Manu Lifts Spurs To Victory Over Grizz, 93-87

Manu Ginobili is definitely the key to the Spurs winning another championship.

Without the talented Argetinian swingman, the Spurs dropped Game 1 to the upstart Memphis Grizzlies. in Game 2, the Spurs had the rusty version of Manu...and they still won.

The Spurs went down by 6 points in the first quarter, then brought it down to three by halftime. In the first 3 minutes of the second half, the Grizzlies and the Spurs exchange baskets.

Fil-Germans New Azkal Recruits?

Good news for the Azkals. Quality recruits seem to be popping out from everywhere.

In Germany, the tryouts have not even formally started when 2 new young recruits showed up at Azkal coach Hans Michael Weiss' doorstep.

18 year old Kevin Ingresso is an attacking midfielder for Hamburger SV while 19 year old Brian Hoffman is a product of the Verein für Bewegungsspiele (VFB) Stuttgart, which plays in the Bundesliga.


The Azkals plan to hold their training camp in Germany as they prepare for the World Cup qualifying rounds.

More on this story, here.

Two Pinay Boxers Make It To Turkey Boxing Championships!

They may be young but they're raring to make the country proud!

Naiza Petecio will be competing in the 48kg for 15-16 year olds while Winnie Varano will fight in the 51kg category for 17-18year olds in the World Junior Youth Women’s Boxing Championship which will be held on April 24 to May 1 in Antalya, Turkey.

Petecio and Varano, who both trained under 1996 Olympian Elias Recaido, left today to make it in time for the tournament.

More on this story, here.

Naturalized Chinese For Philippine Women's Team?

The success of Smart Gilas with Marcus Douthit has started their female counterparts thinking. Would the same strategy work for them?

This is something the PHL Women's Team is willing to try as they seek approval for their own naturalized player when they  compete in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup for Women this August in Nagasaki, Japan.

Gilas Flashes Old Form, Wins Over Ginebra 100-88!

With their backs against the wall, the Nationals could fold and blame their inexperience or fight back and show their true colors.

Evidently, the Nationals' bleed red, blue and white.

Like a rusty old machine finally getting some much needed oil, Smart Gilas stormed back from a 7 point halftime deficit to take a 7 point lead in the third quarter.

El Shaddai Field A No-Go For FIFA!

 It's a case of quality over generosity.

And while Philippine football officials appreciate the offer of El Shaddai head Mike Velarde for the PFF to build the Azkals' home field in the El Shaddai property in Sucat, they have decided to target the Philsports Complex in Pasig instead.

Lakers' Lamar Odom Is NBA Sixth Man Of The Year!

The Lakers have won virtually every award in the league. Here's one more they can put on their shelves.

Versatile Laker big man Lamar Odom won the Sixth Man Of The Year Award, beating former awardee Jason Terry as well as the 76er's Thaddeus Young and the Celtics' Glen Davis.

Odom averaged 14.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and three assists per game while shooting 53 percent from the field. Realistically, a case can be made for Odom starting on the Lakers, as well as on any other team on the league.

But Odom's wide skill set as well as his team-first attitude, (qualities other Sixth Man awardees also exhibit) has made him the ideal catalyst off the bench.

Odom was also a vital member of the last version of the US Men's Basketball Team and certainly an important piece in the Laker machine.

Congrats, Lamar!

More of this story, here.

Lady Stingers Stage Epic Comeback!

Now that's volleyball, Bacolod-style.

Down by 2 sets to an opponent who has not lost a game yet, the Lady Stingers of the University of St. La Salle from Bacolod spiked, blocked and dug their way to a scintillating 5 set victory over the University of Perpetual Help volleybelles, 23-25, 14-25, 25-23, 25-23, 15-11.

Has Gilas Peaked Too Early?

In the elimination round, Smart Gilas was a virtual Goliath, running roughshod over everyone in its path.
Now, they're struggling against a veteran team with giant-killing ways.

Ginabra import Nate Brumfeld played the role of the hero again as he scored 8 of Ginebra's last 10points in leading the Kings to victory over the Nationals 110-103.

Patrombon Loses Again!

Jeson Patrombon is discovering just how tough it is on the pro tour.

In his second professional match, the former top junior Pinoy netter lost to Indian Srirambalaji Narayanaswamy, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, in the qualifying round of the India Futures Tournament in Noida, India.

Patrombon earned a wildcard entry to the tournament but could not parlay it into a win as he seemed unsure in the opening game. He regained his composure in the second game but grew increasingly tired and tentative in the third set.



Still, this was a better performance for patrombon, compared to the 6-1, 6-0 shellacking he absorbed in his first pro match.


Patrombon hopes to earn his first pro tour victory in the third leg of the India Futures in Chennai, India.

More on this story, here.

Bacolod Booters Trump Iloilo In PFF U-23 Match!

For some, it was a football game.
But for the players, it was a battle for regional supremacy, pride and bragging rights.

The country's football hotbeds Bacolod and Iloilo lived up to their pre-tournament billing as the teams to beat with the championship caliber match in the Visayas Regionals of the PFF Suzuki Under 23 Cup in Dumaguete.

Upsets In The West!

In the first day of the NBA Playoffs, we had 3 almost upsets and 1 semi-upset.
The second day featured 2 Goliath-sized upsets.

First, there was 8th seed Memphis, taking down the league #1 San Antonio 101-98. Memphis stalwart Shane Battier hit the go-ahead 3 pointer to lock down the victory for the Grizzlies. Zach Randolph proved to be unstoppable down low, scoring 25points and hauling down 14 rebounds. Spurs superstar Tim Duncan ended up with 16points and 13rebounds. The Spurs sorely missed Manu Ginobili, who is out with an injured elbow. This is Memphis' first playoff victory in 16 years and 3 playoff sweeps.

Then there was 7th seed New Orleans, shocking 2nd seed LA, 109-100. Chris Paul scored 17 of his 33points in the 4th quarter, leading a furious rally to offset the Lakers' huge size advantage. Carl Landry added 17points while Lakers counterpart Pau Gasol struggled with only 8points. Kobe Bryant scored 34 points but his teammates lackadaisical play spelled doom for the Lakers.

Still playing are NY vs Boston and Denver vs OKC. Will we see more upsets today?

Was The First Round Supposed To be This Exciting?

The first four games of the 2011 NBA Playoffs are proving to be humdingers.

You've got 8th seed Indiana holding a lead against Chicago for all but 48 seconds of the game. Too bad the 48seconds that Chicago had the lead was the last 48 seconds of the game.

There's also #7 seed Philadelphia taking a 12 point lead at the end of the first quarter against the Miami Heat. The Heat roared back to take a 14 point lead in the fourth, which is when the Sixer unleashed a 12-0 run to cut the lead down to 2. Miami managed to pull away but the Sixers have prrof that they can play with the Heat.

And don't forget 5th seed Atlanta, who pulled off an upset against Orlando despite Dwight Howard's 46points and 19 rebounds. Last year, these two teams met in the most lopsided series of the year, in favor of the Magic.

And finally, the #3 seed Mavs needed a career high 6 threepointers in one game from Jason Kidd and some clutch shooting from Dirk Nowitzki the upset conscious #6 seed Trailblazers. 

So, on the first day of the NBA playoffs, we had 3 near-upsets and 1 upset. Can't wait for tomorrow's games,