is the younger sister of pop star Britney Spears. The Spears family announced in December that Jamie Lynn was pregnant. The father is Casey Aldridge, a pipe-layer from Liberty, Miss. The couple is not married but announced an engagement several months ago.

Ellen Brannan, spokeswoman for Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center, in McComb, would not give out any details. "We understand everybody's interested, but we don't give out information on anyone. Everyone's entitled to their privacy," she said.

The younger Spears lives near Liberty with Aldridge, 19, and has been seen around the small south Mississippi town often as her pregnancy became more apparent. Her family owns a home across the state line in Kentwood, La.

Spears announced her pregnancy through an article in OK! Magazine and was expected to receive a large payday for exclusive pictures of the newborn.

Nickelodeon issued a statement about the birth on Thursday, saying, "We wish her and her family well." Nickelodeon spokeswoman Marianne Romano said that filming of the fourth and final season of "Zoey 101" was completed last summer before Spears became pregnant.

Spears portrayed Zoey Brooks, a student at Pacific Coast Academy, a campus that had been an exclusive all-boys boarding school until Zoey and a handful of other girls arrived. At the end of the series, Zoey gets the boy _ longtime crush Chase (Sean Flynn).

___

Associated Press writers Erin Carlson in New York and Mary Foster in McComb, Miss., contributed to this report.

MAGNOLIA DOWNS COCA-COLA, MOVES INTO A TIE FOR 3RD

The Magnolia Beverage Masters have agreed on taking the homestretch of the elimination round not a game, but a play at a time.

They had their reward as they gutted it out from start to finish against the Coca-Cola Tigers.

Magnolia beat out Coca-Cola in a defensive battle, pulling off an 81-77 victory that enhanced its bid for an outright semifinal entry in the 2008 Smart PBA Fiesta Conference at the Cuneta Astrodome Friday night.

The Beverage Masters held the Tigers scoreless in the final 1:15 of play and went to Marc Pingris and Lordy Tugade for the insurance free throws as they caught up with Coca-Cola at third place with similar 9-7 win-loss cards.

"As I expected, defense turned out to be the key. We choked them with our defense," said Magnolia coach Siot Tanquingcen.

"This is a good win for us but we still have yet to achieve anything. We’re up next against Air21 and we’re not looking beyond that game. We’re taking it one play at a time. Mahirap madapa, everyone’s bunched together in the standings," Tanquingcen added.

With Amal McCaskill focusing on his defensive job against Coca-Cola counterpart Jason Dixon, the Magnolia locals took charge offensively with Lordy Tugade leading the way, firing nine of his 14 points in the fourth quarter.

Tugade scored all but one of San Miguel’s last seven points, including a tip-in off a Danny Ildefonso miss that pushed Magnolia ahead to stay at 78-76.

Dixon, who endured a busted nose suffered early in the third quarter, canned in a charity with 1:15 left and the Tigers went scoreless the rest of the way.

The final minute saw McCaskill block a shot by Dixon, Asi Taulava commit a passing error and Ronjay Buenafe and Alex Cabagnot miss a three-point shot each.

Tugade settled the outcome of the game with two charities making it 81-77 with time down to 8.1 seconds.

The two teams put tremendous defensive pressure from the beginning, limiting each other’s shooting below 40 percent in the first half.

Magnolia held Coca-Cola to eight points in the second quarter and took the turn at 32-27.

Though Dixon sat out a few minutes in the third quarter, the Tigers engaged the Beverage Masters in a nip-and-tuck battle, hitting heavily from afar.

Cesar Catli converted four of five three-point attempts with Donald Copeland, Alex Cabagnot and Nic Belasco adding a triple each in the period. (NC)

The scores:

Magnolia 81 – Tugade 14, Pena 13, McCaskill 12, Ildefonso 11, Pingris 10, Seigle 9, Racela 5, Cortez 2, Villanueva 0.

