Star Snippets: Lionel Messi, Shunsuke Nakamura, Asi Taulava …..

December 22, 2009 | Posted by Benjie

FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi of Argentina was recently named FIFA World Player of the Year. The 22-year old native of Rosario was the overwhelming favorite to win the honors after receiving 1,047 points in voting. Christiano Ronaldo came in at distant second with 352 points while Barcelona teammate Xavi Hernandez got 196 points. Messi also received the Ballon D’Or as the best player in Europe this year after FC Barcelona won the Spanish League and the Champions League.

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Japanese Shunsuke Nakamura of Espanyol is planning for some soul-searching after spending time on the bench in their last two matches in the Spanish League. The 31-year old midfielder is contemplating about his future after struggling to earn playing time in the team. Nakamura has yet to score a goal in 10 Liga matches and has not been in the starting line-up since November 29.

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Asi Taulava of the Coca-cola Tigers received the Player of the Week honors in the ongoing Philippine Cup of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Taulava, who missed nine games early in the season due to a foot injury, averaged 15 points, 11 rebounds to lead his team to a pair of victories since his return.

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Head coach Kim Jin of the SK Knights in the Korean Basketball League (KBL) resigned from his post following a disappointing 8-19 win-loss performance by the team midway in the season. Jin failed to meet expectations despite the team loaded with stars like Kim Min-soo, Bang Sung-yoon and Joo Hee-jung.

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Point Guard Lee Sang-min of the Samsung Thunders is on the way of becoming the top vote-getter in the Korean Basketball League All-star balloting again. At age 37, Lee has been the top choice for the balloting for the 9^th straight year. Forward Kim Joo-sung of the Dongbu Promy came in at close second for the balloting that will end by January 3. The All-star game will take place on January 31 in Seoul.