NBA 2K LEAGUE HOLDS FIRST EXPANSION DRAFT

The NBA 2K League held its first expansion draft today at the NBA office in Secaucus, New Jersey.

The league’s four expansion teams, affiliates of the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves, recently announced their NBA 2K League names as Hawks Talon GC, NetsGC, Lakers Gaming and T-Wolves Gaming, respectively.  Each of the four expansion teams selected two players from a pool of 68 players who participated in the inaugural season and were not protected by their original team.  All expansion draftees will join their new teams for the 2019 season.

The expansion draft was a two-round snake draft, meaning that the second round had the inverse order of the first round.  With the first pick, Hawks Talon GC selected Connor “Dat Boy Shotz” Rodrigues, who spent his first season in Portland with Blazer5 Gaming.  NetsGC selected second, T-Wolves Gaming selected third and Lakers Gaming selected fourth.  The complete list of round-by-round selections and team-by-team selections can be found below.

The draft order was determined by a draft lottery earlier this month, which was conducted by drawing ping-pong balls in random order from the official ball machine that is used for the NBA Draft Lottery.

From Sept. 27 to Oct. 10, all 21 teams will have the opportunity to make trades, and the original 17 teams can retain additional players from their 2018 rosters in exchange for 2019 draft picks.  For more information on offseason player protection, additional player retainment, and trade rules, click here.

The date of the 2019 NBA 2K League Draft will be announced in the coming months.  The 2019 NBA 2K League Draft order is subject to change based on trades and additional player retainment.

First Round

First Round
Pick	Team	Player Name	Gamer Tag
	Hawks Talon GC	Connor Rodrigues	Dat Boy Shotz
	NetsGC	Nate Kahl	NateKahl
	T-Wolves Gaming	Tim Anselimo	oLARRY
	Lakers Gaming	Mitchell Franklin	Mootyy

Second Round
Pick	Team	Player Name	Gamer Tag
	Lakers Gaming	Chris Cantrell	Kontrul
	T-Wolves Gaming	Mihad Feratovic	I F E A S T
	NetsGC	Moshood Balogun, Jr.	Shockey
	Hawks Talon GC	Devon Peek	ARS0NAL x

DRAFT PICKS BY TEAM

  

Hawks Talon GC

1. Connor Rodrigues (Dat Boy Shotz)

8. Devon Peek (ARS0NAL x)

  

NetsGC

2. Nate Kahl (NateKahl)

7. Moshood Balogun, Jr. (Shockey)

T-Wolves Gaming

3. Tim Anselimo (oLARRY)

6. Mihad Feratovic (I F E A S T)

  

Lakers Gaming

4. Mitchell Franklin (Mootyy)

5. Chris Cantrell (Kontrul)

For more information about the NBA 2K League, visit NBA2KLeague.com and follow @NBA2KLeague on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

About the NBA 2K League

The NBA 2K League, a professional esports league co-founded by the NBA and Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO), launched in 2018 and features the best NBA 2K players in the world.  Each of the league’s teams drafts six players to compete as unique characters in 5-on-5 play against the other teams in a mix of regular-season games, in-season tournaments and playoffs.  Knicks Gaming won the first NBA 2K League Finals on Saturday, Aug. 25.  For more information about the NBA 2K League, visit NBA2KLeague.com.

Bill to Institutionalize P3 Program Filed in Senate

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III filed on September 19, 2018 a Senate Bill that will institutionalize the Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (P3) Program to further strengthen the landmark micro loan program of President Rodrigo Duterte that will provide relief to micro enterprises through alternative source of financing.

The Senate Bill No. 2017 or “An Act Providing a Socialized Microfinancing Program for Micro Enterprises Thereby Promoting Entrepreneurship” aims to address financing concerns of micro enterprises throughout the country and help them sustain their businesses.

Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez welcomed the news, saying it will further ensure funds are made available for micro enterprises to veer them away from onerous loans, particularly the “5-6” money-lending system.

“This is another milestone as we continue our drive to empower our MSMEs and alleviate poverty. Through this bill, we will be able to assist more entrepreneurs to have easy access to P3 loans that come in one-form, one-day processing, and don’t require any collateral, especially those in the countryside,” said Sec. Lopez.

On the other hand, Small Business Corporation (SB Corp) President and CEO Ma. Luna E. Cacanando said the filing of the Senate Bill will strengthen the Corporation’s mandate and will greatly contribute to the development of micro enterprises, which comprises the bulk of the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector.

Micro enterprises account for 90% out of the 99.6% from the MSME sector.

As the financing arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), SB Corp is tapped as the lead implementing agency of the P3 Program and is tasked to handle the fund delivery through direct lending to micro enterprises, wholesale lending to conduits that on-lend to micro enterprises.

Likewise, the House of Representatives in June 2018 also adopted a bill that will establish P3 Program as an affordable and easy access alternative source of financing for micro enterprises.

Under House Bill No. 7446 or the "Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso" or "P3 Act," the House of Representatives seeks the creation of the “Pondo sa Pagbabago and Pag-asenso” or the P3 Fund, which will be made available for beneficiaries such as market vendors, agri-businessmen and members of cooperatives, industry associations, and cooperators.

As of September 9, 2018, the P3 Program has assisted over 50,000 micro enterprises throughout the country with a total of P1.5 billion of released loans.

Under the P3 Program, a micro enterprise can borrow between P5,000 up to P200,000 depending on its business need and repayment capacity with no collateral requirement.  Interest rate and service fees, all in, do not exceed 2.5% monthly.

The P3 Program serves as an alternative to the P30 billion “5-6” money lending industry that charges 20% nominal interest rate to MSMEs.

“We thank Sen. Koko Pimentel for sponsoring this bill in the Senate and being our partner in strengthening the MSME sector,” said Sec. Lopez.

Finding the Perfect Engagement Ring

The engagement ring symbolizes true commitment. It is a message of love and devotion to that one person, made known --loud and clear--to the world.

Every time your significant other looks down on her engagement ring, she is reminded of all the reasons you fell in love, how you promised to spend the rest of your lives together, and all the things you look forward to in the future.

Undoubtedly a substantial purchase, it is important to make the perfect choice when selecting an engagement ring.

My Diamond, known as one of the country’s top trusted jewelers, offers helpful tips in choosing the perfect engagement ring.

Set a budget. Deciding on a budget early can allow you to fully explore all your options when it comes to the center stone’s characteristics and ring design. Determine the maximum amount you are willing to spend on an engagement ring before shopping.

Know your soon-to-be fiancée’s style. Consider her personality and taste in jewelry. What suit’s her best - classic, simple or a more intricate engagement ring?

Get the right fit. You don’t want to ruin your proposal with a ring that does not fit. Know her ring finger size. To keep it a surprise, borrow one of her older rings through a family member or friend.

Take note of the 4C’s. The cut, carat, clarity and color refer to the sparkle, weight, imperfections and shade of the diamond or stone in the ring. When a diamond has greater brilliance, weighs more, has less visible flaws, and lacks color, the more value it holds. Striking a balance between these characteristics can help ensure you get the best diamond for your engagement ring.

Timeless, elegant and versatile, My Diamond engagement rings are delicately made by internationally-trained craftsmen using diamonds of top-tier cut, clarity, color and carat weight.

Propose to the love of your life with the perfect engagement ring rom My Diamond. Visit MyDiamond concept stores in Ayala Center Cebu, Festival Supermall, Gateway Mall, Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 3, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Robinsons Place Manila, SM Lanang Premier Davao, SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, and SM Aura Premier.