Coca-Cola 77 – Catli 17, Dixon 15, Taulava 15, Cabagnot 12, Copeland 9, Buenafe 6, Belasco 3, Calimag 0, Arigo 0, Telan 0.

Quarterscores: 17-19, 32-27, 59-58, 81-77.

chinen yuuri ~_*

Yuuri Chinen (知念 侑李 Chinen Yūri, born November 30, 1993), is a Japanese actor, talent and singer as well as member of Hey! Say! JUMP. He is under the management of Johnny & Associates. He was born in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture and lives in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area.

• Name: Yuuri Chinen (知念侑李, Chinen Yūri)
• Profession: Actor and Singer
• Date of birth: November 30, 1993 (age 14)(1993-11-30)
• Birthplace: Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture
• Height: 151cm(4ft11in)
• Weight: 42kg
• Blood type: A
• Habit: Sits on Hey! Say! JUMP members' laps and plays with other people's cellphones.
• Ego: Thinks of himself cute rather than manly due to his size.
• JPop group Hey! Say! JUMP, Hey! Say! 7
• Talent agency: Johnny & Associates
• Shoe size: 23.5 cm
• Favourite Foods: Gyoza and Cucumber
• Disliked Foods: Mushrooms, Celery, Green Peppers, Shellfish and Eggplant.
• Favourite Colour: Green
• Disliked Colour: Orange. Because it makes his head hurt when he sees it.
• Hobby: Dancing (Jazz since he was three) and Soccer.
• Family: Father, Chinen Kou, has received bronze in the Olympic gymnastics games. Mother,Oozawa Yuuri works as an announcer and an older sister.
• Favourite Subject: PE because he says he is really good at gymnastics and it makes him look like a hero when he is doing flips. He also likes Social Studies.
• Disliked Subject: English (He wonders why he has to learn it since he is Japanese.)
• Strong Point: Challenges are what make him a stronger person.
• Weak Point: When challenges become too difficult or extreme,he throws them away.
• Favourite Song: Hitomi no naka no Galaxy by Arashi
• Admired Senpai: Ohno Satoshi
• Type of girl he likes: A quick thinker, cute, can dance with him also be fun around with.

christopher john alandy dy tiu

Real name : Christopher John Alandy-Dy Tiu

Nick name : Chris

Birthday : July 15, 1985

Age : 22

Schools:

HS: Xavier High School
College : Ateneo de Manila University
Course : BS Management Engineering

Jersey number

HS : 17
College : 17

Position : Point Guard

Eligibility : 1

Height : 5'10"

Weight : 165 lbs.

Ateneo Blue Eagles

Aim High

Only in his first year to play for the Eagles, former Xavier School team captain Chris is certainly a promising off-point guard. The 5'11" Michael Jordan avid fan was chosen MVP seven times and was part of the Mythical 5 trice. "Winning the Tiong Lian Basketball League Championship is my fondest basketball experience," he recalls.

All in One

Chris manages everything well in his busy life. Aside from basketball, he plays four other sports (golf, badminton, table tennis and swimming), graduated from high school with honors, was an academic excellence and leadership awardee, and is the SK Chairman of their village. "I learned hard work and passion in basketball, and I apply those in real life," he shares. Cutie Chris likes simple, sweet, humble and smart girls.

Chris' Favorite Things

His 'Grand Piano'

"I started playing when I was around seven. I stopped taking lessons about three to four years ago, but I still play on my own. I go out and buy my own pieces - love songs or Broadway tunes like 'All I Ask of You' from the Phantom of the Opera. Sometimes I play alone, and sometimes my friends ask me to play at parties or debuts."

His 'Security Pillow''

"My parents bought it for me in Hong Kong when I was around four or five. I used to be as big as that pillow. Now it's old and kind of manipis! I have a hard time sleeping without it. I use it to cover my eyes when I'm in bed."

His Golf set

"I'm not really good at golf - I'm just average - but I enjoy it. Sometimes I have such a busy sched, it's relaxing. I enjoy playing in Tagaytay - I like being in the middle of nature, and at the same time I get to hang out with my friends or my family."

His CD player

"I bring it around with me all the time. I listen to music before basketball games, when I travel - in buses, in airports. I like listening to slow music - R&B, love songs. It keeps me relaxed while I'm waiting for things to begin."

hansen nichols :)) my love !

Hansen was one of the 30 NCR finalists in Pinoy Dream Academy’s first season but unfortunately he didn’t make it to the scholar shortlist. However for this Fil-Am guy, he’s not ready to give up on his dream just yet and he’s back to give singing another shot. Although his identical twin brother is pursuing an acting career in Hollywood, Hansen chose to follow his career in his home country. Diagnosed with thyroid cancer after surviving a car crash, Hansen was told that he might not sing again and almost did not push through with his surgery. He’s very thankful though for he still has his voice and is able to share it with others. “It’s worth the move, worth the sacrifice…It was a tough battle, but I’m still here.”

donaldo hontiveros :)) yea.

Donaldo (Dondon) Hontiveros (born June 1, 1977 in Cebu City, Cebu) is a 6 ft 4 (1.93 m) and 175 lbs (79 kg) Filipino professional basketball player actively playing for the Magnolia Beverage Masters in the Philippine Basketball Association, although he is currently on leave from the team due to his duty as an active player for the Philippine national team. He has a son named Isiah with singer and fellow Cebu native Gail Blanco.

A devout Roman Catholic, Hontiveros studied and honed his basketball skills in his home province. Just like any accomplished athlete, success did not come easy for him. In fact his initial foray into basketball was greeted with heartbreak and disappointment.

He fancied basketball at a young age and tried to enter the sport at a competitive level in his first year of high school. But at that time, since he lacked the height, no one took notice of the young Dondon. Fortunately, the young Dondon had a growth spurt by the time he was in 3rd year so he was taken into the high school basketball team of Don Bosco Tech.

At last, they started to take notice, although his first year as a member of the team was spent mostly on the bench. By the time Dondon became a high school senior, he was already a regular on the team. At this point, he was already as tall as the team’s center. Hontiveros’ jump to the next level – college basketball – suffered a minor setback when he ended his senior high school year with an injury.

To keep himself competitive, he played in the intramurals at University of San Jose-Recoletos. Dondon eventually played college ball at the University of Cebu for three years. His skills blossomed while playing college basketball, and it was at that time that this Cebuano was geared for big-time basketball.

The year was 1998, and it was also the year that an ambitious initiative called the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) was making waves in its bid to be the professional league to rival the PBA.

Dondon Hontiveros was taken by the Cebu Gems, and he wasted no time in showing his offensive prowess – dominating opponents with his skillful moves, showcasing a run and gun type of offense, true to the tradition of Cebuano cagers.

After the 1999 season of the MBA, when the league’s popularity was beginning to diminish, Dondon requested to be released from the Cebu Gems to try his luck with the PBA.

The San Miguel Beer franchise eventually hired him. Soon, Dondon found himself a vital cog in the pro team’s offensive rotation.

Even if followers of Dondon’s career can safely say that their idol has arrived, this 30-year-old Cebuano has shown that he has transcended success and is now looking forward to what he can do for Philippine basketball.

Hontiveros’ vision is to bring back to his native Cebu an organized basketball clinic program, in order to provide for his hometown a truly effective way of discovering and developing talent from the grassroots level.

Dondon is proud of his Cebu basketball – the passion in the way the game is played in his hometown. But having been exposed to Philippine basketball at its highest level, he also recognizes the lack of training in the fundamentals of the game there, thus his vision to uplift the game in his roots.

i really really hate this day :((

shet .. i hate it .. what the hell he is thinking .. pakielamero .. walang modo .. walang pinag aralan .. grrr
tapos bigla pang umulan .. waaah we don't have umbrella .. so we're like a poor human beings walking in the rain.. tapos ung mga lalake pah tawa ng tawa .. basang basa na nga kame .. buti nah lahn hindi kame pinagalitan .. cguro they understand naman our situation .. and the good thing is hindi ako nagkasakit .. pero hopefully bukas hindi ako magka sipon .. haizt ..

yea. moii perxxs deii in school ~

waah. i'm so disappointed ! i'm expecting lahn pala for nothin. i expected nah mdaming cute guiz ! but gosh ! i never saw cute guiz on my first day !! sayang lahn eun effort cue ! lol. pero it's fine naman kc my new classmates are nice even though they are boiz. lol. it's kinda boring din kc our adviser keep telling stories .. take note .. a nonsense stories.. haha

jonas villanueva got his career best points ! yea.

Rookie guard Jonas Villanueva took advantage of Mike Cortez's absence as he fired a career-best 12 points, nine coming in the final frame as he helped Magnolia beat Philippine Cup champion Sta. Lucia Realty, 80-74, in the Smart-PBA Fiesta Conference Friday night at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

The 6-foot Villanueva, who averaged just 4.4 points in his first nine games this conference, scored five straight points – a three-pointer and a lay-up against the outstretched arms of new SLR import Lee Benson, giving the Beverage Masters a 72-57 lead with 7:04 left in the game.

Another basket by Danny Seigle, who finished with 11 points, put Magnolia ahead, 74-57, with six minutes to play.

“As much as possible, every young guy wants to get (playing) minutes,” Magnolia head coach Siot Tanquingcen said of Villanueva, the team's ninth overall pick in the PBA Rookie Draft last August.

“Jonas is our up and coming point guard. He is learning from two very good point guards (Mike Cortez and Olsen Racela), but the good thing about him is he can move up to shooting guard. It speaks well of his talent,” he added.

Villanueva, a nephew of Jesus Is Lord (JIL) leader Bro. Eddie Villanueva, also came off the bench to collect four rebounds and four assists. In nine previous games he played, the one-time Fa Eastern U stalwart averaged just 12 minutes as the third point guard Cortez, sidelined due back spasms and the veteran Racela. He played 19 minutes against SLR.

“I know I have to wait for my time, and in this game kailangan tumulong,” said Villanueva, 25, whose previous high was 11 points in against Red Bull last Sunday, making it the second straight game he reset his career-high in scoring

The Beverage Masters improved their record to 8-7, while dealing the Realtors their fourth straight defeat to drop to 6-8. It also avenged an 86-88 defeat to Sta. Lucia in their first round meeting last April 6.

Magnolia’s new import Amal McCaskill, an NBA veteran who replaced Jameel Watkins, finished with 16 points and 18 rebounds.

“I’m satisfied,” Tanquingcen said. “Amal somehow gave us what we expected from him.”

“The main thing we’re concerned is we can’t relax, we have to make sure that we build on it. It’s either we end up in the semis, or quarters or wildcard,” Tanquingcen.

Dorian Pena split his free throws and Don-Don Hontiveros, who had 12 points in his first game back after missing their last three because of a severe ankle sprain, nailed a jumper for a 78-67 lead when Sta. Lucia moved within nine, 67-76.

Benson, the Realtors’ third import after Wesley Wilson and Jamar Brown, had 19 points and 17 boards, while Kelly Williams added 16 and 12 boards. Nelbert Omolon came off the bench to contribute 11.

Sta. Lucia, which was held to its lowest output this season, played without Joseph Yeo and rookie Philip Butel, who were reportedly suspended for the game by team officials for figuring in a fight with each other during a team practice last Monday. (WG)

The scores:

Magnolia 80 -- McCaskill 16, Hontiveros 14, Villanueva 12, Seigle 11, Pena 9, Pingris 7, Ildefonso 6, Tugade 5, Racela 0.

Sta. Lucia 74 -- Benson 19, Williams 16, Omolon 11, Espino 8, Mendoza 8, Miranda 6, Reyes 2, Aquino 2, Gonzales 2, Coronel 0.

Quarterscores: 20-16, 37-37, 60-51, 80-74.